tvOS 18 Beta 6: More Enhancements for the Apple TV 4K

Apple has seeded the sixth beta of its upcoming tvOS 18 update to developers for testing. This release comes just a week after the fifth beta was made available. This signifies that Apple is making significant progress in refining tvOS 18 before its official launch. The new beta is compatible with the Apple TV 4K (1st and 2nd generation) and the Apple TV HD. Developers can download the beta to their Apple TV using Xcode after installing the appropriate profile.

InSight: Enhanced Viewing Experience

tvOS 18 brings a new InSight feature to the TV app. This feature is designed to provide real-time information about actors, music, and other details within Apple TV+ shows and music. It works similarly to the X-Ray feature found in Amazon Prime Video. Viewers can access InSight information directly on their iPhone when using it as an Apple TV remote.

Enhanced Dialogue: Crystal Clear Audio

Enhanced Dialogue has been improved in tvOS 18 through the integration of machine learning and computational audio. These advancements allow the feature to better boost vocal clarity over background music and noise. In addition to HomePod speakers, users can now enjoy Enhanced Dialogue through built-in TV speakers, HDMI-connected speakers, AirPods, and other Bluetooth-connected devices. This enhanced audio experience extends to supported content played on iPhones and iPads.

Automatic Subtitles: Seamless Viewing

Subtitles will now display automatically in relevant situations, such as when the TV's volume is muted, a show or movie is rewound, or the language of a show doesn't match the device language. This feature improves accessibility for viewers who rely on subtitles. It also creates a more seamless viewing experience for those who want to understand content in a different language.

21:9 Support and New Screen Savers

tvOS 18 introduces 21:9 support for playing movies and shows on projectors. This aspect ratio is becoming increasingly common for widescreen content, and Apple TV 4K users can now fully immerse themselves in these cinematic experiences. The update also brings new screen savers, such as Portraits, TV and Movies, and even Snoopy. Furthermore, the ability to easily change between screen savers has been enhanced.

Live Captions in FaceTime: Enhanced Accessibility

For users who prefer connecting an Apple TV 4K to a projector, tvOS 18 beta 6 introduces one of its most noteworthy features: 21:9 support for playing movies and shows. This update also adds new screen savers, such as Portraits, TV and Movies, and even Snoopy, along with improved controls for switching screen savers.

The Future of tvOS 18

While these new features are exciting for Apple TV 4K users, it's important to note that these are still early betas. Apple usually warns against installing betas on daily driver devices due to potential bugs and instability. It is advisable to install betas only on dedicated testing devices. With the official release drawing nearer, we can expect Apple to add more features, such as the TV and Movies screen savers that were announced during the WWDC 2024 keynote.