The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Ten Apple products Jobs had nothing to do withhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/31/ten-apple-products-jobs-had-nothing-to-do-with/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/31/ten-apple-products-jobs-had-nothing-to-do-with/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/31/ten-apple-products-jobs-had-nothing-to-do-with/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

This is very interesting -- while investors and consumers alike are panicking every time someone says "Jobs" and "sick" in the same sentence, MacLife has decided to take a more optimistic view of the prospect of His Steveness leaving the company, by compiling a nice list of ten Apple products they say Jobs had nothing at all to do with. As you probably already know, Steve left the company once before, from 1985 to 1996, and during that time, while Steve was working on NeXTstep (which would eventually become OS X), Apple didn't exactly sit on its laurels.

The Newton is first and foremost, and while some may laugh at the handwriting recognition, let's not forget that it can still do things the iPhone can't. And while many of Apple's products were finalized under Jobs' watch, their beginnings come from before his return: the Powerbook, Macintosh TV (which could definitely be seen as a precursor for the AppleTV), and the Power Macintosh were all released without Jobs. Even among the most faithful Apple fans, you have to agree that Apple is willing to get wacky without Jobs to squelch some really crazy ideas: the Twentieth Anniversary Mac, the eMate, and the adjustable keyboard are all examples of that.

Of course, you could definitely argue that Apple's most popular products (iPods, the iPhone, the MacBook lines) wouldn't have happened without Jobs. But there's something to be said for Apple sans Jobs, too. "The Power to Be Your Best" might not be quite as memorable as "Think Different," but it's got its own charm.

Ten Apple products Jobs had nothing to do with originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Ten Apple products Jobs had nothing to do with originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>applejobsmacintosh-tvnewtonos-xpower-macintoshsicksteve-jobsstocksthe-power-to-be-your-besttwentieth-anniversary-macMike SchrammWed, 31 Dec 2008 16:00:00 ESTSo you just got an Apple TV -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-apple-tv-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-apple-tv-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-apple-tv-now-what/#commentsFiled under: , ,

All day on December 25, TUAW presents "Now What?" We've got first steps and recommendations for all the Apple gifts you (hopefully!) found under the tree today. Happy holidays!

The Apple TV launched almost two years ago and has yet to really "take off." That's OK, with more and more downloadable HD content, improved support for stuff like podcasts and Airtunes and some awesome third-party solutions, the Apple TV can easily become a great media center.

Did Santa bring you an Apple TV this year? These are my tips for making it even more awesome!

Boxee It

I've made no secret about my unabashed love for boxee, the awesome media center with a social kick that can run on your Apple TV. It should be no surprise that my first piece of advice is that you set-up boxee on your Apple TV as soon as you get it connected to your TV and home theater.

Need an invite? If you don't have a friend to ask, check out the boxee forums, hit up the boxee Twitter feed or pester me (@film_girl) and you should be able to get one pretty quickly. On January 8th, 2009, boxee will be opening up the alpha for everyone.

After you've updated your Apple TV to the latest firmware, follow my instructions or take a look the information at the ATV USB Creator project page for the the details on making a patchstick. The process is extremely easy and you just need a USB stick (1 GB or more recommended) and a few minutes to get everything up and running.

Once boxee is installed, you can enjoy Hulu (if you live in the US), streaming video from other services, last.fm and playback of other file types that won't natively play on the Apple TV; you can store those files either on the Apple TV, or that you access from another hard drive.

Learn about the other cool software add-ons

I really love the Awkward TV Wiki, which is a great way to stay abreast of the latest programs and hacks users have created for the Apple TV. Most of these plugins can be installed via a patchstick -- like boxee -- and they run on-top of the existing Apple TV interface. Some of the coolest utilities, like Couchsurfer, have recently been updated for firmware 2.3.

Although modifying your Apple TV does come with some risks (you might have to do a factory restore if something goes wrong), the methodology of applying said modifications has become much, much easier and you really aren't putting your Apple TV at risk. Still, keep in mind that Apple won't provide any technical support for a modified Apple TV (which means, restore it to factory settings before sending it back :-)).

Try out a new remote, ore the iPhone/iPod touch remote app

One of the most usefulf feature additions in firmware 2.3 is the ability to program a universal remote to work with the Apple TV. If you have a really nice programmable remote, like the Logitech Harmony, you've already been able to use it with the Apple TV -- but now you can do the same thing with your TV or receiver remote.

Even better, if you have an iPhone or iPod touch, the Remote app [iTunes link] is pretty awesome. The Remote app let's you control music from your Apple TV -- which is fantastic if you want to use the ATV as a music center.

Rent some holiday movies or buy a holiday TV show

'Tis the season! Rent or buy a Christmas movie directly from the Apple TV! You can also peruse some holiday TV classics, like The Best Christmukkah Ever from the first season of The O.C.

So you just got an Apple TV -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got an Apple TV -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>apple tvapple-tvAppleTvboxeeFeaturesremote.appChristina WarrenThu, 25 Dec 2008 18:30:00 ESTChristmas gifts Apple could give mehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/20/christmas-gifts-apple-could-give-me/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/20/christmas-gifts-apple-could-give-me/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/20/christmas-gifts-apple-could-give-me/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , , ,

It's the Holiday Season, and over the years I have happily spent a lot of my XMAS money with our favorite fruit named company. My love affair with Apple products goes back to the venerated Apple II. I do have a couple of PC laptops in the house, and of course I can also run Vista on VMWare Fusion, but I'm pretty much a Mac guy through and through. Always have been. Always will be.

Nevertheless, I'd like to find some gifts from Apple under my tree this year. They are not big deals, but would be greatly appreciated. So Kris Kringle, if you're listening, pass these on to Mr. Jobs and friends.

  • How about some documentation? I know Steve thinks books are dead, but in the old days Apple documentation was really first rate. Remember that old MacWrite manual? Apple, I know you are in the electronics business, but reading help files on a laptop screen that covers up the application I am trying to learn is a bit of a pain.
  • When you release an update to an iPod, iPhone or OS X how about telling me what the update really does. I know you have gotten better at this, but why should people have to guess all the features and fixes that you have put in? Just own up to it and trust your customers.
  • Find another partner in addition to AT&T for the iPhone. My phone is a great product that is significantly damaged by an inferior, unreliable network. To me, "more bars in more places" means I'm looking for bars to find a stiff drink so I can recover from my frustration with dropped calls, poor signal strength, and sporadic 3G coverage.
  • A lot of your products get really warm. My MacBook Pro can be a sizzler on my lap. My Mac Pro keeps my office pretty warm, and I don't need those high temperatures since I'm in Arizona. Don't get me started on the Apple TV. I do think it is a great product, but I'm thinking I could make a fondue on that top surface. There is no fan in the Apple TV and when I put it in standby to spin down the hard drive it wakes up by itself paying no attention to my command. If I want to be ignored, I can walk into any Home Depot. (Update: Some users say the Apple TV does have a fan. I regret the error. It's still too darned hot!)
OK. it's not a big list, but it's a list just the same. What's on yours? And to all, a good night!

Christmas gifts Apple could give me originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Christmas gifts Apple could give me originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>ATTcomplaintsdocumentationheatimprovementsMel MartinSat, 20 Dec 2008 07:00:00 ESTTV exclusives taking movies off of iTunes?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/12/tv-exclusives-taking-movies-off-of-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/12/tv-exclusives-taking-movies-off-of-itunes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/12/tv-exclusives-taking-movies-off-of-itunes/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Has your favorite movie gone missing from iTunes or Netflix lately? The reason could be television, says CNET -- apparently a slew of movies on iTunes and Netflix's streaming service have recently fallen prey to television exclusive agreements. With the onset of Apple TV and apps like Boxee making it possible to stream Netflix, TV networks with exclusive showing agreements have made sure that while they've got a lock on a movie, we can't watch it anywhere else.

Of course, as CNET notes, it's about the money (isn't it always?). If studios can make more money from the TV networks than they can from online rentals, then obviously they're going to go with television. The only problem with that, however, is that with an exclusive agreement, they'll never know, will they?

And of course the other issue here is the actual definition of places like iTunes and Netflix -- obviously, retail stores aren't barred from carrying these movies, so does that mean that Netflix and iTunes are actually content channels rather than retailers? Tough issue. You have to think that it'll eventually be settled in favor of digital distribution (what consumer wouldn't want to watch a movie on their own time rather than sticking to a TV network's schedule), but until studios are convinced otherwise, exclusivity agreements will likely be the rule.

[via Apple Insider]

TV exclusives taking movies off of iTunes? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TV exclusives taking movies off of iTunes? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>agreementboxeecnetdealsexclusiveitunesmoviesnetflixnetworksstudiostelevisionMike SchrammFri, 12 Dec 2008 08:00:00 ESTBoxee releases new alpha, adds Netflix supporthttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/boxee-releases-new-alpha-adds-netflix-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/boxee-releases-new-alpha-adds-netflix-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/04/boxee-releases-new-alpha-adds-netflix-support/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,



It's a pretty awesome day to be a Netflix fan. Not only is the Watch Instantly service officially available for OS X, it's also now working via boxee, my favorite media center application!

Boxee pushed out an impromptu update last week for Apple TV owners, specifically to address issues with the 2.3 firmware update. Today's update is targeted at all boxee versions and adds a host of new features, including the big dog: Netflix support for US customers. Note: Netflix support is currently only in the Mac version of boxee. The boxee team is working hard to bring it to the Apple TV, but they need to work around some of the hardware limitations. They'll be posting updates on the boxee blog on their progress.

Here's the rundown:
  • Netflix support for Mac users
  • Improved Hulu performance and a new Hulu interface, including access to your personal Hulu queues
  • Access to TheWB.com (US only unless you use a proxy)
  • The Boston Globe's Big Picture blog - amazing photos from around the world
  • MTVMusic - songs/artists in your collection are now linked with music videos
  • New YouTube interface, improved performance and .h264 support
  • Custom interfaces and improved playback for CNN, Flickr and Picasa
All in all, this is a pretty stellar update. When I talked to the team from boxee last week, they made it clear that Neflix was the #1 priority. That they got Netflx running in boxee in under two weeks is nothing short of amazing. Yes, I do wish that support would be extended to Apple TV users, but I can be patient.

If you haven't tried boxee, you can go to http://boxee.tv/tuaw and get an invite. You'll need an Intel Mac running OS X 10.4 or OS X 10.5 or an Apple TV. Boxee is also available for Ubuntu 7.10 and 8.04, though I'm unsure if the team was able to implement Netflix support for Ubuntu yet.

Give it a shot and tell us what you think in the comments!

Boxee releases new alpha, adds Netflix support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Boxee releases new alpha, adds Netflix support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 04 Dec 2008 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>apple tvAppleTvatvboxeeHTPChulumedia centerMediaCenternetflixxbmcChristina WarrenThu, 04 Dec 2008 11:01:00 ESTTUAW talks to boxee and brings you inviteshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/27/tuaw-talks-to-boxee-and-brings-you-invites/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/27/tuaw-talks-to-boxee-and-brings-you-invites/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/27/tuaw-talks-to-boxee-and-brings-you-invites/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


Happy Thanksgiving! I'm super thankful that I have been able to spend the last 13 months blogging for TUAW and interacting with all of you. On a more superficial note, I am also thankful for my Macs and all the cool stuff Apple products enable me to do.

The newest member of my Apple family is the Apple TV. Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk to Avner and Andrew from boxee, the company behind the social media player of the same name. Boxee released an update earlier this week, but the next big version is set for December 4, 2008. Avner and Andrew were nice enough to answer my questions, share some details about the future of boxee and best of all, provide a link so that TUAW readers can join in the fun! If you want to try boxee on your Mac or Apple TV, enter your e-mail address at http://boxee.tv/tuaw and you should get an invite within 24 hours.

In the comments, on Twitter and via e-mail, many of you have asked questions about boxee, its limitations and its future. I took these questions and comments to Avner and Andrew, and here's what I got back.

On .MKV support for Apple TV

Boxee supports the .MKV container and if you are using a Mac mini, MacBook, iMac or Mac Pro, boxee can play back 1080p .mkv files without a problem. Apple TV is limited by its processor and GPU, and it maxes out playing back 420p and 720p .MKV content. I don't usually deal with .MKV, but a quick Google search turned up a lot of information about programs that can be used to convert files. Apparently, the PS3 has this same limitation.

Hulu performance

A number of users have complained about the quality of boxee's Hulu playback. I also noticed a decrease in quality after the latest update. The update on December 4 is going to address this. The big problem, for Apple TV owners, is once again the limitations of the hardware. Seeing as Apple TV's can stream HD content from iTunes (when downloading anyway), I think this is something that can be greatly improved, but it might take some time. Boxee is still in alpha and the goal is to enter beta sometime next year, so while I think the fact that Hulu is supported at all is fantastic, the Apple TV experience might take some time to fully evolve. If you are using a Mac for boxee playback, your performance will be much better.





Continue reading TUAW talks to boxee and brings you invites

TUAW talks to boxee and brings you invites originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)TUAW talks to boxee and brings you invites originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 27 Nov 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>apple tvapple-tvAppleTvboxeexbmcChristina WarrenThu, 27 Nov 2008 19:30:00 ESTBoxee is updated for Apple TV 2.3http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/24/boxee-is-updated-for-apple-tv-2-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/24/boxee-is-updated-for-apple-tv-2-3/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/24/boxee-is-updated-for-apple-tv-2-3/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

We've covered boxee, a fantastic media center application that can run on your Mac or Apple TV. With its attractive interface and support for Hulu, boxee is what convinced my boyfriend and me to order an Apple TV. Predictably, the day our second Apple TV arrived from Apple (the first unit broke after watching just one movie), the 2.3 software update was released, nullifying our boxee goodness.

Fortunately, the boxee team has updated boxee to support 2.3. Even better, the geniuses behind USB Creator -- a tool that makes installing boxee and the XBMC on an Apple TV a snap -- have updated their awesome software to make the whole process seamless.

If you want to install boxee and XMBC on your Apple TV, this is what you want to do. You will need a USB flash drive (minimum of 512 MB, though 1 GB or higher is recommended):

Continue reading Boxee is updated for Apple TV 2.3

Boxee is updated for Apple TV 2.3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Boxee is updated for Apple TV 2.3 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>apple tvapple-tvAppleTvboxeefeaturespatchstickxbmcChristina WarrenMon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:00 ESTApple TV update 2.3 releasedhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/19/apple-tv-update-2-3-released/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/19/apple-tv-update-2-3-released/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/19/apple-tv-update-2-3-released/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apple has just released software update 2.3 for the Apple TV. Right now, we don't have the change log, but we'll update the post as soon as we get more information.

It is important to know that as with all other Apple TV firmware updates, running the update WILL remove any non-Apple TV software. So if you have installed the USB boxee hack you might want to wait on running the update.

Apple TV will eventually prompt you to run the automatic update, so boxee or XBMC users might want to check out the XBMC.org forums for information on disabling automatic updates.

If you are not using any additional software and would like to download this new update, you can do so by visiting Settings > General > Software Update from the main Apple TV menu. If you notice any new features, be sure to let us know in the comments.

Update: Apple has now posted a change log on their website. According to the knowledge base article, the following aspects of Apple TV have been updated:

  • AirTunes Streaming from Apple TV - Music can be streamed via AirTunes to Airport Express speakers or other Apple TVs in your house.
  • Third-party Remote Controls - Apple TV can now learn other remote controls and use them in addition to the Apple Remote.
  • Playlists - Playlists in iTunes that contain Movies, TV Shows, Podcasts, and Music Videos can now be seen on Apple TV.
  • Music Volume Control - Support for volume control in Music.


Thanks for the tip, Jeff.

Apple TV update 2.3 released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple TV update 2.3 released originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 21:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>2.3Apple TVAppleTvBoxeebreakingnewssoftware updateSoftwareUpdateCory BohonWed, 19 Nov 2008 21:48:00 ESTNew version of Boxee supports Huluhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/21/new-version-of-boxee-supports-hulu/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/21/new-version-of-boxee-supports-hulu/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/21/new-version-of-boxee-supports-hulu/#commentsFiled under: , ,

We've covered the Boxee social-networking media center application before, including the recent release that runs on the Apple TV. Now yet another alpha has been released that adds a long sought-after feature: internet flash video playback for "Hulu, CBS, Comedy Central and MySpaceTV." Other updates include improvement to UI performance as well as the ability to add your own RSS feeds manually, including those containing audio and video payloads (i.e. podcasts). This naturally opens the door to considerably more content for your Boxee device, whether it be a Mac, Apple TV, or even, perish the thought, an Ubuntu Linux machine.

Unfortunately, Boxee remains invitation-only. However, you may register at the Boxee site to receive a future invitation.

New version of Boxee supports Hulu originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)New version of Boxee supports Hulu originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 21 Oct 2008 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>apple tvAppleTvboxeehulumedia centerMediaCenterMat LuTue, 21 Oct 2008 19:30:00 ESTRumor Roundup: Apple-branded HDTVs, Blu-Ray, more NVIDIAhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/12/rumor-roundup-apple-branded-hdtvs-blu-ray-more-nvidia/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/12/rumor-roundup-apple-branded-hdtvs-blu-ray-more-nvidia/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/12/rumor-roundup-apple-branded-hdtvs-blu-ray-more-nvidia/#commentsFiled under: ,

The rumor mill is heating up this weekend in advance of Tuesday's press event, and one left-field rumor is coming from a familiar, yet unlikely source: Weblogs Inc./Mahalo founder and TUAW godfather Jason Calacanis, who dropped a mild bombshell in an interview with a CNET.uk blogger on Friday (yo, JC, where's the love?): Apple is developing HDTVs that will support streamed content from iTunes, says Calacanis, integrating the Apple TV functionality along with the display and tuner.

I would file this one under "signs unclear, ask again later" -- while Apple clearly has both the display and playback engineering already done (Cleve @ 9to5Mac suggests that "[t]echnologically speaking, Apple could probably put together [this] product in a three day weekend") it's not clear that a single-box product is that much more compelling than an Apple TV with a cheap HDTV. Then again, the magic of Apple integration could make the whole a stronger sell than the sum of its parts.

Word from London, meanwhile, reported via Edible Apple: star rumormonger and Digg founder Kevin Rose announced his expectation that the next round of MacBook laptops will feature Blu-ray drives onboard. This one rates a "probable" and certainly would be a great value differentiator for the new machines.

Lastly, as the NVIDIA-related reports continue, AppleInsider and PC Perspective are stating with high confidence that the new MacBooks will be the first to move away from the Intel integrated graphics chipset and onto the Nvidia MCP79 'system on a chip' platform. Intel processors will still be at the core of the laptops, but the NVIDIA chip will handle graphics, memory access and more. Interestingly, one of the purported features of the NVIDIA hardware is full Blu-ray functionality... ties in nicely with the Rose rumor above. Call it "more than likely."

[via Techmeme]

Rumor Roundup: Apple-branded HDTVs, Blu-Ray, more NVIDIA originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rumor Roundup: Apple-branded HDTVs, Blu-Ray, more NVIDIA originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sun, 12 Oct 2008 00:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>blu-rayhdtvrumorMichael RoseSun, 12 Oct 2008 00:15:00 ESTApple TV update 2.2 brings out the "Brick"http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/03/apple-tv-update-2-2-brings-out-the-brick/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/03/apple-tv-update-2-2-brings-out-the-brick/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/03/apple-tv-update-2-2-brings-out-the-brick/#commentsFiled under: ,

So, that was like a really bad, mean, and cruel joke. But it does seem that the recent Apple TV update is bricking some Apple TVs. According to the Apple Discussion board, some users cannot get past the boot video. If the update bricks your Apple TV, it's not the end of the world (well, it is if you cannot do the following steps).

One discussion board reader reports that doing a restore of your Apple TV will help resolve the situation. To restore your Apple TV, try the following steps:
  1. Hold down the Menu and Menu down/scroll (-) buttons on the remote for approximately 3 to 5 seconds, until the LED on Apple TV flashes yellow.
  2. After Apple TV restarts, a screen appears asking you to pick a language. Select the language you wish to use.
  3. After the Apple TV Recovery screen appears, select "Factory Restore"
Please note that restoring the factory settings will completely remove any and all data on the Apple TV. In most cases, your Apple TV software will be reset to version 1.0 (if you bought your ATV prior to the 2.0 update). For more information on the diagnostic tools, read Apple's support note.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Apple TV update 2.2 brings out the "Brick" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple TV update 2.2 brings out the "Brick" originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 03 Oct 2008 23:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Apple TVAppleTvbreakingnewsbricksoftwareupdateCory BohonFri, 03 Oct 2008 23:45:00 ESTApple TV update 2.2http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/02/apple-tv-update-2-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/02/apple-tv-update-2-2/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/02/apple-tv-update-2-2/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Earlier tonight, Apple issued a Security Update for Apple TV. According to Apple, this update (version 2.2) fixes a bug in Apple TV that could allow a "maliciously crafted movie file may lead to an unexpected application termination or arbitrary code execution." This definitely doesn't sound good to us.

It's not all boring security stuff; Apple also added a Genius playlist function. To access the Genius function, just hold down the play/pause button while a song is playing, and a popup menu will allow you to "Start Genius," or add to an on-the-go playlist.

You can download this update by navigating to Settings > Update Software. Alternatively, Apple TV checks on a weekly basis for any new updates. If it finds an update, it will download, verify, and install the new update. You can read more about this update in this Apple support article.

Have you found another feature of the update? Let us know by sharing in the comments below, or sending us a tip!

Thanks Justin

Apple TV update 2.2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple TV update 2.2 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 02 Oct 2008 23:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Apple TVAppleTvbreakingnewssecurity updateSecurityUpdatesoftware updateSoftwareUpdateupdateCory BohonThu, 02 Oct 2008 23:15:00 ESTInstall Boxee or XBMC on an Apple TVhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/01/install-boxee-or-xbmc-on-an-apple-tv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/01/install-boxee-or-xbmc-on-an-apple-tv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/10/01/install-boxee-or-xbmc-on-an-apple-tv/#commentsFiled under: , ,


We've been expecting something interesting to happen to the Apple TV, but with nary a peep out of Cupertino it seems that atv-bootloader creator Scott Davilla has been busy. We've posted about Boxee before: it's a media center application based on XBMC with a social networking spin. Previously it was limited to Intel Macs running Leopard (and Ubuntu Linux), but it's now been ported to Tiger. That means that it's compatible with the Apple TV, which runs a modified version of Mac OS X 10.4.

So what does this mean? Simply that you can now install the Tiger versions of Boxee or XBMC (for Mac) on your Apple TV. First you use need to use Davilla's handy atvusb-creator on your Mac to convert a USB flash drive into a patchstick. Then you just need to plug it into your Apple TV, wait for the patch process to complete, and install either Boxee or XBMC from within the plugin. In the end you get an Apple TV with all the extra functions of XBMC or Boxee including much broader codec support, the social networking features, etc.

The atvusb-creator is a free download from Google Code for Intel Macs. To use Boxee, however, you'll need to request an account at their site.

[via Engadget]

Install Boxee or XBMC on an Apple TV originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Install Boxee or XBMC on an Apple TV originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 01 Oct 2008 18:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>apple tvAppleTvatvatv-bootloaderatvusb-creatorMat LuWed, 01 Oct 2008 18:30:00 ESTRumor: Is the Apple TV being replaced?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/27/rumor-is-the-apple-tv-being-replaced/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/27/rumor-is-the-apple-tv-being-replaced/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/27/rumor-is-the-apple-tv-being-replaced/#commentsFiled under: ,


We just got an e-mail from an anonymous Apple reseller, stating that they received an e-mail from Apple with instructions to remove all Apple TV displays and literature and to destroy them (which I assume means throw away the literature, send back the Apple TVs) by September 30, 2008 at 5 PM. Additionally, the e-mail says that there will be a webcast "kick off" on September 30.

Incidentally, September 30 IS a Tuesday (and the last day of the September quarter), making all of this information, very, very interesting.

So, what does this mean? Could this potentially be the introduction of the Mini/Apple TV hybrid we've all been begging for? Is this related to the rumors of "The Brick?"

I guess we'll have to wait until Tuesday to find out for sure. Hey, it's Saturday, so speculate away in the comments!

Addendum: In the comments and in some subsequent e-mails, we're receiving the impression that the licensing for the shows/images displayed in the literature has run out, and that the actual physical units may not be disappearing. Of course, that still leaves the issue of the webcast event on Tuesday...

Rumor: Is the Apple TV being replaced? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rumor: Is the Apple TV being replaced? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>apple tvAppleTvbrickrumorsChristina WarrenSat, 27 Sep 2008 14:00:00 ESTHD television shows coming to the iTunes storehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/09/hd-television-shows-coming-to-the-itunes-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/09/hd-television-shows-coming-to-the-itunes-store/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/09/09/hd-television-shows-coming-to-the-itunes-store/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Steve Jobs just announced at the "Let's Rock" event in San Francisco that not only was NBC content returning to the iTunes store, but that Apple would start selling HD content on the store, playable both through the new iTunes 8, as well as AppleTV. Shows like Battlestar Galactica and The Office will be available in HD to watch anywhere you'd like.

HD shows will cost $2.99 each, while SD television shows will keep their price of $1.99. Stay tuned to TUAW for more from the event, and you can see news up-to-date in our ongoing liveblog.

HD television shows coming to the iTunes store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)HD television shows coming to the iTunes store originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 09 Sep 2008 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>battlestar-galacticacontenthdnbcsdshowstvMike SchrammTue, 09 Sep 2008 12:40:00 ESTApps for Apple TV: sign me uphttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/24/apps-for-apple-tv-sign-me-up/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/24/apps-for-apple-tv-sign-me-up/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/24/apps-for-apple-tv-sign-me-up/#commentsFiled under: , ,

Saul Hansell, over at the New York Times Bits blog, takes Microsoft's recent announcement about Xbox LIVE Community Games as a jumping off point to some speculation about Apple TV (and who doesn't like speculation?). Hansell wonders what would happen if Apple were to open up an App Store for the Apple TV, and I have to admit that I think that's a brilliant idea.

I've always thought that the Apple TV would greatly benefit from third party plugins (official ones, I mean, not hacks), if not full blown apps. Take, for example, the YouTube functionality. Wouldn't it be cool if you could watch videos from Viddler, Vimeo, or any of the other countless video sharing sites, in addition to those on YouTube? And let's not forget Netflix. Microsoft and Netflix have teamed up to offer the 'Watch it now' library of videos to XBox Live Gold members. Being able to watch those videos from Netflix on my Apple TV would make me one happy panda.

Hansell notes that to make apps on the Apple TV viable something has to be done about that horrible onscreen keyboard. He thinks that Apple might tie the iPhone into the Apple TV as a way to control it. Luckily, Apple has already done this. As John Gruber points out, when you have Apple's Remote app on your iPhone you are able to use the iPhone to enter text into your Apple TV.

Let's hope Apple stops thinking about Apple TV as a hobby and starts making an aggressive push for the living room. I like my Apple TV, but my XBox 360 offers up more functionality (and more heat!).

Apps for Apple TV: sign me up originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apps for Apple TV: sign me up originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>apple-tvxbox360Scott McNultyThu, 24 Jul 2008 19:00:00 ESTMac 101: Pairing/Unpairing Apple remoteshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/24/mac-101-pairing-unpairing-apple-remotes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/24/mac-101-pairing-unpairing-apple-remotes/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/24/mac-101-pairing-unpairing-apple-remotes/#commentsFiled under: , ,

If you're like me, then you have multiple Macs with IR sensors in the same room. What happens when you push the menu button on your Apple remote? Chances are it will launch Front Row on every Mac in the room. I had this problem until I discovered Apple remote pairing.

To pair your remote with a specific Mac or Apple TV, just hold down the menu and the next (fast forward) buttons for 5 seconds making sure you're within 5 inches of the IR sensor on the device.

You can unpair a remote by going into System Preferences (Apple menu > System Preferences) and click security. From the Security System Preference pane, select the "Unpair" button at the bottom the preference pane.

Lastly, you can disable the use of remotes all together. To do this, head back to the Security System Preference pane and click the check box labeled "Disable remote control infrared receiver." This will keep rogue remotes away from your Mac.

Mac 101: Pairing/Unpairing Apple remotes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Mac 101: Pairing/Unpairing Apple remotes originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 24 Jul 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Apple RemoteApple TVAppleRemoteAppleTvcontrolDisable remote controlDisableRemoteControlGizmodoInfraredIRMacMac 101Mac101remoteCory BohonThu, 24 Jul 2008 08:00:00 ESTApple TV 2.1 walkthroughhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/10/apple-tv-2-1-walkthrough/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/10/apple-tv-2-1-walkthrough/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/10/apple-tv-2-1-walkthrough/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Today Apple released the 2.1 update for the Apple TV. The main new features of this update are MobileMe and support for Remote.app (Apple's Remote application for iPhone/iPod touch users).

Telling readers what the update did is one thing, but showing is a completely different story, that's why we went the extra mile to bring you a walkthrough of the new features in the 2.1 update. So check out our gallery of Apple TV 2.1 screenshots.

Gallery: Apple TV 2.1 update

Apple TV 2.1 walkthrough originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple TV 2.1 walkthrough originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>Apple TvAppleTvsoftware updateSoftwareUpdateupdateCory BohonThu, 10 Jul 2008 16:30:00 ESTApple TV 2.1 update goes live, adds MobileMe supporthttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/10/apple-tv-2-1-update-goes-live-adds-mobileme-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/10/apple-tv-2-1-update-goes-live-adds-mobileme-support/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/10/apple-tv-2-1-update-goes-live-adds-mobileme-support/#commentsFiled under: , ,

To commemorate the launch of MobileMe, Apple has updated the Apple TV to work with the new service. The new update includes a new MobileMe sub-menu in the Photos menu.

MacRumors is reporting that you will also be able to control your Apple TV using the free Remote app from the iTunes Store. You can download this update by going to Settings > General > Software Update.

If you notice anything that we haven't, be sure to leave a comment!


Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Apple TV 2.1 update goes live, adds MobileMe support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple TV 2.1 update goes live, adds MobileMe support originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 10 Jul 2008 08:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>.MacApple TVAppleTvapplicationcontrolMobileMeRemotesoftware updateSoftwareUpdateupdateCory BohonThu, 10 Jul 2008 08:30:00 ESTSSD-equipped AppleTVhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/14/ssd-equipped-appletv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/14/ssd-equipped-appletv/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/06/14/ssd-equipped-appletv/#commentsFiled under: , ,

SSD in an AppleTVIt's June, you're bored, and you're looking at that 40GB AppleTV sitting on your media center. The next thing you know, you've bought a solid-state drive (SSD) and created the world's first (as far as we know) SSD-equipped Apple TV.

Josh Lee modded his original AppleTV not to increase the size of the drive -- he's using a 32GB Transcend SSD since he stores most of his media on NAS -- or speed it up. In fact, it sounds like he did the mod just for the hell of it. The benefits of the mod include less heat generation by the AppleTV and almost silent operation.

Josh reports in his email to AppleTVHacks that all he had to do was take an image of his AppleTV drive, mount it, resize the media partition, DD the image to the SSD , do a factory restore, use the patch2stick, and the SSD was quickly up and running. Whew!

Your challenge, TUAW reader, is to nab one of those fast 256GB Samsung SSD's when they ship this fall and use the Josh Lee method to create a fast, cool, and silent FrankenAppleTV. If you're the first, tell us about it.

A big thank you to Luck for the pointer to AppleTVHacks

SSD-equipped AppleTV originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)SSD-equipped AppleTV originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 14 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments

]]>appletvappletvhacksmodsssdSteven SandeSat, 14 Jun 2008 08:00:00 EST