AppleTV Becomes OSX Workstation

An anonymous reader writes "AppleTVhacks published a full howto install guide with 12 easy steps to turn your AppleTV into a full blown OSX workstation. With a processor emulation, hacker Semthex of hackint0sh.org, managed to get full blown OSX working on a AppleTV. The kernel for this hack is freely available under APSL and opens the legal way to a really cheap Mac Nano. With 300$ difference to the Mac Mini, this is becoming a fairly interesting deal." April Fool's, btw.

Comments

I dont get it?

[Whiney Mac Fanboy]

The kernel for this hack is freely available under APSL and opens the legal way to a really cheap Mac Nano. With 300$ difference to the Mac Mini, this is becoming a fairly interesting deal."

and from TFA:

Semthex wrote a processor emulation for the kernel, to sidestep the hardware restrictions that previously disallowed Mac OS X from running on the Apple TV.

Is there something I'm missing? If that's legal, what's to stop me putting a (legal) copy os OS X on any common-or-garden x86 box?

Re:I dont get it?

[artaxerxes]

The Apple Mac OS X license extends only to Apple Badged Hardware. So legally the Apple TV is, and your hackintosh is not.

Re:I dont get it?

[Firehed]

And is violating a EULA suddenly illegal? Once I buy the software, I believe I'm legally entitled to do whatever the fuck I want with it, short of uploading it to somewhere that would allow for it to be pirated. I think the most that happens is that I'm no longer entitled to some amount of support through Apple. We always laugh about things like Vista's virtualization EULA clause, but we'll follow Apple's to the letter?

Your latter point is certainly valid, but like you said, that'll almost certainly change with Leopard's release.

Re:What day is it again?

[Corporate Troll]

True, I don't think it's real either. The thing is: if you manage to do such a hack on or around Fools Day, I'd wait a few days before releasing the information. That way you're less likely to be considered a fake.

Many of the comments on that page were made on April 1st, including the one where the guy claims it's not an April Fools joke. I'm not buying it.

Here's the videos

[objekt]

I don't think these will get slashdotted anytime soon

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t3qvJSMojBQ
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1840427990 015549546

Re:Don't play dumb.

[knewter]

I'm always so upset when I read about stuff like this. If a paint manufacturer put a label on the paint can seal that was 'accepted upon opening' that stated that you couldn't use the paint except on PaintCo Brand Wood, would we call 'pirate' painters criminals or would we all just laugh in unison at PaintCo for misunderstanding freedom?

"GHz per dollar" is a bad metric

[MarkByers]

> so how exactly is turning a 300 dollar machine with less than 1/3 the speed make sense economically?

Because sometimes speed doesn't matter. Most desktop applications are not processor bound any more. Processor speed is not the only thing to consider when buying a computer. Sure, it's worth considering, but you make it sound like it is the only factor to consider when buying a computer.

> Besides I'm sure you can find them for 500 bucks or so since they've been around for so long...

Why are you comparing the price of buying a brand new Apple TV to buying a second-hand Mac Mini. You are comparing Apples and err.. older Apples. If you are going to state the price of both, either give the new price of both, or the second-hand price of both.

I think for the vast majority of ordinary users, getting a Mac Mini is worth the extra cost, but this would still a pretty cool hack if you don't need the extra computing power and you want to save some money. (Though it is probably an April Fool's joke).

Re:Don't play dumb... but this is not a computer

[ashwinds]

"The license agreement specifies that Mac OS X can only be run on an Apple-labeled computer. " What if Apple says its not a Computer?

Re:Not quite yet

[Stewie241]

Otherwise it is a clear case of copyright infringement.

no, rather license violation.