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AirPlay and AirPlay 2

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HomePod, an AirPlay 2 speaker

AirPlay is Apple’s own system for wirelessly streaming both audio and video from Apple devices to speakers and displays. It was originally known as AirTunes.

It can be used to stream from one Apple device to another (for example, a Mac to an Apple TV, or an iPhone to a HomePod), or from an Apple device to a third-party device like a speaker or TV.

The original version allowed iTunes on the Mac to stream to multiple devices, while iPhone and iPad could stream to only one at a time.

AirPlay 2, launched in 2018, extended multi-room support to iOS devices too, as well as supporting audio streaming to stereo speaker pairs and improved buffering.

Many third-party speaker brands have delivered or promised support for AirPlay 2, including Bang & Olufsen, Bluesound, Bowers & Wilkins, Denon, Devialet, KEF, Libratone, Naim and Sonos. Compatible TVs include models from LG, Samsung, Sony and Vizio. A full list of  compatible devices can be found on Apple’s website.

Sonos unveils Apple Music voice control without Alexa or Assistant, budget ‘Ray’ AirPlay 2 soundbar

Sonos Ray

After being leaked back in April, Sonos has officially launched its new soundbar. The Ray comes as its most affordable home theater speaker priced at $279 and is more compact than the Beam or full-sized Arc. Sonos has also announced its own “Voice Control” service that will arrive next month to let users control Apple Music directly from Sonos speakers with built-in mics.

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Apple-backed Matter smart home standard also planning universal casting alternative to AirPlay

Back in 2019, Apple announced that it was teaming up with Samsung, Amazon, Google, and the Zigbee Alliance to create a more open and secure standard for smart home accessories. The project was initially slated to launch in 2021, but was later delayed to 2022.

A new report from The Verge today goes in-depth on another aspect of the Matter initiative: a new universal casting technology that could rival (or replace) AirPlay…

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You can now AirPlay from iPhone or iPad to Mac with macOS Monterey, here’s how

Apple has finally released macOS Monterey to the public. The update comes with several new features, including Focus mode for notifications, SharePlay, Live Text, and more. Another new feature is the ability to AirPlay from an iPhone or iPad to a Mac without having to install any third-party apps, so read on as we detail how to use this feature.

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Review: Cyrus One Cast, an expensive but elegant way to add AirPlay 2 to component hi-fi

Cyrus One Cast review

The audio world is all about wireless speakers these days, and even very traditional audiophile companies are getting in on the action, but there are still plenty of people who have much-loved component hi-fi systems they have no intention of replacing. And that’s where the Cyrus One Cast comes in.

There are various options for bringing AirPlay capabilities to a stackable hi-fi system, with Apple’s old AirPort Express routers a popular and inexpensive approach. That can be a somewhat flakey experience, but you can pick up used units for under $50 apiece, so it’s certainly a cost-effective route.

The Cyrus One Cast sits at the opposite end of the scale…


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Comment: Companies are damaging their brand by limiting AirPlay 2 TV support

AirPlay 2 TV policies can really hurt a brand

The latest AirPlay 2 TV news is that LG is set to roll out HomeKit and AirPlay 2 support to its 2019 models next week.

That’s great news for owners of the 2019 models; not so much if you bought a 2017 or 2018 one. As many owners of older models have commented, their TVs are almost certainly capable of receiving the update …


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Apple TV app and AirPlay 2 debut on Samsung Smart TVs alongside iOS 12.3 and tvOS 12.3 release

The all-new Apple TV app is now available for Samsung Smart TVs, marking the first time the video player has been available beyond Apple’s own platforms. Samsung Smart TVs are also gaining support for Apple’s AirPlay 2 feature for wirelessly sending audio and video to the TV screen without a set-top box attached.


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Bowers & Wilkins unveils ultra-premium ‘Formation’ home speaker line with AirPlay 2

Bowers & Wilkins

Last week, Bowers & Wilkins invited us downtown in New York to show off their latest audio line, Formation. The lineup is predicated on five launch products, all sharing the same Formation namesake at the beginning: Bar, Duo, Wedge, Bass and Audio.

Featuring support for AirPlay 2, the company is touting the innovations presented in the Formation line as top-tier wired audio fidelity achieved wirelessly, all with the same setup simplicity of a $249 everyday-consumer level speaker.


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