Nowadays you can play wireless content from your iPhone, iPad and Mac on many Smart TVs with AirPlay. You can also watch the many films and series on Apple TV+on most Smart TVs with a subscription. This is also possible with Google Chromecast/Google TV, Amazon Fire TV Stick, Roku and various Android TV boxes. What reasons are actually left to purchase an Apple TV?
Bert van Dijk, volunteer apple.hcc.nl
In addition to the new possibilities of TVOS 26, you can think an optimal collaboration with your Apple devices such as HomePod speakers, Siri voice control, image calling via Facetime, HomeKit (remotely operating/automating devices in your house), playing games on your TV and showing your favorite photos on the large TV screen. Through Apple’s fast mobile processors, everything runs smoothly, enjoy optimum image and sound quality (Dolby Vision, HDR10+, Dolby Atmos etc) and you can have others watch it remotely (shareplay).
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What extra benefits are in TVOS 26?
Only the most recent Apple TV 4K also gets the somewhat transparent Liquid Glass-Or to which derivation of the content is prevented as much as possible. Because this new appearance looks like the latest versions of iOS, iPados and macOS, the operation remains familiar for users. The other new possibilities, such as the improved Karaoke-Meezing function, will also be available for the earlier Apple TV models on which you can install apps. With the image below, Apple showed developers the many innovations in TVOS 26. It is striking that TVOS has to do without the new gaming app that will be available for iOS, iPados and macOS.
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Content more visible with Liquid Glass
In the Liquid Glass-Dorming the icons get more depth and glowing parts. The control panel is transparent, so that you keep seeing the film or the app in the background. The elements and buttons are, as it were, for the content. Also with the video player the timeline is transparent and the buttons have the Liquid Glass appearance. Apple’s own apps have all been equipped with the new style in TVOS 26 from the start.
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Because Apple for this transparent style Real-time rendering Used, this will only be available for the most recent Apple TV 4K from 2021. By the end of 2025 we also expect the arrival of a third generation of Apple TV 4K with a powerful processor that is already suitable for new Apple Intelligence functions and more advanced games. It is striking that not much in TVOS 26 Apple Intelligence-Functions are present. Compared to the Google TV streamer with built-in Gemini functions, TVOS 26 is left behind. A plus of TVOS compared to Android TV is that you are not so harassed with advertisements. That can be a reason that will soon make more people choose the latest Apple TV.
Sing along with your iPhone in TVOS 26
On the last Apple TV 4K you can use an improved sing -along function in Apple’s music app, where you can completely remove the original singing voice or make it sound softer. With the text you have to sing at that moment, you see the translation and how to pronounce the words. That way you can later sing songs in all kinds of foreign languages. Within the same wifin network you will soon be able to use iPhones (from iPhone 11) as a microphone to sing with or encourage the singers. You can also send emojis from your iPhone that come into the picture with the lyrics and also submit the following songs. Nice to try out at the next party.
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More ease of use with profiles
When starting the Apple TV, click on your personal account (see image above). This has become much easier to change user profile. This way, every family member can easily look further, listen or play from the moment it stopped last time. You will also receive recommendations that match your viewing and listening behavior. Developers can further use a login function with the user’s Apple account, so that you no longer have to create an account per app. This also makes it possible for apps to automatically forward you to your own profile in Disney+, for example.
Image calling on the large TV screen
On the Apple TV you only see reports of incoming conversations for the active user. In addition to your regular telephone conversations, these are also Facetime-Audio soil calls. You can then start a conversation via connected HomePods or your iPhone. Bee Facetime-Taples also appears the image of the contact. Conversations in French, German, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin and Spanish are also visible on the screen as text. Unfortunately, Dutch is not yet included. You can also respond quickly with a standard notification.
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Other innovations
- The films and episodes icons are shown slightly narrower so that you see more choices (see image above).
- Closing subscriptions within Apple TV app
- Improved spatial audio order and fast graphic 4K images via support from Metal 4.
- New accessibility labels in App Store
- TVOS 26 contains some new ‘flying’ screensavers With nature images from India: Goa and Kerala. Inside Institutions any user can take screensavers Choose per category which screensavers You want to see.
- From now on you can also set other AirPlay speakers to play music. Previously this was only possible for Apple’s own HomePod speakers. You keep hearing Apple TV system sounds and games through the boxes of your TV.