Apple Addresses Flickering and Other Issues With Apple TV 4.2.1 Update

[Otago Lad]

Both the ATV1 & 2 need audio track 1 to be stereo AAC and track 2 (optional) can be DD5.1

Try encoding with Handbrake, its ATV presets do this properly.

Thanks - the issue however for many of us is that we have large numbers of ripped DVD's (in my case more than 600) which have been ripped with the likes of Aunsoft's Blu-Ray Ripper and those files only have DD 5.1 encoding so it isn't realistic that we are going to re-rip our files.

The bigger question however is why would Apple disable the ability to play these files and simply drive people towards other products like ROKU and Boxee Box or to jailbreak their ATV2? The ability to play .mov or mp4 files encoded solely with DD 5.1 was available before the 4.2 (4.3) update so why ruin what was a great product?

 

[Ava's Meeshee]

Anyone have a problem where the unit insists on outputting at 480p?

 

[iYannickV]

Try encoding your files properly: http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#qa/qa1604/_index.html

I use MKVTools and subler to convert my MKV movies to m4v files. Somtimes the AAC audio show up first and sometimes the AC3 audio in subler and they are both enabled. These movies work perfectly on my ATV2, iPhone. No receiver --> AAC, when I turn my receiver on --> AC3 5.1

 

[critter13]

I am really surprised at all of the issues everyone is having. For me the update made everything much "snappier" my cover art loads faster, menu items load faster, movies load faster...etc. no problems here

 

[tripjammer]

4.2.1 does not fix this. Am I the only one with this problem? I have to set screen saver to "never" to keep it from crashing.

Return your appleTV or see it is possible to reset it to factory specs.

 

[tripjammer]

No Netflix for me too. Not a big fan of my Apple TV2. I love BOTH of my original Apple TV's. This new little one has been buggy since day one.

*** When the audio of Netflix occasionally is off, all I do is rewind for a few seconds and it always syncs up right away***

I am loving The Larry Sanders shows. Bought this just for them. Hilarious.

No problems with mine! always been flawless...but I have the Apple Airport Extreme router on my network too...so...

 

[Tygernoot]

Try encoding your files properly: http://developer.apple.com/library/mac/#qa/qa1604/_index.html

Thanks for the tip!

 

[MacinDoc]

Thanks - the issue however for many of us is that we have large numbers of ripped DVD's (in my case more than 600) which have been ripped with the likes of Aunsoft's Blu-Ray Ripper and those files only have DD 5.1 encoding so it isn't realistic that we are going to re-rip our files.

The bigger question however is why would Apple disable the ability to play these files and simply drive people towards other products like ROKU and Boxee Box or to jailbreak their ATV2? The ability to play .mov or mp4 files encoded solely with DD 5.1 was available before the 4.2 (4.3) update so why ruin what was a great product?

Perhaps aTV Flash would help. It's still in beta for ATV2, but the production version should support multiple file formats.

 

[Ingot]

I wish 4.2.1 would get rid of Glee. Why cant Admiral Adama be the face of Apple TV? BSG FTW!

Too ugly. Starbuck or Boomer would be so much better.

 

[clank72]

"on some older TVs"

Thats bull crap...

 

[McMacuser]

Ever since the last update the only problem I have is with the audio. I have know idea if anyone else is experiencing this or not, but I can not get this thing to output anything to my subwoofer. No movies or music. At first I thought I blew my amp, then sub the something was wrong with the receiver nada. After pulling my hair out and glueing it back I found out it was the ATV2. ATV 1, PS3, 360, and even my directv box all work fine. This is annoying when you are use to watching movies or listening to music with a little bit of bass. This update didn't fix it either. Changed all my settings on my equipment and then back to what I had them uh.

I also have this issue - or at least, a version of it. When I pull content from itunes on a mac over my home wi-fi (i.e. select the content using ATV, home sharing) everything is fine. When I push content itunes on a mac over my home wi-fi (i.e. select the content in itunes and push using AirPlay) I don't get anything out the subwoofer, only out of the other speakers. This happens regardless of which mac I'm using (we have three - two latops and a mini).

 

[infidel69]

No problems with mine! always been flawless...but I have the Apple Airport Extreme router on my network too...so...

...you paid too much for your router.

 

[infidel69]

$99 device capable of 720p, in a situation where ISPs are implementing monthly usage caps left and right and you're upset it doesn't do 1080p?

Suit yourself -- but I'm quite happy with it for the price, myself. On any bedroom sized display, you're not going to see any real benefit to 1080p resolution over 720p anyway. (Many of us are using them that way, you know .... not always on a huge screen as the "primary" TV in the house.)

You can buy $99 media players like the Xtreamer that play 1080p content along with just about every codec and container you can think of. 720p is one thing but itunes is low bitrate 720p which sucks.

 

[kingtj]

re: problems after latest update

After I did the update last night, I saw some of the problems people were complaining about. The menu refused to move when I clicked the arrows on the Apple Remote, and then it suddenly responded to several presses at once, followed by stuttering again -- plus appeared to hang/crash at one point for 5 seconds or so, before becoming responsive again.

The thing is though? All of this was going on at the exact same time Netflix was having a major outage causing streaming not to function, and I had selected Netflix, trying to get logged in, right after doing this update. (One of my kids was bugging me to hurry up and finish the update I was doing so she could watch a show on Netflix she wanted to watch!)

So honestly, I'm not sure if part/all of my issue was due to the AppleTV trying to contact Netflix in the background and it timing out? I have to try the thing out after work tonight to really conclude if it's working normally or not, after this new firmware flash.....

I am really surprised at all of the issues everyone is having. For me the update made everything much "snappier" my cover art loads faster, menu items load faster, movies load faster...etc. no problems here

 

[johnnyrb]

IMO, Apple TV 2 is not as good as the first version.

 

[Doctor Q]

IMO, Apple TV 2 is not as good as the first version.

Why do you think so, johnnyrb?

 

[SFStateStudent]

Am I the only one NOT having problems with my Apple TV 2G?

 

[FreeState]

Am I the only one NOT having problems with my Apple TV 2G?

Nope - Im not having problems and I suspect most do not have problems. People without problems generally dont post about not having problems

 

[laurim]

Nope - Im not having problems and I suspect most do not have problems. People without problems generally dont post about not having problems

+1

One of the first rules of consumer analysis is that people are significantly more likely to complain than praise. Then the complainers see a few other people complaining and think it's a widespread issue when it's really not. Happy people just continue enjoying themselves until someone specifically asks them how they feel about something. I don't have any problems with my ATV 2, either.

 

[blueroom]

Am I the only one NOT having problems with my Apple TV 2G?

My two ATV2's run perfectly, but then again I know how to setup a home network.

 

[benoitgphoto]

Am I the only one NOT having problems with my Apple TV 2G?

No...me neither. Runs perfectly fine since the very first update (4.1 or 4.2.1 I forgot which one).

 

[Rad99004]

I consider it a strange coincidence that Netflix had a major outage at the same time the update came out.

If this was a Netflix problem it shows that the programming needs to updated to better handle a no connection issue.

 

[counciltime]

I haven't had major problems either. But I have experienced issues with:

• 
  waking any my HDMI receiver not recognizing the HDMI signal.

• 
  long load times for movies in itunes

• 
  non existant cover art and movie poster art

Upgraded to the latest version last night and maybe it's just my imagination, but ATV2 is much quicker on menus and loading my library...

 

[oklaonion]

Thank God

I've loved my Apple TV since I got it in the fall, but it is infuriating when it cannot wake from sleep. I'm not used to having qualms with Apple products, so I hope this fixes it for good.