Kanex announced two HDMI adapters for the 4th generation Apple TV: the Digital Audio Adapter provides an optical audio port to connect a surround sound system to the new Apple TV, while the HDMI to VGA Adapter connects a VGA-ready TV, monitor or projector with audio support.

Kanex Digital Audio Adapter

Although the new Apple TV brought a host of new features, it also took away its optical audio output, leaving many users with no easy surround sound system solution. Kanex Digital Audio Adapter allows Apple TV 4 users to keep their existing home theater hardware.

It supports 7.1 and 5.1 surround sound via standard optical audio, or 2.0 surround sound via 3.5mm audio port.

It’s available on Amazon for $59.95.

Kanex HDMI to VGA Adapter

Kanex HDMI to VGA Adapter allows users to connect an Apple TV to a TV, monitor or projector equipped with VGA. High quality audio is also supported with a 3.5mm port for external speakers.

With the Kanex adapter, AirPlay mirroring from iPhone, iPad or Mac can be used with an existing projector, eliminating the need to upgrade to a new HDMI equipment.

It’s available from Kanex website for $59.95.

Both adapters are also compatible with older Apple TVs.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post Kanex introduces HDMI to VGA and Digital Audio adapters for Apple TV 4 appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

One of the best features of the recently released Apple TV 4 is its ability to connect with headphones and speakers via Bluetooth. So instead of hearing sound from whatever TV show or movie you are watching, you will be able to hear it from your Bluetooth enabled speaker or headphone. This added function therefore allows us to listen to whatever we want, without disturbing the people around us.

Below is a list of some of the best Black Friday deals on Bluetooth speakers for your new Apple TV.

Harman Kardon Onyx Studio Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

The Harman Kardon Wireless Speaker is premium speaker with amazing audio performance and deep bass. The speaker allows you to take the gift of great sound with you wherever you go. The speaker features four dual passive radiators that deliver rich, dynamic audio. You can connect this speaker to any Bluetooth enabled device.

Get it now from Amazon for $139.95 and save about $260.04.

Yamaha Sound Bar with Bluetooth

The Yamaha ATS-1030-R Sound Bar has Bluetooth compatibility, operation from an app and wireless convenience. All this and more in a one-body unit with built-in subwoofer that offers high sound quality and exhilarating surround sound.

Get in now for just $139.99 (53% off).

Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

When you feel like unplugging, sharing music with your friends or you just want to take your speaker with you without having to worry about wires then you need to get yourself the Jawbone BIG JAMBOX Wireless Bluetooth Speaker. This speaker has a powerful battery that lasts up to 15 hours even with active, continuous play. This speaker is small and compact so you can put it in your bag and off you go.

The speaker normally costs $299.99, but you can buy it now from Amazon for $159.99.

AEDILYS Bluetooth Speaker

The AEDILYS Bluetooth speaker is an all in one 2.1 channel sound system with 3D surround sound. The speaker has a long lasting battery that can withstand up to 8 hours of playtime.

Since it is a high-quality, extremely well-built speaker, it costs $199.99, but you can buy it now for $43.99 from Amazon.

UE BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker

If you are searching for versatility, clear sounds and portability then you need to consider the UE BOOM Wireless Bluetooth Speaker. This speaker was designed to provide users with crystal clear stereo sound for any occasion. The speaker also features a powerful in-built battery that can last up to 15 hours, and you can still pick you call or control your music from 50 feet away.

Buy it now for just $99.99 and save $100.00.

SHARKK Boombox Bluetooth Speaker

If you are looking for a high-quality Bluetooth speaker with a battery that can last up to 18 hours then you should consider the SHARKK Boombox Bluetooth Speaker. This speaker is just as clear as Jambox and Beats at half the price. The speaker also allows for hands free phone calls.

Buy it now for just $59.95 and save $30.04.

Denon HEOS 1 Wireless Speaker

You will be amazed by the big and the high-quality sounds produced by the Denon HEOS 1 Speaker. The speaker allows you to stream your favorite music services such as iHearRadio, SiriusXM, Spotify and Pandora using the free HEOS app for Kindle, Android or iOS. This wireless speaker is also highly portable, giving you the freedom to take studio-mastered sound wherever you go.

The speaker normally retails for $199.99, but you can get it now from Amazon for $149.00.

OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Portable Speaker

The OontZ Angle 3 Bluetooth Portable Speaker is specifically engineered and designed to deliver the critical features you’re looking for in a portable speaker. The speaker features 2 precision acoustic drivers that deliver 10 watts of enhanced bass and excellent, crystal clear stereo sound. The speaker is also splashproof, rainproof, waterproof, dustproof, and sandproof, making it the best speaker for both outdoor and indoor activities. Its lightweight sturdy design allows it to easily fit in a bag.

It normally costs $99.99, but you can get it now from Amazon for $27.99.

Bose SoundLink Bluetooth Speaker

If you love music and you would like to take it with you everywhere you go then you need to get yourself the Bose SoundLink Color Bluetooth Speaker. This powerful speaker produces, clear, high-quality sounds. It is also simple to use, durable and small enough to fit into your bag or suitcase. The speaker has a 30 feet range, so you won’t have to be restricted by wires.

The speaker costs $119.00 at Amazon and you get to save $10.00.

DKnight Magicbox II Ultra Portable Wireless speaker

The DKnightMagicBox II Ultra Portable Bluetooth speaker is a high-quality speaker that offers high-quality sound using the latest Bluetooth 4.0 tech. The speaker features 2 powerful 40mm acoustic drivers for crystal clear sound. It also features an ultra compact design that allows it to easily fit into a travelling bag, suitcase or backpack. Its powerful built-in battery will provide you with up to 10-12 hours of playtime. This speaker is ideal for picnics, personal use and indoor or outdoor BBQ.

Get it now for just $32.99 and save $97.00.

More Black Friday deals:

• Best deals on AirPlay speakers for Apple TV (2nd, 3rd and 4th gen.)
• Best deals on skins/stickers for Apple TV (1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th gen.)
• Best deals on Bluetooth keyboards for Apple TV 2 & 3
• TotalMount Pro for Apple TV (2nd, 3rd and 4th gen.) now 33% off

Also read:

• Apple TV 4 hacked to run a web browser
• New Apple TV hacked to enable app folders
• MAME emulator running on Apple TV 4
• AirParrot 2: the ultimate companion app for Apple TV 4
• Official Plex app for Apple TV released
• How Apple is fixing what’s wrong with console gaming today

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post Black Friday: best deals on Bluetooth speakers for Apple TV 4 appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

We’re hearing from some developers that iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan use a new AirPlay encryption, which is not compatible with older Apple TV firmwares and software mirroring solutions like AirServer and Reflector.

In iOS 9 and El Capitan, Apple TVs running firmware version older than 6.2 appear as an audio only destinations:

In order for AirPlay to work, both iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan require Apple TV running firmware 6.2 and newer, meanwhile the latest jailbreakable Apple TV software version is 5.3.

People with jailbroken Apple TV’s running 5.3 will need to upgrade to 6.2 or newer to continue using AirPlay.

Of course, if you’re using a jailbroken Apple TV, you may choose not to update to iOS 9 or/and El Capitan and keep AirPlaying your content to the Apple TV.

Some developers told us they are re-implementing the encryption in their software to be ready for the final iOS 9/El Capitan update.

It is expected that iOS 9 will be released in mid-September. OS X El Capitan will launch sometimes in October.

This Wednesday, Apple is hosting an event where it is expected to unveil a next-generation Apple TV, which is rumored to be be thicker and slightly wider than the current-generation model and feature Apple’s A8 chip, a new, “drastically improved” remote with touchpad, more on-board storage, an improved operating system with support for Siri voice control and a long-awaited App Store.

Read more on Apple TV 4: 

• Apple TV 4 specs and price revealed
• Apple TV 4: big focus on gaming and Siri, support for Bluetooth game controllers
• Apple TV 4 will cost $149-$199, available in October

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post iOS 9 and OS X El Capitan won’t let you AirPlay to jailbroken Apple TV (or those running older firmware) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

If you’re planning to start using AirPlay speakers as an output audio source for your Apple TV or you want to replace your current setup with something more powerful, it’s a good time to do it as Sony 7.2-channel 4K AV Receiver with AirPlay is currently on sale on Amazon for $399 $299 shipped.

The Sony STR-DN850 is a 7.2 channel 4K AV receiver with built-in Wi-Fi, AirPlay and Bluetooth connectivity. It features 150 watts of power, 4k resolution pass-through, high-res audio compatibility, 6 HD inputs and a new intuitive graphical interface. It also ha a high capacity power transformer, custom heat sink, and other specially selected audio-grade components that together add up to class-leading sound quality.

Get it now from Amazon.

Check out how to send audio from Apple TV to AirPlay speakers/receivers.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post Redirect your Apple TV audio to Sony 4K AV AirPlay receiver (deals) appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

If you are having trouble with Apple TV’s audio output, go through these basic fixes before you take it to the Apple Store for repair.

Case A. My Apple TV has no sound / the audio is stuck during playback

Step 1. Basic Apple TV audio troubleshooting

• Check if the volume on your television or receiver is reduced or set to mute. Use the TV or Receiver remote and refer their manual to enable sound.
• Check if the connection between your Apple TV to television/home theater is secure and they are connected to power.
• Verify that the source on your audio receiver is set to the Apple TV input. Check the receiver’s or speaker’s manual to find out how to change the source.
• If none of these helped, try rebooting your Apple TV. Just press and hold (Menu + Down) buttons on the Apple remote for 6 seconds and your Apple TV will restart.

Step B. Troubleshoot the Apple TV audio peripherals

• This step is only for those users who have a third party home-theater set, audio receiver or speaker set up as the Apple TV sound output. In this case, you are probably using the optical audio output from the Apple TV.
  Try disconnecting the optical digital audio port and connect the Apple TV directly to your television via HDMI only.
• If the audio issue is now resolved, your audio peripheral or the optical audio cable is defective. Contact the corresponding product’s manufacturer for support.

Step C. Troubleshooting the Apple TV audio settings

• On the Apple TV, Go to Settings > Audio & Video
  Change the Audio Output setting from Auto to 16 bit.
• Change the Dolby Digital from Auto/On to Off.

Case B. I cannot hear the sounds while navigating Apple TV menus

If Apple TV is playing the audio for all video content and music but not the sound effects while navigating the menus, this is just an issue of faulty audio Settings.

Go to Settings > Audio & Video > Sound Effects and turn it On.

Case C. During AirPlay, I can see the video but there’s no audio

1. Make sure the audio is not muted on your iPhone/iPad nor on your television set.

2. Check if your iPhone is on silent/vibrate mode. If so, toggle the side switch to turn it into ring mode.

More how-tos:

• I cannot AirPlay mirror my iPhone and iPad to Apple TV: The Apple TV AirPlay troubleshooting guide
• How to use any third party remote to control your Apple TV
• My Apple TV Remote isn’t working properly: The Apple Remote troubleshooting guide
• How to send audio from Apple TV to AirPlay speakers

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post My Apple TV has no sound – The Apple TV audio troubleshooting guide appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

So you are having trouble AirPlay mirroring your iPhone or iPad screen to an Apple TV. Here is a guide on fixing the most common issues causing this.

Note: For those who are using AirPlay mirroring for the first time, we are also including a set up guide. But those who have had mirroring working before but have new onset of problems, skip to Step B. 

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Best Accessories for Apple TV

A. How to AirPlay mirror your iPhone or iPad content to your Apple TV

1. Make sure your Apple TV is powered on.

2. Connect both your iPhone/iPad and your Apple TV to the same WiFi network
– on Apple TV, go to Settings > General > Network
– on iOS device: Settings > WiFi

and see if both are connected to the same network.

3. If you are running the latest firmware on your iOS device and have the refreshed 3rd generation Apple TV, you can use peer-to-peer AirPlay, which means you needn’t even connect to the WiFi network for AirPlaying. Just switch on WiFi and Bluetooth on your iOS device and Apple TV, and proceed to next step.

4. On iOS 7 and iOS 8 devices, you can just pull up the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom edge. You’ll now see an AirPlay button. Tap on it, choose your Apple TVa and toggle on Mirroring option.

Read more on how to use AirPlay.

If you tried the above steps right but got stuck at some point or, your previously well-mirrored devices suddenly start behaving haywire, follow the remaining guide to fix them.

B. General troubleshooting of AirPlay mirroring issues

1. Check if both your Apple TV and iPhone/iPad are connected to the same network. See the Step A2 above to find out how to check this.

2. If you are using peer-to-peer AirPlay, please note that you still need to have WiFi and Bluetooth toggled on, on both devices. You needn’t connect to WiFi router nor pair each other via Bluetooth, but you should have these switched on in the Control Center.

Peer-to-peer AirPlay requires an iOS device (late 2012 or later) with iOS 8; and an Apple TV (3rd generation rev A, model A1469 or later) with Apple TV software 7.0 or later.

3. If it still doesn’t work, try updating both iOS device and Apple TV to the latest firmware available.

C. The AirPlay icon is not showing up in Control Center

1. Try restarting your iPhone/iPad by pressing and holding the lock button and sliding to switch off. Press and hold the power button again to restart the device. Also, restart your Apple TV by pressing and holding the (Menu + Down) buttons for 6 seconds.

2. Check if both your iOS device and Apple TV are connected to the same network. See Step A2.

3. On your Apple TV, go to Settings > AirPlay and verify if it is turned on.

D. I am not seeing the Apple TV I want to AirPlay to

If you have multiple AirPlay devices at home and can see other devices in the AirPlay option but not the Apple TV you want to stream to, try the following fixes:

1. Make sure the concerned Apple TV is powered and switched on.

2. Make sure AirPlay is toggled on at Settings > AirPlay

3. Check if the Apple TV and iPhone/iPad are connected to the same network as mentioned above. See Step A2.

4. On an iPad, you may have to scroll down the AirPlay pop-up to see the remaining devices.

E. I cannot AirPlay certain content to Apple TV

1. If you are streaming the content to be mirrored, check your internet connection.

2. Sometimes certain apps are not updated to support AirPlay, while for others they don’t have sufficient rights to allow broadcasting to Apple TV from their apps. You can check the provider’s app description or website for details.

F. I can see the video but AirPlay doesn’t produce audio

1. Make sure the audio is not muted on your iPhone/iPad nor on your television set.

2. Check if your iPhone is on silent/vibrate mode. If so, toggle the side switch to turn it into ring mode.

G. The video shows lag, stutters or gets stuck during AirPlay mirroring

1. Check if your WiFi settings are in accordance with Apple’s recommended configuration. Don’t worry, almost all of them are.

2. If you have a microwave oven or baby monitor or other devices that can interfere with Apple TV’s WiFi connection, change the positions of your devices accordingly.

3. Try connecting the Apple TV directly to the router via an Ethernet cable rather than using WiFi.

Holiday Gift Guide 2015: Best Accessories for Apple TV

Also read:

• How to send audio from Apple TV to AirPlay speakers
• How to use any third party remote to control your Apple TV
• My Apple TV Remote isn’t working properly: The Apple Remote troubleshooting guide

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post I cannot AirPlay mirror my iPhone and iPad to Apple TV: The Apple TV AirPlay troubleshooting guide appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Imagine you’re streaming a song from iCloud via Apple TV but don’t want it to play on the television’s subpar speakers; or you’re watching a movie but would like the audio to play from another speaker. Not many of us know this, but the audio output from Apple TV can be redirected to any AirPlay speakers or even other Apple TVs and Airport Express.

And this article will show you exactly how to achieve this. Actually, there are two ways by which you can send your Apple TV’s audio to an AirPlay speaker.

A. Setting an AirPlay speaker temporarily, just for the current movie

While a movie or video is playing on the screen, just press and hold the Select button on your Apple TV remote for a couple of seconds. A screen like the one shown above will pop up and you know what to do now. Go to Speakers tab, select the required AirPlay speaker from the given list and you’re good to go.

This method works best if you’re using the speakers just for that one movie. When you are finished with it, the speaker selection automatically changes back to your television’s.

B. Permanently set an AirPlay speaker for your Apple TV

You can go into Settings, Choose AirPlay and the screen will show you a list of available AirPlay speakers. Select the desired one and it will be your permanent output for the Apple TV. That’s it!

So if you’ve been looking for a reason to get an AirPlay speaker, I believe this is a good one. Do try these at home and let us know how things are working out for you guys.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

The post How to send audio from Apple TV to AirPlay speakers appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Kanex, a group that has been proven as an innovator in Apple and iOS connectivity solutions, announced that the Kanex ATV Pro is finally available. This device is essentially an AirPlay Mirroring adapter for VGA projectors. The adapter simply converts to your Apple TV and sends the signal to an outgoing VGA plugin.

The potential for this tool is endless and is a long time coming for small business’, educators, and not-for-profits. Below are some of the details expressed through the company’s press release:

Kanex ATV Pro Highlights:

• AirPlay Mirroring for VGA Projector
• Power plug free
• Built-in audio support
• MSRP, $59.00

ATV Pro Full Specifications:

• Input signal: HD source. Output signal: VGA.
• Audio Output: 3.5-mm stereo mini-jack.
• Resolution supported: up to 1080p.
• Vertical Frequency Range: 50/60Hz.
• Powerless adapter.
• Plug and Play.
• Cable length: 2.75 in (70 mm).

Kanex ATV Pro is available at https://kanexlive.com/atvpro for $59.00.

umOuch (Andrew Brasher)

You may also want to read:
AirServer = AirPlay Mirroring for your MAC or Windows PC! You heard me! (Review)
Source unveils design and features of Apple HDTV
How to control your Apple TV with any third-party remote control
FireCore: Work is underway on Apple TV 3 jailbreak and Apple TV 2 5.0 untethered jailbreak

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