Latest news with #tvOS
GSM Arena
5 days ago
- GSM Arena
iOS 26 public beta now available, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, and watchOS 26 too
Today Apple has released public betas for all of its upcoming software updates. You can get any of these by first enrolling your supported devices over at Apple's Beta Software Program page. Then, once they're enrolled, they will prompt you to apply the new betas. We're talking about iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, tvOS 26, macOS Tahoe 26, and even HomePod Software 26. Why 26? Because next year is 2026, and all of these will be released to the wider public in September of 2025. No, it doesn't make a lot of sense, but at least it makes all of the different OSes have the same version number, which makes them easier to keep track of, we'd say. The main new thing in all of these is Apple's new design language, called Liquid Glass - Windows Vista fans rejoice! While of course there are many big differences, it's undoubtedly been inspired by the revolutionary (at the time) Windows release, and the idea is the same - transparency everywhere. That said, the level of transparency has been toned down in some UI parts since the first developer beta came out, after some public outcry related to legibility (or lack thereof). If you're going the beta route, please keep in mind that these aren't going to be perfectly smooth builds - bugs can and will arise, and things may break here and there. Thus, we wouldn't really recommend running such a beta on a device that you need to be reliable 24/7. If you're okay with all the possible issues, then head over to the Source link below to start the enrollment process. Source
Mint
21-07-2025
- Mint
iOS 26 Public Beta coming soon, iOS 27 development already in sight: Mark Gurman
Apple could be gearing up to release the first public beta of iOS 26 this week, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Writing in hisPower On newsletter, Gurman stated that 'all indications' point to the public beta phase beginning in the coming days, with a likely release on or around Wednesday, 23 July. While Apple had previously confirmed that the iOS 26 public beta would arrive in July, it refrained from providing a specific launch date. This upcoming rollout will give users outside the developer community an early chance to experience the new features and improvements introduced in iOS 26. Alongside the iPhone software, Apple is also expected to make public beta versions of iPadOS 26, macOS 26, tvOS 26, watchOS 26, and HomePod software 26 available at the same time. For the first time, Apple will also be offering a public beta of its next major firmware update for AirPods. However, visionOS 26 will remain exclusive to developers, as Apple does not plan to release a public beta for the platform, according to its official beta website. Those interested in testing the updates can register for the Apple Beta Software Program at no cost. Participants are advised to back up their devices prior to installation, as beta versions may include bugs and stability issues. Although the updates have already been available through Apple's developer beta programme, public testers are generally encouraged to wait for the public beta version. In recent years, Apple removed the $99 annual fee requirement for accessing developer betas, but an Apple Developer account is still necessary. Looking further ahead, Gurman also suggested that Apple may commence development of iOS 27 soon. The upcoming version will reportedly focus on features designed for the much-anticipated foldable iPhone, which is rumoured to debut in the latter half of 2026.
Engadget
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Engadget
It only took two years for Vimeo to realize deleting all of its TV apps was dumb
Vimeo, the business-focused video sharing and hosting platform, is bringing back its Apple TV app after ending support for all of its TV apps in 2023. While the company hasn't been trying to be a YouTube competitor for a while, TV apps were always more convenient than Vimeo's proposed solution of casting video from a smartphone or tablet. The rebuilt Vimeo Apple TV app lets you access Vimeo's curated library of Staff Picks, your personal library of uploaded videos and anything you've saved to your watchlist to watch later. Vimeo also says the app supports "enhanced playback with chapters, speed controls, and multi-language options." The app is available to download and try now, provided your Apple TV is running tvOS 18 or later and you have a Free Vimeo account. Vimeo originally pivoted away from being a direct YouTube competitor in 2017, several years before it dropped support for its apps. Since then the company has styled itself as more of a enterprise service, providing a way for businesses and professional creatives to host and sell videos, and even build their own streaming services. Spinning up a new TV app doesn't necessarily mean Vimeo is changing strategies, but if you've got some student films hanging out in an old Vimeo account, you now have a much easier way to watch them at home.
Tom's Guide
22-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
7 Apple TV 4K settings to change now for the best results
The Apple TV 4K is one of the best streaming devices, and it just got a big update at WWDC that will take tvOS to new heights. As much as we like it, however, it's still not a perfect system right out of the box. There are a few settings you might want to consider changing for optimal performance. Luckily, Apple has made it pretty easy to sift through the settings on this device, with many of the options we need right in the Video and Audio section. Here's which ones you need to change, and which ones you can leave alone. Let's start with the most obvious setting: Video Format. This might surprise you, but I usually recommend setting this to 4K SDR. Once this is set properly, you don't have to see that annoying black flash when content switches from SDR to HDR formats. It's pretty prevalent on YouTube and other platforms, and it might make you think there's a problem with the device. Thus, it's best to keep the main video format to 4K SDR (or 1080p SDR if you aren't using a 4K TV). This won't diminish quality by any means. In fact, it could make menus and other content that's being force-converted into HDR look a little better. Chroma subsampling refers to the way color is transmitted via compressed video data, and in the case of the Apple TV 4K, you have a couple options to choose from depending on the TV that you're using. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. Chroma 4:4:4 is the way to go if your TV supports it and if you're using an applicable HDMI cable. Switching to 4:4:4 essentially gives you access to the full color array and will make menus a bit more vibrant. You'd be hard-pressed to see any noticeable changes in general content, though. You also might have to change your HDR settings first before you can get the full benefits of any chroma tweaks (and this setting will revert back to 4:2:0 if you adjust video output at all). Unfortunately, my TV only supports Chroma 4:2:2, but it's better than 4:2:0 — even if the latter is largely favored for its increased reliability. If you do run into any signal failures, like flickering or black screens, you can always switch back to 4:2:0, which I'd recommend if you're using an overly long HDMI cable or one of the best projectors. The HDMI setting on the Apple TV 4K controls the color space in digital video content, which goes hand-in-hand with chroma and brightness. There's really no need to change this setting unless it's not already set to YCbCr. You will have three total options to choose from, including RGB High, RGB Low, and the aforementioned YCbCr. The latter is your best bet to obtain the best possible performance on the Apple TV 4K, whereas RGB might be better if you were running a different type of device. You could also consider RGB High or Low if you were using one of the best monitors with your Apple TV 4K, but I'm not sure there's a huge audience for that. There are also some TVs that might look slightly better with RGB enabled, but for our purposes we're going to stick with YCbCr. Right below the chroma setting you'll find the "Match Content" setting, which will allow the Apple TV 4K to automatically switch from SDR to HDR and from 24Hz to 30Hz depending on what's playing on the screen. Thus, you'll want to enable both Range and Frame Rate. Once enabled, you don't have to worry if your device is setup correctly for when a Dolby Vision movie is playing at 24Hz. The Apple TV 4K will simply set itself to the right settings to get that crisp cinematic feel without any extra fiddling on your part. "Range" in this case not only refers to HDR, but also other factors like motion clarity. It largely depends on the content you're watching, but it's highly recommended to change this right out of the box. At the bottom of the Video and Audio section, you'll find all the audio settings we need to change. From here, you can set it so that your audio output will play from other connected speakers if you'd like, or just rely on the TV speakers if you'd prefer that. You can also check to see if your TV has any surround sound functionality built into it under the Audio Format section. Given that the Samsung S90D OLED TV I'm using has Dolby Atmos support, it's listed among available formats, but most users should just leave it set to Auto. There are also a few other notable settings here that you could tweak, like Enhance Dialogue and Reduce Loud Sounds. As their names suggest, they amplify and diminish certain audio cues to make audio sound slightly better. I'd recommend Enhance Dialogue above all else, but this comes down to user preference. Lastly, I recommend turning off Navigation Clicks. It doesn't offer too much aside from noisy feedback when you move about the menus. One extra setting I would change is the clickpad functionality. This is another preference thing, so don't feel it's an obligation. Still, this can get pretty annoying — most especially if you have Navigation Clicks enabled in the Audio tab. Better to just keep it to Clicks Only as it just makes navigation so much more fluid. While you're here, you can also change the TV Button to the Home Screen if you'd prefer that over jumping into Apple TV Plus. It would be cool if Apple let you set this to any application, but makes sense it's just Home or Apple TV Plus in this case. Also scroll to the bottom and turn on the CEC functionality, which is titled as just "Control TVs and Receivers." This allows you to use a single remote instead of two so you're not stuck rummaging for multiple remotes when it's time for a movie or show. Last but not least, there are a few settings in the General section that you may want to consider changing. A big one is the appearance. I immediately changed this to Dark Mode, which I find to be easier on my eyes, but you might prefer it in the Light setting. You can also adjust how long it takes before the Apple TV goes into sleep mode. It's set to 15 minutes on default, but this can be as short as 5 minutes or as long as 4 hours. You could set it to "Never" so the Apple TV never goes to sleep, but your energy bill might not be too happy. In General, you'll also find some notable Privacy settings: Although the Apple TV 4K is still the best streaming box when it comes to privacy, a couple settings are important here, like Share Apple TV analytics, Improve Siri & Dictation, and Location services. You could turn these off you'd prefer, but they do help Apple improve its products. Make sure you enable "Allow Apple to Ask to Track" in the "Track" setting. This ensures apps must ask you to track data after they're installed, making it harder for certain brands to use your data against you. You can go down the list and see which apps are using data from various features, like Bluetooth, Photos, Microphone, and Camera. It's a good habit to keep an eye on this, especially if you have kids who might not be so inclined to read want they're opting into at any given moment.
Malaysian Reserve
11-06-2025
- Malaysian Reserve
Everything new coming to iPhones, iPads and Macs later this year
APPLE Inc. kicked off its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday with a roughly 90-minute presentation where it unveiled a slew of updates to its various software platforms. Consumers and investors alike had high expectations ahead of the event, after Apple indefinitely delayed some artificial-intelligence features it announced at least year's conference. While Apple's effort to start an AI comeback at this year's conference fell short, with a limited number of enhancements, there are several new non-AI upgrades. Accompanying the changes is a major visual overhaul, a new look that Apple calls 'Liquid Glass.' As the name suggests, it's lighter and transparent — a nod to the idea that more devices in the future will feature glass of some kind. Bloomberg News reported on Sunday the new look is in preparation for the 20-year anniversary iPhone coming in 2027. As part of its rebranding efforts, the company also confirmed that it will use years, not version numbers, to identify its software. The upgraded platforms announced Monday, for instance, include iOS 26, iPadOS 26, tvOS 26, macOS 26, watchOS 26 and visionOS 26. Here is a list of the most significant new features coming to your devices later this year: The interface now has new icons — including a fully transparent option — as well as redesigned navigation bars, menus and in-app interfaces that are reminiscent of those on the Vision Pro headset. Hot on the heels of the Nintendo Co. Switch 2 launch, Apple showed off a new Games app, allowing users to track what their friends are playing, start challenges with others, and explore new titles from both the App Store and Apple Arcade. The Phone app has a new view that combines recent calls, favorite contacts and voicemails. It also adds hold detection with real-time updates to the iPhone user for when a live person comes back on the line. Messages now has support for polls, background images and Apple Cash integration in group chats. Both the Phone app and Messages get better spam screening, while the Messages app gets improved filters between unknown senders, spam, recently deleted and unread messages. The Camera app has a streamlined interface that's meant to be simpler and give quicker access to video and photo capture. On the lock screen, the time will adjust to photo composition, while there are also motion-responsive 3D wallpapers and smarter photo shuffling. The Safari web browser is getting an edge-to-edge layout. Apple Music now has lyrics translation and assistance for pronouncing words. Apple Wallet is getting live updates for flight tracking, airport maps and luggage updates via the Find My app. You can also create a so-called digital ID for domestic travel using a passport. The Maps app gets understanding of preferred routes and a section for visited places. Apple is making substantial improvements to multitasking on iPads this year. A new windowing system gives users the ability to resize apps, freely place them around the screen, and have several windows open at once. Apps will reopen at the same size and position they were last left at, and Exposé provides a convenient overview of everything. In another nod to macOS, a new menu bar will be accessible with a swipe down from the top of the display (or by moving the mouse cursor there). Developers are able to customize the menu bar based on what works best for their app. Apple's Preview app is coming over to iPad, offering a dedicated option for viewing, editing, or annotating PDFs and images. Preview also supports AutoFill for quickly filling out forms. The Journal app is coming to iPad after exclusively being available on the iPhone until now. The Files app has an updated list view, resizable columns and collapsible folders. It also shares the same folder customization options that are coming to macOS like custom colors, icons and emoji. Users can now set a default app for opening file types or even specific files. Background Tasks make it easier to carry out intensive processes (like video exports) without losing progress if users need to multitask and switch apps. iPadOS 26 includes more flexible audio input options, letting users select different microphones for each app and making it more practical to record podcasts with Apple's tablets. Local Capture helps this further by saving a high-quality local backup of audio and video files from popular videoconferencing apps. The Apple Watch gets the Liquid Glass interface across many parts of the system. Widgets are now smarter and can appear based on routine and location. For instance, walking into a gym will trigger a workout widget. A new tool, called Workout Buddy, aims to help with coaching based on fitness history. A new gesture, a wrist flick, is present for dismissing calls or notifications. There's also smarter ambient noise interpretation to determine how loud the device should buzz when alerts come in. The Notes App will finally make its way to the Apple Watch for quick note jotting on the go. Control Center now supports third-party actions from apps. Refreshed look with refined dock, toolbars and sidebars that showcase Apple's Liquid Glass design user interface elements. The Games app is coming to the Mac with the same features available on iOS. Control Center and the Menu Bar are both now more customizable. Folders can be customized with different colors, emoji or symbols. The Mac gets the same Phone app as the iPad as well as the revamped features coming to the iPhone. Syncing with iPhone Live Activities, such as tracking your Uber Eats order from the desktop. Spotlight Search feature is getting a major upgrade, allowing users to more easily find files, folders, events, messages, apps and PDFs in one place. The Journal App is making its way to macOS, allowing users to log daily moments and sync entries across devices. Apple's new Liquid Glass design language comes to the TV screen, keeping the focus on your content even when accessing Control Center or fast-forwarding through a video. The Apple TV can be set to display all user profiles whenever it wakes from sleep, making it quick for people who live together to get to their own recommendations and content. Streaming app developers can now link logins to an Apple Account, simplifying the sign-in process whenever users set up a new Apple TV device. iPhones can double as microphones when using Apple Music's Sing karaoke mode. And if you've got a group together, people can queue up songs or react with emoji using their phones. Widgets are coming to visionOS, letting users place photos, calendars or other useful information wherever they'd like in their space. Widgets will remain fixed in place and reappear even after the Vision Pro headset is restarted. Apple is vastly improving the realism of its Persona avatars with full side profiles, enhanced complexion, accessories and more styles of glasses. Vision Pro users in the same room can now view spatial experiences together including movies, games and FaceTime calls. Spatial photos have increased realism in visionOS 26 thanks to a new generative AI algorithm that creates scenes with multiple perspectives. Sony Group Corp.'s PlayStation VR2 Sense controllers are fully supported with six-degree motion tracking, finger touch detection and vibration haptics. Apple is making the Vision Pro more enterprise-friendly with team device sharing and new software frameworks. You can now automatically unlock your iPhone while wearing a Vision Pro headset tied to your Apple Account. Incoming iPhone calls can now be answered directly from the Vision Pro. –BLOOMBERG
