What operating system does Apple TV use? Does it run MacOS X?

When the Apple TV was first announced as "iTV" on September 12, 2006, it appeared that the device was running a "stripped down" version of OS X. Upon its release, Walter Mossberg in the WSJ confirmed that the Apple TV uses a "modified version of the Mac operating system".

In an in-depth review, the always excellent ArsTechnica goes a step further, stating that:

The operating system on the disk is a stripped down version of OS 10.4.7. . . There is at least one partition for the operating system which is mounted as read-only (the second is where all of the media files are stored, [and] a third contains a fresh copy of the OS for factory restores).

Likewise, in a great "First Look," MacWorld notes that the Apple TV runs "a version of MacOS X; version 10.4.7 Build 8N5107 to be exact."

The Apple TV was not intended to run a "full" version of MacOS X, but mere days after it shipped, creative hackers developed a way to run a full version of MacOS X on the Apple TV, as well as run the "Apple TV OS" on a MacBook and a PC.

Can Apple TV run MacOS X software applications? Can it play iPod games?

Officially, the Apple TV is not designed to run any MacOS X "applications" other than the software pre-installed and fine print on the Apple website notes that "iPod games will not play on Apple TV". However, hardworking hackers have reported that they have been able to get some MacOS X applications running to varying degrees of success including iTunes, VLC, Joost, Firefox, and even World of Warcraft using the default operating system as well as a "full" version of MacOS X.

Neither are for beginners -- the people for whom the Apple TV was designed -- but Tutorial Ninjas has more information for adventurous users who are willing to void their Apple TV warranty and attempt to run MacOS X software on the Apple TV using the original operating system and AppleTVHacks.net has a tutorial with details on how to run the full version of MacOS X.

For the latest Apple TV hacks, please refer to AppleTVHacks.net, AppleTV Hacker, and AwkwardTV.

Can Apple TV run Windows or Linux?

The Apple TV was not intended to run operating systems other than the one pre-installed on the system. However, as it uses a standard Intel architecture, the underlying hardware is capable of running Windows and Linux. Creative hackers already have Linux up-and-running and it is only a matter of time before Windows is running on the Apple TV as well.

For the latest Apple TV hacks, please refer to AppleTVHacks.net, AppleTV Hacker, and AwkwardTV.