Hacking the Apple TV 1st Generation

In this video, I show some things you can do with an old 1st generation Apple TV.
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/ the8bitguy

[@DanielWesleyKCK]

"Stupid Digital Rights Management Bullcrap" I think that's the official name...

[@ColHogan-le5yk]

STRMB, yeah

[@dauhxe]

SDRMB

[@i6ey2]

SDRMBC cause bull crap

[@Blubb5000]

Jupp!

[@Blubb5000]

@Silver The Rabbit Roleplays ...in slow motion. I love it.

[@tonymerryfield]

It'd be great to get an updated version of this video for 2020 - I think alot more people will be interested in recycling old Apple TV kit these days.

[@antdude]

Yes, please do A1469 (3G; tvOS v7.6.2 (8144); Rev. A)!

[@tusaro2010]

There are people soldering ram and CPUs nowadays

[@sonicunleashedfan124]

You can hack OS X onto it

[@alhuno1]

Jailbreaking Apple TV is nothing new. Cydia has been working on it for ages.

[@antdude]

@@alhuno1 I hope they can jailbreak Apple TV 3G with its (new/lat)est firmwares.

[@JomasterTheSecond]

"The iBook Guy" Oh dear... this is different.

[@abandonedchannel1010]

Yep

[@nubilate]

whole different era of the 8 bit guy

[@michalnemecek3575]

good times...

[@Jesse78]

It can run Windows XP. Technically.

[@polytelus]

+JesseTheBomb Windows 2000 Runs Great :D

[@IntellitechStudios]

i installed you yesterday, you bluescreened, sorry buddy.

[@polytelus]

.-. dammit windows 2000

[@Felixhrbg]

more like walking huehuehue

[@jamesmuffins3330]

How the FU*K did you get a channel name Windows XP

[@leebrandon8495]

The 1st Generation Apple TV looks so much better than Apple TV's nowadays

[@qiqi_ao]

- Cube DE - And 4

[@adrianmardianto7681]

2014: _David successfully runs Linux on an Apple TV_ 2020: *Computer Clan successfully run MacOS on an Apple TV*

[@myrealusername2193]

People have actually been doing it for a while, but it’s cool to see larger channels doing the same!

[@MrFreeware]

'foreign-movies' I only saw german movies in this folder

[@geremachek]

He speaks german. He shared this in a more recent video.

[@BenCos2018]

69th like now lol

[@Essenkiller]

@@geremachek which one?

[@e50]

@@Essenkiller Look at the Thomann video, kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHOVaH9shNqrfqc .

[@archiethegeezer7976]

@@e50 yeah he mentions it in another video as well here kzbin.info/www/bejne/moLaZapvjMyLmbM

[@xnamkcor]

DVI is electrically identical to HDMI and does support HDCP. The display was the part that didn't support it.

[@xnamkcor]

How many? Do you have any sources besides your personal anecdotal claims?

[@BlyssSarania]

DVI is electrically identical to HDMI (video wise anyway) as @xnamkcor X stated. Many DVI monitors do NOT support HDCP but there are some that do. I have a 1680x1050 Viewsonic VG2030WM that does for instance(it also supports 1920x1080 despite being a 16:10 1680x1050 native display.) I know this from using it with my Playstation 3(which requires HDCP for certain content and video modes e.g. most games at 1080p, blu ray, etc.) You can check the manufacturers product information to determine this although it's often wrong. The best way to check is to have the monitor hooked up via DVI to a PC and check through you GPU driver utility.

[@yjk_music]

I connected my graphics card to my DVI monitor using HDMI to DVI, and NVIDIA Control Panel says that both the card and display supports HDCP. Although I can't test video playback since I don't have any playable DRM contents at this point. Note that my monitor has only DVI and VGA. No HDMI.

[@ToxicallyMasculinelol]

are you saying that any monitor that can decode HDCP video over HDMI can do the same thing with HDCP video over DVI? perhaps it's implemented in a way that isolates it from the DVI bus

[@RAMChYLD]

Toxically Masculine that should be the case. I have an Acer monitor connected via DVI to my PC, and the NVIDIA control panel reports that it does support HDCP. The monitor doesn't even have a HDMI connector. I agree that most likely it's the monitor that doesn't support HDCP, I had another ViewSonic monitor around and that one doesn't support HDCP over DVI - given its the same brand as the one Dave was using in the video, it makes me wonder if ViewSonic simply just doesn't implement HDCP on their DVI-only monitors to cut costs.

[@thomashobbs7066]

the ram is upgradeable. All you need is a compatible ram chip, soldering iron, about 10 apple TVs to try and do it with and an LOTOF TIME!:)

[@valterns]

youtube in 2014: bad video no recommend youtube in 2019: OMFG BEST VIDEO EVAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[@saltysoysauce954]

I got this in my recommended in 2017 and 2018 too

[@gregorboxer2463]

😂

[@imaginaoYouTubesoquecomarrobas]

Oof! I was thinking I was the only one seeing this video now!

[@tl1882]

2020 for me

[@jeremyyt5127]

@@tl1882 same

[@CharlesHepburn2]

Owned one of these... was very cutting edge back in the day. I can also agree that it does get pretty hot while in use.

[@Radi0he4d1]

Seeing how it has little memory, an x86 processor and a video card, can you put Windows XP on it? Not for any purpose, just for kicks.

[@The8BitGuy]

Radi0he4d1 Theoritically, yes. But it has no BIOS in the traditional sense. So I'm not sure how XP would get booted since it depends on a traditional BIOS to get the kernel loaded.

[@Radi0he4d1]

The iBookGuy Oooh, true that. I've seen some videos of desktop ubuntu builds made for Apple TV, it actually works half decent at 256 Mb RAM.

[@Browningate]

Radi0he4d1 That's what I was thinking too. I guess at the end of the day, you'd just be better off buying an old laptop or lightweight desktop and using that instead. The component video output is a nice plus for anyone with an older HDTV that doesn't support HDMi, but other than that, the machine just doesn't have any redeeming qualities.

[@Jeremy974]

Radi0he4d1 search for MicroXP on the net to have windows on the Apple TV ^^

[@Radi0he4d1]

Jeremy974 There are 36 mb distributives out there. Still, they will not work due to the issues discussed above.

[@thatguyontheright1]

This is pretty neat...but I do think the Raspberry Pi is a better option for this kind of thing. But the Apple TV does seem to do better than a softmodded Xbox Classic running XBMC. It can atleast stream High Definition Content, which the Original Xbox can not do, even with the ram upgrade. But the Original Xbox does make a killer MAME machine.

[@The8BitGuy]

***** - The Raspberry Pi's biggest problem for a media center is lack of a sturdy and elegant case. I know I've seen some cases for sale but they are usually 3D printed and usually not very sturdy or elegant. Plus you still need a solution for the remote control.

[@thatguyontheright1]

The iBookGuy I just use a USB control. Also there are android apps which will let you use your phone as a remote. As for the case. I fashioned one using the Benheck method. Acrylic plastic, nylon spacers, and patience. I may remake mine with a vaccum formed case.

[@FableLikesGames]

Since I have an old Xbox Classic laying around, could I turn it into a Media Center? And can it run KZbin as well?

[@thatguyontheright1]

IntelleGaming No. As a media center in 2014, it's quite limited. It can not run High Def Content (despite the fact the Xbox can run in HD). It's better used as a game machine these days, running emulators and Xbox games.

[@FableLikesGames]

Considering I don't have any HDTVs in my house, I don't really mind if it's HD or not. I just read somewhere that it's compatible with KZbin, etc. and I got my hopes up. Thanks for the quick response.

[@rudydsouza7432]

my god, i fucking HATE on-screen keyboards

[@AB-om2qp]

ikr don't you think consoles should come with a keyboard (Im aware you can buy one)

[@StreakyBaconMan]

+Wizmoz The Gamer I hate touch screen keyboards too, it hobbles my typing so badly. I go from over 100 words per minute down to about 20. It's very frustrating for me having for years been able to type almost as fast as I can think of the words and now suddenly if I'm stuck with a touch screen I am down to 20 words per minute and I forget what I'm saying before I get the chance to type it. I actually have a small rubber roll up keyboard for typing instead of a touch screen for my devices - it does take my speed down a bit, but not nearly as much.

[@honestlyidk2585]

On screen keyboards is ok but i like to write on mechanical keyboards

[@victorbart]

Cool video! Just found an apple TV in the recycle station and I took it with me! :) I gonna try your tips :)

[@HappySlappyFace]

OMG IF YOU SAY TRUTH THAT MEAN YOU ARE SO SO SO LUCKY

[@victorbart]

HappySlappy Face Yes it is true :)

[@victorbart]

***** No it is not bullshit :) Here in the Netherlands people throw away lots of good stuff because they buy newer stuff.

[@xalataf3365]

Bought one 2 months ago, then switched to the 3rd gen

[@thatpvppro1979]

Everyone trows it away xd its shit

[@sammyb9683]

how come this video came out 10 years ago and it is still so helpful in 2024

[@oldsoultechy]

I don’t know but I’m gonna try this

[@sammyb9683]

@@oldsoultechy same here

[@northbeachfilms]

Thanks! My neighbors left one on the street (on top of the garbage bins) and I am going to see if it will run movie files. Your video is very helpful. I like recycling. :)

[@joelanderson000]

Using mine in 2021 as a spotify-connect device. I have it running a headless minimal install of Debian 10 and a 32 bit binary of Spotifyd (open source spotify daemon). I have an amplifier with a usb dac that works like a charm with it.

[@careverga21covid89]

How bro

[@DRSDavidSoft]

DRM ™ : The best annoyance system service for customers! If you are a vendor, hurry up and engage this crap, only non-professional home users will be stopped from copying the stuff they legally bought!

[@someboringperson9359]

@@kyria_kous Honestly, thats worser than DRM

[@hectorcanizales5900]

@@kyria_kous what does that even mean?

[@hectorcanizales5900]

@@kyria_kous wow, never heard of it. Definitely sounds like a pain in the ass

[@Vontux]

This is quite the time capsule, love it.

[@JoeMama-jf3zd]

To the iBook guy you have change my life. I have learned lots of stuff from watching you I want to be like you when I grow up

[@TheGameBoyss]

just randomly got this in my recomended

[@TheAmazingDoorknob]

*N O B O D Y C A R E S*

[@BenCos2018]

same tbh

[@The_Goose2]

And you loved it

[@Halterung01]

3:21 (T)Raumschiff Surprise!! Do you actually speak german? How cool is that?

[@C_Productions]

Philip vB bei 3:19 siehst du, daß fast alle Filme auf Deutsch sind.

[@shadowcaster02]

Staplerfahrer Klaus :D

[@redcookielp7760]

Noch mehr Deutsche :D

[@keanu_]

Noch ein Deutscher :DD

[@uSaschka]

So viele Deutsche hier o.O

[@kingneutron1]

I love stuff like this, giving longer life to old hardware

[@MegaManNeo]

You have tons of German stuff there... even _Staplerfahrer Klaus_, holy cow. But it's still impressive what those things are useful for still nowadays. Not that the RPi couldn't do the same by now but using KODI is always a pleasure.

[@abandonedchannel1010]

Yeah

[@canadaisverycold4901]

Your Tardis USB hub is great.

[@olivertaylor7247]

I kinda want it now

[@zombieslayer1468]

@@olivertaylor7247 same

[@AgentKilo]

Since this video is pretty outdated, I think it's worth mentioning that the same thing can be done with a Raspberry Pi 3, which is less expensive and possibly more powerful than an Apple TV. So unless you have one collecting dust in your closet, I'd just recommend getting a Pi. Also side note, XMBC is now called Kodi and the original developer has released a disk image on their website specifically for the raspberry pi.

[@Brycereigle2000]

So, would this be considered a Intel Mac ? :D

[@Brycereigle2000]

:D *****

[@apersononyoutubewhohasanun9779]

I guess?

[@qwertykeyboard5901]

Bryce Reigle sort of???

[@d-o-n-u-t]

I'll call this duo "Mint"

[@TheRedCap]

It's one of the first Intel macs. When Steve revealed that they were switching to Intel, he also revealed that the iMac he was using used a Pentium 4.

[@QuantumRads]

Ah, the one and only iBookGuy!

[@TheRedCap]

but... can it run crysis?

[@habere]

If a graphics card that is so old you can't get it on Newegg (otherwise it would be called Oldegg) can run Crysis at 10 Hz (720p, low), why shouldn't it run on a streaming box from just a few years ago?

[@zombieslayer1468]

Yes it can... ...with a new CPU, GPU and more ram.

[@abdullahtshabal9522]

holy shit the thermal paste application on the processors

[@lilturk726]

I used iTunes for a little while until I bought Jay-z's Magna Carta album and Itunes decided one day that I didn't have the rights to play about 30% of the songs. From then on in I haven't used them.

[@AveragePootis]

Would love to put the guts of a Mac Mini into one of these, as i quite dig the look of one of these

[@buschw00kie]

3:20 Staplerfahrer Klaus! :D

[@Marcinatorb]

With english subtitles?!

[@miralemnermina142]

Marcinatorb 8 Bit Guy knows German

[@Marcinatorb]

Would like to hear him talking german. Can't really imagine that :D

[@miralemnermina142]

Marcinatorb kzbin.info/www/bejne/h6e8pKpum5xqiLs Here guy asks him a question on German

[@Marcinatorb]

Timestamp pls

[@stoozyyyyy]

He was called the iBookGuy??? Sick :D

[@qualle9257]

Why do you have so much german Movies? Is it, because you learned german?

[@hgtgghhg]

Çok faydalı video ilk firsatta linux yükleyip deniycem , teşekkürler kanal sahibi.

[@natemusiconyt]

You could try lubntu, it's meant for old, non-powerful pcs

[@bosnia58]

you don't explain what exactly file you used for Apple tv 1

[@chelseaparadox935]

Nice doctor who t-shirt

[@ryangehret]

Is there any way I can easily get a desktop OS running on this thing? I don't really care about having a media center computer, I only bought mine because I thought I could have a little fun with running a full OS on it. I know it's possible to run OS X but I don't have any Tiger CDs or any Intel macs that could run Tiger so I could make the drive. OpenELEC doesn't have a traditional desktop environment...Any help?

[@sabianwarner5316]

ryangehret (Defunct) you still want help with that?

[@hackeritalics]

For anybody wondering if this is possible, I would say a good place to start would be looking at lubuntu, damn small Linux, or puppy Linux. Puppy Linux might be the most realistic and useful one. Damn small Linux is very nice, but it's very limited as well and will require more understanding of Linux. Puppy Linux on the other hand uses squash file systems and has a fairly nice software manager.

[@8ullfrog]

I love this sort of stuff, jack-o-lanterning old relatively useless devices back into service.

[@ericwood3709]

Mac mini is my media center solution. Got an older one, so that it would have a built-in optical drive, and put Ubuntu on it since OS X was actually not really up to the task! It was behaving poorly with VLC for whatever reason, and it was also kind of flaky when it came to Bluetooth connectivity (for my sound bar). It's great with Ubuntu, though, both for video and for console game emulation.

[@asdfasdf4345artsdfg]

Ubuntu Mate for PowerPC has been announced---that would make a great video topic! (I know you visited something similar back in 2010, but the whole project has been re-adopted).

[@opahoppenstedt2306]

3:22 Staplerfahrer Klaus🤣 Das gefällt mir!

[@cucho69]

We must exercise the correct mention of GNU/Linux. Thank you, Richard Stallman for free software and the fight against DRM

[@LelouchLamperouge235]

Lulz :D You've got Staplerfahrer Klaus on your NAS :D

[@DaltonTk423]

A couple go years ago, I download and installed custom version of Mac OS X 10.5.8 onto this. everything worked. the wifi, mouse, keyboard, and I even was able to watch youtube videos onto it. Im not sure if I still have that software laying around somewhere. But it was pretty cool!

[@DEVL-sq6dk]

Why am I watching this in 2018?

[@HoboVibingToMusic]

Why not? :P

[@sabianwarner5316]

Hobo exactly

[@Lyrmas_]

im also watching in 2018 it crazy

[@windowsxp4853]

How about 2019?

[@comicsansgreenkirby]

I watch it because I like

[@shabbydelights5253]

I always learn something new with you! Thanks.

[@Reichstaubenminister]

Today I learned that The 8-Bit Guy can (probably) understand German.

[@tommysalami28]

is that a gear vr behind you?

[@hidde1626]

No this was 2014

[@Grunchy005]

Thanks for the video! Very informative. Now, please figure out something to do with an old OUYA system !

[@windowsxp4853]

Or just use something like Termux on it and chroot into some form of Linux. Who knows? Maybe DebianNoRoot would be at your interest?

[@CaseyJames8181]

Kodi now offers netflix and Hulu!!!!!!!!!UUUUUUUHHHHHHHHH

[@HMods1991]

+casey james hulu yes, last time I checked netflix is just for mac and windows via browser plugn

[@CaseyJames8181]

I got it on my windows 8 machine.

[@ihavenofriends9621]

I managed to get kodi on an Amazon fire tv stick

[@CaseyJames8181]

yep,been there done that.rather snppy 2 I might add

[@ihavenofriends9621]

casey james yes, I agree

[@andresibarra8239]

Hello, is it possible to connect to internet with a usb wifi dongle?

[@Khether0001]

Apple motto: If yOu want to be coOoOol you'll buy my nEw gizmoOoOo... _....ooooohhh neat! but can I do..._ *NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!! NOOOOOO YOU CAN'T!!!!!!!!!*

[@E-virtuosEu]

True :-)

[@jazzius]

Apple is not that way anymore...

[@SecretSauce2738]

You could install damn small linux or Arch 32 on it. Then use a tiny window manager. Make a big swap partition and make sure every program has a small memory footprint.

[@ArmandoGurfinkel]

It would be cool of you can make a video about installing Ubuntu on the raspberry pi which I prefer over the apple tv 3

[@davidlowings9251]

You can't install Ubuntu on the Raspberry Pi.

[@AshesOfEther]

Learn the newest model

[@davidlowings9251]

He didn't specify the model, and in the video he has shown was a Model B+.

[@emralcrewrblox]

Damn small Linux only needs 64 mb of ram to run if I remember correctly...

[@JohnJ-xm3fg]

CHRIS C xp needs 64megs, DamnSmallLinux i believe takes ~8MB RAM or so

[@jjjoshiii6659]

and only takes 50 mb of storage!

[@araigumakiruno]

Try run it with 1MB RAM

[@jturner718]

HDCP is supported by DVI, it just also has to be supported by the display.

[@schinewde]

3:21 - Do you unterstand german? :) Greetings from Germany!

[@Random22]

Please stop it with the 'RECOMMENDED IN 2019!!!11!11!!!11!1' comments. It's getting repetitive. This is actually a cool video.

[@ryangehret]

Can't you run full 10.4 OS X on this?

[@Dan-TechAndMusic]

Yes, infact, you can run 10.5 as well. But usability is going to be limited with the hardware the Apple TV has.

[@ryangehret]

Yeah of course

[@streamcentralgamez2368]

but will it get some delay?

[@superunboxerboy]

Is there a video showing how to do that?

[@CozyAlgorithmCave]

superunboxerboy yes

[@theodoreswanson6141]

the early raspberry pi generations had 256 megs and worked fine.

[@paijoaoxxi1873]

How about Lubuntu 14.04.3 LTS? Make a follow up to this video!

[@emmanuelebole325]

3:44 The cabling setup behind you is nice.

[@joehdah5395]

an oldie but a goodie

[@H3adcrash]

Very neat! If you want to try a full blown desktop OS, it could likely run CrunchBang, or possible Linux Lite. Both are Debian based.

[@linux_fox]

Install Gentoo and compile everything on that blazing fast 1Ghz single core CPU :^)

[@thomassteele6907]

can u run bf4 on this someone pls answear

[@Unholybeef]

+Thomas Steele Yeah, it'll run The Division at 8k 60fps It's a real beast. Clearly Apple products are better than PC.

[@fifaworldcup1994]

Of course it is!

[@nikprobg9327]

Thomas Steele it runs bf4 at 900 fps at ultra settings

[@SoldfMC]

LOL! Staplerfahrer Klaus, I remember being show it during our forklift training. Anyone who hasn't seen it, KZbin it.

[@afropolarbear6823]

It would likely run lubuntu at minimum settings, in fact. It might be able to run some emulators meant for x86 linux, since it would likely do it at low settings for one like Retro Ark.

[@nicholasbennett4353]

TARDIS usb hub and doctor who shirt! I did not know that you liked doctor who! Its my life LOL!

[@blackmail1337]

why do you have so many german movies?

[@mustard_mage7011]

that literally is kodi that i actually use on my computer and amazon fire tv

[@dienrespawn227]

Rizbalt So do I!

[@zakil1605]

LaneHD good ole days, XBMC

[@charlesdodimead4580]

Love your subtle sci-fi references. The Dr. Who tee, Back To The Future lol.

[@jdrou]

I made a video about shooting the first Apple TV :)

[@insomniac-afk]

shut up :)

[@eliel_360]

xd

[@alexbleks]

Oh, you must be sooo cool, hard and tough..

[@lysanderblackburn5717]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/bqC9i5Sbe6uop5Y

[@marshn12.gaming]

the app that you have installed the flash drive is the exact same thing as Kodi you should get the Genesis add-on

[@timmy112kirk]

Uhh DVI can actually carry audio.....

[@prodders666]

timmy112 no it can't

[@cdr1307]

Xbmc or kodi has a apple tv skin hummm Also kodi now has a netflix addon

[@liamskeeling]

Really cool T-Shirt, been watching your videos for a while know and love them.

[@nickcarlton4604]

simple just get a chromecast

[@liblope]

why would you get a chromecast when you can just get one of those android on a stick things for basically the same damn price

[@CarterGregg25]

Nick Carlton Chromecast is nice

[@AgentKilo]

Even better, a Daydream View so you can pretend you're in a movie theater lol

[@ColHogan-le5yk]

Der untergang! Nice!

[@nexusvideo]

I did the proper software hack on my gen 1 apple tv. it replaces existing apple front row app with xbmc. it retains full apple tv functionality but when you select the xbmc item , it boots into that system instead. Very cool media streamer and you can play files from a fat32 connected drive. IMPORTANT NOTE. Does not support 1080p ; this is a 720p system. It just does not have the horse power to handle the larger format. I have read that people have added 3rd party video processing cards to the inside of the apple tv that gives it 1080p support.

[@VlajCo-di8lc]

That Apple thing is such a piece of crap!

[@ssvx5243]

says a little kid

[@chrisjamel8461]

This tech is simply Archaic

[@noOO000o]

How about putting a full version of macos on it?

[@noOO000o]

Any version would do

[@aderaidou]

Actually, a DVI cable CAN transmit HDCP content. You just need a monitor that supports HDCP. I used my PS3 hooked up to a Gateway FPD2485W via HDMI to DVI and it worked perfectly.

[@Toxoid49b]

1 million, congrats!

[@plisskentv6501]

Nice David! I see you have the Halo 3 sound track on Itunes!

[@JessicaFEREM]

On the 2nd gen apple tv, you can jailbreak the apple tv and install kodi using firecore

[@fluffycritter]

DVI actually does support HDCP, although not all DVI monitors do. My first HDTV only had a DVI port, and it did do HDCP just fine.

[@killa_]

recommended in 2021 jeez

[@chilly_willy_allentech8328]

open ELC is best with older xbmc ..osmc install is kodi 17 ...sad you have to make usb installer for every time you install ..but works good ,, i have 10 apple tvs done

[@melody_florum]

Use the heat from the top to retrobrite something!

[@Null94]

2:20 nice, the soundtrack for halo 3 is great

[@archivushka]

1:15 and if you got a VGA monitor, you can use component to vga, because they also somethat electrically compatible

[@ShunShinimaru]

Lubuntu should be able to run. It's actually one of the lightest linux distros period, designed to run in very small amounts of ram. Use the alternate image. the non-graphical installer.

[@poeskey]

So I actually own 2 of these, one I found at a thrift store for around 40$, and the other i paid about 90$ but it came with everything. I have one fully upgraded with a PCIe 8GB SSD, the Broadcom CrystalHD card, I removed the bottom rubber piece and super glued the 4 rubber legs off of an old linksys router to the bottom. Even after all this I would still say that the $80 android box I bought off of amazon is still better than the ATV. I have kept it because it is still a very capable machine, but it just cant decode all the video formats (as far as I know the CrystalHD card only does x264) and there are problems that you will run into every so often.

[@Brophyd78]

Great video. Didn't know about the USB thumb drive bootable OS...

[@kwhalo4217]

You can run Puppy Dog Linux on 256 mbs of RAM, hell, it only needs 5 mbs. It's also a full desktop.