Plays additional formats, other features

Hacker group FireCore have released a final version aTV Flash (black), designed specifically for the 2nd-generation black Apple TV units. While it requires users to "jailbreak" their Apple TV unit, the unofficial software adds additional media formats, an extended menu system, web surfing, Last.fm support and other features and can access files directly from a Mac, PC or network drive without using iTunes.

The software's chief selling point is its ability to allow Apple TV to play formats it otherwise couldn't, saving users the time and trouble of converting video and audio files in different formats into the ones accepted by iTunes. Supported file formats include AVI, FLAC, ISO, M2TS, MKV, MP3, MP4, MPEG, VOB, and WAV along with subtitle support for PGSsub, SSA, DVDsub, and SRT. AC3/DTS sound support is also included.

The menu system replaces the default iTunes menus but offers other features, including the ability to pull media from NAS hard drives directly. Also included is a full-featured web browser that includes support for HTML5 streaming audio or video, as well as RSS news feed options including weather forecasts, support for Last.fm and the ability to make video "playlists." Users can work with the browser and software using the standard Apple TV remote or a third-party iOS remote app.

The aTV Flash (black) is now final, selling for $30 which includes free updates for a year. A more mature version of the software is also available for the original (gray) Apple TV units, and sells for $40. Both versions leave all functions of the original software for the Apple TV untouched.

by MacNN Staff