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Rumor: Apple TV to get multi-user support, picture-in-picture with 'tvOS 11'

Mockup by The Verifier

Last updated

With "tvOS 11" — likely to be announced at Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference in June — the Apple TV will allegedly gain a pair of demanded features from the company's other platforms.

Multi-user support will tailor onscreen content to the active profile/Apple ID, Israeli site The Verifier said on Sunday, citing a "reliable source." People should not only see their personal Apple Music, iCloud, and iTunes content, but also their own apps.

Connecting profiles to a TV is expected to be a one-time affair, with switching between them as simple as changing channels. Work on the technology is described as being in the advanced stages, but integration could potentially be delayed until a later point release.

To date, only Macs have offered multiple user accounts for everyone. iPads technically support it, but only in classroom settings.

Mockup by The Verifier Mockup by The Verifier

The other new tvOS feature, picture-in-picture, may borrow from both Macs and iPads, letting people watch a stream in a corner window while browsing the homescreen or another app.

The Verifier also supported rumors that Apple will eventually incorporate a live programming guide, and offer some form of subscription TV content through partnerships.

Watch the Latest from AppleInsider TV

The site is still an unknown quantity in Apple news, having made a number of claims that will take time to back up. It has argued for example that "iOS 11" will offer group video calls in FaceTime, and deeper Siri integration in iMessage and iCloud. One unlikely suggestion is that the "iPhone 8" will have an iPad-style Smart Connector.

29 Comments

irnchriz 18 Years · 1595 comments

That would certainly make it quicker to switch between iTunes accounts than the current method of going into settings and switching between the list of added accounts. 

3 Likes · 0 Dislikes
revenant 16 Years · 610 comments

cool, then put that into iOS for iPad please!

3 Likes · 0 Dislikes
fishbert 17 Years · 35 comments

Is anybody even asking for multi-user support on Apple TV?
Been waiting for multi-user support on iPad for 7 years.

2 Likes · 0 Dislikes
applesauce007 18 Years · 1708 comments

That makes a lot of sense.

All iOS devices including AppleTV will now have a much more advanced and secure file system called APFS.
I imagine it will facilitate a lot of cool stuff that could not be done before and leave the competion in the dust.

https://youtu.be/edXustlp-d8

1 Like · 0 Dislikes
ireland 19 Years · 17437 comments

PiP in Apple's systems needs a timeline.