Apple TV seems to be stuck in a loop

Yes, I've noticed this myself.... This would seem to support the idea that this was related to a problem on the iTunes Store back-end.

I'm not suspecting a software update per se, but it's reasonable to assume that the tv does some background checking for updates to the various trailers and top-ten lists that are available on it. I'm thinking that perhaps the problems with the iTunes Store today related to upgrading to iTunes Plus content may have had an effect on the tv->iTunes Store communications.

Phoning home could certainly be a common factor for all you guys, itms is all messed up at the moment, tried buying these DRM/EMI tunes and I just get an error.

Of course the big question is why only some units have gone down.



Mmmm late again.

Message was edited by: Winston Churchill

The trick with embedded devices is the 'watchdog' which prevent a hang from impacting the user...

Suspect 'something' as mentioned i,e, top 10 lists was acting slow creating a hang and invoking the watchdog to reboot the box


Some kind of regression test miss on the update for iTunes plus - probably a project kicking off directly to remove the hang when this slows in future iTunes updates ... you can heear the bleepers going - some fun for someones day in the office in 2nd line support today (one guesses)

As nothing can be purchased from within appleTV, I don't currently see why it needs to connect to the internet at all, I thought it was getting info on trailers etc from the synced itunes.

It does not appear to be explained totally why it connects to the internet. I sincerely hope it is not sending info back on what I am listening to etc. I would consider this a significant breach of trust on Apples part.

No, I'm sure it's not reporting anything back to Apple any more than iTunes or your iPod is... However, the trailers and top-ten lists (and their related previews) are most definitely pulled directly from the iTunes Store.

Not only have I done packet traces in the past that confirm this, but it makes sense, since a "synced" tv doesn't require the iTunes library computer to be running (which is rather the point of syncing), yet the trailers and top-ten previews definitely do not take up space on the tv hard drive, so they have to come from somewhere.

As importantly if they have issues with the music store, that is no business of mine, not being able to use my AppleTV is inconvenient, and it would appear unnecessary as it does not need to connect to the internet.

i've got two people ahead of me at the genius bar right now and i will report to this thread once i hear what they have to say about it.


if it is a back end thing i wonder how quickly this could be fixed without ever alerting anyone. if the problem showed up without an "update", and disappeared without an "update", thats kinda creepy no?

has anyone confirmed that the appleTV "phones home"? or is that a myth? i would now really like to disable the itunes trailers and other streaming content from the music store if possible. this whole situation is giving me the heebeejeebees.

Oh, it definitely communicates with the iTunes Store at various points to update its various lists... I've observed that with simple packet traces, and this is evidenced by the fact that the lists themselves are always readily available... if it had to connect to the Internet in real-time to grab that content, there would be a delay in displaying those lists, and you wouldn't be able to see them at all if your Internet connection were unavailable.

The only way to disable this capability right now, other than hacking the tv itself, is to connect it to a private network segment (or wireless router) that doesn't have access to the Internet...

Of course, since this would require a more advanced home networking configuration than most people are accustomed to dealing with, it's not a particularly practical solution.

Phone home has a nasty connotation to it.

I suspect the iTunes store is sending spurious data back when the AppleTV requests the top 10 movies etc. It's not necesarily malicious.

Just disable the router address (enter 0.0.0.0) in your appletc network config and you'll cut it off from the outside world until this issue is resolved.

I think Jesse what you are saying is its a pain in the arse.

I cannot use my apple TV unless I disconnect my whole home from the internet.

I think Apple are bang out of order for this, I had no idea the appleTV had any rights to my home broadband connection with out my explicit consent.

I'm currently on Hold with a "Helpful" tech. I have a feeling they are getting flodded with calls. Just for laughs when you guys are on hold check your Apple TV Box's, note the Adress. "1 Infinite Loop" I kid you not.

There's no need to cut off your entire house.

If you disable your Apple TV's Router address, it will have access to your local network (for iTunes streaming etc) but not to the Internet.

You can configure the Router address in AppleTV's Network settings.

They seem to have disconnected Me. I'm not too happy but I guess I'm gonna have to take it out of the box and hook it back up, and call back. I have'nt tried my other one yet I bet it's doing the same.

I cannot keep apples network settings up long enough to do that haha.

Seriously I can see it at the moment, but I have DHCP on in the house, surely if I disable that in this instance i'll get cut off from the local network too?

I am thinking that mabye my router has an option to block outgoing from the appleTV?

Yeah, I had that issue 🙂

If you're wired, you could just unplug the cable from the appletv while you make the change. If you're on wireless, I guess you could unplug your wireless access point for a few minutes...

[edit] If you're running DHCP, DHCP will probably automatically provide the router address to appletv, so you'd need to create a static IP address on the appletv.