So you didn’t update your Apple TV 2 firmware to version 6.0 (iOS 7) when it came in September, hoping for a jailbreak for 5.3 software (iOS 6.1.4 – 10B809) to come sooner or later? The wait is finally over as an updated version of FireCore‘s Seas0nPass now allows for an untethered jailbreak of Apple TV 5.3 (Apple TV 2 only).

The update was possible thanks to the help from @iH8sn0w, @winocm, and @SquiffyPwn.

FireCore also revealed that “there has been some encouraging progress made on Apple TV 6.0+” (thanks to the work of @evad3rs and @nitoTV) and they hope to have more news available “soon”.

If you’re on 6.0.x but have the SHSH blobs saved for 5.3, you can use Seas0nPass to first downgrade and then jailbreak your atv2.

Here is how to jailbreak (instructions provided by FireCore):

Option 1 – if you’re already running 5.3

1. On the ATV2, navigate to Maintenance > Manage Extras
2. Install the Maintenance (2.4) update and the Click to Untether (1.2) items – restart the Apple TV when prompted.

Option 2 – to update or reinstall 5.3

1. (Optional) Navigate to Maintenance > Settings > Manage Backups and create a new backup. Double-check to ensure the backup is listed in the Restore From Backups menu.
2. Download the latest version of Seas0nPass.
3. Open and run Seas0nPass normally, to update the Apple TV to 5.3 untethered.
4. Download and run the new 2.4 version of aTV Flash (black) to reinstall.

If you’re new to aTV Flash (black) you can read our full review here.

Note: The current version of Seas0nPass doesn’t provide a jailbreak for the Apple TV 3.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post Untethered jailbreak for Apple TV 2 5.3 released appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Here is a step by step tutorial on how to tether jailbreak Apple TV 2 5.2.1 using Seas0nPass:

NOTE: This is a TETHERED jailbreak. This means every time there is a need to reboot your Apple TV, you have to connect it to a computer. Functionally, both tethered and untethered jailbreak are identical.

NOTE 2: The current version of Seas0nPass doesn’t provide a jailbreak for the Apple TV 3.

Pre-launch checklist

1. Download and install the latest version of iTunes (check for updates through Software Update located in Apple menu).
2. Download Seas0nPass for Mac [10.6 or later] or Windows [XP or later].
3. A micro USB cable will be required to complete the jailbreak.
4. Disconnect any iPods, iPhones, and iPads from your computer.

Jailbreaking

Step 1: Unzip the ‘Seas0nPass.zip’ file and launch Seas0nPass.

Step 2: Select the ‘Create IPSW’ button to start the jailbreak process.

Step 3: The latest Apple TV software will be downloaded and used to create a custom ‘jailbroken’ software file.

Step 4: When prompted, connect your Apple TV using a micro-USB cable (leave power disconnected).

Once the light on the front of the Apple TV begins to flash rapidly, point the remote at the AppleTV and hold both the MENU and PLAY/PAUSE buttons for 7 seven seconds.

Note: This step will require the silver (aluminum) Apple TV remote that was included with the ATV2. The older, white (plastic) remotes will not work.

Step 5: iTunes will open automatically and start the restore process.

The post How to jailbreak Apple TV 2 5.2.1 (iOS 6.1.3) using Seas0nPass (tethered; Mac & Windows) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

You may recall that Apple TV Hacks broke some news for you last week regarding that fact that HBO was in talks with Apple regarding the idea of getting HBO GO on your Apple TV. Well, it would seem that, for now, the company’s answer is AirPlay. HBO’s Eric Kessler announced, at AllThingsD’s Dive Into Media Conference on Tuesday, that his company is finally enabling AirPlay on the HBO Go app. He also said that a dedicated Apple TV app will be added “at some point.”

HBO Go is a free offering included with a paid subscription to HBO. As of yet, there is no word of a standalone pricing plan, so if you don’t already have access to HBO, you are still out of luck. That said, this could change at any moment. HBO is clearly making moves to accommodate this new method of consuming media.

Let’s hope a standalone Apple TV app comes soon. Yes, we now have HBO on the ATV, but I would have greatly preferred an app  like its competitors Hulu Plus, Netflix, YouTube, and the Wall Street Journal. Frustrating as it may be, this will add to the ever expanding content being made available on the Apple TV.

The updated HBO GO app will work on devices running iOS 6 and above, as well as Apple TV with firmware version 5.1.1 or later. Cinemax’s MAX GO app was also updated with the same capabilities.

The post HBO GO(es) AirPlay appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

aTV Flash (black) seems to be almost ready for 5.2 but there is still a lot of work ahead for the developers of other Apple TV software/plugins:

Please keep in mind that while the FireCore plugins will work on Apple TV 5.1, a few minor adjustments (which are currently in progress) are needed to ensure things continue to run smoothly on Apple TV 5.2. Things like Plex and XBMC do not yet work on Apple TV 5.1 and later, and will likely require A LOT of work by their respective developers in order to be compatible.

@thomashw, the developer of Plex client for Apple TV, has already confirmed on Plex forum that he will work on getting Plex working on the latest Apple TV software.

You can jailbreak your Apple TV 2 running software version 5.2 using recently updated Sn0wbreeze 2.9.8 but jailbreaking is a bit pointless at this moment as most of the plugins are still not combatible with the latest Apple TV firmware.

We will let you know once any of ATV tweaks/plugins is updated for iOS 6 and available.

The post FireCore working on updating Seas0nPass to support Apple TV 2 5.2 (iOS 6.1) jailbreak appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Most of the software like XBMC, aTV Flash (black), Plex, etc. is not yet compatible with Apple TV 5.1 – 5.2 and the device constantly crashes when attempting to install additional software from nitoTV, so we definitely don’t recommend updating to iOS 6.x.

Other known bug/issues:

• First boot on an AppleTV 2 for 5.1/5.2 firmwares has funky glitches. Should be fixed by updates pushed via repos.

If for some reason you still wan’t to update to iOS 6 and then jailbreak using Sn0wbreeze, you can download it from here (Windows only).

We will let you know once any of ATV tweaks/plugins is updated for iOS 6 and available.

Sn0wbreeze doesn’t support Apple TV 3.

The post Sn0wbreeze 2.9.8 released with support for untethered iOS 6.x jailbreak on Apple TV 2 (confirmed) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

UPDATE: Although it has been confirmed by @MuscleNerd that evasi0n would support Apple TV 2, it seems that it doesn’t. Based on earlier news from evad3rs team, we believed their jailbreak was compatible with Apple TV 2 when publishing the below post just a few minutes after evasi0n went live. We are very sorry for causing confusion. We now have to wait for Seas0nPass to be updated with iOS 6.x support for Apple TV 2. We believe it won’t take long.

UPDATE 2: How to jailbreak Apple TV 2 5.2 (iOS 6.1) using Seas0nPass (untethered; Mac & Windows)

Evad3rs, a group of four top iOS hackers (@pod2g, @musclenerd, @pimskeks and @planetbeing) has just released a long-awaited evasi0n jailbreak for all iDevices running iOS 6.0 through 6.1, that include Apple TV 2 running software version 5.1, 5.1.1 or the latest 5.2. This is an untethered jailbreak, meaning you will be able to reboot your Apple TV without attaching it to a computer. Evasi0n jailbreak doesn’t support Apple TV 3 (however, there is some hope that it will in the future).

Here are the direct download links:

• evasi0n jailbreak for Mac OS X
• evasi0n jailbreak for Windows
• evasi0n jailbreak for Linux

Official mirrors.

Requirements:

• 5 minutes of your time
• A computer running Windows (XP minimum), Mac OS X (10.5 minimum) or Linux (x86 / x86_64)
• An Apple TV 2 running iOS 6.0 through 6.1 (Apple TV firmware 5.1 through 5.2)
• A micro USB cable to connect ATV to the computer

Apple TV 2 running iOS 5.x (atv software version 5.0.2 and earlier) can be jailbroken using Seas0npass.

The post Evasi0n iOS 6.x untethered jailbreak for Apple TV 2 released (updated) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Apple TV, which has recently taken the #1 spot of top-sellers in the TV and Video category on Amazon, is experiencing a surge in sales in recent months and developers like Firemint, Splitmo or Cerebral Gardens are taking notice.

“We are excited about how popular Apple TV has become as a way to enjoy content without paying high cable bills,” said Rob Witman, founder at Splitmo, makers of Air Show, a photo sharing and editing tool for iPad and iPhone via HDTVs. “And we are taking it a few steps further. We are focused on letting customers enhance their devices and use their HDTV and iPad for a shared video and entertainment experience. Companies like us see an opportunity to create very cool experiences to share on the big screen using platforms like Apple TV.” Apple has sold 5 million Apple TVs in fiscal 2012.

Also read: Air Show HD – Review

Cerebral Gardens is a developer that leverages AirPlay‘s dual screen capabilities with their popular app Party Doodles for iOS. “Apple’s AirPlay technology opens the door to all kinds of innovative app ideas that aren’t possible on other platforms,” said Dave Wood, president at Cerebral Gardens.  “Being able to wirelessly connect a big HD screen to a mobile device enables developers to create a much more immersive experience for their customers.”

Also read: Apple TV gaming: Party Doodles for iPad and Apple TV

Whether it’s multi-player games like Firemint’s Real Racing 2 HD, which offers a split-screen gaming experience from iPad to HDTV, or MetalStorm: Wingman from Z2Live that features seamless AirPlay compatibility, an ecosystem of games and tools is emerging around Apple TV.

Also read: Real Racing 2 HD First to Support Wireless Gaming over AirPlay on Apple TV 2

Witman says that Splitmo has a few additions to Air Show in the works like stickers, art and freehand (you can already share your HDTV-edited photos through the app on Facebook and Twitter). He say that Splitmo is also rolling out some “unique mobile to HDTV products” in the coming months that will add to the growing array of offerings that enhance the Apple TV experience for customers.

The post Apple TV’s increased popularity is creating ecosystem of tools and apps appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Air Show, an iOS app that lets users preview, select and edit images on their iPhone/iPad screen while simultaneously displaying the more polished view on an HDTV screen via Apple TV, has been recently updated to support iPhone 5 and iOS 6. Air Show now also lets you add color captions and soundtrack to your real-time photo presentation.

Air Show is simple to use and fast. It lets users do basic crop, zoom, rotate and highlight with a laser pointer — all literally in a couple of seconds as users are showing off images in real time for an audience. With Air Show, Apple TV owners can share their iPhone/iPad photos on an HDTV screen while using the handheld as an on-the-fly preview, slideshow builder and editing tool.

Unlike photo collage apps that can’t display content outside of the device, or slide-builder apps that require sitting down and building a presentation first, Air Show is about on-the-fly previewing and tweaking of images on the small screen of the iPhone or iPad while the audience enjoys the show on the big screen.

Air Show is free and available in the App Store. There will be some add-on features and online storage for additional image playlists that will cost extra for heavy users, but the free version is great for most casual users.

Check out the review of Air Show HD on What’s On iPhone.

The post Air Show photo editing app for iOS and Apple TV updated with music playlists and color captions support appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

The only plus side was the announcement that there has been some progress made with the injection vector, but no further specifics were offered. The only hard information nitoTV was able to share is that users considering jailbreaking an Apple TV 3 at some point down the line should stay on iOS 5 (Apple TV 5.0.x) and not upgrade to iOS 6 (Apple TV 5.1).

Of course, anyone who has already upgraded the firmware shouldn’t stay up nights worrying about it. Since specific jailbreak details have yet to drop, there’s no telling if this will end up being a real problem for users or not. nitoTV didn’t seem terribly concerned, but if you’re 100% certain you will be performing a jailbreak on your Apple TV 3, your best bet is to hold to iOS 5.

Back in August we reported that there was a group of “very bright and talented individuals” working on “a lead that could result in a usable jailbreak for the 3rd gen Apple TV”. No further details have been shared since then, the only thing we know is that the work is still ongoing.

Be sure to follow us on Facebook, Twitter or Google+ to be first to know when the Apple TV 3 jailbreak comes out.

Update: State of the Apple TV 3 Jailbreak

[via iJailbreak]

The post News on the Apple TV 3 jailbreak out of JailbreakCon 2012 (updated) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Apple has just updated the second and third-generation Apple TV software to version 5.1 (build 10A406e). The biggest changes include support for Shared Photo Streams, the ability to switch between iTunes accounts and to send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices. Apple TV 2 jailbreakers: as always – stay away from this update for now if you don’t want to lose your jailbreak.

Apple TV hacker and developer nitoTV tweeted that he doesn’t recommend updating to 5.1:

If you own an Apple TV 3, you’re obviously not going to lose any jailbreak updating to 5.1, however the upcoming Apple TV 3 jailbreak may only support 5.0 (5.0.1, 5.0.2) firmware.

If you still think like updating to 5.1, here are the direct download links:
AppleTV2,1_5.1_10A406e_Restore.ipsw
AppleTV3,1_5.1_10A406e_Restore.ipsw

And here is the full list of new features in Apple TV 5.1:

• Shared Photo Streams — Accept invitations for Shared Photo Streams, browse photos and comments, and receive notifications of new content.
• AirPlay — Send audio content from Apple TV to AirPlay-enabled speakers and devices (including AirPort Express and other Apple TVs). Also includes the ability to require an onscreen code to use AirPlay with your Apple TV.
• iTunes account switching — Save multiple iTunes accounts and switch quickly between them.
• Trailers — Search movie trailers. In the United States, see show times for local theaters.
• Screen savers — New Cascade, Shrinking Tiles, and Sliding Panels screen savers.
• Main menu— Reorder icons on the second page by holding down the select button on the remote.
• Subtitles — SDH support for the deaf and hard-of-hearing as well as improvements to viewing and selecting subtitles.
• Network configuration — Support for setting up advanced network options using configuration profiles.
• Stability and performance — Includes general performance and stability improvements.

[image: iLounge]

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