Apple has just seeded the first beta for tvOS 9.2, the platform that runs on the new Apple TV set-top box. With this release, it arrives just over one month since Apple released the public release of tvOS 9.1, which was the first major update to the fourth-generation Apple TV platform.
tvOS betas are more difficult to install than beta updates for iOS and OS X. Installing the tvOS beta requires the Apple TV to be connected to a computer with a USB-C to USB-A cable, with the software downloaded and installed via iTunes.
What’s New in tvOS 9.2
Since the release of the new software for Apple’s fourth-generation Apple TV, some noteworthy new features have been discovered:
- Folders: Similar to functionality found in iOS, tvOS 9.2 reveals the ability to group apps on the Home screen in folders.
- Siri: The digital personal assistant has been upgraded to support more languages on the set-top box, including U.S. Spanish (for those in the U.S. only), along with French Canadian (for those in Canada only). In the United Kingdom, UK English, Australian, and U.S. English are now supported.
- App Switcher: The interface for quickly switching apps on the new Apple TV has been altered.
- MapKit: Maps will get support within tvOS apps now, as they officially support MapKit.
- Podcasts: The Podcasts app from Apple is now officially present in tvOS 9.2.
- Bluetooth Keyboards: For those that have been having a less-than-stellar time with text input, the new Apple TV now supports connecting to Bluetooth keyboards by way of tvOS 9.2 beta 1.
If you’ve found any other new features or changes in tvOS 9.2 beta, please let us now in the comments
Apple Seeds New TvOS 9.2 Beta to Developers