Stream to your friends' TVs: Apple bringing peer-to-peer AirPlay to Apple TV via iOS 8
Visitors will soon find it much easier to broadcast via AirPlay to their host's Apple TV, thanks to a new AirPlay peer-to-peer discovery and streaming mechanism slated to debut in iOS 8.
Currently, users need to connect their iOS device or Mac to the same wireless network as the Apple TV in order to use AirPlay. This presents problems when the host doesn't want to -- or can't -- distribute network credentials, or when the Apple TV is in an enterprise environment with separated networks.
With the new system, users will be able to discover and stream to a nearby Apple TV without being connected to a network at all. A presenter could walk into a conference room, for instance, and broadcast to an Apple TV connected to the projector without going through a complex connection process.
There is no word on how Apple will handle security in this context, or if the peer-to-peer functionality will be extended to OS X. It's also unclear what the technology is based on, though it's likely similar to the manner in which AirDrop works -- device discovery is based on Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi Direct connection is created for file transfer.
Peer-to-peer AirPlay connectivity was first hinted at earlier this year in iOS 7.1, when it was found that iOS devices could substitute Bluetooth for Bonjour when discovering nearby Apple TVs.
Currently, users need to connect their iOS device or Mac to the same wireless network as the Apple TV in order to use AirPlay. This presents problems when the host doesn't want to -- or can't -- distribute network credentials, or when the Apple TV is in an enterprise environment with separated networks.
With the new system, users will be able to discover and stream to a nearby Apple TV without being connected to a network at all. A presenter could walk into a conference room, for instance, and broadcast to an Apple TV connected to the projector without going through a complex connection process.
There is no word on how Apple will handle security in this context, or if the peer-to-peer functionality will be extended to OS X. It's also unclear what the technology is based on, though it's likely similar to the manner in which AirDrop works -- device discovery is based on Bluetooth, and a Wi-Fi Direct connection is created for file transfer.
Peer-to-peer AirPlay connectivity was first hinted at earlier this year in iOS 7.1, when it was found that iOS devices could substitute Bluetooth for Bonjour when discovering nearby Apple TVs.
Comments
I could see it being a simple option in the ATV menu. Enable peer to peer Y/N, Sub option - Require password Y/N and if yes, ask to set the password. Stays secure and still convenient.
No need to set a password, use an ad-hoc PIN that comes up on your TV screen.
No need to set a password, use an ad-hoc PIN that comes up on your TV screen.
Perfect! This way I can stand outside your house and randomly broadcast things to your Apple TV.
No need to set a password, use an ad-hoc PIN that comes up on your TV screen.
Perfect! This way I can stand outside your house and randomly broadcast things to your Apple TV.
Bob, you'd need to be looking inside a window to see the TV in order to see the PIN to enter onto your iOS device.
Perfect! This way I can stand outside your house and randomly broadcast things to your Apple TV.
If you've got nothing better to do with your life, knock yourself out.
While you're at it, why don't you also yank his cable connection.....
Finally!. This should make the Apple TV even more popular in offices, schools, and even hotels.
Agreed - it also helps if you have to occasionally carry a projector - now you could hook that up to an ATV and then present direct from wireless iPad.
This would make the new AppleTV capable of playing console-class games on the AppleTV and/or AirPlayed from iOS 8 devices. I'd bet that the iPad game demos shown were running on A8 hardware.
They did mention A7 about 15 times during the demo and repeatedly described how Metal improved performance on the A7 hardware. I am fairly certain A7 hardware is what they were using.
OK, for next year's checklist I'm adding 3-d holographic images ( Ostendo Technologies Inc. ). There is a great article in the WSJ on this amazing technology, but it is subscription only ( http://online.wsj.com/articles/new-chip-to-bring-holograms-to-smartphones-1401752938?mod=LS1 ).
I've yet to see a single instance of a credible glasses-free holographic technology that does not also rely on a hugely limiting substrate or barrier between the viewer and the image.
Finally!. This should make the Apple TV even more popular in offices, schools, and even hotels.
I agree, being an educator this is a MAJOR help. With all the different logins and security passwords I have at my job it is impossible to use an appleTV on a projector. When I asked my tech consultant if there was any way I could hook my appleTV to the network he said, "no, and I don't see that happening anytime soon." Very excited about this!
I'm thinking office use. A network administrator wouldn't want anyone with an apple product in visual range of the screen to put up their own presentation. Having peer to peer but requiring a password still limits access. Can you imagine giving a demo on a big stage and someone hijacks your presentation with their own show just by entering in an on-screen pin? Security has to be an option.
By the way, this would be great for people in recreational vehicles (RVs). I've been looking for a solution where I can just hook up my ATV to my TV and stream content from my iPad without the need to set-up a dummy router. Now I can store a number of movies on my iPad and watch them on my TV during rainy days.
No need to set a password, use an ad-hoc PIN that comes up on your TV screen.
Perfect! This way I can stand outside your house and randomly broadcast things to your Apple TV.
Can you mow the lawn while your out there?
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Since I travel with my iPhone and ATV 3, I'm already able to do this, I've just had to go the extra step to set up a hotspot on the iPhone for the ATV to join. This looks like it will simplify the experience.
I still don't see why the ATV setup doesn't include a basic browser so hotel WiFi networks with login screens would be easier to join.
It seems this is a software feature with deeper implications. It is possible a future model of ATV will be a chrome cast HDMI dongle? The current puck is spiffy -I use mine all the time -but it is hardly portable.