HowTo: If Apple TV refuses to play sound of HD movies

Symptom: After having updated to the new firmware 2.3 for Apple TV, self-made HD movies including 5.1 Surround Sound will play but no sound can be heard.

Solution: This problem has been discussed much in Apple forums. The solution is very simple. Apple has even stated the solution in a support document, which can be accessed via this link: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1755. What it tells you is that all video content containing an AC-3 sound track MUST contain another AAC stereo track for the same film, otherwise no sound will play.

Now, as videos containing an AC-3 track have to be in .mov format for the Apple TV to be recognized, another AAC track (even if it’s “fake”) can be easily added. 

1. Open the affected movie in Quicktime Pro (or another app of your choice). Additionally, open a random AAC file.

2. In the Edit menu, choose Select All as well as Copy. Then go back to your movie. Now, again in the Edit menu, choose Add to Movie. If you open the Movie Properties via the Window menu, you should see that a new AAC file has been added to the film. Please deselect the tick on the left so that the sound of this track can’t be heard when playing the film on your computer.

3. As a last step, save your film. Now, the sound should play again on Apple TV.

Note: Apple intended to have a stereo and a Dolby track for reasons of compatibility. Next time, when you author or convert a movie with an AC-3 track, you may prefer to add a real stereo track for the movie instead of just a fake track.

Please note: You take full responsibility for your actions on your computer. I can never be held responsible for any damages caused by my tutorials. Errors excepted!

HowTo: Resolve error -3256 in iTunes

I have good news for all the annoyed iTunes users out there with error -3256 popping up all the time. Do you also belong to the people being prevented from streaming music over the network to your AirPort Express while maybe syncing with other devices like Apple TV?

For all the ones who are fed up with it I have a solution that might work (specifically for Mac OS X Leopard):

1. Go to System Preferences. Choose Network, then Advanced…

2. Click on the menu tab TCP/IP.

3. In the drop down list Configure ipv6 choose Off.

Also, make sure that your firewall does not block any incoming connections. If the error persists, turn it off, i.e. activate Allow all incoming connections.

Please feel free to report back here to share your success with us. Maybe you can deliver other good solutions not mentioned here.

Please note: You take full responsibility for your actions on your computer. I can never be held responsible for any damages caused by my tutorials. Errors excepted!

Pre-Macworld thoughts

As every year, Apple invites to its great event in San Francisco, where Mac enthusiasts from all over the world participate. Of course, the highlight of the event will again be the great keynote held by Steve Jobs, who is known for releasing innovative and revolutionary products. And people have already begun speculating months before what this year’s sensation(s) could be. Because everyone is writing a let-me-tell-you-what-I-predict article, I will not. The only thing that I can do is write about reliable rumours of the online press so far.

1. New thin subnotebooks with the name MacBook Air (with flash memory, maybe?). Could it be that Apple is going to add a subnotebook to its MacBook family that is ultra-thin and relies on EDGE and Wifi, as it does the iPhone. Because of its lightness it should get the name MacBook Air?

-> A good indication might be the banners with “There’s something in the air” inside the Moscone center, which where hung up there recently:
http://www.macrumors.com/2008/01/11/macworld-san-francisco-theres-something-in-the-air/

2. New version of the iPhone (software). What is certain at the moment is that Apple will bring out a new iPhone firmware with number 1.1.3. This will fix some minor issues and bring improvements. You can now drag icons around on the menu screen as you wish because developers are able to code third-party apps with the new SDK they got at the MacWorld.

-> Screenshot gallery at GearLive: http://www.gearlive.com/gallery/category/C51/

-> Icon-drag-around evidence video at Gizmodo:
http://gizmodo.com/338948/iphone-firmware-113-video-and-evidence-confirms-update-is-real-breaks-unlock-third+party-apps

There are also some rumors going on here in Switzerland that Apple might release the iPhone in February here, this time with 3G inside and the ability to watch TV on-the-go (with the help of the new SDK). This would then mean, that Apple is going to release the new iPhone throughout Europe and maybe not restricted to certain carriers.

3. New iTunes offers in Europe (including new iTunes software): In a new release of iTunes, you would be able to download movies in whole Europe, finally. Offers would vary from buying a movie or just renting it for 24 hours. (Maybe Apple will sell HD movies as well (or just with a higher resolution), but this will take a while as they have to prepare their servers for the rush.)

Another feature could be a YouTube video section directly in iTunes, where you can watch the movies and download them afterwards to your iPod or iPhone.

4. A new, improved Apple TV (therefore the indication “air” = Wifi on the banners). For all the new offers in the iTunes store, a new device has to be created to cover all needs. Many have complained about Apple TV because it was either too limited to certain video formats or there was a lacking internet connection as it is known on PS3 or Wii devices. They would have to rely on the more expensive Mac Mini. Apple could bring out a faster, more compatible Apple TV. Key features would be the seamless integration of iPhones (as remotes or something else) and the internet as an information source for weather information and RSS feeds and the like.

So, maybe I’ve not mentioned all of the ongoing rumors but I’ve certainly picked out the most reasonable ones because the keynote cannot last forever.