AppleKnever keen to talk about forthcoming new features until they are ready to launch, but sometimes beta releases reveal stuff early. That's exactly what tvOS 13 beta 2 just did, by revealing Apple TV ($199.00 at Walmart) is getting a picture-in-picture video playback feature.
As 9To5Mac reports, picture-in-picture was discovered by Twitter user Nikolaj Hansen-Turton who posted a video of it in action after installing the tvOS beta 2 release.
This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.
The video plays in the right-hand corner of the screen allowing the Apple TV interface to be navigated. It's possible to bring up a small menu over the playing video with three options available. The icon on the left maximizes the video, while the icon on the right closes the video. The middle icon allows the video window to be moved between top left, top right, bottom left, and bottom right positions.
Anyone who's owned an iPad ($469.00 at Amazon) since iOS 9 should be used to picture-in-picture and multitasking. Clearly Apple thinks it's the right time to expand that feature to Apple TV, with tvOS 13 already introducing videos playing in the background on the Home screen as a way of previewing content.
Further investigation by TechCrunch has confirmed that Apple intends to allow Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K to stream two shows at once. Picture-in-picture will only work with content provided through one of Apple's services, though. That includes Apple content through the Apple TV app, content purchased through iTunes, and content streamed through a subscription to Apple TV+. If you subscribe to premium channels such as HBO or Starz they will also work, but only if the subscription is triggered through Apple's Channels.
For now, the focus looks to be on playback of existing content in a window, but there's ever chance Apple will open picture-in-picture up to third-party developers and their apps in future. For now, we're just waiting for tvOS 13 to launch, which is likely to happen in September.
Topics Apple
The Mismeasure of Media
Kennedy Space Center set for direct and potentially damaging hit from Matthew
Dad of triplets figures out genius and simple way to stop back seat fights
Being in a 'Cage of Death' within a crocodile enclosure sure looks fun
The Sound and the “Furious”
One brave man is trying to restore humanity's faith in clowns
Woman's self
Escape from the tech hype machine: Meerkat's founders look beyond livestreaming
Time to Unite
People are sharing a brilliant poem about mansplaining on National Poetry Day
Skype is finally shutting down
Cosplay looks even more awesome through iPhone 7 Plus Portrait mode
'Keeping Up with the Kardashians' on hold after Kim was robbed at gunpoint
This picture of Ted Cruz is the first result when you Google 'ultimate humiliation'
NYT Connections Sports Edition hints and answers for May 18: Tips to solve Connections #237
Sony's pricey new compact cameras are pure performance
People are sharing a brilliant poem about mansplaining on National Poetry Day
Barack surprised Michelle at her final White House Harvest
Outdoor speaker deal: Save $20 on the Soundcore Boom 2
Conor Gillaspie went from no
NFL players may seem tough, but they can't hang with these really bad jokesYouTube just hit a huge milestoneDrone crashes through woman's apartment windowYou might want to rethink what you're 'liking' on Facebook nowYouTube just hit a huge milestoneLove Pocket? Mozilla just bought the app to fix its mobile problem.See the Sistine Chapel like never before in this detailed new photo projectThese are the online dating emoji your love life desperately needsThe Gods are furious with Seattle's Space Needle right nowOne Tokyo restaurant's success and failure is decided by pandas having sex'Zoom in on the nose' meme is guaranteed to improve your selfI sat in Peugeot's Instinct concept car and it told me to relaxThat insane Best Picture mixKanye West releases a 17Governments are in the business of doxing people now, so that's great#BagelGate, the train fight that rocked social media, gave us some glorious jokesWomen's Euro 2025 livestream: How to watch Women's Euro 2025 for freeYeah, the Oscars may not be the best thing to talk about on your next dateOne Tokyo restaurant's success and failure is decided by pandas having sexRedux tech turns the smartphone screen into a speaker Finally, a jack Paris is suing Airbnb for illegal listings Ken Bone: From regular guy in a red sweater to America's last hope Karl Becker explains how he became a national hero at the presidential debate More than 26 million people have added their DNA to four leading ancestry databases: report Apple is reportedly planning a March event that won't feature new iPads or AirPods Sounds like even Ramsay Bolton hates Donald Trump You can watch Shia LaBeouf's wedding, which was sort of normal Microsoft teases HoloLens 2 in new video Twitter is experiencing a weird bug that's affecting likes and retweets Study confirms women and people of color dominated the 2018 box office Earth is greener than it was 20 years ago, but not why you think Google Maps might get an important new privacy option soon Oh, good, there's a button you can press to tell your partner you're horny GoFundMe campaign will pay legal fees of anyone leaking new Trump tapes Negan breaks free in the exciting return of 'The Walking Dead' Tom DeLonge, formerly of blink 7 women inspiring Twitter on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science This moment from Lady Gaga's Grammys performance has become a glorious meme TV anchor delivers the perfect side eye while listening to a Trump supporter