14 DAY TRIAL // Despite the appearance of having been wiped from the Apple TV's hard drive, Boxee software and data remains intact on Apple TVs after installing the 2.3.1 update, according to a report. Upon installing the update, users initially reported that the Boxee hack went missing.
“Boxee does run on the updated 2.3.1 software,” Andrew Kippen, Boxee media relations spokesman told Cult of Mac. “Each firmware update from Apple will normally erase non-Apple menu items from AppleTV,” he explained. “Boxee users simply need to re-apply the patchstick to add the menu item back.”
According to the folks behind Boxee, standard patchstick rules are: “create the patchstick on your OSX box, power-down the AppleTV, insert the flash drive, power-up the AppleTV, wait for boot/patching, power-down again, remove flash drive and power up and enjoy XBMC for Mac (http://xbmc.org) or Boxee for Mac.(http://www.boxee.tv).” Users are asked to note / remember that Boxee requires an account. After re-applying the patchstick, user logins, media sources, preferences, etc. will be returned to their rightful place, says the source.
Apple has recently updated a Support document listing the contents of every 2.x Apple TV software update released so far to include information on the changes available with the latest Apple TV software. According to Apple, the Apple TV 2.3.1 update includes a single addition. Particularly, the new 2.3.1 feature documented by Apple is “Network Test.”
“Network Test sends information about your Internet connection to Apple in order to help improve download performance,” Apple explains.
Apple previously attempted to kill the USB Boxee hack with the release of Apple TV Software Update 2.3 last November. It is uncertain whether Apple's efforts are directed at compromising the hack, or whether the Apple TV 2.3.1 update simply came into conflict with some of its features.