How To Optimized Apple TV2 for Air-Play Mirroring

Date:  Oct 28, 2011

AirPlay Mirroring is actually a big thing.  It allows you to mirror your iPad2 screen or iPhone 4S screen onto your big screen TV.

To do that, you need a Apple TV 2.  It is cheap!  Only US$99.  It is worth it if you buy this for only doing AirPlay for your office or at home.  It ties to an Apple-ID.  So, if your Apple-ID is Singapore based, then, you will not get the movies or shows.  You can only use it for Slide Shows or your own converted MP4 movies.

But a lot of people forgot about Apple TV 2 will need Wireless to perform AirPlay Mirroring.  So, your WiFi at home must be solid in order for it to have optimal mirroring.  Means, no lagging.  I used to hook at my Apple TV to my network cabinet which is 10 meter away.  But the performance is lagging.  After troubleshooting… I found out that it was my Internal cabling from the network cabinet to the TV console area SUCKS big time.  So, I did the following Network Improvement Plan.

 

As you can see, I actually placed my AirPort Extreme just beside the Apple TV2, so that both of the devices are connecting using Gigabits Network with just a Cat6 cable.

And from the Apple TV, you actually hook up your TV using HDMI.

So, now, with the AirPort Extreme running 802.11n Wifi, it can pump up to 300Mbps max (in theory).  So, you are sitting in front of your TV, and you now can use your iPhone 4S or iPad2 (with A5 Chip) to do AirPlay Mirroring.

IMPORTANT NOTES

You will only allow iPhone 4S and iPad2 to connect to your AirPort Extreme.  If you have older Wifi devices, such as a very old laptop, or a old Internet Radio, DO NOT allow them to connect to this AirPort Extreme.  As these devices probably has 802.11b or 802.11g Wifi protocol.  And AirPort Extreme will downgrade its Wifi tech to match these protocol.  So, if you have one single 802.11g there on the network, all your iPhone 4S or iPad2 will be dragged down by this culprit with slower Wifi Speed.

After I have done these changes I no longer see the lagging on Real Racing 2.

In future, there will be a lot a lot of AirPlay Mirroring game available.  With its Gyroscope movement to play the games, you will be having a different experience playing games on TV.

Your son now can play Angry Birds on iPad2, and projected it to the TV.  So that every body can see what he is trying to do, so, playing games now longer a one person job.

You can use AirVideo Server, to play movies stored on your PC/Mac or NAS.  Very cool.  This is how I watch Movies now.  On Youtube, the screen will automatically optimize to full screen.

There are much more to do.  :)  Think about it!

Have You Bought Your Apple TV2 Yet?

Date:  June 18, 2011

Some friends actually asked me why I buy Apple TV2?

Take a look at the video below about AirPlay Mirroring on IOS5.  It is on Beta now, and it is AWSOME!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2S0f16fwQs&feature=player_embedded#at=427

The new AirPlay Mirroring feature on the IOS5 is going to kill the Game Console market definitely.  Already I kept my two PSP in my drawers for many years as well as my Wii.  Playing games on your iPad2 and projected it onto the big screen TV is simply the coolest things.

I cannot imagine how Apple can come up with such a great and simple idea, and it is all part of the eco system that hey have build.  i.e. iPhone, iPad, iPod, IOS devices, iTunes, AppleTV, iMac, MacBook, etc etc.  All linked together.  It is just like SkyNet without the intelligent.  I guess Apple did learn a few things from Terminator and Battlestar Galactica so that they do not build the brain for their OS.  :)

Playing games is cool, the game actually projected to your big screen, and your "console" or "control" is in your hand and simply turn left or right, and it will show you all the game details on that iPad2.  Wow....

This is another cool thing.... the Pinball games, looks pretty impressive....

And you can do a lot more with this...

- Slideshow from your Photo Album

- AirPlay any format of videos from your NAS using AirVideo

- Powerpoint slides

- Reading PDF/EBook on big screen

 

While IOS5 needs another 3 months to come out.... Have you Bought your Apple TV2 yet? Its only US$99 only.  Not sure if it is available in Singapore yet or not.