Q: I have downloaded and installed Mountain Lion and need instructions on mirroring Safari to my HDTV via AppleTV

Unfortunately your computer is - wait for it - too old!

See feature specific specs:

http://www.apple.com/uk/osx/specs/

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).

Apple TV (2nd and 3rd gen)- How to use AirPlay Mirroring

How to set up and configure AirPort Express for AirPlay and iTunes

Troubleshooting AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring

Using AirPlay

Send some feedback to Apple:

http://www.apple.com/feedback/

The Airplay in ML requires hardware features on the Intel CPUs that older chips don't have.

A workaround software solution might be of interest:

http://airparrot.com

Hello Kev4,

My name is Takoda and I am happy to assist you today.

If your Mac is supported, then follow these steps:

To enable AirPlay mirroring, make sure the Mac you want to connect and Apple TV are on the same network.

Then, on your Mac open System Preferences and click the "Displays" Preference Pane. At the bottom of the System Preferences window, you shoul see a drop-down menu with AirPlay Mirroring devices.

Sincerely,

Takoda

I am disappointed that this feature requires newer HWer. I had to buy airparrot to work.

So what is the difference between airparrot and airplay feature built in for Mountain Lion?

The best explanation I've found is that it relies on hardware h264 encoding only available in Sandy/Ivy Bridge chips from 2011 onwards:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Quick_Sync_Video

Apple presumably decided that to do this in software as AirParrot does would not give acceptable performance - shame they didn't let the user decided how well it worked but theer you go.

AC

People they are using Airplay to show their presentations on TV's and Projectors. now all PHD's, Doctors, Professors, Teachers have this Big problem and that APPLE does NOT care at all. it's been a long time and with 10.8.1 updates all we've got surprised that this issue still not resolved!!

We should go with Samsung, for real they are beating Apple with Phones and very soon with Laptops SamsungSeries 9. so next time Apple has to resolve their Stupid BUGs ASAP, the only word I can say for now is....F#ck Apple Administration after Steve Job left, and Apple will be gone within 10 years, remember my words! Period.