Apple TV hacking gets boost with BackRow Developer's Kit

Transforming the hamstrung Apple TV into something worth owning has become easier with the release of an unofficial Apple TV plug-in development kit. Developed by Alan Quatermain of AwkwardTV, the BackRow Developer's Kit simplifies the process of developing plug-ins for the Apple TV and features an Apple TV simulator for testing the plug-ins on a Intel-based Mac.

The fact Apple TV runs Intel and Mac OSX under the bonnet means it has lots of hacking potential, while the fact it does so little - only playing nicely with iTunes and MPEG4 or H.264 - gives would-be hackers plenty of incentive to expand its feature set. Apple doesn't seem to have gone out of its way to stop people modifying the Apple TV. The case is easy to open, it runs on standard hardware and software and there's even a built-in factory restore if things go pear-shaped (hold down Menu and - on the remote).