Apple TV and internet availability

[Richard8655]

So in a rare event due to storms, my internet goes down for most of the evening. Ok, I settle in to use Home Sharing and stream movies/music across my home wifi connection to my Apple TV to enjoy on my big screen TV.

What a surprise. Video will not stream. That includes movies and TV shows not purchased from iTunes. Music, however, streams fine. 4 hours later the ISP connection is up and now videos stream fine too.

This to me seems odd. Why would there need to be an internet connection to watch your own movies residing on your own Mac computer at home and streaming across your own wifi network? Why would music be an exception and always work?

Any insight appreciated.

 

[Mrbobb]

Based on my experience with slow YouTube on the other thread, my wild guess is Apple is collecting users' information, but they assume everybody have beroadband and always on.

I am not defending them, merely theorize, with a little experience, what's happening to u.

 

[Richard8655]

Based on my experience with slow YouTube on the other thread, my wild guess is Apple is collecting users' information, but they assume everybody have beroadband and always on.

I am not defending them, merely theorize, with a little experience, what's happening to u.

Yes, I suspected the same. Apple wants to know what their customers are watching, and if that content was purchased from them or not. Since so many people rip their own CDs to iTunes, music must not be as much of a concern.

 

[priitv8]

No, it's the authentication going on behind the scenes.
Was also touched in this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=18377867#post18377867

 

[Mrbobb]

Well I was debating whether stay with Windows or go to a Mini for my next HTPC, but this is probably the last nail on that coffin.

 

[Richard8655]

No, it's the authentication going on behind the scenes.
Was also touched in this thread:
https://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?p=18377867#post18377867

I wonder what's being authenticated, especially if wanting to play a video not purchased from iTunes? And why does music not need to be "authenticated"?

 

[Cinephi1e]

I have streamed without the Internet many times. I often take an Airport Express and sometimes an Apple TV with me when I travel. I just set up a local network with the Airport Express and stream to the ATV. You need the Internet to authenticate everything the first time, but after that it all streams fine.

 

[priitv8]

Home Sharing, as name implies, allows you to copy all media between homeshared computers, thus the authentication.
Also, you can still AirPlay your videos with Home Sharing turned off. You then just need to push the stream from iTunes. You can't browse your library from TV UI.