Q: Mountain Lion AirPlay Mirroring (iMac to AppleTV) Not Working

Macinsoft ....

Microtosh ....

AirPlay Mirroring requires a second-generation Apple TV or later, and is supported on the following Mac models: iMac (Mid 2011 or newer), Mac mini (Mid 2011 or newer), MacBook Air (Mid 2011 or newer), and MacBook Pro (Early 2011 or newer).

Taken from the OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion site.. So sometimes it's all worth spending some time on the info sites before the purchase.

As allready mentioned so many times, go for Airparrot if out of the compatibility zone.

Add me to the list of being one of the people who upgraded to Mountain Lion for this reason mostly. A few days ago I went out to purchase a new iPad and I picked up an Apple TV (again, for this reason because I have no other use for the Apple TV otherwise).

I spent over an hour yesterday trying to figure it out, and I couldn't get AirPlay to work, until I finally found out why. Because I have a Mid-2010 MBP.

Sure, I could buy a 3rd party app to do what I expected Mountain Lion to allow me to do, but this move by Apple really dissapointed me and lost me as a customer. I already fell for the hardware upgrade once, when I ran out to upgrade my iPhone 4 to a 4s for Siri (regretfully). The dissapointment is large enough to where I am calling it quits with Apple, because I am not going to keep running out and upgrading my hardware for new features when I still feel like my MacBook is new. This morning, I returned my iPad and my Apple TV while I still could. Unfortunately, it's too late to return my MacBook. I was planning on getting an iMac in September when my classes start again, but a PC will have to do.

Yea i read it and i also tried air parrot which is bad. 

If they can build it into itunes and it works for my system they can build it into the OS for my kick butt system! They are just trying to get us all to buy new systems!  New Every Two should be Apple's motto... They learned it from the cell phone industry... who learned new every 5 from the auto industry...  Im calling them out on their BS.  I for one am tired of having to re-buy for one new feature that I really would like to have when there is no reason to replace! 

Yes and look where M$ is now..  I almost hope M$ can get their act together.. at least they are bringing the price of Windows down with version 8 to really compete. Now if we could get Apple quality hardware to go with it we would have some real cometition in the computer industry.

This is my first comment on the support site. I have to say, I am equally disappointed with the lack of compatibility and lack of truthful advertisement of the new features that came with Mountain Lion.

I am a devote Apple fan and generally trust them blindly with updates. My iMac, which I bought in 2010, was compatible with the new OS upgrade so I purchased it in the App store without looking too much deeper. After I nought it, I started trying out the new features. Unfortunately, I am in the "my iMac is too old" group which I find to be tremendously disappointing. My iMac runs great and I feel duped for buying it, now knowing that Apple does not feel my purchase of less than 2 years ago is worth the extra effort to add compatibility with new software too.

Unfortunately for me, my iMac was a huge investment, which I saved tirelessly for, so I will not be able to purchase a new Mac of any kind until this one really doesn't work.

Overall, I am feeling pretty sad, as I give a huge percentage of my technology purchases to Apple, and right now I feel like they don't give a **** about me.

I have an iPhone, Apple TV, iPad, iMac and Macbook Pro. So far just my new iPad and Apple TV are compatible.

• A $20 OS upgrade.

• New functionality and apps.

• No loss of functionality.

• The limited use of AirPlay was advertised, albeit in very small print.

Hardly a reason to abandon Apple.

I would have to agree with Atom. I have a 2008 MacBook Pro that I have not updated and new MacBook Pro i7 that is updated with 3 iPhones, iPad and ATV's.....I still love Apple. I can still work between all the devices and they still all work great. I know that this one option did not live up to the expectations but its still far more advanced than Microsoft products.

First comment on here as I feel let down and quite angry at Apple:

• Apple advertise what Mountain Lion can do - "Airplay Mirrroring from my 2yr old iMac to my Apple TV? Nice one!!!!"
• I check my iMac is able to handle Mountain Lion - "Thank goodness, it can!"
• I install Mountain Lion - "Wow that was easy, Apple are awesome!"
• Turns out my iMac cannot handle one of the main features of Mountain Lion - "I've been mislead?!"

I guess in future I will have to learn not to blindly trust Apple and to set aside a huge amount of time to read through every bit of small print.

It does seem strange that Airparrot works fine on my machine. I wonder what the official line is on this issue?

I think the major point is that there is now a growing suspicion that Apple willingly disable features with the primary reason being to encourage upgrades. If people lose faith in a company, that may be a reason to abandon them. T

I would like to see a company like Apple with it's vast resources, try to ensure that every feature is available to as many as possible and if not, a really good reason to be provided at the point of upgrade.

Atom I agree one feature not working is hardly a reason to give up and I am not saying I will like a couple of the others.  I still have yet to find a better piece of hardware although I generally still find windows more useful and compatible than OSX i still love it and run in a bootcamp/parallels arrangement.  I am just frustrated by the attitude that I gotta buy NEW EVERY TWO!  They start slowly cuting off support for features for no good reason.  I'm a fan of iTunes, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV and the way everything just works together even though I get a lot of slack from others about it.  I love the idea that there are now two major players in the world for computer OS and M$ might just suprise you and make a come back.  All they really need is someone to make high quality sexy hardware. How fun would if be if Linux could really come up with a real competitor!  These companies could keep each other on their toes and we would see even more innovations!

I have a mid 2010 i7 MBP which is a awesome piece of hardware. I was really looking forward to get AirPlay Mirroring finally working on it.

Its such a shame that a simple feature like that is not supported.

I love my Apple products, but this missing feature is really disgusting me! 

Sure, all the fanboys see no reason to criticize Apple for that - but i do.

Take care Apple, pride goes before a fall...

well said wallrevolution!

I agree with your point wholeheartedly, I own 3ATV's in different forms and love them. what kills me is the assumption by Apple that everyone wants to stream video from their desktops. I can stream video through my OPPO BD player,XBOX 360, PS3, TV etc. I was looking forward to mirroring my desktop as a fun way to interact with my family or at work in my office (50' Vizio and ATV2 at work).

Apple was deceptive, no ifs ands or buts about it. What would have happened if SIRI was released in the same irresponsible manner? WW3 I think, they obviously know how to to inform their customers but decided not too here. Just an epic fail on their part. I don't want my money back, I always keep my MBP, MBA and iMac up to date. Had I known this wasn't going to work I would have still bought the product, been annoyed but not ******!

**GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DECIDED FOR OURSELVES IF OUR MACHINES CAN PERFORM THIS FUNCTION OR NOT. IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO!**

I'm disappointed too, but there's a reason those of us with older Mac's can't use AirPlay, and it's not because Apple wanted to be a--holes. Read the linked article below for complete details:

http://www.zdnet.com/calm-down-10-8s-airplay-restrictions-are-technical-not-plan ned-obsolescence-7000001695/

**GIVE US THE ABILITY TO DECIDED FOR OURSELVES IF OUR MACHINES CAN PERFORM THIS FUNCTION OR NOT. IT'S JUST THE RIGHT THING TO DO!**

I'm sorry, I mean no offense, but this made me laugh. It's not like we can just "decide" that our processors have more capability than they actually do.