In tvOS 14, Apple reportedly plans to give parents new controls over what their children watch on Apple TV devices. The tvOS update also will give parents the ability to control the amount of time their kids spend watching Apple TV content, according to a report published Monday.
Israeli website The Verifier also renewed speculation that Cupertino will announce a new 128GB Apple TV streaming device later this year. And it could come with a new Apple TV remote design.
Parental controls: Kids Mode and Screen Time
Kids Mode reportedly will highlight content aimed at children in various age groups across multiple third-party providers. It also will allow parents to block certain TV content, including restricting access to certain apps.
Apple also reportedly will bring Screen Time to Apple TV. Similar to the way it works on Apple’s other platforms, the feature would allow parents to control the amount of time children spend watching Apple TV programming. It reportedly will allow limitations on time spent using various apps and playing games.
New Apple TV hardware coming?
The website also speculated Apple is working on a new Apple TV streaming device featuring an A11 or A12 processor. It would come with 64/128GB storage options, up from the current 32/64GB configurations.
“In the storage area, Apple is expected to abandon the 32 GB version so that the initial storage volume will be 64 GB and reach up to 128 GB,” the website reported, but gave no specific evidence from sources confirming this news. The Verifier claims its details come from “senior sources who have been working with the site’s staff for a number of years.”
The last update to Apple TV was its 4K version, unveiled more than two years ago in September 2017. There have been signs as of late of a new Apple TV set-top box with an A12 bionic chip, uncovered in code for iOS 13.4 beta in January.
A listing for an “Apple TV Gen X” showed up in Target’s inventory system in February, suggesting that a new Apple TV could potentially be coming soon. Target employees said placeholder listings showed up indicating the imminent release of a new Apple TV model.
The new Apple TV set-top box reportedly will come with a new Apple TV remote, according to code found in iOS 14. It remains unknown what design modifications or features will come with the new remote.
