So really what this thread tells us is that an overwhelming majority of posters have no idea what "bricked" means.
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Apple Pulls Apple TV 6.0 Update Following Reports of Bricking
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bricked
Well, my ATV2 was rendered useless. I had 2 different and tested micro-usb cables and tried my Macbook Pro and iMac running latest iTunes. Neither would recognize the blinking ATV2 as a device at all. I tried with power, without power cable, changing the order I plugged them in, etc. Then called tech support. They had me try it all as well. Nothing worked so they sent me to the Apple store for a replacement.
That to me spells "bricked".
I guess I'm lucky that because they were so busy with iPhone launch day at the Apple Store and no one could find a micro-usb cable anywhere in the store... they just gave me a new ATV3 with another year of warranty. So glad they didn't pull that business about mine being out of warranty and that I accept the possibility an update might render my hardware useless. I'd likely have gone ballistic.
They did tell me they were making an exception since tech support told me I'd get a replacement... and that if this one fails during an update after the warranty expires, it would not be covered. Seems odd that they wouldn't take responsibility if an update "bricked" your device that was functioning fine before the update.
I will add that as soon as I got home with the new ATV3, it needed to be updated to OS6. This time it went fine with no glitches at all.
Well, my ATV2 was rendered useless. I had 2 different and tested micro-usb cables and tried my Macbook Pro and iMac running latest iTunes. Neither would recognize the blinking ATV2 as a device at all. I tried with power, without power cable, changing the order I plugged them in, etc. Then called tech support. They had me try it all as well. Nothing worked so they sent me to the Apple store for a replacement.
That to me spells "bricked".
I guess I'm lucky that because they were so busy with iPhone launch day at the Apple Store and no one could find a micro-usb cable anywhere in the store... they just gave me a new ATV3 with another year of warranty. So glad they didn't pull that business about mine being out of warranty and that I accept the possibility an update might render my hardware useless. I'd likely have gone ballistic.
They did tell me they were making an exception since tech support told me I'd get a replacement... and that if this one fails during an update after the warranty expires, it would not be covered. Seems odd that they wouldn't take responsibility if an update "bricked" your device that was functioning fine before the update.
I will add that as soon as I got home with the new ATV3, it needed to be updated to OS6. This time it went fine with no glitches at all.
That's exactly what I was thinking as reading the comments. Anyone with a "bricked" Apple TV can fix it with this, this support document, and restore in iTunes. It appears the 6.0 update is still on Apple's servers, so I think a restore will actually install the 6.0 software as well.
I seem to remember another Apple T.V. update that had this problem about a year ago. It's certainly not good for a set top box like the Apple TV, but it is far from "bricked."
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Yeah mine went wrong on the update. Had to restore via iTunes. Oh and thanks apple for not supplying a micro USB. Had to borrow a neighbours who had a kindle. Haha
Probably AirPlay, is my guess... Not sure why you wouldn't just get a standard bluetooth A2DP receiver. I guess, arguably, the quality is better with AirPlay...
And have others have said, it isn't really "bricked" if you can fix it by connecting to iTunes and restoring...
Well, my ATV2 was rendered useless. I had 2 different and tested micro-usb cables and tried my Macbook Pro and iMac running latest iTunes. Neither would recognize the blinking ATV2 as a device at all. I tried with power, without power cable, changing the order I plugged them in, etc. Then called tech support. They had me try it all as well. Nothing worked so they sent me to the Apple store for a replacement.
That to me spells "bricked".
I guess I'm lucky that because they were so busy with iPhone launch day at the Apple Store and no one could find a micro-usb cable anywhere in the store... they just gave me a new ATV3 with another year of warranty. So glad they didn't pull that business about mine being out of warranty and that I accept the possibility an update might render my hardware useless. I'd likely have gone ballistic.
They did tell me they were making an exception since tech support told me I'd get a replacement... and that if this one fails during an update after the warranty expires, it would not be covered. Seems odd that they wouldn't take responsibility if an update "bricked" your device that was functioning fine before the update.
I will add that as soon as I got home with the new ATV3, it needed to be updated to OS6. This time it went fine with no glitches at all.
You are the exception to my statement which is why I didn't say everybody. But there are tons of posts in this thread that there device was "bricked" and then they plugged it into iTunes and it works now... that's not a brick.
No issues here
For once, I didn't have any issue updating. Odd really - when I have issues, no one else does, when I don't everyone else does
For once, I didn't have any issue updating. Odd really - when I have issues, no one else does, when I don't everyone else does
wow--guess I was lucky with this one although I did have my doubts as it took around 30 minutes or more for the update to finish but all works fine on my first gen ATV.
I guess I'm blessed since I have a USB port in my car. This way I can control my iPhone from my steering wheel.
Agree, never stated they didn't, was a tongue in cheek reference.
Some of y'all need to relax those trigger finger keyboard hands and remember, it's only technology
xo
Conference Room Mode Bug in new AppleTV software
so not just bricked issues...
I managed last friday to update all 3 of our appleTVs in the office. All seemed fine until this afternoon. Apparently when in conference room mode, if you are in a full screen app mode (such as presentation mode in PowerPoint) and don't hit any buttons for 2 minutes (exactly... I timed it multiple times), it turns off. Which if you are talking about a slide and it turns off is rather frustrating.
Oddly this doesn't seem to be the effect when done in any other mode. If you have the computer connected while in the finder or even powerpoint when not in full screen presentation mode, it doesn't turn off even after the 2 minute of non-use.
so not just bricked issues...
I managed last friday to update all 3 of our appleTVs in the office. All seemed fine until this afternoon. Apparently when in conference room mode, if you are in a full screen app mode (such as presentation mode in PowerPoint) and don't hit any buttons for 2 minutes (exactly... I timed it multiple times), it turns off. Which if you are talking about a slide and it turns off is rather frustrating.
Oddly this doesn't seem to be the effect when done in any other mode. If you have the computer connected while in the finder or even powerpoint when not in full screen presentation mode, it doesn't turn off even after the 2 minute of non-use.
another massive testing fail... wow - this is one of the primary use cases for "CONFERENCE room" mode... how could Apple F up so bad on this update??? I bet they outsourced their QA...
Manual update?
Hi,
I updated 3 ATV3 in my household successfully. Yesterday I tried to update a 4th one but the update was already pulled. Is it possible to download the 6.0 image for ATV3 officially from Apple?
Thanks!
Hi,
I updated 3 ATV3 in my household successfully. Yesterday I tried to update a 4th one but the update was already pulled. Is it possible to download the 6.0 image for ATV3 officially from Apple?
Thanks!
Maybe they'll fix iTunes Radio while they're at it too....
Making it available outside the USA would be a good start. Once they get it debugged in the USA first of course...
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Ditto here with mine.
These sorts of problems, involving hardware you can't really fiddle with combined with very standard software you also can't really modify either, always fascinate me. Why are some users having such odd issues when the majority running the exact same hardware and software upgrade with no problems?
There has to be something different about the troubled systems, but what could it be? Were they once jailbroken, are they maybe Rev A hardware models, do they have some unusual timezone/language/screensaver/network or other setting that trips a bug that most will never encounter?
If you successfully installed version 6.0 (build 11A470e) but don't like it and want to go back to 5.3 (build 10B809), here's how:
Depending on which type of atv you have download one of these:
atv2: http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/091-5256.20130618.MagBg/AppleTV2,1_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw
atv3 (old): http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/091-5257.20130618.Eu5uy/AppleTV3,1_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw
atv3 (new, i.e., 2013 model): http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/091-5259.20130618.90Rft/AppleTV3,2_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw
Now plug it in to your computer with micro usb (and power on for atv3's, but not the atv2) and itunes on and do a restore BUT - hold down the option key when you click restore. That will let you select the ipsw file you just downloaded from which you can restore.
Note, if you don't hold down the option key and select the ipsw file, it will just reinstall version 6.0.
Note that apple may disable this downgrade possibility once they fix the version 6.0 problems and make it available OTA again (possibly with a higher build number).
Depending on which type of atv you have download one of these:
atv2: http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/091-5256.20130618.MagBg/AppleTV2,1_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw
atv3 (old): http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/091-5257.20130618.Eu5uy/AppleTV3,1_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw
atv3 (new, i.e., 2013 model): http://appldnld.apple.com/AppleTV/091-5259.20130618.90Rft/AppleTV3,2_5.3_10B809_Restore.ipsw
Now plug it in to your computer with micro usb (and power on for atv3's, but not the atv2) and itunes on and do a restore BUT - hold down the option key when you click restore. That will let you select the ipsw file you just downloaded from which you can restore.
Note, if you don't hold down the option key and select the ipsw file, it will just reinstall version 6.0.
Note that apple may disable this downgrade possibility once they fix the version 6.0 problems and make it available OTA again (possibly with a higher build number).
Last edited:
End user error in some cases?
Just a thought..I updated 4 AppleTV's 2-720, 2-1080p, all with no glitch at all. Having AppleTV's since the original I know the updates take very long to go through the process for some reason. The updates do at times seem to be "Frozen" when they are in fact not. I have had 2 friends complain that it bricked their AppleTV, but upon asking a few questions..both admitted after a while that they tried to reboot or pull the plug to reboot thinking the update was stuck which more than likely caused the bricking. I'm not suggesting that is the case with all, but it might be more common than people will admit to.
Just a thought..I updated 4 AppleTV's 2-720, 2-1080p, all with no glitch at all. Having AppleTV's since the original I know the updates take very long to go through the process for some reason. The updates do at times seem to be "Frozen" when they are in fact not. I have had 2 friends complain that it bricked their AppleTV, but upon asking a few questions..both admitted after a while that they tried to reboot or pull the plug to reboot thinking the update was stuck which more than likely caused the bricking. I'm not suggesting that is the case with all, but it might be more common than people will admit to.
Version 6.0 is available OTA again with build 11A502:
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/2...tated-after-being-pulled-for-bricking-issues/
Not sure if my downgrading method will still work.
https://www.macrumors.com/2013/09/2...tated-after-being-pulled-for-bricking-issues/
Not sure if my downgrading method will still work.