So let’s talk about Airplay 2...

[daijholt]

So Airplay 2 is AWOL for now, meaning I’m unable to multi-stream music from my swanky new iPhone X to my swanky new soundbar-equipped Apple TVs all at once.

HOWEVER...

I can, for some bizarre reason, play music on multiple devices from iTunes on my Mac.

How exactly does that work? I thought the point of Airplay 2 was to send multiple audio streams at once, and iTunes on my Mac can do it already, but my iPhone can’t. Just seems a bit strange to me.

Anyway, anyone else excited for Airplay 2 to finally land?

 

[Mlrollin91]

Because it’s not been released on iOS yet. It’s been on Mac for a little while.

 

[Ludatyk]

Anyway, anyone else excited for Airplay 2 to finally land?

I created a thread discussing my excitement for AirPlay 2... I bought 2 Libratone Zipp Minis to be used when Apple officially announce it.

I think the delayed of HomePod will only result a delay of Airplay 2... I would think they both are tied together.

It’s kind of disappointing since other manufacturer’s products can take advantage of AirPlay 2, but I doubt Apple will push out that feature without trying to push their own product.

 

[rshanahan]

Itunes on a mac has been able to do multi room (airplay device) for years. Currently, it is the heart of my whole house audio system. I believe airplay 2 allows multiple room on iOS devices, where before is was a one to one relationship. I'm hoping that AP2 does not JACK UP my current system. I am totally happy with AP1 and I almost never stream from an iOS device. Guessing I will never update my media mac mini or it's iTunes once AP2 is released!

 

[Mascots]

When you are playing via iTunes, the application on the Mac sets itself as a server between the devices to stream playback to them and manage other features.

Airplay 2 is a little different: instead of an iOS device or Mac setting itself up the central server for playback, it is all managed between the actual speakers with iOS device or Mac sending chunks of information to them to change what's happening. This enables thing like queue-sharing between devices on different accounts, leaving the network/audio steam while allowing music to remain playing (think phone calls), and independent control of multiple, separate audio streams to different devices on the network.

 

[Bdub12]

Is there any confirmation of how Airplay 2 works? Is it like Sonos where the phone simply tells the speakers or device what to stream? You're not actually streaming from then phone unless it's content on the phone itself, right?

 

[Banglazed]

Is there any confirmation of how Airplay 2 works? Is it like Sonos where the phone simply tells the speakers or device what to stream? You're not actually streaming from then phone unless it's content on the phone itself, right?

 

[Bdub12]

I watched that video too. I know how it functions, but I don't know what the technology is actually doing. I assume that it tells the speaker what to stream. I watched the WWDC video, and it seems to be that way. Just curious.

 

[Mascots]

I watched that video too. I know how it functions, but I don't know what the technology is actually doing. I assume that it tells the speaker what to stream. I watched the WWDC video, and it seems to be that way. Just curious.

www.musicmultiroom.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/airplay2_large.jpg


This image seems to say yes, but right now it seems like an iOS, tvOS device serves as a hub and the negotiator between whatever service and the speakers - the API shows that they do the lay work of downloading, encoding, and relaying to the devices on the network while those devices talk between themselves to maintain synchronization.

I'm sure other non-iOS or HomePod devices can serve as hosts to airplay to each other - given it's been shown and referenced - but we won't know until there's some actual AirPlay 2 speakers out there with their own service links like Sonos. I can't find much reference how that'll work on the hardware's side yet other than the vague remarks from WWDC.