We are pleased to announce the release aTV Flash (black) Release Candidate 1 (RC1) for the 2nd generation AppleTV. RC1 is a major update for aTV Flash (black) and adds a number of exciting new features include a brand new 'grid view' browsing mode, huge subtitle related improvements, and countless other performance and playback related improvements.

Keep reading to learn more about what's new.

All-New Browsing Options

We've added an all-new grid view which allows you to browse through media by simply viewing a grid of posters, instead of a list.

From the grid view you can press the center (select) button to get more details about the movie through the 'Pre-Playack Screen' or if you're in a hurry just press play/pause to start the movie right away.

The list view has also gotten a healthy overhaul as well. Movies and TV Shows are now listed using the prettier 'fetched' name instead of the actual filename. Additionally metadata is fetched and cached in bulk, so there's no more waiting for cover art and metadata to load.

Note: You can switch between the Grid and List views through the Media --> Settings menu.

Full Changelog

  • Added grid view and pre-playback view options
  • Added bulk metadata fetching with growl-like status
  • Added fetched names in list view
  • Added hardware decoding for .m2ts files
  • Added support for embedded subtitles (MKV, M4V, etc...)
  • Added support for ISO (DVD) files
  • Added TV Show metadata fetching
  • Added metadata correction for Movies and TV Shows
  • Added movie title in Top Shelf (instead of filename)
  • 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
  • Added support for subtitles with invalid timestamps
  • Added support for AppleTV 4.4 (iOS 5)
  • Added subtitle 'Weight' setting
  • Added option to show/hide local files
  • Improved data buffering and playback performance
  • Improved XSUB subtitle support
  • Improved network error handling
  • Improved filename parsing for metadata fetching
  • Improved NAS drives support and increased connection timeout
  • Improved video loading process
  • Improved DVD menu handling
  • Improved playback position detection
  • Improved memory footprint
  • Improved SMB share handling
  • Resolved DVD subtitle issues
  • Resolved Voiceover related issues
  • Resolved audio synchronization issues
  • Resolved problems when streaming from an AirPort Extreme
  • Resolved AFP related issue when resuming after a long pause
  • 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 various cloud backup issues
  • Many other miscellaneous fixes

Splendid! Where can I get it?

If you're already running a version of aTV Flash (black) the new RC1 version can be installed through the Maintenance --> Manage Extras menu. If you need to re-install aTV Flash (black) links for the new version can be found in your account under the Downloads tab.

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

Note: Installing RC1 requires AppleTV 4.2 or later.

Enjoy! :-) 

Comments

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:22pm

Awesome! Glad to hear it's working well.

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 3:22pm

First of all - this is a realy great update.

I'm still missing a feature in the media player or can't find it:
how can i play a folder as playlist in random mode?

it is quite anoying to listen songs all times in the same order.

greets

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:23pm

Thanks for your feedback. I'll pass along the ideas and see what we can do.

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:23pm

Hmm - can you send in a bug report?

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

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:23pm

Thanks for your feedback. :)

Submitted by brissy on October 27, 2011 - 3:24pm

I use a HDD connected to an Airport Extreme for AFP media streaming to the ATV. It has worked perfectly for video. When I connect to directories with lots of music it looks like it uploads an index of files before being able to select, and that works well. I have a large collection of JPG images, and if I try to look at those on ATV, the media loading indicator starts, and after about a minute, the activity must fail as the screen goes black and I end up on the top level menu.

Can you advise what is going on in that regard, and is there any solution? Since IOS5 on my Ipad, I have been able to load images onto the Ipad and use the new IOS5 Iphoto function to stream them to ATV and that works very well, but is more work. It isn't a high priority for me, but I am curious what the loading issue is.

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:24pm

We're looking into a few similar issues.

If you haven't already can you send in a bug report as described here: http://forum.firecore.com/topic/4291

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:25pm

Advanced playlist options are coming in a future version.

Stay tuned. :)

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 3:25pm

It seems that ISO playback fails since the update, also mentioned above by another poster.

Submitted by bkleinschmidt on October 27, 2011 - 3:28pm

I hope there is support for iTunes playlists in the final build  :)

Submitted by frankh.0624 on October 27, 2011 - 3:32pm

Grid view is pretty much useless without the filenames or the blue dots, imo...

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:35pm

We toyed with adding indicators to the grid view - it's still a possibility.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/111543/images/grid-dot...

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 3:36pm

hot to update to RC1? under Maintenance have version 0.8-1 and Media Player 0.9.3-214616 if I do press update then after install and restart i have save version as before! Tell me hoe to do it?

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 3:36pm

The grid view looks very nice - thanks for these great updates!

But now I have a new problem:
The metadata fetching gets the wrong data on half of my movies. It even does'nt display the filename anymore, but the wrong movietitle it fetched. Now it's nearly impossible to see which real movie lies behind it. Even the 'disable metadata fetching' function has no effect on this. :-(

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:37pm

After updating the RC1 version will be shown in the Maintenance --> About menu.

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 3:38pm

Great update! The first one I'm going to install.

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 3:40pm

You can switch back to showing the filenames by setting the 'Show File Extensions' option to Yes via Media --> Settings.

Details on correcting metadata can be found here: http://blog.firecore.com/5476

Submitted by brissy on October 27, 2011 - 3:51pm

Have I missed something? Does your answer suggest there are already playlist functions, because I haven't been able to find any way of selecting other than choosing individual files or folders on my HDD.

Or does your answer mean that playlists that will have advanced features soon be coming?

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 3:51pm

it ahows still beta7

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 3:55pm

> You can switch back to showing the filenames by setting the 'Show File Extensions' option to Yes via Media --> Settings.

Ok, that does work.

> Details on correcting metadata can be found here: http://blog.firecore.com/5476

That doesn't always work. At some of the movies it just reloads and does'nt give me an option to choose from.

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 4:02pm

MP will use http://www.themoviedb.org/ and list any possibly matches it can find. If you're not being prompted with a list, it's only finding a single movie, or none at all.

You may check to ensure the movie in question is listed there, and the spelling in the filename is correct.

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 4:02pm

its not installing RC1, i do Maintenance-->Manage Extras-->Maintenance Update after install restarts and still Beta7

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 4:03pm

You may try re-running the installer from your Mac or PC.

The latest version can be found in your account.

https://firecore.com/user

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 4:04pm

Currently you can play music, videos and photos, contained in a specific folder, as a playlist.

To access this feature, highlight the folder you wish to play, hold the center select button and choose the playlist option.

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 4:05pm

Ok, thanks!

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 4:08pm

I cant, its my brothers ATV2 and he is in Afghanistan (Navy) and I don't have his account info

Submitted by phill.8305 on October 27, 2011 - 4:09pm

Great update, films look great with the new grid view.

I have a issue with TV shows however, i have my tv shows in folders and it dosen't display metadata at folder level, and struggles with most of my shows, if you could look into this it would look really slick.

Keep up the good work

Phil

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 4:10pm

Can't you please set an ETA on stretch 4:3 it woud be so great to get it in RC2 ?

Submitted by Angel_Freak on October 27, 2011 - 4:12pm

Can you set ETA on 4:3 stretch ?

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 4:49pm

We've got a few ideas which should improve the layout of TV Shows, so hang in there. :)

Submitted by timd.4762 on October 27, 2011 - 4:50pm

A step closer - the grid view is getting nearer to XBMC/PLEX usability - though it's rather slow - even when all the images have been fetched, when scrolling they still take a second to appear. But getting there.

 

Unfortunately the first file I played - a 720p m4v file gave me a low memory error after just ten seconds. And playing music crashed the ATV - forcing a plug-pull restart. I do keep wanting to love this software - but each time there is an update I fire up a video - and I get a low memory warning. SD files play fine however - but for now I'll keep using the WD TV Live box - the interface is horrible but it plays everything, every time.

Submitted by samuels.12042 on October 27, 2011 - 4:53pm

While using Plex, Bookcase view for tv shows doesn't work. Will always default to first series on list.

Submitted by mooiopdefoto on October 27, 2011 - 4:58pm

I can see the update has installed under  Media --> Settings menu there are no options for grid ??? 

Submitted by james on October 27, 2011 - 5:03pm

Hmm - can you tell us more?

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

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 5:03pm

Is there a video tutorial for non-geeks like myself? I see a bunch of features that I've no idea how to "exploit". E.g., I don't know how to play DVDs or DVD files in it (?)

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 5:03pm

Is there a video tutorial for non-geeks like myself? I see a bunch of features that I've no idea how to "exploit". E.g., I don't know how to play DVDs or DVD files in it (?)

Submitted by bnick3 on October 27, 2011 - 5:11pm

Loving this new version!  Everything is working great, all of the new stuff is just icing on the cake.  Any possibility though to being able to use my own cover art for movies that are not in the MovieDatabase.org?

If you do choose to add indicators, can you please offer the ability to turn this feature off?

Fantastic job!

Submitted by davidp.86188 on October 27, 2011 - 5:16pm

Getting error when installing from Windows PC, says Sorry the installer could not install maintenance error 9-1

Tried via the menu on TV itself no luck says I can update, when I update it tells me I can reboot to take effect, but go back into maintence and still shows update and version 08-1

Can you help me please I am on Firmware JB 4.3  for ATV2 thanks

Submitted by Saiing on October 27, 2011 - 5:29pm

Great jobs guys - big improvements all round.  Apart from all the cosmetic changes, my ATV will now play a couple of HD files that had an unusually high bit rate that it was unable to play before this update.  Very pleased.

 

Just one small request - in the grid view, is it possible for it to loop back to the top of the page when you hit the bottom? (I think list view already does this).

Submitted by ldibuccio on October 27, 2011 - 5:39pm

hi there , great update. i use xbmc only to access pelisalacarta, is there a way to install in the atv2 main menu? are you planin to ad it? is there a faster way to access pelisalacarta?.

Another thing , to make seas0npass work i have to change the language in my mac to inglish ( have it in spanish), after of two day looking in the forums. Yo have to put this in the tutorials, you have international costumers!!

thanks

Lionel

Buenos Aires, Argentina

Submitted by look1 on October 27, 2011 - 5:40pm

"Sorry, the installer could not install Maintenance (Error 4.2). "
 
This is what I get at the end of the installation to load the software update on the AppleTV. What am I doing wrong?
 

Submitted by sonicwario on October 27, 2011 - 6:01pm

will xbmc work on the new update, im currently on 4.3

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 6:33pm

weird...

I keep updating the different components, but after restart of ATV it is as nothing had happened: again I have the option to update the components.
And I'm still at Beta 7

Submitted by Anon on October 27, 2011 - 6:46pm

Installation from the Apple TV -> Great
Grid View -> Perfect

Although I had time to navigate only a couple of minutes in the Apple TV, what I saw is already great. Looking forward to spending more time and see the new features and bug fixes.

Submitted by briank.2183 on October 27, 2011 - 6:54pm

Woot! ESPN3 works again!

Submitted by grabman on October 27, 2011 - 6:54pm

I'm getting the same.  If i go into Manage Extras it still says that Maintenance needs to be updated, but I've done it twice now and restarted each time.

Submitted by markm.5512 on October 27, 2011 - 7:15pm

getting the same error message error 9.100 installer could not install maintenance

installation failed

please advise

Submitted by cesaro.4468 on October 27, 2011 - 7:16pm

I don't know how to use the screensaver.....I like the cosmetic changes, but I don't know how to change the screen background. It automatically uses flowers images instead of its original black background. How do I change to it's original format?

Submitted by ambience on October 27, 2011 - 7:18pm

I had to unplug the power cable and after that atv only flickers and dont starts up again?? Any ideas?

Submitted by cesaro.4468 on October 27, 2011 - 7:19pm

I like the update and all the cosmetic changes, but I don't know why do I get flowers as a screensaver? How do I go back to the original black screen?