While the whole world debates the merits of the new Apple TV, including my ZDNet colleagues here and here, Apple made another announcement today that could impact the home theater. By introducing AirPlay, which allows you to stream iTunes to audio devices via wired or wireless networks, the company is finally eliminating the various hurdles that third-party equipment makers and consumers have had to deal with when it comes to accessing iTunes tracks and playlists.
Of course, there are ways to stream iTunes to devices today, such as Sonos’ Zone Players, Logitech’s Squeeze devices, and Apple’s own Airport Express router, as well as HTPCs running Windows Media Center and DLNA-certified products (though DLNA devices can’t access iTunes playlists natively.) Now, however, it appears that Apple will partner with audio equipment makers like Denon, JBL, and Marantz to let them create speaker systems, AV receivers, and the like that support AirPlay.
That means these speaker systems will no longer need a docked iPod or iPhone attached to them in order to play your music. In fact, you can use your Apple handheld product to serve as a remote for AirPlay functions (or as the source for your streamed songs). It might mean new (and cheaper) competitors for Sonos’ multiroom audio solution, though there’s no reason Sonos couldn’t create products with AirPlay support as well.
The new Apple TV will support AirPlay, which means that you won’t even need an additional device to stream iTunes music to your HDTV and any home theater system connected to it. Then again, if you already have another media streamer or don’t want to obtain the Apple TV, it’s good to know there will finally be more options to access your iTunes library more easily elsewhere in your house.
