Apple has released a developer beta for tvOS 18, the software that powers Apple TV devices. This update introduces a significant new feature called ‘Insight,’ which directly rivals Amazon Prime Video’s popular X-Ray function.
Insight allows users to quickly access information about actors appearing on screen, including their real names and character names. By clicking on an actor’s thumbnail, viewers can delve deeper into their filmography, discovering other projects they’ve been involved in, including movies, series, and even producer or writing credits.
One of the standout aspects of Insight is its intelligent integration with various streaming platforms. While all related movie and series thumbnails share a consistent visual style, they link to the appropriate platforms where the content is available. This means you might find links to Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, Plex, or other services compatible with Apple’s TV app. Notably, Netflix is not yet supported.
Beyond actor information, Insight also provides access to the music playing during a movie or show. While clicking on a song won’t automatically start playback, it adds the song to a ‘Saved Songs’ playlist in Apple Music.
Currently, Insight is only available in the tvOS 18 developer beta, so those not running the latest software will have to wait for its official release. It’s worth noting that features could be modified before public availability, but so far, the new Insight feature appears to be a promising addition to Apple TV.
