New AppleTV - Thanksgiving Update
Happy Thanksgiving to those in the US and happy Wednesday to everyone else. :-) We've got some exciting progress to share so instead of writing a long-winded intro I'll just get right to the good stuff.
New AppleTV 4.1 Software (iOS 4.2.1)
AirPlay has finally made it to the new AppleTV via AppleTV software version 4.1. For the most part this is exciting news, though it has set us back a bit as there are some adjustments we'll have to make for the new version. It looks like we may also need an updated jailbreak tool - the tools have already been updated for the iPhone, so hopefully this shouldn't be too long in the making. If you have time go thank the guys from the iPhone Dev Team and Chronic Dev Team for their awesome work.
Couch Surfer - 80% complete
There's been lots of exciting progress with Couch Surfer over the past week, most notably being fluid playback of HTML5 video. Couch Surfer is still a bit rough around the edges, but as you can see in the video below we're getting close. (Note: the pause in the video is just to showcase the control bar that is available during playback).
Installer - Ready for beta
The installer is done, allowing aTV Flash (black) to be installed onto any jailbroken AppleTV directly from your Mac. Installation takes less than 2 minutes. We plan to have a Windows version available soon.
Last.fm - Ready for beta
This will need a few tweaks for the new 4.1 AppleTV software, but other than that it's ready to go.
Codecs/NAS Streaming - 35% complete
We've successfully been able to play non-iTunes media files (we've tried AVI, MKV and WMV) on the AppleTV. There are still a number of critical issues that need to be addressed, but progress so far has been extremely encouraging.
Comments? - share them below.
- james's blog
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Comments
Thu Mar 10, 2011 3:59 pm
I upgraded ATV 2 to iOS 4.3 and noticed Time Zone in Settings discovers my location despite I connect ATV thru VPN router.
After some googling I found Apple may use core location to find location ?
Can aTV flash fake or prevent ATV to find real location ?
Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:27 am
If this does not get at least Beta released soon, then a lot of people will find alternate routes to view their files (ie. Plex or Handbreak). Please release something soon. I love what you are doing with your product....but even I have started to debate about a Hackintosh for Plex Media Server, or even buying a Mac for that purpose.
If you get XBMC and Plex to work on this box then you will have a LOT of customers. However, time is of the essence and people are jumping off the boat.
Wed Dec 01, 2010 10:19 am
hi
will atv be able to stream from and nas server and provide the sound truh the hdmi cable to the television...?
thanks in advance
Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:13 pm
Looks Awesome!! Would be great if you could release the beta version with couch surfer. Can't wait anymore ..Apple TV is useless with browser!!
Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:56 pm
any chance of plex on atv black
Tue Nov 30, 2010 6:46 pm
Hi,
Just wondering if you will be able to watch video outside of iTunes using Apple TV and then have the audio play on external speakers via AirPlay... or something like that?
Thanks!!
Tue Nov 30, 2010 9:42 am
Will XBMC be included in the ATV black install? I could care less about most of these other features XBMC is what matters to me! It's great on the ATV Silver i use it almost everyday PLEASE make sure it is in the final release for the ATV black!!!
Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:18 am
XBMC won't be available initially, but could be added down the road.
James
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Mon Nov 29, 2010 7:00 pm
Great looking work. Im excited to see the new aTV Black running. I want to purchase another ATV with the software for a Christmas gift!!!!!
Mon Nov 29, 2010 3:17 pm
I hope Remote HD is included with this 1st release. To bad it won't stream audio from the Apple TV ...
I am thinking that the great minds will include a lot of the features from aTV Flash such as the reboot finder, reboot apple tv, shutdown, etc.
After the release of lost.fm and the big disappointment of needing a paid account to stream to the aTV but free to my iPod, I have to wonder if it's worth the efforts to include it at all. I uninstalled it but lost.fm is still in the main menu.
Any luck on an attached USB drive? The streaming thing from your iTunes library hosted on another device ie: my laptop, really is a pain but from the original aTV is a great idea!.
AppleTV 1 - 1.5 TB external USB Drive & aTV Flash installed 4.4.1
AppleTV 2 - aTV Flash installed version 1.4
AppleTV 3 - Stock, waiting for aTV Flash magic
Denon AVR-3312CI - Logitech Harmony One Remote
Sony Bravia V-Series KDL-42V4100 42-Inch
Sun Nov 28, 2010 5:32 pm
Does this clean HTML5 viewing mean that ESPN3 content will be watchable via ATV black? If so, do you have any plans for an ESPN interface instead of using couch surfer?
Mon Nov 29, 2010 6:23 am
Any update on the release date?
Sun Nov 28, 2010 5:03 pm
I have waited too long, just placed the order for boxee box,
I'll be returing my plex/Nito hacked atv2 back to apple store
Goodluck to all of you, sorry for jumping the ship.
Tue Nov 30, 2010 10:35 am
DLTDHYAOTWO
Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:51 am
Good luck with that Boxee Box is gettin awful reviews
Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:21 am
I just get a black aTV that I planed to use with a HD connected to an airport extreme. I was prety sure tat we could use media stored on this kind of device and wath suprise that we had to run iTunes to stream video.
I always could have a mini server for managing my media and stream them to the aTV but just would like to know before to add another device to my system if you have planed a date for a release of a beta that could do that (or the support of an USB HD).
Thank's for your work.
Sat Nov 27, 2010 6:39 pm
Nice Work!
Would it be possible to enlighten us as to the potential improvements that we can get from installing aTV Flash in the AppleTV compared to aTV Flash installed in the old AppleTV. HTML5 seems to be one addition... but what else can we expect? speed? new features?
Thanks.
Julio
Sat Nov 27, 2010 1:45 pm
How close are you to getting Plex to work with the ATV2? Plex apps on the ATV2 would be worth double the price.
Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:04 pm
How difficult was it to hack Plex on to your black aTV2? I've read some instructions to do so online and my eyes glazed over.
Sun Nov 28, 2010 2:57 pm
I've been running plex for weeks. My whole library comes on my mac mini with the plex media server.
Sun Nov 28, 2010 11:10 am
We've been there for weeks now...
Plex released one just after NitoTV released his app.
Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:52 am
The only thing I wan't is a VPN client. This would be easy for you guys to implement (the backend is on the aTV, all we need is a front end)
Tue Nov 30, 2010 5:49 am
QUOTE!!
I totally need a vpn hack for the new atv.
...and i hate being able to access the /etc folder and not having the slightest clue on what i could do!
Sat Nov 27, 2010 10:27 am
Hey James and Co., I woke my aTV up from stand by yesterday and it autoinstalled 4.1 without even asking me for permission....am I officially screwed on the jailbreak side? Do you know? I didnt have SHSH blobs saved with tinyumbrella for the stock firmware and cant downgrade back! Anyhow I know it can be jailbroken just not sure if it will be untethered, even tho not sure tethered/untethered really matters with aTV too much....
Wed Dec 01, 2010 5:25 am
Don't JB until there is an Untethered Solution! I talked to Erica Sadun, and she made it 100% clear that we need to wait for an untethered solution. Being tethered on ATV2 is not good. I guess she had bad issues trying to get it into DFU mode after the JB.
Mon Nov 29, 2010 1:14 am
I'm assuming this is a joke because the atv 2g will NOT auto install updates. What happened was, you didn't read the install page when you woke it up and you hit the button on install now. Now, having said that, if you saved your shsh blob using tinyumbrella which everyone should do. Then no you are not screwed!
Mon Nov 29, 2010 8:53 am
You better do some research because it absolutely did autoinstall! Pressed the menu button once to wake up and install began. Dont assume you know everything when you dont.
Sat Nov 27, 2010 9:48 am
Dear ATV & ATV Flash Wizards,
I am your run of the mill CEO who can build international companies, but one who has a terrible time understanding what you guys are talking about half the time. My ATV is a large part of me and my wife's viewing experience and I also enjoy trying to figure out all the ATV flash features as a hobby. (That was intended as humor) I wanted to suggest a mentoring program or "assigned buddy system" if anyone is interested in assisting a "AV challenged" individual who can sometimes be considered a "AV invalid" as well. For instance the few times I have been home over the last few months I have been trying to figure out how to get Cyberduck to upload my 400 DVD's! I got about 8 or 10 done completely, but have 400 to go! (Trying to phase out that other company that starts with "Esc....") and go totally with ATV for all Movies, Music, Photos and to some extent TV. Yes, I use a I phone and yes my ATV is distributed to 8 zones in my home via a Elan whole-house AV system. I use component for my video distribution via a 8X8 component video matrix so needless to say I wasn't too happy about the latest ATV release. To make matters worse I also buy all my content from I -tunes so this lessens my desire to convert to the newest ATV. Anyway, I am rambling here.....
My latest fiasco is You Tube want play the clips at all and when I do the preview on a movie purchase from I-tunes it only shows about 1/2 the clip and then stops. My wife is growing ever impatient with my long term vision for our ATV. Yes, I guess I could just hire someone to manage the AV system all together, but I really enjoy figuring these issues out.....but as you can see....I AM NOT ENJOYING IT THAT MUCH! (smiling)
Any takers please email
and introduce yourself and let me know how we might go about a long distance "technical assistance program". If this entire posting sounds ludricous and insane then please disregard....I will just go back to my current system of struggling. (LOL)
Thanks in advance to any takers,
ATV until death! In ATL, GA
Sun Nov 28, 2010 3:34 pm
Why don't you hire an IT Professional with some of your CEO money instead of begging in a comment thread for aTV Flash Black. You don't even have a 2nd Gen aTV so this isn't the right place for your barely coherent thesis on personal technological deficiencies. Also - you have an iPhone, not an I Phone. It's iTunes, not I-tunes and it's YouTube, not You Tube. Your wife should divorce you.
Wed Dec 01, 2010 3:29 pm
Really enjoyed ur answer ! :)
Sat Nov 27, 2010 8:45 am
Price Nice!!!
But a really want to see Vimeo Videos like Youtube, specially for all HD content that its provide.
I really want to install this beta!
Greatings from Chile.
Sat Nov 27, 2010 2:04 am
Thnx for the Update - Apple TV 2G is slowly coming in to it's own now with AirPlay - am hoping someone creates a PC Sever to stream content across using this - AirPlay works well (YouTube streaming from an iPhone works brilliantly)
Fri Nov 26, 2010 5:33 pm
hi James, it seems like you're doing a wonderful and blessed job!
is it possible to show us a clip of the codecs support (like playing MKV etc.) which, I believe is the most important feature.
Thanks!
Tue Nov 30, 2010 11:21 am
We're still pretty early on with adding support for additional codecs - once we have something worth showing we'll be sure to post it. :-)
James
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Fri Nov 26, 2010 3:06 pm
ok this is all nice to hear n read,but we are all waitin now ,when can we get the beta?
Fri Nov 26, 2010 5:07 am
Still waiting on external HDD support, but it looks like the handling of other codecs is going nicely. Keep it up!
Wed Dec 01, 2010 5:27 am
It will be awhile, there is not even an option to plug in an external at the moment. While your ATV2 is plugged in and working, look at the back of it...NO WAY/Room to plugin the microUSB....
Fri Nov 26, 2010 1:39 am
Please confirm that EyeTV live 3G (https://live3g.eyetv.com/) works with Couch Surfer and you have sold me ATVFlash!!
=)juha
Fri Nov 26, 2010 9:00 am
Interesting - since it appears to be HTML5 based I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work. We'll have to look into this a bit more.
James
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Thu Nov 25, 2010 11:41 pm
I would love one of the first apps to be a LOCAL tuner via Internet for broadcast tv.
You will then take he step to killing cable.
Fake my location + MLBTV will be nice too until they MLB deals with us directly and let's us buy content from them.
Great job all. Can't wait.
Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:31 pm
I'm really excited at the progress you have been able to make. Willing to help with beta testing. I'm also hoping that there might be USB drive use.
Thu Nov 25, 2010 6:36 pm
Will USB storage be enabled?
Thu Nov 25, 2010 3:15 pm
Interested in beta testing and also interested in support for external hard drive
Thu Nov 25, 2010 1:05 pm
able and willing beta tester here ....
Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:10 pm
Can it play 720p MKV?
Fri Nov 26, 2010 8:44 am
Maybe - we'll have more info on what file formats/resolutions are supported soon.
James
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Thu Nov 25, 2010 12:08 pm
Will external storage be available?
Fri Nov 26, 2010 8:43 am
Not initially, but it is something we're hoping to add.
James
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Thu Nov 25, 2010 11:35 am
Please port over Pandora. It's the one killer app I use via boxee on my old AppleTV that I really need on my new aTV black. Until then, I have both connected to my home entertainment system.
Thu Nov 25, 2010 11:35 am
Hi,
Would like to know if with this browser I will be able to see NFL games through NFL Game Pass that I actually see on my MacBook Pro through Safari.
Thanks
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