iPad Mini: Magic streaming tech will ditch your Wi-Fi
We’re getting nearer to Apple’s rumoured 12 September event, where it’s expected to unveil the iPhone 5, and perhaps even the iPad Mini – though that may come a few weeks later, according to the latest leaks. Now a new report reveals one of the new features likely to appear in both hot new devices: wireless AirPlay streaming that doesn’t even need your Wi-Fi to work.
The Telegraph reports that Apple has a new technology in the works, which may be revealed at the iPhone 5 showcase next month: AirPlay Direct. It would work much like Apple’s current AirPlay, which makes streaming music, videos and more between Apple MacBooks, iOS gadgets and supported accessories easy, but with one crucial twist: your network is no longer needed.
Will the iPad Mini pack the same streaming skills as the Apple TV?
Instead of having to connect to your Wi-Fi and type in a fiddly password off a small scrap of paper, AirPlay Direct devices will create their own Wi-Fi connection between each other. This is how gadgets like Parrot’s AR Drone work: the quadricopter doesn’t need your home router to fly and connect to a smartphone remote control, as it creates its own hotspot.
That’d make using AirPlay even easier than rival streaming services, and a real selling point. Anyone with an iPhone at a party could hop on and start sending songs to the AirPlay speaker dock, so long as it contained Apple’s proprietary tech inside. Indeed there’s no reason this feature will be exclusive to the iPad Mini and iPhone 5: it could work with any existing AirPlay gadgets.
We’ll have more news for you on Apple’s plans as soon as they break. In the meantime, let us know what you think: is AirPlay the reason to buy Apple?
User comments (5)
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Chris Simon29 August 2012
Well, I hate to be a killjoy, but I don't see this as groundbreaking at all or even newsworthy. It's simply Apple careering down the path of proprietary technology and lock-ins as Microsoft did years ago and got burned for it. Yes, I have an iPad and think it's great. But at the moment, ANYONE could come to a party at my house with ANY make of tablet or smartphone or even laptop and stream music from it to my industry-standard DLNA renderers, even directly to a TV without neding a streaming device inbetween. This makes a complete mockery of "Anyone with an iPhone at a party could hop on and start sending songs to the AirPlay speaker dock, so long as it contained Apple’s proprietary tech inside". As far as I can see, the only advantage of Apple's new system is for hosues that have got loads of Apple gadgets wired up but no internal wireless network. Erm, is that likely to happen?
Report as inappropriateJon Hancock29 August 2012
How is this different to Wi-Fi direct?
Report as inappropriateChris Bryson29 August 2012
'Instead of having to connect to your Wi-Fi and type in a fiddly password off a small scrap of paper'... You make it sound so hard! I think I would actually prefer a bit of security ;) (p.s. Is captcha taking the mick? Took me about 20 refreshes to find 2 words I could read!)
Report as inappropriateMichael 29 August 2012
There is already an iPad mini, it's called the iPhone!
Report as inappropriateMyrlene Amos30 September 2012
Thanks
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