Apple airplay questions

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CutCutCut

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#109457 20-Sep-2012 08:54

I don't own any Apple products and am not too familiar with airplay, but I'm trying to find out some inf. From the reading I've done, it's not clear to me if you can use an iPad for example to stream music from a PC to an airplay enable device (amp or similar). Or is it only available from iPad to sirplay device or PC to sirplay device?

Any experinces with how people have found using airplay would be good. I'm considering suggesting setting it up for some family members.
Thanks.

nickb800

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#688582 20-Sep-2012 09:30

You can get apps for the iPad to control itunes on a PC, and set the PC to send audio to an airplay system.

The cheapest airplay device afaik is an airport express, its a wireless access point/router from Apple, around $200, and it has an audio output

Kyanar

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#688583 20-Sep-2012 09:30

Any software that has AirPlay support can stream to AirPlay enabled devices. On PC, this is (obviously) iTunes primarily, but you can also get software such as AirFoil which can stream system audio or individual applications which don't support it that way. It's the same on the Mac. On the iPad, the software needs to support AirPlay - no third party app can make incompatible apps work.

I use it myself to watch episodes of TV programs semi-legitimately obtained from overseas (I do pay for it) from my PC running iTunes, and the quality is excellent. Oh, in case you didn't guess, AirPlay is for audio and video - though if you're using AirPlay speakers or an amp you'll only be using audio. Since video is so good, you can imagine that audio will be just as good (it is).

corksta

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#688584 20-Sep-2012 09:33

Yes it's the latter. PC to AirPlay device or iPad to device.

It works well, great for streaming music to other parts of the house or outside if you're entertaining.

Plus great for showing videos and pictures on the TV.

NonprayingMantis

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#688585 20-Sep-2012 09:36

nickb800: You can get apps for the iPad to control itunes on a PC, and set the PC to send audio to an airplay system.

The cheapest airplay device afaik is an airport express, its a wireless access point/router from Apple, around $200, and it has an audio output

Apple TV is only around $150.

CutCutCut

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#688587 20-Sep-2012 09:47

Thanks for the replys. I thought it might be the case where you can only stream from the iPad. I'll look into the 3rd party app options for ccontroling the PC ituens/airplay. I was hoping it would be a simpler setup than needing 3rd party apps. In saying that they would probably be able to fit most, if not all, their music on the iPad. The other option is a squeezebox, which still would allow use of the ipad to control music streaming but lose the need for airplay devices. Further investigation required I think.

chiefie

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#688588 20-Sep-2012 09:47

Get Remote.app (Apple) to control iTunes, and use AppleTV 3 as AirPlay receiver for both audio and video output. You can also mirror your iPad to TV via AirPlay Mirror.

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NonprayingMantis

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#688599 20-Sep-2012 10:02

I stream media that is stored on my PC to my apple TV using airplay via the Ipad.
I use Airplayit app (which is free). Just install on your PC and it is seamless.

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aboylikedave

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#692532 27-Sep-2012 22:28

Airfoil is software which costs USD25 and send audio from PC to airplay. Works for me for Spotify, itunes and media monkey, tho I use it less now I have an iPad.

http://rogueamoeba.com/airfoil/windows/

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khull

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#692534 27-Sep-2012 22:43

Out of the box, it is iOS device to airplay device (Apple TV); Mac OSX Mountain Lion to airplay device (Apple TV)