thanks đź‘Ť
Your right.There's an opportunity to be had for a developer who wanted to put the effort in. Every year or so I look for an alternative to Air Video HD for the reasons the OP posted. It's almost there, but slowly it's starting to fall behind as technology advances. There are two main issues I have:
1) The video controls are custom, overriding the default player on iOS and tvOS. On the phone, you can only jump in 30 second blocks, which is really too long. I think that is a leftover from the original Air Video, when we had less bandwidth, and so a 30 second jump made sense. But with 5G and Wifi-6, the jump value should either be made less, or even made customizable (ex - 5s, 10s, or 15s). And it's extremely awkward to do small jumps on tvOS.
2) No 4K support. I have a 4K TV, but cannot use Apple Video to watch full-resolution videos on my TV
What I do like:
* Has tvOS and iOS apps - and is ok on an iPad
* Can watch videos over cellular
* Multi-user accounts
* Options to determine quality based on local wifi, remote wifi, and cellular data
The owners should create a successor, Air Video 4K. I'd be happy to pay for it. In the meantime, as it doesn't appear the owners are that interested in doing so, there is a major opportunity for someone else to come in and build a better mousetrap. Air Video and Air Video HD have been massively successful since the early days of the iphone, and a successor that keeps up with advancement in technology would likely see good sales as well.
I just found Air Flow - this is the best Air Video HD I've found for streaming to my tvOS so far. It's made specifically for streaming videos from a computer to a TV on the local network however, not for streaming to any device. So, no watching videos on iPhone iPad, or outside the home network. So there is still a gap. But at least I'm well able to watch 4K videos on my home network, and the video interface is the native tvOS interface as well. Plus there is a really nice iphone app that can be used as a remote, that works really well for selecting videos, as well as scrubbing.
Yeah. Air Video is still the king for that, but again, is starting to fall behind.
Another feature I really want is to be able to Shareplay videos, so that my friend and I can watch a video together. Air Video doesn't offer this option, as it's been introduced into iOS since they last updated the app.
I'm a developer, but not of apps. I've been considering taking it on, but I'd create something amateur, as I'd be learning while I went. The ideal option would be for Air Video to spend some development time, releasing a new updated version of their app. The next best option would be a competent iOS app developer build one. But every year, when I can't find a great replacement, I consider whether I should just bite the bullet and put in the time and effort to learn and do it.
I build web systems for corporate and government. So the level of programming isn't out of my ability to learn, I just don't have the hours into it to know the intricacies.
It appears Air Video HD. was removed from the app store today and I can no longer get my server to run. The end of an era. I finally need to move on, max2, do you find nPlayer Plus and Infuse Pro just as good as Air Video HD?
And by the way, I read through this thread and agree with everything loved about air video hd.
See my response below to get it workingThe same I couldn't find a alternative
I have air video HD working a treat using version 2.2.1 and using VLC 32 2.2.1 which is available for the old archives on VLC player website for all the correct codecs and I’ve installed X264 from VLC site and works a dream. If anyone is struggling for the older versions to make everything work I can upload or share them just drop me a message. Wouldn’t want an alternative to Air video HD just got this one to work. 2.2.1 was the last supported version and ensure you don’t allow it to upgrade from that or the Upnp port mapping won’t work.
I have air video HD working a treat using version 2.2.1 and using VLC 32 2.2.1 which is available for the old archives on VLC player website for all the correct codecs and I’ve installed X264 from VLC site and works a dream. If anyone is struggling for the older versions to make everything work I can upload or share them just drop me a message. Wouldn’t want an alternative to Air video HD just got this one to work. 2.2.1 was the last supported version and ensure you don’t allow it to upgrade from that or the Upnp port mapping won’t work.Air Video HD is ok but it only plays some file types not all. Plus the server hasn't been updated in years. The client app sure about 8 months ago.
If no one can do this no big deal just a request.
I know use Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin but I don't like Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin.
I like how Air Video HD the files do not have to actually be indexed you just add hard drive directories to see and they show up.
I have air video HD working a treat using version 2.2.1 and using VLC 32 2.2.1 which is available for the old archives on VLC player website for all the correct codecs and I’ve installed X264 from VLC site and works a dream. If anyone is struggling for the older versions to make everything work I can upload or share them just drop me a message. Wouldn’t want an alternative to Air video HD just got this one to work. 2.2.1 was the last supported version and ensure you don’t allow it to upgrade from that or the Upnp port mapping won’t work.
Same here.i'm looking for an air video hd alternative too. i switched phones recently and it won't install airvideo hd. it says not in app store anymore.
for me i want something that has the mac server app and client app on iPhone & appletv. i love the simplicity of airvideo hd. just point the server to a few folders and done. on client app it just shows it how it is as folders & files, no trying to be a library with metadata and all that.
i use plex too but not for what i use airvideo hd for.
the airvideo hd server app on mac still works btw just the client iOS app doesn't. is there an app for iOS that would work with the air video hd server app ?
anything else out there that has simple server app for mac and simple folders & files layout for client iOS app ?
can we pull the airvideo hd ipa file from somewhere like an old iTunes backup and side load it onto iPhone or anything like that ?
or is there some simple way to do this for video from mac to iPhone & appletv that i'm unaware of ?