5 Things About Apple AirPlay That May Surprise You

We love cutting-edge tech. And if you’re like us, you’ve probably heard of Apple AirPlay already. What? You don’t know what it is? Well, the long and short of it is, Apple AirPlay allows users to stream music, photos, and video from their iOS devices (that’s iPhone, iPad, or iPod, in layman’s terms) over the wireless network, to an Apple AirPlay compatible device. So, if you have music on your iPod, and want to play it in a room or area, there won’t be any need for wires, docks, and the like. Simply whip out the iPod, log-in to the WiFi, send music to the receiver and play away.

But, that’s not all there is to it. Like all new technology, that is just the tip of the iceberg, and AirPlay is capable of more. A lot more. And count on Denon to take full advantage of AirPlay further developments unfold!

For now though, here’s a sneak preview of 5 things that you may find interesting about AirPlay. These will definitely make you think more of the AirPlay as just a convenient tool for playing music.

1. Some existing devices do not need any hardware upgrade for AirPlay – While AirPlay is a new step in media sharing, the foundations used to make it have existed for a while now. This allowed some forward thinking companies, like Denon, to prepare their line of devices for AirPlay compatibility. If you’re an owner of the AVR-991, AVR-3311CI, AVR-4311CI, or AVR-A100, all you need to do is to get the Denon AirPlay upgrade for around $49.99, and you’re all set. Your device will be ready for AirPlay!
2. You can play to essentially a limitless number of speakers – For example, your AVR is in one room, where a bunch of speakers are connected. But then, you have another set of external speakers that are also connected to the network, somewhere else, say, the balcony. Using AirPlay, you can select multiple speakers and send music to all of them. You can virtually create a whole house full of music, controlled using just your iOS device.
3. All music info is streamed as well – Say you have guests for a party, and a song plays over your speakers that gets the attention of a number of them. They ask you, “Who sang that? I’d love to get her album!” Instead of reading off your iPod, why not display it on-screen? Everything, from the song titles, to who sang them, what album they came from, even the album cover, will also be sent over AirPlay, and can be showed on screen via the AVR.
4. You can control what goes where – It’s a very flexible system that will grant you full control of your media. For example, it’s the end of a long day. You just want to plop down on the bed and watch a video before you sleep. You grab your iPad, but then realize your Denon headphones were left in the car. Too lazy to get up, you can stream the audio to your external speakers, but leave the video playing on the iPad, so you can watch up close and personal, and still have the kick ass sound you want.
5. The possibilities are endless – Pretty soon, AirPlay will be everywhere. Everything from simple digital picture frames that can display photos from the iPhone, to ultra advanced wireless headphones that can get music from any AirPlay device instantly (this is not a teaser of what is in store for Denon. Or maybe it is. You will never know… for now!) AirPlay is going to be a critical component of our digital lives soon. So be ready!