The new Apple TV set-top box has been jailbroken by the iPhone Dev-Team. The hackers used the Pwnage Tool and Shatter exploit to jailbreak iOS 4.1 running on the just released second generation Apple TV.
The Dev-Team previously used Shatter to help users jailbreak the iPhone and iPod Touch units that operate iOS 4.1. The Apple TV jailbreak is possible because Apple didn't use a different OS to power the set-top box and hackers already knew how to exploit iOS 4.1.
"Shatter can trick Apple's new Apple TV 2G into restoring to a pre-jailbroken IPSW from PwnageTool!" the group said in a recent blog post that includes video evidence of the jailbreak and root access to the device. "Literally the only UI application on the ATV is Lowtide.app, but now the window is open for jailbroken apps of all varieties."
Despite the lightning fast jailbreak of the new Apple TV, the Dev-Team stated that it'll be some time before this jailbreak is ready for the mainstream. It may also be difficult to port iOS apps meant for the iPhone over to Apple TV, with smartphone apps unlikely to look good on a big HDTV.
It is likely that jailbroken Apple TV apps will become available at some point, with classic video game emulators being likely candidates. As mentioned before, Apple may claim jailbreaking the company's products ruins the "magical" use of the gadgets -- but in this case, it could help increase interest for the new Apple TV, which only costs $99.
Jailbreaking popular consumer electronics products is nothing new, but I'm sure that Apple will publicly condemn the modification. Either way, it could still benefit Apple by boosting sales due to the alluring incentive it provides for those who enjoy tinkering and modding their own devices.
Apple TV currently has to compete with Roku, TiVo and similar set-top boxes, while also dealing with harsh words from Viacom and other competitors.
