looking for advice: mirroring a keynote/powerpoint through apple tv.

120_Minutes

To start off the equipment i have is:

2012 Macbook pro running Mavericks
Microsoft office for mac
Keynote
Apple tv 2nd gen.

I have specific experience in a specific field and i've been asked to give a talk in feb to an assembled group of about 30 people (probably in a hotel conference room). I've never done anything like this before, and my idea was to incorporate a powerpoint and/or keynote presentation. Trouble is, not only have i never given any talks, i've never created a powerpoint. My Idea was to bring along my mac and apple tv and mirror the presentation to the hotels projector. I know that:

1. the projector will have to have a hdmi in
2. the hotel will have to have decent wifi

or my idea will be dead in the water, but assuming it does, this is totally possible isnt it?

1.create the presentation
2. extend desktop to apple tv
3. I see all slides on my mac, group only sees presented slide
4. use the apple tv remote on the mac to advance the slide
5. ?????
6. profit!

Has anyone ever done this and can offer advice?

Thanks in advance.

Nemeses

Theoretically that should work absolutely fine

It all depends on the router in the Hotel... if theres a firewall / port issue - your gonna get caught out

You don't even need internet connection - just a wifi connection. If you plan on doing this often may be worth buying an airport express and use that as your access point.

It will save you worrying about if the location has a network or not.

120_Minutes

Not sure if this will be a once off or not, but thats good advice about the airport express. the fact that a lot of projectors i've seen in hotels still work off VGA might be a problem though....

The Big Gig

On your mac click on wifi symbol and "create network" This is a closed network so won't be subject to hotel's router! I would make sure your apple tv connects to this first though before you set up in hotel
Would you not be better off just buying a mini display port to VGA or HDMI connection and just go in to the projector that way!!
If you need any other help let me know!

mathepac

I've done dozens of these, at home and abroad.

You will need :

• MacBook / MacBook Pro
• Mini display port to VGA Adapter or Thunderbolt to VGA Adapter
• VGA cable from adapter on Mac Book to projector
• Audio out from MacBook to whatever audio connectors there are on the projector or PA system (if you intend using audio from the Mac)
• a remote to advance slides
• electrical extension leads

If you have never developed or delivered a presentation before, here are the key-points IME:

1. Tell the audience what you are going to tell them (introduction / overview)
   • Introduce yourself
   • Thank your hosts for the invite / introduction
   • Tell audience how much of their time you'll need and if you'll be taking a break
   • State whether you'll take questions as you go or whether you'll allocate time at the end (Hint: allocate question-time at the end otherwise time-keeping may become a problem )
   • Introduce your topic (use only bullet points)
2. Tell them what you want the to know (main body of presentation)
3. Tell them what you have told them (review & summary)
   • Review your topic (use Introductory bullet points)
   • Q&A if agreed before-hand
   • Thank the audience for their time & attention

You will need to decide on hand-outs, their format, presentation and printing before the event and you will need to be proficient enough to make your presentation without reading from the laptop screen as doing so is a sign of disrespect and poor preparation IME. Practice, practice, practice before friends and family and video yourself.

HTH

120_Minutes

The Big Gig wrote: »

On your mac click on wifi symbol and "create network" This is a closed network so won't be subject to hotel's router! I would make sure your apple tv connects to this first though before you set up in hotel
Would you not be better off just buying a mini display port to VGA or HDMI connection and just go in to the projector that way!!
If you need any other help let me know!

Is this in essence, wifi direct? mac <----> apple tv cutting out the middleman (hotel wifi)?


Mat thanks for the advice but this:

mathepac wrote: »

I've done dozens of these, at home and abroad.

You will need :

• MacBook / MacBook Pro
• Mini display port to VGA Adapter or Thunderbolt to VGA Adapter
• VGA cable from adapter on Mac Book to projector
• Audio out from MacBook to whatever audio connectors there are on the projector or PA system (if you intend using audio from the Mac)
• a remote to advance slides
• electrical extension leads

is something i want to avoid, reason being the subject i'll be discussing is smartphones/technology and their uses and i wanted the mac (or possibly even iphone or ipad) to apple tv/projector to be my mindblowing moment...as my audience will probably not be aware that it's even possible.

Greentree_uk

Compu b Sell a HDMI to VGA Adapter.

whippet

by the sounds of what you are looking for ... forget about cables.

Try find out about the type of projector if you can, if it has HDMI happy days .. if not look at something like this

Kanex ATV Pro

When looking to Airplay; do not depend on the hotels / conference centre's WiFi. Use a Airport Express to create a private network in the room (no need for internet).

Use the iPad (keynote) for the presentation .. bizarrely this can be more impressive for people who haven't seen it before - and also, if it fits the bill the same keynote presentation can be on the mac and iPhone and you can switch seamlessly between devices during the presentation.

If it is something that you are going to be doing more of it would be worth the small investment in the ATV Pro and Airport

nialler

120_Minutes wrote: »

Is this in essence, wifi direct? mac <----> apple tv cutting out the middleman (hotel wifi)?


Mat thanks for the advice but this:



is something i want to avoid, reason being the subject i'll be discussing is smartphones/technology and their uses and i wanted the mac (or possibly even iphone or ipad) to apple tv/projector to be my mindblowing moment...as my audience will probably not be aware that it's even possible.

And the more complex you make something the easier it is to go wrong. I'm with Matt on this. Keep it simple. VGA to projector as 99% they're set up for PCs connecting this way, I've never once been in a hotel with good wifi and consider the 30 people will probably be on there too. You could consider creating an ad-hoc network and you've got it to yourself. Also big ask if the hotel's projector has an HDMI and somebody knows what it is.

Use keynote if you're running from your own mac, forget about powerpoint, have a backup PDF at the ready, if you really want to impress them get Remote onto your iPad have the mac hidden and control your presentation from the pad (don't forget to add it as a remote in Keynote), fall back to mac if it doesn't work.

Good luck.

N

mathepac

I'm always prepared for the worst and specifying or expecting an unrealistic tech infrastructure in advance is not something I could recommend.

You could of course use the lack of tech as a selling point and set up your own wireless LAN as above, but I'd suggest lots of rehearsal time.

One software tool i can recommend without hesitation is ProPresenter (originally designed for use in churches / prayer meetings) which I have used a few times - it is more powerful and flexible then PowerPoint, KeyNote, etc, but adding another tech variable into the mix at this late stage is probably the wrong thing to do.

whiterebel

whippet wrote: »

by the sounds of what you are looking for ... forget about cables.

Try find out about the type of projector if you can, if it has HDMI happy days .. if not look at something like this

Kanex ATV Pro

When looking to Airplay; do not depend on the hotels / conference centre's WiFi. Use a Airport Express to create a private network in the room (no need for internet).

Use the iPad (keynote) for the presentation .. bizarrely this can be more impressive for people who haven't seen it before - and also, if it fits the bill the same keynote presentation can be on the mac and iPhone and you can switch seamlessly between devices during the presentation.

If it is something that you are going to be doing more of it would be worth the small investment in the ATV Pro and Airport

That's brilliant. Just ordered one from Amazon.co.uk at £40.

banquo

I had to give a presentation in a university once. The port available wasn't even VGA, it was some mad foreign Dell computer with a crazy, old, mad altogether port I'd never seen before. I can't even describe it, except maybe as one of those kids toys with different shaped holes for putting the different shaped blocks in.

So yes. I'd recommened getting yourself a few adaptors and an AirPort Express if you're gonna be doing this from time to time.

120_Minutes

Guys you've given me some brilliant advice, thanks so much. I'm not sure if this is something i'm gonna do more than once but it's been a great help.

120_Minutes

Hey guys, just wanted to come back to the thread to let you know how i got on.

The hotel had a projector with hdmi in, so happy days there. I had taught myself how to make a presentation using keynote (I wont win any awards for design) but it was functional.

the one problem i had was the hotel used one of those horrible bitbuzz wifi's. the type that doesnt need a password but requires you to sign into a website to do it. Of course the apple tv doesnt have a browser, so i couldnt fully sign into the wifi so airplay wouldnt work.

so to rescue the situation i used my phones hotspot to connect both my mac and apple tv, and used the apple tv remote on the mac to advance the slides.

Worked like a charm!

mathepac

120_Minutes wrote: »

...
so to rescue the situation i used my phones hotspot to connect both my mac and apple tv, and used the apple tv remote on the mac to advance the slides.

Worked like a charm!

Congratulations!! But sure we had every confidence in you. Apple products and technology and your knowledge and application of them to the problem got the show to work despite the local infrastructure. I hope you made that point ... diplomatically.

Thanks for the update.