Original Apple TV got a lot of love yesterday. Soon after App Dynamic released Remote HD plugin 5.0 for the 1^st generation Apple TV, Firecore announced the release of aTV Flash version 4.4 for your original shiny box of joy. Apart from the support for the new Remote HD features (iOS 5 AirPlay streaming, support for playing DRM protected media, support for doubleTwist + AirTwist add-on), the new update includes support for Mac OS X Lion and NFS file streaming.

What’s new in aTV Flash 4.4?

• Added support for Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion)
• Added NFS file streaming (Lion compatible)
• Remote HD: Added support for iOS 5 AirPlay streaming
• Remote HD: Added support for playing DRM protected media from iOS devices and iTunes via AirPlay
• Remote HD: Added support for doubleTwist + AirTwist add-on (AirPlay from Android devices)
• Remote HD: Added supports enhanced slideshows with music when streaming via AirPlay
• Updated metadata scrapers
• Resolved VPN setup issues
• Other miscellaneous fixes

Full details on setting up NFS streaming from Mac OS X 10.7 (Lion) can be found here.

aTV Flash version 4.4 is available through the Downloads tab in your account. If you’re already running aTV Flash on your AppleTV you can update through the Maintenance –> Manage Plugins menu.

You may also want to read:
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aTV Flash (black) RC1 for Apple TV 2 Now Available

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Firecore has finally released aTV Flash (black) Release Candidate 1 for the Apple TV 2. RC1 adds a number of new features including a brand new ‘grid view’ browsing mode (allows you to browse through media by simply viewing a grid of posters, instead of a list), huge subtitle related improvements, support for Apple TV 4.4 (iOS 5), and other performance and playback related improvements.

Here is the complete list of new features and improvements:

• Added grid view and pre-playback view options
• Added bulk metadata fetching with growl-like status
• Added fetched names in list view
• Added hardware decoding for .m2ts files
• Added support for embedded subtitles (MKV, M4V, etc…)
• Added support for ISO (DVD) files
• Added TV Show metadata fetching
• Added metadata correction for Movies and TV Shows
• Added movie title in Top Shelf (instead of filename)
• Added DSI ping for better operation with AFP shares
• Added folder tagging
• Added metadata view indicator
• Added support for metadata overriding using xml files
• Added DVD menu buffering
• Added support for subtitles with invalid timestamps
• Added support for AppleTV 4.4 (iOS 5)
• Added subtitle ‘Weight’ setting
• Added option to show/hide local files
• Improved data buffering and playback performance
• Improved XSUB subtitle support
• Improved network error handling
• Improved filename parsing for metadata fetching
• Improved NAS drives support and increased connection timeout
• Improved video loading process
• Improved DVD menu handling
• Improved playback position detection
• Improved memory footprint
• Improved SMB share handling
• Resolved DVD subtitle issues
• Resolved Voiceover related issues
• Resolved audio synchronization issues
• Resolved problems when streaming from an AirPort Extreme
• Resolved AFP related issue when resuming after a long pause
• Resolved issues that caused the first subtitle section to be skipped
• Resolved performance and crash related issues for certain DVD files
• Resolved audio playback issues when the connection to Last.fm fails
• Resolved potential issues in shares handling and filename processing
• Resolved AFP related crashes
• Resolved .dvdmedia extensions and folder images not hiding
• Resolved floating crash during metadata fetching
• Resolved various cloud backup issues
• Many other miscellaneous fixes

RC1 is available through the Downloads tab in your account. If you’re already running aTV Flash (black) on your Apple TV all the new features can be installed through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu.

Note: Installing RC1 requires Apple TV 4.2 or later.

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Media Player 0.9.1 for Apple TV 2 Released
aTV Flash (black) Beta6 for Apple TV 2 Now Available

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Firecore has just released another update to its Media Player for the 2nd generation Apple TV. Version 0.9.1 includes a number of “long awaited features,” like a support for embedded subtitles, support for ISO (DVD) files and metadata correction for TV Shows.

Here is the complete list of changes:

• Added support for embedded subtitles (MKV, M4V, etc…)
• Added support for ISO (DVD) files
• Added metadata correction for TV Shows
• Added movie title in Top Shelf (instead of filename)
• Minor UI improvements

Media Player 0.9.1 can be installed on your ATV2 (with aTV Flash black already installed) through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu.

You may also want to read:
Firecore Releases Media Player 0.9 for Apple TV 2
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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

Firecore, a developer of aTV Flash (black), has just released a “hefty update” of its Media Player for Apple TV 2. The new version adds some new features (like TV Show metadata fetching and folder tagging) and a ton of performance related improvements and bug fixes.

Here is the complete list of new features and improvements:

• Added hardware decoding for .m2ts files
• Added TV Show metadata fetching
• Added option to correct movie metadata
• Added DSI ping for better operation with AFP shares
• Added folder tagging
• Added metadata view indicator
• Added support for metadata overriding using xml files
• Added DVD menu buffering
• Improved data buffering and playback performance
• Improved network error handling
• Improved filename parsing for metadata fetching
• Improved NAS drives support and increased connection timeout
• Improved video loading process
• Improved playback position detection
• Resolved audio synchronization issues
• Resolved problems when streaming from an AirPort Extreme
• Resolved issues that caused the first subtitle section to be skipped
• Resolved performance and crash related issues for certain DVD files
• Resolved audio playback issues when the connection to Last.fm fails
• Resolved potential issues in shares handling and filename processing
• Resolved AFP related crashes
• Resolved .dvdmedia extensions and folder images not hiding
• Resolved floating crash during metadata fetching
• Resolved critical compatibility issues with iOS 5
• Minor UI improvements
• Many other miscellaneous fixes

Media Player 0.9 can be installed on your ATV2 (with aTV Flash black already installed) through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu.

Find out more about Media Player 0.9 on Firecore’s blog.

You may also want to read:
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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

Firecore has released another major update to its Media Player for the 2nd generation (black) Apple TV. Version 0.7 adds a number of new features (like support for chapters and .srt subtitles) and resolves a number of bugs. According to Firecore it’s a “solid update” that moves aTV Flash developer one step closer to the final version of Media Player for Apple TV2.

Here is the complete list of new features and improvements:

• Added new playback menu (hold select during playback)
• Added support for .srt subtitles
• Added support for multiple audio tracks
• Added support for chapters
• Added support for localized metadata
• Added support for local cover art
• Added option to refetch metadata for a specific file
• Added option to clear all metadata
• Added toggle setting for volume control
• Improved metadata fetching (courtesy of themoviedb.org)
• Improved progress bar controls
• Improved DVD playback and ff/rw controls
• Improved audio track selection logic
• Resolved aspect ratios issues for certain video types
• Resolved file browsing related crashes
• Resolved metadata fetching related crashes
• Resolved audio queue related errors
• Resolved Top Shelf related playback issues
• Resolved playback related memory leaks
• Minor UI improvements
• Many other miscellaneous fixes

The new playback menu provides quick access to chapters, audio tracks and subtitles. To access this menu simply press and hold the center (select) button during playback. Press the menu button to return to the movie.

Note: Chapter controls can also be accessed by pressing the down arrow on the remote during playback.

Media Player 0.7 can be installed on your ATV2 (with aTV Flash black already installed) through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu.

You may also want to read:
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aTV Flash (black) Beta6 for Apple TV 2 Now Available

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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

Firecore’s Media Player, a core feature of the company’s flagship product – aTV Flash (black) for Apple TV 2, has been updated to version 0.6 that comes with added AC3 and DTS (5.1+ surround) sound, access to DVD menus during playback and a low buffer detection warning (prevents stuttering) as well as with many other improvements and bug fixes.

Here is the complete list of changes:

• Added AC3 and DTS (5.1+ surround) sound
• Added access to DVD menus during playback (press menu)
• Added low buffer detection warning (prevents stuttering)
• Improved playback of larger files
• Improved buffering and re-buffering (when required)
• Improved FF/RW controls for larger files
• Improved audio decoding performance
• Improved center channel (voices) audio mixing
• Improved DVD file playback
• Improved file sorting logic
• Improved performance and memory management
• Improved error handling
• Resolved DVD subtitle issues
• Resolved stalls observed with some files during and after FF/RW
• Resolved synchronization issues observed after buffering some files
• Resolved audio synchronization issues
• Resolved rare floating crash observed at the end of some files
• Resolved resume related playback issues
• Resolved various screensaver related issues
• Local files are now hidden when one or more remote shares are setup
• Minor metadata fetching improvements
• Minor UI improvements
• Other miscellaneous fixes

Media Player 0.6 can be installed on your ATV2 (with aTV Flash black already installed) through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu.

You may also want to read:
aTV Flash (black) Beta6 for Apple TV 2 Now Available
How to Watch Hulu on Apple TV 2
How to Jailbreak Apple TV 2 on iOS 4.3 or iOS 5 Beta with Seas0nPass 0.7.7 (untethered)

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!

aTV Flash (black), Firecore’s flagship product for the 2nd generation Apple TV, has been updated to Beta6. According to Firecore, Beta6 includes “huge improvements” in playback performance that come by way of a brand brand-new, lightweight player that has been built from the ground up specifically for iOS. This new player is said to empower Apple TV 2 to play a wide variety of media formats “without having to sacrifice the simplicity of the native Apple TV interface.”

What’s new in Beta6?

General

• Added show/hide options for standard Apple TV menus
• Added option to manually install if no Apple TVs are detected
• Improved auto-update disabling
• Improved installation error handling
• Minor UI adjustments

Media Player

• Added new lightweight player
• Added recently played items to ‘Top Shelf’ in main menu
• Added Favorites to main menu
• Added option to manually mark files as watched/unwatched
• Added ‘Test Connection’ option for AFP/SMB shares
• Added support for DVD subtitles
• Added support for multiple DVD audio tracks
• Added basic support for MT2S files
• Improved overall video playback (especially HD video files)
• Improved thumbnail generation when cover art is not available
• Improved FF/RW controls
• Improved DVD menu and video playback
• Improved DVD playback progress reporting
• Improved memory management
• Improved AFP/SMB streaming
• Improved error handling for invalid files
• Resolved most video stuttering issues
• Resolved energy saver mode issue
• Resolved issue that resulted in some DVDs being displayed in (squished) 4×3 mode
• Resolved numerous DVD playback issues
• Resolved flickering when navigating through certain menus
• Resolved additional conflicts with XBMC
• Reduced number of network connections used
• Minor UI and other miscellaneous fixes

Beta5 is available through the Downloads tab in your account. If you’re already running aTV Flash (black) on your AppleTV all the new features can be installed through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu.

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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

Firecore has announced the release of aTV Flash version 4.3 for the original Apple TV. Included are some new features, as well as a number of improvements to existing features and core components.

The new update includes File Sharing (SMB Server) that allows you to stream non-iTunes media stored on your Apple TV (including media stored on external drives) to other devices including a second Apple TV (silver or black) or a Mac/PC computer.

After installing the File Sharing package through the Maintenance –> Install Extras menu, the File Sharing option can be enabled through the Maintenance –> Settings menu.

When File Sharing is enabled (or set to Auto-Start) the relevant connection info will be visible when the File Sharing item is highlighted. The Apple TV’s username and password are both ‘frontrow’ (without quotes).

What else is new in 4.3?
Improved DVD file playback
Improved metadata scrapers
Improved Last.fm scrobbling (2.0)
Improved FTP and SSH connections
Improved memory management
Improved installation routine
Improved system tools
Minor UI improvements
Other miscellaneous fixes

aTV Flash version 4.3 is available through the Downloads tab in your account. If you’re already running aTV Flash on your AppleTV you can update through the Maintenance –> Manage Plugins menu.

You may also want to read:
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AirPlay Implementation on the Old Apple TV is Now Complete

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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!

aTV Flash (black), Firecore’s flagship product for the 2nd generation Apple TV, has been updated to Beta5. This time the developers’ main focus has been on building and improving the Media Player feature: according to Firecore, the Media Player has received a “big boost” in Beta5, but is still under heavy development with many more features and improvements still to come.

What’s new in Beta5?

General

• Added AppleTV 4.2.2 compatibility
• Improved installer routine
• Improved handling of failed installations
• Improved error handling
• Minor UI adjustments

Media Player

• Added SMB streaming
• Added photo slideshows
• Added basic video playlists
• Added ‘Favorites’ section
• Added individual photo browsing and viewing
• Added support for ‘xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/folder’ shares
• Added support for guest/anonymous NAS logins
• Added volumes list sorting
• Added option to disable metadata fetching
• Added option to hide file extensions
• Improved handling of HD video files
• Improved memory management
• Improved DVD file detection
• Improved remote share folder browsing (root folder issue)
• Improved Remote.app support
• Resolved artifact issues (green line near bottom of screen)
• Resolved rare crashes related to AFP streaming
• Resolved issues in share navigation resulting in incorrect ‘menu’ button handling
• Resolved issues resulting in incorrect video playback after rewinding on ‘fastest’ speed
• Resolved issues related to removing saved shares
• Resolved duplicate AFP share entries
• Resolved conflicts with XBMC
• Minor UI fixes
• Other miscellaneous fixes

Couch Surfer Pro

• Added HTML5 audio support (for sites like http://tv.tunein.com/)
• Added EyeTV streaming
• Improved web pages scrolling and layout handling
• Improved iOS-optimized JavaScript support
• Improved highlighting of large web elements
• Auto-complete history is now cleared when clearing history
• New SSL indicator
• Other minor bug fixes

Weather

• Added 5-day forecasts
• Added location search option
• Added automatic location detection (if no saved locations exist)
• Added day/night weather forecasts
• Added ‘Feels Like’ temperature info
• Minor UI fixes

Last.fm

• Added lightweight audio streaming player
• Improved memory management

What Firecore is still working on

• New lightweight audio/video player
• Additional codecs
• DVD chapter controls
• AC3/DTS (5.1 surround) sound
• Subtitle support
• Multiple audio track support
• Improved UI and file browsing
• Better memory management

Beta5 is available through the Downloads tab in your account. If you’re already running aTV Flash (black) on your AppleTV all the new features can be installed through the Maintenance –> Manage Extras menu.

You may also want to read:
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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!

aTV Flash (black) Beta4 for Apple TV 2 has just been released. According to Firecore, in terms of features, this is the most substantial release since Beta1 first became available in early December 2010. The latest version of aTV Flash features an ‘alpha preview’ version of a brand new Media Player that has been under development for the past few months. This player enables the playback of non-iTunes media (streamed from a network source) on the Apple TV with no special software or transcoding required.

What’s new in Beta4?

General

• Added ‘alpha preview’ version of new Media Player
• Added native Weather and RSS apps (will appear under Internet menu when installed)
• Added support for Remote HD iPhone/iPad app
• Added option to restart ‘Lowtide’ via Maintenance menu
• Added support for AppleTV 4.2.1 (iOS 4.3)

Couch Surfer Pro

• Added Google search suggestions to Search menu (iOS 4.3+ only)
• Added ability to delete bookmarks
• Improved animations, HTML5 and CSS3 support
• Improve iPhone/iPad Remote app navigation
• Improved text box handling
• Resolved issues related to Facebook and similar sites
• Many other performance improvements

What can I do with the new Media Player?

What’s included in this version

• Support for many non-iTunes media file types (MKV, AVI, MP4, etc…)
• Native VIDEO_TS (VOB) file playback (with menus)
• AFP network streaming (Mac, TimeCapsule, AirPort Extreme, etc…)
• Automated cover art/metadata fetching
• Basic subtitle support for VOB files
• 5.1 AAC audio
• Watched, unwatched and partially watched markers (includes resume support)
• Volume control (up/down arrows during playback)

Firecore is still working on:

• Better support for HD video files
• SMB network streaming
• 5.1 sound
• Chapter controls
• Video playlists
• Subtitles (.srt)
• Alternative file browsing options
• Photo slideshows
• Improved memory management
• Countless other bug fixes and performance improvements

A brief demo of the Media Player in action can be seen here.

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Do you want to feel like a wizard? Check the Kymera wand in Amazon: You can control your Apple TV waving a wand!