Airplay on old Apple TV

Maybe its deliberate maybe not. Maybe it's my line of work where I have seen minor patches cause major headaches. When I updated my iPhone to 4.0.1, you know that tiny patch to deal with a security issue and no new features that cost me the better part of a day getting my 3GS iPhone to work again with my new car stereo relieved me of any lingering illusions about adopting new software just because Apple tossed out a new patch. ATV1 is probably as stable as it's going to get, best left alone IMHO.

It just appears that the new iOS 4.2.1 will not recognize it. It looks to be as being deliberate.

The iOS documentation indicates that AirPlay can stream audio to an ATV1. However, that feature doesn't work from my iPad or my iPhone. It is most likely due to a bug in the AirPlay software, as it appears that an iOS device doesn't recognize an ATV1 as an AirPlay compatible device. I expect that problem will be fixed in a future iOS update.

The ability to stream from iTunes on a computer to an ATV has nothing to do with AirPlay, that feature has been a part of iTunes for a long time. AirPlay is specifically the iOS feature that allows streaming from an iOS device to an ATV.

Here's what Steve Jobs has to say:
It’s different technology. It does everything it did when you bought it.

From this site:
http://www.emailsfromstevejobs.com/2010/11/30/steve-says-airplay-on-1st-gen-appl e-tv-is-a-no-go-its-different-technology/

I for one expect that when I purchase a smartphone, a blu-ray player, TV, Apple TV or a computer (anything that is upgradable through software) that it will get additional functionality in the future.

Unfortunately, it's not possible to upgrade the hardware via a software update. The ATV1 hardware and OS are not compatible with the ATV2, and the ATV1 is almost four years old. It's outdated. Get over it and move on.

Rangeshooter wrote:
I call shenanigans on his response but it's not unexpected. Mr. Jobs is missing the expectations of his customers. I for one expect that when I purchase a smartphone, a blu-ray player, TV, Apple TV or a computer (anything that is upgradable through software) that it will get additional functionality in the future. In fact, most companies advertise the ability to upgrade as a selling feature. My iPhone has had updates that supported additional functionality, so had my TV, blu-ray player, and Apple TV. Yes, it does everything it did when I purchased it but when I purchased it I expected it to be upgraded in the future with new features. Just look at the current Apple TV gen2, the website shows "coming soon" explaining Airplay as a new feature (they've apparently not updated the webpage).

I'm sure that Apple is aware that some customers have unreasonable expectations. No matter what a company does, there will always be a handful of customers who grouse because they just missed a price drop or the introduction of the new model. But a reasonable person buys a product because it is worth the price for what it does, not on spec in hopes that the manufacturer will decide to add unannounced features. And a reasonable person certainly does not imagine that a product that was introduced 4 years ago, and that has already received 10 upgrades, will acquire major new features.

OMG!! can you guys please stop!!

this is idiotic.. it's a 4yr old piece of hardware.. it's had a BOAT LOAD of upgrades in that time.. everyone knew that a hardware upgrade was coming, there were rumors of if for over a year.. that means that old hardware may or may not be upgradeable or even supported when the new on comes out.. that's how this works..

they ARE different technologies.. i.e. hardware and software.. v1 is an intel PC loaded with a dumbed down version of OS X and v2 is basically and iPod Touch without a screen running iOS (with A4 SoC).. they run totally different software and run on totally different hardware platforms.. it's over.. they've moved on.. i have a G5 at home that i still get a tonne of use out of.. and guess what it can't be upgraded to Snow Leopard with all of it's new features.. of course i wish it could, but Apple needs to cut the upgrades at some point.. it's completely unreasonable for them to continue to support every product they ever made forever.. what i can't understand is that the new one is $99!!.. $99.. just get the new one.. if you like the new features just keep them both attached and chose between them for whatever features.. that's what i'm doing.. i like to do purchases from the appleTV so is do that on the v1, but use the new one for Netflix.. AirPlay has potential but as limited as it is now i don't really see the use of it.. presently doesn't allow me to do anything i can't just do from the appleTV itself..

When I bought the ATV1 this year I did not know at all there was another ATV2 about to come out. Not everyone knows these things and the price I paid for the ATV1 was crazy when 3 months later the ATV2 was released at 1/3 of the cost. Then I find out that the ATV1 is buggy at best and the feature that I was looking for doesn't even work correctly, but was told a new firmware would sort it out but now being told that Apple won't support it.

Now you undestand how let down I feel.

now i understand that you failed to educate yourself properly before making your purchase..

Apple usually does hardware updates on a yearly basis.. this is actually a long cycle when compared to other tech companies.. appleTV is *four year old technology*.. FOUR YEARS!! if you didn't understand that the tech you were buying was four years old (totally ancient by high tech standard) who should we blame for that? ..am i to blame? ..some random guy off the street? ..should we blame Apple?? c'mon, take responsibility for not properly educating yourself.. this is not rocket science to come to the conclusion that a new appleTV is likely on the way and that when the new AppleTV comes along it will be wildly different hardware than the old one, when the old one is 4yr old tech!! c'mon, you guys are being totally ridiculous.. i don't feel sorry for you at all.. i don't feel sorry for myself, because i have the 1st gen appleTV (and a new one) and it still works great for me and is superior in many ways to the new one.. but do i expect upgrades going forward, it would be nice, but i don't expect it.. no.. why would Apple continue to updated that old, outdated box? makes no sense..

"pple usually does hardware updates on a yearly basis.. this is actually a long cycle when compared to other tech companies.. appleTV is four year old technology.. FOUR YEARS!! "

what you say is 100% rubbish
it don't matter if it's 100 year old technology it's technology still(until 1 or 2 days ago) being sold as the only appletv many places

it's not like the airport express was released this year

and it's a problem really that it seemed to have been pulled from apple store
because if mine died I would have a problem
living in a place where I don't have access to any atv2 features
and wish to keep a mirror of my music on my appletv so it's available even when my computer is off

Message was edited by: Rudegar

i honestly have no idea what point you're trying to make..

my point is that a 'reasonable' person would not expect Apple to support with updates a product with 4year old tech when the new version comes out.. that's my point..

i am still using both my appleTVs... the new one and the old one.. they are quite different products and have good and bad points.. that's why i'm using both of them.. but i'm not mad at Apple for discontinuing to update the old version because i understand that it's 4yr old tech and they felt it was time to move forward with something new..

So why do Apple update the iPod Touch 1G and iPhone ?? Its to improve the item. Just because its old doesn't mean it can't be improved. Its like drivers for computers they still make them and improve them.

I will admit that once they get past a certain date companies do discontinue the items. But when Apple and other shops were still selling the ATV1 right up to the ATV2 being released doesnt mean that the techology is out of date and can't be improved on.

my point is as many in this thread make that
the airport express works with airplay just as it did with airtunes before it
without any software update

it's an older product then appletv v1

so unless airport express already supported a future expandable protocol

and appletv v1 didn't

then the lack of airplay on appletv v1 is forced by the client (ipad, iphone4, ipod touch 3g)

not lack of abilities in the appletv

one thing is to not support an older product with newer features
but another is to block newer features on a product sold as the only one in that segment only a short awhile ago

Rudegar wrote:
what you say is 100% rubbish
it don't matter if it's 100 year old technology it's technology still(until 1 or 2 days ago) being sold as the only appletv many places

I'm not sure what your point is. Every product is sold up until the day it is discontinued. A manufacturer normally provides support to keep a product working for a few years after that, but that is not at issue here. The Apple TV1 still works. Apple is stills supporting it with movies available for purchase.

In practice, it is very rare for a product to acquire significant new features more than a year or two after introduction, never mind after discontinuation. And on those rare occasions when it does happen, it almost always because the older product is lucky enough to share architecture with the newer one, and hence is able to inherit features of an operating system upgrade at negligible cost to the manufacturer. Even then, it is rare for an old product to get all of the features of the newer one. My iPhone 3gs (which is still being sold by Apple) did not get all of the new features of the latest iOS upgrade. Based upon Apple's specifications, it looks likely that Apple TV1 will eventually acquire the ability to stream sound from other iOS devices (although I gather that it isn't working right now). This would be a pretty substantial bonus for a product that long in the tooth.

OMG!! can you guys please stop!!

The question is, can you stop? You sure seem to have a lot to say on this topic.

i honestly have no idea what point you're trying to make..

I think the point Rudegar is trying to make is that in areas where only the ATV1 is available it would be a problem if it were pulled from the Apple stores because there would be no replacement for an ATV that failed. The ATV2 is only available in countries where there is content for it in the iTunes store. Understand?

It's nice to see some folks are willing to accept whatever a corporation says at face value and so easily persuaded to depart with their hard earned money. All a company has to do is say "it's different technology" or "don't hold it that way" and they agree and hand over their debit card.

Apple definitely knows how to spur the economy. I finally see the full extent of what the term "Apple Fanboy" actually means. I disagree with the fanboys on this one and am over this pointless arguing.

I would like to point out that Apple's own website shows that audio streaming to the Apple TV1 using Airplay should work so I'm not sure why people are still trying to say that it's different technology, require different hardware or would encompass a major software revision. In any case, I've let Apple know through their feedback site and that's the only important thing--the rest is trivial.