VortX 0.5.0 Beta 5 — Sync & Apple TV Hotfix

Build 266. These Apple packages are built locally from the same source. This beta is available through the attached files; it does not change the existing automatic-update feeds or Latest release.

Sync changes

• Fixes the server limit that could reject larger account backups.
• Stops an outdated app or delayed upload from replacing a newer backup. Conflicting saves reread the latest backup and keep your pending changes for retry.
• Preserves extra saved fields when Apple TV Lite updates its backup, instead of dropping fields it does not understand.
• Adds shared Apple sync fixes, including Apple TV: safer restore/retry handling, refreshed visible settings, and clearer feedback when a save really fails.
• Cuts repeated work when the server has no new data, so background sync does not keep reloading the same account.
• Keeps first sign-in, QR restore, manual sync and conflict recovery as complete checks rather than treating an unchanged response as a successful save.
• Fixes a cross-device profile mismatch that could hide saved settings or Watchlist entries. Ambiguous records are kept safe rather than assigned to the wrong profile.

These changes have passed source and automated checks. Automatic phone-to-Mac-to-Apple-TV convergence still needs confirmation on installed devices; this release is not a claim that every reported sync case has been reproduced and cleared.

Update your other devices too. After an updated app successfully saves to your account, older VortX versions can no longer upload to that account. They keep their local saved data and local playback, but need updating to resume cloud uploads. This prevents an older app from overwriting your newer backup.

Apple TV changes

• The cinematic profile picker now has larger, TV-sized profiles and text, centered rows, warmed full-screen artwork and a background change about every five seconds with a fade.
• Search separates Movies, Series and Collections and opens real collection destinations.
• A dedicated Watchlist is available from Library and follows the active profile.
• Episode lists start at the current or next unwatched episode once history has loaded, while keeping manual remote navigation in control.
• Marking an episode watched/unwatched now waits for the save and offers a retry if it fails.
• Discover finishes failed loads with a clear retry instead of leaving a spinner stuck. It remains its own TV menu item; there are no Featured/Browse controls added to TV Home.
• Adds an obvious Close control to the player’s stream-link QR panel and a Back control to account restore. Closing the QR panel keeps the video open.

iPhone, iPad and Mac

• Reduces unnecessary diagnostic and sorting work while source lists fill in.
• Retains the earlier profile, grouped-search and Library fixes in this source.

The source-list change is validated by automated checks, not a measured claim that every device stutter is gone. Browser look, language, playback/filter and owner add-on edits have updated sync handling. Browser watch-progress editing and Library removal are not yet supported; pending progress changes are kept rather than reported as saved.

Installing these local packages

The iOS/iPadOS and Apple TV IPAs are unsigned and must be signed by your normal signing service before installation. Apple TV Full includes Top Shelf; Lite does not. Both TV versions require tvOS 18 or later. The Mac package is for Apple silicon, requires macOS 14 or later, and is ad-hoc signed rather than notarized.

If macOS blocks the app after copying it into Applications, run:

xattr -dr com.apple.quarantine /Applications/VortX.app

macOS may ask for your password to let VortX use its saved sign-in information in Keychain after replacing the app. Approve only a prompt that names VortX. Do not delete Keychain entries or sign out just to get past a sync error.

vortx-platforms: apple
vortx-distribution: direct-test