Apple TV linux bootloader

If the native hackability of the version of OS X on the Apple TV isn't enough for you, there's now a convenient boot loader that allows you to install linux. This also opens up the possibility of running linux based video software, particularly MPlayer, Myth TV, and XMBC. Further, since there are linux drivers for the NVIDIA hardware decoder in the Apple TV there's also the possibility of higher resolution 1080i output as opposed to the 720p it's normally limited to.

Unfortunately, this is project is still in the early stages and none of this is working perfectly yet. Nonetheless, it's a interesting development on the Apple TV hacking front.

[via Apple TV Hacks]

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Source: http://code.google.com/p/atv-bootloader/

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Hacks Apple TV

If the native hackability of the version of OS X on the Apple TV isn't enough for you, there's now a convenient boot loader that allows you...

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jason

not really understanding the upscale technology... plainly is upscalling the same image quality as 1080 native. What am i losing with upscalling?

April 30 2008 at 2:22 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

DomBass

The Apple TV has always been able to output 1080i, as I understood it. And with the V2 software it will upscale to 1080p too (as mentioned by Devon).

Its a somewhat complicated area, but a good way to think of p and i is that p (progressive) shows you a series of discrete pictures (like a flickbook) whereas i (interlaced) updates the image more often.

One could think of 1080i as being actually the same rez as 720p, at any given moment.

The difference is that progressive video will look crisper whereas interlaced video will show motion as being 'smoother'.

Sorry for the lecture but I'm a film engineer so am a little obsessive about this kind of thing!

As you were...

April 30 2008 at 1:43 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

3 replies to DomBass's comment

Rob

By the way, you can easily install mac OS X onto an AppleTV making the AppleTV the lowest cost Mac available.

You might want to get an external USB hub. The one USB port on the AppleTV is pretty limiting.

If you are looking for a low cost Mac, look at the AppleTV!

(And with a linux bootloader, you can also turn your AppleTV into a capable linux box. MythTV is SO MUCH better than the AppleTV as a multimedia set top box).

April 30 2008 at 12:30 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Devon

The AppleTV already can output 1080p, it's just upscaled.

April 30 2008 at 11:55 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Quagga

I think this is a good thing. It means that once my AppleTV is obsoleted as a rental box, I can do some quick work and have a nice, completely silent Linux.

Of course, I already have a Mini-ITX box next to my Macbook for that purpose. Doh!

April 30 2008 at 11:51 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

David

please tell me there's a convenient way to make this into a DVR. The only thing it lacks is a USB cable input, right? Feel free to mock me if the answer is obvious.

April 30 2008 at 11:44 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

1 reply to David's comment

matt

MythTV does support a few USB tuners, so it is possible. However, the hardware severely limits the AppleTV's use as a DVR--slow CPU and limited RAM.

It would work for a dedicated device like a cable box, but MythTV is fairly resource-hungry and I would never run a backend with less than 1GB of RAM (four times what is available in AppleTV).

Getting acceptable performance would require an optimized version of Myth (not to mention needing to get the IR hardware supported through the mess that is LiRC). The other problem is that the CPU overhead of running even a hardware-based USB encoder and storing to a USB drive at the same time might limit quality.

Recording in HD is out of the question entirely.

May 01 2008 at 4:24 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

jfolger

Look out - I bet they'll be beating the doors down to take advantage of this. I know how much I detest the overall quality and functionality of the AppleTV and have wished for a way to clunk it up with some hacked Linux goodness.

April 30 2008 at 11:33 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

MacBookOwner

Whoa, what is with the huge interstitial advertisement, TUAW??

April 30 2008 at 11:31 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply