iPhone: AirPlay

With the introduction of iCloud, Apple took a stand-a stand against wires. Cords have always been a necessary evil that plagued consumer electronics, and while people have managed to consolidate somewhat over the years (the multifaceted Dock Connector is proof of that), one cable is still one too many in my mind. I am still waiting on wireless power to be a reality across the board, but until then, I will have to be content with technologies like iCloud and AirPlay.

The latter of the two is the focal point of this article, where you dive into the underpinnings of one of Apple's slickest tether-free implementations yet. AirPlay is an overarching term that describes a wireless protocol that's capable of distributing audiovisual content with no cables to speak of, and the real magic of it is the simplicity in setup. Still, a hassle-free setup doesn't mean that there aren't nooks and crannies to explore. If you are buying an iPhone and aren't taking the time to explore its wireless streaming possibilities, you are selling your purchase short. Let's dive in and make sure you nip that in the bud.

Inputs and Outputs of Audio Streaming

For years, most average consumers assumed that setting up a wireless home audio system would require a professional installation, gobs of money, and tons of research. And in a lot of cases, those assumptions are both warranted and accurate. Whole home audio systems have traditionally required a high-end receiver, plenty of in-wall cabling, mounting brackets galore, and a networked remote to dictate the orchestra. (Those remotes alone could easily cost $500+.) These days, things are a bit simpler-particularly for iPhone owners.

Note:
AirPlay is a relatively new term, even for Apple loyalists. The term was introduced at a September 2010 iPod launch event, but rather than being entirely new, it actually took the place of a term that has existed since 2004: AirTunes. Over the years, Apple realized that people were interested in streaming more than just audio. With video in the mix, converting AirTunes to AirPlay made more sense than using two separate protocols. Even today, AirPlay is in its infancy. The true potential lies in the hands of Apple's blossoming developer army-an army that has already developed over 100,000 iPhone-specific apps. Optimists might say that Apple's headfirst approach into wireless video streaming is only being tested on the iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad, with the real killer app to be the forthcoming Apple-branded HDTV. At this point, those are still rumors, but the smoke that leads to fire is certainly becoming tougher to ignore.

Beginning with iOS 4.2, Apple enabled the movement of video from the iPhone onto other devices without the use of a cable. But there's a lot more to talk about now that iOS 6 is out and about. At first, only select applications could stream video, and a heap of limitations kept the functionality in check. But with iOS 5 and iOS 6, AirPlay Mirroring has been unveiled. I describe it more in the "Tapping the Power of Apple TV" section, but in short, this feature allows iOS devices to wirelessly beam their displays to any screen that has an Apple TV connected to it. Think of it as wirelessly projecting your iPhone's display onto your HDTV.

Tip:
AirPlay Mirroring is currently only available for the iPhone 4S, iPhone 5, iPad 2, and the new iPad. Owners of older iPhone handsets, the iPod touch, and the original iPad aren't able to enjoy the spoils without a jailbreak.

All that said, audio is still at the core of AirPlay, and while the "Tunes" doppelganger has since been dropped, it's still very much a part of the overall experience. To better understand the intricacies of AirPlay, it's important to understand how AirPlaycompatible products are divided. AirPlay sender devices include the iPhone, other iOS products and computers running iTunes. All of these are capable of broadcasting audio or video wirelessly, for something else entirely to catch and comprehend. Those "catching" devices are called AirPlay receivers. As of now, there aren't too many receivers to keep track of. The AirPort Express-which recommended earlier as a fantastic iPhone companion from a networking standpoint-is the primary AirPlay receiver from an aural perspective. Outside of that guy, there's the Apple TV and a small but growing stable of AirPlay-compatible A/V receivers and speakers.