checkerboard displayed when playing back video

I have the same problem as well. but the problem also appears on DVD player not just itunes

After sitting on the line with Apple support and doing some troubleshooting, I finally figured out some additional things that might help out. With the update to Mountain Lion, Apple seems to have enabled a feature that causes the grey and white checkerboard to appear in any of Apple's video playing software if there is any type of streaming or other connection active to the subject computer. For example, prior to the Mountain Lion update, I had my Mac Mini connected to my television. To make things easier on me, I would use the Back to My Mac feature to do screen sharing to navigate through the Mac Mini. However, after the Mountain Lion update, I would get the gray and white checkerboard pattern in DVD player and in iTunes when trying to play videos (whether or not they were DRM protected). But if I didn't use screen sharing but rather tried to play the videos on the Mac Mini using the typical bluetooth keyboard/mouse interface, then the videos would play perfectly.

This same issue arises with Airplay Mirroring. When you try to mirror your desktop/laptop computer to the TV through the Apple TV, your desktop/laptop computer senses that you are doing a type of screen sharing. As such, whenever you try to play anything through the Apple software (i.e. DVD player, iTunes, etc.), the result is that you get the grey and white checkerboard screen.

At this time, there doesn't seem to be any type of workaround for this except to use third-party software when you mirror, as has been noted by other posters on this thread. It doesn't matter whether you are trying to play DRM protected material or not, the computer you are trying to mirror will sense the connection to another device and will automatically checkerboard all video you attempt to play. The exception to this is that if you want to mirror your iTunes video that is playing on your desktop/laptop computer, then you can do so but not through selecting Airplay Mirroring in the display preferences. Rather, you have to go into iTunes on your mac and start to play the video. Once it starts to play, there will be the Airplay Mirroring option inside of/within the iTunes window. If you use this selection, then you can properly stream to Apple TV without grey checkbox. It only trips up if you try to do Airplay Mirroring for your entire computer screen rather than out of iTunes specifically.

Anyhow, this is what I've ended up figuring out. Hope it helps.

I found the same exact thing using my Mac Mini to watch iTunes or DVDs on my TV, using TouchPad as the control. This checkerboard feature really reduces the value of the TouchPad app, and now it makes watching these videos an awkward experience. I use TouchPad to get the video started, and then fall back on the Apple Remote control to pause, etc.

I'm still trying to figure out why they couldn't just checkerboard the video on the remote machine, but leave it viewable on the wired in monitor. That would set all this straight IMO.

Same here. I stopped screen sharing my Mini from my Mac and the checker board went away. I guess any remote screen sharing will kill the host's display from Itunes movies. The only way I could get a movie to play was to turn off screen sharing and use my mouse and keyboard to control the Mini directly. This problem started with Mountain Lion. I hope Apple fixes it soon.

Apple needs to update this

The same thing is happening to me since upgrading my server to 10.8. This is particularly annoying because I use Apple Remote Desktop to control my server and I can't access the controls when the drm-checkerboard pattern is up. Very frustrating to have an issue like this when using Apple's own software to play content I legitimately purchased in iTunes.

Same problem, and I'm very unhappy. Mountain Lion DRM has broken my home theater setup.

I have an Apple household. I bought a Mac mini server to use as a home theater media center, and connected it to a big flat screen TV. I control it via Desktop on my iPad. Under Mountain Lion, I can no longer play DVDs - physical DVDs that I bought and paid for, damnit, to say nothing of my large iTunes library. I have to get up and use a physical keyboard and mouse to watch anything on my home theater. This is unacceptable.

The Mac mini from 2011 on has clearly been built for home theater use. Didn't anyone developing Mountain Lion know this?

Same problem here! This worked in Lion, so why did this change? I also use Apple Remote Desktop to control my Mac mini and it is very frustrating to not have the full functionality even if one uses Apple products!!

Any official statement?

Here are some alternatives to try:

- VLC Player (no checkerboard) http://vlc-media-player.en.softonic.com/mac

- Or try turning on "DVD or CD Sharing" in System Prefs:Sharing and have your Mac Mini read the DVD over the network in its own DVD Player. You might still be able to use screen sharing with this configuration.

Same problem, just posting on the small chance that this might be fixed if enough people are effected. In the past I've always screen shared (the official OS X "Share Screen..." button) from one or more of my remote macs to start things playing in iTunes on my mini so my kid can watch a video there. Now, if I am screen sharing while I try to play the movie, I get the checkerboard.

@Fordeaux,

Thank you for your input. The VLC trick might work, but the DVD Sharing definitely won't. Both are unacceptable. I don't know what Apple was thinking about, but one of the major uses of the Mac mini is as an HTPC. I want them to fix their error. I'm not interesting in jumping through hoops to work around their error. Note the repetition: THEIR ERROR.

I agree with Bill. This is Apple's problem. This is one of the specific reasons I upgraded to Mountain Lion was so that I could watch DVD's that I purchased through my Apple TV. What's the point of advertising a new feature if it's not going to work?

Hi, I agree with you all. I use my Mac mini as a HTPC, since Mountain Lion I am now unable to watch my purchased media from itunes. I use "touchpad" to control the mini, and I stream movies via AppleTV to my living room. It is unacceptable to prevent your customers to view content that they have bought from you, Apple. I use several ipads and macs in my home, an Apple household so to speak, just like Mr Bill Sheedan. Since Mountain Lion it is ruined. I am a very unhappy customer because of this.