Stream Music and Movies across Your Home - iConnected: Use AirPlay, iCloud, Apps, and More to Bring Your Apple Devices Together - page 41

Are You AirPlay-Ready Already?
If you bought an AirPlay-compatible speaker, you probably already know the situation, but those
not au courant with all this wireless stuff might not realize that you already own the requisite techno-
logy to use AirPlay. Let's break this down into sections.
1. A wireless (Wi-Fi) network is essential for AirPlay. Got one of those set up? You've passed
the first test. Move on to Step 2. For anyone without a wireless network, come join us in the
21st century: It can cost you less than a pair of movie tickets to pick up a decent wireless
router.
2. Do you have a computer running iTunes, an iPhone, iPad, and/or iPod Touch? Assuming
they're fairly recent models and are using the latest software (see Chapter 1 ), you're in.
3. And where do you want to stream? The next step is sending video or audio from your
devices to a compatible receiver. This could be an Apple TV, an AirPlay-compatible speaker
system, or an Apple AirPort Express base station. You can hook up any speaker with an
audio-in jack (normally marked as AUX or A/V In) to one of these devices (bar AirPlay
speakers, of course) using a simple mini (3.5mm) audio cable that you can get in most elec-
tronics and even hardware stores for next to nothing.
If you fit all three of the criteria, hey presto!, you're ready to set up your first AirPlay network. If
you didn't quite get 100 percent on the test, it's not going to cost you that much to get in the game.
What Do You Want AirPlay to Do for You?
Now comes the important part: deciding how best to use AirPlay to suit your needs. Planning at
this stage is important and allows you to accommodate any unexpected hiccups, including the range
of your wireless network and equipment you may need to buy. The devices you currently own will
likely dictate your choices.
For example, if you have an iMac in the bedroom or office and an Apple TV in the living room,
you can use AirPlay to access music and movies from your iMac's iTunes library and photos from
your iMac's iPhoto on your TV, but you won't have the option to stream music to multiple rooms un-
til you add speakers to your network.
Likewise, if you have an iPad and an AirPlay speaker, you will be able only to stream audio to that
speaker from your iPad. You'll need an Apple TV to handle the iPad's video content.
You get the idea. The key is knowing what you want and how you go about getting it, so think
about what excites you about AirPlay and how much money you have to spend, and all should be well
and good.
The dream AirPlay setup
If money is no object and you're looking for the ultimate solution, buy an AirPlay speaker for
each room in your home (of course, if money is indeed no object, your home is likely to be enormous,
so this step in itself could cost a pretty penny!). That covers the audio streaming angle.
There are AirPlay speakers available that won't break the bank as well as a bunch that will set you
back about as much as a new laptop. One of my personal favorites is the $449 Libratone Zipp , which
is colorful, portable, and battery-powered, so you can place it in any room. Another great option, if
money is no object, is the $600 Bowers & Wilkins Zepellin Air , which looks as good as it sounds and