Apple Introduces tvOS 18 With a Look at New InSight Feature, Automatic Subtitles, More
Viewers who are a fan of Prime Video’s X-Ray feature will find Apple’s upcoming InSight option very familiar.
If you recently purchased an Apple TV streaming device and are still getting to know the ins and outs of your device, you won’t have long before its operating system gets another overhaul. On Monday at Apple’s annual developer conference, the company announced that it was preparing to unleash tvOS 18 in 2024, which will include brand-new features, important upgrades for recently introduced features such as its Enhanced Dialogue option, and much more.
Key Details:
- The new tvOS will introduce the InSight feature, which is a lot like Prime Video’s X-Ray.
- Automatic subtitles will be introduced for Apple TV devices in the new update, as well.
- tvOS 18 is in developer beta testing now, and will launch for viewers more widely this fall.
The biggest tvOS update mentioned at WWDC is the inclusion of a brand-new feature: InSight. When viewers pause a show or movie that’s compatible with Apple’s InSight function, they’ll see an overlay of the show’s metadata, including cast and an Apple Music link to the song currently playing. InSight will also work on iPhones, and will likely be available with Apple TV+ content most reliably, at least at first.
If that sounds familiar to viewers, it’s because it’s very similar to the X-Ray feature found on Prime Video. X-Ray leverages data from IMDb to give viewers instant information about the performers in the title they’re watching, as well as general trivia and more. It’s not yet clear if Apple will also use information pulled from IMDb in the InSight feature.
“This fall, tvOS 18 and our services take entertainment in the home to the next level by bringing timely information to fans about their favorite characters and scenes,” said Apple VP Stan Ng.
What Else is Coming with tvOS 18?
The tvOS 18 update isn’t bringing a ton of brand-new features to Apple TV devices, but it will include an upgrade that many will find highly valuable: automatic subtitles. These captions will appear in key moments during playback, including when the language in a show or film does not match the device’s default language, as well as when users mute the title or when they skip back while watching something.
Apple is also rolling out a newly upgraded version of its Enhance Dialogue feature. Enhance Dialogue first became available with Apple’s tvOS 17, allowing viewers to decide if they want to stream select titles using their original audio tracks, or if they want dialogue to be prioritized over sound effects and music. The feature expanded to more HomePod devices in October, and can now be used with built-in TV speakers or HDMI-connected speakers, AirPods and other devices connected via Bluetooth. Enhanced Dialogue will also work on iPhones and iPads with tvOS 18.
The new version of the Apple TV operating system will also incorporate 21:9 support, so viewers can hook up a projector and watch their favorite title on a bigger screen if they wish. tvOS 18 will also bring a new selection of screensavers to Apple TV devices, including everyone’s favorite cartoon beagle Snoopy.
Apple’s latest operating system update is in developer beta testing now and will roll out widely to customers this fall. A new subset of customers may be able to enjoy its updated features by then, as in late May reports circulated that Apple intended to create a version of its TV app for Android devices at long last.
Apple TV+
Apple TV+ is a subscription video streaming service for $9.99 a month that includes high-quality original shows and movies including Best Picture winner “CODA,” popular sitcom “Ted Lasso,” and dramas like “The Morning Show” and “Severance.” Apple TV+ is also home to MLB baseball games on Friday nights and MLS Season Pass. Apple TV+ can be added as a channel on Prime Video.