One of the main features that keeps my tied into the Apple ecosystem is AirPlay – the ability to stream your content to your Apple TV or AirPort Express, wirelessly. So when CyanogenMod developer Koushik Dutta released AllCast for Android, I was very interested.

This new Android app allows users to push their local content on their device to a variety of set-top streaming boxes, one of which is the Apple TV. In fact, the list of supported boxes includes Roku, Xbox, PS4, and any other DLNA devices.

One AllCast is installed, it’s just a case of finding a video you want to play and tap the cast button in the upper right cornet and a menu will pop up asking where to beam the content to.

The downside is that AllCast only supports local content, and unfortunately does not support videos from streaming services.

AllCast is currently in beta. In order to download and test it, you will need to join the ClockworkMod Beta Testers Community, sign up to be a beta tester for AllCast, and then install the app from the Play Store.

Her’s a video demo:

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Black Friday… – all those gadgets that you’ve hovered over the purchase button all year round have now dropped in price and are in that impulse purchase territory.

Here we highlight the best deals for AirPlay speakers as part of Black Friday.

These WiFi enabled speakers enable the sound from your Apple TV to be AirPlayed to them. It’s seamless, quick, and just works. The benefit of using AirPlay over the standard Bluetooth you usually find in portable speakers is that the range is only limited by your WiFi network.

It’s worth pointing out that of course Amazon.com is not the only place to go to get Black Friday deals, but it sure is the most convenient, in most places cheapest, and coupled with the Prime service, certainly the quickest. If we find a better deal, we will post it!

So sit back and check out the deals this year:

• Philips DS9800W/37 Fidelio SoundSphere

$799.99 -> $299.99 (63% off)

Equipped with SoundSphere technology, these speakers let you experience music in its clearest, most lifelike form. SoundSphere technology creates a wider sound stage and more natural audio experience than traditional speakers. The Fidelio SoundSphere’s enclosure is handcrafted in wood.The speakers come with a remote control and work with the free Fidelio app that gives you access to a range of music and other features. You can also charge your iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad via the included standalone docking charger.

Get it now for $299.99. 

• LG Docking Speaker with Airplay and Bluetooth

$299.99 -> $167.99 (44% off)

The LG Docking Speaker offers big sound, and functionality, in a stylish package. The 80W sound system, with integrated woofer, will enhance your listening experience while the integrated Wi-Fi allows you to connect via AirPlay or via the included Bluetooth. Compatible with iOS devices the free remote app turns the speaker into an alarm clock with “sleep” functionality. Includes FM tuner.

Get it now for $167.99.

• Samsung 100-Watt Dual Audio Dock

$699.99 -> $497.99 (29% off)

Hear your favorite music for the first time with the innovation of analog and digital technologies combined. It creates a truer, more immersive sound that digital alone cannot replicate. The Wireless Audio System with Dual Dock allows you to wirelessly stream music from mobile devices and play stored content from a PC or laptop with Airplay. Plus, stream CD quality music using Bluetooth 3.0 with aptX technology from any compatible Bluetooth device.

Get it now for $497.99.

• Philips DS3881W/37 Fidelio SoundRing Wireless Speaker with AirPlay

$299.00 -> $199.98 (33% off)

The Fidelio SoundRing is 100% portable and will conveniently play and charge your device simultaneously. The speaker has a built-in lithium-ion battery so you can bring it with you or try out different locations in your home. The SoundRing technology is engineered to completely fill your room with superb sound. A central bass sound pipe and four high-definition drivers–two front-firing and two side-firing–work together to provide an immersive sound experience with full audio impact in all directions.

Get it now for $199.98.

• Libratone Zipp

$399.00 -> $299.00 (25% off)

Libratone Zipp is an easy-to-use, wireless sound system wrapped in changeable Italian wool. The minimalistic speaker provides up to eight hours of battery time and the patented FullRoom technology creates a 360 sound experience. High-end components such as ribbon-based tweeters, digital signal processing and digital amplification provide premium sound. Apple Lossless technology ensures a perfect transfer from a music source to the Libratone Zipp.

Get it now for $299.00. 

• iHome iW2

$199.99 -> $102.07 (54% off)

iW2 provides dynamic stereo sound out of the two active stereo speakers for full-range audio performance. Experience bold, full sound with the iW2 speaker system.

The iW2 is an AirPlay speaker system for streaming music from iTunes, iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch using your Wi-Fi network for wireless audio anywhere in the home. The iW2 also supports USB docking for iPad, iPod and iPhone charging and music playback with any iPod USB sync cable and dock. Embrace wireless living with impressive technology and an exceptional audio experience.

Get it now for $102.07. 

• Logitech UE Air

$399.99 -> $169.99 (58% off)

Built-in Apple AirPlay wireless technology streams high-quality uncompressed audio over your home Wi-Fi network from your iPad, iPhone, iPod touch or laptop with iTunes.

Just dock your device, follow the on-screen instructions to download the app, enter your network password and you’re good to go.

Get it now for $169.99.

• Philips AD7000W/37 Fidelio

$199.99  -> $90.22 (55% off)

The Fidelio SoundAvia AirPlay speaker makes a great addition to any room. Its contemporary, sleek design and compact size lets you enjoy your music virtually anywhere–wirelessly.

If you own an iPod touch, iPhone, or iPad, you can unlock even more features for this wireless speaker using the complementary Fidelio app. The Philips Fidelio app gives you access to over 7,000 free Internet radio stations.

Get it now for $90.22.

• XtremeMac Tango

$299.95 -> $89.89 (70% off)

The XtremeMac Tango Air features five active drivers and one passive radiator for staggering sound quality in a flexible design that maintains its audio integrity whether the speaker is positioned vertically or horizontally.

With built-in Airplay technology and simple plug & pull setup through iOS 5.0 or greater, you’ll enjoy access to your entire music library through your wireless network. Piano gloss finish and satin plated buttons ensure this speaker not only sounds amazing, but looks great no matter where you place it.

Get it now for $89.89. 

• Boston Acoustics MC200Air

$399.99 -> $129.50 (67% off)

MC200Air features BassTrac circuitry for consistent, high-performance sound. BassTrac, a Boston-designed digital audio technology, allows the speaker system to output deep, tuneful bass with minimal distortion, even at high volumes.

The MC200Air can connect to any DLNA-certified device, including PCs with compatible software and smartphones with Android OS via your Wi-Fi network. AUX inputs allow you to connect to a local source, and a USB connection allows you to connect, charge, and play music directly from iOS devices.

Get it now for $129.50. 

***

The deals picked out are some of the best AirPlay speakers out there, and with substantial money currently taken off the RRP, now is the best time to pick yourself up one of these speakers during Black Friday.

Other deals: 

• Black Friday deal: Apple TV 3 available for $89
• Black Friday giveaway: win a copy of X-Mirage

The post The best AirPlay speaker deals for Black Friday 2013 appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

As part of their Black Friday discounts, both Amazon and Staples are offering the 3rd generation Apple TV for $89.

Staples were the first to offer the Apple TV at $89 with free shipping, and whilst it doesn’t seem like much of a discount, money off Apple TV’s doesn’t happen very often. Amazon quickly followed and will price match Staples, which might appeal to users more if signed up for the Amazon Prime service.

Purchase the Apple TV now for $89 at Staples here or Amazon here. At 10% off it’s the perfect chance to pick up the best media streaming device currently on the market.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ to be first to know about all Black Friday 2013 deals.

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You may notice a few more icons on your Apple TV than you did before since Apple just deployed an update to the Apple TV to add a ton of new content.

You may not have heard of Yahoo Screen iOS app but it is a TV remote-like experience which allows browsing content from Yahoo and sending it your Apple TV via AirPlay. That’s not longer necessary since the Yahoo Screen is now available directly on the Apple TV.

The App functions very much like its iOS counterpart allowing users to browse Yahoo’s content catalogs of news, sports, food, and entertainment and stream it instantly to the Apple TV.

Yahoo Screen on Apple TV helps you quickly find all the great video Yahoo has to offer — Saturday Night Live, The Colbert Report, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, live news and events, music and original Yahoo programs — so you can enjoy on your big screen.

You will also find content from The Onion, Vogue, Wired, ABC News, Martha Stewart, GQ, and more.

In addition, you’ll notice a new PBS channel has been delivered to the Apple TV. Whilst it doesn’t require users to have a TV subscription, the app does require users to sign in using Google+, Facebook, or the app’s registration in order to access PBS content. You won’t find live broadcasts, but the shows get added shortly after they have aired.

Apple has been busy updating the content offered by Apple TV over the last few months, and it looks set to only increase following the latest beta firmware being released to developers with relatively little disclosure of new features.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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Alongside the release of iOS 7.1 beta, Apple has issued a new Apple TV software beta. The new beta specifically “enables users to mirror content of an iPad to an Apple TV using AirPlay.”

The update doesn’t go into too much detail to explain what this statement refers to, but I expect it is tackling some issues which have arisen from the recent enhancements to AirPlay on Apple TV as a result of the new iOS 6.0 firmware recently deployed to Apple TV.

If you’re a developer you can find the Apple TV software beta in the iOS developer center. Apple notes that this latest firmware is being provided to test the latest AirPlay functionality with iOS apps.

Be sure to follow Apple TV Hacks on Twitter, Facebook or Google+ for all the latest Apple TV-related news.

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Netflix has quietly added a few 4K videos to its ever growing repository of on demand streaming videos as it prepares itself for a wider rollout of the Ultra HD service in the upcoming months.

The videos that have been added in 4K only seem to be test content. There have been a total of seven videos added to the catalog, one of which being entitled El Fuente: 24 MP, which provides an example of content shot in 4K at 24 frames per second.

Netflix has already added a Super HD option for 3rd Gen Apple TV in partnership with ISP’s, providing a direct connection to Netflix content servers to enabling users to stream super crisp images. It works by applying less compression than 1080p content receives, ultimately increasing the size of the stream.

However, with the partnership with ISPs, it appears Netflix are in a position to facilitate 4K streaming and believe consumers have the bandwidth for it. Netflix wants to be one of the big suppliers of 4K next year, whether that be with it’s own produced content, or content from its licensing partners.

The main obstacle for distributing 4K was always the bandwidth available to consumers (the other being an expensive hardware), but with the success of Super HD and the partnership with ISPs, it seems Netflix are ready to make 4K content streaming a reality.

The post Netflix begins testing 4K videos for on demand streaming appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Following the update to their Apple TV app, the NBA is offering an extended trial of their League Pass service right up until November 5th, meaning you can watch the entire first week of the new NBA season for free.

No billing information is necessary to sign up for the free trial, and with the NBA Game Time app available on iOS, and the NBA League Pass on Apple TV, you’ll have everything you’ll need to enjoy free NBA.

After the trial has ended, subscriptions range from $39.99 to $189 depending on what level of subscription you opt for, but what a great way to trial the service and see if NBA Live is for you.

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The post Watch the first week of the NBA season on Apple TV for free appeared first on Apple TV Hacks.

Squirrels has rolled out a major updates to their Reflector app for both Mac and Windows.

Created by the team that brought you AirParrot, Reflector wirelessly mirrors your iPhone or iPad to a larger screen. Whether that be playing games, watching movies, or just browsing the web, Reflector has AirPlay mirroring built into the app meaning no extra software or cables are needed.

Reflector for Mac got updated to version 1.6, adding support for OS X Mavericks and the iPhone 5S and 5C. Here are some other changes for the Mac version:

• Rewritten rendering engine for much faster mirror streams
• Enhanced iOS 7 video and audio mirroring
• Corrected issues when recording
• Added a register option to the main Reflector menu
• Resolved a rotation issue with the iPhone 5s
• Improved AirPlay video player performance
• Miscellaneous bug fixes and improvements

In addition, Reflector just got updated to version 1.3 for Windows, marking a major release to support iOS 7 and the new iPhones, together with performance enhancements.

Other changes include:

• Completely rewritten rendering engine for much faster mirror streams
• Enhanced iOS 7 video and audio mirroring
• Added iPhone 5c and iPhone 5s colored frames
• Added a register option to the main Reflector menu
• Mass deployment is now simplified with registry keys for large Reflector rollouts
• Resolved a rotation issue with the iPhone 5s
• Resolved an issue with full screen mode appearing behind the task bar
• Corrects AirPlay from iTunes issues
• Miscellaneous bug fixes and performance improvements

You can download this update by selecting “Check for Updates” from the Reflector menu. The new version of Reflector can also be downloaded from here.

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Just in time for the 2013-2014 season, the NBA has updated its app for the Apple TV, following the rather significant update it deployed for its iOS counterpart.

With the new season kicking off tonight with the Clippers taking on the Lakers, Bulls against the Heat, and Magic lining up against the Pacers, the NBA couldn’t have had better timing to get us Apple TV users primed up for the upcoming season.

The update includes a new icon on the Apple TV home screen, together with the ability to stream games and view highlights if you have a League Pass subscription, as well as the ability to view the NBA standings across the leagues.

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Good news for those of you who use Slingbox, as the iPhone and iPad apps were just updated to allow users to stream the live TV and DVR recordings straight to the Apple TV.

Slingbox has been updated to utilise Apple’s AirPlay wireless video streaming, enabling the content you used to be only able to view on your iPhone and iPad, to be streamed to the Apple TV. This allows customers to view live TV or DVR recordings on any TV connected to an Apple TV without having to pay for additional licenses, or additional set-top boxes.

In addition, Sling – the company behind Slingbox – added the Blockbuster On Demand video service to the Slingbox 500, to let users search and view trailers and rent premium movies for viewing on their TV.

Sling began rolling out updates to Slingbox customers automatically on Wednesday. The AirPlay feature is available for Slingbox 500, Slingbox 350, Slingbox Pro-HD and Slingbox Solo devices.

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