Apple recently unveiled its latest iOS 8 at WWDC 2014, and one of the features that didn't get much coverage refers to AirPlay improvements.
Of course, iOS 8 is packed with a slew of new features and improvements, all of which will become available to users starting this fall. Among lists and lists of top iOS 8 features, the new AirPlay changes somehow managed to slip by without getting much attention. Nevertheless, how AirPlay works in iOS 8 marks a great improvement for iOS users.
For now, iOS users who want to stream something from their iOS device to their Apple TV, or to simply play music on an AirPlay speaker, have no other choice than connect their iOS device to a network.
That's about to change and become more convenient with iOS 8, as it will finally allow users to stream content via AirPlay without having to connect their device to a network. Moreover, users will be able to stream directly to an Apple TV without having to be connected to Wi-Fi.
"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," Apple explains.
This feature has already been available on other devices with options such as DLNA, which allow users to stream content directly to TVs and other devices via a direct connection on DLNA-compatible devices. Android devices have been supporting such options for quite some time, and with iOS 8 Apple will finally join the party.
At its latest WWDC, Apple announced that it will release its new iOS 8 mobile operating system sometime this fall. While the company did not offer a more specific timeframe, Apple is widely expected to release iOS 8 in September, along with the highly-anticipated iPhone 6 and the much-rumored iWatch.
As previously mentioned, iOS 8 comes with a slew of new features and enhancements, as well as deeper integration with Apple's desktop OS, from which it borrowed several cues. The new version of OS X will also arrive this fall.
