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aTV Flash (black) version 1.6 for Apple TV will serve subtitles and more to your couch
Snared the video you want with aTV Flash (black), but still foraging for subtitles the old way? Version 1.6 of the $29.95 package will now hunt them down from OpenSubtitles.org and download 'em directly to your jailbroken Apple TV 2nd-gen. In addition, Firecore's undermining software now has more codecs and languages, smoother video playback, better networking and numerous refinements and bug fixes. Existing clients will score the upgrade gratis, and new orders won't pay for Apple TV 3rd-gen functionality when it comes out. If you want to say no mas to badly dubbed films, roll to the source for more details.
Absinthe 2.0 hits the download wire, jailbreaks all iOS 5.1.1 devices but the 32nm iPad 2
Absinthe's "so-easy-your-grandma-could-do-it" jailbreak tool just got an update to version 2.0, enabling support for a handful of Apple portables running iOS 5.1.1. Absinthe 2.0, which was developed by the "Jailbreak Dream Team" (Chronic-Dev and iPhone Dev) joins Redsn0w's tool, and will support all iPhone and iPad versions, with the exception of iPad2,4 -- the most recent iPad 2 variant, shipping with a 32nm A5 chip. The jailbreak tool can also be installed on iPod3,1 and 4,1 models. Assuming your iOS device is up and running with firmware 5.1.1, you can hit up the source link after the break to get your download on. AppleTV (second gen) users can get in on the fun too, with the latest version of Seas0npass for 5.0.1.
aTV Flash (black) for Apple TV hits version 1.5, brings new player, NFS streaming and more
Folks enjoying all the tidbits aTV Flash (black) brings to the 2nd-gen Apple TV will be happy to know there's a fresh update rolling out now. Inside v1.5, FireCore's added new features such as NFS streaming, as well as including other minor things like extra transitions, subtle timing settings and support for more languages. In addition, and what's perhaps the biggest enhancement, the $29.99 kit is also getting an all-new player, which promises a smoother playback regardless of the file type being used -- not to mention it's optimized for iOS 5. Of course, the refresh is gratis to those who've already shelled out the cash, and you can get to it by hitting the "Manage Extras" menu on Cupertino's miniature box. Not familiar with aTV Flash? Give the source link below a quick click to peruse all about it.
Seas0npass tethered jailbreak now available for Apple TV 2s running iOS 5.1
Apple TV owners no longer need to choose between jailbreaking or running the recently released iOS 5.1 update, now that FireCore has pushed new versions of Seas0nPass (0.8.3) and aTV Flash (black) (1.4.1). Currently, the jailbreak is still tethered, so if you should have to reboot your hockey puck, connecting it to a computer and repeating the process will be required. Unfortunately, the tools won't work on the new third generation Apple TVs yet, and even on supported hardware some plugins, like Plex and XBMC, are still listed as not working. All the details can be found beyond the source link for both the free Seas0nPass jailbreaker and $29.95 aTV Flash that adds more functionality.
Tim Cook says Apple TV is still 'a hobby,' can't live without it
Looking forward to an update to your beloved Apple TV? It seems the company still fancies the device as well. On the quarterly numbers call today, Tim Cook quipped that "we still classify this as a hobby, but we continue to add things to it." He went on to say that the company will "continue to pull strings and see where we can take it." This comes on the heels of Cupertino seeing a record 1.4 million units sold last quarter.
Twonky Beam Browser hands-on
Showing your friends the latest viral video traditionally requires huddling around a smartphone or tablet, which is odd when you're sat in a room with a 40-inch flat-screen. Web connected TVs or media units like the Apple TV will let you watch YouTube as long as you spend five minutes tediously inputting the search term on your remote. For those of us who can't afford a unified Airplay setup, there's PacketVideo's Twonky Beam Browser, which lets you push mobile content to your TV as fast as your wireless router can handle it. Does it work as well as advertised? Is it the answer to your prayers? Read on to find out, dear reader, read on.
TUAW Best of 2011: Vote for the best iPhone accessory
The nominations are in, and the poll is ready to go! The TUAW Best of 2011 awards are all about you -- the readers -- and what you think is the cream of the crop of Apple or third-party products and software. To vote, select one entry from the top nominations made by readers. We'll be announcing the winner in just a few days. Vote early and often! Today TUAW is asking for your vote for the best iPhone accessory of 2011. What accessories excited our readers in 2011? One was an Apple product -- the second-generation Apple TV (US$99). Yes, it is an iPhone accessory, since you can beam video, photos, and music to the device from your iPhone. Your iPhone is even a remote control for the Apple TV, so the little connection to your HDTV is a natural match for the iPhone. Cases are another popular iPhone accessory, and four cases received notice from our readers. The incredible LifeProof case for iPhone 4 / 4S ($79.99) is waterproof, shockproof, dirtproof, and snowproof. For my review of the LifeProof case in August, my iPhone 4 got to go for a dip, and TUAW readers got to see a video from the viewpoint of the iPhone underwater in my sink. Another nominated case was the Twelve South BookBook Case for iPhone 4/4S ($59.99). It's a combination wallet -- provided you're not carrying more than your license and a credit card -- and book-like iPhone case. The BookBook case was one of the most unique iPhone cases reviewed by TUAW all year. For those of us who use our iPhones constantly, power can be an issue. One of the most popular cases with a built-in battery is the Mophie Juice Pack Air ($79.95). It's the case and battery extender that I personally use. Finally, athletes find the Wahoo Fitness products which wirelessly connect iPhones to fitness sensors like stride sensors and heart rate straps. Part of the ANT+ alliance, the Wahoo Fitness products work with a variety of iPhone apps and hardware from a number of vendors. The product we've chosen from the spectrum of Wahoo Fitness devices is the Wahoo Run/Gym Pack for iPhone ($119.99). Be sure to vote for the iPhone accessory that you think is the top for 2011. I'll announce the winner in a few days. %Poll-72045%
Dear Aunt TUAW: Will there be a TV from Apple?
Dear Aunt TUAW, Is there any chance Apple will release an actual TV? I'm considering the ATV2 but its close enough to September should I wait? Your loving nephew, Sean Dear Sean, Auntie considers the likelihood of Apple releasing an actual consumer electronics TV to be as likely as Donkey Kong giving up bananas, or red- and blue-state Senators crossing the aisle to indulge in a festival of love and mutual appreciation, or Boston baseball fans giving up on hating the Yankees. Will Apple TV itself, i.e. the box that connects to real TVs, get a bump? Er, possibly. Is it likely? Probably not. Will the features be so awesome that you will regret having laid out $99 on the previous generation if such a mythical product does appear? Again, probably not. The Apple TV 2 has re-defined itself into the must-have product for accessorizing your iOS device to the living room. With it and iOS 5, you'll be able to wirelessly mirror movies, music, and games. You'll be able to give Keynote presentations, product demos and more. And you can get that all with the current Apple TV 2 box and it will be ready to use in September when iOS 5 debuts with those mirroring features. So should you wait until September? Sure. Why not? Even if you don't need Apple TV 2 now, you'll really want to pick one up when iOS 5 goes live. And in the unlikely case that Apple introduces a new generation, the old one will drop from very-affordable to dirt-cheap. Hugs, Auntie T.
Create quality iPad 2 product demos with Apple TV and EyeTV
After much effort, we've found a solid TUAW solution for screencasting the iPad 2 to desktop computers. Steve Sande and I have been documenting our attempts at this challenge for several months now. Back in March, Steve got basic 480p mirroring working. I then improved that to 720p/720i, although my solutions did have a slight aspect ratio problem. I also wrote about adding audio narration and pointer effects. Now, by modifying my setup and adding in technology introduced in Steve Jobs' keynote this past Monday, I've built a really reliable system with great responsiveness, minimal wires, and good video details. It's built, as you've already guessed, around AirPlay Mirroring, so it is limited to the iPad 2. And, because it uses AirPlay's announced but not-yet-shipping features, I can't offer screenshots or talk about how to set it up on the iPad side. That's okay, because from the iPad side it's just a matter of setting the AirPlay options as required. The hardware is the interesting bit, and none of that is specific to iOS 5. I'm going to describe how I set up things on my computer, with equipment you can purchase and test today, even if you're not in the developer program. What I'm going to describe is not capturing video from the iPad, it's capturing video from your Apple TV. When iOS 5 is released, you'll be able to use the wireless screencasting from Monday's keynote to send your iPad video to Apple TV. Right now, unless you are in the beta program and have an iPad 2, you will only be able to record your Apple TV screen with whatever content is on it today. Like my previous efforts, this solution is built around the Elgato EyeTV HD (street price around $170). The EyeTV HD accepts component (RGB/RW) input and can ably display and record 720p HD video. I was met with complete failure when I first tried converting the iPad 2's HDMI cable output to composite video. I had bought an HDMI-to-Component converter box from Amazon. For that failed effort, I was personally out about $55 dollars plus a bit of time. The box didn't work with Apple's multimedia cable and the iPad 2, and I never ended up posting about the solution -- there was nothing more to say than "it didn't work." Fortunately, the converter was still on-hand this week. I had tossed it into a box of outdated and failed equipment. When I realized I might be able to use the Apple TV's HDMI output for product demos, I connected the converter up to the EyeTV HD and ran the Apple TV HDMI cable to it. Success! So what do you get for your approximately-$325 solution (EyeTV, component converter and Apple TV)? You get very good quality capture, as shown in the screen shot at the top of this post. Don't expect pixel-perfect accuracy. EyeTV will compress your video and you will experience some blurriness. What's more, wireless video almost always involves some bandwidth compromises, so don't expect perfection there either for when you do get access to iOS 5. Instead, expect a really workable answer to your iPad 2 demonstration-recording needs. This setup works well for both product videos and screencasting. As a bonus, the iPad 2 isn't tethered to an awkward cable adapter, and your various boxes can stack neatly next to your computer (or TV, as the case may be).
If you install iOS 5, you can't go back... maybe (Updated)
Update: Some of our Twitter buddies have noted that you should be able to use the TinyUmbrella tool to kick out of the 'error 1' loop that results after restoring an iOS 5 iPhone back to 4.3.3, and proceed safely from there. Needless to say, your mileage may vary. We knew the pre-release builds for iOS 5 would be issued to the developer community today, but AppleInsider warns that this comes with a caveat. Apple has apparently told testers of iOS 5 that any devices updated to that beta cannot be downgraded back to iOS 4. They will only be able to further upgrade their device and eventually install the final iOS 5 release. This note was delivered to developers alongside the latest builds of iOS 5 (build 9A5220p), iTunes 10.5, Apple TV Software beta and the Xcode 4.2 Preview (build 4C104 for Snow Leopard and 4D5031b for Lion). Commenters on the AI forums note that this is not necessarily a new condition for iOS 5; as far back as iOS 3, downgrading was not officially supported. For larger developers this should not be a major problem, but for smaller/indie devs that use their development devices as their primary or day-to-day devices... well, let's hope that beta 1 is stable enough for regular use.
Elgato updates EyeTV iOS app, does the AirPlay dance
If you've been longing to use your EyeTV HD to sling content from your AirPlay-enabled iOS device to your designated Apple TV 2 setup, listen up. Elgato has pushed an updated version of the EyeTV iOS app (version 1.2.3) that enables Apple's wireless streaming technology to play nicely with your ATV2 or third-party AirPlay device. Remember, the app costs $4.99, but wouldn't you rather watch Seinfeld reruns on the living room 74-incher? Yeah, us too.
Motorola NYXboard surfaces from the dead, XBMC reclaims it (update)
Seven months ago, Motorola unveiled a dual-sided, QWERTY-laden TV remote control: the NYXboard. It was never heard from again. Today, we've learned why -- the open-source community will be selling a version specially redesigned to control your XBMC rig. The folks at Pulse-Eight -- a startup with roots in the XBMC community dedicated to designing hardware -- tell us they actually talked Motorola out of bundling the remote with set-top-boxes in favor of a nefarious plan. Simply put, they want you to be able to purchase an IR and RF remote that natively supports XBMC for a penny under $60 this June. While we don't have any real pictures of the unit quite yet -- just the renders you see above and below -- developers say it will work with installations on Mac, Windows, Linux and the original Apple TV on day one, and will actually turn off the side of the remote that's face down to avoid accidental inputs. You'll find the NYXboard up for pre-order now at our source link, with the first shipments slated for around June 27th. Then again, you might want to wait, as we're told there are more surprises in store: a second version that can control the Apple TV 2, and a secret method which would allow the remotes to control your home entertainment center without pesky line-of-sight infrared. The best laid plans and all that... but it sounds like Logitech's Harmony may finally get some competition. Update: The situation's a bit tricky, but the XBMC Foundation (a non-profit entity) wants you to know that hardware vendor Pulse-Eight (a for-profit venture) isn't actually part of their group -- Pulse-Eight was founded by an XBMC team member and produces hardware targeted at the XBMC community, but apparently isn't funded by (nor directs funding towards) the XBMC foundation itself. %Gallery-120486%
Ask Engadget HD: What's the cheapest media streamer that plays MKVs?
Our friend Nathan is a simple guy with simple needs. He just wants to stream MKVs from a DLNA server to watch on his HDTV and he doesn't want to pay a lot or do a lot of work to do it. We'll let him break down the situation: I was about to buy an Apple TV for $99 with the express purpose of hacking it (jailbreak) to put XBMC on it -- to play MKV files from my DLNA server. And then it occurred to me, maybe there is a cheaper solution, that doesn't require a hack, for this purpose? What are the pros and cons of going with such an alternate? So what is it: Roku, WDTV, the hacked Apple TV he was already planning to go with, or something else? Let us know what you'd recommend and why in the comments below. Got a burning question that you'd love to toss out for Engadget HD (or its readers) to take a look at? Tired of Google's blank stares when you ask for real-world experiences? Hit us up at ask at engadgethd dawt com and keep an eye on this space -- your inquiry could be next.
Apple TV software update adds NBA League Pass, MLB.tv and Netflix 5.1 audio support
It didn't make it into the iOS 4.3 update notes, but second generation Apple TV owners are experiencing several new capabilities today including the ability to stream baseball and basketball games via NBA League Pass Broadband or MLB.tv and support for 5.1 audio on Netflix Watch Instantly. The Apple TV isn't the first device to bring these in front of the TV (the PS3 says hello, while Roku is still enjoying a decent lead in sports) but if it's the box hooked up to your flat screen already we see no reason to quibble -- if you're not seeing the 4.2 update yet, try hooking the lil' hockey puck to your computer via USB and letting iTunes do the work. NFL Sunday Ticket access is still the big fish no one has managed to land yet when it comes to sports in a post-cable cutting world, but we'll wait to find out if there will even be a 2011 season before expecting any word on that.
Greenpois0n RC6 breaks new Apple TV's bonds, performs untethered jailbreak and NitoTV install
Installing nitoTV on your Apple TV used to involve a mildly difficult SSH process, and for those folks who are turned off by running Terminal and punching in lines of code, the newest version of greenpois0n (RC6) might pique your jailbreak interests. It'll perform an untethered jailbreak (meaning, you can reboot your iProduct without the need to re-JB), freeing your device (iPhone, iPad, etc.) running 4.2.1 and allow you to fulfill all of your out-of-jail needs. Bundled in this new release is a loader that'll inject nitoTV right onto your little black Apple box. This new greenpois0n is said to fix emulation problems (zodttd's emulators were having issues) and can be applied right over your device that's been freed with RC5. But proceed with caution -- we're seeing a bunch of jailbreakers on Twitter claiming have ran into issues (WiFi, booting) with RC6. Hit the source link to grab either the Mac or Windows version. [Thanks to everyone who sent this in]
XBMC comes to the new Apple TV, we go hands-on (video)
So you jailbroke your new Apple TV, only to realize that there's not all that much to do at the top of Everest except rest and enjoy your accomplishment, eh? No need to trek back down the hill -- there are a great many minds at work to leverage your new-found power into something truly useful. Like what, you say? Take a gander above. An second-generation Apple TV appeared at our doorstep this weekend with XBMC on board -- decoding our 1080p HD content, complete with hardware acceleration, on Apple's ARM silicon, and with only occasional choppiness. If your sense of self-entitlement is wondering what took so long, don't. We're told that this isn't a simple port, as the new Apple TV doesn't share much with its older brother, and is an entirely different animal to develop for. The bulk of the work has been done, though, and as you can see in the video above, once you launch XBMC from the new Apple TV it is the same great experience you've come to love. The difference is, this time, the hardware you're running it on costs just $99. This tiny box is finally beginning to feel magical... now, we're just waiting on a simple installer so we can load it up ourselves. Update: And just like that, the wait is over. If your jailbroken second-gen Apple TV is ready and you have the foggiest idea what "apt-get" does, you can install XBMC right now. Find instructions at our more coverage link below. %Gallery-114545%
Seas0nPass jailbreak app for Apple TV now available
The folks at fireCore have released Seas0nPass, a jailbreak application for the second generation Apple TV. Seas0nPass is a tethered jailbreak solution that requires you to connect your Apple TV to your computer briefly during boot. Similar to the Pwnage tool app, the jailbreak application lets you load custom IPSW files onto your Apple TV. While Seas0nPass is new, fireCore is a name that should be familiar to Apple TV owners. This group also released aTV Flash, a software package that adds streaming services like Last.fm, an HTML 5 web browser and more to the Apple TV. The latest version aTV Flash (black) is in beta and is available as a pre-order for US$19.95. It requires a jailbroken second generation Apple TV. Unlike aTV Flash, which is available for a nominal fee, Seas0nPass is open source and available for free. The tool was designed for the second generation Apple TV only, so please don't try this with your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. The current version of Seas0nPass is compatible with Mac OS X 10.6 or later. A Windows version is under development and will be available soon. Interested Apple TV owners can grab the download and pertinent instructions at Seas0nPass.com. The source code is available here on Github. Remember, jailbreaking is inherently risky and the comments on fireCore's website suggest this tool may be riskier than normal. Jailbreaking is done at the sole discretion of the reader, and we assume no responsibility for bricked Apple TVs.
DVDs are playing back on my Apple TV using AirFlick and AirPlay!
The Unicorn has landed! Rainbows! Starshine! Skittle poo! It's like Christmas in...um...December! So why this exuberance and excitement? My Apple TV is right now, this very second, even as we speak, playing back a DVD of Finding Nemo. It's seriously awesome. Why watch a DVD on a laptop when you can easily stream it to your Apple TV? And it's not even all that hard to do if you're a bit of a do-it-yourself-hacker. Although, seriously, if the command line frightens and intimidates you, it's time to move on to the next TUAW post. Mac aficionado Erick van Rijk figured out how to use VLC to transcode a DVD in real time so that my AirFlick application could play it across to an Apple TV. The instructions, which you are heartily encouraged to follow only at your own risk, follow after the jump. Okay? Deep breaths. Here we go.
Apple TV plays live-converted AVI files using Air Video Server, AirPlayer, and AirFlick
Although I knew that the AirFlick video tool I posted about earlier today could theoretically pass transcoded video streams to Apple TV for playback, my initial attempts with VideoLAN Client transcoding more or less went nowhere. Then, TUAW reader BC reposted a comment earlier this evening that he originally left on the MacRumors forums. In that comment, he discussed how to add live conversion to my AirFlick app by using the server component of AirVideo, a video streaming solution that allows your Mac to serve video to your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch. Although I had previously attempted to play back AirVideo m3u8 playlists on the Mac without success, BC suggested that the Apple TV supported them. He was right. Video proof follows after the break.
AirFlick turns Macintosh into an AirPlay data server
If you own a Macintosh and an Apple TV, I have created a new tool that allows you to stream data outside of iTunes. It's called AirFlick, and it's now available in alpha form for download and testing. Last week, I put together a related application called AirPlayer that allows you to stream video from your iPad using Apple's built in AirPlay services and demonstrated it on TUAW. AirPlayer works by emulating an Apple TV using your Mac's built in Bonjour networking capabilities. Below is a description and brief video explaining how it works. Update: TUAW reader BC adds: How to Add Live Conversion to Erica Sadun's AirFlick App Ok, by doing this hack, you can stream ANY video format sitting on your Mac to your AppleTV. I'm testing out an mkv file right now, and it works like a charm! Download the unofficial Mac AirVideo client here. Start playback of a video using live conversion from within this unofficial client, it should hand off the streaming video to Quicktime X. Inspect the stream by viewing the Movie Inspector (check the "Window" menu for Quicktime). Write down that url. Paste that url into Erica Sadun's Airflick app and boom now your AppleTV can basically play any video you throw at it! Looking forward to someone streamlining the process into a neat little app. OPTIONAL One extra little note: you don't have to necessarily download the unofficial Mac AirVideo client above. You can instead begin playback of a video from within the AirVideo iphone app, then go to the mac serving up the stream, and type "ps ax | grep ffmpeg", and grab the alphanumeric string following the --conversion-id flag. Then paste into AirFlick the following: http://[YOUR-SERVER'S-IP-ADDRESS]:45631/live-playback-2.4.0/index_[CONVERSION-ID].m3u8
