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Apple TV, tvOS additions include single sign-on, upgraded Siri search
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MacNN Staff
Join Date: Jul 2012
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Taking to the stage, Eddy Cue presented upcoming changes to the Apple TV and the tvOS operating system, coming to consumers this fall. Multiple smaller updates are arriving in the update, with the fourth-generation set-top box now having over 6,000 native apps in total available to download after just seven months, and over 1,300 video channels available for users to view through the device.
The Apple TV Remote app for iPhone is being upgraded to make it closer to the Siri remote in terms of functionality. It offers touch control, voice for accessing Siri, motion control for use in games, and the ability to type searches using the onboard keyboard.
Siri is being made more useful for searches from the Apple TV. It is now possible to search for content by category, such as "high school comedies from the '80s," with Siri also able to search YouTube alongside the 650,000 movies and TV episodes it currently has access to.
For channel apps, Live Tune-In will allow users to quickly watch whatever is broadcast live on that channel. Asking Siri to "Watch ESPN2" will immediately load the app and play the stream, with no further input required. Staying with channel apps, the Single sign-on feature will let a user link their Apple TV to their cable or pay-TV provider once, enabling all the apps that they can use as part of their subscription, instead of needing to sign in to every single channel app. Both Live Tune-In and Single sign-on will also be available on iOS devices.
Other notable items include a dark mode for use in dimly-lit rooms and environments, and automatic downloads of apps to the Apple TV when downloaded to an iOS device. Cue also mentioned support for up to four game controllers as part of a longer list of other additions to the operating system.
Developers are getting immediate access to tvOS APIs, including ReplayKit for replaying videos, PhotoKit for accessing image assets, and HomeKit support.
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Last edited by NewsPoster; Jun 13, 2016 at 04:24 PM.
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Senior User
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How about Single Sign-up?! That's where you sign up for all these various "channels" directly through your Apple TV instead of needing to have a costly yet redundant cable/satellite subscription.
While it has great programming, I won't deny the main reason I have HBO Now subscription on my Apple TV is the satisfaction in knowing my cable company has never and will never get a single penny from me to enjoy HBO.
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Managing Editor
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Originally Posted by pairof9s 
How about Single Sign-up?! That's where you sign up for all these various "channels" directly through your Apple TV instead of needing to have a costly yet redundant cable/satellite subscription.
While it has great programming, I won't deny the main reason I have HBO Now subscription on my Apple TV is the satisfaction in knowing my cable company has never and will never get a single penny from me to enjoy HBO.
That's not really up to Apple, but would be excellent.
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Senior User
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I agree, Mike...and I'm well aware that this is really out of the hands of Apple. But with the addition of Sling TV today on Apple TV G4, those last vestiges of needing cable/satellite subscriptions keep slipping away, at least for me.
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