Apple TV Questions

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Apple TV Questions

I have a refurbished MacBook Pro running 10.6.8. I'm looking into a Apple TV mainly to use my HDTV as a monitor to play music, movies, etc. but also to use Netflix and HuluPlus. I need to upgrade my OS to 10.8 in order to do that, correct? I'd buy a Roku, but the function of using the HDTV as a monitor is too much to pass up on. I hope I'm not reading into it something that isn't available. I don't have a iPhone or iPad. Any help would be appreciated.

MacBook Pro, Mac OS X (10.6.8)

Posted on Oct 28, 2012 8:15 AM

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Answer 1

mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

Oct 28, 2012 8:20 AM in response to rodabbott

Press Command and Space keys, type System Profiler and copy Model Identifier here. Early 2011 MacBook Pro supports AirPlay Mirroring

1. See if your Mac is compatible with Mountain Lion > http://www.apple.com/osx/specs

2. See if your apps are supported > http://www.roaringapps.com

3. Make a backup, open App Store and purchase OS X Mountain Lion

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Answer 2

Oct 28, 2012 8:25 AM in response to rodabbott

rodabbott wrote:

............I need to upgrade my OS to 10.8 in order to do that, correct?..............

No not exactly.

AirPlay Mirroring requires a second-generation Apple TV or later, OS X 10.8 or better 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). It also requires the computer to be using wi-fi.

However to do the things you have stated, you don't need mirroring, the Apple TV does all those things itself.

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Answer 3

rodabbott Author

Level 1

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Oct 28, 2012 8:31 AM in response to mende1

Model Identifier: MacBookPro7,1

Confused on "2. See if your apps are supported > http://www.roaringapps.com"

I don't use many apps unless they're in my Dashboard.

It looks like I can get Mountain Lion just fine.

So the AirPlay is for the iPhone and iPad and Mirroring is for the computers?

If all I need to do is get Mountain Lion, then buy the Apple TV (heard it's very easy to set-up) and starting "Mirroring", that seems easy enough.

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Answer 4

rodabbott Author

Level 1

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Oct 28, 2012 8:32 AM in response to Winston Churchill

Didn't see your phrase AirPlay Mirroring until after I hit send. Once Apple TV is installed on my computer the little icon pops up in the toolbar and I use that to control the HDTV/Apple TV interface?

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Answer 5

mende1

Level 10

93,538 points

Oct 28, 2012 8:35 AM in response to rodabbott

Your computer doesn't support AirPlay Mirroring, so you have to use AirParrot > http://www.airparrot.com.AirPlay and AirPlay Mirroring are different. AirPlay Mirroring is available on the iPhone 4S and 5, and iPad 2 and later, too

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Answer 6

Oct 28, 2012 8:44 AM in response to rodabbott

rodabbott wrote:

Didn't see your phrase AirPlay Mirroring until after I hit send. Once Apple TV is installed on my computer the little icon pops up in the toolbar and I use that to control the HDTV/Apple TV interface?

Apple TV isn't installed on your computer. iTunes detects it on your network. The AirPlay icon you see is for basic AirPlay, not AirPlay mirroring, you can send content from iTunes to your Apple TV but not your desktop.

You don't need AirPlay at all to do the things you wrote hereinbefore, the Apple TV does them all.

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