Addouk
Level 1 (4 points)
iCloud

Q: i can't get the bluetooth on my apple tv to connect to anything...just says searching :(

hi all,

sorry to have to ask for help, just got apple tv 3rd gen.

Have managed to get it to let me airplay from macbook air, but i cant get them to pair via bluetooth...same with my iphone 5s and though i havent tried it...my ipad 3.

 

can anyone please shed any light on how i might make all my stuff communicate so i can stream music and vids from my macbook etc. i managed to get it to mirror my macbook  once.

 

sorry am a bit new to all this mac tech...though i love it, its  like a new language

MacBook Air, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Feb 13, 2014 11:04 AM

by vazandrew,Solvedanswer
vazandrew vazandrew
Level 6 (19,303 points)
Apple TV
A:

Apple TV only uses bluetooth for keyboards.

Posted on Feb 13, 2014 11:17 AM

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Addouk

Q: i can't get the bluetooth on my apple tv to connect to anything...just says searching :(

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  • Helpful answers

  • by vazandrew,Solvedanswer

    vazandrew vazandrew Feb 13, 2014 11:17 AM in response to Addouk
    Level 6 (19,303 points)
    Apple TV
    Feb 13, 2014 11:17 AM in response to Addouk

    Apple TV only uses bluetooth for keyboards.

  • by Addouk,

    Addouk Addouk Feb 13, 2014 12:18 PM in response to Addouk
    Level 1 (4 points)
    iCloud
    Feb 13, 2014 12:18 PM in response to Addouk

    Thank you so much!!!

    I am such a mac newbie I swear I am dangerous with this tech lol.

     

    Have u got any other tips for Apple TV 3?

     

    I have all my music in a portable drive..so it's not in iTunes..is there a way of playing through Apple TV without adding to iTunes :)

  • by vazandrew,Helpful

    vazandrew vazandrew Feb 13, 2014 3:20 PM in response to Addouk
    Level 6 (19,303 points)
    Apple TV
    Feb 13, 2014 3:20 PM in response to Addouk

    The music doesn't have to reside on your computer but iTunes does need to be able to see it. Your computer must be on and running iTunes with hard drive connected in order to access on Apple TV

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1449

  • by CAR-SJR-JMB-CJMR-ABR,

    CAR-SJR-JMB-CJMR-ABR CAR-SJR-JMB-CJMR-ABR Mar 7, 2014 7:16 PM in response to vazandrew
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 7, 2014 7:16 PM in response to vazandrew

    vazandrew

     

    There is no way to pair say a Bluetooth speaker like, a HMDX Jams speaker? And the only way to stream say just music is only with a connection to my PC/Laptop (via WiFi?). There is not an app that can be downloaded on to Apple TV that allows streaming of iTunes without the connection to the PC/Laptop? I am actually researching at the moment was going to purchase the Apple TV this morning. Needing more feedback on what is actually possible with the device and seems you know way more than I. I have been an iPhone user for years (still on iPhone 4s and I have been wondering and thinking of changing to a different operating system though I truly like the iPhone and operating systems), not a Mac user at the moment but as well that, is in my thinking too. I will be venturing down that path a little bit later down the road. But, any information regarding the Apple TV device.... say functionality or capabilities that do not seem 100% clear since everywhere you go to look are vague and/or very different. Hoping for your assistance, Thank you in advance! 

    Basic wants from a device such as Apple TV:

     

    -Streaming of video via WiFi through device and WiFi only without, connecting to PC/Laptop unless streaming is needed as play back from media on currently on hard drive   

     

    -Access to iTunes media file without connection as well

     

    -the option to connect devices such as iPhone 4s via Bluetooth or WiFi to stream media as well

     

    -and yes a big yes to be able to also connect media audio output to a speaker not wired to connected to TV or Apple device and only available to receive audio via Bluetooth from a source that can be paired to other Apple device’s

     

    Am I seeking way too much? Is this possible with Apple products or even non Apple products?  Help and/or, suggestions are greatly appreciated. 

  • by vazandrew,

    vazandrew vazandrew Mar 7, 2014 8:00 PM in response to CAR-SJR-JMB-CJMR-ABR
    Level 6 (19,303 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 7, 2014 8:00 PM in response to CAR-SJR-JMB-CJMR-ABR

    - The only thing that can connect via bluetooth using Apple TV is a wireless keyboard. So no, you cannot use speakers in this manner. Most things work under another wireless protocol, airplay. So if you were to look for wireless speakers to use with Apple TV that is what you want. Or if you have an Airport Express (router) you can connect speakers to it and they will become airplay enabled. The benefit over bluetooth is that the content is not compressed, it is sent over the local wifi network.

     

    http://support.apple.com/kb/HT4437?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

     

    - Apps cannot be downloaded to the Apple TV. If you wish to stream your iTunes library over the local network then that is done using home sharing, which requires a computer to be up and running iTunes. There is no accessible storage on the Apple TV device.

     

    If you subscribe to iTunes Match then you can access your full iTunes library directly on Apple TV, it will be streaming from the cloud. You can also use airplay to stream any content stored on an iPhone (as well as other IOS devices) or from apps (if the developer has enabled it).