When iOS 8 was announced, we could find only a handful of new features that had their counterparts on Apple TV. One of them was the peer-to-peer AirPlay capability which could transform your Apple TV into an anywhere-streaming device rather than being confined to the connected indoors.

Peer-to-peer AirPlay enables you to connect your iPhone or iPad to an Apple TV, without requiring them to be connected to the same Wi-Fi Network. Your iOS device itself turns into an ad-hoc Wi-Fi hotspot to which your Apple TV can connect (similar to Wi-Fi Direct) and AirPlay videos, photos and music.

However, this feature has a huge caveat that it is only available to Apple TV 3 devices, post the revision in March 2013. That is, 3rd generation rev A model A1469. If you don’t know your model number, just look under your Apple TV (Apple reference image).

If you do have a supported Apple TV 3, here is how peer-to-peer AirPlay works.

For my test, I went to Wi-Fi settings and “forgot” the router, both on my Apple TV and iPhone. I found that the AirPlay option was still present in the Control Center. Then I tried completely turning off Wi-Fi on my iPhone and… surprise, I could still AirPlay!

I started mirroring OceanHorn and the stream was par perfect. To be honest, I felt that the visuals were much better now, probably because an intermediate device, the router, was removed from the loop.

So, you’ll now be able to carry around your Apple TV and stream to projectors and televisions in your classroom or office without asking around for the Wi-Fi password. Do try this great new feature and let us know how peer-to-peer Airplay works out for you.

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9to5Mac reports that Apple has informed its official retail stores, authorized resellers and Apple Care employees that a small number of 3rd generation Apple TVs have WiFi issues:

Apple has determined that a very small number of Apple TV (3rd generation) products might experience one of these Wi-Fi related connectivity issues:

• Cannot locate network
• Unable to join network
• Dropped or intermittent connection

Apple or an Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) will replace affected products up to two years from the original date of purchase free of charge.

If your Apple TV 3 is having WiFi connectivity issues, start with completing the following troubleshooting steps to help isolate the issue:

• Make sure the Apple TV (3rd generation) is running software version 5.2.1 or later.
• Eliminate every source of potential Wi-Fi interference. Reference AirPort and Bluetooth: Potential sources of interference for more information.
• Isolate the issue to Apple TV (3rd generation) by following Apple TV (2nd and 3rd generation): Troubleshooting Wi-Fi networks and connections.

If the symptoms persist after troubleshooting, Apple will replace your Apple TV free of charge if its serial number is within the the specified serial number range:

• The last four letters of the serial number must be DRHN
• The third and fourth alphanumeric characters of the serial number must contain one of these pairs

• H9, HC, HD, HF, HG, HH, HJ, HK, HL, HM, HM, HP, HQ, HR, HT, HV, HW, HX, J1, J2, J3, J4, J5, J6, J7, J8, J9

Update: MacRumors reports:

According to several readers, Apple has acknowledged that it initially erred in referring to the character pairs appearing the third and fourth positions of the serial number. The listed pairs would actually occur in the fourth and fifth positions.

Source & image: 9to5Mac

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