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ATV Flash (black) 2.0 Released

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FireCore has released version 2.0 of its aTV Flash (black) program, which is specifically aimed at jailbroken second- and third-generation Apple TVs (the small black model that sells for $99). The new update is not yet working for the latest, 1080p-supporting black Apple TV, but brings a new Library View, integrated search, trakt.tv and Last.fm scrobbling, Recently Added displays and more to second-gen Apple TV units.
The software is a popular choice for owners of black (or the older "silver") Apple TV units that are either out of warranty or simply want the unit to be able to play video formats other than those stored and supported in iTunes. The program features it's own menu system that works alongside the usual Apple TV menu and features, but can show media files stored on network drives and other devices. The program supports video formats like MKV and AVI and features Internet access, Last.fm radio stations, subtitle support and other features.

The new version 2.0 features a Library View that indexes media from across devices and platforms and organizes movies, TV and music by tags and genre, release date, star rating, age rating and other optional criteria. TV show seasons are automatically recognized and sorted together. There is also now an integrated search so that users can type in partial titles, artists, filenames or other information rather than just browse.

The latest version also has trakt.tv syncing for those with multiple Apple TV units in a household, allowing a program watched on one unit to be marked as watched on another unit. Users can also mark programs as watched on the trakt.tv website and the info will be reflected on the owner's Apple TV units. The Last.fm support includes scrobbling so that users can track their listening habits in their Last.fm account.

Other improvements include better handling of WTV files and DVD audio tracks, improvements to AFP connections and subtitle handling. FireCore says that when it can get the program working for third-generation Apple TV units (visually identical to the second-generation machines except for 1080p resolution support), it will make the update available free for current customers. The program for second-gen Apple TV users is also a free update available through the Maintenance menu.

The aTV program requires second-gen Apple TV units to be running OS version 4.4 or higher. The program costs $30, and works only with jailbroken units (FireCore provides its own Seas0nPass jailbreaking tool for free).


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Lots of new features in aTV Flash 1.6

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atv-flash-black

Hot on the heels of the new Seas0nPass release we're happy to present to you a brand new version of aTV Flash (black). Version 1.6 adds a bunch of great new features including integrated subtitle downloads, expanded codec support, refined video playback, improved networking, additional translations and a truckload of other improvements and bug fixes.
Integrated Subtitle Downloads
By popular request we've added one-click subtitle downloads, courtesy of OpenSubtitles.org. Now instead of spending hours searching for the right subtitles they can be easily downloaded right from your Apple TV in a matter of seconds. Check out the screenshots below to see this feature in action.
atv black

Need additional subtitles? Just click 'Get More...'.
atv black 2

Choose from thousands of available subtitles.
Full Changelog
• Added integrated subtitle downloads from OpenSubtitles.org
• Added support for purchased iTunes content (matching iTunes login required)
• Added video deinterlacing option
• Added Wake-on-Lan (WOL)
• Added Portuguese (Portugal) translation
• Added support for displaying subtitles in lower 'black bar'
• Added support for .WTV files
• Added support for multiple simultaneous AFP connections
• Improved bulk fetching & added automatic artwork caching
• Improved automatic downscaling for large thumbnails
• Improved metadata reloading for images
• Improved buffering over AFP
• Resolved various audio synchronization issues
• Resolved possible overflow in 5.1 AC3 audio
• Resolved issues with zoom for 4:3 movies
• Resolved missing audio for .dvr-ms files (ASF containers)
• Resolved rare SRT file crash
• Resolved issues with slideshow animation
• Resolved file specific metadata fetching issues
• Resolved rare ISO file crashes
• Resolved issue with displaying identical thumbnails for images with the same name
• Resolved metadata loading issues for files containing non-latin characters
• Resolved rare 5ch audio file crash
• Resolved issues with incorrect metadata for files with '/S01E0.avi' pattern
• Resolved auto-start issues in Couch Surfer
• Reduced memory footprint for large software-decoded videos and slideshows
• Other minor UI improvements & bug fixes
Great! Where can I get it?
If you're already running a version of aTV Flash (black) the new 1.6 version can be installed through the Maintenance --> Manage Extras menu.
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Seas0nPass Untethered for 5.0.1

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Seas0nPass

Today we are happy to release a brand new version of Seas0nPass that provides an untethered jailbreak of the latest 5.0.1 (iOS 5.1.1) software for the 2nd gen Apple TV. Massive thanks goes to @pod2g and Co. for the countless hours that went into making this new release possible.
What about the new 3rd gen Apple TV?
Unfortunately Seas0nPass is not yet compatible with the new ATV3. Work is still ongoing and we'lll be sure to announce any and all news as soon as it becomes available. Be sure to follow us on
Twitter, Facebook and Google+ for up to the minute info.
Which plugins are currently supported on 5.0.1?
  • Couch Surfer (works)
  • Last.fm (works)
  • Maintenance (works)
  • Media Player (works)
  • NitoTV (works)
  • Plex (works)
  • RSS Feeds (works)
  • Rowmote (works)
  • Weather (works)
  • XBMC (works)
  • Overflow (not working)
  • Remote HD (not working)
Superb! Where can I get it?
As always, Seas0nPass is available as a free download from 
Seas0nPass.com.
Troubleshooting tips can be found 
here.
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aTV Flash black version 1.5, brings new features to your Apple TV

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atvb-menu2
I love my Apple TV especially running ATV Black so it's good to see Firecore are continually updating and refining their product. Inside v1.5, FireCore's added new features including NFS streaming, as well as things like extra transitions, subtle timing settings, more languages etc. The biggest enhancement is 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 the ATV add ons then check the link out www.firecore.com
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The New Apple TV Teardown Reveals Same 8 GB Flash Storage, New Chip and 512 MB RAM

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Following the release of the third-generation Apple TV late last week, one forum member at XBMC.org has
performed a teardown of the device, revealing a number of details about its internals.

As Apple notes on the
tech specs page for the new Apple TV, the device utilizes a unique single-core A5 system-on-a-chip, an upgrade from the A4 package found in the previous generation but lacking the dual-core processor found in the A5 chip used in the iPad 2 and iPhone 4S. The Apple TV teardown reveals a typical-looking A5 chip at first glance, carrying date codes suggesting it was manufactured during the seventh week of 2012, or mid-February.

apple_tv_3_board

The processor inside the new Apple TV's A5 package is identified as APL2498, indicating a variation on the APL0498 processor found in the standard dual-core A5. The part number for the RAM included in the chip suggests that it is a 512 MB chip from Hynix, a boost from the 256 MB of RAM found in the A4 package on the previous-generation Apple TV.

As for flash storage, the format of the part number stamped on the chip implies that it is an 8 GB part from Toshiba, meaning that the device carries the same storage capacity as found in the previous-generation model. Given that the Apple TV is a streaming-only device, on-board storage is only required to support the operating system and buffering of streaming content.

There had been some speculation that Apple could boost the on-board storage in order to handle larger 1080p content supported on the updated model, but it appears that Apple still views 8 GB as sufficient given
limited increases in file size for 1080p content. Maintaining 8 GB of on-board storage undoubtedly also helps Apple maintain the $99 pricing on the Apple TV given other improvements such as the A5 chip.

Finally, the new Apple TV appears to contain a second antenna that was not present in the previous-generation model, although it is unclear exactly how the new antenna is being used to improve performance.
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New Apple TV Very Close to Blu-ray quality.

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a3

I never bought a Blu-ray player and now the new App;e TV is out I very much doubt I ever will the new 1080p Apple TV is here and it's that good
To be clear, because of the way it’s compressed, iTunes 1080p content is not equal to the 1080p picture you’ll get from a Blu-ray disc.
It’s very close. I imagine it will get there as digital compression technology continues to improve. But even if it doesn’t, this is something that won’t mean a thing to the vast majority of consumers. Thanks to the marketing of television sets over the years, they know “1080p”. They don’t know that the quality can be inconstant. Fair or not, it won’t matter.
That’s one reason why the new Apple TV is such a huge win here. Previously, it was limited to displaying 720p content which undoubtedly gave some would-be purchasers pause. But a new chip (a single-core A5), some 1080p content in iTunes, and the same $99 price changes that.
But there are cheap Blu-ray players out there now, so why does the Apple TV trump those? And what about other boxes like the Roku, which can also do 1080p streaming content? One word: AirPlay.
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Having used the previous iteration of the Apple TV almost a year now, I’m absolutely infatuated with AirPlay. The love affair is so deep that I’m sickened to think about going on the road and it not being available in most hotel rooms. It absolutely should be. And if we can just get past some open WiFi issues (imagine someone pushing content to another, unsuspecting room), and some greedy hotel chains (who love their rip-off pay-per-view content), it will be. The boxes should be as ubiquitous in hotel rooms as iPod/iPhone chargers now are.
AirPlay is one of those things that still seems like magic every time you use it. How on Earth am I streaming an HD movie wirelessly from my iPhone or iPad to my television while I continue to use that device? If it’s possible, why does anything need wires anymore?
I think people are often tricked when they first hear about the Apple TV. Certainly, Apple does everything in their power to downplay its importance to the company. And yes, that probably has something to do with other, more substantial television hardware coming down the line. Right now, people look at the Apple TV and think, “okay, cool, a tiny device to access iTunes content from my television”. At $200 to $300, it made little sense. At $99, it made some sense. But it still lacked that killer feature.
c2
The true key to the Apple TV is AirPlay. And the latest version supports 1080p streaming as well. And soon, with the release of OS X Mountain Lion, you’ll be able to AirPlay your entire desktop to your television. Meanwhile, the potential for gaming here is just starting to be tapped.
There’s no reason why every person with an iOS device (and soon a Mac) shouldn’t get an Apple TV. And that’s a problem for the makers of Blu-ray players. Again, just slightly better quality will no longer be enough. Apple’s latest Apple TV is going to continue the trend they began with the MacBook Air —
the killing off of optical discs.
As for the rest of the new Apple TV, it’s great, just like the last version was. The outside looks the exact same and it’s just as easy to set up. The included aluminum remote control is still pretty lame (try searching, or doing anything that involves typing with it), but you can get around this if you have an iOS device — get the Remote app ASAP.
Alongside the new Apple TV announcement, Apple rolled out new software for the device. It’s a significant improvement over the previous software. You’ll note right away how app-y everything looks. When you consider this along with the fact that the Apple TV technically runs a version of iOS, it’s clearly only a matter of time before more apps come to the device. Currently, Apple has a very limited set of third-party partners (Netflix, MLB.TV, etc) on the device. But they could easily open it up. (Though, again, they may not ever have to thanks to AirPlay.)
d1
The good news is that the Apple TV software update also works on the last iteration of the Apple TV. So unless you really want access to 1080p content, there’s not a huge incentive to buy a new one. (Even with the new software, the older Apple TV is limited to 720p.)
And because Apple has moved all of their TV catalog and much of their movie catalog to iCloud (some studio deals are still being negotiated, but sound close to being done), all applicable HD content can be automatically upgraded to 1080p from 720p (SD content will remain SD).
So no, Apple didn’t give a huge incentive for current Apple TV owners to upgrade to the newer box. But they gave a huge incentive to millions of people without an Apple TV to get one. And that’s bad news for Blu-ray.
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New Apple TV interface now available on 2nd-generation models

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apple-tv-3_large_verge_medium_landscape


We all expected most of the new interface and features on Apple announced for the new generation of the Apple TV to find their way down the previous generation, and just as with iOS 5.1 for the iPad and the iPhone, Apple isn't wasting any time. We hear that the update should be available today, bringing the new interface, movie re-downloading, and direct Netflix signup to current models. Of course, that won't mean that current models will be able to display 1080p content, but beyond that small niggle it appears that the previous generation will still be functionally identical with the new model.

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Apple TV third generation info

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While Apple executives have continued to call the Apple TV a hobby, over the past couple years, the company has dedicated a fair amount of resources to it. The Apple TV 2 was a major upgrade, and Apple has added a good number of features to that media player through software updates.
COMPLETE COVERAGE
apple_apple_tv_3rd_gen_early_2012_1189224_g4

The
third-generation Apple TV unveiled Wednesday shows Apple is taking its hobby just a little bit more seriously, thanks to improved video support and an overhauled interface. But there are still plenty of questions about the latest edition. Here’s what we know so far.
What’s new about it? Does it finally do 1080p?
The new Apple TV looks exactly like its predecessor, and is housed in the same tiny, black enclosure. The big hardware change for the new the Apple TV is inside: Instead of the Apple A4 chip found in the previous Apple TV and the iPad 2, the new model hosts a single-core A5 chip. The improved horsepower finally allows the Apple TV to support 1080p video output.
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Tim Cook covering, Product Growth, Competeing Tablets, ATV, Siri, iCloud etc.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook has just completed a Q&A session with analyst Bill Shope at the Goldman Sachs Technology and Internet Conference. While we liveblogged the event with a rough transcript of Cook's comments, here are a few of the highlights:


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iPhone growth: Dryly noting that Apple's record-smashing sales of 37 million iPhones during the holiday quarter led to "a decent quarter", Cook noted that 90% of mobile phone purchasers and 75% of smartphone purchasers are still choosing something other than an iPhone. Consequently, Apple still has remarkable room to grow.


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iPad growth: Cook noted that no one could have predicted 55 million units at this point, by far the fastest growth ever for an Apple product. The iPad benefited significantly from an established base of users familiar with the iPhone and iPod and from the established infrastructure of the iTunes Store and App Store.

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Competing tablets: Addressing the Kindle Fire and other cheaper competitors, Cook noted that price is rarely the most important thing for consumers. Long-term, people aren't happy about getting a good deal on a terrible product. Cook noted that he loves competition (as long as other companies "invent their own stuff") and that he believes Apple's innovation will drive things forward.

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Apple TV: Cook reported that Apple still considers the Apple TV to be a "hobby", in the sense that it shouldn't be thought of as a major pillar of Apple's business. That said, Apple has always felt that if it kept "pulling the string", there would be something there. Consumer satisfaction is reportedly off the charts and sales are growing quickly.

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Siri and iCloud: Cook's belief is that iCloud is the strategy for the next decade, enabling users to access their content from anywhere. iCloud already has over 100 million users just months after launching. Siri, on the other hand, is a profound change in input methods in Cook's view, and he notes that never before had he considered a beta product to be indispensable.

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iPad 3 to Pave Way for 1080p iTunes Content and a New Apple TV (which is currently unavaialabe)

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product-product
Apple is expected to reveal the new iPad at a media event in the first week of March. The new iPad is widely believed to carry a ultra-high resolution 2048x1536 display that exceeds the resolution of 1080p content. Apple, however, presently only offers a maximum of 720p HD content on their iTunes Store. 720p also happens to be the maximum resolution that the current generation Apple TV supports.


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Apple TV jailbreak package aTV Flash (black) gets updated with automated firmware backups, playback improvements and more.

Microsoft currently testing its own smartphone, says WSJBy Sam Byford on November 2, 2012 12:51 am Email @345triangle98COMMENTS34LikeTweet140This page has been shared 140 times. View these Tweets.85inShareMicrosoft surprised the world earlier this year when it moved into producing its own computer hardware with the Surface, but the company's plans may not stop there. According to the Wall Street
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