New Apple tvOS finally brings comfort of iOS to your TV

By Joshua Smith September 15, 2015

While the headline attractions at Apple’s most recent event were the 13-inch iPad Pro and iPhone 6S, the biggest leap forward announced at Apple’s latest keynote was the new and improved Apple TV. Boasting a slightly taller form factor and a completely redesigned touch remote, this new piece of home theater hardware attempts to bridge the gap between iOS and your TV.

With tvOS, a completely new operating system working at the core of the device, the new user interface and app store will be a welcoming sight to users. Siri is at the heart of the new Apple TV. Voice search works across most of the video streaming apps available, and you can ask Siri a series of questions to narrow the results.

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In this episode of “Explained”, Joshua Smith breaks down everything that’s new in tvOS, along with the potential of Apple’s new set top streaming box. See how the software is already being used, how you can expect to use it and more in this quick video.

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Apple TV with Zoom means it’s finally time to call your mother

Zoom on Apple TV.

Zoom on Apple TV uses your iPhone as a camera (sweet dog blanket not included). Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

Zoom is now available on Apple TV, complete with Continuity Camera. That means you can use your iPhone camera as, well, the camera and your TV as the screen on which to see the folks on the other side of the call. And because Zoom is a cross-platform app, it means you don't have anymore excuses for your Android-wielding family.

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Apple TV’s tvOS 17.2 beta adds a sidebar to the TV app

The new sidebar visible in the TV app on Apple TV in the tvOS 17.2 developer beta.

The new sidebar is visible in the TV app on Apple TV in the tvOS 17.2 developer beta. Phil Nickinson / Digital Trends

One of the messier pieces of the Apple TV experience on Apple TV 4K hardware has long been Apple's TV app. It's where Apple has attempted to aggregate all the things you can watch on your Apple TV, from Apple TV+ to any number of installed applications. (Another seriously messy piece is the myriad things Apple has named "Apple TV." But that's another problem for another time.)

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VPNs are coming to Apple TV in tvOS 17

VPN listing in the Apple TV App Store.

As is often the case with Apple's major press releases, some of the more interesting (if obscure) details often are tucked away toward the end, or even in the footnotes. Case in point: Support for third-party VPNs is coming to Apple TV when tvOS 17 is released this fall.

For most normal folks, that's probably not a huge deal. You plug in your Apple TV at home or wherever, and it just works. But for some folks, it's going to open up a world of fun.