Well I’ve finally done the untethered jailbreak of my apple tv 2 and I’m really impressed with the results.
The jailbreak wasn’t too difficult (although I still use pwnage tool to get the apple TV 2 into DFU mode as it seems much easier). Once in DFU mode I plugged in the power cable then it’s just a case of running greenpois0n RC6 (mac version) and hitting the jailbreak button. Once it says complete, wait around 40 seconds before removing the usb cable and inserting the HDMI cable. You will have an extra tab on your apple tv called greenpois0n. Click this and click install cydia and it will download cydia from the repository using apt.
When the apple TV 2 reboots you will have a nitoTV tab, which allows you to install a few different apps including XBMC. I installed XBMC this way, but the installation failed so I fired up terminal on my mac, logged in via SSH and ran the following command ‘dpkg –configure -a’ as root. This fixed the local apt files and re-installed XBMC.
Following a further reboot of the Apple TV 2 we where rolling. I had lost wifi, but re-installing nitoTV fixed that. I also disabled the apple software update in NitoTV to stop it nagging in the future.
XBMC looks amazing in 720p over HDMI. I installed the PM3:HD skin which is quicker than the default skin, and matches that used on my old xbox. I’ve now retired the xbox and the new apple tv is superb. Plays 1080p .mkv files without issue. My only complaint is that the remote is a little limited, but using the xbmc control app for my iPhone fixes that. Right back to work on Kool Badges before having another play with the Apple TV. Any questions lease ask.
I’ll post up more findings.
Hey, I’ve been able to jailbreak my apple tv 2 and am also unable to install XBMC. I did what you suggested and SSHed to the device and ran “dpkg –configure -a” but it gives the following as output:
dpkg: unknown option -o
Type dpkg –help for help about installing and deinstalling packages [*];
Use `dselect’ or `aptitude’ for user-friendly package management;
Type dpkg -Dhelp for a list of dpkg debug flag values;
Type dpkg –force-help for a list of forcing options;
Type dpkg-deb –help for help about manipulating *.deb files;
Type dpkg –license for copyright license and lack of warranty (GNU GPL) [*].
Options marked [*] produce a lot of output – pipe it through `less’ or `more’ !
APP-TV:~ root#
Any suggestions?
I had issues at first. Try removing the power cord from your apple TV. Leave it for a few secs then plug it back in. Once it has booted SSH into it again and try the above in terminal.
Alternatively try following the instructions on the XBMC website for installing via SSH instead of via NitoTV
How did you re-installing nitoTV to fix the wifi loss?? I jailbroke last night and now I can not get wifi and there is not unistall or re-install feature in the settings. Just update which I did 100 times today! This is madness!
I clicked update in the nitoTV settings like you did. Try installing the wifi tweak fix which you can download via NitoTV. once this is done go back into the NitoTV settings and click the restart lowtide button. That worked for me. You may need to plug your appleTV into your router via ethernet to install the wifi tweak from NitoTV
OK have done all that, but wasn’t sure what the low tide thing was never clicked it. Guess it worth a try. and I installed the wifi tweak already
Sadly didnt fix it. Wifi is just plain dead. Wont see any networks.
Did 1080p mkv files play on the default skin for you? I will try the PM3 skin when I get home. Did you have to change cache or any other settings for it to work for you? When I play 1080p mkv files, it works for a little bit then has to buffer.
Hi.
Yes 1080p .mkv files work fine. I am using an Ethernet cable via the router to the apple tv to cut out any lag & buffeting, but it works just fine. Not changed any settings (very few available to change in the apple tv 2 version of xbmc).
Yea, I got a second one to use in my living room, where I have wired networking available. It plays much better with 1080p there. I don’t have much of a problem with 720p on the one I have on wireless, so it must just be the stability of the connection.
You may have interference on your wifi network. I’m using 802.11n now so that runs at 130Mb (or therabouts after overhead. Nice & fast. I’ve now set it up completely wireless and no buffering issues at all, even on high bitrate 1080p .mkv files.