It was not long ago that we shared the news regarding Apple officially activating its Bluetooth hardware, via the 5.2 update, on their Apple TV 2 and Apple TV 3 devices. Though it seems that support is limited to Bluetooth keyboards, not Bluetooth remotes, only time will tell if Apple has a line of new peripherals on the way for us all. As exciting as the news is, having Bluetooth capabilities does no good if users are unsure/unable to utilize these features.

We also want to remind those of you that own an Apple TV 1, the silver box, that this guide will not pertain to your device as you have no Bluetooth hardware enabled by default. If you own an Apple TV 1, and would like Bluetooth support, you will need to look into other LINUX-based options (see our guide on installing openELEC) paired with Bluetooth dongles.

REQUIREMENTS

1. Bluetooth keyboard
2. Apple TV remote (hardware or software)
3. Apple TV (2nd or 3rd generation) updated to the latest 5.2 firmware
4. A desire for your media center to have additional awesomeness

LIMITATIONS (according to Apple)

1. Bluetooth support on Apple TV is for keyboards only. Headsets, speakers, and other devices are not supported.
2. If you are having difficultly connecting or using a third-party Bluetooth keyboard, contact the manufacturer to verify that it is compatible with Apple products and Apple TV.
3. The original Apple Wireless Keyboard (2003), that features a white case and uses four AA batteries, is not compatible.

PAIRING

The first thing we need to do, as is the case when using any Bluetooth devices, is “pair” our hardware. Pairing is simply the process of connecting the two devices to each other, therein allowing them to communicate with each other.

1) From your main menu, navigate to the Settings -> General -> Bluetooth

3) At this point, let’s go ahead and turn on the keyboard and set it in “pairing mode”

5) You will immediately see the word “Bluetooth” at the top of your screen with the word “Searching” next to it.

6) In a matter of seconds you should see your Bluetooth keyboard’s name pop up on your Apple TV.

7) Using the Apple TV remote, click on the name that represents your Bluetooth keyboard.

8) You are now met with a sequence of 4 numbers: type these IN ORDER on your keyboard.

9) Congratulations, your keyboard is now paired with your Apple TV.

HOW TO USE

Now that your keyboard is paired with your Apple TV, everything can be controlled by either the keyboard or your Apple TV remote. So, let’s assume that you now want to put away your remote and control your system via the keyboard – here are the basic keys that you would be looking for:

You can use your keyboard to:

• Enter text and other information (search, email addresses, passwords, and so on)
• Navigate Apple TV menus using the arrow, Return, and Escape keys
• Navigate recently updated aTV Flash (black)
• Jump to an item, title, or name on the screen by typing the first few letters (for example, when viewing your music collection, you can type a song title or artist name to jump to it in the list)
• Use media controls when playing music and video to play or pause content and select previous or next.

Volume, brightness, and other controls are not available for Apple TV. Apple TV uses the U.S. English keyboard layout regardless of the keyboard’s hardware layout.

DISCONNECTING

If you want to stop using your keyboard or disconnect it from the Apple TV:

• Select Settings -> General -> Bluetooth
• Select your keyboard and then select “Forget this device”

(This article is also available in Spanish / Este artículo también está disponible en español)

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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!

Black Friday is now in the rearview mirror, and we are all left wondering where we will find those great deals for accessories and extras for our Apple TV‘s. Well, fear not good people. We at Apple TV Hacks have scoured the web once again to find you the best deals on new hardware including mounts, stands, speakers, remotes, cables, new Bluetooth goodies, and more. So, grab a cup of Eggnog, relax and let’s get shopping.

Apple TV 1

The box that started it all! We all have fond memories of this silver box, and for some (myself included) we still find them a vital part of our entertainment system.

• 160G HD New – As low as $174.99
• 160G HD Used – As low as $128.16
• 40G HD New – As low as $300
• 40G HD Used – As low as $100

Apple TV 2

Though the Apple TV 1 started it all, the Apple TV 2 is the best Apple television connected product out there. Considering the fact that there is still no jailbreak for the Apple TV 3, the 2^nd gen puck offers all the goods along with the ability to have XBMC installed on top of it!

• New – As low as $249.99
• Used – As low as $167.95

Apple TV 3

Keep in mind that there is know way, as of now, to unlock this device…

• New – As low as $94.99

Now that you have you device figured out, let’s look at all the goodies that can go along with them:

Solid State White (+ remote control) – As low as $14.99

Riptide skin sticker – As low as $14.99

Dark Rosewood - As low as $14.99

Carbon - As low as $14.99

Blue Crush - As low as $14.99

Airlines - As low as $14.99

Nightplay - As low as $14.99

Glow - As low as $14.99

Apocalypse Red - As low as $14.99

Winter - As low as $14.99

APPLE TV MOUNTS

H-Squared TVTRAY-W-S Fixed Wall Mount for Apple TV(1st gen.) – As low as $40.00

H-Squared TVTray for Apple TV 2/3 – As low as $25.43

NuStand – As low as $15.00

Total Mount – As low as $16.99

Out of Sight Brecket – As low as $14.99

AIRPLAY SPEAKERS

Philips  Fidelio SoundRing – As low as $144.95

iHome iW1 AirPlay Speakers – As low as $144.99

Philips Fidelio SoundAvia with AirPlay – As low as $113.98

JBL On Air Wireless with FM Internet Radio & Dual Alarm Clock – As low as $134.99

Altec Lansing inAir 5000 AirPlay Speakers – As low as $349.00

Philips Fidelio SoundSphere – As low as $499.99

Bowers & Wilkins A7 Wireless Music Speaker System with Subwoofer – As low as $799.00

Sanoxy – As low as $14.90

Logitech Wireless Touch Keyboard – As low as $31.98

Amazon Basics - As low as $42.99

Anker Ultra Slim – As low as $19.99

Logitech 920 Tablet Keyboard – As low as $38.49

Apple Wireless Keyboard – As low as $69.00

HP TouchPad – As low as $24.35

APPLE TV REMOTES

Official Apple TV 2 & 3 – As low as $16.97

Official Apple TV 1 – As low as $3.75

Logitech Harmony 700 – As low as $81.95

Acoustic Research ARi3G – As low as $25

Apple TV Audio Cables

• Amazon basic Digital Optical Audio Toslink Cable – As low as $5.49
• LQP  Premium Optical Toslink Audi Cable – As low as $3.78
• MediaBridge Toslink Optical Audio Cable – As low as $4.99

Apple TV HDMI Cables

• Amazon Basics High-Speed HDMI Cable – As low as  $5.49
• Official Apple HDMI Cable – As low as $4.50
• eForCity HDMI Cable for Apple TV – As low as $4.79

HDTV’s

• Samsung 22″ 1080p LED - As low as $229.00
• RCA 26″ 720 LCD – As low as $207.00
• Sceptre 32″ 720 LED – As low as $239.99
• Toshiba 40″ 1080p LCD – As low as $350.00
• TCL 42″ 1080p LCD – As low as $449.00
• Philips  46” 1080p LED with Wireless Net TV, Black – As low as $599.98
• Sharp AQUOS 1080p LCD/LED - As low as $3799.99

Kanex ATVPRO AirPlay Mirroring for VGA Projector - As low as $30.95

TV Stands

• 3M Adjustable Stand – As low as $22.35
• Screen Deck – As low as $24.94

More Holiday Gift Guides:
Best iPad mini Accessories
Best iPhone Accessories
Best iPad Accessories

MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW DEALS!

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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!

It is a well known fact that Apple integrated some form of Bluetooth in its Apple TV 2 and its Apple TV 3. For those of you who have jailbroken your Apple TV, you may have already played around with this functionality using some of the tools in nitoTV or other Apple TV hacks. Well, it is now Apples turn. As of the latest beta builds, being released for these little black boxes, 9to5Mac revealed that there have been reports of Bluetooth functionality being enabled, by Apple! So, what could this mean? What is Apples plan? Is this a “game” changer? Needless to say, officially enabling Bluetooth is a fairly BIG DEAL either way.

An Apple TV 2, or Apple TV 3, that has native Bluetooth functionality could potentially open the door to a world of options for Apple and its consumers alike. As of now, reports are that the bluetooth is for input only. This means that there has, as of yet, been no luck connecting to bluetooth speakers, any wireless mouse, or even a Mac. That said, there are wide spread reports of connecting to Bluetooth keyboards. Not just connecting but having full control of your navigation. Keyboard arrows navigating the menu. The ENTER button working to select items, and the ESC button acting as your MENU key.

Now, this is all well and good, but remember: this is a BETA test. With all the talk we have heard, and had, around the idea of Apple opening its iOS market to the Apple TV device, the entrance of devices like the OUYA (Android gaming and Media Center Box), and Apples growing desire to get into your living room, it is not to difficult to imagine the benefits and possibilities Bluetooth could offer:

• Keyboard Controls
• Mouse integration
• Gaming remotes
• Advanced Apple Remotes w/ built in microphones for SIRI integration
• Bluetooth surround sound

The options are, quite possibly endless. So, for now, we will sit back and wait. First, we let them get this working full fledged into the firmware. Second, we wait for the great devs out there to jailbreak it. Third, we reap all the benefits!

[Source: 9to5Mac]

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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!

Recently released Remote HD is an iPad/iPhone/iPod touch universal and powerful application that gives you complete access to your AppleTV, Mac or PC. It works like an Apple Remote, but it can do a lot more – one of the greatest features is Remote View that brings your AppleTV’s display to the iPhone/iPad or iPod touch.

Remote View now also works with XBMC and Boxee.

The app allows you to reconnect to last connection – - if you use Remote HD mostly to connect to the same Apple TV, you can save the time of searching for available connections and tapping to connect.

Using Remote HD you can also put the Apple TV to sleep, restart it or even shut it down altogether. In addition, selecting “Log off” will perform a “soft” restart on the Apple TV.

Other great feature is that when you connect to your computer or Apple TV using the mobile network (3G, EDGE, GPRS), Remote HD kicks into a mode designed to save data transfer and optimize its performance based on the available bandwidth at any given time. Check out the rest of the features here.

The app is XBMC and Boxee compatible. aTV Flash has already added support for Remote HD (can be installed through the Maintenance –> Install Extras menu).

We have 5 free copies of the app to give away! To enter the contest follow us on Twitter and retweet the contest message (Win RemoteHD and access your AppleTV from your iPhone/iPad! Follow @appletvhacks and RT for your chance to win #giveaway). The winners will be announced on Tuesday (June 29).

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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!

Apple has filed a set of patents for a Wii-style remote control for Apple TV.

In the two patent applications Apple describes a “wand” for controlling the operations of a media system, suggesting the iPhone-maker may be considering games for Apple TV.

That would involve distributing them to the device through the iTunes App Store, as is currently the case for the iPhone.

In January, it was suggested that NVIDIA’s Ion platform is likely to be included in the next Apple TV.

Among the uses proposed by Apple for the wand are zoom operations, a keyboard application, an image application, an illustration application and a media application.

Other possiblities for the wand include it being used to call up a dock, and then to select an option from the menu by moving the wand across the screen.

The controller could also scroll through a CoverFlow display and be used to manipulate photos by zooming in and out and rotating.

Source: HTDV.biz-news.com

It will be interesting to see how it develops, and if this will finally move apple to invest more in the platform.

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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!