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 bossjunk@mac.com on October 28, 2011 - 10:21am

Same thing. But my error is 3.2. Any answers?

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 10:38am

how is bulk metadata fetching working. I have plenty of movies ( > 300 ) in just one folder and metadata is retrieved only for the ones currently in viewport (grid view).
I was thinking this doing all movies at once.

Thanks,
alex

Submitted by ANtrah on October 28, 2011 - 10:49am

You are really on the right

Submitted by jk8 on October 28, 2011 - 10:59am

Thanks.  I did that, but have not heard from anyone.  I guess they are working on it

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 11:15am

And Couch surfer pro?

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 12:02pm

Currently while in grid view only the visible items will have metadata fetched for them.

If you want to fetch metadata for all content in a folder you can switch to list view and navigate to the same folder. You will get a status message in the upper, lefthand corner regarding the progress of metadata fetching.

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 12:03pm

Plex is compatible with AppleTV 4.3 and earlier. The Plex devs need to update it to be compatible with 4.4 and later.

Submitted by Skaven on October 28, 2011 - 12:09pm

James: can u add support fore . img files? Meny off My moves isent in .iso but in .img files

Submitted by procom on October 28, 2011 - 1:23pm

And Couch surfer pro?

Submitted by onath on October 28, 2011 - 1:32pm

Great update. I like the grid view but it's very SLOW when starting video playback. My ATV2 crashes and reboots frequently

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 2:14pm

Hmm - tell us more?

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

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 2:21pm

Very impressed with this update. Like others on here, close to ditching XBMC.

One thing that would really give u guys the leg up would b adding support for browsing by genre, etc. or searching for specific titles. Even with grid view, the lists can get pretty long.

Submitted by Phixtit on October 28, 2011 - 3:03pm

Great to see the new features! Love the Grid View!!! :D

I have a few requests, Please let me know if any of these 5 features are planned for the next release candidate, or down the road...;)

1). In grid View it would be awesome if when all the way at bottom, a click down would take you instantly to the top again like it does in list view.

2). Any chance you could add a toggle in settings to: Add Recently Added, and/or Recently Watched feature to the top of the Main View?

3). What about a sort by: Release Date, Genre, Date Added, Alphabetical, Rated, Popularity, etc. feature?

4). A search feature would be fantastic if it could be added?

5). Television Folder Art and/or Logo Art; Season Art being automatically downloaded like Movies are already would be the icing on the cake, if possible?

We're getting there slowly but surely...B-)

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 3:07pm

I was hoping for FLAC support, any chance for that i future releases?
All my CDs are ripped in FLAC, if you will support that format I can get rid of my Squeezebox.

I also noticed problems with some ripped DVDs. The DVD title menu is shown briefly, then atv stops and returns to the folder list.

Submitted by briank.2183 on October 28, 2011 - 3:26pm

via XBMC... you need to install and enable the bluecop repository (repositories), swap out a file (librtmp.0.dylib) on your atv, and enable espn3. I don't remember all the steps, but googling should give you the answer.

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 3:45pm

But can you hook up a hard drive and play back 5.1 surround like on my 1st Gen.?????

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 3:58pm

yo .. any chance that you can add "Arabic (windows or ISO)" Encode Subtitle .. really ... i can't play movies with arabic Subtitle ..

please help ... or make the encoding option in the setting menu ..

BTW ... big update u guys .. really huge update .. keep it up ...

iAchmed

Submitted by eng.amt on October 28, 2011 - 4:16pm

Yah! i am with you.

Grate update but we hope that Arabic (windows or ISO) Encode Subtitle supported in this update.

 

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 4:23pm

Already there. ;)

Just adjust the encoding type through the Playback Menu (hold select while a video is playing).

http://twitter.com/#!/firecore/status/13004257...

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 4:24pm

Unfortunately external USB drives aren't supported on ATV2. Sorry.

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 4:25pm

FLAC is planned for an upcoming release. :)

Regarding your DVD issue, can you send in a bug report? http://forum.firecore.com/topic/4291

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 4:25pm

Something like this is in the works - though it probably won't make it out until after 1.0 is released though.

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 4:26pm

Great ideas - most, if not all are coming soon. :)

Submitted by james on October 28, 2011 - 4:43pm

I just checked that exact filename and it seems to be working.

For TV Shows you will want to ensure the folder(s) that contain your TV Shows are tagged as TV Shows - otherwise MP will try to find movie info for them.

More details on folder tagging can be found here: http://blog.firecore.com/5476

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 5:21pm

Very cool!! Was just wishing a few of those (esp the TV-related ones) might come in a future release as i'm playing around with RC1 :)

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 5:26pm

Genius! Thanks for that tip.

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 6:28pm

Great update!

I still have the problem when doing an artist media show during music playback it cuts the music and uses the default music I use for picture viewing.

Submitted by Anon on October 28, 2011 - 6:35pm

Really appreciate the update, just curious if you could add "IchiMachiOuchi W. V. tribal Southwest (windows or ISO) " encode subtitle. I know you're super busy with all of the updates between the first and second gen ATV... keep up the good work! I would prefer that you spend most of your resources on subtitle updates. That would make me the most happiest person in the world! Thank you again!

Submitted by bossjunk@mac.com on October 28, 2011 - 6:42pm

Can't update through maintenance nor mac - Sorry, the installer could not install Maintenance (Error 3.2). Any idea?

Can someone explain to me what error 3.2 mean? I see people questioning about failure of the functions of the new update, and they get an answer. How about people who can't update at all? Do we have figure out ourselves? I'm not a computer specialist. I'm just a regular user who paid for a program, how can I get some kind of help?

Submitted by jk8 on October 28, 2011 - 10:56pm

This is getting frustrating.  I don't understand.  I paid for this software and it is not available for download on my account. It should not take firecore this long to fix this error.  Very annoying.

Submitted by Phixtit on October 29, 2011 - 12:39am

Thanks James, looking forward to the next update! B-)

Submitted by neonwall on October 29, 2011 - 2:30am

Hey love this update grid view is looking excellent, keeps it inline with the apple trailer browsing etc.  Just a couple of things though:

My ATV2 restarts every time I try and play an ISO file

Also in next update could you add a search function and or alpha list so i dont have to scroll through all movies?

Good work keep it up, be stoked when iso's run mint

Submitted by paulv.7894 on October 29, 2011 - 2:52am

:-( tried updating via maintenance and no change. For maintenance i have Version 0.8-1 and for Media Player Version 0.9.3-214613

Help

Submitted by brian1 on October 29, 2011 - 4:00am

Same here... I also tried update via aTVFlash-black.dmg with same result.

Im runing iOS 4.3 and i can´t update to 4.4 because my Apple TV dos not show up in iTunes, then Seas0nPass can´t see the device :(

This is a 10 days old AppleTV...

Submitted by Anon on October 29, 2011 - 6:32am

Is it possible to mark a folder as watched ? It is annoying to mark every file seperatly

Submitted by etienned.6844 on October 29, 2011 - 6:37am

Dear firecore Team,

Thank you so much for this release, everything works like a charm. It's awesome stuff!

Submitted by Anon on October 29, 2011 - 8:35am

First off, GREAT Update!!

1. No subtitle when embedded with subler.
2. No AC3 true HDMI.

Setup is:
Atv2 - HDMI - Bravia - Optical - Harman Kardon. I get static sound!

Same setup true iTunes AC3 works.

Submitted by Anon on October 29, 2011 - 9:42am

I updated and the version number stayed the same, but the grid view is available in the strings menu, so I think that it is updated at least to some extent.

Submitted by phatbyte on October 29, 2011 - 12:51pm

You guys said you have improved the buffering , but the I'm having more issues than ever, I used to have one maybe two buffering pauses during a movie, now it's constant. It's unbearable to try to watch any movie. How can I downgrade ?

Submitted by onath on October 29, 2011 - 7:02pm

Subtitles are too way down that I some letters are half visible like letter p,g,q. When opening a TV series folder, very slow to open the files and sometimes would crashes and reboot.

Submitted by Anon on October 29, 2011 - 7:55pm

No subtitles for .m4v

Submitted by Anon on October 29, 2011 - 8:42pm

I did the update...great..no problems. Is it ok to update the atv2 to ios5 now? Untethered?
Once again great update!

Submitted by edgardo.urbaez on October 29, 2011 - 10:27pm

Problem the mantenece tab no show on atv 2 any Help please!

Submitted by Anon on October 30, 2011 - 1:10am

hi james,

i can not find information on the file format of xml metadata files.

Thanks,
Alex

Submitted by Anon on October 30, 2011 - 1:29am

i have the rc 1 installed but still no metadata for tv shows for movies it works fine

Submitted by Anon on October 30, 2011 - 2:38am

Tested:

ATV2 optical to Harman Kardon, DTS works, AC3 static.

Also no subtitles in M4v and mp4 showing.

Submitted by Anon on October 30, 2011 - 5:13am

Great Work!

But guys, you really need to support presenting fanart in a recursive way.
I have my movies organized each one in its separated folder, thus when I enter my "Movies" parent folder I can only see lots of folders icons.
I can only see the fanart when I enter a specific movie folder, and thats well, sucks.

Loved to see the other improvements though :)

Submitted by sagdusmir on October 30, 2011 - 5:48am

I am quite happy with RC1. I never thought it would be this close to perfect. :)

Submitted by andrewjohnstarrett on October 30, 2011 - 8:39am

Hey maybe it is me but I can't seem to get the my ISO files to work.  All other types are working but not ISO.  Any Idea what it could be.  Also some of my movie when showing a thier movie covers display movie tickes and not the covers.  Any reason why.  

 

Great product, really am enjoying it...  Nice features... 

Submitted by martinp.1353 on October 30, 2011 - 10:34am

Mpg do not work. Buffering and then it do not go ahead. Mpeg 2 (eyetv)