Airplay from iOS vs direct Apple TV streaming

Does anyone know if using AirPlay from iOS provides a lower quality than simply streaming directly from the Apple TV?  For example, if I stream a movie from my Home Sharing library it will load faster than using the Apple TV to bring it down from the cloud.  But, will it look the same?  Or, if I rent a movie from the Apple TV will it be better quality than renting from Amazon Prime app and using AirPlay to view it?
It seems like using AirPlay might require twice the bandwidth and result in lower quality. 
Thanks!

htmanning wrote:
Thanks so much for the detailed reply. 
So the only thing I lose by using AirPlay from an iOS device, vs streaming from the Apple TV directly, is some LAN traffic?  The quality should remain the same because of buffering, but it takes extra LAN bandwidth to go from the iOS device to the Apple TV?
For Airplay yes, the quality should be the same, but for Airplay Mirroring it is different as the screen display frames are compressed on the fly and transmitted.
I am not 100% sure that some apps don't generate a stream as they run to send via standard Airplay which would alter quaity but no way of knowing for sure unless it was a game where the 'action' was live.
Standard Airplay just takes a pre-rendered video stream (which may be streaming on a website viewed in a browser on iPad), and provided it is AppleTv compatible can just be forwarded to the AppleTV as is.  The clearest examples are where you sync a purchase from itunes store to iPad or rent/but on it - the downloaded file is just relayed to AppleTV to play, the same as it would be from iTunes on a PC/Mac using Home Sharing or playing an iTunes Store  purchase from the cloud or renting there - the files are the same so if a purchase in itunes is 6GB, the rental or stream to play from the cloud will be the same.
Netflix and other services are rate adaptive on AppleTV so degrade stream quality on slower connections on the fly.  Pros are near instant startup, cons potentially worse video pq.
AC

Similar Messages

  • Use airplay from my screen to apple TV?

    My computer is Macbook pro mid 2010, i can use the airplay only from iTunes, is there any chance i can use airplay from my screen to apple TV by adding parts or driver?
    Thanks

    I believe you have to have the 2012 model or newer.

  • I want to airplay from macbook pro to apple tv. What are the possibilities? Does it allow me to play movies or videos I access through the browser as well?

    I want to airplay from macbook pro to apple tv. What are the possibilities? Does it allow me to play movies or videos I access through the browser as well?

    Welcome to the Apple Community.
    Only content in your iTunes library can currently be sent via AirPlay from your mac.

  • Please!  Airplay from iOS to multiple Airplay speakers

    I'm moving into a new house and would love to skip Sonos or any other expensive multi-room stereo solutions.  Airplay with iOS 7 and the latest Airport Express devices is really reliable and easy.
    Big limitation is not being able to stream to multple airplay endpoints simultaneously from my iPhone and iPad.  It works fine from my laptop, but I don't want to limit playback to just real computers when we want to listen to the same music inside and outside (on separate systems).
    Please vote this up for iOS 8!
    Respectfully,
    Joe

    Apple does not participate in the forums. For them to hear you, go to www.apple.com/feedback and click on the appropriate link. The feedback page is where they get their info.

  • Mavericks has broken Airplay from iOS 7 iMac

    When I had iOS 6/7 on my iPad and iPhone, I could use Airplay from my iPad or iPhone to my iMac, no problem.
    Since updating to OS X Mavericks, I can Airplay from all of these devices to Apple TV, but not from either iOS device to my iMac (which is late 2011, so this should be possible). It worked that way prior to upgrading.
    Anyone having the same problem? Any solutions?
    Thanks in advance.

    What exactly happens when you try to update it? If you're getting an error message, you have to tell us what it is. We are not psychic.

  • Apple TV update 7.03 brakes Airplay from IOS 8 device

    Our Apple TV worked fine prior the latest update.
    - after 7.03 it works fine from MacBook 10.10.2
    - IOS device: you can see and select, but Airplay does not happen.
    Suggestions?
    Tried iPhone and iPad.

    I'm having an issue with my AppleTV's not even showing up on any iOS device's AirPlay menu. The iOS device and the AppleTV/s are on the same network, the network is functioning and I can see that the AppleTV's are present on the network. But no matter what I do, I can't get the AppleTV to show up as being selectable for AirPlay. This problem has only started after I upgraded to 7.0.2. I was hoping 7.0.3 did something to resolve this but the issue remains the same. This has made all of my AppleTV's running 7.0.2 and above un-usable.
    Meanwhile, my older 2nd gen AppleTV's running 6.1.2 are still working perfectly. What can I do about this? I've factory restored the device/s many times to no avail. I have (of course) restarted the AppleTV's and have also tried using ethernet but that doesn't work either. Unfortunately most of my classrooms using AppleTV don't have ethernet connections available so we have to rely on the WIFI.
    What other solution is there? No network changes have been made that could specifically relate to this to my knowledge - and again, AppleTV's running 6.1.2 work fine. Unless something has changed on the networking side of the coin with the 7.X.X firmware? I can't find a changelog that specifically addresses what bugs are fixed (if any) or changes made. Desperate for a solution here.

  • HT204400 Can you Airplay from an iPhone to Apple Tv without your router being connected to the Internet?

    I have an iPhone 4 and an old router laying around. Sadly, there is no actual internet connection in the house, but I want to be able to stream from my iPhone to an Apple TV. Can I just plug in the router and use (I think its called the LAN?) that the router puts out to connect the two devices over Airplay? I wouldnt need an Internet connection for Netflix or anything, I just want to mirrior my iPhone onto my TV.
    Thanks,
    McFierce

    Welcome to the Apple Community McFierce.
    You should be able to do that.

  • No Video using Airplay from iPad 2 to Apple TV 2 using authorized App.

    I have an iPad 2 and Apple TV 2.   I use Slingbox.   
    Today, I started watching a show using my iPad as a Slingbox Player.   The source TV was in another state.   The video and audio was good, and the network speed using Speakeasy was above 3MBPS download.   I clicked on the Airplay button at the top, and the video and audio started playing on my HD TV in full HD.  Audio and Video were correct and great. 
    Then I tried to change channels and evenutally I disconnected the Slingbox.   I reconnected the Slingbox and after pushing the Airplay button again, I only got audio (with a little musical note symbol on the tv at the lower lest corner).   I then proceeded to reboot the iPad 2 and i reset the Apple TV to factory settings.   No luck.  Reconnecting via Airplay to the TV only will stream Audio.   The network speed stayed above 3MBPS. 
    I also was unable to connect video using my iPhone, but I was able with my MacBook Air. 
    Note:  I AM able to force mirroring by turning Mirroring "on" (double click on button, swipe app bar to the right, hit Airplay button, and turn on Mirroring).   But although the video is fine, I lose HD and the picture qualtiy is degraded.   Not a good solution.
    I now KNOW that I can send a Slingbox signal to my HDTV from my iPad as a Slingplayer and using Airplay.  It worked!  But only for about 20 minutes, and I am not able to get it back. 
    This is a real poser.   I hope someone knows how to fix this (but judging from the other questions on this question over the years - I doubt it...:-(

    I FOUND THE ANSWER TO MY OWN QUESTION:  The Slingplayer will tend to default to SQ (Standard Quality) playback.   Under "Quality" on the Slingplayer screen, there are choices of SQ, HD (High Def) and AUTO.   I selected "Auto" and it went to HD quality.  Then, when I enabled AirPlay, a full HD picture appeared on my TV WITHOUT having to select "Mirroring".   
    I get 10 points...

  • Airplay from iTunes PC do Apple TV don't last long...

    I'm having a problem with airplay to Apple TV from my PC. After +- 30 seconds, the video stops. Any video. My PC is connected with ethernet and the Apple TV is wi-fi but in the same room. Have no problems doing this with my iphone or ipad, just with the PC...
    Any help???

    I turned off my firewall, and it did solve the problem of getting the message in iTunes that I click "Ignore" on. But, it didn't solve the streaming problem with Apple TV. From Apple TV I go to my shared music on that iTunes (8.0.2), and the menu on the right comes up (Playlists, Artists, Albums, etc), but once I start clicking through it after about 5 seconds it just freezes up. Should I try a system restore on the Apple TV to go back to 2.2? It came with 2.2 and I ran the update to 2.3, so I'm guessing/hoping that a system restore would let me go back to 2.2. My hunch though is that it's a problem with iTunes 8.0.2 -- just a guess.

  • Airplay from Macbook (Mavericks) to apple tv 2 ends automatically

    Hi,
    I have the problem that the streaming form my Macbook Retina 2013 to my apple TV ends automatically after several minutes (appr. 15min)
    E.g. I stream spotify or itunes to my apple TV in order to listen to the music on my Hifi System.
    Unfortunately, the stream stops after several minutes and my Macbook continues to play the music via its local loadspeaker.
    I have tried to change the screensaver and power saving settings, w/o any success. Airplay still ends after several minutes automatically.
    I'm pretty sure it's somehow connected to the power saving settings, since when I continue working on my Macbook the streaming won't stop.
    Does anybody know which settings I have to change to enable a endless streaming btw. Macbook and apple TV?
    Thanks a lot for your help in advance.
    BR
    Tobey

    I forgot to say... Airparrot shows up in your system tray after you install. As long as you are on the same network as your Apple TV, just right click the Airparrot icon and select Apple TV as your Airplay device. Voila!
    http://airparrot.com
    Then hook up your wireless keyboard and mouse and plop on the couch for some supersized web browsing.

  • Airplay from Windows7 PC to Apple-TV 2 does not work after iTunes Upgrade

    Hi,
    after the latest iTunes Upgrade 10.1.2.17, AirPlay discontinued to work!
    My Apple-TV shows up as speakers, but after choosing the A-TV I get a massage that it can not connect to remote speakers. Unknown error (-15000).
    I have rebooted the A-TV and PC multiple times. The AirPlay function works fine if done with iPhone 4!
    Pleas help! Thanks in advance!

    I forgot to say... Airparrot shows up in your system tray after you install. As long as you are on the same network as your Apple TV, just right click the Airparrot icon and select Apple TV as your Airplay device. Voila!
    http://airparrot.com
    Then hook up your wireless keyboard and mouse and plop on the couch for some supersized web browsing.

  • Having problems  with airplay from my ipod to apple tv can anyone help me?

    Having problems with my Ipod trying to use airplay for apple TV does not show Icon Can any one help?

    Have you looked here:
    Troubleshooting AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring

  • How to save an image on iOS Safari direct to iCloud Drive

    I'm currently browsing Safari on my iPhone and found a picture I'd like to save.
    There's no option for me to save it to a user-created folder in iCloud Drive. Why?
    I basicly have no way to browse, create, move, copy and share files with others
    on iCloud Drive.
    My opinion is iCloud Drive is no Dropbox killer, AT ALL!

    I don't know of any way to save an image from IOS Safari "direct" to iCloud, but FWIW I don't know how to do that "direct" to Dropbox either.
    However, there are lots of ways to get a Safari image to iCloud albeit not quite "directly."
    1.  Send a link of the image from your IOS device to a Mac.   Open the link on the Mac and copy the image to your desktop.  Open iCloud and drag and drop the image there.
    2.  Copy the image from IOS Safari, open an email to yourself, and paste the image.  Open the email on your Mac and proceed as in #1.
    3.  Copy the image in IOS Safari, open a Pages document, and paste the image there.  It will automatically be saved to iCloud.
    4.  Petition Apple to implement the "direct" transfer.
    And there may well be other ways too - this can't exhaust the possibilities.
    Hope this helps.

  • Having difficulty -- via airplay -- w/ streaming sites from ipad2 to g2 apple tv -- get audio but not video -- what gives???

    having difficulty - via airplay --w/ streaming sites from ipad2 to g2 apple tv -- get audio but not video -- what gives???

    What site are you trying to watch?  I just tested 3.  The you tube app streams from the pad to apple tv fine, as long as the source video format is ok.  Checked a site called funny or die.com. Most of the videosmthere stream to apple tv fine.  A few have a different format, and do audio only.  Netflix does not stream at all, but you can get to netflix directly from apple tv.  Whether or not it streams is directly related to the format of the video.  Some do, some dont.

  • I want to hook up a mac mini and us my tv as a monitor. how can I use airplay from my phone on the mac mini like i can with an apple tv (without having to buy an apple tv!). the airplay capabilities i want to use are mirroring and streaming from my iphone

    i want to hook up a mac mini and us my tv as a monitor. how can I use airplay from my phone on the mac mini like i can with an apple tv (without having to buy an apple tv!). the airplay capabilities i want to use are mirroring and streaming from my iphone!

    Download AirPlayer for Mac - Transforms your Mac into an AirPlay-compatible display. MacUpdate.com

Maybe you are looking for