New Apple TV 4K Personalizes Siri Interactions, Mimics Amazon Fire TV Smart Home Hub Angle
Siri will offer movie and TV recommendations personalized to each member of the household watching the latest Apple TV 4K with tvOS 16. The new smart TV iteration and redesigned voice assistant were both unveiled this week, with the tech giant highlighting how the voice assistant’s new features can make Apple TV a smart home hub in a way reminiscent of Amazon’s efforts with recent Fire TVs and Alexa features.
Siri TV
The new Siri features will come with the updated tvOS 16 to all Apple TVs, not just the new ones. Each individual in the household will be able to make a voice profile that Siri will recognize. That means every person will be able to pull up their own viewing history without having to sign into a different account. Siri will also now offer recommendations that are also unique to the individual when asked, “What should I watch?” through the Siri Remote. Siri will look different on the screen, too, with a card-style format that takes up less space on the screen.
The new TV will roll out this fall with a revamped Siri Remote that comes with a USB-C instead of needing a Lightning cable. There are two versions of the new TV, with a 64GB WI-Fi version starting at $129 and a new 128GB Wi-Fi plus Ethernet option beginning at $149. The upgraded TVs plus operating systems are designed to serve as a hub for smart home devices, according to Apple. HomeKit lights, shades, and cameras can all be controlled and monitored on the TV, with any device using the Matter connectivity standard able to link with it.
“Apple TV 4K is the ultimate way for Apple users to enjoy their favorite entertainment on the biggest screen in the home, and now it is more powerful than ever,” Apple vice president of worldwide product marketing Bob Borchers said. “The new Apple TV 4K is unlike anything else out there, given its seamless connection to other Apple devices, ease of use, and access to amazing Apple content. It offers something for everyone in the family to love.”
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