CES 2024: Amazon Unveils Matter Casting Standard as Interoperable Alternative to AirPlay

[jaytv111]

Isn't this what DLNA is supposed to have done for the past 20 years? Maybe people have figured out better ways to do this since then, and it's easier to make something new than fix DLNA which doesn't work the best, but maybe not.

I think DLNA never really did "casting" as we know it, as another commenter says, it was a file browser and you could send file-based content, but you didn't have it just showing video or audio streams directly, ie cast my actual screen.

I looked it up, and DLNA was dissolved in 2017, probably to little or no fanfare, it was limited in utility.

Miracast (Wi-Fi Association standard) was a better implementation of open standard casting, but it's fallen out of favor too.

Forgive my cynicism, but I feel like Apple is only implementing the RCS as a means of staving off accusations of anti-competitiveness. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for them to implement another protocol (if they even can... this is proprietary I'd assume).

RCS is basically a replacement for SMS and MMS and it's badly needed. MMS and SMS are ancient protocols and need to be updated, so it's more like the whole world forced Apple's hand, from Google to Microsoft to even the GSM Association.

It'd be like Apple supporting 802.11b only and acting like Wifi (standards-based text messages) is outdated in the world of cellular (iMessage). Yes, that's an imperfect analogy.

But still, Apple can go either way on Matter casting. They already are supporting Matter so why not, on the other hand they really like Airplay. But it's a pain when you buy a fancy TV or smart speaker and it supports Google Cast but not Airplay. I think Apple wants to avoid a similar situation to Homekit being widely unsupported so they added Matter to try to fix this issue.

 

[Octavius8]

Regulators should push that all standard are open (documentation and not royalties needed and not excluding based on brands". Imagine we could have airdrop between Android and IOS?.

 

[gk_brown]

I'm happy with AirPlay. Not currently looking for an alternative.

 

[hagar]

We urgently need a standard. I have an Android based setup box and can stream to it from the Disney+ app, but not from the Apple TV app. Ridiculous.

And it’s not like AirPlay is superior. It’s slow and unreliable.

 

[gk_brown]

And it’s not like AirPlay is superior. It’s slow and unreliable.

I've never had an issue with it. It has always been far more reliable for me than Bluetooth. However, I only use it with Apple hardware - I did not have good luck with some third-party speakers.

 

[Hyperchaotic]

Calling it "Matter Casting" gives the impression that it's part of the Matter standard, but it's still proprietary to Amazon. It sounds like Amazon wants to "gift" it as an psuedo-open standard, but how much control will they maintain over it, much like Google controls the "open" Android?

They should not be allowed to use the name "Matter" unless it's truly an open standard for anybody to adopt.

There's no "gift", they're using the name "Matter" because it's an established part of the Open Matter spec. They've implemented a part of the published Matter spec that deals with casting (probably DASH Adaptive Streaming) and volume control.

 

[Remy149]

Considering how badly the usability of AirPlLay suffered from version 1 to version 2 (it was simple and it just WORKED), I would rejoice if Apple adopted/implemented this technology in their products.

As it stands, it's a pain point to not be able to easily stream content to a device that doesn't have AirPlay support.

Time will tell whether Apple considers AirPlay important enough to keep siloed, but I personally see that as more of a limitation than an advantage.

I’ve never had any issues with AirPlay 2 and I use it almost daily especially for audio

 

[McWetty]

Can you imagine if WiFi had the same fragmentation as video casting? If you used Apple devices, you’d have to use an Apple Airport…

Oh wait, that means we’d still have Airport Extremes. lol.

 

[grjj]

It just doesn't matter.

 

[zap2]

Forgive my cynicism, but I feel like Apple is only implementing the RCS as a means of staving off accusations of anti-competitiveness. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for them to implement another protocol (if they even can... this is proprietary I'd assume).

I care much less about the way than I do about actually supporting standards.

Going back on making iMessages open to other players was a stab in the back. I understand the business reason for it in the short term, but look at BlackBerry's BBM. Messaging alone won't keep people here to stay. Admittedly Apple's ecosystem is much wider, but the best way to keep consumers is to keep making devices that work well together better than anyone else.

Adding RCS isn't going to make users jump ship if iMessage continues to improve.

 

[zap2]

Matter (Casting), USB speeds and names, I swear this stuff is getting more confusing, not less.

Well wireless screen sharing is expanding, more offerings is probably going to be more confusing. Where AirPlay was once the only legitimately consistent (be it far more limited) experience, having Google and Amazon push alternatives is a positive. I doubt Apple would've opened up airplay to third-party hardware without Google and it's Chromecast.

The projectors at work allow for Airplay and Wireless Windows screesharing via a 3rd party box.

 

[aja_96]

Forgive my cynicism, but I feel like Apple is only implementing the RCS as a means of staving off accusations of anti-competitiveness. I wouldn't hold your breath waiting for them to implement another protocol (if they even can... this is proprietary I'd assume).

It’s meant to be open standard based on Matter, which was also a creation of many among which Apple

 

[ozaz]

"Matter Casting will initially only support streaming content from Amazon's Prime Video app to Echo Show devices..."

Then it is just a proprietary access method. Literally no one is asking for this.

The article uses poor phrasing (as someone else mentioned earlier in the comments). Matter casting doesn't only support Amazon services/devices. Amazon is adding support for Matter casting to some of their services/devices. It's an open standard that anyone can choose to use. Amazon is just the first to adopt it.

 

[svish]

Might end up being a successful alternative to AirPlay. Right now I am very satisfied with AirPlay

 

[wanha]

I’ve never had any issues with AirPlay 2 and I use it almost daily especially for audio

For audio, it works quite reliably.

Where it gets spotty is when you are trying to stream video. For some streaming apps, often all I get is a black box where the content should play while the rest of the desktop is steaming across fine.

I've tried to work around it multiple ways, but often I just end up throwing my hands up in frustration after three or four attempts.

 

[The Phazer]

For audio, it works quite reliably.

Where it gets spotty is when you are trying to stream video. For some streaming apps, often all I get is a black box where the content should play while the rest of the desktop is steaming across fine.

I've tried to work around it multiple ways, but often I just end up throwing my hands up in frustration after three or four attempts.

Airplay Mirroring on a Mac is *considerably* more fussy about the codec playing on the device than Apple like to pretend it is.

But if it's a streaming app, that isn't a bug, that is by design. Mirroring apps are blocked by the DRM, on purpose.