14 DAY TRIAL // Firecore, the company behind the aTV Flash suite for Apple TV users, is unleashing aTV Flash (black), a new version of the software bundle which specifically targets owners of a jailbroken, second-generation Apple TV. The package will include the Couch Surfer Pro web browser, Last.fm streaming, and more when it debuts towards the end of this month.
The company behind the software describes aTV Flash as “a user-friendly software package that supercharges your AppleTV, unleashing a plethora of new functionality.”
“Don’t worry about the technical details – aTV Flash is simple to use and safe for your AppleTV. Installation is a snap and doesn’t require any physical changes to the AppleTV,” Firecore claims.
The company also said that aTV Flash (black) will be a free upgrade for current aTV Flash users.
As noted above, the first beta version will be available this month.
“We're planning to bring many of the most popular features of the original aTV Flash to the new models,” Firecore says. “This includes things like robust codec support, NAS streaming, web browsing, Last.fm and well as many exciting new features.”
The MiRow view in the Couch Surfer Pro browser has full support for streaming Flash, QuickTime, Silverlight and most other Internet videos, Firecore confirms, while users can have full access to the web by using only the simple Apple remote.
“Of course if you want to use something more fancy you can do that too,” the company adds, likely referring to standard computer peripherals.
Also worth noting is that Netflix will be available immediately through the built-in browser. However, Firecore notes, a dedicated Netflix plugin will only be available in Late 2010.
Pricing is yet to be announced, although it is likely that aTV Flash (black) will not be priced higher than the version targeting original Apple TVs.
For those of you wondering if the whole deal breaks your Apple TV warranty, Firecore says no, it doesn’t. According to the company’s FAQ page…:
Will aTV Flash void my warranty?
No, the aTV Flash software can be easily removed at anytime through the factory restore function.
However, Apple TV users looking to employ the aTV Flash suite will need to jailbreak their set-top boxes using the various tools developed by the likes of geohot, the iPhone Dev Team, or the Chronic Dev Team.
This practice, although deemed legal in the United States, is not condoned by Apple.