Happy Monday! Today we are pleased to announce the release of a hefty update of Media Player for the 2nd gen (black) AppleTV. Version 0.9 adds a handful of new features and a ton of performance related improvements and bug fixes. More details on what's included can be found below.

TV Show metadata and folder tagging

Media Player now supports automatically fetching series and episode information for TV Shows. This includes information such as episode name, cast, director, genre, air date, content rating and episode thumbnails. To enable TV Show metadata, the drive/folder that contains your TV Show files will need to be specifically tagged as TV Shows. Details on tagging a drive/folder are below.

  1. Highlight the folder to be tagged.
  2. Hold the center select button and select the 'TV Shows' option.
  3. TV Show metadata will now be used for all media contained inside that folder.

Note: By default, subfolders will inherit the tag of the nearest parent folder. For Example: A folder called "My Fav Shows" has 3 folders inside it: 30 Rock, The Sopranos, and Top Gear. Marking the My Fav Shows folder with a TV Shows tag will cause TV Show metadata to be downloaded for all files contained inside the My Fav Shows folder as well as the 3 enclosed subfolders. Media Player will default to Movie metadata if no folder tags are specified.

Correcting movie metadata

Media Player tries its best to get metadata right on the first try, but unfortunately sometimes it may get it wrong. The good news is that now fixing incorrect movie metadata is simpler than ever! Just follow the steps below to get back on track.

  1. Highlight a file that has incorrect metadata.
  2. Hold the center select button and select the 'Reload Metadata' option.
  3. Choose the correct movie title from the list.

What's new in version 0.9?

  • Added hardware decoding for .m2ts files
  • Added TV Show metadata fetching
  • Added option to correct movie metadata
  • Added DSI ping for better operation with AFP shares
  • Added folder tagging
  • Added metadata view indicator
  • Added support for metadata overriding using xml files
  • Added DVD menu buffering
  • Improved data buffering and playback performance
  • Improved network error handling
  • Improved filename parsing for metadata fetching
  • Improved NAS drives support and increased connection timeout
  • Improved video loading process
  • Improved playback position detection
  • Resolved audio synchronization issues
  • Resolved problems when streaming from an AirPort Extreme
  • Resolved issues that caused the first subtitle section to be skipped
  • Resolved performance and crash related issues for certain DVD files
  • Resolved audio playback issues when the connection to Last.fm fails
  • Resolved potential issues in shares handling and filename processing
  • Resolved AFP related crashes
  • Resolved .dvdmedia extensions and folder images not hiding
  • Resolved floating crash during metadata fetching
  • Resolved critical compatibility issues with iOS 5
  • Minor UI improvements
  • Many other miscellaneous fixes

Outstanding! Now how do I get it?

With aTV Flash (black) installed, Media Player 0.9 can be downloaded on your ATV2 through the Maintenance --> Manage Extras menu. If you need to re-install aTV Flash (black) links for the latest version can be found under the Downloads tab in your account.

New users can pre-order aTV Flash (black) here.

Enjoy!

Comments

Submitted by andreasu.0860 on October 3, 2011 - 12:19pm

Is it possible to get season covers like in xbmc ?

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 12:25pm

Closed captioning for m4vs

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 12:25pm

Still no m4v subtitle support. How hard can it be... It worked well on ATV1.

Submitted by dl.1941 on October 3, 2011 - 12:28pm

Where's the captions?

Submitted by konus on October 3, 2011 - 12:28pm

Any news in utf-8 subtitles(srt) compatibility? 

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 12:29pm

How to do the update ??

Submitted by fusion on October 3, 2011 - 12:31pm

Read the bottom part of the post.

Submitted by fusion on October 3, 2011 - 12:32pm

Thanks for all your hard work on this!   The extra stability is more important than any new features, hopefully that is a focus.

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 12:32pm

No subtitles (Set)?

If I want to Show all Video Files, there are the tbn-Files (Xbmc Covers) too.

Any possibility to Sync Meta + watched between two atvs?

Submitted by michaelb.0249 on October 3, 2011 - 12:33pm

Just purchased the aTVFlash Saturday and it has not worked correctly yet. I continue to get "Playback error" messages. It doesn't seem to matter which type file I play or at least I haven't noticed any pattern. I see others have had the same issue. Is there a fix?

Submitted by michaelf.5521 on October 3, 2011 - 12:38pm

If I could just suggest two features from XBMC that are really useful:

1. Sort by date -- so your newest additions are at the top.

2. Play button (which presently does nothing) plays the selected file or all files under a selected directory.

 

Submitted by barnabym.1675 on October 3, 2011 - 12:43pm

Look forward to checking out this release. I hope that the playback of mpeg files has generally been improved. I have noticed that material in PAL format stutters and does not deinterlace properly, and files that have been imported from a Tivo also exhibit playback problems.

I would be happy to supply sample videos that don't play properly - do you guys have a facility for accepting these?

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 12:49pm

Wow, you guys did it again ... awesome to see so much progress happening! And every single nitpick and gripe of mine (no matter how small) is on the list of things fixed! sweet! Especially glad to see the AFP-related fixes ... the timeout issue was my biggest complaint, so I can't wait to upgrade! :D

best money I've ever spent!

Submitted by chaloum on October 3, 2011 - 12:51pm

Out of interred this has never worked. I can't pick up folders on a nas drive.

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 12:51pm

Awesome update!
I'm looking now for improve my movie folder organization, filename and coverarts.
Did someone knows what kind of software do it well? (windows)
Thanks and continue this way!

Submitted by emiyake on October 3, 2011 - 12:51pm

Rather than adding new features, it would be nice if stability issues were fixed. My AT2 keeps restarting every now and then. Sometime playback position is lost... Makes me crazy because forwarding a movie is very slow. Still, aTV Flash is worth it.

 

Submitted by james95121 on October 3, 2011 - 12:52pm

Great requests

Submitted by LarsLauritzen on October 3, 2011 - 12:52pm

Hi.

I´m pleased with many things in the aTV Flash, but i still can´t understand this?

When i´m playing movies with XMBC it just works fine nearly no problems 

Playing the same movie in Media Player gives me problems, the film is running slow a sort of lagging, said in other words it´s not playing the film nice and smouth ??

Is it just me having this problem, i would love to use Media Player but not with the problems.

I´m playing MKV files.

Regards Lars

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 1:01pm

I have the same issues.

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:03pm

This version includes quite a few playback improvements.

Give it a try and let us know how it works for you.

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:03pm

In addition to new features, this version adds a lot of stability/performance fixes.

Give it a try. ;)

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 1:03pm

More awsome. My top wish list, Love to replace xbmc (really unstable lately) but still need a way to lock folders and keep locked thumbs off banner to keep kid safe. Limit view to specific folders instead of root. Need nicer media browser instead of just file tree view.

Every release this gets better and better!

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:04pm

More info on setting up shares can be found here: http://support.firecore.com/entries/20322512-m...

If you're having trouble please send us an email and we can assist.

http://firecore.com/contact

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:05pm

Thanks for your feedback. :)

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:07pm

Give the new version and try and see how it works for you.

If you're still having trouble, a bug report would be very helpful in tracking down what's going on.

http://forum.firecore.com/topic/4291

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:07pm

We'll see what we can do.

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:09pm

SRT subtitles were added a few versions ago in MP 0.7. Just drop an .srt file with the same name alongside your movie and you'll be good to go.

A library type view is in the works.

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:10pm

If you're still having trouble after updating please send in a bug report and we can track down what's going on.

http://forum.firecore.com/topic/4291

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:11pm

UTF-8 subtitles are supported. You may need to adjust the encoding type through the Playback Menu (hold select while a video is playing).

Submitted by sergiolow23 on October 3, 2011 - 1:17pm

not all blu-ray rips are playing in the new update, some movies are still choppy and sound not in sync.  I do see improvement, actually a step forward in the right direction.  Thanks guys, keep up the good work.

Submitted by LarsLauritzen on October 3, 2011 - 1:19pm

Hi James 

I have already upgraded to the 0.9 ver. sadly it´s the same soo what´s left is that i can try upgrade to 4.3 i hav´nt done this because there not much in it that i want to use but it s worth a try if thats should be the problem, i have had the problem all the time with Media Player.

Soo i wonder if i do something wrong :/

Regards Lars

Submitted by notredamec.6080 on October 3, 2011 - 1:23pm

What I would love is a function I had on my first player (free-player): something to resync subtitles when they are ahead or lagging behind (i.e. you press on + to have them shifted by 1s, and on - to shift them back). It makes a huge difference.

Also, on .srt: it would be nice to be able to select any .srt for any files (sometimes you have not renamed all the files accordingly, or you have a slightly different version, hence the need to re-synchronize). We speak many languages at home, so it happens all the time.

I also agree that so far the stability has not been optimal. the ATV2 never crashes during a film, but it sometimes restarts randomly when browsing through the menus. Still, this is not a *Major* problem because it is not very frequent and the restart is very fast. But I am looking forward to using this new fix and see how it improves on things.

Aside from this, I am really happy with the firecore soft (i.e. it turns the ATV2 from an odd curiosity into the best player around).

 

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 1:27pm

Still cannot watch Blu-Ray .ISO file any idea on the fix. Regular DVDs work great.

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 1:30pm

XBMC crashed when Media Player 0.8 was present. (uninstalling mediaplayer 0.8 fixes the crashes).

Will 0.9 work along the XBMC ?

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:32pm

Hmm - can you send in a bug report so we can look into what's going on?

http://forum.firecore.com/topic/4291

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 1:32pm

Same excuses, "In addition to new features, this version adds a lot of stability/performance fixes"
You have to have a macro key defined for this. Still no improvements, large MKV files crash. It might LOOK better, but who cares about looks when it doesn't perform as advertised?

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 1:33pm

I really need the ISO support, Please

Submitted by Anon on October 3, 2011 - 1:36pm

Still no support for m4v subtitles ! Amazing!

Submitted by stephenh.4765 on October 3, 2011 - 1:39pm

I updated, but when I select the folder to tag it as TV Shows all it lets me do is add to favorites

Submitted by spaceface on October 3, 2011 - 1:40pm

Could it be something to do with file sharing settings on your computer?

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:45pm

If you're having trouble we'd love to hear about it.

http://forum.firecore.com/topic/4291

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:45pm

ISO support will be added before 1.0 - promise. :)

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:46pm

Are you running the latest 4.3 AppleTV software?

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:46pm

We haven't seen any issues with XBMC on this end. If you're having trouble please tell us.

http://forum.firecore.com/topic/4291

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:47pm

I'll pass along your suggestions and see what we can do.

Other than that, the new version should work much better.

Submitted by james on October 3, 2011 - 1:48pm

Tell us more?

http://forum.firecore.com/topic/4291

Submitted by engmester on October 3, 2011 - 1:49pm

The 0.9 version is a nice improvement. Now my ripped files will play :D

....but I still cannot watch my photos. Media player starts to read the content of the photo folder, but then it freezes and eventually it restarts.

Regards

Anders

Submitted by stephenh.4765 on October 3, 2011 - 1:49pm

i am

Submitted by edwina.8779 on October 3, 2011 - 2:15pm

Great job! I can now play 1080 mkv files wireless without any stutter at all. The only 'problem' for me is that i can't select the subtitles inside mkv, selecting audiotracks is ok.

Submitted by LarsLauritzen on October 3, 2011 - 2:26pm

Bug report send ;)