Sodalite

One app across Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad

Sodalite is a single universal app for Apple platforms. The same library, the same Seerr request loop, and the same custom video stack run whether you are on the Apple TV in the living room, an iPhone on the train, or an iPad in bed. You sign in once per server, and the experience follows the device you pick up. The README states it is one codebase, so almost everything is identical across devices. The app brings Jellyfin and Seerr together in one interface. You watch what is already on your server, and when you spot something missing on a trending row, you request it from inside the app and Seerr handles the rest. There is no need to switch to a phone browser or message a homelab admin. The README also lists what runs where. Full library, direct play, HDR, Dolby Atmos, all subtitle formats, Seerr browse and request, single sign on, live TV and DVR, music, watch stats, parental controls, and 26 languages work on every device. Picture in picture, full screen video out over a wired HDMI adapter, rotation lock, and child lock are iPhone and iPad only, while the Top Shelf and Siri Remote focus UX are Apple TV only. The app is open source end to end, with credentials in the device Keychain and optional end to end encrypted iCloud sync.

Playback features for movies, shows, music, and live TV

Sodalite plays files directly from your Jellyfin server in almost every case, with no transcoding required, and live channels stream from their source where possible. The README documents an unusually complete playback feature set. Direct Play covers H.264, HEVC, HEVC Main10, AV1, VP9, VP8, MPEG-4 Part 2, MPEG-2, VC-1, and legacy Microsoft codecs, with containers from MKV and MP4 to VOB and WebM. HDR10, HDR10 plus, Dolby Vision, and HLG are auto detected and passed through with full color metadata. Dolby Atmos arrives via EAC3 plus JOC wrapped as Dolby MAT 2.0. Subtitles of every format are decoded client side, including text codecs such as SubRip, ASS, SSA, and WebVTT and bitmap subtitles such as PGS and DVB, with forced tracks, subtitle search and download, and dual subtitles. Playback extras include intro skip, recap skip, next episode auto play, scrub preview thumbnails generated on device, picture in picture, and a Stats for Nerds overlay. Live TV and DVR add an EPG grid, channel favorites, timeshift with up to ten minutes of scrub back, and recordings. Music plays through the same engine with a native Now Playing screen. The Seerr side lets you browse trending media, request movies or full series in one tap, and track approval or download status.

How to install the public beta

The public beta is open, and the README gives one TestFlight link that installs on Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad at the same time. The link is https://testflight.apple.com/join/nWeQzmBX. The README points to BETA.md for what to focus on and how to report bugs, so new testers should read that file before exploring. Because Sodalite is a universal app, a single TestFlight install covers all three device types you own. The app targets tvOS 26 or later, iOS 26 or later, and iPadOS 26 or later, and it is built with Swift 6.0 or later. Those requirements are shown in the README badges. There is no App Store public release mentioned; distribution is through TestFlight while the beta is open. Once installed, you add your Jellyfin server, either by letting the app discover it on the network or by entering an address manually, and you can add Seerr the same way. Credentials stay in the device Keychain and sync through private iCloud when enabled. The README also notes the project is licensed under GPL-3.0 with an Apple Store and DRM exception, and the underlying AetherEngine video stack is LGPL-3.0 with the same exception, which keeps TestFlight distribution legally clean. Until a wider release exists, the TestFlight beta is the only supported way to install Sodalite, and the README invites testers to report issues through the linked BETA.md process.

Editorial conclusion

Sodalite is licensed under GPL-3.0 with an Apple Store and DRM exception, and its video engine AetherEngine is LGPL-3.0 with the same exception. The public beta installs through one TestFlight link that covers Apple TV, iPhone, and iPad.