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Apple TV iOS 7 Beta Adds iTunes Radio and Conference Room Display Mode
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What exactly do you mean? a VPN mode or something? Please be more specific. It may not be a viable idea, even though you want it badly.
I don't think you understand the concept of WiFi direct......
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WiFi direct. As discussed many times and mentioned in several rumors.
iPad -> AppleTV
iPhone -> AppleTV
MacBook Pro -> AppleTV
Ect.
Not
iPad <-> Router <-> AppleTV
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Notification center on AppleTV would be nice......
Yes! I would love this feature to be added. I actually just came back from vacation today and in order to use my AppleTV at the hotels I had to use my Sprint Hotspot and at times my iPhone to get my Netflix fix. You sir, get a high five for an awesome / much needed idea!
What's not to understand, basically it just means to allow the AppleTV to connect to the iPad/iPhone/Mac without needing to use a router right? If that's so, I think you don't understand what the concept of an Ad Hoc network is, whether on Wifi or Ethernet. If you create an Ad Hoc Wifi network on your laptop, and the Apple TV connects to it, that means you have what you were looking for without the need for a router. Similarly, if the Apple TV can connect to an iPhone hotspot, that means the Apple TV and iPhone now can interact without a router in between, which allows for all the normal functionality of Airplay etc. You do not need an internet connection for an Ad Hoc network, or a Wifi Hotspot, to be useful. Providing the internet to another device is only one use of an Ad Hoc network. It's also very useful in creating a local network between two devices, for playing game for instance, or for exchanging files, etc.
Apple sells a Belkin HDMI to VGA adapter in the physical Apple Stores and online.
Apple Store Online also sells the Kanex ATV Pro HDMI to VGA adapter with audio support.
Both products are $60.
I don't think airplay direct would necessitate a new wifi chip. If you want it to work like Airdrop, ya sure you need it. But through a software tweak they could easily have the Apple TV connect to Ad Hoc networks, which means we could just use it immediately with our laptops and idevices. Sure a more direct solution which didn't require you to turn on a hot spot feature, or create an ad hoc network setup from network utility would be more elegant, but the point is Apple could make this work for all older systems if it wanted.
Very simply, it's a very welcome step in the right direction for improving the appearance of using AirPlay in a corporate setting. Right now, you have to select the least objectionable thing to be displaying on the screen immediately prior to firing up AirPlay Mirroring, because the television is going to return to exactly that at the conclusion of your mirroring session.
Currently, most of the ones I've seen installed just park on the main icon-based "home screen", which is generally pretty distracting to an arriving audience for a meeting, etc. Sure, you can blank the TV, leave it off, switch from another input, etc before using mirroring, but that's not as seamless as it should be.
Being able to leave the TV on and ready to go, with a nice custom-branded graphic/logo (including a welcome message and simple instructions for connecting in mirroring mode), will go a long way towards making the device look more welcome in actual use.
Imagine being able to put a client's logo and welcome message on the screen, and then have various people go round-robin throughout the room displaying their desired presentations, photos, etc. At the end of the presentation, the screen simply returns to the pre-set logo/graphic, without having to change inputs or other manual kludges.
Yes, you could leave it on a photostream photo or Flickr photo that you've customized in this same way (so it returns to that after mirroring), but it won't keep that selected photo display after a device reboot or other circumstances.
It's clear that this feature will evolve like everything else in the iOS ecosphere.
I, for one, am thrilled for this to become available. The people buying Apple devices from my team will appreciate this very simple feature that I've been wanting for a long time.
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That is neither practical in a school or business environment which literally have projectors or TV in every room.
While it might not be ideal--something along the lines of Airdrop functionality would be much easier and faster to use--it can still be very practical. I did more research and unfortunately the Apple TV can't connect to Ad Hoc Networks. But if it could (which could be added/fixed with a software update), all the schools/business' would need to do is configure the Apple TV to automatically connect to any network with a specific name/password. Then any presenter who walked in with a Mac device would only need to activate the hotspot/ad hoc network with that name and that pw. For instance, call the Wifi network "Presentation" and give it a specific pw. So basically when you walk into the room you are given a sheet with the 3-4 step instructions (it could be posted on the lectern). It's not elegant but it could be made to work efficiently and rather quickly. It certainly would be much better than what is currently offered.
That being said, for anyone interested, you can easily buy a very small and portable router that fits into your shirt pocket for 30$, and configure it on both the Apple TV and your Mac devices. Then all you to do is plug that router into a power outlet, plug the Apple TV into the projector and power outlet, and your devices will be ready to go wherever you give your presentations. So basically all you'd need is a power outlet and an hdmi cable (and of course the very small router and apple tv). Since the Apple TV is only 100$, for 130$ you'd have the equivalent of Airplay direct, though the compromise is you have a tiny router to carry around. It's a stopgap I mention only while we wait for Apple to get this right. We shouldn't need a cheap, small, 30$ router. ThisIsNotMe is certainly right about that. But in any case, business' and schools could easily afford the 30$ router in each room, instructing presenters to simply connect to the Wifi network created only for the purposes of presentations. That router doesn't even need access to their local intranet or internet network.