OK, so i used the regular method of opening up my appleTV

then I applied a second patchstick called patchstick.ca

This opened up a second menu item called launchmore! This allowed me to do some funky stuff.

First off I do not use iTunes at all. XBMC is my baby. So when I updated to OS 3.0.1 I was dismayed that launcher was no longer item one on the menu meaning more remote presses to launch XBMC.

Imagine my surprise when I found option in launch more to hide the menu items that require itunes installed on my PC, oh the joy.

Now launcher is my first option

Next thing I found cool was the ability to remove the long winded video that plays every time I reboot the box. Fastboot for the win.

I did this using the free version of the patchstick.ca and have no intent on subscribing as I think the price is harsh.

Hope a few find this useful.

**if anyone knows a shortcut to the XBMC home screen via the remote please let me know.

There is a way to have XBMC boot instead of the regular ATV interface, this is not the default because any custom IR remote you have configured will not work. Only the original AppleTV remote will work.
This link explains how to enable it.
[AppleTV] Launcher 3.0 release - XBMC Community Forum

be sure to read this so you are aware of the limitations related to this option
Issue 19 - atv-xbmc-launcher - Differences of the Launcher - Project Hosting on Google Code

cheers but I am happy with the thing running as is, just leave XBMC running all the time.

I use harmony one and am happy with it but want to map a button to go back to the home screen of XBMC. Should be no big deal.

Current wishlist is:
1. Get Python running
2. Get some apps running like browsers etc

Originally Posted by UbastarS

Current wishlist is:
1. Get Python running
2. Get some apps running like browsers etc

I don't understand this python requirement.. I have several XBMC plugins installed that use python and they appear to work fine. I was under the impression that limited python support was compiled into XBMC. Have not personally tried any scripts in XBMC but I think the situation is similar.

Am not an XBMC expert (just been using it for a while now) so maybe I am wrong about this entirely.

I suspect whatever method you used to open your ATV might have included python. You can confirm this by SSH into your ATV and type python. if you get a version number it's installed. If you don't it aint.

I can't run any scripts I downloaded. I get a script failed error.

Mind if I quiz you via PM regarding what method you used... would make my day not to have to deal with this using a PC: Python - AwkwardTV

Originally Posted by UbastarS

I suspect whatever method you used to open your ATV might have included python. You can confirm this by SSH into your ATC and type python. if you get a version number it's installed. If you don't it aint.

I can't run any scripts I downloaded. I get a script failed error.

From what I can gather, fast/solid python support has been included within XBMC for Apple TV since at least March last year. This is not available to the whole OS, just within XBMC. What version of XBMC are you running? The latest stable version is XBMC 9.11 (Camelot). However I am always running the latest daily SVN build of XBMC (because I use a Crystal HD card, the support for which requires more recent builds than the last stable release)

Will check if I have an OS accessible installation of python on the apple tv when I get home much later tonight.

Also, for any XBMC related issues you will get more responsive help over at XBMC for Mac and AppleTV Specific Support - XBMC Community Forum than here.

I assume you looked at Python - AwkwardTV as well.

I used atvusb-creator - Project Hosting on Google Code to create my patchstick. Did the rest manually with nitoTV and so on. The patchstick site you mentioned patchstick.ca is charging for redistribution of mostly free software. I would not recommend this at all.

Thanks mate! if you can confirm that you don't have python support at the ATV level then I will know I have been barking up the wrong tree.

No I don't have python support at the ATV level but it is present in a compiled form

Code:

/mnt/Scratch/Users/frontrow/Applications/XBMC.app/Contents/Resources/XBMC/system/python

Thanks for your efforts there mate. Seems I have some very limited functionality with scripts and plugins... well I think they are not working at all

working:
TAC.TV
T3CH updater/downloader (useless on ATV)
Navi-x (awesome )

the rest fail.

when using the repo svn installer for plugins they never show up in the scripts/programs window yet are going to the correct place. When copying them to the place where the TAC.TV script is they show up but all fail.

So everything I do on XBMC zone fails, most scripts fail. Plugins might work but I will have to dig deeper into the issue

will be good to get a decent selection of gametrailers/gamespot/ABC TV/some net radio rippers etc going.

For now atleast I know python is working but functionality is limited. I know in the past python script success has been hit and miss but I would have thought by now that there would be at least 50% of them running ok... not 95%+ of them failing.

will look into the plugins info on xbmc forum and see what I can see.