This is a quietly big year for the Apple TV and tvOS

Apple today released a number of public betas across iOS, iPadOS, macOS and watchOS. But what I’m trying to say here is that you shouldn’t sleep on it. other A new beta version was released today. This is for tvOS 17. Your first impression after installation might be “Hmm…is that all?” There are no obvious interface changes or game-changing redesigns.

But the more you dig into the latest Apple TV software release, the more it becomes clear that this is one of the most significant updates Apple’s streaming box has received in years. Introducing FaceTime on the big screen.the control center so Much better than before. There are also several new features that demonstrate the unparalleled cohesion of Apple’s ecosystem across platforms.

If you’re willing to take the risk and test the early beta, the TV streaming box in your living room is a fairly low-risk option for checking out new features. I feel much more comfortable throwing tvOS 17 on my Apple TV 4K than diving into iOS 17 or iPadOS 17 on my primary device, at least until a few more releases. In the unlikely event that all else fails, you’ll need to contact Apple for customer support. But I’ve never experienced that level of headache with past tvOS betas.

Apple seems happy with the current state of the Apple TV’s software for general entertainment purposes. The home screen remains a grid of apps, but like Roku, the company seems reluctant to move away from such a simple interface. If you want a faster content transfer experience, you can always visit the Apple TV app to access the Up Next queue across various streaming services, watch Apple TV Plus originals, and watch movies. You can rent something.

tvOS 17 isn’t trying to reinvent this. Each row now has 6 icons so he can add more apps to the main ‘dock’ at the top of the screen, but this is just as interesting as the major interface changes Thing. Apple no longer seems obsessed with becoming an all-inclusive aggregation hub for streaming entertainment. Netflix has rejected any effort to create a universal watchlist outside of Apple, Google and other apps. So what does it all mean? Right now, things are more fragmented than I’d like, but content owners and streaming services are putting up such walls for their own self-interest.

Instead, Apple is improving and tweaking areas of the Apple TV experience. can Take full control. And it starts with one of the iPhone’s first major ecosystem tricks.

Let me just say one thing. Yes, this would have been nice, say, a few years ago, when we were all in lockdown quarantine due to the pandemic. I guess it’s better than never being late, especially when it runs so smoothly.

FaceTime on Apple TV seamlessly uses your iPhone as a continuous camera (just like you can on your Mac), so you can point the camera at yourself and put it on the TV stand and you’ll see yourself on screen alongside anyone else. . I am chatting with Standard FaceTime gimmicks like Center Stage and on-screen effects like hearts and fireworks that can be triggered by certain gestures are also available.

And this iPhone-as-camera setup goes further than FaceTime or traditional video chat. It can also be used for karaoke sessions using Apple Music’s Sing feature, which removes vocals from songs and displays lyrics on screen. You can now enable the continuous camera feature to view the performer’s video feed and apply visual filters.

Are you stupid? Certainly for some. But it’s hard for me to imagine something like the underpowered Chromecast with Google TV being able to perform some of these functions so smoothly. Apple is slowly starting to soften the power of its silicon and begin to distance itself between the streaming box and his sub-$100 competitors.

The Continuity Camera on tvOS is also open to developers, and Zoom and WebEx already plan to release apps on the platform. Again, it’s late, but I’m sure these apps will still come in handy from time to time.

A feature of the Apple TV’s Control Center is that it can almost always be ignored. This is for those who need it (or who need to switch user profiles on the fly), but without having to invoke a collection of toggles or shortcuts, you can use the Siri Remote to interact with tvOS and content. It’s not bad just to enjoy

This year Apple will make Control Center something I consider essential and much more useful. The layout is tight, but the information is denser. AirPods and audio settings are prominently placed, there are plenty of buttons and switches for smart home gadgets, and some “why didn’t this exist yet?” Convenience features such as a sleep timer placed among other controls. No more dozing off while your Apple TV is on all night.

That was the last time I frantically searched under the couch for my Apple TV remote. And it feels so good to hear you say that. TV OS 17 finally We’ve added a remote finder feature that allows iPhone owners to track the tiny aluminum clicker in less time. It’s not as accurate as the AirTag, and I certainly prefer that level of accuracy, but the iPhone’s “warm, warm, it must be somewhere here” animation is easy enough to understand that you don’t need any help at all. is certain.

If you’re one of those who are deeply involved in the Apple ecosystem and use the 2nd Gen HomePod as a speaker for Apple TV 4K, the shows and movies you’re watching will sound even clearer with tvOS 17. I guess. The ‘Enhance Dialogue’ setting better separates what is being said from all other action and brings it further to the fore in the center channel mix.

Audio enhancement modes aren’t new to soundbars and home theater gear, but more and more companies are trying to solve the “what did you just say?” question. A dilemma about software tricks. Amazon’s Prime Video service introduced a Dialogue Boost feature for some content in April.

There’s something magical about the 4K screensaver on Apple TV. You’ll find yourself staring at it for a few minutes in a zen-like state. Apple said the final release of tvOS 17 will include “a collection of stunning new locations, including Monument Valley in Arizona and Sequoias along the California coast.” These weren’t present in the first beta, but hopefully they’ll be added soon. If you’re tired of beautiful aerial shots, you can also display memories from your personal photo library as a screensaver.

The tvOS 17 update also comes with some minor quality of life improvements. These include behind-the-scenes improvements such as support for third-party his VPN apps and upgrading Dolby Vision to version 8.1 to support a wider net of HDR content.

You can start using tvOS 17 Beta today. The final public version will be released this fall along with the rest of Apple’s major software updates. There are still big changes that I want. Apple is far behind in integrating live TV services like YouTube TV and Sling TV natively into its tvOS software. With a live guide somewhere, everything doesn’t feel siled. Amazon, Google, and even Roku have done a better job of making live TV a core part of their streaming gadget experience. Apple will never launch a live TV subscription package, so it just needs to take the plunge and spread the olive branch to companies that are already doing well.

But at least it’s clear that Apple hasn’t forgotten about tvOS this year. Quite the opposite. Apple TV is growing to be much bigger than the Netflix box. If other streaming he pays higher than the player, so should he. do We are starting to realize more.