Samsung has announced its new SDK that lets developers add screencasting functionality to apps that work in tandem with smart TVs beginning Nov. 12. The SDK also lets developers use multiscreen and overlay features for added device integration, which will help set Samsung apart from Airplay, Chromecast and other competition. The announcement was made today […]
Netflix is one of the most popular video streaming services in the world. A couple of the things that are so appealing about Netflix to many users is that the company is constantly adding new content and has some of its own original shows that are highly appealing. Netflix has announced that it has made […]
Netflix brought 1080p streaming to Android 4.3 this summer, and now iPhone / iPad users can experience HD streams as well, provided they’ve updated to iOS 7. Another new feature in the latest update is support for AirPlay streaming (if you prefer that to using the Apple TV’s built-in app, it also means disabling AirPlay mirroring and requires iOS 7), along with other miscellaneous fixes. Hit the link below to grab version 5.0 right away, unless you’re still busy testing out the just-released Chromecast support from Hulu Plus.
Filed under: Cellphones, Home Entertainment, Tablets, Internet, HD, Mobile, Apple
Source: iTunes
Don’t quite have the funds — or room — for the circular B&O Play A9 speaker ($2,700)? Libratone’s new AirPlay and DLNA-equipped Loop might catch your eye. The $500 satellite dish-like rig packs two ribbon tweeters and a bass radiator, which together pump out enough volume for moderately sized rooms. While the Loop is tiny enough to sit on a nightstand, it also comes with a detachable wall mount. You can even connect devices to it via ad-hoc WiFi if you’re away from an actual network, thanks to PlayDirect — just like the Zipp. As with all Libratone speakers, the unit’s sound characteristics are adjustable via a free app (Android and iOS) and the swappable wool speaker grille comes in a variety of colors ($50 each). The Loop is up for pre-order now in “Pepper Black, “Salty Grey” and “Raspberry Red” if you’re interested enough to bring it full circle. It’ll hit doorsteps and retailers by the end of the month.
Filed under: Home Entertainment
Source: Libratone
Android doesn’t really have an AirPlay equivalent – its Miracast and Mirrorlink technologies are similar, but lack the kind of opportunity Apple’s tech provides to build second screen experiences that work independently of what’s being shown on the original. That’s why Solution57 created their Remote Application Framework (RAF for short), which goes even further, making displays attached to Android devices work more like displays attached to traditional desktop PCs.
Using RAF, Android devs can build experiences that run an app on a remotely connected display while also running separate software on the host device. The host device runs all the apps, and the receiving one displays its contents. UI is completely separate on both devices, which means that a user can play games while also running GPS on a second attached display. It’s a single system, with who separate displays, just like when you plug a monitor into your MacBook Pro.
It’s not exactly the same, though – the connected display still needs to be running some kind of OS itself, which is why RAF is being touted initially as a feature for in-vehicle infotainment (IVI) systems. You can imagine how a GM or a Nissan could implement this kind of functionality easily, no matter whether they’re using an IVI based on QNX or any other non-Android software, allowing users to either opt for their own in-built tools, or have an experience where their Android phone can take over entirely, just like Apple is proposing with its iOS in the Car feature introduced with iOS 7.
It doesn’t require any special changes to Android or the individual apps themselves to work, but Solution57 Director Rafal Malewski tells me in an interview that it would help greatly with adoption if RAF became part of the Mirrorlink official specifications.
“For automotive integration between mobile and IVI, to get proper penetration, we need this to get adopted as an extension to the Mirrorlink spec,” he explained. “We have initiated contact to the Car Connectivity Consortium to see if they are interested in picking up the technology.”
Meanwhile, Solution57 is already in talks to a couple of OEMs for non-IVI use of the remote tech. It’s in use in consumer-facing VNC clients that work on Android, iOS, QNX, Windows and Linux, and there are all kinds of potential applications Malewski sees as possible, including for secondary displays on wearable tech, or on smart controllers for Android-based gaming consoles and smart TVs.
Ultimately, Solution57 wants to see this adopted as a built-in technology by Google, which they’d likely hope would happen via an acquisition of the Danish firm. Currently, it’s available for OEM licensing, and the first devices with RAF integrated should start shipping around the middle of next year is all goes as planned, per Malewski.
Apple may have been too hasty in rolling out its Apple TV 6.0 update last week, but it’s been quick to make amends. The company has just re-released the upgrade with a new build number — and, presumably, fixes for the connectivity and reset issues from the initial rollout. Otherwise, the new firmware offers the same AirPlay from iCloud support, iTunes Music Store shopping and iTunes Radio streaming that we saw a few days ago. We haven’t heard of any hiccups with this latest revision, but let us know if you encounter anything serious.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Apple
Source: 9to5 Mac
The Apple TV set-top box offers a feature called AirPlay which allows users to stream content from a compatible device onto their television. There are a number of third party apps available in the Google Play Store which bring this feature to Android devices. However, such apps are often limited in their feature set. Koushik Dutta, the Vice President of Engineering at Cyanogen, today posted a video showing off AirPlay Mirroring from an HTC One. He says that the feature is “coming soon to a CyanogenMod near you,” which implies that AirPlay Mirroring will be built inside the OS.
Dutta hasn’t given a concrete release date as yet, so we’re left guessing. In the past, he has worked on bringing support for a variety of streaming protocols in CyanogenMod. The list includes Roku and DLNA compatible devices, AirPlay is the newest addition to the list. Cyanogen develops some of the most widely used custom ROMs for Android devices. Recently it was incorporated into a formal company with $7 million in funding. The company is expected to partner with a hardware manufacturer to begin shipping devices that come with CyanogenMod pre-installed. Oppo N1 smartphone, which is due to be announced on September 23rd, is believed to be the first CyanogenMod powered smartphone.
CyanogenMod To Bring AirPlay Mirroring On Android original content from Ubergizmo. 
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Streaming Thundercats to your iDevice with Lovefilm is all well and good, but what if you wanted to watch it on a bigger screen? Well, now you can, assuming you use Apple TV: the app’s latest update has added AirPlay support. The refreshed app also tacks on Watchlist management and IMDb integration, much like the update Amazon (Lovefilm’s parent company) brought to its Instant Video app earlier this month. Just like that, Apple faithful have another video option to choose from. Now if you’ll excuse us, we have some catching up to do with Lion-o.
Filed under: Home Entertainment, HD, Mobile, Amazon
Source: iTunes
Just in case you thought incorporation would slow things down among the folks behind CyanogenMod, dev and VP of Engineering Koushik Dutta just posted this video showing off AirPlay Mirroring from an Android phone. He’s been working on Android streaming support to various protocols / devices for the “AllCast” media streaming app since Google’s changes cut it off from the Chromecast (for now at least), and Apple’s screen sharing feature is the latest target. There are other apps in the Play Store that connect Android devices over AirPlay, but mirroring support integrated into the OS feels fresh. AllCast support is already in place for pushing media to Roku and DLNA-compatible hardware, and he says this mirroring feature is “coming soon to a CyanogenMod near you.”
Filed under: Cellphones, Software, HD, Mobile, Apple, Google
Source: Koushik Dutta (Google+) (1), (2)
Apple TV has been updated, with v6.0 of the set-top box’s software adding iTunes Radio, music purchase support, access to content stored in iCloud, and more. The new software brings the same iTunes Radio streaming support that Apple added to iPhones, iPads, and iTunes on the desktop earlier this week to the television, in addition […]
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