Apple kicked off the week by releasing a major new beta for each one of its platforms including tvOS 9.2 beta for the new Apple TV. While the software update isn’t available to everyone just yet, the pre-release software brings the 4th-gen Apple TV up to parity with older Apple TVs and even makes it work more like iPhones and iPads. For example, tvOS 9.2 beta finally adds Bluetooth keyboard support to the new Apple TV after first shipping at the end of October without the feature; previous Apple TVs worked with wireless keyboards from the start. The new update also adds a new built-in app and some iPhone-like features as well. Check out the details below:
Just like older Apple TVs, tvOS 9.2 includes Apple’s Podcasts app which lets you subscribe and listen to podcasts like 9to5Mac’s Happy Hour podcast for example. The new Apple TV Podcasts app works very similarly to the iOS 9 version of the same app, which is organized by unplayed episodes, subscriptions, featured podcasts, top charts, and search. Just don’t expect to find or play any video podcasts on this version of the Apple TV Podcasts app.
While the Podcasts app is technically in beta, it’s worth noting that Siri on the Apple TV doesn’t yet talk to the Podcasts app like Siri on iPhones and iPads does. There’s also no special “top shelf” artwork when you put the new app in the first row on your Apple TV, although these are likely beta shortcomings that will be resolved in future software updates. Overall it’s a very solid podcast app if you like it on iPhone and iPad.
Check out our hands-on video with Apple TV and tvOS 9.2 below:
[youtube=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xD6BhgYcfQ8]
In addition to Bluetooth keyboard support and a new Podcasts app, the new Apple TV also features an updated app switcher user interface that looks more like iOS 9 and less like iOS 8. The full screen left to right app previews have been replaced with stacked cards of right to left app previews. Opinions on this will likely vary, but on the plus side both iOS and tvOS have a more consistent UI when moving between apps.
You’ll also find folders on tvOS 9.2 beta. Just drag and drop two app icons on top of each other very similar to how iOS works. Rearranging apps can be a lot of work on the big screen, however, so tvOS includes a new menu for quickly moving apps to the Home screen and other folders when pressing the play/pause button in jiggle mode. Finally, the tvOS grid layout for app folders first appears to be a 3×3 grid of 9 apps per screen like on iPhone, but adding additional apps reveals that Apple TV app folders can actually infinitely scroll vertically with three columns and numerous rows.
The new tvOS 9.2 software update will ship to all fourth-gen Apple TVs later this year.
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Any news of the UK Movie trailers app returning?
The podcasts app can’t play video podcasts…. wow.
I assume this will be fixed, as if not, someone needs a P45.
Nice App Switcher demo. Stacked Racks from Mars on HBO, huh? Any good?
lol, jokey joke :P
Wow – here we are again. Let’s all celebrate while the worlds richest company adds features that should have already existed in the last version.
You have much experience at relaunching a software platform? Time + Money + Quality = Finished Product. You have a finite amount of each. It’s obviously being worked, and not being made to wait a year. They get to what they consider MVP – Minimum Viable Product, then add on as they can. Otherwise, it will be never for anything.
Has any one else noticed that on the Apple TV the “touch” is completely the opposite as it is on other Apple devices? Specifically – Apple insisted that “pushing” was more natural on touch interfaces as opposed to “pulling” with a mouse. It’s the exact opposite on the Apple TV.
I wonder if they’ll every enable searching Home Sharing content. Drives me insane how nice everything else is, but my own content is restricted to a simple list view.
I hope so. But what I have done is this.
I back up my non iTunes purchased content on another drive. I turned that drive into a drive Plex can read. While Plex does not currently support Siri, I have a feeling that they will once the API is released, and be done quicker than Apple will enable for Home Sharing
This also prevents me from needing to get up and turn on iTunes if it isn’t running, as well as the persistent “Home Sharing” reboot issues I have with my other Apple TVs (3rd Gen rev B)
Give it a go. Don’t need to pay for any of the subscriptions Plex offers for this to work
I tried Plex briefly, but I hated that it ignored all my metatags and tried to fetch it all new. I’ve meticulously tagged everything (another reason why I’m annoyed for a lack of search). The Plex apps definitely offer a superior interface, and eventually will support Siri since it’s opened for developers now. Kind of annoying that Apple won’t even embrace it.
Any one know of a way to get Plex to honour existing metatags?
Steve – Good point about the metadata. I have a friend that is that meticulous (I am close, but don’t mind what Plex pulls). I’ll see if he found a way.
That is my biggest gripe that for thouse of us with tons of stuff in our home share and Siri can’t access and play it. My wife is totally blind and my vision is not that good at all. Hence the reason I got the Apple TV. Apple has always been great with accessibility so so was planning on it to where she could pick up remote bring up Siri and call on anything I got stored. Luckily that voiceover works as good as it dose she can navigate threw it but it takes a while.
Does this release fix the FaceTime landscape rotation issue?
WHERE IS DARK MODE???? am i the only one that don’t like the bright backgrounds ? is too bright
Can you put Folders in the Top Row? If so, does the Top Shelf area show icons for Apps in the Folder?