It turns out that the Apple TV is really only a type of Mac mini running a modified version of OS X 10.4.7. There doesn’t seem to be any efforts by Apple to prevent hacking of the system and as the post below describes it is turning out to be a Mac hackers delight.

Apple TV hacks coming fast and furious: VLC, SSH, VNC, Apache and more:
The Apple TV hacks are coming fast and furious as recorded on both the Something Awful thread we already told you about, and at the Apple TV Hacks blog. Over at Something Awful, user macado shows the Apple TV successfully decoding a 720p XviD clip using the open source VLC player (though only for 6 minutes). Other users have demonstrated Firefox and iTunes running on an Apple TV as well. Meanwhile at Apple TV Hacks, there are already tutorials up on getting SSH and AFP access and even setting up Remote Desktop (VNC) and Apache.

What will this mean for the overall use and sales of the Apple TV. I’m sure that there will be some sales just for the purpose of hacking the unit. However, any of these hacks immediately invalidate the warranty. Some predict that eventually the Apple TV could change the media playing field itself.

Apple TV Could Eclipse TIVO and Netflix, Analyst Predicts:
Apple’s new set-top-box product, Apple TV, hasn’t enjoyed quite as much hype as the iPhone, but it has the potential to seriously alter the media landscape, according to one analyst.

Jonathan Hoopes, a financial analyst with ThinkEquity Partners, predicts that between 25% and 70% of the 22 million Mac computer users, and many more PC users besides, will buy the Apple TV device over the next five years. He expects that the new wireless DVR will ultimately eclipse digital video pioneer, TiVo, and mail order DVD service, Netflix, which have 4.4 million and 8.8 million subscribers, respectively.

What Apple does have is a device that can drive sales of it’s iTunes video media by making it easy for the customer to acquire and view video’s on their own TV’s in the comfort of their living room. It’s ease of use means that the average homeowner will feel very comfortable with the product. This fact alone could overcome any technical short comings that the Apple TV may currently have. Also since the Apple TV is running OS X and can directly update from the Internet, new functions and capabilities can easily be added later making the device an even better value for the money.

I’ve spent the weekend with my Apple TV and find it a very useful component for my home entertainment system.

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