Apple TV (take 2) update now available

A couple of tipsters have reported that the delayed Apple TV "take 2" update is finally available, right on schedule. It's reportedly a 5 minute download, but that's all the info we've got until Apple gets official about it. Let us know if it works for you.

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Update: Looks like plenty of people are having luck with the update, so good on them. No word on how this will affect your hacked Apple TV yet, so you might want to hold off until braver souls sort it all out.

[John @ Feb 12th 2008 1:28PM]

Wait, are you saying that at least a couple of people own Apple TVs?

Oooooh, it's just like a PS3 related thread, except that I don't own one!

[fahnboi @ Feb 12th 2008 1:36PM]

John, stick to saying "first" next time, it's more informative.

[shawn @ Feb 12th 2008 1:34PM]

more TVs were sold last year than TiVo's buddy. It's a good thing and it'll pick up steam.

[dial0g @ Feb 12th 2008 1:43PM]

Source for sales figures?

[KirbyMeister @ Feb 12th 2008 1:50PM]

Source: Apple Marketing dept.

[Geoffrey Sperl @ Feb 12th 2008 2:59PM]

I second that call for sales figures. Exactly what's your source?

[Jeffrey Kuehnhoff @ Feb 12th 2008 1:36PM]

The software took about 4 minutes to download on my cable Internet connection over an Airport Extreme network. The install took about 15 minutes, with multiple system restarts. At the end of install you get a brand new welcome graphic, followed by the new menu we saw at the Keynote. I'm currently watching a movie preview, sans iTunes. This is exactly what I was waiting for!

[dario @ Feb 12th 2008 1:36PM]

i am dowloading it right now...34 minutes

[Chris @ Feb 12th 2008 1:43PM]

now with 1080p, and audio options can connect to Airtunes. cool.

[Rob S @ Feb 12th 2008 1:50PM]

1080p? Since when? This is Apple, not Sony...

[skadiwolf @ Feb 12th 2008 1:56PM]

It's actually just 1080i.

[Fernando @ Feb 12th 2008 3:24PM]

Nope it's 1080P Go to Settings the Display 1080P listed and TV is picking it up as 1080p.

[drummerjoe @ Feb 12th 2008 3:32PM]

I've read elsewhere that people are getting 1080p outputs as well...

[kyle @ Feb 12th 2008 1:47PM]

Sweet, downloading it right now. Although I have found that I really dig the apple tv for what it is already, I'm still pretty excited to get this installed if for nothing else than the new layout.

[skadiwolf @ Feb 12th 2008 1:51PM]

Once you select to upgrade the software it asks to download it now or later. The update download took less than five minutes for me.

After selecting to Update Now you get the large Apple logo displayed and the Apple TV restarts several times. Roughly the third time it restarts you get a little update bar that shows the installation progression. It'll go through the process of filling itself twice, restart and then begin again and fill itself once more before restarting three times before it's complete. The installation itself only took ten minutes.

The introductory animation is spectacular! Afterwards, you get the gorgeous new menu and you're in business! :) Now go download, install, and enjoy!

[Harley3k @ Feb 12th 2008 1:55PM]

Downloading it now... Sweet!

I know ppl will bitch for this posting that it doesn't belong on Engadget, but thanks from me! This is one reason why I read your site multiple times per day. And I dno't bitch about all the posts for gadgets I don't own or like.

[fdags629 @ Feb 12th 2008 1:58PM]

has anyone tested how this affects divx playback hacks?

[Adam @ Feb 12th 2008 2:01PM]

I'm pretty sure it would wipe out any hacks you applied.

[Reid B. @ Feb 12th 2008 1:58PM]

Now if Apple can make one that doesn't scorch your entertainment center, that would be good.

[fahnboi @ Feb 12th 2008 2:05PM]

Hey Reid, I'm noticing a pattern from other posts. Could it be you're a crazed Apple hater trolling all day long? Nahh.. just my imagination.

[Backlin @ Feb 12th 2008 2:12PM]

I don't think Apple would engineer something that would scorch your entertainment center.
Now the Xbox 360 on the other hand...

[Jeff @ Feb 12th 2008 3:21PM]

My AppleTV doesn't get much warmer than my amp or TV does.

oops, sorry. didn't see the sign in time:

"Don't feed the trolls."

[nickganga @ Feb 12th 2008 2:00PM]

Does anyone know if this update works with ATV's with larger HDs installed?

[Zak @ Feb 12th 2008 2:09PM]

And it's a free update. That should make the haters' heads explode. "But every update from Apple costs money!" LOLZ.

[holycow @ Feb 12th 2008 2:12PM]

thats coz they're gonna make money of people renting movies now!

[holycow @ Feb 12th 2008 2:13PM]

OFF* .. jeez..

[Adam @ Feb 12th 2008 2:18PM]

@holycow

I find the prospect of making money out of actually people much more interesting!

[NNTPgrip @ Feb 12th 2008 2:33PM]

Apple TV IS PEOPLE

[Jeff @ Feb 12th 2008 3:23PM]

hahahahah

[MauMan @ Feb 12th 2008 5:56PM]

On a serious note it's because Apple books revenue differently for the iPhone and AppleTV. They don't book it all at once but over two years (maybe three I don't recall exactly). With the iPods they book it all immediately. That way when they release an improvement they don't run afoul of Sarbanes-Oxley and have to charge a fee for added functionality.

[skadiwolf @ Feb 12th 2008 2:12PM]

There are a full 75 movies in HD available for renting just right now, I'm pretty impressed. There's a nice wide selection too and one of my favorite older movies Dragonslayer available in HD! :)

[Robert Robinson @ Feb 12th 2008 2:15PM]

Wow!!!! This is what I was hoping for when I bought ATV in December... Goodbye Comcast.

[SBrown @ Feb 14th 2008 1:24PM]

I second that. Once the Wire ends, the ATV will be my entertainment hub.

[Jason @ Feb 12th 2008 2:15PM]

Now if only we could have the functionality of Apple TV2 to watch HD movies on our Mac Minis.

[GaryN @ Feb 12th 2008 2:19PM]

I waited a month for this? What a waste of a digital boner.

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Feb 12th 2008 2:35PM]

It was a simple process to know read up on or watch the video regarding the additions to the AppleTV.

[GaryN @ Feb 12th 2008 2:46PM]

Yeah, smart mouth, it was....but the 'reading material' indicated Cover Flow, which they declined to state was only going to be available for their lame rental service, NOT any existing iTunes libraries of content. Instead we're stuck with the same lame interface for anything beyond their continued attempts to extract currency from us.

[Bender Bending Rodriguez @ Feb 12th 2008 2:33PM]

I want to know if it's still Tiger-based or if it's been rewritten to take advantage of Leopard's Core Services. This would also bring all of OS X to Leopard.

[GaryN @ Feb 12th 2008 2:58PM]

God don't waste your time on this folks. They didn't enable the ability to run a music video playlist. They didn't change the interface to Cover Flow outside of any area that they cannot generate money on like Video Rentals. The only thing they've managed to do is potentially fatten their wallets AND make using the machine for your existing library (streamed) even more cumbersome by adding even more button clicks to get to what you want. Is there any way anyone knows of the REVERT this lousy upgrade?

[Jeff @ Feb 12th 2008 3:17PM]

No Video Playlist?

lame.

I'll still update, for HiDef(ish) rentals and (theoretically) airtunes.

[Greg Rice @ Feb 15th 2008 4:36AM]

Wow, amazing! A company wanting to make money on a release, who would have thought?

[Unclekoolaid @ Feb 12th 2008 3:03PM]

So those of you who have updated, keep the hacks or get the update?

[Jeff @ Feb 12th 2008 3:14PM]

Did you mean 1080i (which it already had)?

if so, then you're being serious about the airtunes thing? I'd be jazzed (and i'll see tonight.)

(i can't tell if that was some sort of sarcastic wishlist, or just a typo. it sort of hinges on the P/i)

[Jeff @ Feb 12th 2008 3:15PM]

nice job, Engadget-commenting-system.

that was supposed to be a reply to Chris, who said "now with 1080p, and audio options can connect to Airtunes. cool."

[Bob @ Feb 12th 2008 3:25PM]

It does now support 1080p connections via HDMI.

[Bob @ Feb 12th 2008 3:25PM]

It does now support 1080p connections via HDMI.

[Jeff @ Feb 12th 2008 7:17PM]

what? can it handle anything *IN* 1080P?

i mean, is it even able to decode 1080P with its minimal processing power? Even then where will it GET 1080p content?

...exciting prospects, to say the least.

[Jubei @ Feb 12th 2008 4:09PM]

Just checked:

"Compatible with enhanced-definition or high-definition widescreen TVs capable of 1080p/1080i 60/50Hz, 720p 60/50Hz, 576p 50Hz (PAL format), or 480p 60Hz"

[V @ Feb 12th 2008 4:22PM]

I read that on the specs page, but is it in the setup menu of firmware 2.0?

[V @ Feb 12th 2008 4:06PM]

Can anyone verify if it still has 480i output? I don't want to update qnd find out it won't work with my old-school tv.