New Apple tvOS Update Will Let Users Open Links on Their iPhones
New Apple tvOS Update Will Let Users Open Links on Their iPhones
Right now, the feature seems to be restricted to Immersive Videos where users want to find more info about their Vision Pro.
For over a decade, Apple users have been able to easily share web links between an iPhone and an Apple computer with Continuity features, allowing you to start a task on one device and finish it on another. The Apple TV tvOS, however, has never allowed you to access a web browser (Safari or otherwise), making it impossible to share content from your Apple TV to other devices. But all of that is about to change with tvOS 18. With the update – released to developers on Monday – Apple users enjoying Immersive Videos designed for the Apple Vision Pro, can now open links that provide more info on their headsets on their iPhone, previewing how the new feature could work.
Key Details:
- tvOS 18 will soon allow users to open web links on their iPhone.
- Right now, the feature seems to be restricted to Immersive Videos where users want to find more info about their Vision Pro.
- When users click the link in Vision Pro, the system redirects via AirDrop to their iPhone or iPad.
Apple TV+ hosts a series of 180-degree 3D 8K immersive videos, viewable exclusively on the Apple Vision Pro. Apple is highlighting these videos in the Apple TV app to raise awareness for the headset. The new tvOS 18 update introduces a button in the Immersive Videos’ descriptions that allows users to access more information about the Vision Pro. But instead of opening the web page directly on the Apple TV, the system sends the link to the user’s iPhone or iPad via AirDrop.
It’s not yet clear whether Apple will use the feature in other parts of the newest tvOS update. But it’s a good bet that soon, Apple TV users will be able to easily send media like books, music, and even AR experiences directly to their iPhone or iPad with AirDrop.
What Else Will tvOS 18 Offer?
The tvOS 18 update, expected to be available in the fall, introduces a handful of other new features and improvements for Apple TV users. Similar to [Amazon Prime Video]’s X-Ray function, Apple’s InSight feature will let users peruse info about actors, characters, and songs in Apple TV+ content. Live previews of broadcasts will now display in the Home screen’s featured preview carousel, and the Enhance Dialogue feature has been given a boost through machine learning for better vocal clarity, now compatible with HDMI-connected speakers, AirPods, and Bluetooth speakers. There is also an Extended Voice Isolation option for clearer audio.
One of the cooler updates is Smart Subtitles, which automatically activate when you mute a show, skip back during playback, or if the content is in a different language than the system’s default. The update also supports the 21:9 aspect ratio for projectors, alongside the standard 16:9, and introduces a redesigned Apple Fitness+ app with sections like For You, Explore, Library, and Search. Finally, for those who didn’t catch what your friend or loved one said on FaceTime, Apple TV will now generate Live Captions, giving you real-time transcriptions on the TV screen.
Apple TV
Apple TV (formerly known as Apple TV+) is a subscription video streaming service for $14.99 per month, offering a growing slate of original series, films, documentaries, and specials. Unlike other platforms that combine licensed titles with originals, Apple TV is built entirely around exclusive programming, making it the home of critically acclaimed hits such as “Ted Lasso,” “Severance,” “The Morning Show,” and “Silo.” Its lineup continues to expand with award-winning dramas, comedies, family-friendly shows, and blockbuster original films like “CODA,” which won the Academy Award for Best Picture.