iOS 8 AirPlay: No network connection required

32 Comments

“Here’s an interesting tidbit about iOS 8 that Apple didn’t give stage time to, and that’s the removal of a necessary network connection for AirPlay,” Richard Devine reports for iMore. “It’s not even easily noticeable on Apple’s iOS 8 preview site either, but there, nestled within the enterprise section is what we’re looking for:”

With iOS 8, you can wirelessly connect iPad, iPhone, or iPod touch to Apple TV without first connecting to the organization’s network. Which means you can present or share your work even if you’re offline or the organization has a complex network.

“While the obvious enterprise applications are described by Apple,” Devine writes, “the consumer market will no doubts have its fun with it too.”

Read more in the full article here.

[Thanks to MacDailyNews Reader “Bill Mott” for the heads up.]

32 Comments

  6. I hope it works great…..been waiting and requesting this feature for a couple of years now. We have recruiters go out and have to send them with a complicated setup with an Apple Router, Apple, TV and backup wires, etc. This should eliminate the need for all the wires and Apple Router. Just have a backup cable incase something happens with the wireless.

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  7. Maybe we are looking at the beginning of any iOS device being able to use any other iOS or Mac resources and features. Like wireless tethering. It was big when Apple dropped the CD drive and let OS X Macs could reach out and use another local CD drive. It will be interesting to see if the iPhone’s cell tower internet connection will be shared too. The Macs, iPads, and perhaps even the AppleTV could get connected where no connection exists by way of a land line network. I would like that a lot!

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  9. Actually I recall they did give this stage time. They didn’t demo it, but it was mentioned and quite striking. This is big for us, because we had to relax our network security to accommodate Apple TV… Now, we put security back.. Oohhh wait Chromebooks need relaxed security too…

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  10. Perhaps what we are seeing is a glimpse of the future capability of the new ATV…perhaps we’ll be seeing iOS 8 on ATV. I can’t wait to see what Apple come up with.. I know one thing, Nintendo is floundering in the wake of mobile gaming and Apple is in the perfect position to break new ground. My hope is that Apple release new retina/4k cinema displays to compliment the new Apple TV / Mac Pro…doing so would negate the need to produce a standalone TV set. Two birds one stone Apple style.

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  11. During the keynote they mentioned apple devices will be able to detect when they are in proximity of each other. They didn’t mention how. Possibly bluetooth but I’m not sure the interaction seemed quite fast for bluebooth to me.

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    1. No. It’s via Wi-Fi. We’ve seen this for years on Macs by way of computer-to-computer networks. I believe this capability started with OS X Lion:

      http://support.apple.com/kb/PH3771

      You can create a wireless network between two or more Wi-Fi-enabled computers without using an AirPort Base Station. Using what is known as a “computer-to-computer” network, you can share files or play your favorite multiplayer network game over the airwaves.

      Computer-to-computer networks are sometimes referred to as ad-hoc networks.

      Here is the related document for Mavericks:

      http://support.apple.com/kb/PH13796

      There is a document specific to Mountain Lion as well. It’s a bit tricky to set up. Be sure to have the document in hand the first time you try it. One of the gotchas: “Computer-to-computer networks are not compatible with WPA or WPA2 protected networks.” And that sucks. It will be interesting to see if Apple has overcome this security limitation.

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      2. I don’t think its via wifi because during the keynote they showed how this works when creating an “instant hotspot” The devices aren’t connected via anything prior to that hotspot being created.

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        2. It appears you are not quite getting what I am asking.

          I understand that macs can detect other computers not the same network. Thats not new its quite old actually.

          My question is how can one device detect another device if they are not on the same network?

        2. Ah! Here we go:

          http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wi-Fi_Direct

          It’s interesting that it can indeed involve Bluetooth, specifically as a method of identifying a device in one’s vicinity. But that’s the extent of Bluetooth’s involvement.

          Wi-Fi Direct may not only replace the need for routers, but may also replace the need of Bluetooth for applications that do not rely on low energy.

          I’d say you’ve nailed it ivid.

  12. I remember about 5 years or so ago Steve Jobs talking about Apple trying to do this – networking between devices without connecting to a WiFi or Bluetooth network – and how much difficulty they were having. It was in the same conversation when he was talking about AirPrint and the difficulties they had coming up with driverless printing.

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  13. My RED security flag just Went up I’m the air. I doubt too many enterprise networks will allow no managed IP services directly to existing manager IP devices. Backdoors are not good.

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    1. Then for the conference room they can have an Apple TV hooked to a TV but with no network connection. Or have two, one for guests and one for staff. Just switch HDMI inputs to choose one.

      I understand your point but there are ways to make this work safely.

      Reply

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