Everything’s New in tvOS 18: Apple TV’s Biggest Update Yet

Apple recently unveiled tvOS 18, a major update for Apple TV that introduces a wealth of new features and improvements designed to enhance the entertainment experience. This update focuses on improving user interactions, improving sound quality, and deepening integration with other Apple devices and services. Let’s take a look at the key features of tvOS 18:

Siri takes center stage

tvOS 18 brings significant improvements to Siri, making interactions with Apple TV more intuitive and efficient. With the new update, you can use the power of Siri to navigate directly to specific moments in the show, allowing you to quickly jump to your favorite scenes. Additionally, Siri can now identify background songs in content you’re watching and seamlessly add them to Apple Music playlists, creating seamless integration between watching and listening to music.

Immersive audio experience

In tvOS 18, audio clarity has been greatly improved with the introduction of Improved dialogue. Using advanced machine learning algorithms, this feature intelligently emphasizes speech over background noise, ensuring you hear every word with pristine clarity. Whether you’re using your TV’s built-in speakers, a dedicated receiver, AirPods, or HomePods, Enhanced Dialogue works seamlessly across all audio output devices to deliver a consistent, clear, and immersive audio experience.

Intuitive gesture controls and accessibility features

tvOS 18 introduces innovative ways to interact with Apple TV, making it more accessible and convenient than ever before. With Gesture Control, you can now effortlessly manage calls with simple head gestures while wearing AirPods. A quick nod or shake of the head lets you control call features, providing a hands-free experience. Additionally, tvOS 18 offers automatic subtitles that activate when you mute the sound or rewind the video, so you can be sure you’ll never miss important dialogue.

Deeper integration with HomeKit and Home Hub

Apple TV becomes an even more integral part of your smart home setup with tvOS 18. The update introduces deeper integration with HomeKit and the Home Hub, expanding support for a wider range of devices, including robot vacuums. You now have the ability to manually select home hubs, preventing automatic switching and giving you more control over your smart home setup.

• Supports 21:9 aspect ratio, perfect for projector setups
• New portrait section in screensavers using iCloud Photos
• Adding a nostalgic screensaver with Snoopy

Fitness Plus redesign and energy tracking

Fitness enthusiasts will appreciate the redesigned Fitness Plus app in tvOS 18. The update introduces personalized activity selection and an improved layout, making it easier to discover and engage in workouts tailored to your preferences. Additionally, in partnership with PG&E, tvOS 18 introduces energy usage tracking, allowing you to monitor and manage your energy usage directly from Apple TV, promoting a more sustainable lifestyle.

Enhanced performance and privacy with on-device Siri processing

tvOS 18 takes a significant step forward in terms of performance and privacy by introducing Siri processing on-device. With this update, Siri requests are processed locally on your Apple TV, resulting in faster response times and less reliance on internet communications. This improvement not only improves overall performance, but also strengthens privacy by keeping your requests within the confines of your device.

Enhanced SharePlay and FaceTime capabilities

SharePlay is getting a significant update in tvOS 18, allowing other users to control music playback via a QR code, even if they don’t have an Apple Music subscription. This feature makes sharing and enjoying music with friends and family easier than ever. Additionally, FaceTime on Apple TV now supports live captions and Center Stage, which increases accessibility and ensures you stay center of the frame during video calls.

• Improved display of library and albums in the Photos app
• More vibrant and expressive background colors across applications
• Broad device compatibility, supporting models as old as the 2015 Apple TV HD.

tvOS 18 marks a significant milestone in the evolution of Apple TV, offering a range of innovative features and improvements that take the user experience to new levels. With improved Siri functionality, immersive audio, intuitive gesture control, deeper smart home integration and expanded accessibility features, tvOS 18 solidifies Apple TV’s position as the central hub for entertainment and home automation. Whether you’re a long-time Apple TV user or are considering joining the ecosystem, tvOS 18 promises to deliver an engaging and feature-rich experience that meets your diverse needs and preferences.

Source and author of the photo: Half Man Half Tech

Filed in: Apple, Technology News, Top News

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