Apple TV Developer Kit Registrations Begin; tvOS SDK Beta Released

Apple has started to accept registrations for the new Apple TV Developer Kit, alongside the tvOS SDK beta. The company, which launched the new Apple TV on Wednesday, is now allowing app developers to make apps and do testing for the new Apple TV. The availability is limited, however, and the company is giving preference to developers who already have apps on the App Store.

The Apple TV Developer Kit includes the new Apple TV, the Apple TV remote, a power cord, Lightning to USB cable, USB-A to USB-C cable, and documentation, apart from access to the tvOS SDK.

The registration for the new software developer kit began at 10.30pm (IST) on September 9. Whether or not one can register also depends on one's region, as only developers of selection nations are eligible for the new Apple TV Developer Kit. The nations include Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the United States. It is worth noting that India isn't on the list.

For those who aren't eligible to purchase the device, they can still download Xcode 7.1 beta with tvOS SDK and make apps. And of course, you won't get the hardware you need to test the apps, and will have to completely rely on the simulator, or purchase the required hardware at your own cost when it's released.

"This version of tvOS is intended only for installation on development devices registered with the Apple Developer Program. Attempting to install this version of tvOS in an unauthorized manner could put your device in an unusable state, which could necessitate an out of warranty repair," warns Apple on its developer website. The company specifies the third-generation Apple TV is not supported.

Unveiled at the company's Wednesday event, the new Apple TV comes with improved hardware specifications, iOS 9-powered tvOS, and baked-in support for Siri, among other new features. The part set-top box, part iOS gaming console also comes with a range of game titles and supports MFi-certified Bluetooth controllers.

While Apple plans to launch the Apple TV in a plethora of regions by the end of the year, not everyone will be able to make the best out of the said set-top box device. Content partners such as Netflix, HBO and Hulu are the ones that complement Apple's iTunes' rich movies and TV shows collection. Places where many of the aforementioned services aren't available yet, it is clear that the Apple TV wouldn't be as useful, such as India.