MVOlson

Q: Can you watch Apple TV while a movie is downloading?

We purchased a rental movie and the "time remaining" jumps around from an hour 13 minutes to 9 hours, 47 minutes, and several places in between. We had no idea that we wouldn't simply be able to watch the movie tonight!  Well, we've given up on that, but we wonder, does the download continue while we go over to Netflix and watch something else?  Or will it have to be done after we go to bed?  And, each time we return to the movie to see how it's doing, it appears that less rather than more has been downloaded. Can someone please tell me how this works?  We don't have an HD TV so we set our itunes store preferences to the not-HD option which is said to be for slow internet connections. Tonight our internet download speed tests at about 2.6 mbs. How long should it take to download a 2 hour movie?

 

Thanks for whatever info/advice you can give these aging, non-techie users.

iPod classic

Posted on Apr 20, 2016 6:22 PM

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Q: Can you watch Apple TV while a movie is downloading?

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  • by Vinceassociate,

    Vinceassociate Vinceassociate Apr 20, 2016 6:34 PM in response to MVOlson
    Level 4 (1,738 points)
    Apr 20, 2016 6:34 PM in response to MVOlson
  • by MVOlson,

    MVOlson MVOlson Apr 20, 2016 7:22 PM in response to Vinceassociate
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 20, 2016 7:22 PM in response to Vinceassociate

    And yet none of the download times listed here is even close to the 8 hours that it has said several times this evening will be required.  Right now it jumped from 54 minutes to "Ready to play in 1 Hour 18 minutes."  And now it says 1 hour 50 minutes.  If I turn off the TV and go to bed, will it continue to download so that I can watch it tomorrow night?  (BTW, it now says 2 hours 19 minutes.)  Arrrrrghhhhh!

  • by vazandrew,

    vazandrew vazandrew Apr 20, 2016 7:23 PM in response to MVOlson
    Level 6 (19,023 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 20, 2016 7:23 PM in response to MVOlson

    The Apple TV doesn't store media, it will need to load each time. It will cache while you are viewing (a portion needs to load before playbacl begins). However, accessing other content or turning off the unit will cause the film to be flushed from the system. Your speed is at the bare minimum required for an SD movie, and if it fluctuates/goes lower then that will cause issue. Also make sure DNS is set to auto (settings - general - network). If on wifi try connecting Apple TV via Ethernet.

     

    You  mention not having an HDTV. Just a note that the Apple TV is designed for an HDTV (and to be connected via HDMI), and if you are using a converter then that could lead to issues.

  • by MVOlson,

    MVOlson MVOlson Apr 20, 2016 7:30 PM in response to vazandrew
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 20, 2016 7:30 PM in response to vazandrew

    Thanks.  We do use an HDMI connection for our Apple TV and we get the signal via wi-fi.  So, basically, I need to start downloading at noon if I want to watch a movie at 7 p.m.?  My speed does fluctuate, but it often is faster than 2.6 mbs (I've seen as much as 4.8 mbs) and I can't say I've ever seen it test slower than 2.6.

     

    So, if the device doesn't store it, why does it need to download?  Why wouldn't it simply stream like Netflix does?  And, if I get it downloaded, does it then have to re-download if I stop in the middle of the movie and want to watch the end later?  Yikes!  Could they make this more complicated?

     

    Sorry to be such a whiner, but I do appreciate that someone is willing to answer me. 

     

    If I buy the movie instead of renting it, does it have to download before I can watch it?  Or does it just stream?  And does a purchased movie have to download every time I want to watch it?

     

    Thanks for your paitence.

  • by Protodd,Solvedanswer

    Protodd Protodd Apr 20, 2016 7:46 PM in response to MVOlson
    Level 4 (2,069 points)
    Apr 20, 2016 7:46 PM in response to MVOlson

    Netflix and traditional streaming services use a variable compression based upon the internet connection of the end user.  Itunes has a fixed rate. Basically a speed versus quality question...

     

    one thing you may want to look at based upon your internet speed is to rent/purchase iTunes content from your iTunes computer and then homeshare to the ATV.  As vazandrew notes, the ATV doesn't actually "store" the movie it's just a cache.  But on the PC/Mac iTunes it would download...

     

    Use Home Sharing to share iTunes content with other devices - Apple Support

  • by MVOlson,

    MVOlson MVOlson Apr 20, 2016 7:35 PM in response to MVOlson
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 20, 2016 7:35 PM in response to MVOlson

    So, it's bedtime where I live and it says the movie will be ready to play in 9 hours 28 minutes.  If I leave the device on and go to bed, will it start playing when it's finished downloading and then I miss watching it?  Or, will it be there for me to watch tomorrow?  (Now it says 11 hour 31 minutes!)

  • by vazandrew,Helpful

    vazandrew vazandrew Apr 21, 2016 5:19 AM in response to MVOlson
    Level 6 (19,023 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 21, 2016 5:19 AM in response to MVOlson

    If it's not an HDTV, as you had said, then it wouldn't be using an HDMI connection directly, but rather require a converter to pass through.

     

    The fact is your internet connection is fluctuating, which is why the ETA is fluctuating.

     

    ITunes is not a streaming service, and doesn't adapt to the connection like Netflix. It is at a fixed rate, higher quality, and will cache to the Apple TV. It will cache it temporarily and is meant to be watched as it can be easily flushed. As noted above, it would be better to rent on the computer in future as that will store the rental for future viewing.

  • by MVOlson,

    MVOlson MVOlson Apr 21, 2016 5:19 AM in response to vazandrew
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Apple TV
    Apr 21, 2016 5:19 AM in response to vazandrew

    Thanks.