So what’s the deal with Airplay 2?

[daijholt]

So 11.2.5 is due out in a matter of days, and HomePod is likely due out within a matter of weeks.

So where is airplay 2? Is it part of the 11.2.5 update? Can anyone running beta 7 confirm if this is the case or not? I’m aware you can now view what’s playing on other devices from iOS, but is that airplay 2 or just a tweak of airplay 1?

It’s certainly possible that 11.3 May be the full airplay 2 release, but if that’s due in beta in feb, we won’t be seeing a release until late March/early April, which means HomePod can’t release until the either.

I’m eager to grab myself a HomePod so any speculation that brings it closer to reality will get my attention!

 

[casperes1996]

Pretty sure AirPlay 2.0 is in 11.0. There's a WWDC presentation about adding it to your app for iOS 11.0

 

[yeahtyeaht]

I think they will release it with the 11.3 update and HomePod release

 

[ZEEN0j]

I think they will release it with the 11.3 update and HomePod release

This. They pretty much have to, seeing as if you buy two you want them playing together.

 

[Nikhil72]

11.2.5 does support AirPlay from what it seems, though I can’t be sure it’s in full since all I have as output is my Apple TV running the latest beta there too. When you 3D Touch on the music widget in control center, the output device shows up as its own box. If you tap it and play music via the music app, it essentially serves as a remote control for the output device. So playing music this way on Apple TV shows what’s playing as though playing on the iPhone but phone calls don’t interrupt what’s going on.

 

[casperes1996]

11.2.5 does support AirPlay from what it seems, though I can’t be sure it’s in full since all I have as output is my Apple TV running the latest beta there too. When you 3D Touch on the music widget in control center, the output device shows up as its own box. If you tap it and play music via the music app, it essentially serves as a remote control for the output device. So playing music this way on Apple TV shows what’s playing as though playing on the iPhone but phone calls don’t interrupt what’s going on.

AirPlay has been supported for many, many releases now. This is specifically about AirPlay 2. Here's a wuick test. (I can't perform it since I don't have anything to AirPlay to). Stream music of a podcast to the Apple TV. Wait a bit for the buffer to fill up. Then take your iPhone outside of wi-fi range (not sure if it works just enabling AirPlane mode here or if that sends a kill signal to the Apple TV). If it's AirPlay 2, it'll keep playing for several minutes. If it's AirPlay 1, it'll stop within 30 seconds or so, probably even less

 

[Banglazed]

There's some signs of Airplay 2 in the 11.2.5 but don't expect full fledged feature to be working till 11.3 or when HomePod releases.

 

[Nikhil72]

AirPlay has been supported for many, many releases now. This is specifically about AirPlay 2. Here's a wuick test. (I can't perform it since I don't have anything to AirPlay to). Stream music of a podcast to the Apple TV. Wait a bit for the buffer to fill up. Then take your iPhone outside of wi-fi range (not sure if it works just enabling AirPlane mode here or if that sends a kill signal to the Apple TV). If it's AirPlay 2, it'll keep playing for several minutes. If it's AirPlay 1, it'll stop within 30 seconds or so, probably even less

I'm aware airplay has been supported for...years. Like I said, a new feature is to select the AppleTV as an output via the airplay menu now and then use the music app not so much as a feeder to airplay but as a remote control for it, which is an AirPlay 2 feature. With this, phone calls do not interrupt playback. As for cutting off wifi and testing the buffer, I'll give it a try at some point.

In addition, I do notice my throughput performance and connection stability with my old airplay speakers is better with iOS 11 than with previous versions of iOS.

 

[casperes1996]

I'm aware airplay has been supported for...years. Like I said, a new feature is to select the AppleTV as an output via the airplay menu now and then use the music app not so much as a feeder to airplay but as a remote control for it, which is an AirPlay 2 feature. With this, phone calls do not interrupt playback. As for cutting off wifi and testing the buffer, I'll give it a try at some point.

Sorry, I misunderstood . Interested to hear your results about AirPlay 2's extended buffer for long-form audio.