How Apple AirPlay Works

To send and receive streaming audio and video with AirPlay, the devices you're using must first be connected to the same local network. This connection could be wireless, using WiFi or Bluetooth, or wired, using Ethernet. Though connecting with Bluetooth isn't the same as being on your home computer network, AirPlay detects Bluetooth devices automatically and lets you manage them alongside your other network-accessible AirPlay options.

For WiFi networks there are two ways you can set up your AirPlay network connections:

After you've added your AirPlay-enabled devices to the same network, each AirPlay source can automatically detect all its potential receivers. For example, if you add your iPad to the network, the iTunes app on your iPad will automatically detect that the Apple TV in your living room and the AirPlay-enabled speakers in your bedroom are possible remote output devices.

So how do you use it? Airplay-enabled apps will automatically scan your WiFi network for compatible devices. When an application detects that AirPlay is possible, the AirPlay icon will appear in the application display. Once you access the AirPlay menu, you can select individual devices you want to receive the streaming audio or video from that application. Note that if you wish to share your media between two computers on your network, the AirPlay icon will not appear. That's because the iTunes application for desktop and laptop computers already has a built-in library sharing function for other iTunes users on your network. AirPlay is redundant for this computer-only scenario. For more information on streaming, check out our article on How Streaming Video and Audio Works.

Next, let's consider the advantages and limitations of using AirPlay.

Some tech experts tout AirPlay as a revolutionary technology that will change the face of home entertainment and network data sharing. AirPlay has the following advantages that give credence to that idea:

Despite these great features, AirPlay also has its limitations. Most of the criticism around AirPlay cites the following disadvantages:

In addition to these limitations, streaming to something other than a computer requires purchasing an Apple TV or AirPort Express, each available for $99 as of this writing, or experimenting with third-party AirPlay-enabled devices. This could be a hidden agenda to sell more Apple TV devices, or it could just be a revenue stream for Apple as they charge manufacturers a $4 licensing fee per AirPlay-enabled device they sell [source: Elmer-DeWitt].

So far, we've looked at Apple AirPlay with a focus on its use by other Apple products. Now, let's look who's partnering to offer AirPlay compatibility outside of Apple, and how AirPlay compares to other media-sharing technology.

As of mid-2011, Apple is working with these partners to create products that can play streaming audio using Apple AirPlay: D&M Holdings (Denon and Marantz), Bowers & Wilkins, JBL and iHome. The last three primarily make stand-alone wireless speakers while Denon and Marantz brands include sophisticated audio-video (A/V) components for home entertainment systems.

Are these components an affordable option for your home entertainment setup? Adding a Denon or Marantz A/V receiver to your system will cost several hundred dollars, not including the additional $49.99 required to enable AirPlay on each device. Only purchase one of these if you're already in the market for a high-quality A/V component. The speaker-only products offered by Bowers & Wilkins, JBL and iHome are less expensive, but not by much. The Bowers & Wilkins Zeppelin Air will set you back almost $600, the JBL On Air Wireless just under $350, and the iHome iW1 about $300.

So, while AirPlay is a free feature on Apple products, making full use of it can hit hard in the wallet. The question is, will people buy it? As developers produce more devices and applications to use AirPlay, time will tell whether AirPlay itself becomes yet a true selling feature for Apple products.

In the meantime, a lesser-known group known as the Digital Living Network Alliance (DLNA) is continuing the strides it has been making since it launched in 2003. More than 245 companies are part of the DLNA, which originally formed to establish interoperability standards among digital devices. The group published its DLNA Interoperability Guidelines in June 2004 along with a certification program to recognize products that meet the standards.

Wired and wireless DLNA-certified devices are everywhere, and they have far more interoperability features than AirPlay. For example, a certified digital media player (DMP) can access network attached storage (NAS) by way of a certified digital media server (DMS). So, instead of having to play your music or movies as a stream from a separate device, your TV or stereo can access them directly from the source.

Some of the member companies in the DLNA are household names like Microsoft, Sony and Sharp, as well as trusted tech industry favorites Logitech, Cisco and Nvidia. Conspicuously absent from the DLNA, though, is Apple. Apple has a reputation of keeping to itself and venturing to establish its company brand as its own standard.

AirPlay started its 2011 growth spurt following the release of Apple iOS 4.2. As of June 2011, it's too early to know whether AirPlay will become a long-term success, or if Apple will be able to overshadow the years of successful DLNA collaboration in the home streaming arena. Stream forward to the next page for more useful information.