Apple TV 2.02 Just Released

[Weaselboy]

Downloading now. Have no idea what it does.

[FreeState]

Downloading now. Have no idea what it does.

Installed yet? At work so I cant update to see what it does - hoping it fixes the dropping wireless issues... and freezing genre lists under streamed movies....

[Weaselboy]

Installed yet? At work so I cant update to see what it does - hoping it fixes the dropping wireless issues... and freezing genre lists under streamed movies....

I just got it installed and don't see any differences jumping out at me.

I was not having dropped wireless issues, so don't know if it helps with that.

[bacaramac]

Anyone else see this update? Anyone notice any changes? I am at work, so cannot check it out yet.

[arn]

downloaded very quickly. ~ 1 minute. I don't see any obvious changes.

arn

[davidwarren]

hopefully it fixes the problems that 2.0.1 gave me...

[spamdumpster]

I'm a about to jump on a flight to San Fran and won't be able to install until this weekend. Damn.

[FreeState]

Apples forums has a report from one user that says:

"Don't use 5 Ghz so I can't comment there, but it's fixed the slow scrolling in 'my movie' genres."

Hope thats true:) It was unusable before on my end (15 to 20 second freeze every time you switched genres)

[mkjellman]

took me 5 minutes to download on a university connection. maybe their servers are getting pounded.

With 2.0.1 i had been having problems with airtunes and itunes randomly disconnecting every 3-5 songs. hitting play would start the music again. Hopefully this resolves the slight instability in airtunes.

also: my unit restarted 5 times during the update process (aka, i saw the apple logo 5 times in between no signal on the tv)

update: menu's feel much smoother to me. much smoother.

[gcmexico]

lets see what goodies it brings!!:D

[kellyrev]

Apple really needs to separate Music Videos from general Music.

I've got 70 music videos and over 13,000 songs. Every time the menu scrolls and lands on a band that contains a music video it takes any where up to 5-10 seconds to load. Very annoying.

[Oilbrnr]

Man, I sure hope it fixes some of the random glitches that I've experience since getting my 40GB two weeks ago. All sorts of lockups, loosing connection to iTunes, not always showing all my iTunes content, etc. And I'm all ethernet connected too. :(

[entropy1980]

Looks like browsing genres is MUCH smoother no more stutter for me.

[yoyo5280]

So its mainly eye candy performance...

[blend1976]

There is now a setting for 1080p. I am pretty sure that wasn't there before...but sorry if I am wrong.

[davidwarren]

There is now a setting for 1080p. I am pretty sure that wasn't there before...but sorry if I am wrong.

it was

[statler]

It does not fix the problem where Apple TV won't show up in iTunes devices. At least not on my mac. :mad:

[gcmexico]

There is an option for tv networks now under tv show...was that always there?:cool:

[FreeState]

There is an option for tv networks now under tv show...was that always there?:cool:

Yes thats been there, not new (it leads to shows by network in the iTunes store).

[roland.g]

I personally like the 1.x interface with rotating icons and a list of menus better. I'm not a big fan of the left right double pane with the whatever you saw last background fade. The icons were much better. But we're just talking gui here not functionality. 2.x rocks otherwise.

[mugwump]

I hope it fixes the network dropping issue if the basestation was set for "wide" channel.

Anyone else annoyed with the numerous menu items geared towards iTunes store items, when all you want is the one "my music" option?

[D1G1T4L]

Updated and the "Genres" listing is now usable for me.

[EricNau]

Is the HDD still powered in standby mode? ...I'm still waiting for them to straighten that out.

[FreeState]

In Flickr, there is now a viewable gallery of your contacts' favorites.

[Divindude]

I turned on wide-channels on my extreme, and sync'd a large movie (2gb) to my AppleTv without any dropout. Prior to this update, if I used wide-channels, it would never finish synching it .. would always time-out in different places on the same movie. Seems to be fixed??!?!?!?!!?!!!!

[rdas7]

I wish that they'd have an option to control Apple TV volume via the remote. I know that it's designed to be plugged into an amp with a separate volume control, but that means 2 remotes BY DESIGN, and not all of us have our Apple TV's connected to theatre systems! Please please please, can it be an *option* at least?

[distortedloop]

I wish that they'd have an option to control Apple TV volume via the remote. I know that it's designed to be plugged into an amp with a separate volume control, but that means 2 remotes BY DESIGN, and not all of us have our Apple TV's connected to theatre systems! Please please please, can it be an *option* at least?

I just programmed my universal and cable remotes to "learn" the Apple Remotes codes...back to one master remote.

[blybug]

I personally like the 1.x interface with rotating icons and a list of menus better. I'm not a big fan of the left right double pane with the whatever you saw last background fade. The icons were much better. But we're just talking gui here not functionality. 2.x rocks otherwise.

QFT :)

[blybug]

I wish that they'd have an option to control Apple TV volume via the remote. I know that it's designed to be plugged into an amp with a separate volume control, but that means 2 remotes BY DESIGN, and not all of us have our Apple TV's connected to theatre systems! Please please please, can it be an *option* at least?

It would have to be a pretty smart functionality. I can tell you this, having the :apple:TV software installed on a mac mini where the remote does just what you're asking...it's annoying because the volume changes whenever you navigate through the menus up & down.

However it could obviously be programmed to navigate when in a menu, and control volume once you're listening or watching. Agreed it is an odd thing for Apple to have left out.

[appleguy]

Safari seems snappier

[zedsdead]

Apple really needs to separate Music Videos from general Music.

I've got 70 music videos and over 13,000 songs. Every time the menu scrolls and lands on a band that contains a music video it takes any where up to 5-10 seconds to load. Very annoying.

This is the WORST problem in relation to lagging in the menus. It's really terrible.

EDIT: Not fixed, just finished downloading. The Genre is better, but by no means quick enough. Doesn't Apple test these things before releasing them? The speed of some of the menus are just awful.

[imacericg]

Just downloaded it! You can rent movies!!! COOL!!!!

[fivepoint]

It does not fix the problem where Apple TV won't show up in iTunes devices. At least not on my mac. :mad:

Make sure you don't have a computer setup to use the AppleTV with Airtunes as an external speaker. Mine was not showing up in iTunes either, but that was because my wife's iTunes had the AppleTV setup to stream audio through iTunes.




Apple really needs to separate Music Videos from general Music.

I've got 70 music videos and over 13,000 songs. Every time the menu scrolls and lands on a band that contains a music video it takes any where up to 5-10 seconds to load. Very annoying.
AGREED! And how about the ability to sync with iMovie! I have tons of movies in iMovie that I would like to share with guests through the AppleTV. Why in the world would you not be able to access that stuff through the AppleTV? CRAZY!



I wish that they'd have an option to control Apple TV volume via the remote. I know that it's designed to be plugged into an amp with a separate volume control, but that means 2 remotes BY DESIGN, and not all of us have our Apple TV's connected to theatre systems! Please please please, can it be an *option* at least?

I've got my AppleTV hooked up to a theatre system, and I can't use the volume buttons on the apple remote either. Can anyone use the volume buttons on the apple remote?

[ddk121]

I was having a problem with youtube not loading the whole video, only loading half, etc, now it all seems to be fixed! Youtube is much snappier!

Edit: I've been looking through my Youtube history, and videos that didn't used to load do now!

[fivepoint]

I was having a problem with youtube not loading the whole video, only loading half, etc, now it all seems to be fixed! Youtube is much snappier!

If true, this will make a LOT of people happy. This problem has been pretty widespread, although... inconsistent.

[roland.g]

AGREED! And how about the ability to sync with iMovie! I have tons of movies in iMovie that I would like to share with guests through the AppleTV. Why in the world would you not be able to access that stuff through the AppleTV? CRAZY!

I've got my AppleTV hooked up to a theatre system, and I can't use the volume buttons on the apple remote either. Can anyone use the volume buttons on the apple remote?

Once you finish your iMovie project, which by nature is a rather large DV file still (that you can burn to DVD from that quality) simply use the export function and choose the Quicktime to Apple TV setting or create your own if you are familiar with advanced settings and add it to iTunes.

Those aren't volume buttons on the Apple remote. Common misconception, but b/c it is very unclear.

[sam10685]

The update turns it into a DVR.

[MacFly123]

This better fix the airport issues because I LITERALLY have to reconnect to my network EVERY #$&#*# TIME I use it and it is beyond pissing me off :mad:

[fivepoint]

Once you finish your iMovie project, which by nature is a rather large DV file still (that you can burn to DVD from that quality) simply use the export function and choose the Quicktime to Apple TV setting or create your own if you are familiar with advanced settings and add it to iTunes.

Those aren't volume buttons on the Apple remote. Common misconception, but b/c it is very unclear.

Yes, I know I can do that... but I think there is an opportunity for a far superior interaction here.
A) I don't want my home videos to be mixed with my hollywood movies. They shouldn't be in the same category.
B) Why can't iMovie sync/stream with AppleTV just like iPhoto? iPhoto implements this perfectly, and to port this over to the iMovie side of the equation seems like an obvious choice.
C) Same situation with music videos... these should be categorized in AppleTV just like any other movie.

Also... on the volume thing... it was the same way on the iPod shuffle and on my mac's remote. There are '+' and '-' buttons... if that is not their function, they should have been labeled as such. I would have recommended this: "^" and "v".

[nado]

Apple TV is now water and salt proof?

[bommai]

It would have to be a pretty smart functionality. I can tell you this, having the :apple:TV software installed on a mac mini where the remote does just what you're asking...it's annoying because the volume changes whenever you navigate through the menus up & down.

However it could obviously be programmed to navigate when in a menu, and control volume once you're listening or watching. Agreed it is an odd thing for Apple to have left out.

Actually, it is not at all an odd thing to leave out. Next time you play something using a DVD player, see if you can control your volume using your DVD player!! You have to use either the TV volume or a stereo/surround receiver volume. Now, AppleTV is nothing but a DVD player of the 21st century. So, why should it act any other way. Also, there is a simple reason for not allowing volume changes in AppleTV. The sound output in AppleTV is line level (pre-amp level), not speaker level. Sound levels should never be messed with before amplification since you will affect the dynamic range and signal to noise ratio.

Use either your TV or your amp or receivers volume control. Get a universal remote!

[fivepoint]

Doesn't your Mac have spellchecking all over the OS?!

"Spellchecking" is not a word.
No sentence deserves a double closing punctuation mark.

Only trolls criticize people misspelling a single word by accident.

[DJAKO]

"Spellchecking" is not a word.
No sentence deserves a double closing punctuation mark.

Only trolls criticize people misspelling a single word by accident.

What about a quotation...:)

"No sentence deserves a double closing punctuation mark."

[liberty4all]

The BIG news is that there are accelerometers in the Apple Remote! Did anyone else hear about this before?

http://www.officeformac.com/blog/Announcing-Microsoft-Games-for-Apple-Remote


Too bad it's Microsoft's April Fools joke... ;-(

[macalig]

ATV4mac will be updated soon to support this latest update.
Watch out: http://www.macgeekblog.com/blog/archive/2008/03/25/atv4mac-1-2-available.html#comments

:D

[MacFly123]

I wish that they'd have an option to control Apple TV volume via the remote. I know that it's designed to be plugged into an amp with a separate volume control, but that means 2 remotes BY DESIGN, and not all of us have our Apple TV's connected to theatre systems! Please please please, can it be an *option* at least?

It would have to be a pretty smart functionality. I can tell you this, having the :apple:TV software installed on a mac mini where the remote does just what you're asking...it's annoying because the volume changes whenever you navigate through the menus up & down.

However it could obviously be programmed to navigate when in a menu, and control volume once you're listening or watching. Agreed it is an odd thing for Apple to have left out.

Actually, it is not at all an odd thing to leave out. Next time you play something using a DVD player, see if you can control your volume using your DVD player!! You have to use either the TV volume or a stereo/surround receiver volume. Now, AppleTV is nothing but a DVD player of the 21st century. So, why should it act any other way. Also, there is a simple reason for not allowing volume changes in AppleTV. The sound output in AppleTV is line level (pre-amp level), not speaker level. Sound levels should never be messed with before amplification since you will affect the dynamic range and signal to noise ratio.

Use either your TV or your amp or receivers volume control. Get a universal remote!

Actually I can adjust volume on all 3 of my DVD player remotes and I think that is something Apple REALLY needs to add. The ENTIRE POINT of the Apple remote was how simple it is, and you are saying to just use a universal remote AKA a remote just like the Microsoft one that Steve Jobs compared the Apple remote to when it was introduced and showed how much of a pathetically cluttered mess it was. Well so much for Steve's theory then if you just have to use both anyway. :rolleyes:

Not to mention Apple doesn't even include it with any of their computers anymore :rolleyes:

[rfrankl]

For the ones who drop the signal and AppleTV doesn't show up in iTunes, what do you do to get it back. It happens to me once in a while, and I just unplug the AppleTV then plug it back in. I find it annoying as well. How do the rest of you get back up and running? Thanks.

I use an AirPort Extreme also so figured they would work more semelessly.

[CSid]

Um... Since when has this been round :confused: ??

I thought it was a joke :rolleyes:

[MacFly123]

Well I will have to wait and see if the drop outs are fixed but my Apple TV restarted 10 times while installing the update. Yes I counted because I have noticed that it restarts a ridiculous amount of times every time it installs an update. What is up with this Apple?

[rogerm]

For the ones who drop the signal and AppleTV doesn't show up in iTunes, what do you do to get it back. It happens to me once in a while, and I just unplug the AppleTV then plug it back in. I find it annoying as well. How do the rest of you get back up and running? Thanks.

I use an AirPort Extreme also so figured they would work more semelessly.

You can simply press the 'Menu' and '-' buttons simultaneously for several seconds to reboot the AppleTV. No need to yank the power cord.

[mwp98223]

AGREED! And how about the ability to sync with iMovie! I have tons of movies in iMovie that I would like to share with guests through the AppleTV. Why in the world would you not be able to access that stuff through the AppleTV? CRAZY!


I agree that this would be a GREAT standard feature. As a workaround, you can point iTunes to your iMovie events and have the clips available for viewing on AppleTV. I have many family movies available that way. Not as good as direct integration, but an option.

[rfrankl]

You can simply press the 'Menu' and '-' buttons simultaneously for several seconds to reboot the AppleTV. No need to yank the power cord.

Thanks for the tip!! I figured there had to be a way to reboot like that.

[foofan]

just downloaded update. they now have a new category called "Bang Bros". What's that?

[rfrankl]

just downloaded update. they now have a new category called "Bang Bros". What's that?

Someone is familiar with the bus.

[CatharticFlux]

My AppleTV is still on 2.0, and iTunes won't detect that there's an update for it... :(

[ibglowin]

There is no Quicktime to :apple:TV export out of iMovie........

I wish there was.

Once you finish your iMovie project, which by nature is a rather large DV file still (that you can burn to DVD from that quality) simply use the export function and choose the Quicktime to Apple TV setting or create your own if you are familiar with advanced settings and add it to iTunes.

Those aren't volume buttons on the Apple remote. Common misconception, but b/c it is very unclear.

[ipedro]

My AppleTV is still on 2.0, and iTunes won't detect that there's an update for it... :(

I would restore it to Factory Settings and then look for the update then. That should work.

[juniormaj]

The "+" button already has a function in the latest versions of software; it is used to bring up the progress bar while you are watching a movie/TV show.
I have seen DVD players that can control their volume output, but I agree with a previous poster that it is better to leave the volume of a component at a fixed (line) level and control the volume at the amplifier instead.
This also eliminates the possibility of having your component (in this case, TV) volume turned down low and turning up the amplifier to overcompensate, which will give you a less than optimum signal that is full of hiss.

[ipedro]

I'm hoping it fixes the issue where :apple:TV syncs back podcasts downloaded on :apple:TV. I want those video podcasts to remain on :apple:TV, not sync to my already low memory MacBook Pro.

My MBP crashed after I got 2.0.1. It only had 10mb left after :apple:TV finished syncing all the video podcasts over.

[electronboy]

There is now a setting for 1080p. I am pretty sure that wasn't there before...but sorry if I am wrong.

I have just updated to 2.0.2 and have a 1080p plasma attached via component video. I did not see 1080p--maybe requires a HDMI connection?

Not sure what, if any advantages would be gained from 1080p support anyway. Since my processor does not support HDMI switching, I will just stay connected via component thank you very much.

[electronboy]

My AppleTV is still on 2.0, and iTunes won't detect that there's an update for it... :(

The update is applied from within the AppleTV menu system NOT through iTunes like an iPod. I'm not sure why Apple did this.

[kallisti]

You can simply press the 'Menu' and '-' buttons simultaneously for several seconds to reboot the AppleTV. No need to yank the power cord.

Nope, that has never worked for me. After about a week my AppleTV consistently glitches and will only show the apple logo on my TV and it doesn't sync with iTunes. 'Menu' + '-' button doesn't reset it. Only way to get it going again is to unplug and then plug back in. Annoying, but I can live with it.

[jim.arrows]

My AppleTV is still on 2.0, and iTunes won't detect that there's an update for it... :(

Just use the "Update Software" option from within the ATV Menu itself, I've never used iTunes to update mine and don't even think you can (could be wrong, though).

[Rocketman]

There seem to be a lot of questions about basic Apple TV set-up via remotes, new features, update and display methods. It seems Macrumors is a perfect place for an Apple TV FAQ that has been vetted for accuracy.

Rocketman

[Cybix]

Can anyone actually confirm any real changes with this update? Are we absolutely sure that the menu's perform better, youtube performs better, etc?

Perhaps Apple are just altering their DRM stuff, or tweaking for iTunes integration, etc.

[pmpknetr21]

The update is applied from within the AppleTV menu system NOT through iTunes like an iPod. I'm not sure why Apple did this.

They did this because it isn't necessary to own a computer if you own an  tv; you can have an  tv an no computer at all, just use it as a set-top box. For those people who have an  tv and no computer, how would they update the  tv? For purposes of keeping things streamlined, the update process is within  tv.

[etdavis]

Under Podcasts, it now has the Provider section. This works like Networks under TV Shows.

[GQB]

Now they just have to push some content.

I rented No Country for Old Men this weekend, and came away with a few thoughts...

1) They need a LOT more content.
2) Having to drill down to the details to see if its a rental or a buy is way past annoying. It really reinforces the feeling that there's not much content available. C'mon... they should all be available as rentals.

That said,
1) The actual experience and quality were great. It was half downloaded before I got settled to start watching
2) viewing window is actually 24 hrs + (length of movie - 1 minute)
You can fire it up a minute before expiration and as long as you don't pause after 24 hrs, you can finish.
3) NC4OM is a GREAT movie.

[Freis968]

Apple really needs to separate Music Videos from general Music.

I've got 70 music videos and over 13,000 songs. Every time the menu scrolls and lands on a band that contains a music video it takes any where up to 5-10 seconds to load. Very annoying.

I agree 100%. Luckily with this update, they atleast kept videos that you import into the Movies part of your iTunes library WITHIN this folder when sticking in a Genre such as Music Video. When I used to import my own Music Videos that I made of my own songs I wanted to tag them as Music Video, but when I did it shot it straight into my Music folder within my Library and thus I had to search under Music in my AppleTV screen to find it. Now, when you pull up My Movies within the Movies section of AppleTV you will find all of your videos you have made now conveniently sorted within whatever Genre, custom or not, within My Movies!

This was much needed and is much appreciated by me...Hopefully, they will work on your need next.

[robby818]

Is anyone else noticing a very slow UI experience when selecting 1080p as the output resolution?

It seems like it takes an extra half second for commands to register. 1080i and 720p seem to be much faster in terms of how fast menus open. 1080p might be maxing out the video capabilities of the Apple TV

[MacFly123]

Well I just turned on my Apple TV for the first time since I applied this update a few hours ago and it dropped the wireless STILL!!!!! :mad:

[Marvin1379]

I haven't found anything else new...how about you all?

[FreeState]

Can anyone actually confirm any real changes with this update? Are we absolutely sure that the menu's perform better, youtube performs better, etc?

Perhaps Apple are just altering their DRM stuff, or tweaking for iTunes integration, etc.

I can confirm that for me the update fixed the genres 15 second freezing issue as well as the Wi-Fi drop outs (knock on wood).

I can use the genre listings - this in its self make me very happy...

[theBB]

There is no Quicktime to :apple:TV export out of iMovie........

I wish there was.
Your wish is granted. iMovie does have an export to AppleTV, well at least iMovie '06 does.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

It does not fix the problem where Apple TV won't show up in iTunes devices. At least not on my mac. :mad:

Have you tried rebooting? Any time I have a problem with AppleTV not showing up, a reboot cures it every time. Apparently, there's a problem with iTunes if you start/exit it too many times in MacOSX (memory leak or corruption?)

In any case, I'm leaving my software where it is until I hear all problems are solved. 2.0 works fine here anyway and HD movies are ready to start within 1 minute on a 5Mbit connection. I haven't upgraded iTunes or Quicktime either since I read a lot of people got far more new bugs than they solved. Apple needs to fix old bugs before putting in new features that create a whole new set of bugs, IMO. I'm basing a whole house wireless audio system off iTunes, so it needs to be stable. iTunes 7.6.1 running off Tiger 10.4.11 with AppleTV 2.0 works fine and is perfectly stable (so long as I don't exit and restart iTunes too many times at which point a reboot fixes it like I said above).

I think my past problems with AppleTV not working right were caused by the devices not registering properly across the Internet. That's the only thing the Apple Store really did (adjust the account some how) and then both have worked fine ever since.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

They did this because it isn't necessary to own a computer if you own an  tv; you can have an  tv an no computer at all, just use it as a set-top box. For those people who have an  tv and no computer, how would they update the  tv? For purposes of keeping things streamlined, the update process is within  tv.

So what? They could offer BOTH options you know. iTunes is fully aware of what version of AppleTV you're using (it reports it in the summary window). There should be an option to upgrade it there as well as in the AppleTV menu and which way you do it should be your choice, IMO.

I can't believe AppleTV doesn't even have a search option for your OWN music. They have one for the iTunes store, so why not one for your own library? You can see where their priorities are (to encourage you to buy MORE music even though it's a pain to access once you have it. My iPod Touch running either Signal or Remote Buddy and AirTunes works much better overall, although WiFi is a major battery drain on the iPhone/iPod Touch so I keep an AC charger ready at my listening locations so I can plug it in when I use it and it doesn't use the battery at all then. I can also leave the screen on without a time-out then as well and manually turn it off when I'm done instead (so I don't have to keep turning it back on, which is a hassle if you just need to pause/stop the music really fast or move forward a track or whatever).

[ceehjayem]

I dont really notice a difference except that scrolling runs more smoothly.

[e.zaharias]

Is youtube really fixed? That would be huge for us having the stall issue and the very slow downloads. Can anyone second the previous poster that claims it's fixed?

[vansouza]

For the ones who drop the signal and AppleTV doesn't show up in iTunes, what do you do to get it back. It happens to me once in a while, and I just unplug the AppleTV then plug it back in. I find it annoying as well. How do the rest of you get back up and running? Thanks.

I use an AirPort Extreme also so figured they would work more semelessly.

Two ways, first I do it from the menu and get tired of doing it again and again. My final solution was to connect to my g network and take it off of the n network. The N network is an Apple Time Capsule ... I hope one of these work for you. Good luck.

[vansouza]

My AppleTV is still on 2.0, and iTunes won't detect that there's an update for it... :(

I thought the same thing but you update from the Apple TV not iTunes... I can't remember the steps but you can find the update in the menu structure. Good luck.

[vansouza]

Well I just turned on my Apple TV for the first time since I applied this update a few hours ago and it dropped the wireless STILL!!!!! :mad:

Are you on an Apple router using the N whatever? I switched to my G netgear router and it is now rock solid. But I wish I could have it on my N Apple router for all the obvious reasons... speed.

[TheBigS]

.

I can't believe AppleTV doesn't even have a search option for your OWN music. ....

THANK YOU!!!! THANK YOU THANK YOU lol! I have requested this time after time. Sent it in to the apple request site for product improvement and started threads over it. Yet no results. you would think it might be common sense but apparently not. :confused: If u forget the artist of a song but know only the name, it takes a while to scroll through songs when you have a few thousand loaded :rolleyes: Please apple please!

[brucebrendon]

Podcasts should support 'Chapters' functionality. Has this been sorted in the update?

I was hoping for this in the previous update, no.

Then tried on Downloaded Podcasts, no.

Yeah i know this could be tricky via the remote, but a 5sec hold on a button or a Skip once Paused to take into Chapters menu would be nice.

I really miss the changing chapter pics and stuff, helps me remember tracks podcasted.

[paulmoscow]

Now they just have to push some content.
I recently noticed that they remove some content. For example, several Disney cartoons are now available as "buy only." Among them are Mulan, Pocahontas and Hercules.

[Parky]

Is the HDD still powered in standby mode? ...I'm still waiting for them to straighten that out.

That is not a bug, it is designed that way specifically.
With the Apple TV in stand-by mode it can still accept content updates from iTunes because the HDD is not shutdown.

[Parky]

The update is applied from within the AppleTV menu system NOT through iTunes like an iPod. I'm not sure why Apple did this.

They did it because you no longer need a computer to use the Apple TV.
You can buy an Apple TV and use it to buy music, rent movies, watch Podcasts, look at Flickr and .Mac photos all without a computer.

To update the software via iTunes means that you would need a computer to do it.

[Parky]

AGREED! And how about the ability to sync with iMovie! I have tons of movies in iMovie that I would like to share with guests through the AppleTV. Why in the world would you not be able to access that stuff through the AppleTV? CRAZY!


I agree that this would be a GREAT standard feature. As a workaround, you can point iTunes to your iMovie events and have the clips available for viewing on AppleTV. I have many family movies available that way. Not as good as direct integration, but an option.

The content in iMovie is not playable on the Apple TV as it is in to high a quality and would not be able to be transferred to the Apple TV fast enough.
iMovie content in DV format would be impossible to convert to Apple TV format on the fly to stream to the Apple TV. Content needs to be converted to Apple TV format first.

[Parky]

So what? They could offer BOTH options you know. iTunes is fully aware of what version of AppleTV you're using (it reports it in the summary window). There should be an option to upgrade it there as well as in the AppleTV menu and which way you do it should be your choice, IMO.

I can't believe AppleTV doesn't even have a search option for your OWN music. They have one for the iTunes store, so why not one for your own library? You can see where their priorities are (to encourage you to buy MORE music even though it's a pain to access once you have it. My iPod Touch running either Signal or Remote Buddy and AirTunes works much better overall, although WiFi is a major battery drain on the iPhone/iPod Touch so I keep an AC charger ready at my listening locations so I can plug it in when I use it and it doesn't use the battery at all then. I can also leave the screen on without a time-out then as well and manually turn it off when I'm done instead (so I don't have to keep turning it back on, which is a hassle if you just need to pause/stop the music really fast or move forward a track or whatever).

Why offer both options when the Apple TV update works perfectly well for all users? Why would you want to download to iTunes first and then have to get the update transferred to the Apple TV from iTunes. That would take longer and serve no additional purpose. It would be an extra step for no benefit.

[Almightyguru]

Well I just turned on my Apple TV for the first time since I applied this update a few hours ago and it dropped the wireless STILL!!!!! :mad:

As mentioned earlier, this does not happen when you switch off wide channels in your Airport Extreme.

[williedigital]

Actually, it is not at all an odd thing to leave out. Next time you play something using a DVD player, see if you can control your volume using your DVD player!! You have to use either the TV volume or a stereo/surround receiver volume. Now, AppleTV is nothing but a DVD player of the 21st century. So, why should it act any other way. Also, there is a simple reason for not allowing volume changes in AppleTV. The sound output in AppleTV is line level (pre-amp level), not speaker level. Sound levels should never be messed with before amplification since you will affect the dynamic range and signal to noise ratio.

Use either your TV or your amp or receivers volume control. Get a universal remote!

Two issues.

1) They let you adjust volume within Itunes when using the AppleTV as an airtunes node, so apparently they aren't obsessed with line-level issues obviously.

2) Every person that has used my AppleTV has tried to adjust the volume using the apple remote. Then they turn to me and go "why won't it let me turn the volume up/down?"

[fivepoint]

The content in iMovie is not playable on the Apple TV as it is in to high a quality and would not be able to be transferred to the Apple TV fast enough.
iMovie content in DV format would be impossible to convert to Apple TV format on the fly to stream to the Apple TV. Content needs to be converted to Apple TV format first.


Fine, but there is an easy workaround. Have the only videos available be the ones that you've already exported as tiny, small, medium, or large. If you've exported it and it is in your 'project list' you should be able to access it!

It is obvious that the newest iteration of iMove was designed to make users 'organize' their movies more. Its constructed more like iPhoto and iTunes than it ever was before. Many of its editing functions have suffered, but to me the organizing feature was a LONG TIME coming!

Why not take advantage of its newly found capabilities? After you've created a project, exported it for sharing, and it gets the little white ticks beside it to indicate its size, why would that not be available from the AppleTV at that point? And why oh why couldn't they seperate it from the HOLLYWOOD movies? Seems like common sense.

[iowamensan]

Two issues.

1) They let you adjust volume within Itunes when using the AppleTV as an airtunes node, so apparently they aren't obsessed with line-level issues obviously.

2) Every person that has used my AppleTV has tried to adjust the volume using the apple remote. Then they turn to me and go "why won't it let me turn the volume up/down?"

Two words...

Logitech Harmony

[dXTC]

I've been reading this thread and its many mentions of volume control. Here's a "wouldn't it be neat-o-rific" solution:

Click Wheel.

You know, like on the iPod.

Okay, so I'm pipe dreaming. But hey, :apple: has the patent on Click Wheel, and the 3G nano has a small version, so I'm sure Apple could squeeze the technology into the current Apple Remote size.

Again, just a thought.

[ibglowin]

I use the last updated version of iMovieHD (6.0.3) myself and I don't seem to have any type of export to :apple:TV. Have every other option you could think of.

See attached screen capture. Am I missing something?

Your wish is granted. iMovie does have an export to AppleTV, well at least iMovie '06 does.

[ibglowin]

I found it under

Export/Expert settings/....

Then Quicktime Pro Export settings popped up and sure enough export to :apple:TV is one of about 20 options listed.

Seems like they could have made the :apple:TV one of the nice GUI listed options under share instead of burying it under Expert settings.....

[kornyboy]

Wirelessly posted (iPhone: Mozilla/5.0 (iPhone; U; CPU like Mac OS X; en) AppleWebKit/420.1 (KHTML, like Gecko) Version/3.0 Mobile/4A102 Safari/419.3)

My AppleTV is still on 2.0, and iTunes won't detect that there's an update for it... :(

I would restore it to Factory Settings and then look for the update then. That should work.

The update should show up in the settings menu of the AppleTV itself. I don't think of is suppose to show up in iTunes at all.

[frankfurter]

Two issues.

1) They let you adjust volume within Itunes when using the AppleTV as an airtunes node, so apparently they aren't obsessed with line-level issues obviously.

2) Every person that has used my AppleTV has tried to adjust the volume using the apple remote. Then they turn to me and go "why won't it let me turn the volume up/down?"

But then you're using iTunes to control the volume, or in essence, your Mac/PC speakers. Line-levels aren't affected.

And I assume by "every person" you mean your Mom/girlfriend/Grandma. If there's anyone this day and age that doesn't understand the concept of using a receiver to control the volume, they're probably using a VCR.


Two words...

Logitech Harmony

Exactly - works like a charm. Matter of fact, I couldn't imagine NOT using one. Nor would my wife let me have the system I have without. Simple enough that even williedigital's impaired friends and relatives could use it. Though personally, I prefer using the AppleTV remote.

[Griffy04]

Seems like its enabled me to play some of my more 'high fidelity' recordings.
Until the update I was not able to play some of my Apple lossless recordings with high bit rates such as 1044 kbps, and wav files at 1411 kbps. I'm not sure if the recordings are being played at the high bit rates, or being converted to a lesser kbps, but at least they play now :)

Not noticed any other changes, but I'm pretty sure about this one :cool:

[roland.g]

I use the last updated version of iMovieHD (6.0.3) myself and I don't seem to have any type of export to :apple:TV. Have every other option you could think of.

See attached screen capture. Am I missing something?

You choose Quicktime and in the options is an Apple TV export setting.

[whatever]

Podcasts should support 'Chapters' functionality. Has this been sorted in the update?

I was hoping for this in the previous update, no.

Then tried on Downloaded Podcasts, no.

Yeah i know this could be tricky via the remote, but a 5sec hold on a button or a Skip once Paused to take into Chapters menu would be nice.

I really miss the changing chapter pics and stuff, helps me remember tracks podcasted.
Don't know what version of the software you're using, but my Apple TV has supports chapters within Podcasts for a while (before Take 2, I believe).

The trick is to have the people actually making Podcasts to uses chapters.

The Totality Rad Show from Revision uses chapters.

[gkarris]

I was having a problem with youtube not loading the whole video, only loading half, etc, now it all seems to be fixed! Youtube is much snappier!

Edit: I've been looking through my Youtube history, and videos that didn't used to load do now!

Yes, the problem went away when my DSL went above 1Meg, but since has dropped below that and the problem has started again as discussed here:

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=387118

Now, the update to 2.0.2 has fixed it!

Nice job, Apple!

[whatever]

I thought the same thing but you update from the Apple TV not iTunes... I can't remember the steps but you can find the update in the menu structure. Good luck.
Where is all of this talk of updating Apple TV from iTunes? I've owned my Apple TV for close to a year and I've never attempted an update in that way.

[BuckWright]

I just want to chime in on the volume control issue.

The remote has +/- buttons. It leads a reasonable person to believing that you can control volume.

I have mine set up in a bedroom. No receiver. No surround sound. Just a TV and AppleTV.

It frustrates the hell out of me to have to use two remotes to watch AppleTV. The volume levels between my movies, commercial movies, podcasts, youtube, music, etc., is always different.

I don't see how it would hurt the pro-receiver group and it would only help the non-receiver group. Pareto efficiency right?

[NightStorm]

I just want to chime in on the volume control issue.

The remote has +/- buttons. It leads a reasonable person to believing that you can control volume.

I have mine set up in a bedroom. No receiver. No surround sound. Just a TV and AppleTV.

It frustrates the hell out of me to have to use two remotes to watch AppleTV. The volume levels between my movies, commercial movies, podcasts, youtube, music, etc., is always different.

I don't see how it would hurt the pro-receiver group and it would only help the non-receiver group. Pareto efficiency right?
What's next, a button to turn the TV on and off? And then a button to control the TV input? And then a mute button? And then number buttons so I can change the channels when I'm not using my AppleTV?

I'm trying to illustrate that even if the AppleTV had volume control buttons, you'd still need another remote to turn the TV on and off, and use some of the other functions of the TV.

[BuckWright]

What's next, a button to turn the TV on and off? And then a button to control the TV input? And then a mute button? And then number buttons so I can change the channels when I'm not using my AppleTV?

I'm trying to illustrate that even if the AppleTV had volume control buttons, you'd still need another remote to turn the TV on and off, and use some of the other functions of the TV.

No doubt that you'd need it to turn the TV on/off (unless of course the screen saver is going), but it would eliminate the constant switching between remotes while viewing. If the hardware can currently support the feature and the only expenditure would be a little new software, then it needs to be added. I suppose you could even add an option to turn off the feature from the preferences panel. Then all parties would be satisfied.

[thunderclap]

Still not available to me. :(

[apollo8fan]

Is youtube really fixed? That would be huge for us having the stall issue and the very slow downloads. Can anyone second the previous poster that claims it's fixed?
Seems to be fixed for me. I have a 768K connection and videos would freeze about 2/3 of the way through. After the 40 minute download for the update, I tested one known YouTube video that had the problem and it played all the way through.

[eqinespecter]

Seems like its enabled me to play some of my more 'high fidelity' recordings.
Until the update I was not able to play some of my Apple lossless recordings with high bit rates such as 1044 kbps, and wav files at 1411 kbps. I'm not sure if the recordings are being played at the high bit rates, or being converted to a lesser kbps, but at least they play now :)

Not noticed any other changes, but I'm pretty sure about this one :cool:

This may be unrelated....however, I have noticed that sound quality is superior from the :apple:TV from synced music versus streamed content (both going thru HDMI/HDTV/surround sound receiver/speakers). It was my unerstanding that :apple:TV does not care about 'source' so was wondering about this issue. Anyone else noted this?

[gwerhart0800]

At one point, I had my ATV syncing with my WinXP system. But, either the 2.0.1 update or one of the iTunes updates broke it. I just did the 2.0.2 ATV update and it is still broken ... now, it will sync 20-30 songs, then the ATV disappears from iTunes and NEVER returns unless I exit iTunes and restart. At this pace, it will take a long time to get everything synced up.

The ATV is connected via my LinkSys WAP54G running HyperWAP to my WinXP server. The ATV sync process is way more fragile than it should be and clearly does not recover from problems. (It would also be instructive if it would indicate what the issue is ... not silently drop the connection and stay dormant!!!!!!)

Not a happy camper ...

[rstansby]

My AppleTV is still on 2.0, and iTunes won't detect that there's an update for it... :(

I find the updates in the settings menu on the AppleTV, not iTunes.
Hope that helps.

[Sheradon]

Two issues.

1) They let you adjust volume within Itunes when using the AppleTV as an airtunes node, so apparently they aren't obsessed with line-level issues obviously.

2) Every person that has used my AppleTV has tried to adjust the volume using the apple remote. Then they turn to me and go "why won't it let me turn the volume up/down?"

The reason the volume control works on a MAC and not the TV is because the unit playing and video and outputting the sound are the same unit on a MAC IE: the infrared signal for volume control is recognise by your MAC hence the volume up/down feature working. But with an external sound system the infrared would need to be reprogrammed for the specific devices for volume control.

Apple could add such a feature on the remote ie: let the volume +- be reprogrammed (via a menu option in the TV) for a specific device of choice (like lots of Satellite remote) and then you could fully control the volume of the device playing sound !!!

But that would also require a new remote control.

Meabe as the product matures it will.

Cheers !

[Mr X]

As mentioned earlier, this does not happen when you switch off wide channels in your Airport Extreme.


Correct, this cured my dropping network (with Time Capsule set at 5hz) BUT there is a work around that means you can leave it set on wide channels!

Simply select any wide channel over 40 and it keeps the connection. Im running 2.0.1 and havent had a drop out in over 2 weeks.

Havent upgraded to 2.0.2 yet though.

[Mr X]

AGREED! And how about the ability to sync with iMovie! I have tons of movies in iMovie that I would like to share with guests through the AppleTV. Why in the world would you not be able to access that stuff through the AppleTV? CRAZY!


I agree that this would be a GREAT standard feature. As a workaround, you can point iTunes to your iMovie events and have the clips available for viewing on AppleTV. I have many family movies available that way. Not as good as direct integration, but an option.

Sorry but how do you point iTunes to your iMovie events? Could you explain please, thanks.

[iRabbit]

Two words...

Logitech Harmony

Seriously! I have two AppleTVs and both are setup into home theatre setups with Logitech Harmony remotes -- which work great controlling the volume.

BTW, universal seem annoying, but when you get a good one set up right, you'll wonder why you ever fiddled with 3, 4, 5 remotes!

[fivepoint]

Sorry but how do you point iTunes to your iMovie events? Could you explain please, thanks.

I think he is suggesting the option + drag-in method. Its good because iTunes does not relocate your content into the iTunes folder, but rather just references them in their original location.

Its bad because there is still no differerentiation in iTunes or on the AppleTV between your hollywood movies and your personal home movies... like he said.

Hopefully Apple adds this functionality soon... it would seem like the obvious next step, wouldn't it!?!

[Mr X]

I think he is suggesting the option + drag-in method. Its good because iTunes does not relocate your content into the iTunes folder, but rather just references them in their original location.

Its bad because there is still no differerentiation in iTunes or on the AppleTV between your hollywood movies and your personal home movies... like he said.

Hopefully Apple adds this functionality soon... it would seem like the obvious next step, wouldn't it!?!

oh right! Thanks for that will give it a go.:)

Mixing my Hollywood movies in isn't a problem as we STILL haven't got them her in the UK yet!

[fivepoint]

oh right! Thanks for that will give it a go.:)

Mixing my Hollywood movies in isn't a problem as we STILL haven't got them her in the UK yet!

You haven't gotten DVDs and handbrake in the UK yet? :D

[mchalebk]

The remote has +/- buttons. It leads a reasonable person to believing that you can control volume.Since when does +/- equate to VOL+/VOL-? On my Harmony remote, it has +/- for volume up/down and +/- for channel up/down. I don't understand why anyone would assume it applies to volume when it doesn't indicate that.

Generally speaking there are two camps of people: 1. those who use a universal remote and; 2. those who use multiple remotes. In my living room, if I didn't use a universal remote, I would use the following remotes:

TV
DVD/VHS
AppleTV
DirecTV
Receiver

There are so many remote controls that could apply to anyone's situation it is somewhat silly to expect the simplest remote control in the world to be the only one you need.

If you are thinking that Apple is going to make the remote for the AppleTV more complex (even by a small amount) I would suggest a history lesson: how long did it take Apple to develop a 2-button mouse? And even then, they designed one that didn't have buttons at all (for left/right click) and works like a 1-button mouse unless you select 2-button functionality.

[Phil A.]

I've been reading this thread and its many mentions of volume control. Here's a "wouldn't it be neat-o-rific" solution:

Click Wheel.

You know, like on the iPod.

Okay, so I'm pipe dreaming. But hey, :apple: has the patent on Click Wheel, and the 3G nano has a small version, so I'm sure Apple could squeeze the technology into the current Apple Remote size.

Again, just a thought.

That would be sweet and a brilliant way to conrtol ATV

[TuckBodi]

Since when does +/- equate to VOL+/VOL-? On my Harmony remote, it has +/- for volume up/down and +/- for channel up/down. I don't understand why anyone would assume it applies to volume when it doesn't indicate that.


Since that's the way it works with the exact same remote on my Mac mini running Frontrow, iTunes, Quicktime, etc.

I also have a Harmony 880 and even though I love the thing I still use my Apple Remote with my TV as I find it much easier to use and I always forget what keys are for what with the Harmony for the ATV.

[fivepoint]

Since when does +/- equate to VOL+/VOL-? On my Harmony remote, it has +/- for volume up/down and +/- for channel up/down. I don't understand why anyone would assume it applies to volume when it doesn't indicate that.

Are you serious? Obviously you’ve never heard of the iPod shuffle, and/or don’t have a new enough mac to have gotten a apple remote with it. That is the only way I can attempt to justify your comments.

[BuckWright]

Moreover, what do the+/- buttons do on the AppleTV, other than be used in combination to reboot the thing?

[fivepoint]

Moreover, what do the+/- buttons do on the AppleTV, other than be used in combination to reboot the thing?

Well, for one thing... they allow you to scroll up and down. ;)

[fivepoint]

That would be sweet and a brilliant way to conrtol ATV

I agree. I suspect the reason Apple has not implemented this... is cost. The electronics involved would no doubt drain the batteries sooner and likely quadruple the cost of the remote control. That being said... I'd pay an extra $20 for that.

But... now that I think about it, I'd rather Apple just turn my iPhone into a universal remote, and then I wouldn't have to worry about a little stinkin' white remote getting lost any more!

[BuckWright]

Well, for one thing... they allow you to scroll up and down. ;)

ha! yeah, I forgot about menus, side to side, etc. :o

[Kilamite]

What's next, a button to turn the TV on and off? And then a button to control the TV input? And then a mute button? And then number buttons so I can change the channels when I'm not using my AppleTV?

I'm trying to illustrate that even if the AppleTV had volume control buttons, you'd still need another remote to turn the TV on and off, and use some of the other functions of the TV.

You are forgetting that volume control is a constant in TV viewing. It is stupidity for Apple to leave that out.

When using AirTunes I can control the volume. Why not with Apple TV?

Since when does +/- equate to VOL+/VOL-? On my Harmony remote, it has +/- for volume up/down and +/- for channel up/down. I don't understand why anyone would assume it applies to volume when it doesn't indicate that.

Because it works as a volume control on Front Row yeah? Makes sense for it to work the same on Apple TV.

[Almightyguru]

Correct, this cured my dropping network (with Time Capsule set at 5hz) BUT there is a work around that means you can leave it set on wide channels!

Simply select any wide channel over 40 and it keeps the connection. Im running 2.0.1 and havent had a drop out in over 2 weeks.

Havent upgraded to 2.0.2 yet though.

My AE is on channel 36 and I have a solid connection with wide channels since I upgraded to 2.0.2. So Apple seems to have fixed this.

[dynaflash]

My AE is on channel 36 and I have a solid connection with wide channels since I upgraded to 2.0.2. So Apple seems to have fixed this.

Wow, a comment on the update other than "make the remote work my tv volume" :) ... Amazing.

[theBB]

I use the last updated version of iMovieHD (6.0.3) myself and I don't seem to have any type of export to :apple:TV. Have every other option you could think of.

See attached screen capture. Am I missing something?
Try the File -> Export menu. It is in there as one of the options.

[Oilbrnr]

Wow, a comment on the update other than "make the remote work my tv volume" :) ... Amazing.

No kidding! This is a bug fix rev, not a feature rev. Besides, I don't think you can vary the output level via HDMI or optical anyway, and if you go analog, there goes your 5.1, right?

[williedigital]

But then you're using iTunes to control the volume, or in essence, your Mac/PC speakers. Line-levels aren't affected.

And I assume by "every person" you mean your Mom/girlfriend/Grandma. If there's anyone this day and age that doesn't understand the concept of using a receiver to control the volume, they're probably using a VCR.



Exactly - works like a charm. Matter of fact, I couldn't imagine NOT using one. Nor would my wife let me have the system I have without. Simple enough that even williedigital's impaired friends and relatives could use it. Though personally, I prefer using the AppleTV remote.

Um. The vast majority of people do not use a receiver to listen to audio, especially "tv" audio. You're living in a fantasy world if you think otherwise. Apple themselves have tossed off the whole component audio system model with the ipod hifi, which ironically, forces a situation where one must use THREE remotes (ATV,HIFI, TV) to implement it into a media viewing station.

[prez]

I just updated, and it definitely improved video streaming from my iTunes server (delays went away). I am very pleased with that. Haven't seen any other change.

[MacFly123]

Are you on an Apple router using the N whatever? I switched to my G netgear router and it is now rock solid. But I wish I could have it on my N Apple router for all the obvious reasons... speed.

Yes. I bought the AirPort Extreme just for my Apple TV but on 1.0 and 2.0 it kept the connection fine with all the same settings. It has only been since 2.1 and now 2.2 that it is dropping ALL THE TIME :mad:

[pmpknetr21]

So what? They could offer BOTH options you know. iTunes is fully aware of what version of AppleTV you're using (it reports it in the summary window). There should be an option to upgrade it there as well as in the AppleTV menu and which way you do it should be your choice, IMO.

I can't believe AppleTV doesn't even have a search option for your OWN music. They have one for the iTunes store, so why not one for your own library? You can see where their priorities are (to encourage you to buy MORE music even though it's a pain to access once you have it. My iPod Touch running either Signal or Remote Buddy and AirTunes works much better overall, although WiFi is a major battery drain on the iPhone/iPod Touch so I keep an AC charger ready at my listening locations so I can plug it in when I use it and it doesn't use the battery at all then. I can also leave the screen on without a time-out then as well and manually turn it off when I'm done instead (so I don't have to keep turning it back on, which is a hassle if you just need to pause/stop the music really fast or move forward a track or whatever).

2 upgrade paths goes against the point of the"ease of use" of Apple products. It can get easily confusing for someone if they could update from both areas. Choose the easiest option that works for everyone and leave it at that.

[Eriden]

Seems to be fixed for me. I have a 768K connection and videos would freeze about 2/3 of the way through. After the 40 minute download for the update, I tested one known YouTube video that had the problem and it played all the way through.


It also seems to be working for me now. I've got a 768k connection, and YouTube videos would always freeze between 2 and 4 minutes in. After the 2.0.2 update, tested two of my faves that had always stalled in the past and both worked flawlessly.

[pmpknetr21]

Two words...

Logitech Harmony

Which remote do you have? I'm trying to decide between the Harmony One and the Harmony 1000 (big and cool touch-screen one.) Any experience ith either one of these?

[juniormaj]

Since it seems to have been completely ignored in this back and forth volume control argument, I'll re-post what I said in post #58:

The "+" button already has a function in the latest versions of software; it is used to bring up the progress bar while you are watching a movie/TV show.

Since it is also used for scrolling in the menu system, it could only be useable as a volume control while something is playing, but it already has a function during that activity.

All through version 1.x (when the "+" and "-" did nothing during playback) I had wished it would be useable to call up the progress bar. I never once wished it would control the volume.
That's just me, and I guess others might think otherwise, especially since those buttons control volume on other Apple devices.
Maybe the Apple logic is that since this device has no speakers (and the others do) then there is no volume to be controlled on an TV.

-----------------

Um. The vast majority of people do not use a receiver to listen to audio, especially "tv" audio. You're living in a fantasy world if you think otherwise.

That sounds as much like an assumption as any statement that would have prompted such a response.

I know that I was in the minority when I first started listening to TV through my stereo. It was with the first stereo VCR that I bought in the early 80's when analogue TV first started broadcasting in stereo.
I would consider myself an "early adopter" and wouldn't expect that everyone else is doing things the way I do.
Now that a lot of TV programming has surround sound, I would say it's a bit bold to say that the "vast majority" of people don't use a receiver while watching TV.

It's not much of a fantasy world to think that an TV is going to be attached to an A/V receiver.
It seems that Apple have aimed this product at a certain level of user. It is not made to be attached to an "old fashioned" TV that has any connection lower than component video (at least not without some workarounds), so this puts it more into the realm of someone who has a nice big TV with modern connections and more than likely has a nice stereo to go with it.

-----------------

And more on topic:

I understand that a "wide" wireless issue might have been resolved, but I haven't seen any other improvements with this point release.
Ever since the 2.0 update, most of my TV shows have been freezing once in the first minute (or 2) for up to 30 seconds and then resuming normal play.
This is with locally stored content that is on the hard drive.
I'd really like that to be fixed.

[sparkstack]

Well I just turned on my Apple TV for the first time since I applied this update a few hours ago and it dropped the wireless STILL!!!!! :mad:
Boo ****ing hoo. Go get a tissue.

Have you even checked that there isn't another problem with your wireless network? My ATV has never dropped the wireless connection. Not on my g network, or the n network that replaced it 6 months ago. Now I'm not saying its been perfect, turning on the TV to find the apple logo shining at me is a pain in the ass, but seriously,stop whining and start checking your system.

[mark.x]

Works great on ipod and itunes. Why not on ATV?

[CLuv]

For those having issues with dropping connections with the AEBS that's running N, change your channel from Automatic (36) to 161 or anything above 40 even if you're running Use Wide Channel Mode. You can select your channel by holding down your option key while you click on the arrow to see a list of other available channels. See the image

[chuckles:)]

The "Preview" button in the itunes store is now a "View Trailer" button. Not sure what the point of changing it was...

[jbellanca]

Yes. I bought the AirPort Extreme just for my Apple TV but on 1.0 and 2.0 it kept the connection fine with all the same settings. It has only been since 2.1 and now 2.2 that it is dropping ALL THE TIME :mad:

Try a factory reset on the AEBS. That fixed it for me.

[MacFly123]

Boo ****ing hoo. Go get a tissue.

Have you even checked that there isn't another problem with your wireless network? My ATV has never dropped the wireless connection. Not on my g network, or the n network that replaced it 6 months ago. Now I'm not saying its been perfect, turning on the TV to find the apple logo shining at me is a pain in the ass, but seriously,stop whining and start checking your system.

Ok first of all, you are a jerk. Second of all, I am checking it, but my claim is pretty valid since it was bullet proof with all the same network settings until 2.0, 2.1 and 2.2!

[frankiepdx]

Boo ****ing hoo. Go get a tissue.

Have you even checked that there isn't another problem with your wireless network? My ATV has never dropped the wireless connection. Not on my g network, or the n network that replaced it 6 months ago. Now I'm not saying its been perfect, turning on the TV to find the apple logo shining at me is a pain in the ass, but seriously,stop whining and start checking your system.

Yeah, that's a little much for a forum where people turn for help.

[gwerhart0800]

Have you even checked that there isn't another problem with your wireless network? My ATV has never dropped the wireless connection. Not on my g network, or the n network that replaced it 6 months ago. Now I'm not saying its been perfect, turning on the TV to find the apple logo shining at me is a pain in the ass, but seriously,stop whining and start checking your system.

I have been chasing this problem off and on for 6 months. For a period of 4 months in the middle, it worked fine. But, without any changes to any of my other network equipment, sync stopped working to my WinXP system. The only things that changed were: new firmware load on the ATV and a new iTunes version. I am glad that you have not been frustrated by the flaky behavior of wireless sync for ATV, but I have seen lots of messages about problems in this area.

Currently, sync is working to my Mac Mini ... it has the same version of iTunes as the WinXP ... could be something in the WinXP wireless stack is a problem. I did submit a bug report to Apple, but I am not expecting much from them because of the difficulty to reproduce the exact same conditions that I have in my house. (WinXP Pro SP2 on a Dell E520 connected to a Buffalo Air Station Turbo G talking to an ATV with firmware 2.0.2 using a LinkSys WAP54G running HyperWAP firmware)

The thing I really want is something in this food chain to help me diagnose the issue. Neither ATV nor iTunes has a error message when the sync connection drops. If the damn thing would pop up a dialog box with some message to say that the sync connection was lost because of XYZ, it would be extremely helpful.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Why offer both options when the Apple TV update works perfectly well for all users? Why would you want to download to iTunes first and then have to get the update transferred to the Apple TV from iTunes. That would take longer and serve no additional purpose. It would be an extra step for no benefit.

Um, did you ever think that maybe iTunes could simply direct the AppleTV to download the update? Geeze, people. You act like it's a big deal to offer improved functionality to users. But then, MacOSX isn't exactly known for customizing options so I guess you're not used to having choices. Why would you want to update it from iTunes? Maybe because you happen to be using your computer and it could tell you an update is available (like it does for the iPhone and just about everything else it services) whereas AppleTV has NO indicator what-so-ever that there's an update available. You have to randomly check it yourself (they could update that aspect also, really).

Heck, I don't even get why are you even arguing about it. I point out that they could offer the update switch through either method (you can use whatever one is more convenient for you at the time) and you argue that's a bad idea.... unbelievable. iTunes already tells what software it's using; it wouldn't be hard to add an update button there. You have to register using iTunes. You have to sync via iTunes. It only makes sense to have an option there to update for those that use their computer with it and leave the menu option for those that are supposedly using it without one.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

This may be unrelated....however, I have noticed that sound quality is superior from the :apple:TV from synced music versus streamed content (both going thru HDMI/HDTV/surround sound receiver/speakers). It was my unerstanding that :apple:TV does not care about 'source' so was wondering about this issue. Anyone else noted this?

I think you're imagining things. I compared my CD player (and I volume matched them; this is very important) to the streamed content (playing an Apple Lossless encoded version of the same CD) from my AppleTV and they were IDENTICAL sounding and this was on $2000/pair ribbon speakers with a custom active crossover and >400 watts per channel (350 watts to the 10" woofers and 150 sliding class A to the 48" ribbons).

I used to follow high-end audio groups for years in the '90s. People thought they heard differences when someone painted the edge of a CD with a green marker even. Once you did a blind test, they couldn't tell the difference for most anything (expensive cables, overpriced amps, various multi-thousand dollar digital to audio converters, etc.)

[MagnusVonMagnum]

You are forgetting that volume control is a constant in TV viewing. It is stupidity for Apple to leave that out.

When using AirTunes I can control the volume. Why not with Apple TV?

Because it works as a volume control on Front Row yeah? Makes sense for it to work the same on Apple TV.

I wouldn't want to use it simply because digital volume controls reduce sound quality. Similarly, I would never use iTunes to control the volume (it also destroys the DTS signal for DTS music CDs, of which I have quite a few).

Here's a link to a discussion on the matter:
http://forums.slimdevices.com/archive/index.php/t-16004.html

Basically, you reduce your dynamic range when you drop the volume digitally before your primary pre-amp/amp stages.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

2 upgrade paths goes against the point of the"ease of use" of Apple products. It can get easily confusing for someone if they could update from both areas. Choose the easiest option that works for everyone and leave it at that.

It does? It's much easier to upgrade it where I'm at (say sitting at my computer) than having to go downstairs and randomly check the upgrade option all the time (since it won't inform me when there's an update available). That's not what I call 'ease of use'. Either that or you're telling me the average Mac users is too dumb to know if they upgraded their AppleTV via iTunes, they don't need to do it again on the AppleTV itself. Geeze, I wanted to believe Mac users were smarter than PC users....

But to follow what you're suggesting to completion, why should you be allowed to play music (via Airtunes) to an AppleTV unit from iTunes AND also be allowed to play music FROM an AppleTV unit using its own menu system? Isn't that confusing? That's two ways to play the same streamed music library on that AppleTV unit! Darn. I can't wrap my head around that concept! It's too confusing! They should definitely drop that AirTunes option in the next update lest their users be confused about having two ways to do the same thing. :rolleyes:

[NightStorm]

Um, did you ever think that maybe iTunes could simply direct the AppleTV to download the update? Geeze, people. You act like it's a big deal to offer improved functionality to users. But then, MacOSX isn't exactly known for customizing options so I guess you're not used to having choices. Why would you want to update it from iTunes? Maybe because you happen to be using your computer and it could tell you an update is available (like it does for the iPhone and just about everything else it services) whereas AppleTV has NO indicator what-so-ever that there's an update available. You have to randomly check it yourself (they could update that aspect also, really).

Heck, I don't even get why are you even arguing about it. I point out that they could offer the update switch through either method (you can use whatever one is more convenient for you at the time) and you argue that's a bad idea.... unbelievable. iTunes already tells what software it's using; it wouldn't be hard to add an update button there. You have to register using iTunes. You have to sync via iTunes. It only makes sense to have an option there to update for those that use their computer with it and leave the menu option for those that are supposedly using it without one.
You don't have to check randomly... it does periodic checks to see if a new version is available. It is only when you are compulsively checking every 5 minutes that you manually have to do it. This is exactly like iTunes and the iPod/iPhone software updates.

[MacFly123]

Try a factory reset on the AEBS. That fixed it for me.

I'll give it a try. How do you do that? and where is that setting for wide channels? I can't find it. Thanks for the help :)

[macFanDave]

I sure hope this update fixes the bug where new movies are being made available for rent at a very slow rate! ;)

[NYCAVS]

Which remote do you have? I'm trying to decide between the Harmony One and the Harmony 1000 (big and cool touch-screen one.) Any experience ith either one of these?

Have Harmony 1000 x 2. Has been buggy but improving steadily with firmware updates over past year. Love the interface... Controls ATV well with obvious volume control :)

But for some reason requires a firm press (and mild hold) in order to register the command....

[sailon]

Have Harmony 1000 x 2. Has been buggy but improving steadily with firmware updates over past year. Love the interface... Controls ATV well with obvious volume control :)

But for some reason requires a firm press (and mild hold) in order to register the command....

Have you seen this thread?
http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?t=290426&highlight=harmony+remote

[mpmchugh]

Which remote do you have? I'm trying to decide between the Harmony One and the Harmony 1000 (big and cool touch-screen one.) Any experience ith either one of these?

I had a Harmony 880, and I recently just upgraded to the Harmony ONE, which is by far the best remote I've ever used. The 800 was very good too, but the button layout left a lot to be desired. The ONE has a great button layout, and the touch screen works really well. I've got several components and it handles them all flawlessly.

[gwerhart0800]

I had a Harmony 880, and I recently just upgraded to the Harmony ONE, which is by far the best remote I've ever used. The 800 was very good too, but the button layout left a lot to be desired. The ONE has a great button layout, and the touch screen works really well. I've got several components and it handles them all flawlessly.

I just set up a Harmony One yesterday. It is my first universal remote and I am generally happy with the result. (If the damn dog would stop standing in front of the components when I am trying to turn things on, it would help!) I will point out that support for the Apple TV seems to be very good. Unfortunately, I don't remember what I entered to set it up, but I know that I did not need to do the "Mac Mini" trick. I entered Apple TV. It did not ask any questions or need to train from the remote. It seems to work fine. :)

[dynaflash]

Maybe because you happen to be using your computer and it could tell you an update is available (like it does for the iPhone and just about everything else it services) whereas AppleTV has NO indicator what-so-ever that there's an update available. You have to randomly check it yourself (they could update that aspect also, really).
Wow, my atv has alerted me of the last two updates. Hmmm.....

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Wow, my atv has alerted me of the last two updates. Hmmm.....

You must have a magic ATV.

[dynaflash]

No ... though there is an option to manually check, the atv software checks *periodically* ( as in, not necessarily the moment the update comes out ) itself going all of the way back to 1.0. In fact, I just recently did a factory restore as part of a hdd upgrade so it went back to 1.0, after about 5 minutes from booting 1.0 I got the "There is a sofware update available. Would you like to download it now?" screen. I don't think it alerts you if your using the atv, but rather when it is idle.

In fact, the folks with hacked atv's over at AwkwardTV have to actually intentionally *disable* the atv's automatic update checker so that they do not accidentally break their hacks with an errant ATV OS update and have no intention of updating.

At any rate, I guess its largely semantic.

EDIT: confirmed, it checks for updates weekly, so no my atv is not magic ;)

[MagnusVonMagnum]

Mine were 2.0 from the start (and a factory restore returns it to 2.0) so maybe it's disabled in those by default as I've never seen an update mention on it ever.

[Avatar74]

Not sure if this was reported, but I noticed something I haven't seen before...

Now when you use AirTunes to stream to AppleTV, e.g. while controlling the playlist from a computer, you can see the progress bar and album cover screen for the track you're streaming.

Previously it would just show the screensaver with title info in the lower left corner, and go to the AppleTV user interface screen you last used if you pressed any of the remote control buttons.

This is a nice step for house parties and stuff... I would like to see either some interface options for DJ style control (crossfaders, BPM sync, pitch lock, etc.)... I saw one plugin so far that is supposed to do BPM sync but it is pretty buggy.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I just wish the AppleTV unit itself at least had a basic dot matrix display on the front that could show artist/song/time information. I don't like having to have my TV on just to see what song is currently playing. This would be especially helpful when streaming Internet Radio stations to it or when playing unfamiliar songs from your own catalog.

On the other end of things, it would be really nice if AppleTV had a Visualizer system (preferably with plugins). I'd love to see some trippy stuff on my 93" home theater screen with certain artists. The slideshow stuff is nice, though. I'm still scanning my photo albums in to the Mac to display them on there.

[Killyp]

Not sure if this was reported, but I noticed something I haven't seen before...

Now when you use AirTunes to stream to AppleTV, e.g. while controlling the playlist from a computer, you can see the progress bar and album cover screen for the track you're streaming.

Previously it would just show the screensaver with title info in the lower left corner, and go to the AppleTV user interface screen you last used if you pressed any of the remote control buttons.

This is a nice step for house parties and stuff... I would like to see either some interface options for DJ style control (crossfaders, BPM sync, pitch lock, etc.)... I saw one plugin so far that is supposed to do BPM sync but it is pretty buggy.

S/W 2.0 has always done this, although it's only just starting working *properly* in 2.02 - it always used to freeze up and show glitches beforehand.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I rented No Country For Old Men in HD last night and it took almost two hours before it was ready to watch (compared to 1 minute for the two rentals I had last week). Even 2 minutes previews were taking like 2-4 minutes to load. I hope this is not a sign of things to come for their rental service. They need to be able to keep up with demand. It's not my ISP. It's consistently 4.8Mbit usable at all times I've ever done a speed test.

[MagnusVonMagnum]

So is 2.02 still the current version of AppleTV's software? Either way, what kind of download times are people getting before an HD movie is ready to start playing in the current software? I'd like to update my AppleTV units to the latest, but I don't want it going from 1-2 minutes on average (barring the occasional slowdown of iTunes Store for unknown reasons) to 15-30 minutes or more as some past claims have mentioned. I've seen little to no discussion on the rental times in the past month or so.

Also, how are the Quicktime 7.4.5 and iTunes 7.6.2 updates? I seem to recall reading about some problems/issues with one or both of them when they were first announced, but I'm having a hard time even with the search engine finding those threads and current comments on them (I've told the search engine on here in advanced to ONLY search thread TITLES for "Itunes 7.6.2" and yet it STILL comes up with some massive list of results with no such keywords in the titles as far as the eye can see; I don't think that option works on here). I don't want to upgrade them if it's going to make something worse. Right now iTunes 7.6.1 and AppleTV 2.0 seem stable here for the most part.

One 'bug' I have found in AppleTV 2.0 (don't know if it's fixed in 2.0.1 or 2.0.2 or not) is that if you're looking at your own photo galleries and have clicked PAUSE (so the music stops and it's just showing your photo) and you then sit there until the screensaver time elapses (if set), the entire system will become unresponsive and just sit with a black screen until you physically unplug/replug the system to force a reboot. It completely ignores all remote control button presses. I've since disabled the screensaver timeout for now after having this happen to me about 5 times while pausing to discuss a particular photo with a family member, etc. I'm curious if the latest update has fixed that bug or if it's still there.

[eg2007]

Does anyone know if MLB.tv games will work with Couch Surfer?

[MagnusVonMagnum]

I finally went ahead and updated to 2.02. Despite what some have said, it didn't change the time until ready to watch at all. Cloverfield in HD was ready to start in about 1-2 minutes or so at the 2% mark, same as it always has been save that one night when the network seemed to be going so slow for whatever reason.

So far, I've had zero problems connecting to the two AppleTV units I've got either, but then I use a NetGear Gigabit Draft N router, not an Apple Aiport to talk to them (I do have an Airport Express "N" unit, but it was slower talking to AppleTV than the Netgear router at 2.4GHz and was horrible with it at 5GHz. I might try that 5GHz connection again since a few other components have been updated since then).