Hacking Apple TV Take 3 Tutorial
Here is a little tutorial on how to Hack your Apple tv, to run Boxee, XBMC and enable a external-hard-drive.
This tutorial is an alternative to atvflash and is completely free!
After you hacked you apple TV with this you can play the following video formats:
- AVI, DivX, Xvid, FLV, WMV, RM and RMVB
- MKV formats supported up to 480p resolution (hardware limited)
- MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-3 and MPEG-4
- DVD files (VIDEO_TS/VOB)
- AVI support for: AAC, AC3 Audio, H.264, MPEG4, and VBR MP3
- Subtitle support for SSA and SRT
We will install:
- FTP/SFTP/SSH Access – Transfer files to and from the AppleTV
- NitoTV – Play DVD files, enable USB storage and much more
- XBMC – A fully customizable media center software
- Boxee – Watch and share media with your friends
- Sapphire 6.5 – Play and organize media using IMDB database
What you need:
- AppleTV running software v2.3 or later
- Mac running OS X v10.4 or later
- USB Flash Drive – sized 256MB – 2GB recommended drives
- Internet connection
Step 1: Make a usb patchstick
First we need to download the uber USB flash drive creator for the AppleTV, witch can be found onhttp://code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator/The usb flash drive creator will make a patchstick that enables SSH on your Appletv (so you can access the apple tv’s file structure) and installs Boxee and XBMC. The creation of the patchstick is pretty straight forward, just follow the onscreen instructions.
Update: manually download the Apple TV .DMG from iClarified and then manually select the dmg. Thx Clark
Step 2: Install the patchstick
1) turn of your apple tv (unplug the power)
2) Place the patchstick in the apple tv
3) Turn on your appletv (wait for the patchstick to do its thing)
4) After a minute or the patch should be installed (wait for instructions on your screen)
5) Remove the patchstick and restart your Apple TV.
Boxee, XBMC and SSH should now be installed and enabled on your Apple TV.
Step 3: Access your Appel TV
Because we enabled SSH on the Apple TV , we can now remotely access the Apple TV with Coda or Cyberduck on your Mac computer.
In coda (or an other SSH application) connect to the Apple TV via:
1) Select SFTP (SSH)
2) server: yourappletvip (or the ip-adress of your Apple TV)
3) username: frontrow
4) pass: frontrow
5) Press Connect (you will get access to the Apple TV)
Step 4: Enable external USB drives
Now we have remote access to the Apple TV we can enable external USB drive support.
We will do this by installing NitoTV.
You will need to download Nito tv to your Mac. Download.
1) Download Nito tv and unzip.
2) With Coda or Cyberduck login to your Appel TV and copy the content of the nito TV folder (installme and nito TV ) to the Apple TV
3) With the terminal Application>utilities> terminal login into the Apple TV.
4) ssh frontrow@yourappletvip
5) When prompted for a password, enter ‘frontrow’.
6) Now go to the directory where you placed Nito TV on your AppleTV and type the following command:
sudo ./installme (When prompted for a password, enter ‘frontrow’ again.)
7) Now restart your Apple TV. Now Nito tv is installed
Go To Nito tv and Install Smart Installer
That’s It, you can now watch almost any kind of video with your apple TV and use external hard-drives!
38 Responses to “Hacking Apple TV Take 3 Tutorial”
Elzo said...
Hi, I’m really happy with your great tutorials and material you produced, so I never saw a need for atv Flash. But now, I’m trying to configure my ATV to route via a VPN (from Witopia.net) – to watch USA content on Boxee- and this is so complicated while it appears to be integrated in atv Flash. Do you think you can include this kind of support in you package anytime?
Thanks a lot, Elzo Middelkoop.
jay said...
hello, I’ve uploaded the items per you instructions and then I went to the updates section and started to upload the many items that needed to be updated. After about the 3-4 item there was one call apple system update and once I did that the screen said there was an error and the apple tv needed to reboot. Once this happened I have not been able to see the main screen after the apple logo on the boot. I think its stalling or caught up on something. Any advice? I have already synced my itunes data etc, so anything shy of factory reset would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your help and understanding.
951-200-4121 – PST
Apple’s Handcuffed Devices « Slanted Viewpoint said...
[...] if you are willing to do a software hack (as I covered in this article and as is similarly covered here). In other words, Apple deliberately crippled the USB port so that it is unable to perform [...]
Chiriqui said...
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Andrew said...
Can this be done a Window’s PC or does it have to be Mac as stated in the instructions? Has anyone successfully completed this?
SS said...
Did Danny’s process steps work for anyone? I am thinking about buying an Apple TV but wanted to double check this works b4 buying. Thanks!
shark said...
after the patch you can plug any external usb drive? (ie 1TB drive)
Jeff said...
Hey Andrew,
For Windows, I used this link:
http://code.google.com/p/atvusb-creator/wiki/atvWinPatchstickGuide
Super Easy, step by step instruction and work easy.
Just make the USB, plugged it in, then removed and restarted. Could not be more dummy proof!
Enjoy
Remote PC Access Software said...
There truly obviously a lot to know about this. I think you made some fantastic points in Features also.
Jordan said...
I’m able to navigate to the directory of the nitotv package and installme file on the ATV (I placed it in the applications folder) by entering the directory into the terminal (/mnt/Scratch/users/frontrow/Applications). When I enter the command terminal informs me that the command is a directory. Then when I type in sudo ./installme terminal tells me “sudo: ./installme: command not found”.
I have ATV software V3.0.2 and downloaded the latest nitotv package (it said for ATV 2.0). What am I missing, I feel I’m so close.
Thanks!
Jordan said...
installed nitoTV from ATV through the nitoTV item in the Finder/frontrow.
Thanks for all the hard work, the coup de gras would be getting the ATV to recognize the drive as available memory for iTunes sync
Hacking Apple TV Take 3 Tutorial « Migoko's Blog said...
[...] Migoko's Blog Just another WordPress.com weblog « Direct Link to Free Material on I-Tunes Store !!!!! Hacking Apple TV Take 3 Tutorial Junio 30, 2010 Hacking Apple TV Take 3 Tutorial | Danny Ruchtie. [...]
Adim said...
I tried installing nito tv. Followed your instructions step by step and then logged in with the terminal and did “sudo ./installme” and it gave me this error
dyld: Symbol not found: __ZTIN3KJS11InterpreterE
Referenced from: /System/Library/PrivateFrameworks/JavaScriptGlue.framework/Versions/A/JavaScriptGlue
Expected in: /System/Library/Frameworks/JavaScriptCore.framework/Versions/A/JavaScriptCore
./installme: line 12: 163 Trace/BPT trap installer -pkg nitoTV.pkg -target /
Restarting Finder…
after that I got a message on the actual apple tv that said there was an error and asked if i would like to send it to apple, I chose NO. but after that I get a blank screen (I cannot see the apple tv menu). When i restart it, all looks good, the apple tv logo shows up and boots for sometime and the intro movie shows (but with no sound) and then I just get a black screen (tried restarting several time, with no hope)…I do have ssh access to the apple tv though and if you leave it on for a while you see the screen saver but i cannot still get to the menu. What can I do to remedy this? Thank you
database said...
Great tutorial Danny,
please, can you write some words about what happens to Apple TVs sound output after going through your tutorial? Is it more than just stereo (hopefully 5.1)?
Thanks
aplus flv to mp3 converter said...
blu-ray…
Good post and it appears they are moving in the direction you suggest….
nerdy ferdy said...
Hi Danny!
Thanx for sharing this great tutorial with us!!!
Do you know if there is a way to get vnc remote to work on a Apple TV with firmware 3.x.x? There are some tutorials but just for prior versions.
thanx
David said...
Danny,
I just followed your guide and it seems to have worked fine and plays files back with stereo soundtracks. however files with dolby digital or dts soundtracks just come out as noise. I’m using the HDMI output into a hifi which supports both codecs so I’m not sure why it’s not working. any ideas?
cheers, dave
christina said...
Hi
Thank you for the tutorial… Just having a similar problem to the amil above. Asked me if I wanted to send an error message to apple said no, rebooted fine until the menu screen came up blank?
Abe Redwood said...
A good logo is worth a thousand words. And it’s true, really …
Dennis said...
Do you still have THE origional atv interface after this hack?
kopeky said...
i can’t log into the apple tv from the terminal app. can anybody help? is not letting me type the password (frontrow)
Mike said...
Hey Danny,
The hack works and install correctly without any errors onto my apple tv but after a minute or two of running it gives me an error and restarts. after it restarts the main menu is completely blank and you can only hear clicking noises as if you were still moving artound the menu. Anyone know anything about this?
nilsel said...
Great stuff! After booting with the atvusb-stick I installed everything with the remote control :). Watching divx/mkv/mp4 etc from an external usb HD (hfs+) right now. This is why I bought the appleTV! :)
Bugs & Fixes: Apple TV Troubleshooting | My Tech Blog said...
[...] to get the Apple TV to recognize the content of an inserted flash drive and were thereby able to perform a number of unauthorized functions-such as enabling support for USB drives and installing Boxee [...]
Ran Shenhar said...
Hi,
Clear instructions, Boxee runs happily on my AppleTV.
There were some links pointing to your web discussing Bittorent on ATV, but they’re all broken – is this option still available?
Thanks,
thescragster said...
There is a full video tutorial on how to jailbreak the New Apple TV 2G here:
http://iphoneblogr.com/2010/11/how-to-jailbreak-apple-tv-2g-using-the-pwnage-tool-on-ios-4-1-video-tutorial/
And a video tutorial on how to install NitoTV here:
http://iphoneblogr.com/2010/10/how-to-install-nitotv-on-your-jailbroken-apple-tv-2g/
And how to install Plex on the Apple TV 2G here:
http://iphoneblogr.com/2010/11/how-to-install-plex-onto-apple-tv-2g-play-almost-any-video-file-type-video-tutorial/
Hacking Apple TV to run boxee, XBMC and enable an external hard drive said...
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LightningMike said...
Conceptually, your solution may be the answer to my quest… stream ripped movies from an external USB drive via a hacked Gen1 ATV. I’m a noobie to all this but I can follow instructions OK. Before I jump in the water I have a couple of questions.
1. Six months ago I bought a hacked ATV with a clean install of XMBC and Boxee on it. Is there any way to know if the installs are current versions? How do I check?
2. Is it possible the PO installed the patchstick, and how would I discover that?
3. You mention ATV v.2.3 or later… how do you check on that and/or update?
Sorry for the dumb questions.
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Ross said...
What is required if I am running Windows 7 and not a Mac?
LightningMike said...
Just an update… I have AppleTV (Gen1) hacked and working beautifully streaming (with no noticeable jitter!) video from a remote USB Fantom drive that is connected to my iMac. The ATV is hard-wired via 25′ ethernet to my family room (directly above) connected to my Yamaha AVR, and all is well except for one small issue.
The AppleTV won’t wake via remote unless I power-cycle (unplug/replug) it! I’ve googled this and read through dozens of similar posts with no concrete solution yet. Anyone else want to help me out?
Zula Wingeier said...
Very good blog, thank you very much for you time in writing this posts.
JohnnyD said...
@ LightningMike
Try disabling the apple screensaver. It is in the ATV Settings menu.
Asphodel said...
We can install NitoTV on this description:
http://www.todaywasawesome.com/enable-usb-on-the-apple-tv/
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