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Full Mac OS X running on Apple TV

appletvhacks.net — Complete with photos, video and a tutorial on how to turn your Apple TV into a full Mac OS X box.

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  • Ireland, on 10/12/2007, -83/+12Why didn't you guys buy a Mac mini.. the whole point off Apple TV is you don't have to deal with a computer.
    • 2ndDairy, on 10/12/2007, -5/+62It's not about practicality, it's about the challenge.
    • virtualball, on 10/12/2007, -5/+35Ireland, some don't have 300 more dollars. Also, this is cool as *****! You have a fully working mac in something that is 1/8 the size of a working PC! :)
    • SlvrEagle23, on 10/12/2007, -3/+9@Virtualball: Well, fully working to some extent. The extra expense for a Mac Mini is for extra stuff, though, so if this process becomes easier than physically opening up the box, it will essentially create another, cheaper type of desktop.

      It would make an excellent thin client...
    • rcran, on 10/12/2007, -7/+5This is great. Spot on guys!
    • eddyc, on 10/12/2007, -13/+48I'm really tired of ireland being the representative of my country. Ireland is not a land populated by stupidified PR victims. Please 'ireland' does not speak for us. That is all.
    • rcran, on 10/12/2007, -0/+10Imagine what a great little machine this would be for video chats or P2P.

      Not to metion how many technically minded switchers could come of this...
    • Ocelot13, on 10/12/2007, -0/+9then why mod anything at all? why mod an xbox to run xbmc if its purpose was to play games? why mod cars to perform better if it was made to just drive? people mod things to get more out of them...
    • ImTheDarkcyde, on 10/12/2007, -15/+5"in something that is 1/8 the size of a working PC! :)"

      you can easily walk into most every electronics store and buy micro pcs
    • mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19This guy ran WoW on his AppleTV (controlling wirelessly with an ibook)

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKQdxqu4iSY
    • zybch, on 10/12/2007, -13/+7"in something that is 1/8 the size of a working PC! :)"

      Sure, if you don't mind a ***** pentium III @ 1Ghz and bugger all RAM.
      Makes me wanna go play a DOS game.
    • MakinBacon, on 10/12/2007, -0/+12It's things like this that make me smile and wonder why some people complain that there are no third-party apps for the iPhone. Just wait until someone hacks it on day one and the apps will follow!
    • WiseWeasel, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3@MakinBacon: Keep in mind the iPhone doesn't have a hard drive that can be removed and accessed on a computer... makes these types of hacks a bit trickier... Custom plugins might be cool though, if there's a way to get 'em installed...
    • TheMacThinker, on 10/12/2007, -5/+1This is interesting just to satisfy your curiosity.
      In all practicality what is the point of all this? How does it help people getting the most out of your mac?
      http://www.mostofmymac.com
    • DaMacGamer, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3needs more ram (256MB aint gona cut it) but other than that its an excellent idea for someone who wants a dirt cheap mac.
    • skidzilla, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Kernel mirror for those who hate rapidshare:
      http://uploadie.googlepages.com/mach_kernel.zip
      I'll take this down in a week or so, so share it around. :)
    • twtmc, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1For now I see it as a POC. Now that there is a way to install 1 operating system on it, it won't be too long before someone creates a way to install Linux MCE in there, it already has the RF remote, maybe put a bluetooth dongle on there, and get a slim dvd burner in there as well (maybe have a usb one).
    • Ireland, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1You do see my point though guys right? That's the whole reasoning behind the Apple TV, and it's this thinking about the living room which will make Apple victorious in this "living room" space.
    • lump1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0The procedure is still a bit complicated. Wouldn't this spread better if somebody who got it working just posted a full disk image that could be copied to the Apple TV hard drive? The ideal thing would be a full OSX that's running the Apple TV interface but is capable of running VNC and all other OSX programs too.
    • skellener, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3A Mac-mini will NOT work through component connectors at all on an HDTV - An AppleTV will. But the whole thing is moot since it's 4/1 today.
    • SVPirate, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1@ Ireland

      You're one of those guys that pisses on people's campfires for a living, right? Or are you just so sold out on Apple marketing you can't see through it?
  • Timan, on 10/12/2007, -2/+19Fun hacking the thing + $300 difference is good enough for me.
    • Gogogo111, on 10/12/2007, -1/+11What.The.*****.

      Welcome to my blocklist.

      (Not you Timan)
    • tracydanger, on 10/12/2007, -3/+13I've been thinking this whole time what most people have, "How cool to use this as a regular mac," but it just hit me. To make it a useful/practical mac, and semi-legal, your gonna spend $300 on the machine, pay for the OS, buy a keyboard and mouse, spend money on a larger harddrive, upgrade ram if possible, and whatever else I can't think of. After all that and the time/effort you put into it, you've spent enough to get a mini. Don't get me wrong, if your doing it for the joy of hacking, more power to you, but if your doing it as a way to get a really cheap mac, I'd think twice. (of course you could always stick with the 40GB harddrive and use an old keyboard and mouse, etc)

      Joy of hacking... that'd make for a good website name.
    • astrosmash, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3On top of that, the 256 MB of RAM is soldered on to the motherboard and is non-upgradable, and the CPU is a low-performance 1GHz Pentium M processor. And you need an existing Mac to hack the thing. And you can't receive software updates. Etc. Etc.

      In other words, you'd probably get much more value for your money if you just got a Mac mini.
  • Plaisted, on 10/12/2007, -34/+2Apple TV is just another example of iSecurity... it's amazing.
    • gstuartj, on 10/12/2007, -1/+14plaisted, I'll be happy to believe your assertion, once you prove to me that it is valid and that it is not just fanboy-logic that you pulled out of your butt. Please post your professional credentials pertaining to the information security field, and all evidence which led you to your conclusion. I am interested in hearing more. Thank you.
    • avihappy, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5pwned
  • diggeridooo, on 10/12/2007, -11/+9That's the "Mac nano" we've waited for. I can see getting a couple. Yet some questions remain before I run to the Apple Store: QUESTION ONE: Does Apple TV qualify as "Apple-labeled computer"? The Software License Agreement for Mac OS X says "This License allows you to install, use and run one (1) copy of the Apple Software on a single Apple-labeled computer at a time." QUESTION TWO: Where can I legally buy a copy of Mac OS X for Intel? QUESTION THREE: Given the little RAM, how fast will it be? -- http://wiki.awkwardtv.org/wiki/Install_Full_MAC_OS_X_10.4.9_on_ATV
    • stuartjmoore, on 10/12/2007, -11/+2nevermind
    • colincornaby, on 10/12/2007, -1/+10I think by the letter of the law, it is legal. It is Apple branded hardware. Although I'm sure this isn't something Apple intended. :)
    • ImTheDarkcyde, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Imagine a beowulf cluster of appleTVs!
    • schoate09, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3That forgets to mention that Leopard has a CPUID check, which the 1GHz "Unknown" will surely fail.
    • mastercheif, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4I can't wait till the Apple TVs start folding!!!
  • probFake, on 10/12/2007, -18/+1fake, I don't see the heat wavy lines on top of the appleTV.
  • voyou, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3vid down :(
  • websyndicate, on 10/12/2007, -3/+2freggin amazing
  • ericdano, on 10/12/2007, -4/+5I love Apple. Now, how to upgrade the Ram................
    • julian02392, on 10/12/2007, -4/+2i think that has been done...search through the Apple TV posts on digg ur bound to find something
  • fernyb, on 10/12/2007, -2/+7very cool. now I wonder if its possible to have MythTV on the AppleTV. Now that would be cool.
    • kingkilr, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Hells yeah, that would make a sick frontend. Cheap enough that you could put them in front of every tv. SOmeone get some drivers for that remote going!
  • moocow1452, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Give it some thought, and you could probably use the harddrive swap on a Linux system. Anyone thinking, Ubuntu, Linux for tv's?
  • jklyon, on 10/12/2007, -2/+4Noooooooooo!!! I can't back up the dam drive. Can someone explain?
  • Salgat, on 10/12/2007, -9/+3Is it just me or is this "Apple TV is hackable" thing kind of getting old. OK, we know that the Apple TV is basically a a regular Apple computer, no need for all this news about the obvious things that come with that realization.
  • waterdrop, on 10/12/2007, -10/+3They should just open up the Apple TV to let you run full OS X Tiger on it. It would be good for people like me to try out a Mac OS X without spending much money.
    • tracydanger, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12The only problem is that it'd be so slow compared to a real mac that your impression of an apple computer would not be very good.
    • waterdrop, on 10/12/2007, -12/+2I just want to try out the OS. I don't want to replace my main machine. Besides my impression of the Mac isn't very good anyway.
    • turpenine, on 10/12/2007, -4/+3you can use osx86 if you just want osx.
  • haylcron, on 10/12/2007, -1/+12I wonder how it runs under load. With OS X pushing the CPU harder and longer than it was designed for, I wonder how it will handle the heat.
    • ThesyHacken, on 10/12/2007, -0/+8It's gotta run better than my 6 year old Flat Panel Mac!
    • bleaknik, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Just a thought, but playing back h.264 video isn't exactly light work for a 1Ghz processor. My thoughts:

      My 1.25 Ghz G4 iMac, playing Handbrake'd DVDs consumes ~60-70% CPU time, across 12 threads, and ~60 megs of RAM. [45 minute video, 350 MB, 1000kbps, 128kbps AAC Audio]. A 1ghz processor [albeit, Intel based] running the same types of video will probably perform similarly.

      Typical OS usage of a processor is not more intensive than the usage requirements to playback video. Just a thought. It's my guess is that normal operational temp would be less...

    • tomblag, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2That's why they included a gchip, probably to make the early adopters front the cost a 1year upgrade cycle. I'm pretty sure that gfx + intel chip has plenty of power to decode mp4s and 1080p. The question is does that chip output at 1080p? Thats the more interesting question. It should be easy to check what the top output res is on that chip, since they can run osx now.

      If the gchip can output at 1080p now, I see no reason to get an appletv now, because for sure they will be dropping the price.
  • gert2, on 10/12/2007, -2/+1YouTube video's been removed...
  • da5id, on 10/12/2007, -11/+3Who cares. Really.
  • mikeazorin, on 10/12/2007, -4/+15Apple TV + OS X + Cheap 500GB External + BitTorrent = !!!
    • wazzledoozle2, on 10/12/2007, -6/+2Uber expensive p2p rig!

      Seriously... for $300 (plus that 500gb HD) you can do much better.
    • ziki, on 10/12/2007, -0/+6The world in 7.7x7.7x1.1 Inches
    • Firehed, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5How many $300 computers are about the size of a couple DVD cases stacked up? How many are designed to (not can, are designed to) hook up directly to your TV? The AppleTV is designed as a streaming and syncing device, but being able to run iTunes right ON the thing makes a lot more sense. Your legally purchased TV show season pass shows will automatically download to the thing without the syncing time involved, and it increases portability tremendously. Plus, of course, you can combine it with bittorrent (preferably a client like xtorrent that supports rss feeds and can automatically add content to your iTunes library when it finishes downloading) to do the same for your not-so-legally-purchased shows. Not to mention tremendous power savings.

      We were all wondering why people would want to pay a ton more for a router with a hard drive that supports bit-torrent when you can do it with your existing computer, but it's kind of nice to save a ton of space and cut power usage by 90%. This can be one of those routers plus a WHOLE lot more.
    • dusingaz, on 10/12/2007, -0/+5but your "300" Frankenstein will not have HDMI and Component out.
    • Loie, on 10/12/2007, -0/+7@wazzledoozle2

      build me a media box with hdmi out, component out, a remote, in a similar form factor (nobody wants an ugly mid tower next to the hdtv), that runs on 48 watts. (the electricity bill matters to me now, F.U. ComEd) for $300.
    • Agret, on 10/12/2007, -4/+1"in a similar form factor (nobody wants an ugly mid tower next to the hdtv)"
      i dont care what it looks like, mid tower is fine. go ahead.
    • lump1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0Is it clear that this hack has all the divers necessary to display OSX over HDMI at 1080p? And does the remote work correctly? Because if it does, damn! That becomes a pretty compelling little box!
  • nullx42, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4http://www.appletvhacks.net/images/mac_os_x_on_apple_tv2.jpg they linked the 2nd image wrong. theres the correct full sized one
  • jklyon, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5APRIL FOOLS (probably but I hope not) Can't get it to work. >.
    • mrASSMAN, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2It isn't, although that would be pretty funny.

      http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=appletv

      The top 4 videos demonstrates this in multiple ways, including with PC.. 2 of them are from march 26, and 2 of them are from March 28.

      Though I suppose it's possible that it is all an elaborate hoax, I doubt it.
  • nedbigbyssg, on 10/12/2007, -0/+0This looks promising, does device connectivity work like a full fledged computer? If that's the case, this could be the poor man's Mac-Mini.
  • petershizzle23, on 10/12/2007, -2/+0is there any way to get a cd/dvd drive to work on the apple tv with os x?
    • pants428, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2I would think that an external USB CD/DVD drive would work just fine...
  • sembetu, on 10/12/2007, -7/+2Wait for it... wait for it... okay.... NOW!!!

    APRIL FOOL'S DAY!!!! ha ha ha ha diggers.

    No seriously, I would bet a testicle that you will see a report about this being an April Fool's Joke on Monday. they will let it stew for the full day, and then BAM! on Monday, when you are at work checking digg between coffee breaks, and watching YouTube... uhngh!? wh.. wh.. what!!? Not real!? Noooooooooooo!!

    Okay maybe not, but if it is a prank, don't say I didn't tell you so.
  • ThankTheCheese, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3impressive. i didnt realise it was a 1ghz processor inside. I wouldn't have thought a device could handle 720p with such a slow processor.
    • Lounger540, on 10/12/2007, -0/+4It has a hardware video decoder just like the iPod. Though I'd like to know if it works with this hack and using other Quicktime components.
  • Appleboi4evr, on 10/12/2007, -1/+2does anybody know how the 802.11n worked out. I'm assuming that you can use it considering that it is a apple extreme card in it. that would make the apple TV so much more appealing for a at least second computer.
    • lump1, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Since it's such a low-power device, many people will want to keep in on all the time, connected to torrents and ed2k. But what would prevent this from also being a wireless router? Could I plug my cable modem into the ethernet port and broadcast the traffic over the Airport Express card into the rest of my house? If yes, this box is really starting to resemble the "living room device in my mind" that I've so long hoped for. What it needs now is a more capable remote with an LCD so that the thing could be operated (to play music from my network server, for example) without needing to turn on the TV to operate the interface. As a bonus, the remote would also be a wireless phone that makes calls over Skype or Googletalk. Well, a guy can dream...
  • AceTracer, on 10/12/2007, -1/+4Still seems more practical to get a used Mac mini. No HDMI but you can use the DVI and a USB audio solution for less than $50. It wouldn't cost much more than $300 total, easily under $500 and you have so much more you can do with it.

    Still, kudos to the hackers.
    • goofygarber, on 10/12/2007, -1/+3My thought is this - Mac Mini's are great, but they start at $600 new (yes, you could buy one used, but thats a poor comparison) versus this $300. When it comes down to a kids first computer or something to just hook up to your TV, that $300 could be better spent on a number of other things (like, say, adding that $300 to your TV budget and getting a better TV)

      Also, the Mac Mini has a piss-poor graphics card (integrated GMA950), whereas the AppleTV has a real 7300 graphics board.

      It all comes down to the person but I can totally see a market for AppleTV as a computer buyers.
  • mjh2901, on 10/12/2007, -3/+6This just sells me whatever the next version of the mac mini is. An extra $200 gives you a bunch of ports, a supported full OS, and of course the DVD player/burner and more ram. What is exciting is this shows that Apple TV, is way more than a media extender, its much much more powerful than anything else on the market as far as media extenders are concerned. iTV will be given more abilities and features by apple in the future. They are barely using that things power.
    • dolbinau, on 10/12/2007, -2/+3The Mac mini (in Australia anyway) is more than twice the cost of the Apple TV ($950 vs $450)
    • heresy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Apple TV = $299
      Mac Mini = $599

      $300 difference. Not $200.
  • winnopeg, on 10/12/2007, -3/+1If it's only got one USB port, where's his mouse plugged in?
  • Myonosken, on 10/12/2007, -0/+2Hmm, now I have no idea how powerful the Apple TV is, but it looks pretty nice.

    Anyone know the specs for this thing, because I was hoping it could be like the "Apple Mega Basic Mac"


    Edit: Found it, and those specs are better than my ***** laptop. Seems pretty cool.

    Edit 2: Digg me down if you wish, this message is irrelevant now.
  • grayapple, on 10/12/2007, -1/+5Now, get Windows to boot on that thing.
  • kritond, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1This is excellent, sorta even makes me want an Apple TV now, although I think I'll wait till the 2nd generation device (1080 support etc). Is there any way whatsoever to up the RAM in the Apple TV? I also hate April Fools, I want tomorrow to come to see if its all legit, I think it is.
  • jasondefaoite, on 10/12/2007, -2/+2The only thing which doesn't add up... the HDMI connecting to the Dell monitor. The monitor looks like a 2405, which does not have a HDMI input. I assume this could be converted, but that isn't shown.
  • Pliep, on 10/12/2007, -0/+3Can someone please confirm that this actually works and is not an april fool?
  • Just1nD, on 10/12/2007, -1/+1dude... open your shades, it's nice outside!!!
  • geekee, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Wow. That actually makes the AppleTV box useful. Apple is not going to like this hack. I wonder if it's real.
  • PerfectTommy, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Link not working.
  • xistboi, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1Yes, its real:

    http://uneasysilence.com/archive/2007/04/10163/
  • LeeSoong, on 10/12/2007, -0/+1AppleTV School Computer LAB:

    One 20" iMac for Teacher to be used as a workstation/server.
    25 AppleTVs with Apple Keyboard, Mouse, and decent LCD panels.

    THOUSANDS of dollars less than a room full of iMacs, or (gasp!) MacPros.

    More and More Kids can get Apple computing on the cheap,
    and School Budgets remain intact.
  •  

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