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Apple TV gains fourth beta of tvOS 10.1 with support for new 'TV' app

Apple on Wednesday supplied developers with a fourth pre-release beta of tvOS 10.1, a forthcoming update that will bring a new universal "TV" app, as well as single sign-on support for TV providers, to the company's streaming set-top box.

tvOS 10.1 beta 4 is now available on registered Apple TV devices via Software Update in the system's native Settings app. It can also be installed via iTunes with a USB-C cable. It's identified as build 14U588.

The update arrives 16 days after a third beta was issued. Separately, fourth betas of iOS 10.2, macOS Sierra 10.12.2, and watchOS 3.1.1 were provided to developers on Monday.

Like tvOS 10.1, iOS 10.2 also adds support for single sign-on. It allows users to enter their cable or streaming TV credentials once, and have them automatically entered in third-party apps that require subscription account information.

While still in beta, only a handful of television providers support Apple's new single sign-on feature. AT&T's DirecTV joined the ranks last week, alongside previous supporters Dish, Sling TV, Hotwire, and GVTC Communications.

For the feature to gain meaningful reach, other providers like Comcast, Spectrum and PlayStation Vue will need to add support.

As for the new "TV" app, it makes it easier for users to find and browse programs. Siri will let users jump straight into live streams, as long as the necessary apps are installed.