Skip to main content

Sling TV, a host of other features come to the Apple TV at WWDC

The Apple TV has been around for quite a while now, but due to the relatively closed nature of previous models, this is the first WWDC where developers have had plenty of time working with the device and where Apple could announce new developer-focused features. Some may have feared the device could already have been forgotten by Apple, but it’s now clear that is very much not the case.

Eddy Cue, Apple senior vice president of internet software and services, began the tvOS portion of the WWDC keynote by comparing older generations of the Apple TV to the new one. While prior generations had in the neighborhood of 80 channels, the new model boasts more than 1.300 channels and over 6,000 tvOS native apps. As far as the company is concerned, that is just the beginning.

WWDC 2016: Apple puts smart-home access in the control center with iOS 10

That was far from the most important part of the presentation, however — at least as far as the audience was concerned. That moment came later on when Cue lamented the lengthy authentication processes required by many cable network channels like ESPN and AMC before offering up a solution in the form of a new Single Sign-On feature. This lets users sign in once on the Apple TV and gain instant access to any of the other services supporting the new feature. A significant number of channels seem ready to support this out of the gate, and it’s likely plenty more will in the future.

Ease of finding content to watch was another important part of the tvOS presentation. In an upcoming update, Siri is about to get much smarter, allowing users to search for movies by topics, as well as simply say “watch ESPN2” and immediately tune in, instead of needing to navigate a series of icons and menus. For those who would still rather work that way, a new and improved Apple TV Remote app for iPhone will allow text entry with the keyboard, in addition to supporting the gyroscope and accelerometer for playing games.

While Apple has clearly been focusing on allowing users to jump in and out of various channels to approximate a live TV experience, the company still can’t emulate that experience perfectly. Fortunately, Sling TV, which offers that exact live TV experience, is coming to the Apple TV. Even better, the app will feature a new user interface specifically designed for use on Apple’s streaming box.

Sling TV now also offers more channels than ever before. The company announced Monday that 12 channels from Viacom, including Comedy Central, BET, Spike, MTV, and Nick Jr., are coming to both its single-stream service and multistream beta, while content from FXX, Nat Geo WILD, and FS2 are coming to the multistream core service.

As for other programming, Fox Sports Go is planned to arrive this summer, in addition to more than 100 live channels coming later this month. Other changes include a new dark mode for better viewing in dark rooms, and the ability for entertainment apps downloaded on your phone to automatically download on your Apple TV.

The preview of the forthcoming tvOS is available to developers now, with the new features coming to everyone this fall.

Editors' Recommendations

Kris Wouk
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kris Wouk is a tech writer, gadget reviewer, blogger, and whatever it's called when someone makes videos for the web. In his…
Get the most out of your Apple TV 4K (2022) with these tips and tricks
The Apple TV 4K standing vertically with the Apple logo showing from the front

Apple TV 4K is one of the best streaming devices you can buy. It's so capable that we're willing to bet it can do things you never knew it could. While Apple makes it very easy to pull Apple TV 4K out of the box and get right to streaming movies and TV shows, it is capable of so much more — and not just for Apple users. Though, let’s be frank, there are several features available only to those who own other Apple devices.

Trust me when we say that just a little bit of time invested in learning about this stuff pays off big as you use your Apple TV day after day. By the time we’re done, you will be an Apple TV power user.
Video guide

Read more
The least interesting things about the new Apple TV 4K
The new Apple TV 4K, 3rd-generation, with the Siri remote.

It's a big deal whenever Apple announces new products. OK, maybe not in the global scheme of things, but in our little world here, every sentence of every word of every press release is going to be scrutinized. Things that aren't a big deal are going to be turned into headlines. Blog. Blog. Blog.

And that's true again in the case of the latest Apple TV 4K, which will be available for everyone starting November 4. It is, for all intents and purposes, the same as the old one. It's better, sure. It's a little less expensive, which is great. It's almost certainly still the best streaming device you can buy. But the features that are getting the headlines? That's folks reaching for something to celebrate.

Read more
Go ahead and spend the extra $20 on the good Apple TV 4K
Apple TV 4K 2021.

Apple has announced two new versions of the Apple TV 4K. Both are good for all kinds of reasons. Better internals. New features. And prices that are much more likely to be competitive, even if they're still a good bit north of what folks are spending on the likes of Roku and Amazon Fire TV devices.

But two new Apple TV 4K boxes -- and the death of the lower-resolution Apple TV HD -- means you've got a decision to make. Which Apple TV 4K is right for you?

Read more