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AirPlay and AirPlay 2

200 'AirPlay' stories May 2011 - September 2014
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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.

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Apps & updates: Yahoo Screen adds Vevo, Amazon Cloud Drive adds AirPlay, eBay updates UI and more

Avatar for Benjamin Mayo Sep 2 2014 - 12:38 pm PT
1 Comment

In a flurry of updates today, Amazon Cloud Drive and Sony’s Music Unlimited service have received updates for their respective streaming services. Amazon Cloud Drive adds AirPlay support for photo and video streaming to Apple TV, as well as exposing more metadata information in the UI. You can now also rename albums, although this is iPhone only for reasons unknown.

Sony has given its Music Unlimited app a big overhaul. The app has been modernized with iOS 7’s aesthetics, featuring sharp imagery and flat iconography. The team have also dedicated significant time in improving performance, to minimize the sluggishness customers complained about in previous versions. You can also edit playlists right from the app, a critical improvement for a music app.
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9to5Toys Last Call: iPad Air $369, iTunes GC 33% off, AirPlay adapter $20, Parallels 10 $60, more

Avatar for Aug 28 2014 - 9:00 am PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

iTunes gift cards:

Save an extra 10% on HDTVs at eBay: Sony 50″ Premium 3D smart HDTV $710 (Orig. $1,399)

Add AirPlay to any set of speakers or receiver w/ AirMobi Music Receiver for $20 Prime shipped

Parallels Desktop 10 for Mac $60 shipped (Reg. $80)

Apple iPad mini w/ Retina display 16GB WiFi: $320 shipped (Reg. $399)

Small States: Inside the world of Grado headphones, giveaway worth $495 dollars
Other new deals:

More tech deals still alive:

Apple Deals:

Home/fashion/magazines/games/media:

New products/ongoing promos:

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9to5Toys Last Call: PowerAll power bank $80, B&W Z2 AirPlay speaker $200, iPad mini $199 at Target, more

Avatar for Aug 18 2014 - 9:05 am PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and Safari push notifications.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

 

PowerAll Portable Power Bank and Car Jump Starter $80 shipped (Reg. $120)

Bowers & Wilkins Z2 AirPlay speaker w/ Lightning dock $200 shipped (orig. $400)

Apple iPad mini for $199 (33% off) goes live at Target stores

Samsung 840 EVO 500GB Solid State Drive $210 shipped (orig. $350)

The Apple Store now sells an $89 refurbished iPod touch and it may actually be worth your time/money

Other new deals:

More tech deals still alive:

Home/fashion/magazines/media:

New products/ongoing promos:

Google/Microsoft/misc tech:

NFL Sunday Ticket streaming to be supported on iOS, Mac without a satellite subscription for 2014 season

Avatar for Chance Miller Jul 16 2014 - 12:29 pm PT
15 Comments
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For the first time ever, users who do not subscribe to DirecTV service will have access to the NFL’s Sunday Ticket service on their mobile devices and computers for the 2014 season. During previous seasons, Sunday Ticket users had to have an active DirecTV satellite subscription to stream the games. While no official announcement has been made, DirecTV has published a promotional page for the service, advertising the fact that users can now “access live, out-of-market NFL games without a DIRECTV satellite TV account.


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Mozilla developing streaming stick in bid to compete with AirPlay and the Apple TV

Avatar for Mike Beasley Jun 20 2014 - 10:25 pm PT
5 Comments

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VS0VUOfrycw]

Video gia GigaOm

Mozilla, the company behind the Firefox web browser, is working on a stream stick set to directly compete with the Apple TV and other similar products, according to GigaOm. The device runs Mozilla’s own Firefox OS, originally designed for smartphones, and is apparently referred to as “Netcast” within the Firefox browser.

Unlike Apple’s current offering, the Netcast would allow developers to integrate the technology into applications on a wide variety of operating systems and hardware devices, including many platforms not currently supported by the Apple’s AirPlay feature. In a statement to GigaOm, Mozilla noted that anyone is welcome to work with Firefox OS and that hardware running that system does not necessarily have to come from that company.


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Apple TV likely to gain Continuity this fall, allowing tighter integration with Mac & iOS

Avatar for Mark Gurman Jun 18 2014 - 7:53 am PT
10 Comments
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Alongside the introduction of the current Apple TV design in fall 2010, Apple launched AirPlay. In short, AirPlay allows a user to watch a movie, listen to a song, or view a photo on an iPhone, iPad, iPod touch (or Mac in some cases) and stream that content to the Apple TV. AirPlay typically works well and we have even considered it a major innovation in the living room appliances space. Apple has continued to enhance AirPlay over the past few years, allowing the service to integrate with iTunes in the Cloud and function without a WiFi connection.

With OS X Yosemite and iOS 8, Apple has taken the AirPlay idea to new levels. This fall, as Apple previewed at WWDC earlier this month, a user can begin writing an email, viewing a webpage, or sending a text message on one Apple device, and then walk up to a different Apple product and continue that action. This feature is called Handoff and is part of a new suite of features called Continuity. Unlike AirPlay, a click to stream the content is not necessary.

Now, users running the latest iOS, OS X, and Apple TV betas are reporting that Apple could also be working on Handoff and Continuity features for the Apple TV set-top box…


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Review: Beats Studio Wireless headphones (and what Apple can improve)

Avatar for Zac Hall Jun 1 2014 - 9:00 am PT
35 Comments
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A few weeks before initial reports that Apple was planning to acquire Beats Electronics, I started AT&T’s three month trial of the Beats Music subscription streaming service.. Given that generous window of time, I felt more comfortable investing my time than I would with a one or two week trial. When news broke that Apple was in final talks to purchase Beats, I was caught off guard and immediately concerned that the subscription service that I was starting to really like would change under Apple’s watch. Since the deal has been made official, Apple has said that Beats Music will continue as it is (across multiple platforms even) as will the headphones line (Beats branded, not Apple branded) for now.

Because I was rather surprised by the appeal of Beats Music and Apple is now endorsing the headphones more than ever (even if only really for their massive profit margins), I got really curious Friday afternoon to try out a pair of Beats headphones first hand so I did just that. I’ve been using the Beats Studio Wireless headphones (Amazon) just about all waking hour of this weekend, and below you can read my thoughts on one of the products included in Apple’s biggest acquisition to date.
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NBC iOS app finally lets you AirPlay its free full-length episodes to Apple TV

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Apr 8 2014 - 6:37 am PT
7 Comments
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NBC updated its mobile app for iPhone and iPad today with one big update for iOS and Apple TV users: the ability to AirPlay content from the mobile app to your TV via Apple TV.

The update is a big deal for a couple of reasons. The most notable being the fact that NBC offers full TV episodes for free through its mobile app, without the requirement of signing into your existing cable subscription like many other popular network apps. NBC has always been one of the go to apps for cord cutters, and now they’ll be able to beam that content onto the big screen using an Apple TV and AirPlay. Getting a lot of this content on the Apple TV previously required a subscription to Hulu or signing into a cable subscription. 
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New Steve Jobs email a treasure trove of information about Apple TV, Google ‘holy war,’ and behind-the-scenes strategy

Avatar for Mike Beasley Apr 4 2014 - 6:11 pm PT
13 Comments
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A new email from Steve Jobs that was published during today’s Samsung lawsuit (via The Verge) has revealed a lot about Apple’s plans for its products in 2011 and beyond. As we’ve previously noted, Jobs referred to 2011 as a year of “holy war” against Google, but this document goes above that and describes how exactly Apple planned to wage this war.

A few choice bits are below, followed by the complete email.


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Debunk: Job listing doesn’t indicate Apple TV getting a camera

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Mar 12 2014 - 7:56 am PT
1 Comment

A claim that “Apple job listings suggest cameras coming to Apple TV” and that this is “hinting at motion controls” appears to be reading way too much into some standard wording used many times by Apple in the past.

The Apple TV is one of the few products in Apple’s lineup that doesn’t include an integrated camera, but that may change with future versions of the hardware, according to new job listings from the company, potentially paving the way for gesture-based motion controls in the living room.

The text in question, which appears in a number of job ads like this one, is this:

The Camera Software team provides the capture and camera foundation across all of Apple’s innovative products, including iPhone, iPad, AppleTV, iPod, iTunes, and Mac OS

Well, let’s see …

First, this is nothing new. Apple has used the exact same wording in job ads at least as long ago as last September.

Second, this is an ad for a software, not hardware, role. Not a single one of the hardware team ads mentions Apple TV. The software team likely works on everything photo-related, which on Apple TV would include Photo Stream and Airplay.

Third, you’ll note that the standard wording used includes iTunes. Again, because iTunes needs software support for the camera to read gift certificates. Or perhaps iTunes is getting its own hardware camera too …

None of this is to say it’s impossible (though it would perhaps be more likely for a full-on Apple television rather than the existing Apple TV box), merely that the job listings tell us nothing.

Mercedes-Benz gives us a look at Apple’s CarPlay in new C-Class [Gallery]

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Mar 3 2014 - 10:11 am PT
24 Comments
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Earlier today we got a look at Apple’s just announced CarPlay feature for iOS when Volvo announced it would arrive in its new XC90 SUV, and now Mercedes-Benz has announced its partnership with Apple. As previously reported, the company confirmed today that it will be demoing the new Mercedes-Benz C-Class at the Geneva Motor Show. Like Volvo and many of the other vehicle manufacturers, Mercedes-Benz made it clear that Apple’s CarPlay won’t be the only in-car entertainment system with work continuing on Android and MirrorLink solutions:
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OS X 10.9.2 breaks AirPlay Mirroring and desktop extensions to external monitors for some users

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Feb 28 2014 - 4:51 am PT
44 Comments
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A number of Mac users in an Apple Support Communities thread are reporting that Apple’s 10.9.2 update to Mavericks has broken AirPlay Mirroring to Apple TV and the ability to extend desktops to external monitors.

I just updated to 10.9.2 and now when i try and airplay mirror to my Apple TV, it sends the audio but just shows a black screen and i can’t drag anything to it. It doesn’t show any of the options for external displays in the displays section of System Preferences … 
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New Apple TV hardware references already appearing in iOS 7 builds

Avatar for Mark Gurman Feb 10 2014 - 10:31 am PT
23 Comments
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We reported last fall that a revamped Apple TV set-top-box is in the works, and then we learned earlier this year that the new box would likely be introduced in the first half of 2014. Sources said at the time that the new model would be redesigned (at least on the inside) and would sport new content (perhaps a true App Store or gaming functionality). Since that time, sources indicated that internal prototypes for the new device include AirPort Express-like functionality, a form of enhanced iOS gaming integration, and a TV tuner component for connecting to existing cable setups.

Now, we have located a reference to the next-generation Apple TV inside of iOS 7 software builds:


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How-to: Setup and Use Chromecast to stream your content from a Mac and iOS device

Avatar for Sarah Guarino Feb 9 2014 - 12:00 pm PT
33 Comments
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The Chromecast, Google’s streaming HDMI dongle came out last summer. It is compatible with any Android device running 2.3 or later, iOS device with iOS 6 or 7, and any Mac or PC. Initially, users were able to stream Netflix or Youtube from an iOS device and Android device, Google Play Movies and Music only on Android, or cast websites using the Chrome browser on a computer. The Chromecast works differently from Airplay in that you can multitask and do other tasks on the device or you can let it go to sleep while streaming.

Very quickly after its release, Chromecast has received support for Hulu +, Pandora, and HBO GO. Last month a major update added ten new apps including Plex, Vevo, Songza, Red Bull TV, Post TV from the Washington Post, Viki, RealPlayer Cloud, Avia, Revision3 Internet Television and BeyondPod. The most recent update the Chromecast received allowed users to stream Google Play Movies and Music directly from the Chrome browser on a computer.

In this How-to, we’ll discuss how to setup the Chromecast, use it with a Mac and iOS device and explore its gaming potential.


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Apple acknowledges AirPlay Mirroring issue with new Mac Pros & MacBook Pros

Avatar for Zac Hall Feb 5 2014 - 10:15 am PT
26 Comments
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Update: The document originally recommended disabling Bluetooth, but it appears updating to the latest version of OS X is Apple’s recommended fix. Much better.

In a support document issued today, Apple addressed a known issue with AirPlay Mirroring performance freezing or dropping out. MacBook Pro and Mac Pro users with last year’s models may see the issue when using an 802.11 b/g network…
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9to5Toys Last Call: Pioneer AirPlay speaker $70, Netgear AC DD-WRT router $100, Logitech Harmony remote $100, more

Avatar for Jan 9 2014 - 10:00 am PT
0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+ and subscribe to the new Safari push notifications feature.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Last Call updates:

Pioneer A3 WiFi speaker w/ AirPlay and streaming apps $70 shipped (Reg. $200)

Netgear AC1750 dual band DD-WRT Gigabit wireless router (refurb): $100 shipped (Reg. $200 new)

Logitech Harmony smart control w/ smartphone integration & simple remote $100 shipped (Reg. $130)

Up to 45% on Select Office Fitness Equipment: Gaiam balance ball chair $53, LifeSpan treadmill desk $1,150

Other great deals from today:

More great deals still alive:

2014: The year of the iPhone-controlled everything

Avatar for Ben Lovejoy Jan 7 2014 - 6:48 am PT
10 Comments
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There are some technologies that happened way earlier than they had any right to. Frankly, putting a man on the moon in the days when the Apollo Guidance Computer really did have less power than a pocket calculator was an insane achievement.

And then there are those technologies that have taken way, way longer than they should have done – with home automation heading the list. The main reason it was such a slow-burn was the lack of a standard interface (X.10 never really established itself in the home).

2014, however, looks set to be the year in which all that changes, with the iPhone the new standard interface. Steve Jobs once said that the Mac was the hub at the center of our digital lives; this year, it looks like the iPhone is taking over the crown …


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9to5Toys Last Call: Pioneer AirPlay receiver 50% off, Dell 4K monitor $500 off, Logitech AirPlay speaker $88, Chromecast $28, Xbox One, more

Avatar for Dec 11 2013 - 10:01 am PT
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Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+. Also, check out our updated Daily Deals page (for iPad/iPhone) featuring the day’s best deals from across major US retailers.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

Pioneer SC-1223-K 840-watt 7.2-Channel 4K Upscaling AirPlay Receiver: $549 shipped (half off)

Dell UltraSharp 32″ Ultra HD 4k Monitor $3,000 shipped (Reg. $3,500)

Logitech UE wireless AirPlay speaker $138 or $88 shipped after rebate (Reg. $200)
https://twitter.com/iDannyOcean/status/410837726930296832


Other great deals from today:


The best deals that are still alive:

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9to5Toys Last Call: iMac $200 off, SanDisk Connect drives 20% off, colored Lightning cables $10, SlingBox $50, Xbox One, more

Avatar for Dec 9 2013 - 10:06 am PT
2 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+. Also, check out our updated Daily Deals page (for iPad/iPhone) featuring the day’s best deals from across major US retailers.

Today’s can’t miss deals:

21.5″ Apple iMac w/ 8GB RAM, 1TB HD $1,100 w/ free shipping (Reg. $1,300)

SanDisk Connect wireless iOS/Android flash drives: 16GB/32GB for $40/$48 shipped (20% Savings)

ZAGG Apple Certified MFi Lightning cable in several colors $10 shipped (Reg. $19)

Sling Media Slingbox SOLO Television Broadcaster Refurb $50 shipped (Reg. $180)


Other great deals from today:

The best deals that are still alive:

FireCore releases Infuse 2 iOS app with all new design

Avatar for Michael Steeber Dec 3 2013 - 10:00 am PT
7 Comments
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Back in April, we reviewed Infuse, a media player application by FireCore, the makers of aTV Flash. After several feature updates, and an announcement earlier this year, FireCore today released Infuse 2, an all new version of the application with a completely redesigned user interface and a new pricing structure.


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HBO GO for iOS picks up Chromecast support

Avatar for Zac Hall Nov 21 2013 - 7:21 am PT
0 Comments

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9jA2km9TKM]

Google announced today Chromecast support for the HBO GO apps for iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch.

This means HBO GO subscribers can now push content from their iOS Devices to their Chromecast-connected HDTVs. HBO GO casting is also available from the website from Chrome browser.

The actual Chromecast hardware is only $35 on Amazon (and if that’s not cheap enough, keep an eye on 9to5Toys for more deals) and offers a comparable experience in many ways to AirPlay on Apple TV. HBO subscribers can download and use the HBO GO apps at no additional charge from the App Store.
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Yahoo Screen app and PBS arrive on Apple TV, free SNL, Daily Show, Colbert, live news & public TV now on the big screen

Avatar for Jordan Kahn Nov 19 2013 - 7:23 am PT
14 Comments
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Back in September Yahoo launched a new Yahoo Screen iOS app, a TV remote-like experience for browsing content from Yahoo and sending content to your TV via AirPlay. Today the company announced that it is launching the Yahoo Screen experience directly on the Apple TV.

Yahoo Screen on Apple TV helps you quickly find all the great video Yahoo has to offer —Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, live news and events, music and original Yahoo programs — so you can enjoy on your big screen.

The app appears to be a similar experience as the iOS app, allowing users to browse through content hosted on Yahoo across categories such as news, sports, food and entertainment and instantly stream content to their TV. Yahoo! has made new deals with Viacom that will bring content from Comedy Central and elsewhere, and it will also live stream original Yahoo programs, news, and live events. A few of the shows already available on Yahoo Screen include Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. You’ll also find content from MLB, UFC, The Onion, ABC News, Martha Stewart, and more.

The apps are being pushed out over the air to the Apple TV in the U.S. now, and we’ve also discovered that a new PBS channel has arrived today (pictured above). The app doesn’t require users to have a TV subscription to access content, but it does require users to sign in using Google+, Facebook, or the app’s registration in order to access PBS broadcasts for their location. The app doesn’t have live content, but it does have many of the network’s new shows shortly after they’ve aired.


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9to5Toys Last Call: Black Friday giveaways, Pioneer AirPlay speaker $40, StorEDGE MacBook storage, Party Bluetooth speakers, more

Avatar for Nov 7 2013 - 10:01 am PT
0 Comments

Be sure to follow 9to5Toys to keep up with the best gear and deals on the web: Twitter, RSS Feed, Facebook, Google+.

Today’s can’t miss deals:


The holiday season is quickly approaching and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Simply put, Black Friday is our Super Bowl. It’s the one day of the year when all eyes are on the deal world. We typically see historical lows on the hottest products. Once again, 9to5Toys will be providing wall to wall coverage throughout the holiday season.

To help us pass the time until Black Friday, we’re raiding our review closet and bringing our readers dozens of giveaways until we reach Thanksgiving Eve. It all gets started tomorrow with a giveaway that ANY Apple fan would love to win. It’s going to be HUGE. Be sure to check back tomorrow as we will unveil all the details for the giveaway. In the meantime check out our coverage of Black Friday ads that have already leaked.

Pioneer A1 Wi-Fi Speaker featuring AirPlay for Apple iPod, iPhone and iPad $40 shipped

PNY StorEDGE flash memory expansion for MacBooks: 128GB $98, 64GB $52

ION big portable Bluetooth party speakers: $90-$120 shipped


Other great deals from today:

The best deals that are still alive:

Mac software bundles:

New product announcements & reviews:

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