TvOS icon

TvOS

tvOS is the operating system that runs on Apple TV devices. It provides the interface and core functionality for apps on Apple TV including media playback, Siri integration, App Store access, and more.

What is TvOS?

tvOS is the operating system developed by Apple Inc. that runs on Apple TV devices. It was first released in September 2015 to power the fourth generation Apple TV.

tvOS provides the core interface and functionality for apps that run on Apple TV. This includes features like:

  • A home screen to access and organize apps
  • Integrated Siri voice assistant that allows voice commands and searches
  • Access to the App Store to install third-party apps and games
  • A media player for video, music, podcasts, and photos
  • Integration with iTunes for media playback from a computer
  • Support for third-party streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, etc.

tvOS is based on a variant of iOS, so it shares some components and design principles. But the interface is optimized for use on the television with a remote control. TvOS continues to receive regular software updates from Apple with new features and improvements.

The Best TvOS Alternatives

Top Apps like TvOS

Stremio, Kodi, Jellyfin, Android TV, Emby, Google TV, OSMC, Fire OS, Plasma Bigscreen, Tizen OS, webOS Open Source Edition are some alternatives to TvOS.

Stremio

Stremio is a media center application that serves as a one-stop hub for video entertainment. It aggregates content from different streaming platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, YouTube as well as your personal media libraries and presents everything through an intuitive and visually appealing interface.Some key features of Stremio...

Kodi

Kodi is an open-source media center application developed by the XBMC Foundation. Originally released in 2002 as Xbox Media Center for the original Xbox game console, it was later ported to other platforms including Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android.Kodi allows users to play and view various digital media files including...

Jellyfin

Jellyfin is a free, open-source media server software that allows you to organize, manage, and stream your personal media collections. It was created as a community-driven fork of Emby after Emby transitioned to a proprietary license model.Some key features of Jellyfin include:Stream your videos, music, and photos to...

Android TV

Android TV is a smart TV platform developed by Google based on the Android operating system. It was first announced in June 2014 and allows users to access apps, games, movies, TV shows, and other digital content on a big screen TV.Some key features of Android TV include:Access to...

Emby

Emby is an open-source media server designed to help you organize, play, and stream your media collection across devices. It allows you to bring together your personal videos, music, photos, and live TV into one unified platform that is accessible from any device on your network.Some key features of...

Google TV

Google TV is a smart TV platform developed by Google that integrates traditional television programming with internet services and applications. It was launched in 2010 but has since been discontinued in 2014.Google TV aimed to provide an enhanced TV viewing experience by combining the traditional TV watching experience with the capabilities...

OSMC

OSMC (Open Source Media Center) is a free and open source media center distribution based on Kodi. It provides an easy way to convert a Raspberry Pi, Vero 4K +, Apple TV, or PC into a dedicated media center and Kodi box.Some key features of OSMC include:Based on Debian...

Fire OS

Fire OS is an Android-based mobile operating system created by Amazon for its Fire tablet and Fire TV lines of devices. It is designed primarily to promote and integrate Amazon's content and retail ecosystem with end user devices.Some key features and characteristics of Fire OS include:Tight integration with...

Plasma Bigscreen

Plasma Bigscreen is an open source smart TV platform built on the KDE Plasma desktop environment. It is designed to provide a user-friendly interface optimized for large screens, living room use, and interaction via remote controls.Some key features of Plasma Bigscreen include:A visually appealing graphical interface using large...

Tizen OS

Tizen is an open source operating system developed by the Linux Foundation and supported by companies like Samsung and Intel. It is based on Linux and designed to power a wide range of devices including smartphones, tablets, smart TVs, wearables, and other Internet of Things (IoT) gadgets.Some key features...

WebOS Open Source Edition

webOS Open Source Edition is an open source mobile operating system initially developed by Palm and later owned by HP. It was initially designed for smartphones and tablet computers and allows developers to build web-based applications using standard web technologies such as HTML5, JavaScript, and CSS.Some key features of...