Apple Reveals tvOS 12 With Dolby Atmos Support for Apple TV 4K, Aerial Screensaver Updates, and More

Apple today announced tvOS 12, which will introduce support for Dolby Atmos surround sound technology in the Apple TV 4K. When the update appears later in the year, iTunes will automatically update compatible movies with Dolby Atmos support for free.

With the addition of Dolby Atmos, Apple said that this makes the Apple TV 4K the only streaming box with support for both 4K and Atmos. Additionally, iTunes will become the "home to the largest collection of Dolby Atmos-supported movies anywhere" after the update.

apple tv tvos 12
Apple also reiterated the Apple TV as a game-changer for the television market, announcing that cable company Charter Communications will begin offering the Apple TV 4K to its customers this year (in a similar vein to promotions from DirecTV Now). Secondly, customers will have access to live channels and thousands of on-demand programs through a new Spectrum TV app on tvOS and iOS.

Apple is upgrading Single sign-on for Apple TV and iOS with "zero sign-on," wherein the Apple TV detects the user's broadband network and automatically signs them in to "all the supported apps they receive through their subscription - no typing required." Zero sign-on support will launch with Charter in 2018 and roll out to other providers "over time."

The company is also upgrading Aerial screensavers in tvOS 12 with new Earth footage captured in collaboration with the International Space Station National Lab and the Center for the Advancement of Science in Space. The screensavers have been taken by NASA astronauts and filmed in 4K HDR, and all Apple TV Aerial screensavers will now be more interactive with location information and swipe-to-change features through the Siri Remote.

apple tv tvos 12 screensaver
A few other tvOS 12 updates include:

- With iOS 12, users can securely AutoFill passwords from iPhone and iPad to Apple TV to easily sign in to Apple TV apps.
- The Apple TV Remote will be automatically added to Control Center on iPhone or iPad for Apple TV users, giving users quick access to Apple TV controls.
- Home control systems like Control4, Crestron and Savant can be used to control Apple TV, including using Siri for voice search and control.

tvOS 12 will launch for all users as a free software update for the 4th generation Apple TV and Apple TV 4K in fall 2018.

Related Roundup: Apple TV
Buyer's Guide: Apple TV (Don't Buy)

Popular Stories

iPhone 16 Pro Sizes Feature

iPhone 16 Series Is Less Than Two Months Away: Everything We Know

Thursday July 25, 2024 5:43 am PDT by
Apple typically releases its new iPhone series around mid-September, which means we are about two months out from the launch of the iPhone 16. Like the iPhone 15 series, this year's lineup is expected to stick with four models – iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max – although there are plenty of design differences and new features to take into account. To bring ...
iPhone SE 4 Vertical Camera Feature

iPhone SE 4 Production Will Reportedly Begin Ramping Up in October

Tuesday July 23, 2024 2:00 pm PDT by
Following nearly two years of rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE, The Information today reported that Apple suppliers are finally planning to begin ramping up mass production of the device in October of this year. If accurate, that timeframe would mean that the next iPhone SE would not be announced alongside the iPhone 16 series in September, as expected. Instead, the report...
Apple Intelligence General Feature

Apple Intelligence Now Available in New iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia Developer Betas

Monday July 29, 2024 10:07 am PDT by
Apple is today providing developers with the first betas of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, with the new software introducing an early version of the Apple Intelligence features. These new betas will be in testing alongside the current iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia 15 betas. Developers can choose whether to opt into the new betas with Apple Intelligence, or stay on the ...
icloud private relay outage

iCloud Private Relay Experiencing Outage

Thursday July 25, 2024 3:18 pm PDT by
Apple’s iCloud Private Relay service is down for some users, according to Apple’s System Status page. Apple says that the iCloud Private Relay service may be slow or unavailable. The outage started at 2:34 p.m. Eastern Time, but it does not appear to be affecting all iCloud users. Some impacted users are unable to browse the web without turning iCloud Private Relay off, while others are...

Top Rated Comments

applemacfan007 Avatar
80 months ago
Probably the best news today!
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Niclisten Avatar
80 months ago
Probably the best news today!
Exactly what I was thinking and the presenter presented well. Unlike some of the others.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
edw79 Avatar
80 months ago
BTW, the claim that ATV will be the only streaming box with Atmos and HDR is not true, the FireTV does it now.One would have to rewatch the Keynote to be sure, but I believe they said it is the only one to be certified Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos. The FireTV is certified for HDR 10, but not Dolby Vison. But my memory could be wrong.

Attachment Image
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
foxcub6 Avatar
80 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/06/04/apple-tv-4k-gaining-atmos/')


Apple today announced that the Apple TV 4K will gain support for Dolby Atmos surround sound technology. When the update appears later in the year, iTunes will automatically update compatible movies with Dolby Atmos support for free.



With the addition of Dolby Atmos, Apple said that this makes the Apple TV 4K the only streaming box with support for both 4K and Atmos.

Other features coming to tVOS include "Zero Sign-on," so that if you're on your TV provider's broadband network, Apple will securely unlock all apps connected to a subscription service.

For the Apple TV's Aerial screensavers, you'll be able to tap to see descriptions of where each video was shot, and can swipe between screensavers. There will also be new Aerials of Earth taken from the International Space Station.

Article Link: Apple TV 4K Gaining Support for Dolby Atmos in 2018 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2018/06/04/apple-tv-4k-gaining-atmos/')
I was hoping for Philips hue sync for the Apple TV maybe next year
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
ersan191 Avatar
80 months ago
Netflix already has some Atmos offerings though not many. VUDU also offers Atmos titles in their rentals. I think I saw something on Amazon that had Atmos but can't remember for sure. Like you, I wish there were more offerings.

I don't know what Sonos is going to announce, but Samsung already has a 5.1.4 Atmos soundbar and will be releasing their new 7.1.4 Atmos soundbar setup in the next few days.

BTW, the claim that ATV will be the only streaming box with Atmos and HDR is not true, the FireTV does it now.
They specifically said Dolby Vision HDR because the vast majority of STB’s do not support Dolby Vision (because it costs extra to license), only HDR10 (which is free).

Whoever wrote the MR article misquoted, it should say Dolby vision and Atmos not 4K and Atmos
Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)
RamGuy Avatar
80 months ago
Dolby Atmos is great and all. But until services like Netflix, Amazon Prime etc starts offering TV-shows and Movies with Dolby Atmos (they are mostly offering Dolby Stereo and Dolby Digital Plus) I won't really benefit anytime soon.

Sonos is also going to announce something new for the living room in two days and I'm eager to see if that might be a new sound bar solution offering Dolby Atmos. It would be the perfect timing.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)