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Home / I-Appliance BBS General / NEWS, Breaking NEWS Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each

Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) Randy Profile A fellow on eBay has been selling a stash of never-released Apple set-top boxes at $20 each. These were the sleek black web browsing boxes that were developed by WebTV founder Steve Perlman before he left Apple to strike out on his own. The guy who sells these seems to have several hundred units on eBay. Here's an example: http://cgi.ebay.com/aw-cgi/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=1221871162 I just bought one; it would be interesting to get them up and running somehow. Randy 03-16-2001 09:21:05

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) Randy Profile A tip to find several more on eBay... search under "Apple set top box" . . . Rand 03-16-2001 09:23:05

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) Programmer Profile At first it looked very promising for me.. it can run linux, it has some sort of network, it has hardware mpeg decoding, etc.. what is currently stopping me: the network it relies on is g.703 over twisted pair. I have absolutely no idea how to connect this to my server to get functionality out of this. 03-16-2001 11:45:35

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) GWIZAH Profile | Email Hmm, I saw this way back like 4 months ago. Looks pretty intriging, anyone up or a closer inspection? 03-16-2001 17:15:30

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) Knull Profile Well I ordered one I will have some pics soon as it gets here. Thanks kn 03-19-2001 19:54:31

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) Randy Profile Cool, Knull! Well, the ePods craze got started with a simple inquiry like this too, so who knows what awaits. The difference here is that the Apple box is only $20-25, a pretty good risk. I'm eagerly awaiting mine also. Randy 03-20-2001 06:27:38

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile bought it off ebay and is waiting for it to arrive :) i'll let you know when i get it and tell about it 03-20-2001 08:52:10

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) Knull Profile Got mine in and will take some pictures and report what I find soon. Kn 03-26-2001 23:10:38

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile i think iv'e been burned by the ebay seller of those apple tv set top box i got it today and boy it was old and strached missing one side plastic cover and smelly i hooked it up to either video,s-video or rf out no work =no video and i know it powered up(can feel warm chips) it has a simm module and a possible flash card near power supply it has mpeg decoder chipcl450-p160 and tuner is philips as for card slot it is special card :( but doesnt need it cause we have network port :) let me geuss the right side port is adb for keyboard,mouse? adb is apple desktop bus(an early form of usb like desgin that really evolved into usb!) there's a socketed dip ic i think is a pram?(cmos bioslike)it had date may 5th 95' and cool thing it has 2 scart ports! as for scsi port it is available in old apple computer or apple dealer store we have the scsi cable at microcenter store :) one more thing it has serial port for either printer or modem,i do not know whether the video/audio/s-video ports is in or out? intersting label up front saying property of the lightspan parternship,inc phone 1-800-987-span which i'd say is useless phone numbers as for ir keyboard/mouse don't know which is compatiable but good thing it has adb to daisy chain devices:) and one thing it's an irish made!!!! it's model number is m4120 i will attempt to photograph it and put up on webpage 03-28-2001 11:07:21

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) Programmer Profile did I say this before?? I think so.. THERE's NO ETHERNET the port that others have claimed is ethernet is g.703 ADSL 03-28-2001 13:48:34

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile it seems to not passing the video signal to tv from the box , only rf in is passed through to rf out i think there's some secret keyboard button to switch similar to tv/vcr button? i hooked up my scsi mac hd with system7.1 i could see scsi hd light working as it were loading ,so.....yep i have adb keyboard plugged in i can power it up from keyboard power button :) but still no s-video,video/audio to tv ,maybe it's input only? one of guy from secretbox site was able to boot it up with blue screen with purple bar with apple logo 03-28-2001 17:03:16

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) GWIZAH Profile | Email Heres some links to some general info regarding the apple set top box http://www.applefritter.com/prototypes/tvbox/index.html http://www.secretaboutbox.com/museum/proto/stb/index.html 03-28-2001 17:05:08

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile THANKS a millions!!!! 03-28-2001 17:22:16

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile only reason mine doesnt is the power light stay steady red when i turn on main power in back and according to manual it mean it's still in self check cycle and normally would be yellow light and when powered up it becomes green hmm...... 03-28-2001 19:01:00

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) higgins Profile | Email Here's some bits of info. Most of it isn't linkable, sorry... I've done a Nexis search and can't find if this stuff was ever actually deployed...It does turn out, however, that a pal of mine sits on the board of Lightspan.... higgins higgins@dorsai.org ================================================== http://support.info.apple.com/pr/media.alerts/1996/q1/951127.pr.alrt.tv.html http://support.info.apple.com/pr/press.releases/1995/q3/950508.pr.rel.itv2.html http://www.redherring.com/index.asp?layout=story&channel=70000007&doc_id=480017048 This is still the lightspan partnership site. http://www.lightspan.com/ ====================================== Newsbytes May 8, 1995, Monday LENGTH: 490 words HEADLINE: Apple Intros TV Set-Top Box DATELINE: DALLAS, TEXAS, U.S.A. BODY: (NB) -- Apple Computer Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL) says it is supplying a set-top box for interactive television trials (ITV) of Lightspan Partnership's educational home and school programming. Apple says it will look for a third party to manufacture the Apple set-top box. The Lightspan program consists of an interactive reading and mathematics curriculum for children between the ages of four and 12, inclusive. Lightspan says its goal is to deliver a common education program which ties schools and students' homes into a uniform source for educational opportunities. Early trials of the programming and Apple's set-top box will be conducted in six US states. Content from Lightspan for the trials consists of "Mars Moose," an interactive reading series and "The Secret of Googol," an introductory mathematics series. Also included in the programming is "Str.at.es" and "KidVid: Timeless Math." Beyond the interactive component, Lightspan claims it has combined animation, live video, state-of-the-art audio, "compelling" characters, and "entertaining" story lines to enhance student participation and progress. Apple's set-top box features a Motion Pictures Experts Group-1 (MPEG-1) decoder, four megabytes (MB) of RAM, and 2MB of ROM running on a Motorola 68040 microprocessor. The initial box for the trials is a stand-alone unit which has a CD-ROM drive for displaying content. Apple says this temporary measure will allow the Lightspan program to develop until the necessary broadband requirements for true ITV are fully installed in the participating communities. This is not Apple's first venture into ITV. Early in 1994, the company participated in ITV trial in the United Kingdom and then provided set-top boxes for ITV trials in Belgium. Bill Goings, Apple's Interactive Television business development manager, told Newsbytes, "The Lightspan program is designed as one-on-one student to computer/television environment. The initial trials will allow students to interact with the learning programs using a mouse. However, Apple's set-top box will also accommodate a keyboard." Goings also said, "Our set-box design is built around expansion. Any set-top will have to be ready to expand to meet a growing and developing industry." Apple's early design for these US trials is expandable to 32MB of RAM. As large video files for applications such as video-on-demand become available, set-top boxes will be ready to meet the necessary hardware and firmware requirements. Apple and Microsoft working together? Not exactly, but The Lightspan Partnership, a San Diego, California company is backed by Microsoft, Comcast, and TCI Ventures. The partnership's goal is to develop a nationwide interactive television education curriculum to be shared between the student's school and home.( Patrick McKenna/1995/Press Contact: Carolyn Donohoe, Donohoe Communications, 415-664-4780 ==================================== Here's an interesting contact dated 1995 http://www.3dsite.com/3dsite/cgi/publications/daily-spectrum/issue119.html Welcome Bill Volk; Hear Brenda Laurel in SF Tonight (9 Nov 95) I'm going light on news today, happy to welcome another guest columnist. Bill Volk knows as much as anybody I know about designing, developing, and producing interactive media experiences that connect with mass audiences. He's graciously offered to grace these pages with an occasional column. During six years with Activision as vp of technology, he was instrumental in creating Return to Zork. Currently he helps design interactive television as director of interactive development at The Lightspan Partnership. Flame him at bill_volk@lightspan.com. 03-29-2001 20:19:34

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile why not ask your pal at lightspan to shed more light on these? btw all apple set top boxes may have bad 3.6 volts lithum(black and white with made in france label) lithium last 10 yrs and those battery is dated 95' i bought new one and they cost 8 bucks at microcenter it's apple mfg part# is 742-0011 and if your'e lucky to find that in any store(note the battery are similar to dimesion as another one but avoid 6 volt type so anyone recived the apple box let me know success or failure on the power up with yellow light/green on? if it's flashing red you have something wrong with it, if steady red it's self checking boot(maybe missing system enabler? i came across info from lc475 is said to use system enabler 065 ? and if yellow it's ok and not in use till you hit power button and they become green and let me know which of you have logo screen/live screen perhap can get screenshot through the pc video capture? note if steady red and for while you feel the cpu getting hot shut it off! something wrong with it as mine did get too hot(the specs said 30w total which isnt that much hot ,my mac g4 tower(agp) feel at room temp even running alot 03-29-2001 21:13:40

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile has anyone made progress on them yet? seeems to be dead topic since 3/29th? 04-04-2001 21:54:37

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) btenison Profile | Email Mine is set to be delivered today (4/5/01) We'll see if it's in workable condition.... Anyone else had any success??? 04-05-2001 09:38:06

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) btenison Profile | Email Well. It's here.. Same thing everyone else seems to be experiencing. I AM able to get it to show something out of the RF port. It will play some tones, then I get a typical Apple "horn-hit" sound and a green screen. I opened the box and after ripping everything apart, I noticed that the 3.6v battery is dead as can be. 04-05-2001 16:45:14

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile as you can see my previous posting about the battery lithum only last 10 years and mine black screen with no audio , but if your has green screen , what's the order of power light usually first red then yellow and when you hit power button it become green? and put your finger on the cpu for temp is it usually cool or warm? mine is hot as hell(suspected bad cpu) and im getting a cpu this week 04-05-2001 20:36:58

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile yep not a hint of tones or any sound from it through rf,a/v and s-video jacks either but! my external scsi hd that have system 7.1 on it from my old mac se when powered up it did access the hd as if it were loading i can tell by the hd led but no go 04-05-2001 21:08:26

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile \ http://www.geocities.com/j_hellige/M4120.HTML \ http://www.pbzone.com/macthing.shtml \ http://www.pbzone.com/macthing2.shtml ack! a orginal tv screenshot!!! intresting info! i dug up them by using m4120 in search engine :) oddly see \ http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macdesign/MacintoshTV.html a mac 6100 look like with strange cd tray!!!! and more links will post more links :) 04-05-2001 22:16:54

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) StarFish Profile http://www.geocities.com/j_hellige/M4120.HTML http://www.pbzone.com/macthing.shtml http://www.pbzone.com/macthing2.shtml ack! a orginal tv screenshot!!! intresting info! i dug up them by using m4120 in search engine :) oddly see http://www.theapplecollection.com/design/macdesign/MacintoshTV.html a mac 6100 look like with strange cd tray!!!! (The "Space" after the "BackSlash" to Make the Link Clickable is What Broke the "UB Code" "Preview First" really Helps to Catch Any errors.) 04-05-2001 22:46:59

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) btenison Profile | Email To start, I can't really tell what's on the screen (before the green screen), because there seems to be a sync problem (probably tuned just slightly off of channel 4.. Will have to look at this this weekend...) But if the machine has been off for a bit, I get a couple of different tones (seems to vary the number of tones depending on how long it's been on... Been off for a while, I get about 4 tones, been on for 10 seconds, I get only a couple. If I leave it on for longer, I get none)... Then after a pause, the red light on the power button comes on, and I get the Apple "Bong" with a green screen. I NEVER see a yellow or green led... The CPU is warm, but seems to increasingly get warmer. I haven't left it on for an extended period of time, but it got hot to the touch last night... I also found a 3.6v battery in an old Mac IIsi I have lying around and used it in the battery slot.. OH! I was able to get the STB to respond to an Option-Command-P-R (PRAM flash)... Once the red light came on, and I get the green screen, I hit OCPR, and, after a pause, I get a momentary black screen, the red light goes off, comes back on, green screen comes back, and I get the Apple "Bong"... If I leave it on for a while, I can't do this again, until I reset... Also, I found that the device wouldn't work inside the case. Had to pull the board and everything out of the case and run it on the floor ;) The standoffs must be shorting something out on the bottom of the board. Didn't have too much time to investigate this last night, but will Saturday... Bruce 04-06-2001 06:10:46

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile hmm..... intresting ill see if i can get the mobo powered up without the case 04-06-2001 11:36:05

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile Darn! no dice :( as for the sound you heard ,please consult the apple error codes it will tell you about it 04-06-2001 11:54:38

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) btenison Profile | Email Hmmm.. OK. I'm searching appleerrorcodes.com and haven't found anything about startup error sounds... Any ideas where to search? 04-06-2001 13:31:47

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile i couldn't find the beep codes either ! i can easily find ibm beep codes but not mac! damn ill look up dead mac scrolls bible but darn library closed at 5pm :( hmmm... anyone know about the red button that is next to the pram battery? maybe reset or pram zapper? hey btension, what color is the flash module(closer to power supply) ? there were 2 version ,red was early version with stb rev 7.0 and green is later revision mine is green flash module 04-06-2001 16:12:54

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) Knull Profile Looks like you are getting down to business on the apple box, btenison. I know I'm glad to see you on the board now and if I had to guess everyone else will soon. I will get a chance to take pics and play with apple box later on in the weekend. Knull 04-06-2001 22:07:41

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile geuss what j8(lower right corner 20 pads)is for? yep a mac floppy port! you can't use ibm type floppy drive, only use mac auto eject 1.44mb floppy drive perhap if we can boot this baby with a floppy boot of old mac os ? the red power led if stays steady it is still in self check cycle(maybe bad rams onboard or cpu?) i dunno? whoo! im running linux on my mac g4 agp version :) 04-08-2001 00:22:39

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile btension, new development on mystery 4 chimes , it's really telling you that selfcheck did not pass the test but if you get 3 chimes you got bad ram it is hardware problem :( 04-08-2001 13:59:07

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) btenison Profile | Email Hey thanks vwbug19! I have some old 72pin sticks in some old Macs in storage I'll have to get out an try... You getting any more responses out of your machine? 04-09-2001 05:49:58

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile btw,it's 4mb on board and 4mb in slot , i tried my memory modules from other pc no go,the memory for mac has to be 32 bit not 36 as most old modules had,just count the chips it should be 8 ,not 9 i got the cpu chip on ebay for 1 buck and is awaiting the shipment this week :) 04-09-2001 11:39:07

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile btension, find the book called sad mac bombs i found the complete 5 diffrent tones codes :) damn barnes& noble closed at the time i was trying to memorize the list , here it is 1 beep = 2 beep = incompatiable ram 3 beep = 4 beep = boot image rom no good 5 beep = bad ram onle 2 that i disnt memorized it's under start up troubleshooting :) so you have a bad image rom :( you didnt tell me what color is the flash rom module? you might try one off lc475 the rom ? i pulled out the rom(in the area next to mpeg decoder) and light is diffrent hmmmm.... maybe they got rid of them with bad rom? 04-09-2001 18:40:52

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile i carefully peeled the white label from rom chip and read the id as am27c256-150pc is a 256kilobit eprom i checked the amd site and found this link /http://www.amd.com/products/nvd/techdocs/08007.pdf i see.... maybe we can copy the rom from a known working stb or from mac lc475? and get it burned into the new eprom by badflash? we'll see about the availabilty of the chip since it's was made in 1986!!! 04-09-2001 20:27:59

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile oops it's http://www.amd.com/products/nvd/techdocs/08007.pdf 04-09-2001 20:28:51

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile correction: eprom chip is not a rom , the rom is in that flash module as 2 chips lo,high so.... maybe lc 475 flash module might go in? sorry about the confusion ,the rom need 1mb space 04-09-2001 20:49:35

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) vwbug19 Profile i recived the proccessor and poped in , no dice it is definitely the flash rom missing image or corrupted image so anyone planning on buying it off e-bay = don't buy it and waste yourself money it is not worth an investment until someone find a way to capture the flashrom image and reflash it on it,we wait for new progress on them 04-13-2001 11:54:25

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) btenison Profile | Email I'll have to agree with vwbug19 here.. Unless we find a flash rom image, it doesn't look hopeful... Bummer 04-15-2001 09:58:59

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) MMoogle Profile I have a LC475 that is collecting dust under my bed that works, if someone wants me to dump the rom, I'll do it. When i first got it, I had some problems getting it to boot. Basically, it wouldnt start unless I switched it on and off about 50 times. The problem ended up being the battery in the thing. Once I replaced it (you can by them at Radio Shack for like 5 bucks) it worked perfect. Sounds like this could be a related problem. 04-19-2001 17:21:16

RE:Collectible Apple Set-Top Boxes (never released) @ $20 each (modified 0 times) MMoogle Profile Actually, I read through the thread again and I'm confused. Are you guys talking about the actual ROM BIOS of the Mac, or the ROMs that would hold the software that it uses to boot from? On another note, I know that there was a key combo that you could hold down at startup to force a mac to use the TV output as the display... I cant seem to find it right now though. Maybe that would help get a picture? 04-19-2001 17:35:11

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