Apple Releases Sixth Beta of iOS 12.3 With New TV App [Update: Public Beta Available]

Apple today seeded the sixth beta of an upcoming iOS 12.3 update to developers, a few days after releasing the fifth beta and over a month after the launch of iOS 12.2, an update that introduced Apple News+, new Animoji, and more.

Registered developers can download the new iOS 12.3 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.

appletvapp 1
iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 introduce a new version of Apple's TV app, which has been updated with a new look and fresh functionality.

In the new TV app, "Watch Now" and "Up Next" are still front and center for keeping track of what you're watching, but there's a new machine learning-based recommendation engine that will suggest content based on your viewing preferences and history.

The app's interface has been streamlined with sections for movies, TV shows, sports, and kids content, and on iOS, there's a separate bottom bar for the library, search, and Watch Now options.

tvapp3
There's a new "Channels" feature in the TV app, which is one of the major new components of Apple's services push. Channels are subscription services that you can sign up for and watch within the TV app without having to open up another app.

So, for example, if you come across a show you want to watch on your iPhone or Apple TV that's on Showtime or Starz, you can tap to subscribe right in the TV app, and then you can watch that show without having to open another app.

Some of the new Channels that will be supported include CBS All Access, Starz, Showtime, HBO, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault, and Comedy Central Now. During the beta, though, users can subscribe to Showtime, Starz, Smithsonian, EPIX, and Tastemade.

appletvchannels 1
You'll still get recommendations for content from services that aren't a part of the Channels feature, but non-channel content will need to be watched in a third-party app. The TV app also houses iTunes TV shows and movies.

When Apple debuts its Apple TV+ service this fall, all of the company's original TV shows and movies will also be accessible in the TV app.

Apple has said that it plans to release the updated TV app in May, so this is potentially the last beta we'll get before iOS 12.3 is launched to the public.

Related Forum: iOS 12

Top Rated Comments

Mac+1984 Avatar
60 months ago
Idk about anyone else, but I HATE the new Apple TV remote in Control Center. It used to automatically load the last Apple TV that you used (in my case, only 1 ATV), but now you have to select the Apple TV EACH TIME! So annoying.
Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)
tothemoonsands Avatar
60 months ago
With all of this talk about the new TV app, I am here to literally beg Apple to take a look at the Home Sharing functionality on that app. It’s not up to Apple’s standards. I see multiple libraries, receive errors like “Server Not Configured Correctly” or “Content Not Authorized” (even though iMac is on, Internet is working, and all movies/shows are locally downloaded and authorized). Frankly it’s ridiculous that after spending money to own an iTunes collection, it becomes tedious to access it. I am forced to restart my phone, disable/re-enable home sharing, and even guess which one of the duplicate libraries listed works or doesn’t. This is on an iPhone X running the latest iOS by the way.

In short, I hope that Apple is made aware of this, and that they can give a hard look at the existing bugs within TV before adding a bunch of new features. Thank you.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Sakurambo-kun Avatar
60 months ago
Wonder how many (if any) providers Apple has signed up outside of the US. Based on their past form, I'm guessing... none.

It's too bad they can't work things out with Netflix too. It's the elephant in the room, the biggest provider by a mile and it's not included.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jagolden Avatar
60 months ago
IDK, but wouldn't life be a lot easier if we all just downloaded ONE version, the final version, of an iOS last update in June before the next experiment comes out after WWDC? Then we'd only have to deal with ONE OS update per year (and arguably the best).
Did you forget to put the "sarcasm" call out?
Or do you really not see the use of betas so the average user can comment back to Apple with bugs they find.
A handful of engineers testing software is never going to hit all the possible use cases as opposed to an enormous group of general users giving feedback on real-life uses.
Besides, you do only have to download ONE version, the final. Just don’t participate in the beta program and don’t read the posts about it.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
petitpiton Avatar
60 months ago
('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/10/apple-releases-ios-12-3-beta-6-to-developers/')


Apple today seeded the sixth beta of an upcoming iOS 12.3 update to developers, a few days after releasing the fifth beta ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/07/apple-seeds-ios-12-3-beta-5-to-developers/') and over a month after the launch of iOS 12.2 ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/03/25/apple-releases-ios-12-2/'), an update that introduced Apple News+, new Animoji, and more.

Registered developers can download the new iOS 12.3 beta from Apple's Developer Center or over-the-air once the proper configuration profile has been installed from the Developer Center.



iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 introduce a new version of Apple's TV app, which has been updated with a new look and fresh functionality.

In the new TV app, "Watch Now" and "Up Next" are still front and center for keeping track of what you're watching, but there's a new machine learning-based recommendation engine that will suggest content based on your viewing preferences and history.

The app's interface has been streamlined with sections for movies, TV shows, sports, and kids content, and on iOS, there's a separate bottom bar for the library, search, and Watch Now options.



There's a new "Channels" feature in the TV app, which is one of the major new components of Apple's services push. Channels are subscription services that you can sign up for and watch within the TV app without having to open up another app.

So, for example, if you come across a show you want to watch on your iPhone or Apple TV that's on Showtime or Starz, you can tap to subscribe right in the TV app, and then you can watch that show without having to open another app.

Some of the new Channels that will be supported include CBS All Access, Starz, Showtime, HBO, Nickelodeon, Mubi, The History Channel Vault, and Comedy Central Now. During the beta, though, users can subscribe to Showtime, Starz, Smithsonian, EPIX, and Tastemade.



You'll still get recommendations for content from services that aren't a part of the Channels feature, but non-channel content will need to be watched in a third-party app. The TV app also houses iTunes TV shows and movies.

When Apple debuts its Apple TV+ service this fall, all of the company's original TV shows and movies will also be accessible in the TV app.

Apple has said that it plans to release the updated TV app in May, so this is potentially the last beta we'll get before iOS 12.3 is launched to the public.

Article Link: Apple Releases Sixth Beta of iOS 12.3 With New TV App ('https://www.macrumors.com/2019/05/10/apple-releases-ios-12-3-beta-6-to-developers/')
Public Beta out now
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
coolfactor Avatar
60 months ago
Idk about anyone else, but I HATE the new Apple TV remote in Control Center. It used to automatically load the last Apple TV that you used (in my case, only 1 ATV), but now you have to select the Apple TV EACH TIME! So annoying.
That could be a bug or regression. No need for hate, only patience and hope.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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