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Daily Update for April 15, 2013
It's the TUAW Daily Update, your source for Apple news in a convenient audio format. You'll get all the top Apple stories of the day in three to five minutes for a quick review of what's happening in the Apple world. You can listen to today's Apple stories by clicking the inline player (requires Flash) or the non-Flash link below. To subscribe to the podcast for daily listening through iTunes, click here. No Flash? Click here to listen. Subscribe via RSS
Research shows AirPlay is top screen-mirroring service, but tech barriers still limit use
A recent study by NPD shows that 40 percent of smartphone and tablet owners are aware their devices have screen-mirroring capabilities. Men and 18- to 34-year-olds have the highest awareness of the option of any groups in the study. People know they can share content from their device screen to their TV screen, but usage doesn't match awareness. The study found that only 7 percent of smartphone and tablet owners actually made use of screen sharing. According to John Buffone, director of devices at NPD, "Screen-sharing solutions are somewhat new, many only launched in 2012, so we don't expect a lot of consumers to be using the technology yet. The awareness number is a positive indicator and will help build the foundation to engage more consumers with second-screen experiences." Apple AirPlay leads the top three services in awareness, with Samsung AllShare and Xbox SmartGlass in second and third place respectively. Still, only 3 percent of tablet and smartphone owners said they were using AirPlay for mirroring their devices. Buffone links the small usage of services with the proprietary nature of streaming on many of these devices. "Currently, several of the screen-mirroring applications such as AirPlay and AllShare require specific devices to operate. Bringing screen-sharing experiences to a larger consumer base will require simplifying hardware requirements as well as amplifying the value of being able to share content across screens."
Daily iPhone App: Ms. Splosion Man splodes out onto iOS
I'm a big fan of developer Twisted Pixel -- their console games are always terrific, with the original Splosion Man being one of my favorites. Now, the company has teamed up with developer Iron Galaxy and publisher Microsoft to bring the sequel to that one, Ms. Splosion Man, to iOS, and the result is a really impressive port. In fact, I don't know if "port" is even the right word for this one. If you'd never heard Ms. Splosion Man was released on Xbox before it arrived on the iPhone, this could just be one of the best platformers on the App Store. The idea here is that you play a very silly creature that can "splode" whenever you touch the screen, which allows you to destroy objects and jump all in one explosive movement. You can "splode" up to three times before you need to touch the ground again, so essentially the game is a pretty twitchy triple jump platformer, challenging you to navigate Ms. Splosion Man through fifty different levels. Just looking at the game itself, Ms. Splosion Man is great -- it takes Twisted Pixel's original Splosion Man idea, and improves on it with huge boss fights, perfectly designed levels, and lots of new mechanics, like rotating cannons and a very active camera. As a port, however, this title is even more impressive. I am not sure how Iron Galaxy was able to make the game look and run this well, but they did it -- the title looks like it was lifted straight from the Xbox, and it runs just as smoothly on my iPhone. There are some new additions, too, like challenges to complete for "Fame" as you play, and even full AirPlay support. My one complaint here is that the touchscreen controls sometimes cover up the action, but that's not a huge issue, especially considering the rest of the app's quality. Ms. Splosion Man is a great game already, and it's been delivered to the App Store with panache here. You can pick it up there now for just $2.99.
Bowers & Wilkins embraces Lightning: refreshes Zeppelin Air, intros Z2 AirPlay speaker
Roughly two years ago AirPlay WiFi streaming was becoming a major force, especially thanks to companies like Bowers & Wilkins updating their speakers systems to feature the standard. Two years later, B&W's bodacious Zeppelin Air is getting updated yet again, but this time it's all about the dock. Those of you who can't bear to go dock-free with the A5 and A7 will be pleased know the third-generation Zeppelin features a Lightning connector. Aside from Lightning and an updated LED array, it's essentially the same speaker we were polarized by back in May 2011, set to ship this May for the same $600 price. Beyond that, the company is introducing what's effectively the wireless followup to its defunct Zeppelin Mini, the $400 Z2. Positioned as a small speaker with big sound, the ovular unit features a top-mounted Lightning dock for iPhones and iPod Touches. It'll be available in black this April, with a white version following in June -- consider it the company's take on bedside or kitchen speaker that you'd normally see from Sony or Harman. %Gallery-183173% Meeting with B&W we were able to give both a quick listen; the Zeppelin still sounds like we remembered, while the Z2 pumped a large amount of volume for it's size (albeit a good deal muddy at its loudest settings). Suffice it to say, both maintain the thick and smooth voicing that this editor has come to enjoy from its P5 headphones. If you want more details in the meantime, you'll find a press release after the break.
Apple's Lightning AV Adapter packs an ARM SoC, may use AirPlay-like decoding
The developers at Panic didn't start their days with the intention of ripping open a Lightning Digital AV Adapter, but that's exactly what happened once they suspected it held some secrets. At first, the group hooked the cable up to various iOS devices expecting 1080p mirroring, but were greeted with 1,600 x 900 as the highest possible resolution. A bit bewildered, they noticed MPEG artifacts, which led them to believe the dongle was acting as a small AirPlay-like receiver that supports streaming and decoding. Now entirely suspicious, the team tore the cable asunder and exposed an ARM SoC apparently packing 256MB of RAM. According to the devs, it's possible that the Lightning connector's small number of pins prevented Cupertino from delivering raw HDMI output, so they were forced to improvise with the added silicon. We've reached out to Apple to nail down just how the cable works.
YouTube adds AirPlay competitor to iOS app
In another push to compete against AirPlay and the Apple TV, the latest YouTube update for iOS adds the ability to direcly stream video to a TV without AirPlay. This is a feature its Android brother has had since November. You can stream video from the YouTube app to the Xbox, PlayStation 3 or Internet-capable TVs. There also are controls that allow you to compensate for a slow WiFi connection when video streaming. The YouTube app has had AirPlay streaming since the iPad-compatible verson was introduced in December, but the latest update will be useful for those who don't own an Apple TV. The update also adds YouTube Capture, which allows you to record, edit and upload video to YouTube. It was introduced as a standalone app since December for the iPhone, but having it in the native YouTube app will extend its capabilities to iPad users.
Griffin Twenty Audio Amp: AirPlay for your big, old college speakers
There's a problem with most AirPlay docks; most of them have relatively underwhelming speakers and weak amplifiers. Wouldn't it be nice if you could grab those humongous speakers that you bought back in college and somehow hook them up to an AirPlay-enabled amp? That's the idea behind the Griffin Twenty Audio Amplifier (US$99.99), which uses your existing speakers and an old AirPort Express (not included) to let you stream music to your towers of power. Design Since the Twenty uses your AirPort Express to communicate with the rest of your WiFi network, you'd be correct if you assumed that there's a way to plug the APE into the Twenty. Griffin was smart with the design -- you basically just remove the "duck head" power plug from the AirPort Express and slide the rest of the unit onto a plug on the Twenty. Note that you must have an older AirPort Express, the type that could be plugged directly onto a wall socket. The new type, which uses a more traditional power cable, requires a workaround (see note under "Functionality" below). In either case, you'll also use the included optical audio cable to connect the Twenty and the AirPort Express Of course, if you have an existing amp, you can always run an audio cable from any AirPort Express right into an audio-in jack, and you're set. But the Twenty is designed for people who may have a great set of speakers laying around somewhere but no amp to drive them anymore -- which seems like a limited market. The device looks good and is very well built. On the back are four 8 Ohm speaker connectors, the type that work with bare speaker wire. You just push in the spring-loaded connector, insert the uninsulated wire ends for the two wires on each channel, and then let go to have the wire held tight. There's also an RCA connector for hooking up a subwoofer if you really want to raise the roof with sound. The name of the Twenty refers to the 20 Watts of power provided per channel by the amp. While that may not be as powerful as your cool McIntosh MC275 Tube Amplifer with its 75 Watts per channel, it's still enough oomph to power most bookshelf speakers and most larger speakers as well. Functionality In a way, I have to feel sorry for Griffin's engineers. They designed this unit on the assumption that the AirPort Express would never change its design, and then last June Apple made the little WiFi router look like a pale Apple TV. On the plus side, you could probably lay your new AirPort Express on top of the Twenty and run the included optical audio cable between the back of the Twenty and the analog/optical jack on the back of the AirPort Express. However, the aesthetics of the design would be compromised in that case. The Twenty is drop-dead simple to set up. You plug a preconfigured AirPort Express into the top of the unit and hook up your speakers. Plug it into the wall with the included power cord, flip the power switch, and it's ready to rumble. There are just a few indications that things are humming away. First, the green light on the AirPort Extreme will light up, provided that your network is set up properly. Next, there's a blue light on the front to indicate that power is flowing to the device. Finally, when the Twenty and your AirPlay "transmitter" (i.e. your iPhone or other device) are talking to each other, a green LED will glow on the front of the unit. There's only one more control on the Twenty -- a big volume knob that works in tandem with your device's volume controls. I hooked the Twenty to an old pair of speakers that had been collecting dust in the basement of my house, and was impressed with the sound that I got out of them. It was a much better experience than listening to music through my Apple Ear Pods or from the speaker on my iMac. Turning the knob on the Twenty up while AirPlaying at full volume from my iPhone resulted in the loudest noise I've had in this house since I accidentally stepped on my cat's tail. Conclusion If you have an older AirPort Express and a pair of underutilized speakers, the Griffin Twenty Audio Amp is well worth the $100 expenditure. Just make sure that your speakers work with the 8 Ohm output, and you're on your way to a great sound experience. Pros Reasonable cost for a professional quality amp Allows re-purposing of older speakers for use with new technology and AirPlay Extremely easy setup Top-notch materials and construction Cons Not designed for use with the latest version of the AirPort Express although it will work Who is it for? Audiophiles who would love to use their favorite speakers with AirPlay Giveaway One lucky TUAW reader is going to get a Twenty courtesy of Griffin and TUAW. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before March 3, 2013 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Griffin Twenty Audio Amp valued at $99.99 Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Eric Kessler announces AirPlay support for HBO Go and Max Go apps, says à la carte HBO access still isn't economically viable
Eric Kessler, President & COO at HBO, just announced that a long-awaited feature will be going live today during his interview at D:Dive Into Media 2013. HBO Go and Max Go users with Apple products filling the home will now be able to enjoy AirPlay beaming. Straight from the man himself: "Our long-term goal for Go is to be on all platforms and all devices. Effective today, we will be enabling AirPlay -- any device that allows users to watch on the big screen is great. You can play HBO Go on your iPhone or iPad, and then beam that to your HDTV via an Apple TV using AirPlay." It appears that neither app has seen an update in Apple's App Store just yet, but we're guessing it's only a matter of time before both are refreshed. [Update: Looks as if both updates are now live!] Unfortunately, it doesn't seem that HBO will be on Apple TV for some time yet. Host Kara Swisher asked Kessler what the problem was in getting 'em on there. His reply? "We will get on Apple TV -- there is no problem. These things take time." We spoke firsthand with Kessler following his interview, and he affirmed that there's no 30 percent revenue cut to worry about with Apple TV like there is for conventional apps on the App Store. It seemed that HBO simply viewed this as a lower priority now that AirPlay is a reality, and it may go a long way to explaining why so many other video apps are opting for AirPlay inclusion rather than focusing efforts on a dedicated Apple TV app.
Netflix, YouTube to take on Apple's AirPlay
Apple's AirPlay may have some competition in the future thanks to DIAL, an open-source, second-screen protocol being developed by Netflix and YouTube. The AirPlay alternative was first discovered back in December and now GigaOM has a detailed look at the project. DIAL, short for "discovery and launch," lets second-screen app developers discover and launch apps on smart TVs and other connected devices. It's meant to work seamlessly, so apps can easily find compatible devices on the same network and launch their apps with little user intervention. The project has the backing of key tech companies like Samsung, Sony, Hulu, Pandora and the BBC. Some Google TV devices and select 2012 TVs from Samsung and LG already have DIAL functionality built in. Scott Mirer, director of product management at Netflix, told GigaOM that other vendors are working on DIAL products that should debut in the coming months. You can read more about DIAL and how it compares to AirPlay in the GigaOM report.
Klipsch details Stadium and KMC3 wireless speakers, hopes to be at the Center of your listening experience
Sound and time: two things that fly by pretty fast -- and many an Engadget editor has been known to make time zip by faster with Klipsch headphones. While the company showed us its latest ear-gear in the fall of 2011, it's kicking off 2013 at CES with a focus on speakers. It was a year ago when we checked out a mockup of Klipsch's Stadium AirPlay speaker, and it's finally poised to hit shelves in the coming months. Part of its Music Center lineup, the visually striking, wireless 2.1 system (pictured right) hasn't changed aesthetically, but the company does have more to share when it comes to specs and availability. In addition to AirPlay, it's now loaded with DLNA and Bluetooth, with compatibility for aptX. The Stadium is loaded with a duo of 5.25-inch subwoofers, a pair of three-inch woofers for mids and a pair of 1-inch "horn-loaded" tweeters to handle the highs. Now word on price just yet, but north of $1,500 (yes, you read that right, audiophiles) wouldn't be a bad guess when it arrives this summer. For those looking solely for Bluetooth connectivity in a semi-portable package, Klipsch's KMC3 (pictured left) might be the ticket. This 130-watt system features a 5.25-inch subwoofer and a pair of two-inch full-range drivers. Naturally, an 3.5mm input lets you plug your devices in the old fashioned way, while an integrated USB port can be used for charging your devices. Sadly, there's also no word on price for the KMC3, but it should arrive a bit sooner in the spring. Klipsch says it has more planned for the Music Center line this year as well, so we'll keep you posted when we hear more. More details in the press release after the break.
Behringer announces OMNI series AirPlay speakers and connecting receiver amps
Behringer made a bit of a splash as CES last year with its oversized iPhone dock, this year it's keeping things a little more front-room friendly. Launching its new OMNI system, the audio maker hopes to bring a little AirPlay magic to your house, without excluding some of your legacy hardware. The system consists of modular elements that let you add your passive speakers into the mix, as well as work together as a whole. More specifically, the OMNI SP3 and SP5i units are all-in-one 2.1 systems, and there's a dedicated subwoofer too. But, if you don't have or want their own breed, you can bring in your own. The OMNI Amp is a 2 x 40W stereo amplifier and AirPlay receiver that lets you play your music with your existing passive bookshelf or floor-mounted gear, and active speakers can be looped into the AirPlay party with the OMNI link box. The speakers are provisionally set to cost $249 (for the SP3i) and $349 (for the SP5i and sub), while the amp and link boxes will likely set you back $199 and $129 respectively. No word on the official launch date, but head on over to the press release for more info. Follow all the latest CES 2013 news at our event hub.
Using a Raspberry Pi to make an AirPlay speaker
If you're one of those people who loves to tinker with stuff and try to create functional equipment in unconventional ways, then you'll appreciate what blogger Jordan Burgess did -- he made an AirPlay speaker receiver out of a Raspberry Pi. For those who haven't seen me waving my Raspberry Pi in front of the camera on TUAW TV Live, it's an amazing little single-board Linux machine that sells for about $35 (Model B). Burgess wanted to bring his "good, but dated speaker system into the 21st century by enabling wireless streaming of music to it." Sounds like the job for an AirPort Express ($99) or an Apple TV ($99), doesn't it? Well, Burgess didn't need another wireless router, nor did he need the video features of the Apple TV. And if he bought AirPlay-enabled speakers, he'd be paying at least $325 or so for a decent set. So Burgess took his existing Raspberry Pi Model B, added a 2 GB SD card (that's what the Raspberry Pi uses for storage) and a cheap USB WiFi adapter and turned it into an AirPlay speaker receiver. Burgess doesn't think the sound is audiophile quality, although a commenter on Lifehacker noted that the sound quality is "*fantastic*." Are any other TUAW readers using a Raspberry Pi as a hobby machine? If your hacks are somehow related to Apple, we'd love to hear from you. Raspberry Pi is a trademark of the Raspberry Pi Foundation [via Lifehacker]
LG's 2013 AV lineup puts NFC into Blu-ray player, 9.1-channel home theater
LG is in the midst of a whirlwind tour of its 2013 CES introductions, and the next stop is its AV catalog. The running theme this year is NFC: both the BH9430PW 9.1-channel home theater and the BP730 Blu-ray player include the short-range wireless format to simplify mirroring content from your Optimus G (and, most likely, other NFC phones). The surround system also packs an iPod dock and a Private Audio Mode that funnels sound to a nearby smartphone when a quiet house is paramount. Beyond these two devices, LG promises the Bluetooth-equipped, 310W NB4530A sound bar, a ND8630 speaker dock with both Android and iOS support (including AirPlay and Bluetooth) and an NP6630 portable speaker that stuffs AirPlay, Bluetooth and NFC into its frame. We'll know more at CES next month, but those who want LG's overview can see it for themselves after the break.
Plex desktop app becomes Plex Home Theater, adds AirPlay and HD audio
Plex wants us to settle in for some holiday viewing in front of our home theater PCs, and to that effect it's delivering a major beta update to its desktop app -- including a new name. The more clearly defined Plex Home Theater syncs up with the XBMC 12 beta and simplifies Plex's own update process. For those in the living room, shifting to the newer base brings AirPlay streaming from nearby Apple-friendly gear as well as 10-bit H.264 video and HD audio. Behind-the-scenes updates bring more efficient video rendering and fix some older bugs, such as audio sync with SD footage. The catch to enjoying all this? As the upgrade is pre-release code, Plex is limiting early access to PlexPass subscribers. Media mavens still willing to pay the premium can check out the source link for an upgrade to their end-of-year movie marathons.
iTunes 11.0.1 released, resurrects duplicate song tool and solves other performance bugs
Barely a fortnight after Apple unleashed iTunes 11 into the wild, the software's first notable update is making its way into OS X's Software Update. While only bumping it to v11.0.1, the refresh adds the ability to easily weed out duplicate items in one's iTunes library -- a feature that was mysteriously removed in the original move from iTunes 10 to iTunes 11. We're also told that it solves an issue where "purchases in iCloud may not appear in one's library if iTunes Match is turned on," makes the program as a whole more responsive when sifting through a vast music library, and solves a quirk where the AirPlay button may not "appear as expected." For those eager enough, a simple refresh of Software Update should have you on your way to a little newness.
People People AB's Transparent Speaker goes live on Kickstarter, we clearly go hands-on
Chances are you've likely seen the Transparent Speaker by Stockholm's People People AB. The small startup of Nokia defectors has been making heavy use of guerilla marketing to gain exposure for its see-thru noiseybox since as far back as last year's CES. All in all, it's worked -- most recently, the speaker got a cameo in Will.i.am and Britney Spears' "Scream and Shout" music video. Despite all the exposure, however, you'd be hard-pressed to find one if you'd been interested in spending your hard-earned coin on the rig. Today that's set to change, as the people at People People have taken to Kickstarter in hopes of raising $120,000 to make the system a production reality. You'll find more details by joining us past the break.
iTunes 11 for the change-averse: Where did all that stuff go?
Is the new iTunes 11 interface making you a little hot under the collar? Reader response was so strong and so warm to our first iTunes 11 "where did it go?" post, we decided to follow it up with a handful of additional tips. Here are five things you might be looking for and struggling to find in the new iTunes 11 interface. 1. Where did those downloads go? Like Safari, iTunes 11 has adopted the philosophy of "we won't show you the downloads window unless you're actually downloading something." You'll find the downloads activity indicator at the top-right of your window, to the right of the search field. A pulsing bar tells you iTunes is in the middle of downloading items. Click the indicator to open the downloads window. Here, you'll discover the items currently downloading or waiting to start downloading. 2. Mini Player volume control Frustrated with the mini player and its apparent lack of volume control? Don't be. You can use Command-up arrow and Command-down arrow to adjust the volume, or you can click the AirPlay button and adjust the master volume slider. 3. Genius iTunes 11 now offers Genius playlist building from several places. Most easily, you can build a Genius playlist from the current-playing item by right-clicking the title bar at the top of the window. Choose "Start Genius." Sadly, iTunes 11 doesn't provide any coherent feedback after you do so, but if you check the Up Next list (it looks like a three-item bullet list at the right side of the current-playing box), it tells you "Up Next: From Genius", so you know it "took." Another way to begin a Genius playlist is from the track listings. Right-click any track, and again, choose Start Genius to begin. 4. Loop and randomize In iTunes 11, loop and randomize have hopped up to the top current-playing box. Looping can be found to the left of the track scrubber, with randomize (that "x"-shaped thing) to its right. They work just like they used to in iTunes 10. They do not, however, appear when playing Genius mixes. So if they disappear? Clear the Genius list from the Up Next pop-up. 5. Restoring "missing" movies, TV shows, music Apple, bless its oddly thoughtful little heart, now offers media streaming from the cloud. A little cloud icon indicates items stored off your computer at Apple's data centers. What you might not realize is that iTunes 11 allows you to hide these items. So if you're looking for something in your library and it doesn't seem to be there, you may want to check the View menu. Choose Show XXX in the Cloud -- whether movies, music, TV shows, etc, and restore their listings to your iTunes 11 categories. Note: Original headline changed.
YouTube app updated for iOS: now optimized for iPad and iPhone 5, complete with AirPlay streaming
Good news for people who love downloading iOS updates -- just hours after Google refaced its Gmail for iOS app, here comes another heavyweight in YouTube. The standalone app is now fully optimized for use with iPad and the iPhone 5, and perhaps the biggest gift of all is the addition of AirPlay streaming for videos. Other updates include the ability to tap a logo to open one's Guide of channels, the ability to add / remove videos from your playlists, clickable links in video descriptions and improved accessibility with VoiceOver. Feel free to hit the source link to dive in, and let us know how it turns out in comments below.
iTunes 11 MiniPlayer provides control over multiple AirPlay devices
Here's a neat tweak we've found while fiddling around with iTunes 11: Its AirPlay popup panel lets you easily select and control the volume of multiple AirPlay devices at once (a feature introduced in iTunes 10), without having to bother with individual settings windows, and it's now accessible from the MiniPlayer. This way, you can pipe audio to, say, a stereo hooked up to your AirPort Express in one room and an Apple TV in another, controlling the volume on both independently from a window that looks like this: The AirPlay button used to be tucked away in the lower-right corner of iTunes, next to the Genius button (no longer on the chrome of iTunes 11), and the iTunes sidebar (which appears to be MIA). Now that AirPlay has taken root across Apple's systems and is popping up in ever more hardware accessories, it's good that the tech is taking a more prominent space on Apple's default music player. Have you found any other handy new functionality in iTunes 11? Let us know in the comments!
Google working on AirPlay competitor
According to a report in GigaOM, Google is working on a wireless media streaming solution that'll rival Apple's AirPlay. Google recently launched the current iteration of the technology, which lets Android phone or tablet owners stream YouTube videos to their Google TV devices. It's in the early stages of development, but Google product manager Timbo Drayson told GigaOm that the company wants "to move the whole industry forward." Google's been moving slowly into the consumer TV space with its acquisition of SageTV and its release of set-top boxes like the Google TV and Nexus Q. Its hardware and software efforts have not caught on, and the company has struggled to break into the field. Though far from the market leader, Apple has done better than Google in the set-top box market. The company sold 5 million Apple TV devices in FY2012, which is good for a product that's considered a hobby. Rumors suggest Apple may roll out a bigger and better version of the AppleTV that will be embedded into a full-size TV set. In a research note released this week, analyst Gene Munster claims Apple will unveil this new Apple TV late next year.
