Fortunately, a crop of unofficial software has sprung up that enables the AppleTV to play just about any video format, including ripped DVDs. There’s also a Web browser you can put onto the box that lets you navigate to any site, including video sites like Hulu or ABC.com, and programs that display local weather or RSS feeds onscreen. Most of the software is free or inexpensive, but the DIY methods for loading it onto the box can be a pain. Instead, we used a $50 program called aTV Flash that gives you an idiot-proof installation—just load it onto a flash drive, plug it into the AppleTV’s USB port, and turn on the power. Remember that there’s always a risk of damaging the device when installing unofficial software. One other note: While Apple Core, the company behind aTV Flash, claims that installing it would not void your warranty, an Apple rep we spoke with says it would. If you need warranty service, restore your box to the original software and no one will be the wiser.
Hack Your AppleTV
1 Purchase and download aTV Flash from applecorellc.com. The program costs $50 and comes with a year of upgrades. An extra $30 extends that to lifetime upgrades—which will be useful if Apple updates the box’s software and disables the hack. 2 Follow the instructions in the downloaded file to install the software on a USB memory stick. Not every brand of memory stick works; Apple Core recommends using one that’s a gigabyte or less. 3 Make sure your AppleTV software is up-to-date. Unplug the box, insert your USB stick into the back, and plug it back in. The software installs itself and restarts the box. You’ll see your new programs in the main menu.
