AirPlay (interface)
AirPlay is a proprietary interface for the wireless transmission of content from iOS and macOS devices to AirPlay-enabled receiver devices such as speakers, AV receivers, stereo systems and televisions. Technically, AirPlay is a streaming protocol that was developed by the US manufacturer Apple and can be licensed by other manufacturers for installation in receiving devices.
Predecessor AirTunes
With AirTunes could audio content from iTunes to Apple devices such as AirPort Express or Apple TV via streaming broadcast. By considering the network latency, AirTunes can provide sound to several rooms synchronously.
AirTunes-capable end devices are automatically integrated into iTunes, provided they can be reached in the same Ethernet network by cable or wirelessly via Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN). The user can choose whether he wants to reach only certain speakers or all - even in different rooms - and set a common volume.
AirPlay (1st generation)
In June 2010 AirTunes was replaced by AirPlay. AirPlay introduced numerous innovations:
AirPlay transfers music and videos from iTunes, macOS devices or iOS devices to other compatible devices.
Third-party manufacturers can purchase a license for AirPlay and equip their speakers, hi-fi systems, etc. with the interface so that no additional devices are required. Before, an Apple product always had to be interposed, such as the AirPort Express WiFi station or Apple TV .
AirPlay can achieve a transfer rate of up to 120 megabits per second. Music is transmitted to the receiver with a maximum sampling rate of up to 44.1 kilohertz and 16 bits. This corresponds to the quality of an audio CD.
The current screen content can also be transmitted, for example to display photos, browser content or video games from an iOS device on a larger screen such as a television.
Peer-to-Peer AirPlay
Since September 2014, the AirPlay protocol has also mastered the so-called "Peer-to-Peer AirPlay" mode, with which an Apple TV from the 3rd generation can, for example, connect to an iOS device without having to connect it to an existing one WLAN needs to be configured. The automatic configuration takes place via Bluetooth , the actual data transfer as before via WLAN, but for this purpose the Apple TV opens up its own additional WLAN.
Alternative implementations of AirPlay
Although the protocol is not openly documented, there are numerous ports to other platforms, such as AirPlayer by Erica Sadun for macOS , Shairport for Windows by Franck Friesel, Shairport for Linux by James Laird, AirMediaPlayer by Apostolos Georgiadi, AirReceiver by Florian Pflug and Aerodrom for Windows and Windows Media Center .
AirPlay 2
In June 2017, the successor AirPlay 2 was presented at the WWDC and made available on the supported devices on May 29, 2018 with iOS 11.4, tvOS 11.4 and watchOS 4.3.1.
Numerous manufacturers of AirPlay-enabled audio systems have already announced that they will upgrade support for AirPlay 2 via firmware updates. Supporting companies include Samsung , LG, and Sony .
The main improvements to AirPlay 2 are vaguely described in the official announcements. So far it has been known that the audio buffering (against network disturbances) has been improved and the multiroom control is now also possible for iOS devices (previously only via iTunes).
Similar solutions
Similar solutions are Google Cast and Amazon Fling . Platform-independent solutions are Miracast and the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA).
Web links
- AirPlay - Official website (general all devices)
- AirPlay support page about supported devices and configuration
- AirPlay for Apple TV
- Airplay protocol (reverse engineered)
- Heise article "Airplay goes foreign" from April 26, 2013
Individual evidence
- ↑ http://www.gravis.de/blog/airplay-10-fragen-10-endungen/
- ↑ heise.de - Direct AirPlay only for the very latest Apple TV revision (accessed February 21, 2016)
- ↑ Shairport4w on SourceForge.net . Retrieved August 12, 2014.
- ^ Licenses . Retrieved January 10, 2014.
- ↑ AirReceiver . Retrieved June 10, 2011.
- ↑ Aerodrome . Retrieved March 3, 2013.
- ↑ Leo Becker: iOS 11.4 brings multiroom audio and messages to iCloud. In: Heise online news ticker. Heise Medien GmbH & Co. KG, May 29, 2018, accessed on May 30, 2018 .
- ↑ turn-on.de - AirPlay 2 brings these improvements to iOS 11 (accessed June 10, 2017)
- ↑ www.appgefahren.de - Bowers & Wilkins announces new receivers with AirPlay 2 (accessed February 22, 2019)
- ↑ http://www.giga.de/extra/airplay - AirPlay 2: These are the advantages (accessed on October 24, 2017).