: Pocketnow
In the course of the WWDC 2022 keynote, Apple introduced a number of new options which can be coming quickly to iOS 16, iPadOS 16, macOS Ventura and watchOS 9. In the course of the keynote, as a substitute of speaking concerning the new options and enhancements which can be coming to tvOS, Apple opted to launch the brand new options on its developer portal quietly.
We have now detailed guides on putting in iOS 16, macOS Ventura, and iPadOS 16. We even have a superb article explaining all the brand new iOS 16 Lock display options.
Everybody anticipated to listen to some information concerning the upcoming tvOS 16 updates; as a substitute, Apple didn’t even deliver it up and point out it throughout its keynote. It was bizarre, and it means that even Apple doesn’t take tvOS critically, which is in dire want of consideration, assuming that Apple needs to higher compete with fireTV, GoogleTV, Roku and different cheaper options.
In case you missed what’s new in tvOS 16, right here’s a fast recap:
Cross-device connectivity
“Combine your tvOS app together with your iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS app to unlock new experiences on Apple TV. For instance, you possibly can ship extra customized exercises on Apple TV primarily based on movement sensor knowledge from Apple Watch, show real-time info on iPhone whereas media performs in your app on Apple TV, or embrace extra screens for gameplay.”
Multiuser assist
“Make it simpler for individuals to get pleasure from your Apple TV app with improved system integration for person profiles. With credentials saved in a shared keychain, customers gained’t must signal in and select their profile each time they launch your app.”
Apple additionally demonstrates this characteristic on its web site in a stay demo.
SwiftUI for tvOS
“Customise your app’s interface and supply much more performance with SwiftUI. Create customized button kinds and results that accent your design, benefit from customary gestures, corresponding to Faucet and Contact, and add consistency to interactions with the Focus APIs.”
tvOS deserves extra consideration
tvOS has an intuitive interface, and it offers an incredible person expertise. It accommodates all your favourite TV reveals and flicks, and it has wonderful options to maintain you entertained. It’s an incredible platform, however it wants extra love from Apple if it needs to maintain the lights on.
Apple is engaged on a less expensive AppleTV product
Final yr, we heard that Apple is planning on creating a product that might compete in opposition to the cheaper good television stick options available on the market, together with the fireTV stick, GoogleTV, Roku and plenty of extra. The present Apple TV HD prices $149, whereas Apple TV 4K retails for $179, making it arduous to justify spending that a lot on a tool when you may get a near-identical expertise by spending lower than half of that. Different competing platforms have the Apple TV app built-in, making it simpler for customers to entry their favourite reveals and flicks and Apple’s streaming platform AppleTV+.
Apple doesn’t appear to have a method to make its gadgets cheaper, and it needs to look as a higher-end mannequin, however that doesn’t appear to attraction to many shoppers. The improve from HD to 4K is steep, contemplating that fireTV HD prices solely $39.99, and fireTV 4K solely $54.99. It’s additionally price mentioning that these gadgets are sometimes on sale, saving customers a further $10-20. Chromecast with Google TV goes for $49.99, however Google too usually affords it for $39.99, making it the most effective gadgets to buy.
Apple TV is in a tricky place, and if the corporate doesn’t make investments extra money and time on it, it’s unlikely to turn out to be the final word leisure machine for Apple customers. And that brings us to the following level, which is that Apple TV works finest for customers who’re already in the ecosystem. It’s not user-friendly, in the sense that it limits non-Apple customers from ever contemplating it as a high-end different.
It’s been a number of years since Apple TV+ was unveiled, and the streaming platform didn’t break any information because it did with Apple Music. Assuming that Apple needs to take the streaming service critically, it must develop a extra reasonably priced machine to persuade customers to enroll and use the platform. Apple at present affords a three-month subscription with each AppleTV buy, however that’s hardly a discount, contemplating that the service has a restricted assortment of unique reveals and flicks.