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iOS 11 wish list: AirPlay Express

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iOS 11 wish list: AirPlay Express

Apple TV Express could plug in, power on, and get anything from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac up onto your television.

It’s hard not to look at the Google Chromecast and wonder if Apple could make something like it. Don’t get me wrong: I love the new Apple TV. With Siri support and the ability to run apps, it’s clearly what I want in my home now and in the near future. But it’s not something I can easily put in my pocket and travel with — be it between cities or simply between offices.

Earlier this year I was traveling to do training for some of our new writers. In one of the offices, we had two last-generation Apple TVs attached to two big screens on opposite sides of the building. They were used as inexpensive and convenient conduits for AirPlay — Apple’s wireless content beaming system — so we could quickly share what was on our Macs, iPads, and iPhones, with everyone in the room.

When I travel to San Francisco I often stay at a hotel that has previous generation Apple TVs a…

Apple TV Express may just plug in, energy on, and get anything else out of your iPhone, iPad, or Mac up onto your tv.

It is arduous now not to take a look at the Google Chromecast and wonder whether Apple may just make one thing love it. Do not get me mistaken: I really like the new Apple TV. With Siri beef up and the power to run apps, it is obviously what I would like in my house now and within the close to long run. However it is not one thing I will be able to simply installed my pocket and commute with — be it between towns or just between workplaces.

Previous this yr I used to be touring to do coaching for a few of our new writers. In one of the crucial workplaces, we had two last-generation Apple TVs hooked up to 2 giant monitors on reverse facets of the construction. They have been used as affordable and handy conduits for AirPlay — Apple's wireless content material beaming gadget — so shall we temporarily percentage what used to be on our Macs, iPads, and iPhones, with everybody within the room.

Once I trip to San Francisco I frequently keep at a lodge that has earlier era Apple TVs hooked up to each and every tv set as smartly. That means, as soon as you are at the lodge community, you are only a few steps clear of AirPlaying any of your stuff to the large display in entrance of you. Relatively than having to be informed a brand new channel grid or endure thru but any other horrible set most sensible field revel in, you get content material that is yours thru an interface you are already accustomed to.

However the ones are each exceptions. I would love a rule.

The Play's the item

Like CarPlay, which shall we your software and content material take over the interface of the automobile — and gets rid of the confusion traditionally related to the whole thing from upgrades to leases — AirPlay does a lot the similar any place there is a tv. It is so nice that, once I finally end up in an workplace or lodge room with out an Apple TV, I omit it significantly. Positive, I may just pick out up an additional Apple TV field, earlier or present era, and ensure I've it with me always, however that looks like overkill. I do not in point of fact want a field, Siri, or apps for that. I merely want AirPlay.

I want it sufficient that it makes me lengthy for one thing like Google's Chromecast dongle — a tiny tool that plugs into an HDTV after which merely shall we me flow from my iPhone, iPad, or Mac to the large display. There is even a brand new Chromecast Ultra that enhance 4K — which will probably be nice when extra suppliers and higher bandwidth make it a fact for most of the people.

Apple may just pass as far as to construct a fundamental Apple TV revel in into iOS 11, the place the good judgment remains at the iPad or iPhone however the interface and content material tasks onto your tv in the course of the tiny tool. That may be like the unique Apple Watch. It might permit for a degree of multitasking and handoff — the place streams are transferred over fairly than simply streamed — however it would additionally upload overhead and lead to a not up to ultimate revel in.

If this is the case, the interface and control, similar to it's, may just keep for your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, and the video merely move to the stick — AirPlay Express or Apple TV Express, let's name it. (Now not Apple TV Shuffle!)

It might be nice for workplaces the place all that is sought after is display mirroring, nice for vacationers who need the smallest quantity of hardware imaginable of their wallet or baggage — nice for someone who simply needs what is of their arms to be up on their TV. And, like CarPlay, it will make hardware updates much less of a priority — each and every time iOS is up to date, Apple TV Express can be up to date as smartly.

Room on the backside

Apple has Airport Excessive and a more cost effective Airport Express. The present Apple TV used to be, till very just lately, supplemented at the low finish via the former Apple TV. Now that the previous Apple TV is long past, and streaming stick can be a nice choice: The entire-on Apple TV for many who need a devoted field and the way forward for tv in apps, and Apple TV Express for many who merely need to venture content material onto a display at this time.

There is any choice of the reason why Apple would by no means make a TV streaming stick. However each and every time I take into accounts it, I wish they might.

What do you wish to have to peer?

Would you employ an AirPlay streaming stick? What else would you wish to have to peer in iOS 11? Let me know within the feedback!

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