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Turn Any iOS Device Into an AirPlay Receiver with Airfoil Speakers Touch 3
Posted By Paul Kafasis on April 25th, 2012
Update (June 6th, 2012): Unfortunately, the direct receiving functionality discussed here has been removed, at Apple’s behest. See this post for more details.
It’s been a long time coming, but Airfoil Speakers Touch version 3 is finally here. It’s a free update, and we certainly suggest getting it in the iOS App Store immediately.
But what does this new version offer? First and foremost, we’ve finally got a native iPad interface. That’s right, you’ll no longer be stuck with a zoomed-in iPhone UI while using your iPad. Better still, this gorgeous new layout has full support for the iPad 3’s Retina display. Have a look:
The other major feature in Airfoil Speakers is the new Enhanced Audio Receiving option. With an inexpensive in-app purchase, your iOS device becomes a full-fledged mobile AirPlay receiver! That means you can stream audio from one iOS device to another, or even send from iTunes directly to iOS. Why spend hundreds on a costly third-party AirPlay device, when you can use the iOS device you already have?
To use this, just launch Airfoil Speakers Touch on the receiving device. That device will now appear as an output option in iTunes’ AirPlay menu, as well as the AirPlay selector on other iOS devices. Just select it, and audio will flow out through your desired device.
Airfoil Speakers Touch turns any iOS device into a powerful wireless audio receiver. On its own, it will work with other iOS devices and directly with iTunes. When teamed up with Airfoil, synchronized audio can be sent to all manner of devices, including AirPort Express units, Apple TVs, Macs, PCs, Linux boxes, and iOS devices. Once installed and launched, Airfoil Speakers Touch shows up right in Airfoil for Mac or Airfoil for Windows, as well as all AirPlay-capable audio apps on iOS. With just a few clicks or taps, audio from applications like Spotify, Rdio and more, as well as web-based audio like Pandora and Last.fm, can be sent right to any iOS device.
So get Airfoil Speakers Touch now from the iOS app store, and pick up the Enhanced Audio Receiving in-app purchase to maximize its potential. If you haven’t checked out Airfoil yet, get started sending audio from your Mac or PC out to your iOS devices and more.
Mat says:
April 25th, 2012 at 11:59 amWow, I’ve waited this feature for a long time, that’s really great and it works like a charm!
But there is something I don’t understand, all these software AirPlay receivers came after the reverse engineering of an AirPort Express when the private key was cracked.. (http://tinyurl.com/5sh63g7)
But it’s not super legal as you normally have to have an AirPlay license from Apple, and as far as I know, you can only build an AirPlay hardware with it.
How Apple could have validated this app? Is there a risk that Apple will remove it from the AppStore? or did you find another way to build this without having problem with the Apple license?
But anyway, thanks for your great work!
Paul Kafasis says:
April 25th, 2012 at 12:26 pmMat: “Super legal” is an interesting term 8). There should be no legal issues here whatsoever.
Airfoil Speakers on the Mac and PC has had this receiving functionality for years now, and now it’s on the iOS platform as well. Airfoil Speakers is a clean-room implementation of the AirPlay protocol. Further, as you note, Apple approved the app after review. So, we don’t anticipate any issues here.
Josh says:
April 25th, 2012 at 1:37 pmLove this! Thanks so much. Very welcome news. I love easy interoperability! You guys seriously rock.
And now, for the most minor of niggles: when I send iTunes audio to my iPad, the title bar on Airfoil Speakers Touch 3 says “Receiving iTunes from Airplay Source.”
The “p” in AirPlay should really be capitalized. :)
Other than that? Perfection!
Chris says:
April 25th, 2012 at 5:56 pmI can’t get either my new iPad or my iPhone 4 to recognise Airfoil as an output option after the in-app purchase. I have tried running the Music app on mymiPad and the Airfoil Touch app on mymiPhone and visa versa with no success. Any ideas why anybody?
I was so excited when I saw this update and the inappropriate purchase, now I just really want to be able to use it :-(
Any help would be greatly appreciated.
ike says:
April 25th, 2012 at 7:19 pmThis makes it all perfect. My system is now complete.
Thanks!
MVeeH says:
April 25th, 2012 at 8:51 pmWorks flawlessly!!! Love it love it LOOOOVE it! This could be the best $2.99 I have ever spent. Thank you you guys!
John says:
April 26th, 2012 at 10:31 amBrilliant!
Is it possible to stream to multiple outputs from iOS?
Ian Street says:
April 26th, 2012 at 11:49 pmLove your products but how does this new offering differ from Bluetooth ? I can stream audio from my Mac via Bluetooth and even apple remote gives me the chance to change tracks…..
Have purchased anyway guys but trying to understand….cheers
Thomas Schrader says:
April 27th, 2012 at 3:30 am@ Chris
Same problem here. After the app-in purchase no way to make that app run. Just a black screen with a bottom line telling me that I can send audio etc… But no way to make that app do something usefull.
HowB says:
April 27th, 2012 at 11:11 amWould be perfect if i could use my old iphone 2G as an airport express with AST.
it is still running the 3.1.3, any ideas how to get it work, the actual version of AST is not installable? Is it possible to install an older version and upgrade later?