Sky Glass and Sky Stream, the two broadband-based devices from Sky, are set to receive a new software update that brings several new features and enhancements to the user experience.
The free update, part of Sky’s Entertainment OS, will be gradually rolled out to all Sky Glass and Sky Stream users, both new and existing. Some features are already available, and others will be available in May.
The update includes several UI improvements (including a Rotten Tomatoes score on every title page), but its two main attractions are the new Low-Latency modes for gaming and sports.
Yes, finally – Sky Stream and Sky Glass viewers won’t have to hear their neighbours screaming about a goal and then see it for themselves, lagged, after 30 seconds, as Sky was able to improve the speed at which live sports broadcasts reach your devices – even when they’re based on streaming.
For now, however, the new low latency mode for sports will be somewhat limited (see full details below).
Sky Glass (see my review), which was released in 2021, is a 4K TV set that features a QLED HDR display and a built-in Dolby Atmos soundbar with six speakers.
Sky Stream (see my review) is a standalone streaming set-top box that works with any broadband provider.
Unlike Sky’s other services in the UK, Sky Glass and Sky Stream don’t use a satellite dish – instead, they rely on broadband, and stream all the content to the TV, much like other streaming devices like the Amazon Fire TV and Roku – or streaming services like Sky’s own NOW (see our Sky Stream VS Now comparison).
Sky Glass and Sky Stream both use Entertainment OS, and they both receive regular updates and small fixes. The last major software update was released in July 2023, when several playlist improvements were made.
At the moment, Glass and Stream are on OS version 1.2, with several additional enhancements that were added in recent months and weeks:
Personalised film recommendations: Sky Glass and Stream will now use the stuff you’ve watched before – to make better, more personalised recommendations on other similar titles that you might enjoy.
Designed to recommend more than 30 different genres, movie recommendations are available to try now, with the feature launching for TV shows soon.
New Playlist icons: You can now personalise your Sky Glass / Sky Stream playlist even further with a range of new character avatars.
Kids can choose from popular characters including favourites from Paw Patrol, Scooby Doo, Peppa Pig, SpongeBob, Trolls and Pip & Posy.
More avatars will be added later this year.
Find the music you love faster: You can now use your voice to find your favourites on Amazon Music and ROXi (a karaoke app). Simply say “Fred Again on Amazon Music” or “Harry Styles on ROXi”, and the relevant app will launch and find Fred Again or Harry Styles singles and albums.
But wait, there’s more – here’s a peek at the new features coming to Glass and Stream soon…
Sky Glass / Stream: New Features Coming
In May, the Entertainment OS on Glass and Stream will be upgraded to Version 1.3, and a host of new features will be added.
Your device should get the update automatically (when it’s on Standby – so usually during the night). You can check your current software version in the device’s Settings.
If it looks like your device hasn’t updated yet, you can try unplugging it from the wall, waiting about 20 seconds, and then plugging it back in – that may reset the update process.
So, here’s what’s coming to Sky Glass and Sky Stream in May:
Sky Sports Main Event in Low Latency
One issue that plagues many streaming-based devices, particularly when watching live sports, is the latency/lag problem.
Because streaming isn’t as fast as over-the-air broadcasts (using an aerial or satellite), live sports on Sky Stream and Sky Glass can lag behind by up to 30 seconds.
And we all know what that means – your neighbour, who’s watching the game via satellite, screams when there’s a goal – and you’re spoiled, because you only see it on your screen 30 seconds later.
With the May update, however, Sky Sports Main Event viewers will be able to watch the channel in Low Latency, reducing the time between the action on the pitch and watching on your Sky Glass or Stream.
According to Sky, latency has been reduced by over 20 seconds, which means you can watch your favourite sports faster than many other streaming services.
So your neighbour may still get it a few seconds earlier – but it won’t be as bad.
Over the coming months, the new low-latency mode will only be available on the Sky Sports Main Event channel, but more Sky Sports channels will get it later this year.
Auto Game Mode (Sky Glass Only)
Sky Glass was never a very good TV for gaming – it doesn’t support a 120HZ refresh rate, so you can’t use the 120HZ function on the PS5, and – the latency was never particularly good for gaming.
However, in the May update, Sky is at least trying to improve the latency issue with a new Auto Low Latency (ALLM).
When playing video games, a delay between pressing a button and seeing the action on-screen can make the game feel sluggish and unresponsive.
TVs with low latency (input lag) are important for gaming because they minimize this delay, providing a smoother experience and allowing for better performance.
That’s especially true in fast-paced or competitive games.
The new Auto Low Latency mode on Sky Glass, which switches on automatically when you plug in a gaming console, will “offer a more responsive gaming experience for casual players.”
While we don’t have all the technical details yet – the mention of ‘casual players’ probably means that even the low latency mode won’t be good enough for hardcore/competitive players – but an improvement is still a blessing.
Add Actors To The Playlist
At the moment, you can already see all the actors of a movie or TV show on the title page and then jump to a search result page that shows all the content from that actor.
With the new update, you will be able to add your favourite actors to your playlist, and then easily find movies and TV shows they’ve been in – to watch whenever you want.
Later on, football fans will also be able to follow their teams (via the playlist) to enjoy the latest matches all in one place.
To “follow” an actor on your Playlist, simply press the + button on the remote while browsing for people – for example, from the Cast & Crew rail on the show page or by searching for your favourite people and adding them from there.
When a person has been added, you can subsequently find them within a ‘People you follow’ rail within the playlist section.
Title Pages to show Rotten Tomatoes ratings
Title pages (for movies and TV shows) will feature Rotten Tomatoes scores to save the hassle of googling a rating before watching a movie.
Amazon’s Prime Video shows iMDB ratings for titles, which was always quite convenient – so a Rotten Tomatoes score on Sky Glass and Stream could prove useful as well.
“Hello Sky, add to Playlist”
With the new update, you’ll be able to use your voice to add movies and shows to your playlist (instead of pressing the + button on the remote).
Simply go to the show or movie page and say, “Hello Sky, add to playlist” to save things you want to watch later.
Of course, on Sky Stream, you’d need to press the voice button on the remote first – so at that point, you might as well press the + button, but on Sky Glass (which always listens), this is a quick voice shortcut.
Subtitles Coming To All 4K Content
As we recently reported, after years of not having subtitles for Ultra HD (4K) content, Sky finally started adding captions to those versions of films and TV shows as well.
For now, the selection is very limited – but Sky says that ALL Ultra HD on-demand content, including Sky Nature shows and blockbuster films, will have the option for subtitles by the end of the summer.
Audio Description, a popular feature on Sky’s linear TV channels, will also be available on video-on-demand content soon.
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Ridiculous. All these features are merely plasters on a broken system. They need to update the hardware pronto. Entertainment OS is dated and inadequate in the current market.
Don’t agree it’s a broken system. Yes, it has some quirks but If you don’t like it, send it back during the trial period.