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vexorg

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 4, 2009
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It's almost unbelievable that there's no simple way to show photos or videos from an iPhone on a TV. I've tried to connect via USB to the TV, bluray, and xbox.

Everything seems point to apps to buy or hacks. My older iPhones had an adapter from 30 pin to HDMI, there seems no such way for lightning connector.

Windows recognises it as a USB drive with photos and videos, why does nothing else? The other see it, just say nothing to show.
 
Apple TV: Yes, I should go buy another £150 box to replace a USB cable.

And how many HDMI ports do you think the average TV has, and now one more just to view the odd photo or video on a larger screen?
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There is a Lightning to HDMI adapter

Are they any good? I've had HDMI adapters before that were not so good between devices (not apple). It's a 55" TV, small problem show up for cheaper HDMI interfaces.
 
OP tries to use USB cable for something it wasn't meant for. OP rages.

Oh, dumb me, just because my windows PC see an iPhone as a USB drive, how could I ever think any other device (xbox is just a PC inside) would ever do the same.....

USB is for transferring data, photos and videos are available on the USB, go figure smartarse. Apple could easily emulate a typical memory stick for these display devices, or do you think that is beyond them?
 
Oh, dumb me, just because my windows PC see an iPhone as a USB drive, how could I ever think any other device (xbox is just a PC inside) would ever do the same.....

USB is for transferring data, photos and videos are available on the USB, go figure smartarse. Apple could easily emulate a typical memory stick for these display devices, or do you think that is beyond them?

Well, yes they could.

But this is Apple, and they would much rather you spend the obligatory £150 on another Apple device, of course.
 
Oh, dumb me, just because my windows PC see an iPhone as a USB drive, how could I ever think any other device (xbox is just a PC inside) would ever do the same.....

USB is for transferring data, photos and videos are available on the USB, go figure smartarse. Apple could easily emulate a typical memory stick for these display devices, or do you think that is beyond them?
So you somehow think that as long as you can plug two things together with a cable, they automagically knows what to do with the other? Wauw.
 
Lightning to HDMI works well. It mirrors the iPhone screen and plays vídeo in full screen. It's plug and play, very simple. I've tried it in 3 different TV ( LG , Panasonic and Samsung ) with no problem.
It's also very portable , fits in your pocket. Perfect for vacation.
 
So you somehow think that as long as you can plug two things together with a cable, they automagically knows what to do with the other? Wauw.

Where are you from? the 1990's?, times have moved on, modern devices just worked when plugged in (or should just work), sounds like you work for apple with that mentality - join the future.

What part are you failing to follow, if an iPhone can emulate a USB drive for a PC, then no reason whatsoever it can't for other devices. I can draw some pictures if it makes it easier to follow? I'm sure I have some crayons to help you.

To be honest, the iPhone is the first thing that has failed to be recognised by the xbox, every other portable storage device (including other phones!) have work fine.
[doublepost=1465044407][/doublepost]
Lightning to HDMI works well. It mirrors the iPhone screen and plays vídeo in full screen. It's plug and play, very simple. I've tried it in 3 different TV ( LG , Panasonic and Samsung ) with no problem.

Will get one of those, thanks.
 
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Where are you from? the 1990's?, times have moved on, modern devices just worked when plugged in (or should just work), sounds like you work for apple with that mentality - join the future.

What part are you failing to follow, if an iPhone can emulate a USB drive for a PC, then no reason whatsoever it can't for other devices. I can draw some pictures if it makes it easier to follow? I'm sure I have some crayons to help you.

To be honest, the iPhone is the first thing that has failed to be recognised by the xbox, every other portable storage device (including other phones!) have work fine.
[doublepost=1465044407][/doublepost]

Will get one of those, thanks.

Before you go getting snarky with everybody, it might help to understand the technology you're using as a comparison. When you first plug your iPhone into a PC, it downloads drivers that causes Windows to regard the phone as a storage device. Your television set does not do that, because it does not run Windows. The iPhone itself is not a flash drive and requires extra software to make it function as such. Now stop being so rude.
 
The iPhone itself is not a flash drive and requires extra software to make it function as such. Now stop being so rude.

I know exactly what it is, and what it capable of without the dim-witted comments here from those that can't grasp the concept of sarcasm in places. Just seems unbelievable that in this day and age that there's no simple way to view photos or movies from an iPhone to a TV.
 
I know exactly what it is, and what it capable of without the dim-witted comments here from those that can't grasp the concept of sarcasm in places. Just seems unbelievable that in this day and age that there's no simple way to view photos or movies from an iPhone to a TV.
Is it a smart TV? If so you could download a photo sharing app like Flickr.
Or as others have said an Apple TV. Doesn't have to be the current one. I bet you could pick up an Apple TV 2/3 for not that much.
As for HDMI cables, if your running short get an HDMI splitter. I got one for a few quid, as my wall mounted TV only has two.
 
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I know exactly what it is, and what it capable of without the dim-witted comments here from those that can't grasp the concept of sarcasm in places. Just seems unbelievable that in this day and age that there's no simple way to view photos or movies from an iPhone to a TV.
Seems like one of the methods you asked about using an adapter exists and seemingly satisfies what you are looking for. That's pretty much /thread.
 
I know exactly what it is, and what it capable of without the dim-witted comments here from those that can't grasp the concept of sarcasm in places. Just seems unbelievable that in this day and age that there's no simple way to view photos or movies from an iPhone to a TV.

No, clearly you don't, otherwise you wouldn't be complaining about something that is the responsibility of your television on an Apple forum.

Apple makes it easy to stream photos wirelessly with AirPlay. Your TV manufacturer apparently didn't jump through the hoops Apple set to implement AirPlay and so you need an adapter or an Apple TV.

Everybody here understands sarcasm, we just don't understand why you're such an insufferable person nerd raging about why your television doesn't support your phone over ancient USB technology. Somebody already recommended the Lightning to HDMI adapter. That's as simple as it gets. Buy one and use that.
 
Talk to the USB standards board. They're the ones that set the rules for device interoperability
 
It's almost unbelievable that there's no simple way to show photos or videos from an iPhone on a TV. I've tried to connect via USB to the TV, bluray, and xbox.

Everything seems point to apps to buy or hacks. My older iPhones had an adapter from 30 pin to HDMI, there seems no such way for lightning connector.

Windows recognises it as a USB drive with photos and videos, why does nothing else? The other see it, just say nothing to show.

Are you sure? On my Samsung S7, I click 'share' and there's a button that says "Smart View". Clicking that and it sends it to my Sony TV (they're both on the same wifi network). I've never paired them or anything. My Moto X did the same.

I'm sure iPhones would do the same.
[doublepost=1465079284][/doublepost]Started playing more with my S7 and it's actually really cool - photos, videos, screen mirroring - all immediately on my TV without any apps, boxes, setting-up etc.

So I did some reading. Apparently it's down to the Digital Living Network Alliance - something that does exactly what the OP wants. Samsung, Sony, Microsoft, Panasonic, LG etc. etc. are all signed up.

But Apple aren't.

The current DLNA membership reads like a Who's Who of the tech world, with big hitters including Intel, HP, Motorola, HTC, Microsoft, Samsung, LG and Panasonic making products that will happily communicate with each other. Apple has decided not to join that particular party.

OP: It seems iPhones don't do what all other phones and TVs can do. Unless you spend a few hundred more on Apple Tv, of course.

http://www.techradar.com/news/digit...-what-it-is-and-what-you-need-to-know-1079015
 

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Are you sure? On my Samsung S7, I click 'share' and there's a button that says "Smart View". Clicking that and it sends it to my Sony TV (they're both on the same wifi network). I've never paired them or anything. My Moto X did the same.

I'm sure iPhones would do the same.
[doublepost=1465079284][/doublepost]Started playing more with my S7 and it's actually really cool - photos, videos, screen mirroring - all immediately on my TV without any apps, boxes, setting-up etc.

So I did some reading. Apparently it's down to the Digital Living Network Alliance - something that does exactly what the OP wants. Samsung, Sony, Microsoft, Panasonic, LG etc. etc. are all signed up.

But Apple aren't.



OP: It seems iPhones don't do what all other phones and TVs can do. Unless you spend a few hundred more on Apple Tv, of course.

http://www.techradar.com/news/digit...-what-it-is-and-what-you-need-to-know-1079015

DLNA was in my experience awful. Frequent connection issues and you have to use whatever lousy front end viewer the devices provided. A USB connected external storage approach is similarly clunky and relies on the TV's viewer software.

I got an Apple TV and it's been a worlds better experience.

I mean it's fine if you value the most open experience possible and disagree with apples approach, but to act surprised/outraged that Apple is a walled garden at this point is kinda ridiculous.
 
Oh, dumb me, just because my windows PC see an iPhone as a USB drive, how could I ever think any other device (xbox is just a PC inside) would ever do the same.....

USB is for transferring data, photos and videos are available on the USB, go figure smartarse. Apple could easily emulate a typical memory stick for these display devices, or do you think that is beyond them?

Why would you assume that a TV would *know* how to mount an iPhone as removable storage, be able to read its directory structure and access it's media files just because a Windows PC (which is not a TV) can?
 
I agree it should be easier.

Other options besides a lightning to HDMI connector include a Chromecast. There are various apps, free I believe, which let you cast local photo and video. It's also a handy device for streaming other content.

Another possible option is that some TVs have iOS apps which let you do this. My Panasonic does.
 
maybe the xbox/tv is the problem... but you know, the OP already orchestrated this thread before anyone replied. As mentioned already, the correct way to do this is with a lightning to HDMI cable (similar to how a PC connects to a Monitor/TV) and if wires are such a problem then AirPlay to an AppleTV. I don't see why anyone would do it any other way.
 
hi

i have a question or two about how you can share your iOS Photos app photos on a TV.

i have done it before (at a company event, via an apple TV and it was great and really easy).

but in the event you are not a place with a display connected to ian apple TV, there do seem to be several apps that seem to provide it, but i haven't ever used them.

one that read about recently is iMediashare. http://www.imediashare.tv/index.
do apps like that one just hook up a TV through setting up a Wi connection on the TV?

are there already wireless (i.e., WiFi connected) TVs that are being sold?

part of the problem, is that this very small distance between your device and your display seems to VERY privatized. meaning that Sony mobiles and Sony TVs have a proprietary app that makes it work.
and apple has of course its Air Play for its iDevices through appleTV.

thanks
 
You know, *cough* Apple TV *cough*. ;)

Off topic: Unfortunately atv is a piece of **** for playing movies: poor support for differend formats. Once you try to play mkv files without exactly format for atv you get troubles. I wouldnt spend any real money to this carbage.
 
Off topic: Unfortunately atv is a piece of **** for playing movies: poor support for differend formats. Once you try to play mkv files without exactly format for atv you get troubles. I wouldnt spend any real money to this carbage.
A cheap HTPC loaded with Windows 10 and various software can easily blow Apple TV away "thousands of blocks" regarding with format support.
But Apple TV may be better to just display photos stored on iPhone. iCloud Photo Library, right? ;)
 
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