FireCore has just updated its aTV Flash (black) for Apple TV to version 1.7, which, among other things, features seamless access to trakt.tv – a TV show and movie recommendation service that helps keep a record of what TV shows and movies you are watching. Trakt is different than other sites since it automatically keeps a record of what you are watching and don’t rely on manual check ins.

After login to trakt.tv on the Apple TV, your plays will be silently scrobbled back to trakt.tv where your watched history is stored. You’ll also have the option to rate movies and TV shows after you’ve watched them. FireCore is also working to bring support for 2 way sync and trakt.tv recommendations.

How to setup trakt.tv in aTV Flash (black):

• Through the Maintenance » Manage Extras menu, ensure the Media Player item is installed

• Navigate to the Media » Settings » General » trakt.tv menu

• Click login and enter your trakt.tv username and password when prompted

• That’s it! You’re all setup to use trakt.tv on your Apple TV.

Here is a full changelog for aTV Flash (Black) 1.7

• Added trakt.tv integration (scrobbling and ratings)
• Added localized movie poster art
• Added localized movie ratings
• Added AirControl (beta) – an open control API for Apple TV
• Added support for embedded DVB subtitles
• Added advanced read-ahead buffering for SMB and NFS shares
• Added Simplified Chinese translation
• Added ‘Update All’ option
• Added support for secure web logins
• Improved metadata fetching speed
• Improved video rotation detection for MOV files
• Improved support for YUVJ420 & YUVJ422 formats (used by digital cameras)
• Improved top-level menu layouts
• Resolved crash when accessing ISO files on certain shares
• Resolved potential streaming issues when using an unstable network
• Resolved AFP related memory management issues
• Other minor improvements & fixes

If you’re already running a version of aTV Flash (black), the new 1.7 version can be installed through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu. Links for the new version can also be found in your FireCore account under the Downloads tab.

If you’re not yet using aTV Flash (black) you can get started here.

Here is a tutorial on how to install aTV Flash (black) on your jailbroken Apple TV 2.

IMPORTANT: Once the Apple TV 3 jailbreak is available your aTV Flash (black) license will cover both Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3.

Update: there seem to be some problems with Plex plugin:

A few users are reporting issues with Plex running on the 5.0+ software. The Plex plugin for Apple TV is quite outdated, and we recommend removing it before installing any updates. If you’re using Plex and are experiencing trouble a workaround can be found here please re-run the aTV Flash (black) installer.

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A jailbreak for Apple TV 3 has not been released yet, so watch out as there is a fake site going around claiming to offer Seas0nPass jailbreak for Apple TV 3. On the site you will only find a rewritten old post from FireCore’s blog. There are some fake videos on YouTube as well, claiming to offer tutorials on how to jailbreak Apple TV 3 with Seas0nPass. Don’t get caught! Remember: Seas0nPass is a jailbreaking tool for Apple TV developed by FireCore and you can be sure that when Seas0nPass is updated to support Apple TV 3 jailbreak, FireCore will be the first to announce it on its blog.

Additionally, according to nitoTV, “the appletv 3 jailbreak, whenever it happens will probably NOT be custom ipsw restores [the method Seas0nPass uses]. the UI will likely be different.”

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ for the latest updates on Apple TV 3 jailbreak status.

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FireCore has released an update to their aTV Flash (black) for Apple TV 2. aTV Flash (black) 1.6 adds integrated subtitle downloads (courtesy of OpenSubtitles.org), support for purchased iTunes content, expanded codec support, refined video playback, improved networking, Wake-on-Lan (WOL), additional translations and a bunch of other improvements and bug fixes.

Here is a full changelog:

• Added integrated subtitle downloads from OpenSubtitles.org
• Added support for purchased iTunes content (matching iTunes login required)
• Added video deinterlacing option
• Added Wake-on-Lan (WOL)
• Added Portuguese (Portugal) translation
• Added support for displaying subtitles in lower ‘black bar’
• Added support for .WTV files
• Added support for multiple simultaneous AFP connections
• Improved bulk fetching & added automatic artwork caching
• Improved automatic downscaling for large thumbnails
• Improved metadata reloading for images
• Improved buffering over AFP
• Resolved various audio synchronization issues
• Resolved possible overflow in 5.1 AC3 audio
• Resolved issues with zoom for 4:3 movies
• Resolved missing audio for .dvr-ms files (ASF containers)
• Resolved rare SRT file crash
• Resolved issues with slideshow animation
• Resolved file specific metadata fetching issues
• Resolved rare ISO file crashes
• Resolved issue with displaying identical thumbnails for images with the same name
• Resolved metadata loading issues for files containing non-latin characters
• Resolved rare 5ch audio file crash
• Resolved issues with incorrect metadata for files with ‘<TVShow Name>/S01E0.avi’ pattern
• Resolved auto-start issues in Couch Surfer
• Reduced memory footprint for large software-decoded videos and slideshows
• Other minor UI improvements & bug fixes

If you’re already running a version of aTV Flash (black), the new 1.6 version can be installed through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu. Links for the new version can also be found in your FireCore account under the Downloads tab.

If you’re not yet using aTV Flash (black) you can get started here.

And here is a tutorial on how to install aTV Flash (black) on your jailbroken Apple TV 2.

IMPORTANT: Once the Apple TV 3 jailbreak is available your aTV Flash (black) license will cover both Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3.

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“The Apple TV 3 has successfully been jailbroken and it is untethered,” is a phrase that we have all been eagerly awaiting for the past month now. Though there is no substantial information leading to any Apple TV 3 jailbreak ETA or even the current status of the jailbreak for Apple’s latest family member. Now, even with the seeming lack of information our there, we felt it would be good to put every in one place for our reader’s convenience.

pod2g, perhaps best know for his role in the 5.0 jailbreaking of the iPad 2 and the iPhone 4S, has been hard at work with the latests series of jailbreaks for the iPad 3 and everything underneath it. Though we have received good news in the form of a video showing his iPad 3 using an untethered jailbreak, he mentioned on Twitter:

For now this leaves us to wonder does “may be out” mean there is no hope or is there still a ray of light coming?

nitoTV, perhaps best known for nitoTV for Apple TV, does not currently sound much more optimistic. Known as a bit of an Apple TV guru, I often [and others] tend to hang on every word nitoTV has to say regarding the Apple TV scene. For this very reason Twitter was a buzz the other days as he mentioned something regarding preferred jailbreaks for the Apple TV. In hopes to squash any unsubstantiated hype nitoTV tweeted:

Though there is no great news on Apple TV 3 jailbreak to reveal today, we will be working hard to make sure you all stay apprised of the latest information.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ for the latest updates on Apple TV 3 jailbreak status.

umOuch (Andrew Brasher)

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Apple has just released a minor software update for Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3. Apple TV 5.0.1 (9B206f) adds HD previews for TV shows and movies in the iTunes store and brings fixes to Netflix, AirPlay and Home Sharing.

Here are the details from Apple’s support page:

• iTunes previews: Previews for movies and TV shows from the iTunes Store can now be viewed in HD.
• AirPlay: Fixes an issue that caused some iOS apps to have trouble connecting via AirPlay.
• Home Sharing: Improves the reliability of Home Sharing connections.
• Netflix: Addresses an issue affecting Netflix login and navigation.
• Stability and performance: Includes fixes for issues affecting stability and performance.

As always, stay away from this update if you don’t want to lose your jailbreak.

UPDATE: nitoTV: AppleTV 5.0.1/5.1.1 jailbroken!

You may also want to read: 
FireCore: Work is underway on Apple TV 3 jailbreak and Apple TV 2 5.0 untethered jailbreak
How to jailbreak Apple TV 2 5.0 (iOS 5.1) with Seas0nPass (tethered)
Source unveils design and features of Apple HDTV
How to install IceFilms on your jailbroken Apple TV

Visit What's on iPhone for the best iPad and iPhone app reviews!
Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!