Apple TV to Soon Get Voice Dictation Feature, Latest tvOS Beta Tips

Apple shifting its attention back to voice control on the Apple TV. To recall, the Siri Remote that comes with the new Apple TV enables Siri-based voice search. The company has been looking to bring Siri search support for Apple Music on the Apple TV. Now, the Cupertino-based company has seeded tvOS 9.2 beta 3 to developers, and among other features, it comes with a voice dictation feature.

The inclusion of the feature allows a user to speak to the Siri-enabled remote to dictate text (making search queries that much easier) as well as ask queries such as a weather update. MacRumors reports users will see a live level meter on the screen, which will help to know whether the feature is activated. Prior to this, users were required to enter text after doing a plethora of swipes and clicks across a horizontal row of letters. Users will now be able dictate text into any field.

In addition, tvOS 9.2 beta 3 also brings with it the ability search the App Store from anywhere in the Apple TV interface. Users are required to hold the Siri button and speak commands. The feature can improve a user's experience when finding new apps. Additionally, users can now also group apps into folders on the home screen of the Apple TV.

The tvOS 9.2 also includes support for iCloud Photo Library and Live Photos. The App Switcher interface, in addition, is getting some design improvements. Apple is certainly slowly fixing the glitches that are crippling its otherwise decent streaming over the top box.

The features are not available for general public, do note. Apple is highly likely to include all these features to users with tvOS 9.2 public rollout. The company is expected to announce the release of tvOS 9.2 at its reported March 15 event, where it is also expected to launch the iPad Air 3, iPhone 5se, and new Apple Watch models and bands.