The next generation Apple TV

[ayale99]

My internet/router connection was acting up last night which made TV streaming a bit slow. This got me thinking about my home network. If my internet/router goes out, I'm screwed on the TV, besides what I've already got synced. So, what are the network alternatives for the next generation of TV?

1. How long will it be before Bluetooth (or another format) is fast enough for the TV to use as a direct connection to eliminate the router all together.

Thoughts?

EDIT: Turns out it just my crappy router that has to be restarted everyday. Still would like to see a Bluetooth type direct connection in the future.

 

[Mindflux]

The AppleTV doesn't rely on internet for ANYTHING but HD Movie rentals and software updates.

Everything else can be synced or streamed from another computer inside the house.

 

[ayale99]

The AppleTV doesn't rely on internet for ANYTHING but HD Movie rentals and software updates.

Everything else can be synced or streamed from another computer inside the house.

Maybe I have a different TV than you do because mine doesn't seem to STREAM unless my MBP and TV are logged in to my internet connection. Thats how they are both recognized on the network. Is it not?

Are you telling me that I could put an TV and a MBP in a room with no internet and it would magically stream?

 

[Mindflux]

Maybe I have a different TV than you do because mine doesn't seem to STREAM unless my MBP and TV are logged in to my internet connection. Thats how they are both recognized on the network. Is it not?

Are you telling me that I could put an TV and a MBP in a room with no internet and it would magically stream?

INTRAnet and INTERnet are two entirely different things. As long as you have either A) a wireless base station to make your mac and AppleTV communicate (since I don't think Ad Hoc will work) or B) a wired hub/switch/router and two lan cables to string betwen the hub and your mac and apple tv. You need nothing else.

 

[ayale99]

INTRAnet and INTERnet are two entirely different things. As long as you have either A) a wireless base station to make your mac and AppleTV communicate (since I don't think Ad Hoc will work) or B) a wired hub/switch/router and two lan cables to string betwen the hub and your mac and apple tv. You need nothing else.

Huh. I was not aware of that. Must be because my crappy 80211.n router has to be restarted almost everyday. Thanks for clearing that up.

In the future, I would still like to see a direct connection of the AppleTV to MBP without relying on a router. Something more like Bluetooth.

 

[wwooden]

Yeah, you're assuming that just because your AppleTv and MBP are connected to your hub that you are on the internet. You could disconnect the modem from the hub and both machines should communicate without a problem, but you would have no internet connection.

 

[ayale99]

Yeah, you're assuming that just because your AppleTv and MBP are connected to your hub that you are on the internet. You could disconnect the modem from the hub and both machines should communicate without a problem, but you would have no internet connection.

Exactly. I figured out that it's my router that drops its connection from time to time. I need a new router.

 

[mkaake]

BT is too slow to stream to the appleTV, but if you're somewhere with your computer and your aTV, but no wireless, you can turn your mac into a wireless router, and connect that way... it's just a few clicks in system preferences. Then you'd be able to stream wirelessly between the mac and the aTV, without buying any additional equipment. Only downside is that you can't use the wireless on your laptop to connect to the internet while you're using the laptop as the router...

 

[mkrishnan]

Exactly. I figured out that it's my router that drops its connection from time to time. I need a new router.

Yes... that kind of performance is unacceptable. I think you're looking for alternate solutions based on the idea that other people's routers behave like this? I never really reset my AEBS. It just works. You do need a new router!

 

[ayale99]

Yes... that kind of performance is unacceptable. I think you're looking for alternate solutions based on the idea that other people's routers behave like this? I never really reset my AEBS. It just works. You do need a new router!

True. I do need a new router. I know a handful of people that have the same reset problem.


But back to the point of my post...

Since a wireless connection such as Bluetooth does exist, why not create a faster version for direct connection between MBP and AppleTV? Thus cutting out the middle man (router.)

 

[ayale99]

BT is too slow to stream to the appleTV, but if you're somewhere with your computer and your aTV, but no wireless, you can turn your mac into a wireless router, and connect that way... it's just a few clicks in system preferences. Then you'd be able to stream wirelessly between the mac and the aTV, without buying any additional equipment. Only downside is that you can't use the wireless on your laptop to connect to the internet while you're using the laptop as the router...

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

 

[mkrishnan]

Since a wireless connection such as Bluetooth does exist, why not create a faster version for direct connection between MBP and AppleTV? Thus cutting out the middle man (router.)

I think Wireless USB is ultimately the technology that's slotted for that space -- as I understand it, it's supposed to be fairly high bandwidth.

Bluetooth isn't meant to be inherently low bandwidth, but it is meant to be inherently low power-draw. It's hard to have a specification that's designed to simultaneously move megabytes or gigabytes of data between two computers using wall power and also run a mouse for several months on a AA battery...

Ad Hoc or some other zeroconf technology, as previously discussed, would also work. I guess that there are at least some zeroconf technologies that don't necessarily preclude the possibility that the devices would also be on a network (e.g. the OLPC can obtain a wireless network connection and simultaneously ad hoc rebroadcast it; I believe some of those ad-hoc note-taking packages that make notes available to other computers without a network also allow the computers to still be connected to an internet source if available).

But the reason I brought up the router is just the reality that 99%+ of people who have this much networked technology in their home have a working router. It's just a fact of life -- my home system wouldn't work without a router. I guess there are people who have just one computer and plug it physically into their broadband modem, but aside from them, most people have working routers, so the impetus is lacking to cut out a middleman that everyone already has anyway, you know?

 

[MikieMikie]

But back to the point of my post...

Since a wireless connection such as Bluetooth does exist, why not create a faster version for direct connection between MBP and AppleTV? Thus cutting out the middle man (router.)

Bluetooth, by design, is not a solution -- now or in the near future.

For now, ethernet could be your best solution, if you wired your house. Or strung a CAT-5 cable. Some newer homes have phone outlets that are wired with CAT-5.

Connecting an TV to your computer via Ethernet is the most reliable as well as the fastest way to go. It's a direct connection that requires no extra equipment.

 

[B-Dizzy]

I don't think wireless usb is going to be much of a solution either since it can only travel about 6 feet.

 

[Cabrewolf]

uhh, you can connect them directly. You can do a direct connect over WiFi without the use of a router. In reality, however, direct connection are bad business. For the best user experience as a whole, everything should be connected on one network so everything can work together and know what everything else is doing. I think your problem is just that you have a janky home network. Your solution is to get an adequate network, not come up with a new technology.

 

[Mindflux]

uhh, you can connect them directly. You can do a direct connect over WiFi without the use of a router. In reality, however, direct connection are bad business. For the best user experience as a whole, everything should be connected on one network so everything can work together and know what everything else is doing. I think your problem is just that you have a janky home network. Your solution is to get an adequate network, not come up with a new technology.

You can run an Ad Hoc network between the AppleTV and a wireless computer? huh. I didn't think you could.

 

[roland.g]

My cable modem was getting old and couldn't handle the current bandwidth I was getting so it was restarting itself quite a bit. The cable co. replaced it. However, it was not wireless. I have a g Airport Extreme that is connected to that and my iMac and Apple TV are on that system. Even if the modem went out, all I would lose is my Apple TVs connection to the internet, I would still be connected for streaming via my Apple router.

 

[imlucid]

You can run an Ad Hoc network between the AppleTV and a wireless computer? huh. I didn't think you could.

You can share your network connection through another interface. However Computer to Computer Airport networks are not supported.

Kevin