Apple TV 2.2 released

[Toe]

Just got the security update for it:

Apple TV 2.2 is now available and addresses the following issues:

Apple TV
CVE-ID: CVE-2007-4674
Available for: Apple TV 1.0 and 2.1
Impact: Viewing a maliciously crafted movie file may lead to an
unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution.
Description: An integer arithmetic issue in the handling of certain
movie file atoms may lead to a stack buffer overflow. Opening a
maliciously crafted movie file may lead to an unexpected application
termination or arbitrary code execution. This update addresses the
issue through improved handling of atom length fields in movie files.
Credit to Cody Pierce of TippingPoint DVLabs for reporting this
issue.

Apple TV
CVE-ID: CVE-2008-3626
Available for: Apple TV 1.0 and 2.1
Impact: Viewing a maliciously crafted movie file may lead to an
unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution
Description: A memory corruption issue exists in the handling of
STSZ atoms in movie files. Viewing a maliciously crafted movie file
may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code
execution. This update addresses the issue through improved bounds
checking of STSZ atoms. Credit to an anonymous researcher working
with TippingPoint's Zero Day Initiative for reporting this issue.

Apple TV
CVE-ID: CVE-2008-3629
Available for: Apple TV 1.0 and 2.1
Impact: Opening a maliciously crafted PICT image may lead to an
unexpected application termination
Description: An out-of-bounds read issue exists in the handling of
PICT images. Opening a maliciously crafted PICT image may lead to an
unexpected application termination. This update addresses the issue
by performing additional validation of PICT images. Credit to Sergio
'shadown' Alvarez of n.runs AG for reporting this issue.

Installation note:

The Apple TV device will automatically check Apple's update server on
its weekly schedule. When an update is detected, it will download
it, verify its signature, and install it.

This process may take up to a week depending on the day that the
Apple TV device checks for updates. Alternatively, you may manually
update your Apple TV using the TV interface by selecting
Settings > Update Software.

This update is only available directly to the Apple TV, and will not
appear in your computer's Software Update application, or in the
Apple Downloads site.

To check that the Apple TV has been updated, use the TV interface:

* Navigate to Settings
* Select About
* The Software Version after applying this update will be "2.2"
* To exit the About screen to the main menu, press Menu

Information will also be posted to the Apple Security Updates
web site: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

[jaw04005]

Anything else updated besides security?

[NightStorm]

- Only shows HD versions of shows (with shiny HD logo)
- Allows HD episode/season pass purchases
- Standby option in menu (not sure if that was there already)

Edit: I really wish they would have made an option to increase the buffer before starting playback for HD content... I get stutters when streaming via N when the show starts (it eventually gets far enough ahead).

[jaw04005]

Music Video playlists
Genius playlists
Built-in Genius
On-the-Go music playlists

Still looking

[Toe]

Originally Posted by jaw04005

Anything else updated besides security?

The security updates never mention anything except the security fixes. But I assume if they went up a whole .x, then there is something new.

[AnimalPaintball]

Yeah, that was my only gripe. Way to go Apple!!!!

[Object-X]

Can it download HD TV shows? I can download HD movies, but not TV shows.

[arn]

Originally Posted by Object-X

Can it download HD TV shows? I can download HD movies, but not TV shows.

yep.

arn

[virus7]

Very happy to have genius playlists!

[hotshotharry]

Originally Posted by NightStorm

- Only shows HD versions of shows (with shiny HD logo)
- Allows HD episode/season pass purchases
- Standby option in menu (not sure if that was there already)

Edit: I really wish they would have made an option to increase the buffer before starting playback for HD content... I get stutters when streaming via N when the show starts (it eventually gets far enough ahead).

I usually just pause the show as soon as it starts then i go grab a drink etc and by the time i come back it has streamed enough :-)

[GottaLoveApple4]

Alright!! Go Genius! Go Apple Go!!

[happydude]

*yawn* . . . man i'm tired, maybe i'll read through the description of updates one more time . . . yeah, that ought to do it . . . oh wow, "Apple TV
CVE-ID: CVE-2008-3629
Available for: Apple TV 1.0 and 2.1
Impact: Opening a maliciously crafted PICT image may lead to an
unexpected application termi" . . . *snore* . . .

[MagnusVonMagnum]

So, in other words, no actual useful new features. It figures. I was hoping for a visualizer even. Nope. Nothing. I guess we can forget about ever getting something like web browser support (which tied with an iPhone/Touch with "Remote" would be REALLY nice on my 93" screen in 720P), at least without hacking the crap out of it, like you have to do with most Apple products (e.g. iPhone) to get your money's worth. If you're willing to do that, you CAN get a web browser, codecs for things something like your digital camera actually records in (I can play my Canon A590's video in Quicktime on my Mac, but not on AppleTV because Apple thought it would be great if they didn't let you use AppleTV for doing anything useful).

Sorry, but it seems like AppleTV will only ever be useful as a tv front-end to buying more 'stuff' from Apple. It's kind of obvious considering "Search" under MUSIC doesn't mean "Search my library" but rather "Search the iTunes Store" so hopefully you'll buy some more stuff that we make it hard to find". In other words, NO you CANNOT search your own music library from AppleTV. You'd think that'd be a feature by 2.2, but like I said, they don't seem to want to add any useful functionality what-so-ever.

How about a RENT option for HD television shows? Nope. Even though most people only watch a tv show episode once or twice in a lifetime, they seem to want you to BUY tv shows, but they'll allow you to rent movies, even though you're more likely to watch those more than once. $2.99 to watch one TV episode? How about 99 Cents to rent it instead? But Apple isn't smart enough to do that. Even though it means they will never get 1 cent from me because I won't buy tv shows, they prefer that to renting them, which would mean I might be able to get rid of cable and save some real money (and they would then get that money instead of my cable company).

I like AppleTV as part of my whole house audio system (I therefore own two of them) and I do rent new HD movies with it that I haven't seen instead of going to the video store since Blu-Ray rentals are virtually non-existent on a local basis, but the device could be SO much more. I just find it ironic I can buy apps for my phone, but not for something that is actually far more powerful internally.

Heck, they can't even get the movie rental thing right. Movies have been losing their "Rent" option for some time now with no explanations given. For example, "Superbad" is listed under the "HD Must See" rental list, but when you click on it, it's only available to buy and only in standard definition. How can it be a must see HD rental if you can't rent it? The truth is it USED to be able to be rented, but that option suddenly disappeared with no explanation given. The same is true of "The Matrix" and "Pirates of the Caribbean" and most Disney movies, etc. etc. Either the movie companies suddenly decided they don't want those movies to be rented (doubtful given the two Matrix sequels are available for rent in HD and up until a few weeks ago so was the first one). So I figure this is actually a bug/mixup/screwup and Apple simply needs to be made aware of it. So I TRIED and I TRIED REALLY HARD to do just that. I reported the issue and asked them if it was intentional or a mixup and they sent me a link to another reporting form where they think I should actually ask that question instead of forwarding it themselves or attempting to find out if they're losing money because of some screwup. I then was nice enough to ask the same question on the new form. It's been about 2 weeks now and no one has replied back from that report and the last time I looked, none of those movies were available to rent so I think someone just trashed the report, ignores the problem and is probably costing Apple a lot of money considering about 5 of the "Must See HD" rentals are not available to rent.

I'm afraid that is typical of Apple. Everything is so secretive and hush hush that you can't even help them out by reporting actual screwups and bugs. They just blissfully ignore all of it. For example, it'd take them 2 minutes to add copy/paste to the iPhone, but it's "not a priority" for them even though it's clearly a huge priority for actual iPhone users. Go Apple!

[imacdaddy]

are they ever going to bring back the ability to stream photos?

[Curtis72]

Music Video Playlists!
The lack of this feature has prevented me from purchasing more music videos. Now does it support a mix media playlist?

[sonictonic]

Dammit. Podcast listings still show "Number of Episodes: 1" for shows you only have ONE file of, rather than how it was with 2.0 where it showed the length and full description.

APPLE PLEASE FIX THIS!!!

[pavyaz19]

do you all love your appleTVs? I've began contemplating getting one since they brought out the HD version.

Any of you wish you would have never bought it? I don't want to be in that same boat.

[chopdog]

2 x 160 and an original 40 : and we use them ALL DAY EVERY DAY for all the features they have.

I recommend them to everyone with iTunes activities...... or even just photos and the need to do a little movie renting.

FANTASTIC

I just don't see why the world isn't embracing this like it embraced the iPod.

[pavyaz19]

wow, 3 appleTVs...

Last question. The apple website says it can sync wirelessly with itunes on another computer on the network... does this mean I can buy a big external harddrive, hook that up to the itunes computer and stream a database of movies from there without needing to fill up the 40GB appleTV itself? (I don't want to buy the 160GB if I don't have to. Thoughts? Answers?

[garylapointe]

Originally Posted by MagnusVonMagnum

How about a RENT option for HD television shows? Nope. Even though most people only watch a tv show episode once or twice in a lifetime, they seem to want you to BUY tv shows, but they'll allow you to rent movies, even though you're more likely to watch those more than once. $2.99 to watch one TV episode? How about 99 Cents to rent it instead? But Apple isn't smart enough to do that. Even though it means they will never get 1 cent from me because I won't buy tv shows, they prefer that to renting them, which would mean I might be able to get rid of cable and save some real money (and they would then get that money instead of my cable company).

99 cents for TV rentals, and I'm in! Give me a season for about 75 cents an episode and I'd probably be game for some of the odd network shows.

I can stream the darn shows from the networks for free. How about throwing in some (relevant) ads and renting it to me for free (or really really cheap).

Gary

[jaw04005]

Originally Posted by pavyaz19

wow, 3 appleTVs...

Last question. The apple website says it can sync wirelessly with itunes on another computer on the network... does this mean I can buy a big external harddrive, hook that up to the itunes computer and stream a database of movies from there without needing to fill up the 40GB appleTV itself? (I don't want to buy the 160GB if I don't have to. Thoughts? Answers?

As long as iTunes remains open, sure. I have a 1TB WD drive that contains my entire iTunes library. It's connected via USB to my MacBook, and my MacBook streams its content via iTunes to the Apple TV.

[pmpknetr21]

Originally Posted by pavyaz19

wow, 3 appleTVs...

Last question. The apple website says it can sync wirelessly with itunes on another computer on the network... does this mean I can buy a big external harddrive, hook that up to the itunes computer and stream a database of movies from there without needing to fill up the 40GB appleTV itself? (I don't want to buy the 160GB if I don't have to. Thoughts? Answers?

Yes, you can. However, unless you're going to have two separate iTunes libraries, you'll have to export your old library from your internal to the external. In any case, yes you can stream them.

[pmpknetr21]

Oh. My. God.

You can FINALLY create music video playlists and shuffle them as well....

Thank you, Apple. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

[pmpknetr21]

Originally Posted by chopdog

2 x 160 and an original 40 : and we use them ALL DAY EVERY DAY for all the features they have.

I recommend them to everyone with iTunes activities...... or even just photos and the need to do a little movie renting.

FANTASTIC

I just don't see why the world isn't embracing this like it embraced the iPod.

Totally agree. I have one now and will invest in one more for the bedroom very soon. I feel the way you seem to, that the tv is truly underrated. Can there be a plethora of things added? Yes. But so did the 1st Generation iPod, and so is the iPhone... Still. Regardless, I think Apple got it right with Take 2 software of the tv. I love my tv, I recommend it to all my friends and clients, and I use it daily. Even though I own a MacBook Pro (current), an iBook, an iMac G4, iPhone, several iPods, a Time Capsule, a few Airport Expresses, etc. I feel that the tv is one of the best Apple products I own.

[Curtis72]

Originally Posted by pavyaz19

wow, 3 appleTVs...

Last question. The apple website says it can sync wirelessly with itunes on another computer on the network... does this mean I can buy a big external harddrive, hook that up to the itunes computer and stream a database of movies from there without needing to fill up the 40GB appleTV itself? (I don't want to buy the 160GB if I don't have to. Thoughts? Answers?

If there is no space on you Apple TV, iTunes will stream photos, music, etc... I don't know about tv shows or movies. But I personally tried importing movies into iTunes so then would be sync to my Apple TV. But I give up on that. I bought the MediaLink software and stream movies to my PS3. I like that solution better as I don't end up with duplicate movie files on my hard drive and less transcoding head aches.

But then I again, I only rent digital movies using my Apple TV even though I can do so with my PS3.