Apple's AirPods Pair Automatically With Apple TV in tvOS 11

[MacRumors]

tvOS 11, the newest version of the operating system that runs on the fourth-generation Apple TV, didn't receive any air time during Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference keynote, but it includes a handful of new features, including auto-pairing with Apple's AirPods.

AirPods currently pair automatically with iPads, Macs, and Apple Watches thanks to iCloud support and an Apple-designed W1 chip, but that automatic pairing doesn't extend to the Apple TV. That's set to change in tvOS 11.

In the first tvOS 11 beta, as 9to5Mac points out, AirPods appear as a new speaker option on the Apple TV when a user with AirPods is signed into their Apple ID on the Apple TV. As with any iOS devices or Mac, when connected to an Apple TV, sound will play through the AirPods.

Prior to tvOS 11, AirPods worked with the Apple TV, but had to be paired manually, a process that's not as seamless or as quick as the automatic switching baked into Apple's wireless earbuds.

According to Apple's release notes for the first tvOS 11 beta, other features new to the operating system include automatic switching between light and dark mode based on local time, Home screen syncing between multiple Apple TVs, new background modes and notification support, and a few other under-the-hood changes.

In a few months, tvOS 11 and the fourth-generation Apple TV will be gaining a much-desired Amazon Prime Video app for the first time, which was announced on stage at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

tvOS 11 is only available for registered developers at the current point in time, but Apple plans to make a version available for public beta testers in the future.

Article Link: Apple's AirPods Pair Automatically With Apple TV in tvOS 11

 

[William Gates]

A small change, but a welcome one.

 

[TurboPGT!]

Indeed it does. Works well.

 

[hellosil]

Awesome!
Can someone please test this with Beats devices containing the W1 chip?

 

[Desert-Mac]

This is the first time I'd be interested in these. But I'll still go for the Beats X if they can do the same thing..

 

[Return Zero]

You gotta love a product that keeps getting better after you buy it. I stand by my statement that AirPods are my favorite apple purchase in at least 5 years (since my 2011 MBA).

 

[44267547]

You gotta love a product that keeps getting better after you buy it. I stand by my statement that AirPods are my favorite apple purchase in at least 5 years (since my 2011 MBA).

And with iOS 11, comes the change where you can change the track by double tapping on one AirPod or go to a previous track by double tapping on the other AirPod. Apple is expanding on some really nice functionality with these.

 

[AngerDanger]

That's awesome! I'm really looking forward to future headlines as Apple continues to increase AirPods' functionality:

Apple's AirPods Pair Whether or Not You Want Them to in tvOS 12

Apple's AirPods Automatically Subscribe to Apple Music in tvOS 13

Apple's AirPods Kidnap Children of Nearby Houses With Protected WiFi and Negotiates for Password in tvOS 14

 

[Gorms]

I’m just excited to know *something* is happening on tvOS. Also, AirPods rule.

 

[2centsjoe]

What are the features of the Airpods when connected to tvOS. Just control of Siri? And/or sound is heard in airpods and not tv?

 

[euvnairb]

Does this apply to Beats headphones that also have the W1 chip? Also does this work with the 3rd gen ATV? I would love this feature on the TV in my bedroom that doesn't have bluetooth connectivity.

 

[iReality85]

Looking into the future, a really cool feature they could add is multilingual playback. Imagine streaming a movie that's in English. Someone, say a friend, wants to listen in Spanish. They pop in their AirPods and are good to go. No need for distracting substitles.

 

[macduke]

Now if only I could get them to work with the Nintendo Switch. Oh wait, the Switch doesn't have bluetooth! Shame. I love my AirPods.

 

[szw-mapple fan]

That's awesome! I'm really looking forward to future headlines as Apple continues to increase AirPods' functionality:

Apple's AirPods Pair Whether or Not You Want Them to in tvOS 12

Apple's AirPods Automatically Subscribe to Apple Music in tvOS 13

Apple's AirPods Kidnap Children of Nearby Houses With Protected WiFi and Negotiates for Password in tvOS 14

"AirPods arrested by police and receives life sentence but continues to connect to nearby houses."

 

[itsmilo]

Why are those still so hard to get? These aint Yeezys ...

 

[Mtmspa]

That's awesome! I'm really looking forward to future headlines as Apple continues to increase AirPods' functionality:

Apple's AirPods Pair Whether or Not You Want Them to in tvOS 12

Apple's AirPods Automatically Subscribe to Apple Music in tvOS 13

Apple's AirPods Kidnap Children of Nearby Houses With Protected WiFi and Negotiates for Password in tvOS 14

Cool post brah.

 

[WRChris]

I want AirPods but jeez they are so ugly. Any color other than white and I'd jump in.

This does seem like it could be useful.

 

[CrystalQuest76]

You gotta love a product that keeps getting better after you buy it. I stand by my statement that AirPods are my favorite apple purchase in at least 5 years (since my 2011 MBA).

Agreed. It is always a great thing when you can get more uses out of a product that costs so much money. With the ability to pair the airbuds to a TV I can start to see them as actually solving an issue that the traditional earbuds can't be used for.
I have been very satisfied with the wired earbuds that came with the iPhone. Never have to worry about loosing one of them or one falling out or not being charged. I also use them to make very clear phone calls with (no one has ever asked me to repeat myself).
[doublepost=1496957711][/doublepost]

Looking into the future, a really cool feature they could add is multilingual playback. Imagine streaming a movie that's in English. Someone, say a friend, wants to listen in Spanish. They pop in their AirPods and are good to go. No need for distracting substitles.

That is really a fantastic use-case for that feature. There needs to be something on the Apple TV to specify AirPod#2 is to be Spanish (and hopefully there is).

 

[hellosil]

Looking into the future, a really cool feature they could add is multilingual playback. Imagine streaming a movie that's in English. Someone, say a friend, wants to listen in Spanish. They pop in their AirPods and are good to go. No need for distracting substitles.

I love this idea.

 

[Gadgetzz]

If the AppleTV sound output was synced to the bluetooth AirPods it would be cool. I need to have the normal sound output of the AppleTV synced to the bluetooth which still has a delay that makes like a reverb unit unless you mute the normal speakers.

 

[fjfjfjfj]

I really enjoy using the AirPods with the Apple TV. I can watch TV while the wife sleeps soundly.

This is a welcome addition but I was also glad to see you can sync home screens now. For someone with a touch of OCD, keeping screens synced manually was a pain. I'm glad to see it will be automatic now.

 

[thisisnotmyname]

Lots of little - but important to me - wins coming out of WWDC this year. This one makes me very happy.

 

[Broken Hope]

Awesome!
Can someone please test this with Beats devices containing the W1 chip?

My BeatsX are showing up as a speaker option so yes it does.

 

[star_nerdy]

Looking into the future, a really cool feature they could add is multilingual playback. Imagine streaming a movie that's in English. Someone, say a friend, wants to listen in Spanish. They pop in their AirPods and are good to go. No need for distracting substitles.

That's not realistic.

For one, that situation is pretty rare. As a Spanish speaker with grandparents that only speak one language, I can count the number of times where this would have been useful in one hand.

Two, this would require playback of two audio channels going to two different audio sources, which in itself isn't impossible. But then you have to turn surround sound into mono sound, negotiate new contracts with content developers aka every studio and most importantly you'd have to get Apple to care about it.

Siri can't even get it right when I request music by Juanes or Enrique Iglesias yet they are going to support that? I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up.

 

[fjfjfjfj]

That's not realistic.

For one, that situation is pretty rare. As a Spanish speaker with grandparents that only speak one language, I can count the number of times where this would have been useful in one hand.

Two, this would require playback of two audio channels going to two different audio sources, which in itself isn't impossible. But then you have to turn surround sound into mono sound, negotiate new contracts with content developers aka every studio and most importantly you'd have to get Apple to care about it.

Siri can't even get it right when I request music by Juanes or Enrique Iglesias yet they are going to support that? I'm just saying, don't get your hopes up.

What a great idea. You should send that one in. I really like it.