Beats Music comes to Apple TV alongside flat user interface, iOS 8 integrations
Apple iOS devices weren't the only products to receive updates Wednesday, as the company also rolled out new software for the Apple TV that brings a flatter user interface, a new Beats Music app, and support for Family Sharing.
Beats Music allows users to sign up for a 14-day free trial directly from the Apple TV, configuring their favorite genres and artists much like the flow on the iOS app. USer-centric curation largely matches the iOS app as well, though Beats's famous "The Sentence" feature is missing.
Also arriving is support for Family Sharing. With the feature, users can access songs and movies purchased or rented with any Apple ID associated with the set-top streamer.
The updated UI was first spotted early last month. Each of the default icons has been reworked with a more modern veneer, eschewing the now-defunct iOS "gloss" effects for a matte appearance, and the background starburst effect has given way to gradients that match those found in iOS 8.
The pictographs themselves have also been made more sleek. The "Settings" icon underwent the most radical change, gaining the same nested gears icon found in Apple's newest mobile and desktop operating systems.
Apple TV version 6.2.1 is available now as an over-the-air update from the Apple TV's Settings menu. Unfortunately, the new UI and Beats Music app appear to be limited to the third-generation Apple TV.
Beats Music allows users to sign up for a 14-day free trial directly from the Apple TV, configuring their favorite genres and artists much like the flow on the iOS app. USer-centric curation largely matches the iOS app as well, though Beats's famous "The Sentence" feature is missing.
Also arriving is support for Family Sharing. With the feature, users can access songs and movies purchased or rented with any Apple ID associated with the set-top streamer.
The updated UI was first spotted early last month. Each of the default icons has been reworked with a more modern veneer, eschewing the now-defunct iOS "gloss" effects for a matte appearance, and the background starburst effect has given way to gradients that match those found in iOS 8.
The pictographs themselves have also been made more sleek. The "Settings" icon underwent the most radical change, gaining the same nested gears icon found in Apple's newest mobile and desktop operating systems.
Apple TV version 6.2.1 is available now as an over-the-air update from the Apple TV's Settings menu. Unfortunately, the new UI and Beats Music app appear to be limited to the third-generation Apple TV.
Comments
Thank you Apple - if only this could have been accomplished earlier. The interface that is- not the Beats.
And hopefully this portends a 4th gen next month!
[@]drblank[/@] hasn't posted in 4 months. Can't believe he'd let the Beats acquisition affect him like that.
so, if i have an US itunes account and son has a UK iTunes account, they will be able to share?
so does the family sharing work across apple stores?
so, if i have an US itunes account and son has a UK iTunes account, they will be able to share?
Highly unlikely. Family sharing doesn't change geographical licensing.
Would need to have both accounts using the same credit card. Not sure if you can do that for accounts from different countries. I wouldn't think it would be possible but let us know if it does work as that could be a very handy feature. Of course I'm not holding out any hope that it would work...
seems though there is a difference,
only on a iTV 3rd generation, once you stream a video or music it seems to go direct, rather than via the router.
for sure (for me) it does not do that on a 2nd generation
I'll try on my third gen at work where we have a separate subnet for wifi than we do for Ethernet. That's where I really need direct streaming. Currently a client has to plug into the Ethernet network and log into it to see the Apple TV, which automatically cuts out all iOS devices which foolishly have no Ethernet options. If ATV allows direct streaming from a Mac or an iOS devices, then I can truly cut the cords at work, and clients don't have to transfer their media files via flash drive to a company hosted Mac. Even AirDrop will make this easier (as all clients do not arrive with their files on laptops) but currently that does not work between Macs and iOS. I'm hoping Yosemite changes that too.
accordng to Apple - its called peer-to-peer Airplay
but from some other website, it might not work on ALL apple tv 3rd generation, only later versions of the 3rd generation
underneath the device it should say A1469
Peer-to-peer AirPlay discovery and playback.
With iOS 8, you can wirelessly connect iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to Apple TV without first connecting to the organization’s network. Which means you can present or share your work even if you’re offline or the organization has a complex network.
so does the family sharing work across apple stores?
so, if i have an US itunes account and son has a UK iTunes account, they will be able to share?
No. Has to be same country.
[IMG ALT=""]http://forums.appleinsider.com/content/type/61/id/49141/width/500/height/1000[/IMG]