Apple TV’s New Innovations for tvOS 17
Apple TV’s innovations in the operating system have often been just a footnote at Apple’s keynote at the WWDC developer conference, but this year, the company showed off some useful improvements for tvOS 17. One of the most impressive upgrades is the linkage with iOS devices.
Video Conferencing on the Television
For the first time, Apple TV allows users to work with their popular FaceTime app on Apple TV devices. This means you can hold a video conference on what is probably the largest screen in the apartment. Apple uses an existing iPhone in the home via its continuity camera function, which is already familiar from the Mac. The video signal is then transmitted to the multimedia box via WLAN. Even the center stage feature is available, which focuses the camera on the person and recognizes gestures and reacts with animations.
Split View, Control Center, Find Lost Remote Control
In the future, tvOS will also have a split view display for multitasking, making Multiview available for the entire system. Apple also introduced a revised interface of tvOS 17 with a control center for quick access to important settings and support for Dolby Vision 8.1. It can also integrate third-party VPNs and find lost Siri remote controls again. There is a “Where is?”-like interface on the iPhone for this.
Fitness+ and API for Continuity Camera
Subscribers to Fitness+ get personalized workouts that can also be combined into entire fitness sessions. For Continuity Camera on tvOS 17, Apple announced an API, so providers like Zoom or WebEx can use the feature for their own Apple TV apps.
Overall, the new features of tvOS 17 offer exciting new possibilities and upgrades for Apple TV users. While it would have been nice to have access to video conferencing earlier on, it is still a welcome addition to the system. With this new operating system, Apple TV continues to demonstrate its commitment to providing innovative and user-friendly technology.
