I'm looking to get my father an Apple TV for the holidays. He's an audiophile of sorts, and has been really into FLAC fies recently. I heard that with the Airfoil, you can set broadcast most any audio from any app, over to your Apple TV
My question is, if the computer is on, can he control something like VLC (or some other FLAC player) FROM the Apple TV? If so, are there a list of supported apps?
AppleTV 2
Welcome to the Apple Community.
No the Apple TV doesn't support VLC. Why the workaround, the Apple TV will already support ALAC natively.
unfortunately don't have an answer for you there. He's big into the FLAC 🙂
Is there a list of apps the Apple TV will control? Or is it only itunes?
There are some apps built into the Apple TV, but nothing that will do what he wants, you can stream VLC via an iOS device but not from a computer.
Audio formats supported
HE-AAC (V1), AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), Apple Lossless, AIFF, and WAV; Dolby Digital 5.1 surround sound pass-through
Well what Im saying is, Airfoil allows you to stream any audio from your computer, from any app, to you Apple TV (or wifi, etc).
My question was, is there a way to remotely control other apps on the computer besides itunes, from the apple TV -- so he doesn't have to run upstairs to change tracks 🙂
No, as I say nothing that will do what he wants.
I know how it is trying to convince people, I have a freind you captures internet radio streams and converts them to AIFF, there's no telling him he's wasting his time.
Even if the Apple TV could control `VLC on the computer, it will only convert his FLAC files to another format the Apple TV can play. If ALAC isn't a suitable alternative forwhatever reason, you need to look at an alternative product for him.
oh really?
I thought Airfoil got around that?
If you're right, then why would people use Airfoil with Apple TV, if in the end, it can only do what the Apple TV is natively capable of anyhow...
just curious
I don't use Airfoil and don't really know a lot about it, but I really don't see how it could get around sending a format to the Apple TV that the Apple TV can't play.
I do know that VLC converts the format, it tells you it does while it does it. (that's via the iPad/iPhone by the way)
If you're right, then why would people use Airfoil with Apple TV, if in the end......
Possibly the same reason my friend converts his radio streams to AIFF. Or because it saves them converting everything themselves.
Apple TV, Airfoil, and FLAC Files
