tvOS 9.1 Code Hints at iOS-Like Folder Support for New Apple TV

Yesterday, Apple seeded the first beta of tvOS 9.1 to developers, the first software update to tvOS 9.0. While the release notes didn’t indicate any big new features, developer Steve Troughton-Smith has explored the code and found that HeadBoard, tvOS’ UI, includes support for folders.

Image via Steve Troughton-Smith

Folders on tvOS currently work in a similar way to iOS, notes Troughton-Smith. A user would just have to drag one app over the other to create a folder. Users would also have the ability to rename folders. Troughton-Smith was able to activate the folders using the LLDB software debugger. The folders appear to use a 3 x 3 layout and sit alongside apps on the Apple TV’s home screen, just like folders do in iOS.

Oh hey. Nailed it. 😎 pic.twitter.com/Be1Oc7SbaU

— Steve T-S (@stroughtonsmith) November 5, 2015

http://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js

In recent days, Apple has been updating the Apple TV’s new App Store with Top Charts and Categories for better discoverability. However, those updates were server-side updates that didn’t require users to update their software. Folder support would require a software update, but it’s unclear which software update Apple would enable it in. Last year, iOS 8 code pointed to split-screen multitasking, but the feature didn’t become official until iOS 9 almost a year alter.

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