AppleTV - To Hack or Not to Hack?

[Rene Ritchie]

Looks super easy:

How To: Max Out Apple TV's Potential With Boxee

But I'm already converting everything to H.264 for the iPhone anyway, and I can't get Hulu because I'm a filthy Canadian who's too lazy to proxy...

Thoughts?

Anyone already hacked their AppleTV? If so, what's it like?

[jamesus]

I have a friend who just finished this and loves what he can do (Hulu included...sorry Filthy Canadian from the Ugly American).

I'll be picking one up for my Christmas present to myself this year and plan on installing Boxee. Will update once I get it up and running.

[Bad Ash]

Don't have Apple Tv but if I did... I'd do this, sure. Looks easy enough.

[Rene Ritchie]

Yeah, but you are da masta hacka; that's like cookie monster saying he'd eat the double-chocolate!

[Bad Ash]

Originally Posted by Rene Ritchie

Yeah, but you are da masta hacka; that's like cookie monster saying he'd eat the double-chocolate!

Where is your sense of adventure?

[jasonact]

I am not a hacker. I generally like my machines to be as pristine as I can. This is partially because of the warrantee, but I also like the purity of it. That's the approach I've taken with my iPhone, and it had been for my Apple TV... until I found out about Boxee.

Although technically a hack, installing Boxee on my Apple TV was easier than installing most software on a regular computer, and it works great. The Boxee UI has some irritating tweaks that need to be corrected, but otherwise, it's great. I can't imagine why anyone who uses Hulu wouldn't put it on their Apple TV. So while I generally don't hack, I guess I can't say that I've never hacked, although it was so easy, using the word "hack" seems way too generous.

[Rene Ritchie]

Since I can't get Hulu, would it still be worth it?

[jamesus]

Maybe not, but I think the hack still allows for you to install larger external hard drives.