Apple TV
Apple TV Apple

Ever wondered how to run third-party apps on the second generation Apple TV device? The challenge being that the dated tethered jailbreak update would require one to hack every time the device reboots or shuts down.

Fret not! Fortunately the jailbreak tool Seas0nPass has been updated with due credit to hackers (@pod2g and @NitoTV). Now, an untethered jailbreak is possible on the latest Apple TV firmware too.

If you own an Apple TV and need to install apps like a weather widget, RSS feed and Last.FM plugin, one has to just download the Seas0npass jailbreak and follow the how-to instructions at the end.

On the other hand, iOS developers have promised much more fascinating software features made like iOS apps for your Apple TV. For better understanding, watch the video below depicting the full-fledged iOS apps running on the second generation set-top-box with due credit to the efforts of the core iOS dev team @stroughtonsmith, @chpwn and @TheMudkip.

The proposed iOS apps dev update is still in the making and requires a handful of tweaks for full functionality. Meanwhile, the iOS hacker community promises to keep you ahead with their robust jailbreak updates.

Regular jailbreak users would be familiar with tools such as Redsn0w, PwnageTool and Sn0wbreeze, which are widely used across the user community to enable unrestricted access to third-party apps and firmware upgrades. The lesser known tool Seas0nPass can be exclusively used to jailbreak Apple TV 2G.The tool creates a custom IPSW file which enables a restore based jailbreak as opposed to a RAMDisk jailbreak.

Seas0nPass update includes untethered jailbreak for the current iOS 4.4.4 Apple TV firmware. This release adds untethered exploit provided by pod2g that has been replicated in the Redsn0w software.

Before you begin applying the jailbreak update, you will need to keep the following tools handy:

  • An Apple TV 2G.
  • A micro USB cable.
  • A working computer: Intel based Mac running Mac OS X 10.6 or above, or PC with Microsoft XP or later.
  • The latest version of iTunes (available for free download from Apple)

The new 4.4 release features the following changes:

    • AirPlay Mirroring - wirelessly stream what's on your iPad 2 to your HDTV.
    • Photo Stream- view photos recently taken on your iOS device and pushed to your photo stream in iCloud.
    • Trailers - A whole new way to browse and view hundreds of the latest movie trailers (region specific).
    • National Hockey League - watch live games. View highlights, scores and more.
    • Wall Street Journal Live - watch up to date news, business commentary and financial analysis.

If one is updating the Apple TV to the latest iOS build with Seas0nPass, then it is good to note that Plex plugin is currently not supported with the tool.

Jailbreak Apple TV 2G On iOS 4.4.4 Using Seas0nPass

Step1: Get the latest version of Seas0npass for either Mac or Windows depending on your operating system. Once downloaded, unzip the 'Seas0npass.zip'file and launch Seas0nPass.exe.

Step 2: As aforementioned, Seas0npass supports restore based jailbreak and hence requires a custom built IPSW. Click on the 'Create IPSW' option to begin the process.

Step 3: The latest Apple TV firmware (4.4.4) will get downloaded. Using this file, Seas0nPass will create a custom jailbroken file.

Step 4: Wait for the prompt signal during setup, connect your Apple TV device to your Mac or PC using the Micro USB cable. Keep the power cable disconnected at this time. When the light on the front of the Apple TV begins to flash rapidly, point the remote at the device's receiver and hold both theMENU and PLAY/PAUSE buttons for seven seconds.

Step 5: Release the buttons after seven seconds. iTunes will launch automatically and initiate the restore process. Don't be shocked by the multiple windows opening on the screen. This is part of the setup process.

Step 6: Once the process is complete, iTunes will confirm successful restore. The Apple TV is now unlocked or jailbroken. One can check this by connecting the device to a television and browsing the interface. At the bottom right hand corner of the screen, you should see a temporary 'FC' logo which confirms a successful restore.

An Important Note:

Unlike other jailbreaks on iOS 5, Cydia will not be installed as part of this process on the Apple TV. Don't be alarmed if you do not find one after the installation of the hack. Many useful and handy add-ons can be found on the developer site, once the iOS apps tweak is available.

Microsoft IPad ITunes