Level 1

1 points

Apple TV HD Rental Streaming Problem

I wanted to create this topic to ask if others are running into the same issues I am with streaming rented HD movies. I go to play the rented HD movie and am transferred to a screen that says "Loading...." for about a minute or two. Then, that message is replaced with one that says "Ready to play in [xxx] minutes"...with horribly long times listed (my movie was rented last night, and as of this evening, it shows "Ready to play in 232 minutes").

This seems like a MAJOR flaw with the Apple TV. I have no problem viewing YouTube, HD Netflix movies, HD trailers, etc. I have even been able to watch an HD TV show rental within about 5 mins of selecting it. Seems like there may be a major flaw in the streaming process for HD Movie rentals over the Apple TV.

If you haven't tested this yet (or if you have no issues), please post what is happening with your HD movie rentals.

TWP

Note: I have rebooted everything, used my Airport Express with the ethernet cord directly into the Apple TV, over wiFi, adjusted the distance between my router and the Apple TV. Nothing has worked.

Dell Laptop m1330, Windows 7

Posted on Oct 8, 2010 9:05 PM

771 replies

Oct 23, 2010 12:51 PM in response to TWalkerPolk

I'm currently sitting on a 1255-minute wait for a show rental.

Seriously, it's almost comical.

Oct 23, 2010 1:16 PM in response to TWalkerPolk

IS EVERYONE CONTACTING APPLE....Having already posted, I'm hoping that someone has been given a fix. I still haven't decided wether to send this back to apple and wait for the Boxee to come out in November. I haven't bothered to download any other HD content, watched "This is War", in SD and took about 20 mins to download, which I can live with. PLEASE APPLE I WANT TO KEEP THIS

Ptrotsky

Level 1

8 points

Oct 23, 2010 1:58 PM in response to Josh Alkire

HD's are a real problem. Yiu will notice that when you preview a movie in a regular format it plays very quickly. However, when you try to preview a movie in the theatres it tajes forever and appears stuck!

Oct 23, 2010 2:03 PM in response to Ptrotsky

Yup. Add me to the list. We don't have a fast internet connect (1.5-2.0) but I've downloaded movies via my MBP and connected it up to our TV to watch. It takes some time and I'm fine with that but ATV2 doesn't seem to get anywhere...

Major problems. I'm sure Apple will sort it out but now I have to go inform the wife, no movie tonight like we planned.

I'm curious how you select a non-HD movie. I'd prefer to do that because our screen isn't that large 37" and our bandwidth is slow. I don't really need HD, but thought I'd give it a whirl and now, yikes ... I think I'll be an old man by the time I get to watch this movie.

-W

Ptrotsky

Level 1

8 points

Oct 23, 2010 2:49 PM in response to wrinkledog

When you select a movie you should see a choice. HD or regular which is just fine. 2MBS is very very slow. I just measured 10 today and still have issues. I suspect this is an issue with Apple's servers.

jer92

Level 1

14 points

Oct 23, 2010 8:44 PM in response to TWalkerPolk

I have the new apple TV and it would be an amazing product . . . If it worked. YOU CAN DO BETTER APPLE. I suggest to all who are considering purchasing an apple TV to save your time, money and patience. . . All mine have expired waiting for HD to download and play.

a1short

Level 1

18 points

Oct 23, 2010 9:08 PM in response to TWalkerPolk

Yes, sorry to say, but I have the same issue.
Rented a "Simpsons" episode, ready tp play in "41 minutes....", then about 10 mins later it said "31 minutes" then about 10 mins after that it said ready to play in "38 minutes......."
I can't imagine trying to rent a two hour movie!
Judging by all the problems on the forums here, this product isn't ready for prime time yet.

brthauer

Level 1

9 points

Oct 23, 2010 11:04 PM in response to a1short

Same issue here in Sydney I have 5mbs and on iinet BOB connected with ethernet cable. Have rented about 3 movies, and some will play with a short wait but one I rented about 3 weeks ago have never been able to watch. It said 300 mins to download, then stopped went off did some other things then tried again about an hour later and said it was ready to watch started playing and then I stopped it, as I needed to wait for the kids to see it, tried starting it again and it said 400 mins to watch, another attempt said this computer not authorised...I wonder when we will hear something from Apple about this? Its best to rent from your Mac and stream it from there...

Ptrotsky

Level 1

8 points

Oct 24, 2010 8:56 AM in response to brthauer

Received support from Apple. Disgusted all our problems and concerns. Apple is well swear of Tge problem. Said to bringing out a firwsre update very soon. In the meantime- they suggested downloading movie on your computer and streaming it thru APTV2 to avoid the long wait. Expect the update soon.

sschwar4

Level 1

8 points

Oct 24, 2010 10:20 AM in response to TWalkerPolk

This is an issue with either the ATV2 box for how it interfaces with iTunes. My network is well above 6mbps and have no issues doing HD content from Mobileme or YouTube.

Waiting over 5 minutes for a rental from iTunes to start is asking too much. Netflix starts in under 30 seconds.

I have noticed that doing HD content from my computer takes a few minutes, but no where near what iTunes is doing.

I suggest that everyone submit a feedback request and report the issue as a bug.
http://www.apple.com/feedback/appletv.html

Ptrotsky

Level 1

8 points

Oct 24, 2010 10:22 AM in response to sschwar4

Yep-they are very aware of it. Expect a firmware update soon.

i_Guy

Level 1

24 points

Oct 24, 2010 10:35 AM in response to TWalkerPolk

Today i have been listening to music using airshare / airtunes.
my set up:
Time Capsule
2x Airport Express
ATV 2

Using remote App on the Phone or pad

Audio Playback is hit and miss, working fine/ then nothing and then iTunes can't find the speakers.

Can't seam to fail to notice that iTunes is the common link between both our problems.

Since my earlier post here i have uprated my Broadband to 50MB (and I have not notice it drop radically in speed as yet.

I have not rented another HD movie yet but can still say that the trailers are still clunky in play back

torvill

Level 1

0 points

Oct 24, 2010 1:23 PM in response to i_Guy

What is even more annoying is that Apple charge for movies that are not really started! They show as 23 hours left, 22 hours left etc, and they are still not cached enough to be shown. This error is REALLY annoying!

alondono

Level 1

0 points

Oct 24, 2010 5:10 PM in response to wrinkledog

wrinkledog wrote:

I'm curious how you select a non-HD movie. I'd prefer to do that because our screen isn't that large 37" and our bandwidth is slow. I don't really need HD, but thought I'd give it a whirl and now, yikes ... I think I'll be an old man by the time I get to watch this movie.

-W

In the new Apple TV, to rent SD (non-HD) movies you have to go to Settings > General > *iTunes Store* and turning *Rent High Definition* off

APV

Level 1

7 points

Oct 24, 2010 7:16 PM in response to TWalkerPolk

Hi
I was having the same problem, I hope Apple fixes this soon, in the meantime I have found a work around, its not very elegant but it works. I found this thru trial and error
After I receive the loading message "Ready to play in xxx minutes" (it will lock up like that for hours) I back out and find any other video to stream (usually a preview) after streaming that successfully, I go back and hit play on the previous rental and 95% of the time it works.
I know his is not a solution but at least it will let you watch the video before it expires.
Good Luck

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Apple TV HD Rental Streaming Problem