Uses of AIRPLAY, BLUETOOTH & WI-FI

What is AIRPLAY?

AirPlay is a technology developed by Apple company that is used to wirelessly stream media such as pictures, music, and video. Airplay is used mainly between Apple devices such as iPad, iPhone, iPod, and iPod Touch but the audio streaming of some non-Apple devices also uses Airplay. Although Airplay works on the traditional wired Ethernet connection, the main goal of Airplay is for wireless streaming (via Wi-Fi) of media so that it is available to any room in the house at any time. When you use AirPlay-enabled speakers with graphical displays, the AirPlay wireless technology also streams the information about your music such as the title of the song, the artist, the name of the album, and other related information directly to your speaker's display.


What is BLUETOOTH?

Bluetooth is an open (to all manufacturers, not only Apple) wireless technology that is used to transfer data or stream media like audio, photos, and contact information from one Bluetooth enabled device to another. Bluetooth was originally designed for portable equipment and mobile devices. Without the need of a Wifi network, Bluetooth is a wireless networking technology that uses low-frequency signals to transmit and receive. Main uses and applications of Bluetooth are with smartphones, tablet computers, notebook, laptop, desktop computers, Blu-ray players, AV receivers, home theater systems, wireless printing, hands-free calling, headsets with Bluetooth, Car deck, In-Dash Car Video Deck, GPS receivers, and many more.

Key advantages of Bluetooth:
- Bluetooth works without a Wi-Fi network
- provides better and flexible compatibility between devices and operating systems
- good audio quality
- simplicity of setup and installation
- reasonable range of 30 feet or 10 meters
- reasonably affordable prices
- no more messy wires to connect

Difference between Bluetooth compatible and Bluetooth-enabled

Bluetooth Compatible or sometimes called "Bluetooth ready" means that the device supports Bluetooth wireless technology and uses an external (via USB) Bluetooth adapter or dongle. Bluetooth Enabled or "built-in Bluetooth" means the device has a Bluetooth adapter already built-in within the inside of the device and does not need an external USB adapter or USB dongle.


What is WI-FI?

Wi-fi networking uses a wireless router to connect wifi devices such as computers, printers, smartphones, blu-ray players, modern TVs (HDTV, plasma TV, LED TV, 3D TV, Smart TV), video game consoles, digital audio players, and other Wi-Fi ready and Wifi-enabled or Wifi built-in devices. These wifi devices can be setup in their Wi-Fi settings to enable them to connect to the wi-fi router access point or hotspot. A wireless router allows connection to the Internet and is usually effective to within 100 feet (30 meters) range. Wi-fi is used in wireless local area networks (WLAN). Wi-Fi is the wireless replacement alternative to the traditional wired Ethernet network which uses Ethernet cables. Using Wi-fi, a smartphone does not need the cell phone provider's 2G, 3G, or 4G networks to send and receive email text messages, voice messages, photos and pictures, audio and music files, videos, and other file transfer services.

WiFi Ready vs. WiFi Built-in

Wi-Fi ready means the device supports wireless Wi-Fi connection but no wifi adapter is integrated to the device. An external adapter has to be purchased separately and has to be plugged in to the device using the USB port. Wi-Fi built-in means that the device already has an adapter or a transmitter/receiver that is installed inside the device. Both Wi-Fi ready and Wifi built-in devices are capable of streaming contents from the internet or from the home network devices and servers.

Popular and major uses of Wi-Fi:
- connecting bluray players, home theatre systems, TVs, computers to the home wi-fi network
- wirelessly transfer, send, share, stream media files, movies, music, videos, photos
- stream audio to any speaker, anywhere, any time within your home, house, or small office
- sync or wireless synchronization of music, photo, video, movie libraries and other files (no more wires to connect and no more plugging of the device to the USB port)
- wireless printing of documents
- using wi-fi, a smartphone can be used as a modem (tethering) for connecting your laptop computer to the internet
- using wifi, a smartphone can be used as a remote control
- many more applications...