Understanding How Apple AirPlay Works

Apple encourages you to stream music and movies across your home network—without the need for wires. Naturally, they want you to use Apple AirPlay for this purpose.

AirPlay is a feature that allows Apple devices to stream audio and video between devices on your local network. This works similarly to how you might connect to streaming services like Pandora or YouTube, except everything happens within your own network rather than the internet. With AirPlay, you can play content from a single AirPlay-compatible device, such as an iPad or iPhone, and stream it to multiple compatible devices, including TVs and sound systems, within the same network.

AirPlay goes beyond simply connecting stereo speakers to an iPad or iPhone. It consists of two key components: the source and the receiver. The source is a device running AirPlay-compatible software that streams media (audio or video) using AirPlay. The receiver is an AirPlay-enabled device that can play the streamed media and display relevant track details, like the song title and artist name. A single source can stream to multiple receivers simultaneously.

Currently, the list of devices that can function as AirPlay sources includes the iPad, second-generation or newer iPod Touch, iPhone 3G and 4, and the second-generation Apple TV. These devices must be running Apple iOS 4.2 or newer, and any app you wish to stream from must support AirPlay streaming. You can also use AirPlay from your computer by running iTunes 10.2 or a later version.

At this moment, AirPlay receivers primarily include the Apple AirPort (a proprietary wireless hub for Apple products) and Apple TV. Some devices that can act as sources also have the capability to function as receivers. Apple TV is the only receiver that can stream HD video and photos from your device, along with audio. Later in this article, we’ll discuss third-party manufacturers who have collaborated with Apple to create AirPlay-compatible stereo equipment.

For a simple example of using AirPlay, imagine you have an iPhone and you open iTunes to play your favorite songs. Since you'll be moving around the house during the day, you decide to turn on an AirPlay-enabled stereo in your bedroom and your WiFi-enabled Apple TV in the living room. To ensure seamless music as you go from room to room, you return to your iPhone and select the stereo and Apple TV as recipients for the music stream. Since they're all connected via the network and support AirPlay, you just need to turn on the receivers, start the stream from the iPhone, and enjoy your tunes without interruption.

This article examines how Apple AirPlay streams music, and whether its limitations and competition could potentially overshadow its benefits. First, let’s dive into how you can activate and use AirPlay.

How to Connect AirPlay Devices

To stream audio and video with AirPlay, the devices you're using must be connected to the same local network. This connection can be either wireless via WiFi or Bluetooth, or wired through Ethernet. While Bluetooth is not quite the same as being on your home network, AirPlay will detect Bluetooth devices and allow you to manage them alongside other AirPlay-compatible devices on your network.

For WiFi networks, there are two methods you can use to establish AirPlay network connections:

Once your AirPlay-enabled devices are added to the same network, each AirPlay source will automatically recognize all potential receivers. For instance, if you connect your iPad to the network, the iTunes app on the iPad will immediately detect that the Apple TV in your living room and the AirPlay-compatible speakers in your bedroom are available output devices.

How do you use it? AirPlay-enabled apps will automatically scan your WiFi network to find compatible devices. When an app detects that AirPlay is available, the AirPlay icon will appear on the screen. Once you open the AirPlay menu, you can choose the devices you want to stream audio or video to from that app. Note that if you’re trying to share media between two computers on the same network, the AirPlay icon won’t show up. This is because the iTunes app for desktop and laptop computers already has a built-in sharing feature for other iTunes users within the network. In this case, AirPlay is unnecessary. For more on streaming, see our article on How Streaming Video and Audio Works.

Now, let’s examine the benefits and drawbacks of using AirPlay.

The Pros and Cons of Apple AirPlay

Some technology experts hail AirPlay as a groundbreaking technology that could revolutionize home entertainment and network data sharing. Here are some advantages of AirPlay that support this claim:

Despite its impressive features, AirPlay has a few limitations. Many criticisms of AirPlay focus on the following drawbacks:

In addition to these limitations, streaming to devices other than a computer requires purchasing either an Apple TV or AirPort Express, each priced at $99 as of now, or exploring third-party AirPlay-enabled devices. This could be an indirect push for Apple to sell more Apple TVs, or perhaps a revenue stream for the company, as they charge manufacturers a $4 licensing fee per AirPlay-enabled device they produce [source: Elmer-DeWitt].

So far, we’ve focused on Apple AirPlay with regard to its integration with other Apple products. Now, let’s explore who’s partnering with Apple to bring AirPlay compatibility outside the Apple ecosystem, and compare AirPlay with other media-sharing technologies.

How Apple AirPlay Compares

As of mid-2011, Apple has partnered with the following companies to create devices capable of streaming audio via AirPlay: D&M Holdings (Denon and Marantz), Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, and iHome. The latter three companies specialize in wireless speakers, while Denon and Marantz offer high-end audio-video (A/V) components for home entertainment systems.

Are these products affordable for your home entertainment setup? Adding a Denon or Marantz A/V receiver to your system will cost several hundred dollars, plus an additional $49.99 for AirPlay functionality on each device. Only consider purchasing these if you're already looking for premium A/V components. The speaker-only products from Bowers & Wilkins, JBL, and iHome are cheaper but still pricey. The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air costs nearly $600, the JBL On Air Wireless is just under $350, and the iHome iW1 is around $300.

While AirPlay is a free feature on Apple products, using it to its full potential can be quite expensive. The question remains, will consumers buy into it? As more developers create devices and apps supporting AirPlay, only time will tell if it becomes a compelling selling point for Apple products.

Meanwhile, the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA), a lesser-known but influential group, has continued to make significant progress since its inception in 2003. The DLNA now boasts more than 245 member companies and was originally formed to create interoperability standards for digital devices. In June 2004, the group published the DLNA Interoperability Guidelines and introduced a certification program to identify products that adhere to these standards.

Both wired and wireless DLNA-certified devices are widespread and offer far greater interoperability than AirPlay. For example, a certified digital media player (DMP) can directly access network-attached storage (NAS) via a certified digital media server (DMS). This means your TV or stereo can directly access music or movie files from the source, instead of relying on another device to stream the content.

Some of the well-known companies involved in the DLNA include Microsoft, Sony, and Sharp, along with tech industry giants like Logitech, Cisco, and Nvidia. However, Apple is notably absent from the DLNA. The company is known for maintaining a strong sense of independence and aiming to establish its own brand standards in the tech world.

AirPlay began to experience rapid growth in 2011 after the release of Apple iOS 4.2. However, as of June 2011, it is still uncertain whether AirPlay will become a long-term success or if Apple will be able to surpass the established success of DLNA in the home streaming market. Continue to the next page for more insightful information.