Rumor: Apple TV to get multi-user support, picture-in-picture with 'tvOS 11'
Roger FingasMockup by The Verifier
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.
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.
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.
Wesley Hilliard
Andrew Orr
Amber Neely
William Gallagher
