What is Next for AirPlay?
AirPlay is still in its infancy and Apple is still building out its partner list. Recently, Klipsch and Logitech decided to join in, and both companies have plenty of AirPlay-certified speaker systems en route. And that's just on the audio front. The next logical step is for Apple to license AirPlay video streaming. You can already mirror your entire iPhone experience onto your HDTV if you have an Apple TV 2 in between (video included), so it's clear that Apple's already in possession of the technology. It's only a matter of logistics before that same video support trickles down to A/V receivers and perhaps even rivals set-top boxes.
And then, of course, there's the long-rumored Apple HDTV. It's unclear if the company is actually going to put its name (and more importantly, its software) directly into a television of any kind, but good authority that huge names in the industry are knocking at Apple's door in order to produce exactly that. Companies have struggled to produce cost-effective, lag-free wireless HD equipment, and tight integration with other products (namely, smartphones and tablets) is all but nonexistent outside of the Apple universe. The iPhone is a fairly powerful controller today. If AirPlay is allowed to sink its tentacles into more than just a handful of speakers, receivers, and the Apple TV, the iPhone could become the world's most multifaceted and versatile universal remote.
Video Streaming
To date, AirPlay is predominantly about audio streaming. In fact, the only way to actually stream video content from the iPhone and onto an AirPlay-certified device is to have an Apple TV 2 around-if you're doing things. But with the introduction of iOS 5 (and continuing with iOS 6), Apple made it clear that video is going to be the next big push with AirPlay, and I have a host of tips for making the most of that initiative. Using your iPhone not only as a video controller, but also as a video source, opens up all new avenues of enjoyment, and it brings your phone one step closer to truly being the center of attention in your multimedia universe.
Tapping the Power of Apple TV
Apple did something unique with the Apple TV 2. It opened up the world of iPhone streaming in a way previously only thought possible in the world of jailbreaking. In fact, the capabilities that are given to one's iPhone simply by having an Apple TV 2 connected to a television make it a must-buy accessory. Like the similarly important AirPort Express, the Apple TV 2 is also $99. Not exactly "nothing," but hardly a bank breaker for those already investing in an iPhone.
Although some of the video streaming capabilities earlier in this section, here I focus on taking full advantage of a little thing that Apple calls "Mirroring." AirPlay Mirroring was a completely new addition in iOS 5, and it's this addition- which is only becoming more impressive in iOS 6-that really makes the Apple TV 2 purchase worthwhile.
Warning:
AirPlay Mirroring is a fantastic technology, but it doesn't always work... fantastically. Too many walls, flaky routers, and bad karma have all been blamed for sporadic dropouts, so if you're planning to watch a movie or play a game that'll require multiple hours of beaming, picking up a Digital AV Adapter ($39). That will allow a corded HDMI connection to connect your iPhone and HDTV , and while it's hardly as convenient, the signal will be a lot more stable.
Without any trickiness on your behalf, you can send anything and everything on an iPhone display to your HDTV, so long as there's an Apple TV in between. This has long since been possible with a dongle that protruded from the iPhone's dock connector, but cutting the cable entirely makes a world of difference.
What does Mirroring really mean for you? For one, it means that your iPhone can now be used to showcase photo slideshows, stream Netflix, and even show Keynote presentations on a big screen. This is also a cheap way to get out of buying a new game console for the 45-year old kid in your life. How so? Even games are beamed wirelessly to whichever television your Apple TV 2 is connected, so that $9.99 racing app can be more than just a personal piece. In fact, it's not inconceivable to think that singleplayer gamers wouldn't opt for this type of setup over a traditional console; after all, the average iPhone game is four to five times cheaper than a home console title.
In order to activate Mirroring on the iPhone, simply ensure that your Apple TV 2 and iPhone are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. Then, double-tap the Home button and swipe twice from left to right as the Secondary Dock bar emerges at the bottom. The AirPlay icon should be there in that central row of buttons; give it a press, and select the Apple TV 2 from the list of options. Also, switching from landscape to portrait mode on the iPhone will rotate the image on screen. If you are watching a movie and prefer that things remain horizontal for a bit, be sure to activate the software orientation lock once you're situated.
Tip:
While Mirroring may focus on video, there's actually much more you can do with an Apple TV 2 connected to an entertainment center. While AirPlay-enabled speakers and receivers work well, those who already have their speaker systems linked to their television can actually skip a step. If your Apple TV 2 is the wireless liaison between your speakers and iPhone, you're able to DJ a party from your phone without having to invest in new speakers or a new A/V receiver. Moreover, with everything tied together, it's one less fragmented portion of your home entertainment setup. Oh, and you can even have a fancy visualizer running on your television as the music pumps. I won't be offended if you take the credit when your new pals drop by and ask.
Making AirPlay (and Your iPhone) Even Better
In most scenarios, adding special functionality to a product that Apple itself doesn't deem "doable" requires a tricky software hack dubbed a "jailbreak." It's a common term that describes the process of modifying certain files on an iPhone in order to let unapproved applications and scripts run free. Naturally, it opens your device up to all sorts of hacker shenanigans, but if you're smart, you'll open your device up to all sorts of functionality that would otherwise be out of reach.
Adding Mirroring Supp ort to the iPhone 4
If you still have an iPhone 4 kicking around and you aren't afraid to jailbreak it, it's possible to enjoy Mirroring. Unfortunately, you'll still need a VGA or HDMI adapter (no wireless!), but outside of that the steps are fairly easy. An easy-to-follow guide can be found here: www.redmondpie.com/how-to-enable-hdmi-video- mirroring-oniphone-4-ipod-touch-4g-tutorial.
Jailbreaking, and Why You'd Even Bother
For one simple reason-it voids your warranty. Apple has made no secret that it's strongly against the practice, but I'm including this section for a couple of reasons. For one, your iPhone may be out of warranty already. Secondly, there's at least a sliver of chance that you couldn't give two hoots about what Apple is for or against. And finally, the reality of the situation is that jailbreaking is a heck of a lot of fun, and the apps found in those unapproved app stores can be way, way more titillating than the ones certified for distribution in the actual App Store.
iOS 6 has been one of the toughest builds yet to crack. Not surprising, given that Apple's likely making it more and more difficult with every release. There are a handful of names that you'll need to know in order to stay up-to-date on the ebb and flow of the jailbreak. Comex, Grant Paul (chpwn), Jay Freeman (saurik), and Muscle- Nerd are the ringleaders, and all of these fine folks can be found on Twitter with a simple search. As for websites? Be sure to bookmark www.jailbreakme.com and blog.iphone-dev.org. Both are go-to sources when it comes to jailbreaking, and you can rest assured that they'll have up-to-the-minute information about the latest cracks.
Once a jailbreak is applied, you'll need to surf over the Cydia app store. There are a few more repositories, but that's the main one. It's effectively an app store that Apple doesn't approve of, and you should know that any app there is "download at your own risk." Nothing there has been quality-checked by Apple, but if you're adventurous (and you feel like trodding through online forums regardless of the latest and greatest unauthorized app), you can find all sorts of programs that allow you to customize notifications (SBSettings), tweak your lock screen (LockInfo), multitask differently (Activator), and even use your iPhone's Internet as a mobile hotspot-MyWi, Tetherme, or PDANet-without paying carrier fees for tethering.
Making Anything and Ev erything AirPlay-Compatible
If you're serious about hacking and you're comfortable coding, there's a program you should know about: ShairPort. It's an unofficial dump of the ROM trapped within Apple's AirPort Express, and now that it's exposed, you can effectively add AirPlay audio streaming support to any piece of software in existence. So long as you can interweave the ShairPort code into an application, it'll register as an AirPlay device. In fact, if you're into DIY electronics, you can even embed this code into your own homegrown AirPlay hardware. Crack your knuckles and download it here: http://mafipulation.org/blagoblig/2011/04/08#shairport.
Extending the Functionality of Your Apple TV 2
You can jailbreak your Apple TV 2, too! Unlike iOS jailbreaking, doing so on Apple's nifty set-top box requires some dough, but you (and your iPhone) will appreciate the added functionality. Firecore's aTV Flash is available for both the original Apple TV and the new Apple TV 2, with pricing between $20 and $30 per device. By visiting the company's website (http://firecore.com/atvflash-black), you'll be able to purchase access to a point-and-click update procedure that requires minimal hacking knowledge and no physical alterations.
You can use the Remote HD app-mentioned earlier in this article-to give your iPhone control over aTV Flash, which enables robust codec support, NAS streaming, web browsing, Last.fm access, and more. If you're using your iPhone to interact with your Apple TV, and you're just searching for more than what Apple's willing to give you, this may indeed be worth an install. It's easy to remove, too, should you decide that the new interface just isn't for you.
Conclusion
Tapping into the (mostly undercover) AirPlay functionality that's tucked within iOS 5/6 is a surefire way to justify your iPhone purchase. That said, a few relatively easy hacks and tweaks can bring a couple of highly useful features (including Mirroring) to the iPhone 4. All it takes is a bit of searching, clicking, and patience.
On the audio front, you're just a speaker system (or AirPort Express) away from being able to use your iPhone to wirelessly DJ a party. And because AirPlay uses Wi-Fi instead of Bluetooth, the range is far greater. There aren't a plethora of AirPlay-certified speaker options out just yet, but the ones that have made it to market are really impressive-and expensive.
There are plenty of secrets to learn there, too. The iPhone's Mirroring functionality-unlocked first in iOS 5-gives you the ability to send Netflix, home videos, and even FaceTime calls to the big screen. But if you want to dig deeper, there are plenty of jailbreaking options for extending the capabilities of both the Apple TV and the iPhone. One thing's exceptionally clear: the iPhone is opened up to an entirely new world of control with the purchase of Apple's $99 Apple TV. It's worth budgeting for.