First look: tvOS 9.2 redesigns Apple TV app switcher to mimic iOS 9

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Apple's newly released tvOS 9.2 beta for the fourth-generation Apple TV has revamped the platform's app switcher, bringing visual consistency with iPhones and iPads running iOS 9.




In the first beta of tvOS 9.2, provided to developers this week, double pressing the home button on the Siri Remote brings up a fresh but familiar look for the app switching screen.

Recently opened apps are now displayed from right to left, stacked atop one another in a 3D-like interface. Users can swipe through the apps, select them to switch tasks, or swipe up to force-kill the app.

Previously, the task switcher displayed apps in order from left to right, and each was shown centered on the display, standing alone.




The change will bring tvOS in line with the redesigned app switcher Apple introduced with iOS 9 last year. It displays apps in a manner reminiscent of Apple's Cover Flow, minus the unobstructed central item.

Some users took issue with the fact that apps were displayed from right to left, but the reason for this UI change became clear with the launch of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus featuring 3D Touch. With the latest iPhones, users can firmly press and swipe from the left side of the screen to quickly bring up the app switcher, and the right-to-left display corresponds with the user's gesture.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 4
    dacloodacloo Posts: 890member
    The iOS 9 app switcher is horrible. It's hard to kill an app because you need to make sure it comes to a full stop before you can vertical swipe to quit the app. There's no snapping that helps you.

  • Reply 2 of 4
    redgeminiparedgeminipa Posts: 555member
    dacloo said:
    The iOS 9 app switcher is horrible. It's hard to kill an app because you need to make sure it comes to a full stop before you can vertical swipe to quit the app. There's no snapping that helps you.

    You do realize iOS 9.2 no longer works like it did, at least not on my iPhone 6s Plus. Each app stops with a swipe, greatly improving the usability of the app switcher.
  • Reply 3 of 4
    flakhammerflakhammer Posts: 2member
    am i the only one to notice the error in all your titles? It isn't tvOS 9.2 but 2.2 :-)
  • Reply 4 of 4
    fastasleepfastasleep Posts: 6,417member
    flakhammer said:
    am i the only one to notice the error in all your titles? It isn't tvOS 9.2 but 2.2 :-)
    No, it's 9.2 — for whatever reason it's parallel with iOS. Maybe you're thinking of watchOS which is at 2.2.
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