Apple TV 4K adds Siri AI and hands-free voice control
Apple unveiled a new Apple TV 4K with Siri AI, far-field microphones and faster performance. The device is available to pre-order in the United States and 29…
For viewers, Apple is shifting more of the TV experience to voice control. The new appletv 4K adds Siri AI, hands-free microphones and faster performance, with pre-orders opening in the United States and 29 other countries and regions.
Apple said the fourth-generation streaming box will be available in stores beginning November 13. It costs $299 in the United States, or $49.83 per month for six months, according to the company’s October 13 announcement.
The update puts Siri at the center of finding and exploring entertainment. Apple says users can make requests through a full-screen interface, ask follow-up questions while watching and get responses in a compact overlay rather than leaving the program.
That changes how viewers can search for a show or get information about what is on screen. Apple’s examples include asking which Apple TV shows won Emmy Awards this year, where a program was filmed, or whether it is appropriate for a 15-year-old. The company says Siri can also draw on personal context from an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone to respond to a request such as playing a show recommended by a contact.
Where Siri AI will be available
Apple says Siri AI will launch in English in the United States, Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa and the UK. The feature is also available as a beta on Apple TV 4K second-generation models and later, according to the company.
The new model includes far-field microphones, allowing people to speak to Siri without holding a remote. Apple also describes the device as a home hub, with camera activity descriptions generated by Apple Intelligence, summarized notifications in the Home app, and controls for accessories and scenes.
For home theater audio, Apple says the new Apple TV 4K can be paired with four HomePod mini 2 or HomePod second-generation speakers for its most immersive surround-sound setup. The announcement does not specify further technical details about the device’s faster performance.
“With Siri AI, finding something to watch becomes a full-screen, conversational experience, and with built-in far-field microphones, it’s completely hands-free,” Bob Borchers, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing, said in the company announcement.
The new Siri Remote is compatible with Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K and can also be purchased separately. Apple says Find My support works on the second-generation Siri Remote or later.
Customers in the United States and 29 other countries and regions can pre-order through Apple’s online store and the Apple Store app. Store availability begins November 13.
Source: apple.com
