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Curious about the Apple TV, and functionality

T

tenof26

macrumors newbie
Original poster
Jun 19, 2010
19
0
Hi all,

So I am curious about the Apple TV, and this airplay mirroring, and if it meets my needs.

Basically, I have a bigger monitor on the other side of my bedroom, and at the moment, it only gets used when I plug in my macbook using a display adaptor as an extended screen display, which is a bit of a hassle, as then the mac is no longer portable.

As far as I understand, with Airplay mirroring, I can then use the screen to mirror anything that an iPad shows, and when mountain lion comes out, i can now do the same with my mac?

(So In my situation, I could put a movie on the macbook, anywhere in the room, set up mirroring, and then watch the movie on the monitor on the other side of the room? Will the sound still come out from my macbook? or can i plug speakers into the apple tv, and will sound be sent to that as well?)

Sorry for the confusion, and hope that makes sense.
 
tenof26 said:
Hi all,

So I am curious about the Apple TV, and this airplay mirroring, and if it meets my needs.

Basically, I have a bigger monitor on the other side of my bedroom, and at the moment, it only gets used when I plug in my macbook using a display adaptor as an extended screen display, which is a bit of a hassle, as then the mac is no longer portable.

As far as I understand, with Airplay mirroring, I can then use the screen to mirror anything that an iPad shows, and when mountain lion comes out, i can now do the same with my mac?

(So In my situation, I could put a movie on the macbook, anywhere in the room, set up mirroring, and then watch the movie on the monitor on the other side of the room? Will the sound still come out from my macbook? or can i plug speakers into the apple tv, and will sound be sent to that as well?)

Sorry for the confusion, and hope that makes sense.
Click to expand...


the ATV connects to the monitor using HDMI so as long as the monitor has speakers or the ability to hook up speakers your correct, the ATV does have optical out for sound if you want to hook up to a sounds system but it does not have 3.5mm speaker out jack
 
iisforiphone said:
the ATV connects to the monitor using HDMI so as long as the monitor has speakers or the ability to hook up speakers your correct, the ATV does have optical out for sound if you want to hook up to a sounds system but it does not have 3.5mm speaker out jack
Click to expand...

Wow, thanks for the quick response.

OK, that makes sense.

My monitor has HDMI, but doesn't have speakers. In that case will the sound still come from my macbook or iPad?

If so, i might get an apple tv now, and perhaps buy an amp with optical input for my speakers at a later date.

(Also, i couldn't find the apple tv on the buyers guide, how often does it get updated, or is it worth waiting perhaps?)
 
tenof26 said:
Wow, thanks for the quick response.

OK, that makes sense.

My monitor has HDMI, but doesn't have speakers. In that case will the sound still come from my macbook or iPad?

If so, i might get an apple tv now, and perhaps buy an amp with optical input for my speakers at a later date.

(Also, i couldn't find the apple tv on the buyers guide, how often does it get updated, or is it worth waiting perhaps?)
Click to expand...

Hmm I think with the speakers it would come out the ipad/macbook. But I'm not quite sure don't hold me too that.

But the Apple TV's get updated pretty rarely.And just got an update. However, if you want to jailbreak one, for whatever purpose, get the ATV2. If not the new one will work just fine for you.:)
 
tenof26 said:
Wow, thanks for the quick response.

OK, that makes sense.

My monitor has HDMI, but doesn't have speakers. In that case will the sound still come from my macbook or iPad?

If so, i might get an apple tv now, and perhaps buy an amp with optical input for my speakers at a later date.

(Also, i couldn't find the apple tv on the buyers guide, how often does it get updated, or is it worth waiting perhaps?)
Click to expand...

the sound will come out the monitor
 
iisforiphone said:
either way is there a way to send video only when air play?
Click to expand...

Why would you want video only? Can you just mute the TV?

To the OP: Yes as the above post said, hopefully your monitor has a 3.5mm audio out port (my HDMI monitor without speakers does). If not, plug speakers or headphones into the Macbook. I'm not sure right now if the video/audio plays while on Airplay but I *think* depending on the app, you can switch it on and off. At least I'm pretty sure that's the case with Air Video for iPad...we will have to wait and see how it's like in Mountain Lion when it comes out.
 
thanks for your help guys!

So, it turns out, I'm a bit of an idiot, my speaker apparently does have spacers, its just they are so small, (and apparently useless), you can't hear anything from them

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/609628-REG/Acer_ET_HB3HP_001_B273HU_bmidhz_27_Widescreen.html

however, on the downside, they don't have headphone out.

So unless sound still comes out the iPad or macbook, I'm guessing the only other way I can isolate the sound is by the optical out, and getting a new amp at the same time.

Gah, more money/food for thought (unless anyone knows of a good cheap amp with digital input off hand?)

Thanks again for everyones input
 
tenof26 said:
thanks for your help guys!

So, it turns out, I'm a bit of an idiot, my speaker apparently does have spacers, its just they are so small, (and apparently useless), you can't hear anything from them

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/609628-REG/Acer_ET_HB3HP_001_B273HU_bmidhz_27_Widescreen.html

however, on the downside, they don't have headphone out.

So unless sound still comes out the iPad or macbook, I'm guessing the only other way I can isolate the sound is by the optical out, and getting a new amp at the same time.

Gah, more money/food for thought (unless anyone knows of a good cheap amp with digital input off hand?)

Thanks again for everyones input
Click to expand...

2 options.

I use a small optical to headphone box, designed for the Xbox 360, but if you power it using an iPhone USB to a/c adapter it works with any optical input. I use this to create a headphone jack because my tv doesn't have one.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B003O0KICS

2nd option might be that Atv box that was released to turn it into VGA with a speaker jack.

http://m.tuaw.com/2012/05/10/kanex-atv-pro-apple-tv-airplay/
 
Wow, it turns out my stupidity has no bounds.

I just presumed as my amp was so old, there was no chance it had optical input, however looking at the back, it seems it does.

In the manual it says:

A digital input should be connected to the components
such as LD player, CD player or DVD, etc. capable of
outputing Dolby Digital(AC-3) or PCM format digital
signals

So, if I get the apple tv, the video will go via HDMI to the monitor, and the sound via optical out the amp, and everything will come out wirelessly?

edit: And if anyone else has done this, for stuff like films, will the audio be in sync?

Fingers crossed, then I think i'll pull the trigger.

(Also, is there anything to 'quality' in optical cables, or given its just light, is it just, if its long enough, its good enough?)
 
Last edited:
First thanks for all your help guys,

So it turns out, all of this was for nothing, as I have a Mid 2009 Macbook Pro, and apparently that won't support Airplay mirroing to apple tv. Boo!

Looking at alternatives, WD TV live seems to be the best alternative. Ah well.

Thanks again!
 
tenof26 said:
Wow, it turns out my stupidity has no bounds.

I just presumed as my amp was so old, there was no chance it had optical input, however looking at the back, it seems it does.

In the manual it says:

A digital input should be connected to the components
such as LD player, CD player or DVD, etc. capable of
outputing Dolby Digital(AC-3) or PCM format digital
signals

So, if I get the apple tv, the video will go via HDMI to the monitor, and the sound via optical out the amp, and everything will come out wirelessly?

edit: And if anyone else has done this, for stuff like films, will the audio be in sync?

Fingers crossed, then I think i'll pull the trigger.

(Also, is there anything to 'quality' in optical cables, or given its just light, is it just, if its long enough, its good enough?)
Click to expand...
Don't spend a lot of money on cables, optical, hdmi, or otherwise. Monoprice is a good place to shop, good cables for cheap. At the least, it will provide you with a good reference price.

I use optical from the aTV to A/V. I haven't noticed a problem. Some A/V's provide a sync adjustment. I think it's more dependent on the tv than the A/V in that some tv's are really slow at processing the video feed (while audio through an A/V is basically instantaneous).

Finally, if you can hold off, you might want to wait for ML (July). There is always the chance, although I think it slim, that AirPlay Mirroring will be available on more models than in the beta. It's a long shot, but it's possible.
 
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