We are pleased to announce the release aTV Flash (black) 2.0 for the 2nd generation Apple TV. Version 2.0 goes beyond just watching videos, and adds in a ton of new features that make browsing and watching media on the Apple TV more enjoyable than ever.

2.0 is a free update for all current aTV Flash (black) users, so keep reading for more details on everything that's new.

Browse by category

The new Library View will now index all your media (even if stored on multiple devices) and automatically organize movies, TV shows and music into easy to use categories such as: genre, release date, star rating, age rating and others. TV shows will also be group by series/season automatically so there's no more worrying about keeping your folders perfectly organized.

While we think this is a great new way to browse and enjoy your media, the original file/folder based browsing will remain intact and working as an alternative option.

Fully integrated search

Sometimes you know what you want to watch, and don't want to browse. With our new integrated search you can do just that. This powerful search tool allows you to search by movie, TV series/episode, song, artist, album or filename. Just start typing and the results will start being displayed instantly. 

Keep it all in sync

Also new for 2.0 is trakt.tv syncing. This is a great feature if you're trying to keep multiple Apple TVs in sync, as if you watch a movie on the first device it will also appear as watched on the 2nd. Additionally, if you manually mark a movie or show as watched on trakt.tv, it will automatically get marked as watched on the Apple TV. In a similar fashion, Last.fm scrobbling allows you track music plays in your Last.fm profile.

Full changelog

  • Added all-new Library View
  • Added integrated media search
  • Added trakt.tv 2-way syncing
  • Added Last.fm scrobbling
  • Added genre/artist based playlists
  • Added Recently Added display option
  • Improved handling of WTV files
  • Improved handling of DVD audio tracks
  • Improved AFP connections
  • Improved filename recognition
  • Improved subtitle handling
  • Resolved various navigation issues
  • Resolved rare DVD playback issues
  • Resolved rare subtitles positioning issue
  • Many other minor improvements and fixes

Does this work on the 3rd gen Apple TV?

Not yet. Work is still ongoing and we'll 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.

Outstanding! Where can I get it?

aTV Flash (black) is available for purchase and instant download here.

If you're already running a version of aTV Flash (black) you can update right on the Apple TV through the Maintenance --> Manage Extras menu. The new 2.0 version is also available through the Downloads tab in your account.

Full details on setting up and using the new Library View can be found here.

Note: Apple TV version 4.4 or later is required for aTV Flash (black) 2.0.

Enjoy! :-) 

Comments

Submitted by ton on September 11, 2012 - 12:14pm

Is the folder setting (aka as it was) still the default?

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 12:20pm

You can install the 2.0 update without it affecting your current setup.

Once 2.0 is installed, you can choose to setup the Library or not - either way your current Shares and Favorites will continue to work as they always have.

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:23pm

Does it work with Plex?

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:31pm

Great. thx.

How do we add plugins like the stream provided by http://www.uitzendinggemist.nl/

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:35pm

I've really enjoyed using the FIrecore software on my aTV. I've noticed that I get stuttering playback sometimes and buffering issues. Is this stutter common due to aTV limitations? Is there anything else I can do to optimize the unit? Add a small USB flash drive or something for buffering?

To explain my setup, I have a gigabit wired network in my house with a Synology network drive attached to push out the movies. For comparison I have completely stutter free viewing using my WDLive player with the same movies etc. I'd much rather use aTV's throughout the house, but my preference right now is the WDlive and the clean playback.

Any suggestions on what I might do to improve the playback of the aTV? I do have the new version of the aTV (new in box), but I haven't used that one yet because I was under the impression Firecore doesn't work with it yet. I don't know if that makes a difference.

Thanks!
- John

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:37pm

for the love of god when is the ATV3 flash coming out?!

I bought this so long ago and cant properly use it ;_;

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:45pm

I updated but it's not showing on the top line on main apple menu

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:55pm

What about plex support? I did not upgrade to the last version because I read about problems with plex support .. Is this the case with 2.0?

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:55pm

It is a tragedy to be an owner of the Apple TV 3.

Since I bought it a couple month ago it is really useless...

Guys please hurry up to bring out a solution for us!

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:59pm

have an old install of pre 2.0 on an ATV2.0
user the maintenance > manage extras > maintenance update
but the UI is still the old NON icon UI
do i need to reinstall from LAPTOP or can i update to latest UI/version from ATV2
Maintenance now shows INSTALLED but no icons UI

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 12:59pm

have an old install of pre 2.0 on an ATV2.0
user the maintenance > manage extras > maintenance update
but the UI is still the old NON icon UI
do i need to reinstall from LAPTOP or can i update to latest UI/version from ATV2
Maintenance now shows INSTALLED but no icons UI

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 1:00pm

2.0 works just fine with Plex installed. :)

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 1:02pm

The menu layout will be determined by the Apple TV SW version you are running (5.0 and later will be the new icon based layout, while 4.4.4 and earlier will be the old horizontal layout).

To update the Apple TV software you can run the latest version of Seas0nPass.

http://support.firecore.com/entries/387605

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:07pm

Am I the only one who only see the folder names in the new library list view?
The movies and metadata is okay, but the movie names is not displayed properly in the list, instead the folder names in which the movie is located in is displayed. Example, the movie rec 3 is displayed as rec.3.2012.genesis which is the name of the folder.
All my movies are sorted by separate folders with the moviefile and subtitlefiles inside.

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:11pm

Hi, i have aTV Flash Black 1.8 but no possibility in the manage extras menu for an 2.0 update!?? what can i do?

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:13pm

I've tried several times to upgrade via maintenance, but I keep getting error messages. I did verify that I have functional Internet access. Now what?

Submitted by toeggi on September 11, 2012 - 1:20pm

You can choose to hide different menus, as Firecore has done with the Music menu, under Settings > General > Parental Controls. This will bump the Media menu to the top allowing it to show recent items or recently added items.

Submitted by bh1644 on September 11, 2012 - 1:21pm

Has anyone tried XBMC on this version yet?

Submitted by dmendiola on September 11, 2012 - 1:26pm

oh please, can you give us a more concrete update on the apple tv 3 versus a generic "we are hard at work"? i have upgraded half of my army of atv to atv3 and still can't have this. thanks.

Submitted by laurentathome on September 11, 2012 - 1:27pm

Previous version worked just fine.
Just upgraded to new one and Librairy scan does not complete.
Apple TV reboots while librairy scans still performs.
Streaming my movies from my NAS is no longer possible !
Can this bug be identified or should I roll back to previous version and how ?

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:28pm

I just run the library aTV Flaso 2.0 from my remote pc! And the result was very anoying, There are duplicate on films that i dont have! Why is this happening?. I think that the change is perfect if just work fine.

Thanks all for what you are doing, i hope there is a solution for this! Or i will still comecting from remote.

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 1:30pm

Installing 2.0 requires Apple TV 4.4 or later.

You can check the version of Apple TV you are running through the Settings --> General --> About menu.

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 1:32pm

You may try correcting metadata for the movies in question.

Full details on doing this can be found here.

http://support.firecore.com/entries/20557283-m...

Submitted by miket.1357 on September 11, 2012 - 1:33pm

Update looks great.  However, should I be able to enter a path to my SMB share...? It seems like I can only provide the base ip... It is scanning the entire machine I only want it looking at two drives mounted as shares...

Thanks

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 1:34pm

Sorry about that. If you can open a support ticket we can look into what's going on.

http://firecore.com/contact

That said, you will still be able to stream through the Favorites or My Files menu as before, without going through Library.

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 1:34pm

You can use 2.0 with or without XBMC installed.

Submitted by antoined.4382 on September 11, 2012 - 1:35pm

Hello I have an apple tv 3 generation is it compatible ?

 

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:38pm

No

Submitted by gordonr.1446 on September 11, 2012 - 1:38pm

Just updated to 2.0 and XMBC works for me.

 

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:39pm

No problem with Plex

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 1:44pm

Yes, you can setup a direct path to a folder/drive by entering the folder path after the device name.

E.G. MyNas.local\Files\Movies

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:45pm

Thanks a lot guys - great job! Without your Work my apple tv would just be a useless piece of junk. Thanks!

Submitted by miket.1357 on September 11, 2012 - 1:47pm

Thanks James, my fault, fat fingered it in my giddyness at the new "Library" :) Great job as always FireCore team (just need that custom fan art option now!)

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:49pm

Do i have to jailbreak The Apple tv again from my pc to get version 4.4? Im running on version 4.3 right now.
Or do i just hit The 'Update software' In The 'general' menu?... And Then install The new firecore version.

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:54pm

Maintenance ---> Managing extra's is no longer there! What's the reason?

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 1:56pm

Looks really nice.
Is Plex really needed with the new library view or am I missing something here?
Is the media scanner as good as Plex?

Submitted by herve.tavernier2 on September 11, 2012 - 1:57pm

Impossible for me to update, because "Managing extra's" is no longer there under Maintenance! What happened?

Submitted by miket.1357 on September 11, 2012 - 1:58pm

I gave up Plex awhile ago in favor of the MediaPlayer... Very few problems with the media scanner

Submitted by massimilianoa.13241 on September 11, 2012 - 2:00pm

I have Apple TV software 4.3 (2557) and when I try to update (GENERAL -UPDATE) a message says that 'Your Apple TV is up to date'.

How can I install Apple TV 4.4 ?

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 2:07pm

Great! :)

Submitted by lassel.1588 on September 11, 2012 - 2:07pm

Hi

I have version 4.3 installed on ATV2 Black, dó i need to connect All (4) to my pc to get the Update i can't see anything in the menu

Thanks

Br

Lasse

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 2:08pm

After updating 2/3rds of my collection quit playing.

Submitted by james on September 11, 2012 - 2:08pm

Your best option will be to run the latest version of Seas0nPass to update the Apple TV.

http://support.firecore.com/entries/387605

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 2:11pm

Oh my god do most of these people even understand what's going on here. These folks should sit down and learn a thing or two and stop asking moronic questions. Also stop whining about the appletv 3 you shouldn't have bought it if you wanted to use software like this.

Submitted by nickb.8958 on September 11, 2012 - 2:11pm

Hi, Ive had issue running Vimeo for a few months now. Just get a 'Vimeo is unavailable. try again later'. Has anyone else reported this? Thx.

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 2:16pm

I second this. Paying $200 now for ATV 2 is ridiculous. If it's not possible, then just say it! I'll buy an ATV 2 & be done with it.

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 2:21pm

Great features, but we need this to work for ATV3...

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 2:22pm

Great Job Fire Core! Update works great.
Please stop complaining about ATV 3 or running old Firmware and not beeing able to update to 2.0
Jesus ... There is a FAQ and support section, so please start reading.

Submitted by Anon on September 11, 2012 - 2:25pm

Plex has a very robust search funtion. Not only does it allow you to search by Title and genre, but also by year, decade, recently added, actor/actress, director, etc.

Submitted by miket.1357 on September 11, 2012 - 2:31pm

Not recognizing TV episodes...

So this is likely my fault but I have a SMB share named TV in it is a folder with (for instance):

Folder Name: Breaking Bad

Nested Folder Name: Season 1

Episode: Breaking Bad.S01E01.mkv

So: TV/Breaking Bad/Season 1/Breaking Bad.S01E01.mkv

They are showing up (uncategorized) in the "Other" section... any ideas?

In "Library Settings" it shows:

Movies: 404

TV Episodes: 0

There should be no movies and only TV episodes on this share