Hack makes new Apple TV run native tvOS browser

Apple TV browser hack image 003

A new hack by Dutch developer jvanakker makes the fourth-generation Apple TV run a native tvOS web browser despite the fact that Apple’s operating system powering the set-top box lacks web browsing functionality.

The most interesting thing about this hack is its use of Apple’s private API based on the UIWebView class, which the company typically provides to iPhone and iPad developers as an officially sanctioned solution for embedding web views inside apps.

This isn’t a full-featured browser per se but rather a proof-of-concept that hints at the Apple TV’s untapped potential. The app lets you scroll through webpages using the Siri Remote’s Touch surface.

Apple TV browser hack image 001

Pressing the Touch surface enables an on-screen cursor for selecting items and following links. To get to the previous page, hit the Menu button on the Siri Remote. The Play/Pause button brings up a field to enter URLs.

It’s peculiar that tvOS includes a private API for UIWebViews given Apple does not allow any form of web content in Apple TV apps via UIWebViews or other means.

The developer behind this project says that owners of the new Apple TV can sideload his web browser via Xcode, using a modified tvOS file to build the project. More information on sideloading Apple TV apps is available in Jeff’s tutorial.

For those interested, the code is available on GitHub.

Source: jvanakker via MacRumors