Mac Mini (Mid 2011) AirPlay to Apple TV

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spost1986 Author

Level 1

0 points

Mac Mini (Mid 2011) AirPlay to Apple TV

Hi, everyone. First, thanks for reading my post. My question is about the Mac Mini and the new AirPlay feature that comes with OS X Mountain Lion. I've got a Mac Mini that I use as my media center. It has all of my movies, music, photos, etc. I use my Apple TV in my living room mainly for the GUI, but occasionally I need to remote-connect to my Mac Mini. Currently, my Mac Mini doesn't have a monitor - I access it through my MacBook Air using Screen Sharing. But I'd like to be able to see the desktop on my living room television through my Apple TV using AirPlay.

Currently, all that happens is that I'll get a green 4:3 screen through my Apple TV when I use AirPlay. The MacBook Air can AirPlay just fine, but no dice on the Mac Mini. I'm thinking it might be a resolution thing, but apparently I can only get my Mac Mini to go up to 1680 x 1050 (no 1920 x 1080). Furthermore, I'm thinking this is all an issue because I don't have my Mac Mini connected to a monitor. Before I got the Apple TV, I had the Mini hooked directly into my television with an HDMI cable and was able to get full 1080 resolution without a problem.

So, my questions are:

1) Has anyone ever had this experience with the Mac Mini and AirPlay?

2) Can anyone think of a better, more efficient way to hook up my media center?

Best regards and I look forward to your answers! Thanks again for reading and have a great weekend!

Steve

Mac mini, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Aug 3, 2012 7:58 AM

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Answer 1

user1724

Level 3

535 points

Aug 3, 2012 9:37 AM in response to spost1986

I would connect the mini using an hdmi cable to one of the hdmi inputs on the TV, then test and see if that solves the problem. I have no problem with 1920x1080 on my 2011 mini, but it is connectd via hdmi.'

At least if you do that test you will narrow the problem. The answer may be as simple as just leaving that hdmi connected, assuming you have a free hdmi on the tv.

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Answer 2

Aug 3, 2012 10:23 AM in response to user1724

Have a look at AirParrot. It should do it.

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Answer 3

troyh12

Level 1

0 points

Mar 21, 2013 9:33 AM in response to spost1986

Hey Spost!

You have explained exactly what happened to me last night. I was afraid it was part of the 10.8.3 update or the latest ATV software update that hit this week. I tried from my macbook pro and the airplay from 10.8.3 and the atv software worked fine.

Previously my mac mini was connected to a monitor in my basement but last night i made it "headless" and moved it to my "server closet" airplaying prior to the move worked great ... then last night 4:3 Green Screen.

My guess is the computer needs to be connected to a external display in order for airplay resolution to figure itself out. Via Logmein i could see that the Mirror mode wanted to use the resolution that fit the mac and not what was best for the Apple TV ... Even forcing the change made the setting go right back to this mac.

Looks to be a bug in a plist file that apple would need to fix as many people run headless mac mini's and now wish to AirPlay to their Apple TV's without the need for a external cable run.

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