October 5, 2024

How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Posted May 4, 2008 at 11:23pm by iClarified
Italian
Instructions on how to install Sapphire which automatically downloads metatags for your AppleTV media.

Sapphire Browser is a plug-in designed to take all the hassle out of managing media collections connected to your AppleTV. Sapphire has the ability to identify TV Shows and Movies simply by looking at the filename. Once identified, Sapphire will download show/movie information and cover art (from TVRage / IMDB / IMPAwards ) turning your stale file list into something worth looking at.

You must have installed SSH on your AppleTV before attempting this tutorial. You can find instructions on how to do that here.


Step One
Download the Sapphire PlugIn from here to your desktop.

Step Two
Double click the downloaded zip file on your desktop (Sapphire_1.0b6.zip) to extract Sapphire.frappliance.

Step Three
Launch a new Terminal window from your Applications:Utilities folder
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Four
Execute the following command to copy Sapphire to your Apple TV (Note: You can replace AppleTV.local with your Apple TV's IP Address):
scp -1 -r ~/Desktop/Sapphire.frappliance frontrow@AppleTV.local:~/
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

If asked to confirm you wish to continue connecting enter yes.
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

If asked for a password enter frontrow.
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Five
Execute the following command to SSH into the AppleTV (Note: You can replace AppleTV.local with your Apple TV's IP Address):
ssh -1 frontrow@AppleTV.local
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

If asked for a password enter frontrow.
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Six
Enter the following commands to install Sapphire:

sudo mount -uw /
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

If asked for a password enter frontrow
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

sudo rm -rf /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/PlugIns/Sapphire.frappliance
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

sudo mv ~/Sapphire.frappliance /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/PlugIns/
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

sudo chown -R root:wheel /System/Library/CoreServices/Finder.app/Contents/PlugIns/Sapphire.frappliance
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

sudo reboot
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Seven
Your AppleTV will now reboot. Once it has you will notice a new Menu item called Sapphire. Select Sapphire then Sapphire again.
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Eight
Under the Main Menu you can view your TV Shows, Movies, and Custom Apple TV directories. Select Import All Data to begin downloading the meta data for your media.
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Nine
Select Start Importing Data from the Import All Data window to begin the import.
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Ten
You will then be displayed a list of the possible title matches for your file. Select the title that matches your file.
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Eleven
You will then be shown a list of the possible cover art for your file. Select one you like
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Twelve
Once done you will be notified that the import is complete. Press the Menu button on your remote to return to Sapphire's Main Menu.
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Thirteen
Select the folder you have your media in
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV

Step Fourteen
Now notice when you select a file that you will be displayed its description and cover art now!
How to Install Sapphire for the AppleTV
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Comments (17)
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Migrator
Migrator - December 24, 2008 at 3:58pm
I tried this upgrade on my recently purchase ATV which came with 2.2. After installation no UI is displayed. It appears to be running because you can hear audible bleeps as you blindly navigate. The screen save eventually pops up but that is all the output. Also, an external USB drive is automatically mounted when the ATV boots up. Any ideas?
Curly
Curly - August 13, 2008 at 5:46pm
Same problem here as Ken is mentioning... any solutions? Running the latest version Apple TV 2.1 fw and Sapphire Beta 6.3...
Peaf
Peaf - August 2, 2008 at 6:45am
Is this also valid to install Sapphire Beta 6.3? My AppleTv has already a old version of sapphire.
Ricardo
Ricardo - July 21, 2008 at 3:42pm
At the Sapphire browser website.
Ken
Ken - July 21, 2008 at 2:00pm
link???
Ricardo
Ricardo - July 21, 2008 at 11:50am
OK... I found beta6.2 which works with the AppleTV 2.1 firmware update.
Ricardo
Ricardo - July 15, 2008 at 12:18pm
Does beta6 work with the new AppleTV 2.1.0 update?
calium
calium - May 9, 2008 at 8:31am
for all 2.0.2 users. use the the following atvfile and sapphire is working like a charme http://ericiii.net/sa/appletv/ATVFiles-1.0.take2b2.run thx to moe!
Moe
Moe - May 9, 2008 at 4:02am
Guys for this to work you need to install the latest ATVFiles plugin ! I suffered from te same issue until I updated my ATVFiles
Jay
Jay - May 8, 2008 at 3:57am
Same here... Menu and sub-menu item appear, but nothing happens when you click on it.
Ken
Ken - May 7, 2008 at 7:51pm
I'm experiencing the same issue with 2.2 . Shows up in menu on left and right. when I click nothing happens or loads.
star
star - May 7, 2008 at 2:20am
nothing happens ....
cantiluc
cantiluc - May 7, 2008 at 2:09am
2.0.2 installed as explained and menu comes up on the left i see Sapphire and on the right i see the same, but this is as far as it goes, nothing happens when i sellect Sapphire on the right pane...
star
star - May 6, 2008 at 12:30pm
doesn't seem to do anything reboot
Bill
Bill - May 6, 2008 at 12:23pm
Star... when you say "Not Working," do you mean "doesn't show up in the menu," or doesn't seem to do anything when you run it. Because I got it to install, but I can't seem to get it to recognize any media on my ATV, even though I have all of Jericho Season Two and some other DivX vids in an ATV Files frontrow directory.
star
star - May 6, 2008 at 8:16am
2.0.2 Saphire not working ...
moe
moe - May 6, 2008 at 1:53am
Wow.. Thanks ! Much appreciated ! :) Now Sapphire is running on my atv 2.0 Thank you
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