Air Parrot
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AirParrot 2 launches: introduces Chromecast support and Bluetooth discovery
AirParrot enables you to stream your OS X desktop to AirPlay destinations like Apple TV. If that functionality sounds a bit familiar, it might be because Apple added desktop mirroring to OS X a while after AirParrot first debuted. AirParrot managed to survive that "sherlocking" by providing a feature set that included app- and window-specific control, letting you fine tune exactly what material was streamed. Now entering its 2.0 launch, AirParrot introduces numerous new features including an upgraded UI, Chromecast support and Bluetooth discovery. The new version also provides audio-only streaming, supporting AirPort express destinations and a limited collection of home theater systems. AirParrot 2 is now available, at $14.99 for one license, $62.99 for 5. Existing users can upgrade for the first week of sales for 1/3rd off (check your registered email for a coupon code), about $9.99 a copy or so. To learn more about the upgrade, visit the Squirrels product page.
Slingshot delivers business-class iOS and PC screen sharing
Slingshot, the latest offering from the makers of Reflector and Air Parrot, introduces a paradigm for business-class screen sharing that pushes meeting software to new levels. If you're familiar with live-meeting/webcast services (like join.me, for example) you'll have encountered server-ware that enables you to share your desktop out to groups for demonstrations and presentations. The current generation provides support for phone chats, text messages, and so forth. Slingshot takes all that functionality and bumps it up. Like its competitors, this software is aimed at the business and education markets, offering both one-to-one and one-to-many sharing. It adds some really splendid features like iOS screen sharing, individual OS X app screens, and participant control. With Slingshot, you can demo your apps and present screens anywhere in the world. When testing, the TUAW team was really pleased by the quality of transmission and the ability of any participant to share materials from their system. Slingshot allows users to share individual desktop apps, their entire desktop, or to screen share from iOS via AirPlay. Each participant may opt in to use a local camera feed and microphone as well. (The service plan you select sets limits on how many cameras may participate.) Our tests made it clear, however, this was early release software. We encountered audio drop outs, software crashes, and some odd video glitches. Despite those, we were all really impressed by the feature set and overall design quality. While the service is still young, it shows great promise. Slingshot works by subscription. After a 30-day full feature trial, its plans range from 1-to-1 connections for $10/month ($110/year) to an enterprise-worthy model at $100/month ($1000/year) for up to 25 users, 5 camera feeds, and phone support. Budget-minded users might want to stick with join.me's free single-screen sharing service and Squirrel's existing Reflector app, but companies and schools with more spending flexibility will find Slingshot to offer a good feature set. We recommend you decide for yourself with the free month trial. A feature video follows below.
