A number of MacRumors readers are reporting that Apple has just pushed out a new iOS software update for the second-generation Apple TV bringing support for several new features including streaming access to purchased TV shows and support for video service Vimeo. Daring Fireball's John Gruber explains the TV show feature:
You can buy — not just rent but buy — new episodes directly from your Apple TV, and access and stream any TV show episodes you’ve previously purchased using your iTunes account. (I’m not quite sure if it has all episodes — but it’s showing me all the TV shows I can remember buying from iTunes.)
According to one report, however, the feature may be U.S.-only for the time being.
In addition to the purchased TV show support, the update also brings support for Vimeo video content and reportedly adds YouTube playlist support.
With the update, Apple TVs now report a software version of 4.3 (2557), while Apple's servers refer to the update as Build 8F455 of iOS 4.3.
Update: Apple has also added TV shows to the "Purchased" sections of iTunes on both iOS and Mac/PC applications. The addition allows users to freely re-download previously-purchased TV show content in the same way that Apple enabled the feature for music alongside its iCloud announcements in early June.
Update 2: Apple has now updated its Apple TV support document with information on the two main changes included in the 4.3 update.
- TV show purchases: Purchase TV shows on Apple TV. Shows purchased on Apple TV can be re-downloaded on other iOS devices. Shows purchased on other iOS devices or with iTunes automatically show up as available to play on Apple TV. - Vimeo: Browse and watch millions of user-uploaded videos found on the Vimeo service, for free.
Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie.
"Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
Friday February 6, 2026 3:06 pm PST by Juli Clover
In the iOS 26.4 update that's coming this spring, Apple will introduce a new version of Siri that's going to overhaul how we interact with the personal assistant and what it's able to do.
The iOS 26.4 version of Siri won't work like ChatGPT or Claude, but it will rely on large language models (LLMs) and has been updated from the ground up.
Upgraded Architecture
The next-generation...
Thursday February 5, 2026 12:22 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, according to Macwelt, the German equivalent of Macworld.
The report, citing industry sources, is available in English on Macworld.
Apple announced the iPhone 16e on Wednesday, February 19 last year, so the iPhone 17e would be unveiled exactly one year later if this rumor is accurate. It is quite uncommon for Apple to unveil...
Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by Joe Rossignol
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps.
The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future.
To set up the...
New MacBook Pro models with the M5 Pro and M5 Max chips could arrive as soon as Monday, March 2, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In today's "Power On" newsletter, Gurman said that the release of new MacBook Pro models is tied to the release of macOS Tahoe 26.3. The launch is said to be slated for as early as the week of March 2. He added that the M4 Pro and M4 Max models on sale today...
I'm sick of storing all my purchased content on my computer. It's hogging up all my space (I know i should just get an external harddrive). If this is the true this is awesome. Allowing the apple ecosystem to manage my content. I'm digging this.
Being an early adopter who dropped 300 bucks on a 1st-gen Apple TV, it feels like a slight betrayal to see these updates (Netflix, Vimeo, etc.) available only to the users who paid $100 for a 2nd-gen ATV... I always told people that one of the (many) reasons iPods prevailed over other MP3 players was that Apple kep supporting/updating them long after you purchased it, but now I'm feeling the opposite with my Apple TV :confused:
This isn't an iPod, where the software was hardly ever updated and when it was the OS on an old iPod classic was pretty bare bones.
To complain though that your 4+ year old original Apple TV is not getting the same software upgrades as the most recent release of the device is about as silly as someone with a 4+ year old original iPhone complaining about not getting iOS 5.
NHL / NFL support would be a great addition. While they are at it, add a NASCAR channel as well.
:apple:TV needs to add more support for video sites. A Showtime or HBO channel would be a major game changer and huge surprise. It'll probably never happen though:(
