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AirPlay on iPhone devices- what's the use?

G

globalist

macrumors 6502a
Original poster
Aug 19, 2009
748
264
I'm afraid I don't understand why should I care about Airplay on my iphone4.

Is it to stream movies from the computer to the iphone? I already got a 24" monitor attached to my PC so why would I wanna watch a movie on the iphone's tiny screen, especially as this only works on wifi so there's no streaming on the move.

Is it to stream the opposite way, from iphone to PC? Now why would I ever wanna do that? The video on my iphone originated on my PC and it's still best viewed there.

Is there something I'm missing? I can see this being useful on ipad due to screen size but that's about it. Thanks!
 
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- Airplay allows you to stream music from iTunes to other external speakers through Wifi. I'm sure there will be a couple of docks and speakers available that will have have the ability to connect to wifi and you'll be able to stream music to them.

- And for movies, well many people rent movies directly onto their iPhones or iPads, and Airplay will let you finish watching it on your Apple TV at home if you want by streaming it.

Though that's all I can really think of. Since I don't have an Apple TV and don't see myself getting one, Airplay won't really benefit me.
 
globalist said:
I'm afraid I don't understand why should I care about Airplay on my iphone4.

Is it to stream movies from the computer to the iphone? I already got a 24" monitor attached to my PC so why would I wanna watch a movie on the iphone's tiny screen, especially as this only works on wifi so there's no streaming on the move.

Is it to stream the opposite way, from iphone to PC? Now why would I ever wanna do that? The video on my iphone originated on my PC and it's still best viewed there.

Is there something I'm missing? I can see this being useful on ipad due to screen size but that's about it. Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, you are missing the fact that the way you use your iDevice isn't the way others use it; want to use it; might use it if the feature were offered; is something new for consumers to experiment with.

Not everyone download's iTunes media from their computer. In fact many d/l movies from their iDevice b/c they are "stuck" somewhere and want something to watch.

Imagine this -- you d/l a movie while waiting to get on a plane. You watch part of the movie. You get home, and don't want to watch the rest on your iDevice OR computer. You want to watch it on your TV while sitting on your couch. But until Airplay that wasn't really possible.

W/ Airplay + AppleTV all you have to do is play the movie on your iDevice and it will stream to your TV.

That is just ONE example. Another from the future: imagine if hotels had Airplay compatible TVs. You just have to open up your imagination beyond your own box. That is what the cliche means.
 
Chupa Chupa said:
Yes, you are missing the fact that the way you use your iDevice isn't the way others use it; want to use it; might use it if the feature were offered; is something new for consumers to experiment with.

Not everyone download's iTunes media from their computer. In fact many d/l movies from their iDevice b/c they are "stuck" somewhere and want something to watch.

Imagine this -- you d/l a movie while waiting to get on a plane. You watch part of the movie. You get home, and don't want to watch the rest on your iDevice OR computer. You want to watch it on your TV while sitting on your couch. But until Airplay that wasn't really possible.

W/ Airplay + AppleTV all you have to do is play the movie on your iDevice and it will stream to your TV.

That is just ONE example. Another from the future: imagine if hotels had Airplay compatible TVs. You just have to open up your imagination beyond your own box. That is what the cliche means.
Click to expand...

How can you download movies to you idevice while on the move? Is it through the itunes app? I don't have a US store account so I wouldn't know- can't launch the app on my account due to itunes content unavailability in my country.

Either way, I purposedly left out apple tv users out of my original question as I know Airplay can be useful for them.
 
OK, so AirPlay is now released and given that you can stream to AppleTV ONLY (i.e. not from iPhone to PC/Mac or vice versa) this feature truly is useless for majority of people who don't own an AppleTV.
 
globalist said:
OK, so AirPlay is now released and given that you can stream to AppleTV ONLY (i.e. not from iPhone to PC/Mac or vice versa) this feature truly is useless for majority of people who don't own an AppleTV.
Click to expand...

You can also stream to an AirPort Express. I have an AirEx connected to speakers in my kitchen and now can direct audio from the phone to those speakers. PocketTunes, Slacker, Pandora, and of course local music can all use the service.

Prior to iOS4.2.1 I had to use the Remote app to control iTunes on a running PC in order to stream to the AirEx. Now the PC doesn't have to be on.

Perry
 
KidPub said:
You can also stream to an AirPort Express. I have an AirEx connected to speakers in my kitchen and now can direct audio from the phone to those speakers. PocketTunes, Slacker, Pandora, and of course local music can all use the service.

Prior to iOS4.2.1 I had to use the Remote app to control iTunes on a running PC in order to stream to the AirEx. Now the PC doesn't have to be on.

Perry
Click to expand...

I agree this is a nice feature I do it all the time with a Bluetooth speaker so I can appreciate the usefulness of the feature but It would be much more useful if I could also use Airplay from my iPhone to my computer. I mainly listen to podcasts on my iPhone in the car and I like to come home and continue to play from where I left off in the car. I have a PC or laptop in most rooms in my house but the bluetooth speaker is only one room, I would be really nice to stream to any room in the house with out having to unplug and relocate the speaker from room to room. Airplay is a nice feature but it falls short for my usage.
 
globalist said:
OK, so AirPlay is now released and given that you can stream to AppleTV ONLY (i.e. not from iPhone to PC/Mac or vice versa) this feature truly is useless for majority of people who don't own an AppleTV.
Click to expand...
Welcome to the forum Captain Obvious!

In a related story, the AirPrint feature is truly useless for the majority of people who don't own an AirPrint-capable printer.
 
Now, wait a minute. How is iLife useful to people without Macs?

Why didn't anyone think of that? How truly useless for the majority of people who don't own Macs. What's the point?
 
globalist said:
How can you download movies to you idevice while on the move? Is it through the itunes app? I don't have a US store account so I wouldn't know- can't launch the app on my account due to itunes content unavailability in my country.

Either way, I purposedly left out apple tv users out of my original question as I know Airplay can be useful for them.
Click to expand...


There are a few apps in the app store that allow you to download movies from the web right into your iPhone. You can then save them on your idevice for later viewing. It actually works pretty well and most of the movies/shows are DVD quality.

Downloads-Browser is one of those apps.
 
Just add a view.

I have a Iphone 3GS and saw Airplay was coming with 4.2 and didn't pay much attention as I figured it was mainly for Apple TV users to stream video - which of course it is.

It wasn't until I watched the little Apple promo video that was posted on here a day or so ago that I realised it was going to be WAY more useful for me than I thought.

I use Airport express routers at home and have 3 sets of speakers connected to them in the office, kitchen and the lounge. I use the 'airtunes' functionality to stream music from the Mac to the speakers via itunes.

What I didn't realise until yesterday is that Apple have built in compatibility from Airplay to Airport express 'airtunes'. This means that I can now wirelessly stream music from the ipod function on the iphone to any of these sets of speakers. Absolutely fab as I now don't have to fire up the mac if I want to listen to some music.

Apple little promo video also mentioned that you can even stream from other apps too. I had a quick check and I can also stream:

- Last.fm (which I use all the time)
- BBC iplayer (great for radio)
- TVCatchup.com
- BBC news
- You tube (limited without video but maybe for the odd thing)

So I, for one, are super happy and think its one of the best new functions that Apple have ever added as part of an IOS upgrade.

I also think the potential is significant. The accessory manufactures will get on the bandwagon quickly and we'll see more Airtunes enabled speakers, and add-on dongles to convert your existing equipment. I suspect we may also see Airplay functionality coming to the Mac too - perhaps as part of the App store or the next OSX release. This would mean ipad /iphone to mac streaming for video etc. Then add an Airplay dongle to your car stereo and you have another new market.
 
chapmac said:
So I, for one, are super happy and think its one of the best new functions that Apple have ever added as part of an IOS upgrade.

I also think the potential is significant. The accessory manufactures will get on the bandwagon quickly and we'll see more Airtunes enabled speakers, and add-on dongles to convert your existing equipment. I suspect we may also see Airplay functionality coming to the Mac too - perhaps as part of the App store or the next OSX release. This would mean ipad /iphone to mac streaming for video etc. Then add an Airplay dongle to your car stereo and you have another new market.
Click to expand...

Me too. My iTunes library lives on an external that's only plugged in when I sync so being able to stream music directly from my iphone to the speakers plugged into my airport express is a godsend. Being able to remotely stream and control pandora is just icing on the cake.

I can't wait for airplay to be integrated into car stereos. I have an iphone dock in my car, and it's great, but it's limiting if a friend wants to control the music. I love the idea of being able to undock my phone, passing it to a friend in the back seat, and allowing them to chose what's playing.
 
panoz7 said:
Me too. My iTunes library lives on an external that's only plugged in when I sync so being able to stream music directly from my iphone to the speakers plugged into my airport express is a godsend. Being able to remotely stream and control pandora is just icing on the cake.

I can't wait for airplay to be integrated into car stereos. I have an iphone dock in my car, and it's great, but it's limiting if a friend wants to control the music. I love the idea of being able to undock my phone, passing it to a friend in the back seat, and allowing them to chose what's playing.
Click to expand...

This, I'm thinking of ripping apart my airport express and trying to wire it into my car.
 
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