Air Video Server HD

Air Video Server HD streams videos from a Mac to an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple TV, using the computer as the source for playback. Videos can start playing without conversion or file transfers, and any video in the library can be downloaded to a device with one tap for viewing without network access.

Shared folders can come from either a Mac or a Windows PC, while multiple users or profiles provide controlled access when connecting over the internet. Connections work over Wi-Fi or mobile data, and streaming traffic sent outside the local network is encrypted.

Its streaming pipeline supports H.264 passthrough, full 1080p video, soft subtitles, and 5.1 surround sound through Apple TV. AirPlay can send video to a compatible Apple TV, and playback settings can be adjusted instead of relying only on the defaults.

The iOS interface includes iPad grid browsing, minimized playback, improved landscape support, sidebar navigation, folder search, playback-status indicators, and history for unfinished or previously watched videos. Settings and playback history synchronize across multiple devices, making the software suited to Mac users who watch their stored videos on Apple hardware at home or away. The current macOS release is 2.3.0-beta1u1, supports Intel and Apple Silicon, and is freeware.