AppleTV Runs iOS, Already Jailbroken

Wired has noted that "Soon, thanks to the tireless efforts of the iPhone Dev Team, you will be able to install apps on your AppleTV. An upcoming Jailbreak tool, called SHAtter, has already been used to unlock the new Apple TV's firmware." The units are supposedly now shipping. I have a lot of questions about the device (like how will it handle the photo screen saver if your local machines are offline) but hacking it might make the thing more usable (divx please, and how about letting my screen share my desktop to my TV?).

it's an iPad in a box

[Anonymous Coward]

Same CPU as iPad, including the amount of RAM.

It adds ethernet, HDMI and optical audio out, it loses a lot like bluetooth, motion sensors and of course the display.

So yes, it runs ARM.

So what?

[daveschroeder]

It's only "already jailbroken" because the same iOS 4.1 issue used with the iOS 4.1 jailbreak that has already been developed works on this device, which is also running iOS 4.1.

photo screen saver

[Kristopeit, Mike Da.]

i have it set up with the photo screen saver and when local sources are offline it displays a black screen with small white text in the middle explaining the source is not available.

Re:Honest question

[vwjeff]

A small percentage of users will hack their device. Apple knows this and has procedures in place for denying support for modified devices. Ultimately this is free R&D for Apple. Let the hackers see what the device can do and include that capability in a future release.

Re:Gluttons for abuse

[0100010001010011]

Separate demographics.

Demographic 1 is my parents. I'd easily get them one of these. Just like I got them a MacMini and put it in SimpleFinder or an iPod nano (1G) and Shuffle (2G). Say what you want about "Windows and Linux are just as easy", but I have never gotten a support call about anything. Heck my mom (technophobic) figured out her iPod all by herself. I had to walk my GF through Lucid's install. She was patient, but it's something my parents wouldn't have stood for.

They replace their BlockBuster/Redbox rentals with something 'On Demand'. Plug and play and I never have to figure it out again.

Demographic 2. Myself. Apple makes some great hardware. The fact that this is just an ARM processor with a GPU decoder means that tinkerers could get XBMC running on it. (They already have a BeagleBoard fork). My Gen 1 AppleTV is one of the best XBMC devices out there. It's TINY, easily fits under the TV. With the Broadcom chip it does 1080p. But I had to 'hack' it to do that. I built my own HTPC, but the smallest cases are still huge compared to the AppleTV. With the AppleTV I can pull it, toss it in my backpack and go over to a friend's house and watch something.

The cheapest ION boxes are $200+. The Boxeebox isn't even a box, it's a pyramid, and again is $229. The AppleTV IS one of the cheapest pieces of hardware out there that will do what I want it.

I just got an iPod Touch 4G to replace my iPod 4G which was on its last legs. It it unbelievably small. It has some great apps, but I want to use it as a GPS device over bluetooth. I did a bit of research, but I still haven't found any device out there that is comparable.

The Archos 43 looks close, but I can't find a price and only goes up to 16GB (*It does have a Mini SD slot)

DivX?

[Yvan256]

What next, RealMedia and VQF support?

There's basically zero legal sources for DivX files, so why would Apple support that old format? H.264/AAC is the standard and has been for a few years already.

Even Handbrake dropped DivX support, for crying out loud.

Re:Gluttons for abuse

[recoiledsnake]

I don't understand why Apple gets a free pass on everything from many otherwise intelligent people on here whereas MS gets demonized regardless of what they do.

Re:Honest question

[EnglishTim]

Worldwide sales:

PS3 ~ 38 million units
Xbox 360 ~ 41 million units
iPhone ~ 51 million units
Wii ~ 71 million units

The iPhone only has a third more sales than the PS3.

Re:DivX?

[tweak13]

So when I ripped a good portion of my DVD collection to Xvid awhile back, that was illegal? I sure as hell don't think so.

Not yet jailbroken

[oz_paulb]

The SHAtter exploit was used on an iPod touch to decrypt the AppleTV firmware. The AppleTV device has not yet been exploited - although it is likely susceptible to the same exploit. Once hackers get their hands on the device, they can try to use the exploit, then try to run jailbroken firmware on it. At this point, without knowing details of the SHAtter exploit, it's unclear to me whether/not that particular piece of code comes into play during a normal firmware update (since we don't know how the mini-USB port can be used yet - presumably "normal" code updates are done via wifi/Ethernet).