Undoubtedly, Apple is the pioneer of technology and invention. Whether it’s about inventing new products, reinventing the one which we already use, Apple dominates in almost every field and is surely on top of its game.
As you all know Apple WWDC (Worldwide Developers Conference) is approaching, we’re all pretty much excited about one feature and that’s none other than AirPlay 2. The initial announcement about AirPlay 2 was done at last year’s WWDC so now finally it’s time that we start seeing it on our devices very soon.
What is AirPlay 2?
For those of you who’re not aware, AirPlay is basically an audio streaming technology introduced by Apple. Earlier, multi room streaming was not supported by either iPhone or iPad, but AirPlay 2 will change the way how you stream. So in simple parlance, AirPlay 2 allows you to stream audio or video from any iOS device to another device (or devices) which is connected on the same WiFi network.
With AirPlay 2 you can stream an audio or video from your iOS device to multiple devices at the same time. Say, if you’re playing a song on your iPhone it can stream on multiple speakers around your home while connected to a common WiFi or wired home network. Isn’t this great?
Let’s explore how AirPlay 2 technology works in depth.
How Does it Work?
Understanding how AirPlay technology works is pretty simple. It just involves two major key points, one is the sender and other is receiver. The sender can be any iOS device like your iPhone, iPad or Macbook. On the other hand, the receiving device can either be your Apple TV if you’re willing to stream audio and video both. If not, then any third party AirPlay compatible Bluetooth speaker can also be on the receiving end if you’re just streaming audio.
AirPlay technology is far better than Bluetooth in terms of sound quality or streaming speed. As WiFi offers a wider bandwidth, any audio that you hear via AirPlay will sound way better than Bluetooth.
What all can we do with AirPlay 2?
Thanks to Apple, AirPlay 2 is just another name for Multi-room streaming. We can easily stream multiple devices at the same time or simultaneously, pick and choose which AirPlay speaker to stream to. Yes, AirPlay 2 can surely pump your house parties!
Apart from this, you can also use labels like “Kitchen” or “Bedroom” and define a place where your speakers will be located. Not just this, you can also take Siri’s help and play a song in a particular room or in your entire house however you like. You’ll be able to pick speakers via Apple Music app and AirPlay 2 audio toolkit apps.
Another promising feature which AirPlay 2 offers is that now you can easily create multi user play lists on Apple Music.
Which Third Party Speakers will Support AirPlay 2?
A lot of well-established manufacturers have signed up for Apple AirPlay 2. Some of the major names include Bose, Denon, Naim, Bang & Olufsen, Bluesound, Beats and more.
What’s the Second best Alternative for AirPlay 2?
If you can’t wait for AirPlay 2, then Google Chromecast can do the trick. You can easily sync your iOS or Android device’s content on hi-fi devices. There are a bunch of third-party applications that will let you Chromecast local audio from your phone to the speaker.
When can we Expect from AirPlay 2?
Initially, Apple announced that AirPlay 2 will be introduced with iOS 11 but as of now there’s no sign of it. So, now as per the sources there’s a strong chance that AirPlay 2 will come along Apple iOS 11.4 update. (Fingers Crossed)
Will AirPlay 2 Change the Game?
Yes, pretty much! As we know the AirPlay 2 was supposed to be introduced along with HomePod but as of now there’s no luck in there. As of now Apple HomePod doesn’t support AirPlay 2 or any multi room streaming functionality. So, if this year AirPlay 2 manages to steal the show Apple surely has a long way to go!