TVOS

TVOS
The TVOS logo (2015)

Screenshot of TVOS
Developer Apple Inc.
Written in C, C++, Swift (programming language), and Objective-C
OS family Unix, BSD
Working state Current
Source model Closed Source (with Open Source components)
Released to
manufacturing		 October 30, 2015 (2015-10-30)
Latest release 9.1.1 (13U717) / January 25, 2016 (2016-01-25)
Latest preview 9.2 Beta 3 (13Y5198c) / February 8, 2016 (2016-02-08)
Marketing target Television, casual gaming
Available in Multilingual
Update method Over-the-air, TVOS Software Update
Platforms Apple TV (4th generation only)
Kernel type Hybrid (XNU)
Preceded by Apple TV Software 7 (Based on iOS 8)
Official website developer.apple.com/tvos
Support status
Supported

TVOS (stylized by Apple Inc. as tvOS) is an operating system developed by Apple Inc. for their fourth generation Apple TV digital media player (which is currently the only device that runs TVOS). TVOS was announced on September 9, 2015 at the Apple September 2015 event, alongside the 4th generation Apple TV.[1] On October 26, 2015, 4th generation Apple TV pre-orders began, and shipments began the following week.[2] TVOS is available in a beta form. There is only a developer beta though, unlike Apple Inc.'s other operating systems with a developer beta and a public beta. At the Apple September 2015 Event, Hipster Whale's Andy Sum demoed Crossy Road[3] for the Apple TV, available via the TVOS App Store. Apple, Inc. also announced that other apps (such as Netflix and HBO Now) would be coming to the Apple TV running TVOS.

TVOS is based on iOS heavily rather than just the stripped-down versions of iOS that the operating systems for the 2nd and 3rd generation Apple TV are. The 4th generation Apple TV, with support for third-party software via an App Store, was rumored prior to the Apple September 2015 Event held on September 9, 2015.[4][5]

History

On October 30, 2015, the 4th generation Apple TV became available, and shipped with TVOS 9.0. On November 9, 2015, TVOS 9.0.1 was released, primarily an update to address minor issues.

TVOS 9.1 was released on December 8, 2015 along with OS X 10.11.2, iOS 9.2, and watchOS 2.1.[6] Along with these updates, Apple also updated the Remote apps on iOS and watchOS, allowing for basic remote functionality for the 4th generation Apple TV (previously, said app only worked with past versions of Apple TV).[7]

On November 25, 2015, Facebook debuted their SDK for TVOS, allowing applications to log in to Facebook, share to Facebook, and use Facebook Analytics in the same way that iOS applications can.[8]

On December 2, 2015, Twitter debuted their login authentication service for TVOS - "Digits" - allowing users to log in to apps and services with a simple, unique code available online.[9]

Features

TVOS 9 shipped with many new features on the fourth generation Apple TV. One of the major features was the ability to move through the interface with the new touchpad remote using multi-touch gestures. Also, it introduced an all new App Store in which users can download and install new applications (such as apps and games) made available from developers that develop applications for the Apple TV and TVOS. TVOS 9 adds support for Siri which lets users do a multitude of things such as a cross-application search for a movie/TV show, rewind, fast forward, name and actor/director of the current movie, and even skip back 15 seconds. TVOS also added support for an application switcher on the Apple TV, more application customization options, cinematic screensavers, and control the TV using the included Siri Remote with the built-in support for HDMI-CEC in TVOS. In addition, TVOS allows the user to control the Apple TV in many different ways. These include using the included Siri Remote, pairing a third-party universal remote, pairing an MFI Gamepad to control games, using the Remote app on iOS, and pairing a Bluetooth Keyboard to aid in the typing experience of the user.

Development

TVOS ships with all new development tools for developers. TVOS adds support for an all new SDK for developers to build apps for the TV including all of the APIs included in iOS 9 such as Metal. It also adds an App Store which allows users to browse, download, and install a wide variety of applications. In addition, developers can now use their own interface inside of their application rather than only being able to use Apple's interface. Since TVOS is based on iOS, it is easy to port existing iOS apps to the Apple TV with Xcode while making only a few refinements to the app to better suit the larger screen. Apple provides Xcode free of charge to all registered Apple developers. To develop for the new Apple TV, it is necessary to make a parallax image for the application icon. In order to do this, Apple provides a Parallax exporter and previewer in the development tools for the Apple TV.

Version history: Apple TV (4th generation) onwards

Legend:   Obsolete   Current   Beta

Table of versions: TVOS 9.0 – Apple TV (4th generation) only
TVOS version iOS version based on Build Release date Features

9.0

 9.0 13T396 October 29, 2015
  • Initial release on Apple TV (4th generation).
  • User Interface
    • Introduces an entirely new user interface that uses lighter colors, transparency, and parallax effects as well as adding support for control via an all new remote. This remote can be used to navigate the user interface by using touch gestures on the trackpad of the remote rather than physical buttons.
  • App Store/SDK
    • Adds support for an all-new SDK for developers to build apps for the TV including all of the APIs included in iOS 9 such as Metal.
    • Adds an App Store which allows users to browse, download, and install a wide variety of applications from things such as video services, games, and other third party products.
    • Developers can now use their own interface inside of their application rather than only being able to use Apple's interface.
  • Siri
    • Adds support for Siri which can be activated by pressing the Siri button on the remote.
    • Siri, in addition to being able to do many of the things it can do on iOS, is able to take voice commands tailored for the TV. Siri can do many things such as a cross-application search for a movie/TV show, rewind, fast forward, name and actor/director of the current movie, and skip back 15 seconds.
  • Experience
    • It is now possible to switch between two applications just by double-clicking the home button on the remote and scrolling to the desired application.
    • It is now also possible to customize the home screen by moving applications to the top row, including third-party applications.
    • New "Aerial" cinematic screen saver displays time-lapse images of scenic cities when the Apple TV is asleep.
    • It is now possible to control the volume of the TV as well as turn it on/off using just the new Siri Remote and the built in support for HDMI CEC in TVOS.
  • Third-Party Controllers
    • Adds support for pairing third-party Bluetooth game controllers in order to play games.
  • Apple Music
    • Adds Apple Music support for Apple TV.

9.0.1

 9.1 13T402 November 9, 2015
  • General performance and stability improvements.

9.1

 9.2 13U85 December 8, 2015
  • Adds support for controlling Apple Music with Siri.
  • Adds support for controlling the Apple TV with the Remote app for iOS and Apple Watch.
  • Improvements to networking and scrolling.

9.1.1

 9.2.1 13U717 January 25, 2016
  • General performance and stability improvements
  • Adds support for the "Podcasts" app on the Apple TV.

9.2 Beta 3

 9.3 Beta 3 13Y5198c February 8, 2016
  • Adds support for folders on the Apple TV.
    • A folder can be made by selecting an app, clicking and holding on the touchpad, clicking the Play/Pause button, and then choosing "New Folder" from the popup menu.
  • Adds the ability to pair Bluetooth keyboards with the 4th Generation Apple TV
  • Adds a redesigned application switcher similar to the one found in iOS 9 rather than the one found in iOS 8 as TVOS 9.1 contained.
  • Adds support for iCloud Photo Library and Live Photos
  • Enables developers to add maps to their applications with the use of the MapKit API.
  • Adds support for Voice Dictation to enable users to enter text in text fields using their voice. Voice Dictation can be invoked by selecting the text field and pressing the Siri button on the Siri Remote.
  • Adds Support for searching the App Store on the Apple TV using Siri.

References

  1. ↑ Welch, Chris. "New Apple TV announced with Siri and App Store, coming in October for $149". The Verge. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  2. ↑ "Apple TV: Everything We Know". MacRumors. Retrieved 16 November 2015.
  3. ↑ "Apple September 2015 Event". Apple. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  4. ↑ "Apple New Apple TV to Start at $149". MacRumors. Retrieved 22 November 2015.
  5. ↑ Gurman, Mark (August 30, 2015). "Apple TV 4 coming in October for under $200, Apple TV 3 stays & gets new streaming service".
  6. ↑ "Mega-Apple update day brings upgrades to OS X, iOS, WatchOS, and tvOS". Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  7. ↑ "Your new Apple TV finally works with the Remote app". Engadget. Retrieved 2015-12-11.
  8. ↑ "Facebook Announces tvOS SDK With Login Support". Retrieved 9 December 2015.
  9. ↑ "Introducing Digits for tvOS". Digits Blog. Retrieved 2015-12-11.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to iOS software.
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