Apple TV updated to stream live MLB & NBA games, offer 5.1 sound with Netflix
The Apple TV received a software update on Wednesday to version 4.2, adding expected support for AirPlay on third-party iOS 4.3 applications, as well as a few surprise additions, including live streaming games for NBA League Pass and MLB.TV subscribers.
The Apple TV update can be applied on the latest-generation set top box, which retails for $99. New features of the update, as highlighted by Apple, include:
MLB.TV: Watch live and on-demand Major League Baseball games, access stats, scores and standings.
NBA: See scores and more, plus League Pass Broadband subscribers get live and archived games.
AirPlay for apps: Use AirPlay to wirelessly stream video from apps and Safari on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Netflix Dolby Digital 5.1: Enjoy Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound when watching Netflix movies and TV shows
New slideshow themes: View photos with the new Scrapbook, Photo Mobile, and Holiday Mobile slideshow themes.
Improved on-screen keyboard: Search and enter names and passwords more easily with the redesigned on-screen keyboard.
Once the Apple TV is updated, MLB.TV and NBA content can be accessed through the "Internet" section of the device's main menu. From there, basic information like scores and standings can be accessed, while subscribers can enter their account information to stream live games that are available.
The update also addresses a number of security issues on the Apple TV related to vulnerabilities in FreeType, exploits that can run when viewing a malicious TIFF file, and the ability for an attacker to reset an Apple TV when connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
The update arrived on Wednesday alongside the release of iOS 4.3 for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. That update allows Apple's mobile devices to wirelessly stream content from third-party applications to the set top box.
The Apple TV update can be applied on the latest-generation set top box, which retails for $99. New features of the update, as highlighted by Apple, include:
MLB.TV: Watch live and on-demand Major League Baseball games, access stats, scores and standings.
NBA: See scores and more, plus League Pass Broadband subscribers get live and archived games.
AirPlay for apps: Use AirPlay to wirelessly stream video from apps and Safari on your iPhone, iPad and iPod touch.
Netflix Dolby Digital 5.1: Enjoy Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound when watching Netflix movies and TV shows
New slideshow themes: View photos with the new Scrapbook, Photo Mobile, and Holiday Mobile slideshow themes.
Improved on-screen keyboard: Search and enter names and passwords more easily with the redesigned on-screen keyboard.
Once the Apple TV is updated, MLB.TV and NBA content can be accessed through the "Internet" section of the device's main menu. From there, basic information like scores and standings can be accessed, while subscribers can enter their account information to stream live games that are available.
The update also addresses a number of security issues on the Apple TV related to vulnerabilities in FreeType, exploits that can run when viewing a malicious TIFF file, and the ability for an attacker to reset an Apple TV when connected to the same Wi-Fi network.
The update arrived on Wednesday alongside the release of iOS 4.3 for the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad. That update allows Apple's mobile devices to wirelessly stream content from third-party applications to the set top box.
Comments
Oh well, I'll stick to my PS3 streaming BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, 4oD and LoveFilm.
The updates are nice but there is no mention of fixing the problem with Netflix streaming stopping with long delays. This is the only feature of Apple TV I cannot use... And don't say it is my personal network (as many posts have claimed) as there is a Wii sitting right next to it connected to the same network and it works fine.
Netflix servers suck at times. Updating the AppleTV won't fix that.
1) obviously more content, but that is an ongoing issue, and I'm sure there are biz dev people responsible for this
2) AirPlay streaming: I'll be curious to see if the actual performance is improved. I can click on a photo on my iPhone and the photo will appear on the Apple TV, but it will freeze there making moving to the next photo virtually impossible. I have pretty fast Internet and use Apple's own router so you would think this would be more consistent. The addition of more AirPlay functionality through the iOS 4.3 update is one of the things I am most excited about
3) I can't think of a #3
4) If they do #3 then I won't worry about #4
Netflix servers suck at times. Updating the AppleTV won't fix that.
If it is the "NetFlix" servers then why does the Wii work fine ALL the time and the ATV2 never works right? Simple troubleshooting points to the problem being the ATV2.
Every 20min the screen/colors go inverted during the HDCP handshake.
Luckily i'm nothing having any problems with it anymore, I just bought myself a new samsung
If it is the "NetFlix" servers then why does the Wii work fine ALL the time and the ATV2 never works right? Simple troubleshooting points to the problem being the ATV2.
The Wii streams a standred def file and the appletv steams in HD?
I love my Apple TV but there are a couple of "fixes" that would be nice:
1) obviously more content, but that is an ongoing issue, and I'm sure there are biz dev people responsible for this
2) AirPlay streaming: I'll be curious to see if the actual performance is improved. I can click on a photo on my iPhone and the photo will appear on the Apple TV, but it will freeze there making moving to the next photo virtually impossible. I have pretty fast Internet and use Apple's own router so you would think this would be more consistent. The addition of more AirPlay functionality through the iOS 4.3 update is one of the things I am most excited about
3) I can't think of a #3
4) If they do #3 then I won't worry about #4
Number 3 would be to incorporate or clone XBMC
Netflix servers suck at times. Updating the AppleTV won't fix that.
I could not take the buffering with Netflix, so now I just order the dvds. I was wondering if it was my cable company intentionally disrupting my bandwidth for that domain or whether it was Netflix. On normal downloading to my iMac I get around 2+ megs a second. Yeah, I know, pretty slow, but it should be fast enough, don't you think?
I could not take the buffering with Netflix, so now I just order the dvds. I was wondering if it was my cable company intentionally disrupting my bandwidth for that domain or whether it was Netflix. On normal downloading to my iMac I get around 2+ megs a second. Yeah, I know, pretty slow, but it should be fast enough, don't you think?
I had constant re-buffering when my speeds went anything below 5 on HD. Since my provider made some upgrades a few months ago and I now get a solid 10, I've not had any problems. Not sure if there's anything to this or not, but it seems like when the bandwidth limitation is on MY end, the status bar reappears with the spinning buffer icon. When the problem is on NETFLIX's end, the video just pauses without the status bar appearing.
I like my ATV, and would rent a ton of movies if they started 10 min from the time I rented them, instead of 2 hrs later.
I could not take the buffering with Netflix, so now I just order the dvds. I was wondering if it was my cable company intentionally disrupting my bandwidth for that domain or whether it was Netflix. On normal downloading to my iMac I get around 2+ megs a second. Yeah, I know, pretty slow, but it should be fast enough, don't you think?
I have 40 megs download and every now and then I get super slow streaming with Netflix- when it does happen, it's usually on the weekends.
If it is the "NetFlix" servers then why does the Wii work fine ALL the time and the ATV2 never works right? Simple troubleshooting points to the problem being the ATV2.
If you think there is something wrong with your ATV, bring it in for service.. Should still be under warranty.
How nice that Apple has added Internet content that they would earn money from. Where's Pandora. I use it fairly frequently and want it on my ATV.
You mean like Youtube, Internet radio, and Podcasts? And the NBA game highlights are free!