TWalkerPolk

Q: 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

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Q: Apple TV HD Rental Streaming Problem

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  • by Beerme1,

    Beerme1 Beerme1 Nov 5, 2010 8:39 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 5, 2010 8:39 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    I believe the problem is with the servers also. I connected via Wi-Fi - streaming kept getting stuck. Tried direct Ethernet 1 gig. same problem.

    I downloaded rented movie through iTunes and it still took over 78 minutes - this is without apple tv2. I have super fast cable modem currently tested download @ 21.47 Mbps - should download movie a couple of minutes. I just downloaded full 13 track music album in less than a minute.

    Apple is overwhelmed with users. Apple always comes through with a fix so I hope this time they don't fail.
  • by sschwar4,

    sschwar4 sschwar4 Nov 11, 2010 5:52 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 11, 2010 5:52 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    An interesting observation...

    Due to issues with ATV rentals, I have rented a few on my Mac and viewed them through ATV. Not a big deal, but even after viewing, the movies are still in my rental area in iTunes saying XX days left, after I watched them two weeks ago. As if I had never watched them.
  • by dgalvan123,

    dgalvan123 dgalvan123 Nov 11, 2010 9:01 AM in response to sschwar4
    Level 1 (50 points)
    Nov 11, 2010 9:01 AM in response to sschwar4
    sschwar4 wrote:
    An interesting observation...

    Due to issues with ATV rentals, I have rented a few on my Mac and viewed them through ATV. Not a big deal, but even after viewing, the movies are still in my rental area in iTunes saying XX days left, after I watched them two weeks ago. As if I had never watched them.


    I have had this happen too, with a free rental of the first episode of "no ordinary family". I ended up just deleting the episode from itunes myself.

    Only thing I can think of is maybe iTunes is not noticing that you started watching the show via homesharing/ATV. It therefore hangs on to the show for up to 30 days, since it doesn't realize you started watching it.
  • by C1sul993,

    C1sul993 C1sul993 Nov 12, 2010 4:02 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 4:02 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Can anyone beat 44162 mins which I had last night. Not sure if I'm going to live that long!!!!!! Everything else seems to work but not movie rentals, but at least I've got 28 days left to view the movie. Think it may be easier to use the old fashioned method of going to the shops.

    Will be returning it.
  • by sschwar4,

    sschwar4 sschwar4 Nov 12, 2010 6:46 AM in response to C1sul993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 6:46 AM in response to C1sul993
    Don't bother, "all sales are final".
  • by artekwolf,

    artekwolf artekwolf Nov 12, 2010 10:01 AM in response to C1sul993
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 10:01 AM in response to C1sul993
    OMG!!! you need to take a picture of that. Thats gotta be a record.
  • by mattdono,

    mattdono mattdono Nov 12, 2010 4:28 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 4:28 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    This specifically is with HD Movies.

    APPLE: HD movies can not be streamed on the new AppleTV 2. Fix it.

    If you want to rent a movie from Apple, you'll need to stick to standard definition.

    So, that means..

    [Are you listening/reading Apple?]

    ...Just use NetFlix until Apple gets this situation UN-F'd.
  • by rmeaux,

    rmeaux rmeaux Nov 12, 2010 5:41 PM in response to alondono
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 5:41 PM in response to alondono
    I totally agree. But I have 1.5 MB downstream and that is a fact. I can jump on my Netflix and watch anything they have. If I want to watch a newer release or a TV show Netflix does not stream and it is a spur of the moment, I want to rent it and watch it from iTunes. Am I saying dumb down the quality for everybody, NO., But for me with my blazing 1.5MB atleast pop up a message saying "Sorry your bandwidth doesn't allow for you to recieve this program in HD, we can throttle you quality for a dollar less". Rest assured Apple would say it a little more proffesional. Myself, my opinion, I am fine with that.
  • by DARZERO,

    DARZERO DARZERO Nov 12, 2010 5:57 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 12, 2010 5:57 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    yep,Im having the same issues. rented 3 movies so far and I cant watch any, every time I press play its says loading for xxx minutes. By the time its done its too late. I got my apple tv wired too, not even wireless. Sorry, but so far Im not impressed with this product. well, until they fix it
  • by Chuck Shrum,

    Chuck Shrum Chuck Shrum Nov 13, 2010 8:37 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 13, 2010 8:37 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Let me start with a description of my broadband connection. I have 3MB download speeds. This is the brand new Apple TV that just came out in October. Absolutely have the same problem. It is infuriating. I downloaded a movie yesterday (with Apple's ridiculous long time), thinking I would watch it today. NO WAY! I have to download again. Now I have another 1 hour and 30 minute before I can view. Like "TWalkerPolk", I can watch Netflix instantly with no interruptions or hesitations. Don't get me started about the movie stopping randomly and having to restart it. What in the world. Apple, get it together.
  • by moh989,

    moh989 moh989 Nov 13, 2010 1:15 PM in response to Chuck Shrum
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 13, 2010 1:15 PM in response to Chuck Shrum
    Hi,
    Just created an account to post here. Rented a HD film on Friday night, abt 11:30pm, on my ATV2 with no computer streaming/downloading, just the ATV2. About 45mins into watching, it exited to the menu screen for the 1st time claiming no Internet connection. I turn my iPad on to test the Internet to find that my connection was fine. I look at the atv's menu screen, and can't find my movie listed at the top of the screen, so begin searching for it. Abt 5mins later it magically shows up at the top of the screen, so I resume viewing. It then exited to the menu screen about another 4 times till the end of the movie, these times without an error msg. Also, I checked the atv's settings to find the wifi signal was max.

    I have a 10mb L package with Virgin Media and have never had this problem streaming HD movies via my xb360. This has put me off renting movies via atv2, which is a shame, because without this problem, it would be like having a cinema at home...
  • by minimac51,

    minimac51 minimac51 Nov 13, 2010 9:41 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Quicktime
    Nov 13, 2010 9:41 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    I have been able to stream television shows and very short videos from my mac mini
    to my new apple tv (new version that came out this fall) however just rented "Pirates of the Carribean" in HD and have been unable to watch it by streaming it to my apple tv. I downloaded it to my mac mini, but when I go to watch it using the apple tv, I just get the wheel turning in the middle of the tv screen for at least 20 minutes before I give up. Is this what it does while it is transferring the movie to the apple tv, or does this just go on indefinitely? This movie is over 2 hours long, so I am wondering if that is why it is taking so long before it begins?
  • by avicenna66,

    avicenna66 avicenna66 Nov 14, 2010 12:27 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 14, 2010 12:27 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Yes. This is rubbish. The last movie I tried to watch after renting said it would be ready to play in 68,546 minutes, then started playing, then paused after two minutes.
    What a waste of time and money. Very frustrating
  • by humpy76,

    humpy76 humpy76 Nov 14, 2010 11:25 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 14, 2010 11:25 AM in response to TWalkerPolk
    I am having streaming issues and I am averaging about 12mbps broadband. i rented a film on Friday night and went to watch it 10 minutes later and it stated 93 minutes until ready to watch. I then left it a further 30 minutes and it stated 87 minutes until its ready. I actually watched the film today before the rental ran out. Not at all like it was described at launch and something needs to be done.
  • by Origin_X,

    Origin_X Origin_X Nov 14, 2010 3:47 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 14, 2010 3:47 PM in response to TWalkerPolk
    So much for Apple TV "streaming" into homes for the holidays. First they screw up the iPad update and now people can't stream movies. Netflix works fine, so why doesn't their own in-house software work? I rent a movie and it won't stream, it keeps loading and stating that the movie will be ready in 220 minutes. sigh
    It looks like Apple is looking to become the Microsoft of this new decade: So much money that they screw up so people buy the fixes.
    Tsk tsk. Terrible behavior.
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