Apple iPad to TV - help.

[Jenny Tailor]

Have a senior relative who owns an Ipad - and can navigate their way around it pretty well.

The Ipad has BBC Iplayer, Netflix, ITV Hub, UK TV etc apps on it.
Their telly is a Sony about 5 years old I guess?

How best to get the telly to play the content with sound?
They do not want to buy a new one.

Will Lightning to HDMI work with sound and mirroring? ( years ago when I tried - it was only the picture that worked over the HDMI cable)

Help from the crowds welcome.

[bitchstewie]

This seems to cover it?

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT202044

I don't know if any of the apps will block sending though?

Only mention it because for example you can get the Sky Sports app for an iPad much cheaper than you can Sky Sports for a Sky Box but I'm sure I read you can't send it to a TV so maybe that goes for other apps.

[Robotron70]

For the price of that Apple connector above, which will likely have some hdcp limitations, you could just get a Firestick which will do everything your relative needs including any Apple media content they’ve purchased.

[Jenny Tailor]

Robotron70 said:

For the price of that Apple connector above, which will likely have some hdcp limitations, you could just get a Firestick which will do everything your relative needs including any Apple media content they’ve purchased.

Is an Amazon Prime account required?
Anything that has a "Rent it now" or "Buy it now". She doesn't want to have the option.

Thanks.

[andygo]

Apple TV does screen mirroring from the ipad pretty well.

[Jenny Tailor]

andygo said:

Apple TV does screen mirroring from the ipad pretty well.

I'm thinking about that as an option....BUT.... It's another remote she has to learn. And I think it will auto power off....

Thanks all for suggestions so far.

[Digger]

Presumably an iPad Pro (2018) can connect to a TV seamlessly via an appropriate USB-C adapter?

[Jenny Tailor]

Digger said:

Presumably an iPad Pro (2018) can connect to a TV seamlessly via an appropriate USB-C adapter?

That's what I was originally thinking of.

The Ipad is a Gen 7. (I think - definitely not a Pro )
It took me ages to work out how to get the ringer for Facetime to work ( no physical button )

In terms of hard wiring......
- Minimal buttons to push on TV remote.
- Minimal training.
- Minimal IT support from me.

It does mean :
a/ Ipad lives next to TV - She needs to get up and press play
b/ long cable across living room floor.

I'm thinking (a) is likely the best option. Not ideal - but less to learn.

Thanks again.

[Robotron70]

Jenny Tailor said:

Is an Amazon Prime account required?
Anything that has a "Rent it now" or "Buy it now". She doesn't want to have the option.

Thanks.

You need an account, but not Prime.

You can customise the home screen to only show the apps you need across the main ribbon on the Home Screen, there also a tab called ‘live’ which you can click to show the main channels like BBC iPlayer, ITV, 4, My5 etc.

The remote is really simple to use and can turn the tv on/off and volume up/down etc.

[PF62]

Jenny Tailor said:

Will Lightning to HDMI work with sound and mirroring?

It should, but it doesn't because of the paranoia of the TV companies.

I looked into this recently as I wanted to use an iPhone or iPad whilst overseas to be able to watch UK TV whilst there
- thanks to Brexit that is no longer possible without using a VPN and I had tried a Firestick with a VPN but it wasn't powerful enough to run the VPN and give sufficient bandwidth.

So I thought about running the VPN on the iPhone or iPad and then displaying on the TV with a Lightning to HDMI adapter and cable, so went out and bought a genuine Apple Lightning to HDMI adapter.

BBC iPlayer works but displays in a very odd aspect ratio on the TV.
Channel 4 tells you to get lost and refuses to display on the TV as the app won't allow any transmission over HDMI.

At this point I have up with the Lightning to HDMI adapter and took it back for a refund.

What I have found does work is a Chromecast as all the apps seem quite happy with that, they display correctly, and due to the way Chromecast works sound and vision are in sync as it doesn't stream from the iPhone / iPad but just throws over the 'hook'.

For me using the Chromecast overseas, then I have paired it with a small WiFi router capable of running a VPN, but that is obviously not necessary in the UK.

[snotrag]

If the TV is a 5yr old Sony... Are you certain it's not an Android powered one?

You should be able to run netflix, I player etc native to the TV?

[Jenny Tailor]

snotrag said:

If the TV is a 5yr old Sony... Are you certain it's not an Android powered one?

You should be able to run netflix, I player etc native to the TV?

I'll get the model no when I'm down on Monday - But Internet apps are limited to Netflix and one other.
See no option to add.

Iplayer is one of the apps - but is chronically slow to load and navigate keystrokes.

[Mr E]

If you’re technically minded, RPiPlay on a rasp pi plugged into the tv (and hidden) should be seamless (assuming the apps you want to use allow screen mirroring).

[Robotron70]

Mr E said:

If you’re technically minded, RPiPlay on a rasp pi plugged into the tv (and hidden) should be seamless (assuming the apps you want to use allow screen mirroring).

Sounds like a simple solution for the op, why didn’t this get suggested sooner?

[Jonny_]

I'd suggest double checking that the TV doesn't have Chromecast built in, and if not, buy a Chromecast dongle.

I use iPads (previously an Air 2, and more recently a 7th Gen iPad) to cast to the two Sony TVs in our house.

One of those is a 2018 Android model, which has Chromecast built in.
The other is a ~2014 non-Android model, which has a Chromecast dongle plugged in to an HDMI port.

Both work well with iPlayer, Netflix, Amazon, YouTube, Disney Plus and probably some others from the iPads.

[megaphone]

Jenny Tailor said:

andygo said:

Apple TV does screen mirroring from the ipad pretty well.

I'm thinking about that as an option....BUT.... It's another remote she has to learn. And I think it will auto power off....

Thanks all for suggestions so far.

An Apple TV box works pretty well, even in standby/sleep they are still 'visible' to the iPad, just hit the mirroring button and it works. Just get a used one on eBay for £30, does need to be the latest model, a version 3 or even a 2 will work. That's what I use.

[Jenny Tailor]

Sony TV is Oct 2015.

Looks like a pre Android interface - and no option to load apps.
Netflix app on it - keeps logging itself out - which is a PITA.

Am going to try the Apple TV route - and see what happens.

Thanks for all input so far.

[ecsrobin]

Jenny Tailor said:

Sony TV is Oct 2015.

Looks like a pre Android interface - and no option to load apps.
Netflix app on it - keeps logging itself out - which is a PITA.

Am going to try the Apple TV route - and see what happens.

Thanks for all input so far.

Another advantage to the Apple TV is that you can use the iPad as a remote if you choose not to screen mirror. You can setup the remote to be near the screen mirror button.

[Jenny Tailor]

ecsrobin said:

Jenny Tailor said:

Sony TV is Oct 2015.

Looks like a pre Android interface - and no option to load apps.
Netflix app on it - keeps logging itself out - which is a PITA.

Am going to try the Apple TV route - and see what happens.

Thanks for all input so far.

Another advantage to the Apple TV is that you can use the iPad as a remote if you choose not to screen mirror. You can setup the remote to be near the screen mirror button.

Just need to keep her away from paying for content.
Apple TV arrives over the weekend- so when I'm back next week - it's the big setup.

Dum Dum Dah.....! ( for theatrical effect )

[Jenny Tailor]

Been a while.....


Netflix have dropped support from IOS devices streaming to Apple TV.

Arrgh. Apple TV device now looks useless.