Apple TV Death after update?

Hi Guys

This is my 1st issue with an Apple Product and it really does apear Apple has a serious issue with the last update. So many people experiencing the same issue cannot be going un-noticed. I've worked in IT and I bet any money you like the Brand Managers and Product Managers responsible for this product are totally aware something's gone wrong and are monitoring this thread daily.

My only issue is that no one from Apple has the courtesy to even post something to say they are looking into it or keeping us abreast of anything ..........

This is day 4 for me ... with a product not working ... Come on Apple give us a clue????

N

Okay, I give up. I couldn't downgrade or upgrade. The atv is completily stuck!

I went back to the apple store, they are going to send it back. Now we wait.

This is a really bad upgrade Apple! At least I have a micro usb cable in case of another upgrade.

I agree an explanation is in order. However this problem is bigger than just the apple TV. Apparently other Apple products like the new IPhone are having major issues. I read a post where people are having issues with the IPad upgrade. It looks like they have a lot on their hands. Since Apple TV is probably the smallest customer base, I wouldn’t hold your breath for too long on a reply. Although as paying customers we deserve at least an acknowledgment.

Welcome to the new Apple???

Completely agree.

But I think our perspective is far too, frankly, sympathetic.

Yes Apple is a technology company, and technology has to evolve, be tried and test, before it's perfect.

But that really isn't our problem as consumers; it's something that should be established before a product hits the shelf. That's what the figure on that shelf ticket is all about. And let's face it, it's not cheap with Apple. We're talking upper end of the market.

Apple need to pull their collective finger out if they want to keep that share price up. P*ss the customer off, and you'll end up p*ssing the shareholders off too. And at the moment, there are a lot of p*ssed-off customers.

In a nutshell, I'd be happy with the odd glitch. But what I do expect is a bit of humanity - a page on the Apple site saying something like "We're away of problems with the Apple TV update. We're sorry about that, but please be assured we're working on it. We'll let you know how we're doing on <date>". That would make me feel like I was being looked after as a customer. It would make me feel like Apple was a brand worth sticking with.

Am I being unreasonable?

You're right of course.

What has happened in this instance is that some of us recently purchased and had been using a device that was working well, then we are told to press a button to update, then we are left with a non-working device.

They should not only be shipping us a free working replacement device without us having to drive hours to an apple store, but also be giving apple store credit of some type.

What if a flat screen tv manufacturer made you update your tv after 2 weeks of use and then you were left with a non-working TV for a week or more?

This is so frustrating.

I didnt even want to upgrade my appletv but pressed the go button on the remote before I had switched the tv across to the input so didnt see what I was selecting.

Oh well I thought apple tv updates always work.....now I have upgraded ....then downgraded.....then upgraded.....then downgraded again...still wifi doesnt work.

I am a 20+ year network engineer and I cant make this work.

I'd put up with this from a linux do it yourself distro but Apples market is one-button consumers....how would they ever navigate through this? why should they need itunes on a PC/Mac to fix it?

As one poster has said this needs a clear annoucement from apple - 'we are aware of it and we are fixing it'....and a 5.1.1 update out within days......of course anyone without a wired connection/itunes/usb cable would have to take it to a store anyway (ie mum and dad consumers that this thing is aimed at)

what a stuff up.

al (australia)

I was having a wifi issue with my ATV2 after updating to 5.1: the ATV saw my wifi networks but refused to connect. I noticed it said DHCP NULL in Settings, so I manually set an IP address and then tried connecting again to my wifi. This worked, as my ATV2 with 5.1 is now on the Internet and seeing my iTunes library.

further update - just dragged a 20ft ethernet cable along the corridor between my office and the living room so I could plug the appletv3 in via ethernet - and it works.

So the **** thing functions fine over ethernet with the 5.1 software....but cannot see any wireless networks....which is pretty frustrating for me as I dont have ethernet in the living room 😟 and cant have everyone tripping over the stupid cable.

Pretty clear that 5.1 has killed the wifi component of the atv3.

Hope there is a fix iminent?

killed not only wifi, on some devices, like mine, also cable connection 😉

and now? in austria i don't have an apple store.
all they can is sending me a box, that i can send it back to apple (think ireland or somewhere).

Then they will check it, fix it or exchange it and i have to week approx. 2 weeks.

thanks apple! 😠

Hi there,

Just thought I'd add my case to the list here and update with some new info.

I too have experienced the issues after updating to the latest 5.1 software, and like others the issues only appear when the ethernet cable connection is active, no issues at all via wifi.

Issues that occur: Cannot connect to WSJ, MLB, NHL, or PhotoStream. I don't use iTunes Match so not sure if that works. Connecting via wifi works perfectly.

Resolutions attempted: Restore via device itself over ethernet, no joy. Restore via device itself over wifi, no joy. Restore device via USB through iTunes on iMac, still no joy. Restore the previous software 5.0.2 and everything works perfectly!

Called Apple, did another update and restore and not working. I was told to go to Genius Bar at the Apple store and probably exchange after they tested. I did that, they were able to duplicate in the store and therefore exchanged with a new unit.

I brought the new unit home, and exactly same problem. Works fine on 5.0.2 but as soon as 5.1 is installed the ethernet does not work on the above applications. Oddly iTunes and Netflix and the other "channels" work fine, just those ones seem to be affected for some reason.

So CLEARLY there is an issue with the 5.1 software. I have downgraded the new unit back to 5.0.2 as a work around for now since I need ethernet connection and wifi is not good enough where it is installed.

I REALLY hope Apple fixes this soon. The shared PhotoStreams is a great feature that I would like to use!

To everyone out there: its a software problem and exchanging with a new unit does NOT resolve the issue. The new software works great but on WIFI only. What a disappointing experience this has been with Apple for me. I would expect this lack of testing and carelessness from Microsoft, but not Apple.

...sadly disappointed,

D.

I just updated and I'm bricked. Plugged into PC with micro usb cable and nothing shows up in iTunes. Worked yesterday and now i'm hosed. Apple needs to fix. I don't see how this is legal since I'm out of warranty.

Pretty much same experience here, but my ATV3 is hardwired along with game systems.

When through all the upgrading, downgrading, testing , blah blah blah....then did it all again with Apple Customer Support, the supervisor said it was most likely something with the updtate (ya think?!) and issue was sent to engineers, advised to go to Genius Bar, did that, they replaced it. Guy sad I wasn't the first with this issue at his store.

Got home and decided to leave it as is. Everything works but Netflix, no idea why. I can fire Netflix up on my Xbox360; called Apple Support again, they say it's somethoing Netflix did to the Apple TV....but it's a brand new unit that had I'd never logged into Netflix servers with. Whatever, this is BS. Apple screwed up, tired of wasting time on this...terrible update. At this point I just want to get rid of it on Craiglist and go with Roku. Only had the ATV for 2 months anyway, not wedded to it, but the movie renting bit was nice. Cust support was good, not their fault.

Good luck to everyone still dealing with this crap.

I had originally replied to a post titled "No network LAN-connection after iOS 5.1.1 update". That has been my issue after updating to 5.1. Wirless worked for me but iTunes match and Podcasts were slow to respond. I finally downgraded to the previous version (5.0.2). So far, my ATV3 has been operating exactly as it did out of the box. No more activation failed message, and all components of ATV are functioning flawlessly on my whole home LAN network.

I also wonder what Apple was thinking for releasing this update without adaquate testing. I can forgive them for Maps, but not this. ATV has been around long enough for all of the kinks to be worked out and any updates to just plain work. I did like the new menu displays in apps and how you could rearrange the program icons on the home screen.

Perhaps they will get it right. Some day. But until they show proof that any future updates are correct and provide detailed instructions on how to revert back to a previous version, I will be very leary of updating. Spending a week reading message boards on how to do a simple resotre is not my idea of how to spend my weekends.

As a side note, I am a PC, so to restore from an .ispw file located on your system, you must press the Alt & Shift keys togather, then click the Restore button, and a window will pop-up so you can select the location for the restore file.

Yes you can. I am a PC. Download the .ipsw file and save to your desktop. Unplug the LAN, HDMI and power cable. Connect the usb cable from your laptop to the ATV. If iTunes does not automatically launch, start it. After iTunes is running, plug in the power cable to the ATV. iTunes will recognize the ATV and will open the restore window in iTunes.

Press the Alt and Shift keys togather, then click on the Restore button. A file window will open so you can navigate to the desktop (or where ever you saved the file). Select the AppleTV3,1_5.-.2_9B830_Restore.ipsw file. iTunes will start the restore process.

When you see the message that it has completed the restore, unplug the usb cable and power cable. Reconnect the LAN and HDMI cable then plug in the Power cable in that sequence.

Follow the setup procedure again and all should be as it was before.

unfortunately for many of us the downgrade does not fix the problem.

downgraded ok (ie the process worked) on my atv3 which gets me back ethernet connectivity - but still no wireless.

i have no idea why we are all seeing different results but unfortunately even the rollback (downgrade) process isnt reliable.

As a Cisco engineer of mine used to say 'gotta clear out the e-crap' from the system.

Seems like 5.1 has installed some e-crap that even going back down to 5.02 doesnt always take out.

This is woeful from Apple.