tvOS 10.2 update requires AirPlay hardware verification, breaks third-party streaming apps...
Apple's tvOS 10.2 is preventing third-party AirPlay streamers from sending audio to the fourth-generation Apple TV, and it is unclear at this time if the functionality can be restored.
Software such as Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil lost the functionality after the update. Apple is now requiring the Apple TV to require device verification from AirPlay streaming devices -- which can only be provided by Apple hardware.
As a result, Apple hardware using native AirPlay routines are unaffected by the issue. It is unclear if this is an accident, or an intentional change made by Apple to block the third-party utilities. The block remains in the tvOS 10.2.1 beta. The second- and third-generation Apple TV are unaffected, as they have not been updated recently.
Airfoil allows Mac or Windows users to stream any audio source on the host to anywhere in a local network. Besides AirPlay compatible receivers, iOS devices or computers can be targeted for the stream as well, utilizing helper applications. To connect to the fourth generation Apple TV, it uses the now-blocked AirPlay.
A blog post by Rogue Amoeba addresses the issue, saying that the company was researching the problem, and seeing if it could be circumvented in an update to AirFoil. The company recommends that Airfoil users avoid tvOS 10.2, and retain tvOS 10.1.1 as long as possible.
The update to tvOS 10.2 was released for all users on Monday, and includes accelerated scrolling in apps, support for the Device Enrollment Program, and better mobile device management in general. It also offers VideoToolbox, a framework that lets developers tap into hardware-accelerated encoding and decoding.
Software such as Rogue Amoeba's Airfoil lost the functionality after the update. Apple is now requiring the Apple TV to require device verification from AirPlay streaming devices -- which can only be provided by Apple hardware.
As a result, Apple hardware using native AirPlay routines are unaffected by the issue. It is unclear if this is an accident, or an intentional change made by Apple to block the third-party utilities. The block remains in the tvOS 10.2.1 beta. The second- and third-generation Apple TV are unaffected, as they have not been updated recently.
Airfoil allows Mac or Windows users to stream any audio source on the host to anywhere in a local network. Besides AirPlay compatible receivers, iOS devices or computers can be targeted for the stream as well, utilizing helper applications. To connect to the fourth generation Apple TV, it uses the now-blocked AirPlay.
A blog post by Rogue Amoeba addresses the issue, saying that the company was researching the problem, and seeing if it could be circumvented in an update to AirFoil. The company recommends that Airfoil users avoid tvOS 10.2, and retain tvOS 10.1.1 as long as possible.
The update to tvOS 10.2 was released for all users on Monday, and includes accelerated scrolling in apps, support for the Device Enrollment Program, and better mobile device management in general. It also offers VideoToolbox, a framework that lets developers tap into hardware-accelerated encoding and decoding.
Comments
Surprised this didnt come up i'm beta testing?
I'm also dubious that Apple introduced this change just to screw with Rogue Amoeba and the like. It's been my observation that there are almost always solid engineering reasons for the things Apple does, not devious mustache-twirling.
In general I more agree with your sentiment than disagree, but I'd add the qualifier that Apple considers controlling the ecosystem via licensing to be a "solid engineering reason." That's a double-edged sword. On one hand you get a reasonable degree of confidence that security and usability guidelines are observed, but on the other hand the third party may be restricted from providing features and functions that are outside the scope of what Apple provides for in its terms.
It's the old walled garden argument again. It's safer, but also stifles innovation and flexibility somewhat. As one who doesn't want to spend any more energy on vigilance and housekeeping than absolutely necessary, I tend to prefer accepting the occasional unfortunate outcome like this to having to worry about whether a third-party vendor is actually a bad actor in disguise.
Just another Apple control issue - it's their way or the highway.
It's amazing to me how Apple and their followers' politics work - they don't want government control, they don't want to give up their data...yet it's ok that Apple treats them like mindless puppets.
It seems (seemed?) Apple only minimally supported Airplay?
Apple wants to make sure you can't just press a button in apps like Spotify or Tidal and have your music streamed to AppleTV WITHOUT having to also funnel system audio along with it. ITunes will be your only option. Frankly, that isn't a walled garden approach. That is putting a barbed wire around a vegetable patch (iTunes) and claiming it is better than allowing people access to a real garden.
Soon enough I'll have Sonos which will obviate much of the pain of streaming music.
My guess is that they found hardware manufacturers hijacking Airplay so that they could claim Apple TV compatibility without actually doing any of the work (i.e. creating an Apple TV app to do it). Sorry, but I have no sympathy for lazy companies who just want to pump out products as cheaply as possible without doing proper R&D. Pay for the damn engineering.
This capability basically means Apple has sold more ATVs than they otherwise would have, because if AirParrot didn't work we would have bought a different device.
Given that AirParrot worked around this so quickly, I suspect it's simply just an additional security measure that wasn't being enforced before. I'm surprised Rogue Amoeba didn't catch this in beta testing; I mean this is their bread and butter so they should make sure every release works during the beta phase!
It is functionality reduction and is not even mentioned in tvOS 10.2's release notes.
I have an Apple TV and like that it just works. I have automatic updates turned on and was happy with that until yesterday.
I also gave away my 2 old 3rd gen Apple TVs because you usually can do more with the up-to-date version.
Furthermore, this move makes no sense from a security standpoint (I am aware that I do not have the full context of it, but still)
you can stream content to an Apple TV via a peer-to-peer connection, and I understand why making pairing mandatory makes sense for that (I xould prefer to be able to fully disable it btw)
The other way of connecting to an Apple TV is via a local network (wifi or ethernet).
There is already some security in the form of a WiFi password or a physical cable connection.
In my home, I do not need additional mandatory security to output audio or video on my TV.
I do not have password protection on my WiFI-connected printer/scanner either.
And I would be very upset id such password protection was made mandatory in an automatic firmware update.
Plus, consider the irony of this : you just have to pair your AirPods to one Apple device and they are automatically paired to all your Apple devices, so that they can work anywhere.
... but you now have to pair with a passcode your Apple TV to each of your Apple devices, so that they can work when connected to your home network.
I was just about to ask about AirParrot. I use that for my older, pre Airplay enabled Macs. Excellent product and company. On a side note, it always baffled me why are my older Macs unable to use Airplay when they work just fine with AirParrot? I'm sure there is a good reason ....
Meanwhile I'd suggest Rogue Amoeba try testing the developer betas sooner next.