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"Airplay 2": What and why?
- Thread starter zorinlynx
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I hope the Airport Expresses are supported. If not, I hope someone comes out with an Airplay 2-compatible receiver to replace them. I guess I won't mind replacing my now-aging Expresses if I really had to, if it meant getting multi room audio (which I've always wanted from iOS). I'd just need something to get my speakers hooked into the system, which I'm definitely not replacing.
Libratone are saying that legacy devices will still work with iOS 11 – you will just not be able to stream to multiple of those. So there’s fallback AirPlay 1 baked in.
Unfortunately Apple has said only the HomePod and Apple TV 4 will support AirPlay 2. I also bet there will be an ATV 5 this year and also think it is likely that the AirPorts will also be updated now that the team has already finished the HomePod. They could even have their own speakers, too.
They definitely need something that works like the Airport Express in this line up ( a device that works without a screen after setup and has optical and analog out).
I just watched this (~40-minutes). I started a new thread with my notes: https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/airplay-2-details.2050617/
A few points relevant to the questions in this thread:
-Airplay 1 still supported in iOS 11
-Apps will need to be updated to 'opt in' to many Airplay 2 features
-Airplay 2 receivers need more memory (for minutes of buffered audio), so upgrades may be limited by hardware (Though an airport express teardown shows that it has 64MB of RAM: https://weblog.rogueamoeba.com/2012/06/19/airport-express-disassembly/)
-Multi-room audio is not even in the current developer iOS 11 beta, and there was no additional info on this.
Thanks for posting this.
I was more worried about backward compatibility than anything. I hope some of my equipment (other than my two AppleTV 4s) gets updated for Airplay 2, but honestly, I would rarely use multi-room audio and it is still there with Airfoil on the rare occasion I want it.
They did say that Airplay 2 would allow the audio to be tightly synchronized to video as it displays on the source device (which would be welcome); but the presenter explicitly said that video itself would not travel over AirPlay 2.
No, they meant that if an app is displaying video on the source device's screen, then you can use AirPlay 2 to play tightly synchronized audio. Imagine watching a movie on your iPad, with the audio playing over speakers. I think AirPlay 1 already did this, in some cases, but I guess the synchronization will be better now.
[doublepost=1497448536][/doublepost]To be honest I'm not sure what the state of video over AirPlay is. The above is what the presenter said, but I don't know if that was specific to the current implementation in the iOS beta, or if it was about the final capabilities of the protocol.
Now that you mention it, I haven't heard any mention of video over AirPlay, or screen mirroring, in either the keynote, or the WWDC talk. Maybe it just hasn't been announced yet.
Thanks for clarifying! Yeah I am trying to find any info about AirPlay 2 and video, not much have shown up (yet?)
Unless they are updated to the AirPlay 2 protocol, unlikely. The only source of multi-stream AirPlay 1 will be iTunes on the Mac. Apple TV and iOS will require a different protocol which is device dependent for support.
For those with an Apple Watch (or AirPods' case) ... Apple could use it to locate your proximity (using the microphone as well) and auto switch the rooms the speakers would play music in - since the watch usually is always with you (Airpod's not so much but a limited small potential thought). I still think this multi-room playback is odd, but hey I live in an apartment so it would not really appeal to me, I'll just get another Sonos and I'm good.
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My guess is that we'll get iOS 11.1 in December to add support for the HomePod, AirPlay 2 and all that.
I think the best way to do this would be to give Siri control over AirPlay. Just tell her where you want the music and have it play on that speaker or zone. Obviously, the Homepod has Siri built in, but the Appletv 4 and other AirPlay 2 devices won’t have that luxury.
My issue with a proximity setting is that it would turn on speakers as I passed through rooms. I may want it on in the kitchen and bathroom in the morning, but I wouldn’t want it flipping on stereos as I passed through the living room, by the guest room, or through the bedroom.
My predictions about AirPlay 2
1. Will support Wifi ac speakers (Airplay 1 only supports specific Broadcom wireless a/b/g/n based chip)
2. This means newer Broadcom wifi chip
3. Wireless ac will stop current interference problems with Airplay and related complaints.
4. Multi speakers which is already possible on Bluetooth.
5. Improved or low latency.
6. Wireless ac will enable streaming of 4K content to receivers.
1. Will support Wifi ac speakers (Airplay 1 only supports specific Broadcom wireless a/b/g/n based chip)
2. This means newer Broadcom wifi chip
3. Wireless ac will stop current interference problems with Airplay and related complaints.
4. Multi speakers which is already possible on Bluetooth.
5. Improved or low latency.
6. Wireless ac will enable streaming of 4K content to receivers.
I just hope AP1 continues to be supported well beyond iOS 11. I have some decent AP1 speakers that have years of useful life in them yet.
I suppose Airfoil could end up doing something clever if need be.
I suppose Airfoil could end up doing something clever if need be.