Saturday, November 23, 2024
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tvOS 14 gets native HomeKit integration, multi-user Apple Arcade support, more

Apple previewed tvOS 14 today at the virtual Worldwide Developer Conference keynote. Cindy Lin, director of Program Management, Apple, says it’s getting a brand new Home app for the Apple TV set-top box. 

It will add native HomeKit integration. This means you can control smart home products from your TV. 

Also, with the Home app and tvOS 14, you’ll be able to do things like view ‌HomeKit‌ Secure Video footage on the TV, either full screen or in a windowed mode, even as you view other content.

tvOS 13 brought multi-user support to the Apple TV for the very first time. Version 14 will bring that to gaming via Apple Arcade.

The update of the operating system will be able to keep track of individual achievements for all users, while Apple Arcade games will instantly resume from where you left them. This will apply even if multiple users have the same game open. 

Other features of tvOS 14:

° A dedicated picture-in-picture function so videos will continue playing in the corner of your screen even when you exit the app

° Improved photo and audio sharing. With AirPlay, the Photos app on the iPhone or iPad can display photos and videos in up to 4K resolution. Audio sharing will allow you to move what you’re listening to between your Apple devices.

Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers
Dennis Sellers is the editor/publisher of Apple World Today. He’s been an “Apple journalist” since 1995 (starting with the first big Apple news site, MacCentral). He loves to read, run, play sports, and watch movies.