In total, three new software updates were announced during the WWDC 2018 Keynote. We have already covered some of macOS Mojave and iOS 12. However, what about the new tvOS 12?
Apple TV and tvOS 12 held a rather short amount of the spotlight during the keynote. However, Apple did reveal quite a few new features that will be coming to Apple TV owners this fall.
Without a doubt, the largest announcement came in the form of Dolby Atmos support. This had long been rumored, but Apple finally made it official.
The move to include Dolby Atmos comes after the release of the Apple TV 4K with Dolby Vision support. Once released, Apple states that iTunes will be the “largest collection of Dolby Atmos-supported movies anywhere.”
All of the compatible titles will include Dolby Atmos audio for free. This is great considering that Apple has automatically offered free 4K HDR upgrades to previously purchased movies.
Finally, the Apple TV 4K will be the only streaming player that is both Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos certified.
NASA Screensavers
One of the best features of the Apple TV is its aerial screensavers. In the past, these screensavers were “just” of different cities and locations across the globe.
With the release of tvOS 12, Apple will be bringing screensavers from space to your living room. The company partnered with NASA and the International Space Station to show off various scenes.
These scenes will be shot by NASA astronauts and will be displayed in 4K glory on your TV’s. Plus, Apple is bringing the ability to be more interactive with the new aerial screensavers as a whole.
Zero Sign-on
Being forced to constantly sign in with your cable subscription information can be a pain. Apple had hoped to ease the pain with the release of tvOS 11 and its “single sign-in” feature.
That hasn’t quite worked out as planned and has been scratched from tvOS 12. Instead, Apple is introducing “Zero Sign-on”.
Your Apple TV will automatically be able to detect your service provider and will automatically log into any supported apps. Want to catch up on SportsCenter? Fire up the ESPN app and let the Apple TV work its magic.
The service will first be made available to Charter Communications customers. Then, Apple will be hoping to bring this functionality to more broadband subscribers “over time”.
Charter Communications Partnership
In addition to partnering with Charter for “Zero Sign-on”, Apple also had some more goodies. The two companies have partnered to bring a new Spectrum TV app to almost 50 million homes.
This will not only give you access to the vast library of on-demand programs. But, you will also get access to live-tv, providing an all-in-one TV experience.
Apple TV Remote
With the release of iOS 12 and tvOS 12, Apple is making life easier for Apple TV subscribers. Whenever you update to iOS 12, the Apple TV Remote application will be pre-installed on your iPhone or iPad.
There will be a new icon in your Control Center, allowing you to ditch the remote and use your phone. Of course, there you will be able to continue using the standard app or your remote, if you choose to.
Autofilling Passwords
In addition to pre-installing the Apple TV Remote app on your iPhone, there is some extra functionality coming. The latest version of the Remote app will allow users to take advantage of AutoFill.
This will make it much easier to automatically sign into various Apple TV applications. Additionally, AutoFill will be made available on both iPhone and iPad to work with your tvOS 12-updated Apple TV.
HomeKit Integration
While it was a Godsend that Siri was integrated into the Apple TV Remote, there was just something missing in the smart home game. tvOS 12 will be changing that as HomeKit will be on board.
The update will allow you to interact with various home control systems such as Control4, Crestron, and Savant. This integration will even work with Siri and you can control any Crestron-enabled devices.
Conclusion
While tvOS 12 may not be the biggest update ever, there are still a lot of new features on board. We are sure that there are others hidden away, so stay tuned for more coverage of Apple’s latest tvOS update.
Andrew is a freelance writer based on the East Coast of the US.
He has written for a variety of sites over the years, including iMore, Android Central, Phandroid, and a few others. Now, he spends his days working for an HVAC company, while moonlighting as a freelance writer at night.
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