You've probably heard by now that Apple unveiled an all-new Apple TV with an all-new remote, but because the company was tight on time, it glossed over some really interesting features for both devices.
Available in late October at $149 for the
32GB model and $199 for the 64GB configuration, the new Apple TV comes with a
fresh operating system, sleek interface, and voice-command functionality, to
name a few things.
With
that in mind, and to help you better understand what else is awesome about the
latest version of Apple's set-top box, we've dug through all the just-announced
details and rounded up 10 of the coolest features.
Let
us know in the comments what you think about the new Apple TV. Also, if you're
looking for more information, we've pitted the box against the old Apple TV in
a comparison piece, which you can read here.
New iOS-based operating system: tv OS
We
can't delve into Apple TV features without first addressing one major change:
Apple has added a new operating system to its set-top box. The new software
offers an interface that's pretty similar to the old interface, though Apple
has cleaned it up and replaced the black background with white.
Apple
is calling its new operating system "tvOS". It is based on iOS, with
various modifications added, such as support for the new remote. Beyond the
interface, core aspects of tvOS include voice search through Siri, universal
search across apps, a full-fledged app store, support for gaming, and more.
But
we'll delve into those features some more in just a bit...
New apps: Use apps built just for the
new Apple TV
The new Apple TV is all about apps, thanks
to the new Apple TV App Store, which Apple wants developers to make exclusive
tvOS-based apps and games for (a beta version of the SDK is already out for
developers).
At
Wednesday’s Apple event, Gilt Groupe’s CEO, Michelle Peluso, showed off the new
Gilt app designed specifically for Apple TV. He showed how you can scroll or
swipe with the new remote to navigate through the Glit app.
Buy-now
buttons appear on carousel views and product pages, and so with the press of
the remote, you can buy stuff. Netflix, Hulu, and HBO have also released new
apps for tvOS.
iTunes
Movies has been redesigned too, while the Apple Music app will soon deliver
Beats 1 radio.
New remote: touchpad,
motion-sensitive, Siri, etc
Apple
The Apple TV has a new remote with
motion-sensing capabilities. It's a slim controller decked out with a touchpad
and buttons for menu, home, volume, and Siri. The dual mics for Siri are
located at the top, while the black touchpad is cloaked in glass and clicks
(much like the MacBook's trackpad).
You'll
also notice a small IR port for issuing volume commands to your TV, and at the
bottom, there's a Lightning port for charging the remote's battery, which is
supposed to last for three months on a single charge. You won't find a TV power
button, though if your new TV has HDMI CEC, it can turn it off or on.
The
remote also connects to Apple TV over Bluetooth 4.0, so there's no need to
point it at the box.
Flip it sideways: New remote doubles
as a controller
So,
the touchpad lets you navigate through the new interface by sliding your finger
across its surface, but as if that wasn't enough, you can turn the remote
sideways to turn it into a controller for gaming. The remote has built-in
accelerometer and gyroscope sensors, so it acts much like a Wii controller.
Touch away: Swipe down on the remote
to cue up info
Apple
So, Apple TV is coming with a new remote.
We've already noted you can use it to rewind or skip forward, but did you know
it can cue up information? A quick downward swipe on the trackpad brings up details
on what you're watching.
Gaming with friends: They can join
with their iPhones
We've
already told you the Apple TV lets you play games using the new remote. But if
your friends don't have a remote, don't worry. Up to four players can join a
game with their iPhones or iPod touches. Apple told Pocket-lint after its event
that the new Apple TV will support third-party gamepads as well.
Universal voice search: Ask Siri to
fetch you a movie
Apple TV comes with support for Siri,
bringing voice-controlled, smart search to the set-top box.
All
results are sorted by popularity, and when you ask Siri to find a movie, TV
show, or song, she'll search not only iTunes, but also Netflix, Hulu, Showtime,
and HBO. You can also conduct searches by actors and genres. You can say, for
instance, "Show me Bond movies" or "Just the ones with Sean
Connery."
Skip around: Ask Siri to jump forward
or backward
Siri
won't just fetch stuff for you; she'll also scrub for you. She can move
whatever you're watching forward or backward. All you have to say is:
"Siri, skip back 7 seconds" or "What did he/she say again?"
But if you don't want to use Siri for that, you can also click and slide on the
new remote to scrub.
Digital assistant: Ask Siri to check
the weather, etc
Apple
Let's not forget that Siri is a digital
assistant first and foremost, and that's no different with the Apple TV. She
can pull up weather reports or answer your questions, and she'll display all
answers and results along the bottom of your display. If you want that in
full-screen action, swipe up on the remote.
Stream from iPhone: Play 4K videos,
but in 1080p
The
new iPhones are capable of recording 4K videos, and you'll of course be able to
play them on your television through Apple TV, but because the new box doesn't
support 4K, all videos will be downgraded to 1080p at 60fps.
Smart home galore: tvOS is integrated
with HomeKit
It's
been rumoured that the new Apple TV would launch with support for HomeKit,
Apple's framework that is meant to simplify the current state of home
automation. Apple was dodgy when it asked directly if it included such
integration, though it said HomeKit is in the tvOS SDK for developers.
So,
theoretically, developers could one day make their apps for smart devices
deliver notifications through Apple TV. Also, you might be able to control
those smart devices using Siri via Apple TV. But that's all just speculation
for now.
No comments:
Post a Comment