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Apple Releases tvOS 11.4 for 4th and 5th Generation Apple TV Models With AirPlay 2 Support

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Apple today released tvOS 11.4, the fourth major update to the tvOS operating system designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models. tvOS 11.4 comes more than a month after the release of tvOS 11.3, an update that focused on bug fixes and small feature improvements.

tvOS 11.4 can be downloaded over the air through the Settings app on the Apple TV by going to System --> Software Update. Apple TV owners who have automatic software updates turned on will be upgraded to tvOS 11.4 automatically.

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The tvOS 11.4 update, paired with iOS 11.4, introduces support for AirPlay 2 functionality. AirPlay 2 is designed to bring multi-room audio to the Apple ecosystem, allowing the same music to be played on multiple devices throughout the home.

tvOS 11.4 turns the Apple TV into an AirPlay 2-compatible device that's listed in the Home app for HomeKit devices. AirPlay 2 playback can be controlled through the Apple TV, through an iOS device, or using Apple's personal assistant, Siri, to play content using voice commands.

AirPlay 2 is limited to the Apple TV and the HomePod at the current time, but it will expand to additional audio devices in the future.

tvOS 11.4 also introduces performance improvements, security enhancements, and bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 11.3.

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Related Forum: Apple TV and Home Theater

Top Rated Comments

M
Mufasa804
102 months ago
I'm just here patiently waiting for that Dolby audio support.
Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)
chrixxa Avatar
chrixxa
102 months ago
Is there actually a source for this? It'd be nice to know if they actually fixed or improved anything useful, because otherwise I'm not updating. And I'm not about to update just to see. I'm sure they included security patches, but we always get this same, canned note at the end of Apple updates with no information as to what "performance improvements" or "bug fixes" (if any) were actually made.
^^so much this
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
A
anthonyzp
102 months ago
Since 11.4 on tvOS the Apple TV seems to turn itself on randomly by itself. Anyone else? TV turns on as well.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
swrobel Avatar
swrobel
102 months ago
For the love of god can I please just have 4k airplay from my Mac?
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Mr. Zarniwoop Avatar
Mr. Zarniwoop
102 months ago
First impression of AirPlay 2 streaming music to a HomePod and three Apple TVs... so close. And yet...

They're just enough out of sync that it's created an "echo" effect in my home that distracting. It doesn't quite work for me for that reason.

It needs to be quiet enough that you can't hear the other speakers for it to be acceptable, which is a bummer.

For what it's worth, playing from a Mac with iTunes to AirPlay destinations (AirPlay 2 not required) has the same problem.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Avenged110 Avatar
Avenged110
102 months ago
tvOS 11.4 also introduces performance improvements, security enhancements, and bug fixes for issues that have been discovered since the release of tvOS 11.3.
Is there actually a source for this? It'd be nice to know if they actually fixed or improved anything useful, because otherwise I'm not updating. And I'm not about to update just to see. I'm sure they included security patches, but we always get this same, canned note at the end of Apple updates with no information as to what "performance improvements" or "bug fixes" (if any) were actually made.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
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