Filed under: Software Update, Apple, Apple TV
AppleTV gets a stealth update
Apple didn't just update Safari's beta yesterday. While no one was looking, the Apple TV was updated to version 2.3.1. We checked, and there was no update note published and no specific information on the Apple web site. The most recent software note is from November 19, 2008 and refers to the version 2.3 update.I prowled around the menus in the new version a bit, and found a Network Test function. It asked me what my bandwidth was, or allowed me to say I didn't know. Then after a few seconds a progress bar showed that something was downloading. The test ended and I received no information about my download speed, so I assume the information went to Apple to help diagnose any connectivity problems.
There may be some other changes or fixes, but I didn't see anything and Apple is so far silent on what else may be in this update. After my update the AppleTV page on iTunes was missing all the media tabs except for 'Photos'. I dropped the connection between iTunes and the AppleTV and re-linked them, and all the tabs came back. I did have to sync again. Whether that was caused by the firmware update or a problem I had and didn't notice is unknown. I suspect it is the former, but no harm was done, other than the bother of doing a fresh sync.
Apple would do well to open up a bit about these stealth updates. I hate updating firmware without knowing the benefits, if any, the update gives me. Then again, if a bandwidth tester is the stealthy scout for the rumored iTunes Replay streaming-on-demand service, that's probably a good thing.
Of course, if you have modified your Apple TV to run boxee you will notice that the update sends it into the netherworlds. Users tell us re-applying the patchstick for boxee puts everything back where it was.
Thanks to TUAW reader Nate and others for the heads up.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Cyd said 11:11AM on 2-25-2009
There was also a "carrier setting" update for my iPhone this morning.
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Bob said 11:24AM on 2-25-2009
is this a newer carrier update than the one from a few weeks ago?
Peter said 11:20AM on 2-25-2009
AppleTV has been experiencing bandwidth issues lately with lots of customers, maybe they are trying to figure out what is going on with the bandwidth problem.
http://discussions.apple.com/thread.jspa?threadID=1838952&tstart=0
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Galley said 1:28PM on 2-25-2009
There is now a "Network Test" feature that will send results back to Apple.
Jason Martin said 11:25AM on 2-25-2009
Boxee is wiped out by this update, but all you have to do is run the patchstick again, and Boxee is back up and running as normal. No real "break" there.
http://twitter.com/boxee/statuses/1249610454
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Jamus said 11:46AM on 2-25-2009
Need HARDWARE update, both for AppleTV and computers.
I hope they are not holding off for NAB.
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NutMac said 1:00PM on 2-25-2009
Agreed on the hardware update part. At the very least, bump the capacity (ideally by adopting SATA hard disk) and processor (CPU and/or GPU). I would buy Apple TV the moment it gets even the slightest hardware update.
John Campbell said 11:50AM on 2-25-2009
auto updates should be disabled, especially when they happen behind the scenes w/o any in advance notice.
When I got my appletv with boxee preinstalled at www.boxeeonappletv.com they've disabled the auto-update so I'm lucky I don't have to deal with this patching again now.
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Joe said 7:38PM on 2-25-2009
Re-patching did not bring back the ability to ssh into my apple tv.
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balls said 1:20PM on 2-25-2009
Apple, you stupid piece of shit.
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Cy said 9:56AM on 5-11-2009
That would actually be, "Apple, you ignorant slut!"
now4real954 said 1:45PM on 2-25-2009
ok well here is my problem with updating my apple tv's is that it worries me because i have a nice amount of restricted type movies saved directly on the appletv and accessible thru NitoTV to watch...first because i dont want the kids to be able to see them on the living room appletv so being in itunes isnt an option and i am low on hard drive space so since i stream both of my apple tv's i have the dead space on the 160gb in the bedroom so it makes sense to me to have them saved on that hard drive
does an update erase what is on the hard drive or does it just update the operating system? anyone have any ideas on this?
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now4real954 said 1:48PM on 2-25-2009
and i have to say...i hadnt updated the living room apple tv to 2.3 yet and reapply the patchstick so does everything still work correctly with this new update? (atvfiles, nitotv, sapphire, boxee, xbmc...etc?)
please let me know if anyone has any info for me on this
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Dbs143 said 1:58PM on 2-25-2009
ahh! i got so excited that it was the apple tv update that i was long awaiting!!
turns out it was just a petty software update...
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ErnieP said 2:57PM on 2-25-2009
Who cares? Just update those Mac minis!
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Zach said 4:06PM on 2-25-2009
That probably explains the strange error message I saw and ignored when I fired up the Apple TV last night.
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JasonL said 4:12PM on 2-25-2009
I'm looking forward to a much more substantial software update. My AppleTV's menus are so painfully sluggish that it's unusable much of the time. I'll click the remote and nothing will happen for the longest time! Sometimes, the screen goes black and I can't do a thing about it (I believe this is while it's syncing to iTunes). This is over what's supposed to be a fast N WiFi network connected to Time Capsule.
It's great for some things but overall, it's been a very frustrating product. I should have got a Mac Mini instead--too bad they're $600.
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Halloween Jack said 10:40PM on 2-25-2009
I had the same lag on the menus - it seemed to be a problem when connecting to the Time Capsule and the awful delay when Time Capsule spins up. I tested my theory by connecting to a regular wireless router, delay disappeared.
Bruce Taylor said 8:10PM on 2-25-2009
Since the update I can no longer watch purchased movies through my Appletv. I get the HDCP error. I have a HDMI to DVI connector to a monitor. Any ideas about how to get around this?????
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Rogério Rocha said 2:25AM on 2-26-2009
I'm using my AppleTV in Brazil with a US Store account.
Recently Apple updated the Store User Agreement to include a clause that forbids anyone to use Store services outside the Store region (which includes me, of course) and also allows Apple to use technologies to detect in-proper usage. I'm expecting to be banned any moment now. :-P
What this update signals me, is that this "Network Test" gathers info about my connection INCLUDING country usage from IP addresses.
Clever Apple.
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