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tvOS 17 adds FaceTime to your Apple TV 4K box

By Ken Wong - on 6 Jun 2023, 5:21pm

tvOS 17 adds FaceTime to your Apple TV 4K box

Image source: Apple.

An announcement from Apple during WWDC 2023 has revealed that users will soon be able to use their TV to video chat with friends and family when tvOS 17 adds FaceTime to their Apple TV 4K box.

 

Video conferencing makes an appearance starting with FaceTime

Image source: Apple.

Users can take advantage of the new FaceTime app on their Apple TV and initiate calls directly from Apple TV, or start calls on iPhone or iPad, and hand them off to their TV. FaceTime on Apple TV uses Continuity Camera to wirelessly connect to the user’s iPhone or iPad, using the device’s camera and microphone to bring participants together in FaceTime on the TV with Centre Stage keeping everyone in the frame.

And it’s not just FaceTime that is making an appearance. According to Apple, video conferencing apps like Webex by Cisco and Zoom will launch on tvOS, bringing their communications capabilities to Apple TV 4K.

 

Enjoy a revamped Control Center

Image source: Apple.

tvOS 17 also brings an updated control center that now displays system status, including the time and active profile, access to key settings and information, and expands with other helpful details based on a user’s activity. It also adds the ability to find their Siri Remote (2nd generation or later) in a way somewhat similar to an Apple AirTracker.

 

Sing-along with Apple Music Sing

Image source: Apple.

tvOS 17 is adding a karaoke-like function for users who love singing. Apple Music Sing lets users sing along to their favourite tracks — will also integrate Continuity Camera so users can see themselves onscreen and add entertaining filters.

 

Additional features coming with tvOS 17 include:

  • Enhance Dialogue lets users hear what is being said over the effects, action, and music in a movie or TV show on Apple TV 4K paired with HomePod (2nd generation) more clearly by separating the dialogue from the background noise and bringing it forward to the centre channel.
     
  • Dolby Vision 8.1 support offers Apple TV 4K users a more cinematic visual experience with dynamic metadata over a broader range of movies and TV shows.
     
  • Third-party VPN support enables developers to create VPN apps for Apple TV. This can benefit enterprise and education users wanting to access content on their private networks, allowing Apple TV to be a great office and conference room solution in even more places.

 

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