New Apple TV Hacked to Run Web Browser [Video]

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Posted November 6, 2015 at 6:30pm by Shalom Levytam

The new Apple TV has been hacked to run a web browser.

Developer Steven Troughton-Smith's has created tvOSBrowser, a very simplistic browser created for tvOS using a private API (aka UIWebView). Using tvOSBrowser, developer jvanakker posted a video demonstrating the Apple TV 4 browsing the web.

The browser allows for basic navigation. Tapping the top of the touch area on the Apple TV Remote lets you switch between cursor and scroll mode. Clicking the touch area clicks the webpage. Press the menu button navigates back, and pressing the Play/Pause button lets you input URLS. At this time there is no fuzzy matching or auto-search.

Unfortunately, Apple is not allowing apps to include UIWebViews as of yet so this can't be released on the tvOS App Store. However, we're hopeful that the company will change its mind as Apple TV apps become more popular.

Take a look at the video below...

Read More [via MacRumors]

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Gavin Creber - November 10, 2015 at 2:58pm

That was not HACKED to run a Browser, I have it on mine and the source code is available on GitHub here: https://github.com/steventroughtonsmith/tvOSBrowser and anyone with a mac and or dev account can have it on.

dragance - November 9, 2015 at 5:43pm

ATV just needs NAS streaming out of the box and whole world with purchase this toy.

The iDevice Pro - November 6, 2015 at 8:49pm

All he has to do is upload it to a file sharing site, or host it himself, and anyone could install it with Xcode 7. To hell with the TVos App Store.

Spawn - November 6, 2015 at 7:21pm

Oh my, who can top this hack?! :-)

Ratfink - November 6, 2015 at 7:16pm

Me Want - Now !!

The iDevice Pro - November 6, 2015 at 8:53pm

You want it? Here it is. Side load with Xcode 7. https://github.com/steventroughtonsmith/tvOSBrowser

Norman22131 - November 6, 2015 at 6:45pm

Ok, im ready! jailbreak news next!

curtixman - November 6, 2015 at 6:37pm

Really? A web browser!?!? Why?

gamerscul9870 - November 6, 2015 at 7:00pm

because you have a computer on the big screen and can show flash games.

The iDevice Pro - November 7, 2015 at 7:03am

You can't play flash games without a flash plugin, and I very seriously doubt that this has one built in, and Adobe definitely isn't an option. Gnash is Debian based ad may work with a jailbreak and Cydia installed....

prostovanka - November 6, 2015 at 6:37pm

What an awesome hack!