Apple to license AirPlay video streaming to third-party HDTV makers?

AirPlay is Apple’s media streaming protocol that enables streaming of audio and video. Currently 3rd party devices can only stream audio with Apple devices like the Apple TV being the only products that can receive audio and video. Apple maybe considering licensing the video standard to 3rd parties, so we could see HDTVs supporting Airplay which would mean we could stream video from iOS device straight to the TV, almost like the a Media Center Extender.  While Airplay doesn’t have the flexibility of DLNA is does have the advantage of working 100% of the time which is not something I can say about DLNA.

I could see browsing BBC content on my iPad and then streaming it to the TV, while we can do a lot of that at the moment with DLNA making it work for the average consumer is something that Apple do well

 

Though AirPlay can currently be used to stream audio to compatible third-party devices, Apple may begin licensing the wireless streaming standard for video as well, according to a new report.

Citing two people familiar with the project, Bloomberg reported on Wednesday that Apple could allow other device makers to use AirPlay for “streaming movies, TV shows and other video content.” One person reportedly said that such devices could be made available as soon as this year.

“An expanded AirPlay would let users stream programming wirelessly from an Apple mobile device to a TV that carries the technology,” authors Cliff Edwards and Adam Satariano wrote. “That may spur wider use of Apple’s services and devices in consumers’ living rooms.”

The strategy could negate the need for users to purchase Apple’s $99 Apple TV set top box, currently the main beneficiary of the AirPlay standard. If HDTV makers were to integrate AirPlay into their products, it could also pour cold water on longstanding speculation that Apple intends to build its own connected high-definition television set in the near future.

via appleinsider.com