Absolutely hate my New Apple TV

The only issues I found is that Airplay just doesn't work properly (Apple TV 4) (send to Apple TV via Airplay results in juddering content every few minutes) whereas importing the same content into iTunes and playing it though the Apple TV via its iTunes Library browsing function works flawlessly. Odd, because both functions rely on the same wifi network.
That and the choice of content is very heavily US oriented (I'm in the UK).
 
I had no issues up until last week or so or maybe even the last update. All my TV apps are now asking for constant sign in.
BBC America, Disney Jr, Nick Jr, etc. Netflix, Hulu and Plex works fine.
 
faded_glory said:
The only issues I found is that Airplay just doesn't work properly (Apple TV 4) (send to Apple TV via Airplay results in juddering content every few minutes) whereas importing the same content into iTunes and playing it though the Apple TV via its iTunes Library browsing function works flawlessly. Odd, because both functions rely on the same wifi network.
That and the choice of content is very heavily US oriented (I'm in the UK).
Click to expand...
Airplay works flawlessly for me. I mainly use it for music, but when I need to put a photo or video up on the TV it works great. I think it is probably your wifi router, but I would need to know more about how you are using Airplay and how every device in the chain is hooked up to get a better idea.
 
Uofmtiger said:
Airplay works flawlessly for me. I mainly use it for music, but when I need to put a photo or video up on the TV it works great. I think it is probably your wifi router, but I would need to know more about how you are using Airplay and how every device in the chain is hooked up to get a better idea.
Click to expand...

I have a Mac mini file server and an iMac, both hooked up via ethernet cable to a Virgin modem/router. The Apple TV is connected wirelessly ("5G" connection) to said router and is about 30 feet and two internal brick walls away from it. (It might be the internal brick walls. I live in a late 1800's terraced house. From many years experience in these sorts of house - both wifi and mobile phone reception inside the house is patchy if there's a brick wall or two between the devices. People sitting in the middle downstairs room usually cannot get any kind of mobile signal.) Thinking that this was down to the Virgin Router I bought an AirPort Extreme 5th Gen but this actually made connectivity in the house much worse, so went back to the Virgin router. When I tried to use Airplay it was to send 720/1080 video to the ATV - both film length and TV episode length files. Performance was the same regardless. I don't see how the iTunes broadcast can work flawlessly and Airplay not, unless iTunes is caching the content on the ATV prior to playback and Airplay isn't.
 
faded_glory said:
I have a Mac mini file server and an iMac, both hooked up via ethernet cable to a Virgin modem/router. The Apple TV is connected wirelessly ("5G" connection) to said router and is about 30 feet and two internal brick walls away from it. (It might be the internal brick walls. I live in a late 1800's terraced house. From many years experience in these sorts of house - both wifi and mobile phone reception inside the house is patchy if there's a brick wall or two between the devices. People sitting in the middle downstairs room usually cannot get any kind of mobile signal.) Thinking that this was down to the Virgin Router I bought an AirPort Extreme 5th Gen but this actually made connectivity in the house much worse, so went back to the Virgin router. When I tried to use Airplay it was to send 720/1080 video to the ATV - both film length and TV episode length files. Performance was the same regardless. I don't see how the iTunes broadcast can work flawlessly and Airplay not, unless iTunes is caching the content on the ATV prior to playback and Airplay isn't.
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Interesting. It sounds like you are using the mirroring feature built into the Macs and you just send the signal directly from them to the ATV? I mainly use Airplay with my iOS devices, which should be worse than the route you are going. I rarely ever mirror a movie from my Macs to the TV. I use Plex most of the time. I will put the Desktop or photos form the Mac up on the TV, but that is not as intensive as playing a movie. I think the issue could be that the computer is having a problem with both rendering the movie and then mirroring it. In the case of using the "Computer" app on the AppleTV, it seems to render it directly onto the AppleTV, so your computer isn't working as hard.

The new mesh routers might help your situation, if the issue isn't RAM related on your Macs. I recommend Orbis, since those are the units I have. I would also typically recommend power line Ethernet because it is cheaper, but I suspect that in an 1800s home (which sounds pretty awesome, by the way), the electric wiring may be pre-copper and not work properly with "home plug".
 
I think the issue could be that the computer is having a problem with both rendering the movie and then mirroring it.

The iMac, from which Airplay was juddery, is a 2015 quad core i5 with 8GB RAM and an SSD. The Mini is rather older - mid 2010, only a dual core chip, 4GB of RAM and an SSD as primary drive (not tried using Airplay from the Mini since putting an SSD in it). Initialy I was using .mkv files but then switched to mp4's, same result. Bought myself a converting app which converts to AppleTV format and sends to iTunes and haven't had an issue since.
But I was somewhat disappointed with how Airplay wasn't as smooth and awesome as I'd expected.

1800's home - swings and roundabouts. Reasonably awesome build quality (they're still in great shape). Most were reroofed and re-wired in the late 80's, which helped. The wind howls and the rain falls and we're dry and warm within. On the other hand - one engineer told me that they used a mix of iron and clay in the bricks and that's why the reception is so poor. My iPhone has zero problem in most of the house - Android users have to stand in the garden (with the Hat of Shame on).
 
faded_glory said:
I think the issue could be that the computer is having a problem with both rendering the movie and then mirroring it.

The iMac, from which Airplay was juddery, is a 2015 quad core i5 with 8GB RAM and an SSD. The Mini is rather older - mid 2010, only a dual core chip, 4GB of RAM and an SSD as primary drive (not tried using Airplay from the Mini since putting an SSD in it). Initialy I was using .mkv files but then switched to mp4's, same result. Bought myself a converting app which converts to AppleTV format and sends to iTunes and haven't had an issue since.
But I was somewhat disappointed with how Airplay wasn't as smooth and awesome as I'd expected.

1800's home - swings and roundabouts. Reasonably awesome build quality (they're still in great shape). Most were reroofed and re-wired in the late 80's, which helped. The wind howls and the rain falls and we're dry and warm within. On the other hand - one engineer told me that they used a mix of iron and clay in the bricks and that's why the reception is so poor. My iPhone has zero problem in most of the house - Android users have to stand in the garden (with the Hat of Shame on).
Click to expand...
Yeah, I think it is the rendering and mirroring issue, as well.

I am not sure how a "mesh" router would perform in that situation, but it could help you quite a bit if reception is an issue in parts of the home.

Yeah, with those old homes, the term "they don't make them like that anymore" is definitely true.
 
faded_glory said:
I think the issue could be that the computer is having a problem with both rendering the movie and then mirroring it.

The iMac, from which Airplay was juddery, is a 2015 quad core i5 with 8GB RAM and an SSD. The Mini is rather older - mid 2010, only a dual core chip, 4GB of RAM and an SSD as primary drive (not tried using Airplay from the Mini since putting an SSD in it). Initialy I was using .mkv files but then switched to mp4's, same result. Bought myself a converting app which converts to AppleTV format and sends to iTunes and haven't had an issue since.
But I was somewhat disappointed with how Airplay wasn't as smooth and awesome as I'd expected.
Click to expand...

Have you tried VLC or Infuse on the ATV4? Both play MKV native w/o transcoding.
 
tanfan said:
Have you used any of the newer Roku boxes? I do daily. There is nothing wrong with the interface.
Click to expand...
I have the 4, but I have not used it lately. Last time I used it, there was a HUGE ad on the home screen that was hideous. I will take a look at it this weekend, but it has been there every time I used it in the last year, so I have my doubts that it is gone now. I much prefer the AppleTV's interface to it, especially the ability to put apps in folders while not being force fed ads. I also prefer the AppleTV's interface to the Shield. You can't just move any app anywhere on the screen like you can with the AppleTV.

The less I like an interface, the less I will use the box. When I get time, I will be moving the Roku out of the main system. It doesn't do anything I can't get on the Samsung TV, Shield, or AppleTV that I need it to do (though, it has a lot more junky apps). I might use it on occasion in the bedroom, though.
 
Uofmtiger said:
I have the 4, but I have not used it lately. Last time I used it, there was a HUGE ad on the home screen that was hideous. I will take a look at it this weekend, but it has been there every time I used it in the last year, so I have my doubts that it is gone now. I much prefer the AppleTV's interface to it, especially the ability to put apps in folders while not being force fed ads. I also prefer the AppleTV's interface to the Shield. You can't just move any app anywhere on the screen like you can with the AppleTV.

The less I like an interface, the less I will use the box. When I get time, I will be moving the Roku out of the main system. It doesn't do anything I can't get on the Samsung TV, Shield, or AppleTV that I need it to do (though, it has a lot more junky apps). I might use it on occasion in the bedroom, though.
Click to expand...


Fair enough, nothing wrong with Apple TVs interface either, it's preference. For me, Vudu is my primary movie channel, so that knocks Apple and Amazon TV out of serious contention.
 
tanfan said:
Fair enough, nothing wrong with Apple TVs interface either, it's preference. For me, Vudu is my primary movie channel, so that knocks Apple and Amazon TV out of serious contention.
Click to expand...
Vudu and Amazon were the main reasons I wanted a Roku (got it as a gift). Those are both available on the Shield and Samsung TV apps now, so the main benefit of the Roku has melted away, and the interface, which is the worst in my opinion, is all that remains unique about it.

I have the AppleTV for the numerous Apple apps I use, so I like having more than one box. I could probably live with just the AppleTV and my Tv's apps, but the downside to the TV is that it can't feed a video signal to a separate room or to a projector, like the Shield.
 
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