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So I bought a used Apple TV 2nd generation

nickdalzell1

nickdalzell1

macrumors 68030
Original poster
Dec 8, 2019
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Continuing in my quest to re-live the 2009-12 era, I stumbled on an old Apple TV 2nd Generation for $24 at a Megareplay store (used game/tech/DVD store). I long ago had one of these and at the time I hated that it lacked an app store, but today that wouldn't bother me.

I figured it'd be a neat little box to watch Netflix and my iTunes content on, and I would have that wonderful skeuomorphic UX they had back then. I was right! I was able to login to my Apple ID, set up Netflix and it all works!

I'm getting an 'activation: Failed' in settings but I am unsure what it means as it works perfectly fine? Other than that it's working 100%.

Been on a tech downgrade and loving it--Just found a Wii U, an LCD TV for my kitchen from 4/2009, an old RCA streaming box from what appears to be 2010 (by the apps and UI design--no date code on the thing but the fact it has Picasa and Flickr tells me it's likely from that time) and now this wonderful little Apple TV that DOES NOT ANNOY ME WITH UPDATE NOTIFICATIONS thank goodness. I had placed my newer Apple TVs in a drawer after they not only nagged me about updates each time I paused or backed out of an app, or the screensaver was dismissed, or just sitting at the home screen, and then the apps I installed on them broke (you need tvOS 16 to open Netflix--really?!) So this 2nd Gen is not just my protest but a way to break free of that annoyance and stress. Now I can literally tap an app and enjoy confidently.

Still think I got an excellent deal on this thing. Works snappy, and I adore the screen savers. No Aerials but those always froze my newer ones.
 
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My first streaming box was a Western Digital TV Live, it ran really hot and would lock up on MLB.TV games. So I then purchased a used Apple TV Gen 2 which has always worked perfectly. I still have mine in a closet somewhere in the USA. I wonder if the MLB APP still works on it? My ATV2 is jailbroken and running ATV Flash Black so you can stream your movies and shows from a NAS drive on the network.
 
Mine didn't have an MLB app, but it does have an NBA app. I don't watch sports too much but I think it's locale specific or the apps are sent to the device based on your internet/cable provider (correct me if I'm wrong here--I have Spectrum and many of the 'channels' are on my Spectrum subscription; live sports, NBA, Starz, Showtime, etc)

I just got it to watch my ATV content and Netflix.

Any idea what 'Activation: Failed' means? It works fine so I'm just curious what 'activation' is for. It's not cellular capable that I know of?

One of the coolest parts is that if you prefer the older UX, the Netflix app pre-dates the mess it is today, including the lack of annoying auto-play videos while scrolling the list of available content. I haven't tested whether it plays well with 'modern' stuff like Netflix Originals since they didn't exist and therefore weren't intended for the hardware of 2010, but I am sure things that were available such as Star Trek:TNG and other shows that've been there long-term would play fine. It did load and login successfully.

I was able to link my Apple ID despite it not officially supporting 2FA (just enter your code next to the password). It then populated with my purchases, the iTunes store appears to work, the whole thing seems fully functional.

Then again, my Wii U is also fully functional. I watched some YouTube on it already and it worked perfectly. My Galaxy SII is fully functional as well although I had to trick the carrier to allow it since it's not officially VoLTE compliant (works anyway)
 
nickdalzell1 said:
Mine didn't have an MLB app, but it does have an NBA app. I don't watch sports too much but I think it's locale specific or the apps are sent to the device based on your internet/cable provider (correct me if I'm wrong here--I have Spectrum and many of the 'channels' are on my Spectrum subscription; live sports, NBA, Starz, Showtime, etc)

I just got it to watch my ATV content and Netflix.

Any idea what 'Activation: Failed' means? It works fine so I'm just curious what 'activation' is for. It's not cellular capable that I know of?
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"Activation failed" likely is from the activation of the device itself. Was it restored as a new device when you got it and you went through the setup? Otherwise maybe it's referring to the iCloud aspects, but I kind of doubt that. I recently set up a 2nd gen Apple TV too, and don't remember having that error.
 
It was pretty much new out of box as far as the first-startup was. It went through the whole welcome and setup like it were a brand new unit (so it's obviously been wiped.)

It successfully connected to wifi, loaded some things (spinning wheel saying things like contacting activation server, setting time zone) and I linked my Apple ID successfully. I was just browsing through settings and saw that message. Don't know what it means but the device works fine?

What would be a symptom of that problem if it is a problem? What little I found online suggest something to do with AirPlay, but I don't use that.
 
I reset my 2nd Gen numerous times and it looked like it was working but I could not activate or log into the iTunes Store to watch my iTunes library. I have over 1,000 movies and wanted to use the ATV with a 1080 TV.
 
Mine logged in fine. I can see all my purchases and I do know Music works, and Netflix works (tested those, although I didn't test Netflix with 'modern' content)

My 2018 Samsung TV's Apple TV app always shows 'video unavailable' error when trying to play anything even though it linked up fine, but I'm assuming that's Samsung's issue.
 
Audit13 said:
I couldn't log in and I know my ID information was correct because I'm logged into iTunes on my iPad, Apple TV 4k box, and MacBook.
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Logging into older devices now usually requires you to use the 6 digit verification code that it sends to your iPad/iPhone/Watch/Mac at the end of your password. So, for example, "password123456". Try that, it should allow you to log in.
 
Slix said:
Logging into older devices now usually requires you to use the 6 digit verification code that it sends to your iPad/iPhone/Watch/Mac at the end of your password. So, for example, "password123456". Try that, it should allow you to log in.
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I have not enabled 2FA on the AppleID I use for iTunes purchases. When I log into the account on my MacBook, I always decline the option to upgrade my account security.
 
That's what I did to bypass 2FA since it doesn't support it officially. But then my iPad mentioned that when presenting the code.

It did refuse the first time, saying my info was incorrect, then the code popped up on my iPad, and I just re-entered the password with the code as part of it and it worked fine.
 
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I'd have paid $100+ to get it if I had to. I prefer 2010 tech and the UI. At least this ATV doesn't pester me with update notices and apps don't force updates either. My more 'modern' ATV tried to tell me I needed tvOS 15+ to OPEN Netflix, an app that's already installed. Whatever old Netflix that's on the ATV 2 still works fine. I'm sick of flat UI, and updates that downgrade my experience.

"You get what you pay for" indeed. I suppose futurists like yourself would prefer it just become e-waste?

P.S. I posted this with a PC running Windows Vista.
 
nickdalzell1 said:
Whatever old Netflix that's on the ATV 2 still works fine.
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While it is old looking by modern standards, I think the Netflix app on the ATV2 and ATV3 is better than the modern tvOS version.

The genre organization is much better as well.

Fun fact, it took a really long time for the tvOS version of Netflix to be updated to include genre, and when they finally did, it was just basic genres and didn't include any sub-genres that the now 12 year old ATV2 did at launch.

The YouTube app on the ATV2, when it worked, was much better than the tvOS counterpart as well.
 
That's the thing though. it does not look old to me. Old to me is flat UI design. I lived through it back in the CP/M, DOS and early Windows 1.x days. I was so happy to see things get more and more depth and features and skeuomorphic UI design is fun for me to use, and doesn't sear my retinas in. I will NEVER look at flat design as anything other than the 1980s redux that it is.

So that 'old' Netflix app, which works despite being on tvOS 6.x feels far more 'modern' than that annoyance that's on modern tvOS. In fact, the way modern tvOS forces updates is why I gave up on the ATV 4K and whatever generation the non-4K versions were. Just let me tap an app and enjoy my show. No more of this broken flow by forcing me to update or show me what's new and so on. I don't care. Let me watch my TV Apple!

In a way, this replacing modern tech with 2010 tech is both freeing, and a protest against the homogenized 'every phone looks alike and every UI has been flat for the last 9 years and we're still doing it' crap that's going on today. I still have my headphone jack, my phone fits my hand perfectly, and the UI no longer sucks.

Those futurists who love everything new they can have it. I am not trying to stop them from enjoying it. I just can't adjust to it. I can't live with designs that feel bleak, lifeless and boring. I don't want my phone to be too large for my pocket or be hard to use one handed. If it's supposed to be an upgrade it should be better than what I had before. Removing features and having a boring DeskMate style UX isn't an upgrade, it's a downgrade. I was far more stressed and annoyed when I struggled trying to use a modern phone, tablet, or TV platform. I'm just happier now. Tomorrow I go to the thrift store again and I hope that 2012 Vizio TV and that 2014 Magnavox TV are still there. I didn't have the money last week, but I do now. I'll pay a lot just to get the tech I loved (and stupidly got rid of) back. I don't just talk the talk, I walk the walk.

I don't know how the ATV 2 gets its 'apps' but the home screen was full of blank tiles then populated to what it has now. Even without a YouTube app, my connected blu-ray player (2013 Samsung) still has a functional YouTube, Netflix, and Prime Video app. The ATV 2 doesn't even have Prime or Amazon Instant. I was surprised the old version wasn't there. But in 2010 was there even Amazon Instant?

Call me crazy but I loved it when apps had their own identity and one was vastly different from the other. The Memo app looked like a memo pad. My Radio app looked like a radio. My Phone dialer has buttons that look like buttons. I never know what the next one will look like which makes it even more fun to discover. I will NEVER grasp why anyone thought it necessary to take that away to make it all flat, boring, and everything looking exactly the same. Talk about no variety.

Remember when phones could have sliding keyboards, sometimes double slides with media keys too? What about the different screen size? You wanted a phablet, you had one. Wanted a smaller phone? got that too. Why is it a one size fits all hellscape these days? Everyone is different and has different wants/needs. Why not try to satisfy more people by offering choice?

People obviously buy a phone regardless since they are taught to keep things up to date (I don't get it) so whether or not someone makes a phone with a sliding keyboard won't stop people from buying. There's just no need to make every gosh darned thing look the same. Also, if Skeuomorphic UI was bad after 6 years, why is flat not boring to people after 9?
 
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Audit13 said:
I reset my 2nd Gen numerous times and it looked like it was working but I could not activate or log into the iTunes Store to watch my iTunes library. I have over 1,000 movies and wanted to use the ATV with a 1080 TV.
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The ATV2 only supports 720P, you need the 3rd gen model for 1080P output. And yes the old Radio APP was the best APP on the ATV2.
 
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My TVs are 720p anyway and therefore fine. I replaced my 4k TV since I never watch 4K content and anything less than 1080 was distorted looking. I still got all the 'new' stuff but just stored in a closet. I succeeded in getting those two TVs I saw last week.

I even got the ATV2 to learn the crazy cool glossy plastic Vizio remote that came with that one TV. TV is actually from 2009--even better. Front firing stereo speakers are part of its bezel. Today's HDTVs have crappy bottom-firing speakers like they expect you to buy a $299 soundbar. no thanks.
 
I have a 3rd gen that I am still using from time to time in my office/media room. Will replace it with whatever new model is rumored to come out this fall.
 
nickdalzell1 said:
Why replace it if it still works though?
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It still works fairly well, it's just that fewer and fewer apps are still supported. The current Apple TV is my favorite streaming device experience, so when whatever comes out in the fall comes out it will be retired.
 
Well, I got sick to death of the modern ATV always wanting to nag me to update it, and apps breaking if I did not. I mean apps that shouldn't need updates (Netflix, Prime Video, etc). The way modern app versions work means you've got to keep them updated constantly, and then get into a constant consumerist cycle of buying newer and newer ATVs to keep up. Then have to constantly adjust to the ever-changing UI designs. I just had enough of it. I can't justify needlessly wasting resources when all I ever watch is iTunes purchases and Netflix. I can do both of those on the 2nd gen; not so much on the Apple TV 4K or newer models. The 2nd gen's apps are all 100% working. There might not be things like Peacock or Paramount+ but I don't care and don't really support SaaS or subscriptions.

All I want to do is tap an app, tap a show and get on with my life, and not worry about the future. I can't do that with modern hardware/software. I can't support modern Apple because of that. They make sure apps eventually break if you don't keep tvOS or iOS so up to date. Older Apple products don't force it but most modern ones post-iOS 7 do. It's a model I cannot support.
 
What is it about the radio app you like? I never opened it because I don't want to pay a subscription to Apple Music (and I like owning my songs--got over 3K currently). Is it some unique UI like the old Podcasts app that I might be missing out on? Is it any different on the ATV 2 vs the new ones?
 
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