AirPhones Allows iPhone to Serve as Wireless Headphones

Now all I need is something that allows my iPhone to function as a Bluetooth headset for my phone that actually has service and I'll be in business.

Only works on Intel Macs... that leaves ALOT of people not being able to use it.

That's a very specific need... kind of defeats the point of "wireless" by having to plug into something, but whatever. I'd pick it up for .99 maybe, but not 4.99... there are too many other apps that are much better for that price.

?

Maybe I'm not wide awake yet, but why not just use Simplify?

rickdollar said:

Maybe I'm not wide awake yet, but why not just use Simplify?

Click to expand...

I haven't installed the Mac server app yet, but from the description, it seems that this will stream more than just iTunes. I plan to test this with the SiriusXM StarPlayr app (seeing whereas the app won't be approved by Apple or SiriusXM any time soon).



--DotComCTO

So I guess this is basically the opposite of Remote. It looks pretty cool though.

Could Airphones turn your iPhone into an Airport Express-like device?

Theoretically, couldn't the Airphones app be used as a cheap way to turn an iPhone or iPod Touch into an AirPort Express-type of music-streaming device?

If Airphones allows the user to stream music over wifi into an iPhone/Touch, then you could simply connect the iPhone/Touch's headphone-out port into an audio-in port on any stereo in your house, resulting in the music from your Mac streaming into your iPhone and out of your stereo speakers. Right?

If so, then $4.99 is a lot more cost-effective than buying a $99 AirPort Express. I mean, sure, the AirPort Express does a lot of other things as well (it's a wifi router/extender, printer-server, etc.) -- but if you already have a wifi router in your house and you just wanted an AirPort Express to feed music from, say, your iMac in one room to your entertainment system in another room, then maybe Airphones would be a better alternative.

To make this really convenient, I guess the next question would be whether or not you could use Airphones simultaneously with the iPhone/Touch iTunes REMOTE app, so that you could control the music on your Mac from another room while also streaming it to your stereo speakers using Airphones, all via an iPhone.

I'm guessing that the current iPhone/Touch one-app-running-at-a-time limitation would keep this scenario from working. But with the next generation iPhone (expected around June 2009), maybe it would work.

I've been hoping that Apple would build this type of music-streaming-coupled-with-Mac-remote functionality into a new software release. And I'm surprised that the Airfoil guys haven't built an app along these lines (so we can use Airfoil on a Mac to stream music to an iPhone/iPod Touch in the same way Airfoil works with AirPort Express). Apple and Airfoil both seem well-positioned to offer robust solutions for this type of wifi streaming and remote media control. But maybe Airphones will fit the bill instead.

pair this with "remote tap" and running this in the background and we could essentially watch any video type on our iphone streamed from the base computer. Granted the quality won't be awesome, but proof of concept is there!

This is great, but I'd love a airfoil speaker program. That was I can use my mac to broadcast music to all of my airtunes and to my iphone docked to a bose sounddock.

I dont really see the point if all it is streaming music from your computer to iphone/ipod over a LAN. Just play it off your computer or other better speakers.

Using it as a makeshift Aiport is pretty neat, but if you want to skip songs your SOL and have to walk over to it. And for receiving calls.

Now if you could do this over a larger network, then that'd be something.

kmcrawford said:

This is great, but I'd love a airfoil speaker program. That was I can use my mac to broadcast music to all of my airtunes and to my iphone docked to a bose sounddock.

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I agree 100%. I've been waiting for Airfoil to come out with something for the iPhone/iPod touch specifically to put music in my house where there isn’t a computer... but alas, I wait...

Been waiting for an app that does this.. but I don't think I'm gonna pay $4.99 for it!

when docked it could act as a temporary air port express. (kinda)

My 0.02$,

Ive been using airphones on an JB'ed phone in conjunction with the Cydia App called backgrounder in order to use both Airphones and the Apple Remote app simultaneously.

Install Backgrounder, respring, enable Insomnia (Cydia app to keep Wifi Active), run airphones, background it, run Remote app, background it, go into settings and turn auto lock to never, dock the iphone, voila all in 1 multimedia device.

Pros: All in one solution to replace airport express, possibilities are limitless, sound quality not that bad.

Cons: Iphone gets pretty hot, if undocked battery life = **** (sub 30 minute), While switching songs on the remote app there is brief momentary stuttering or chopping up of the audio feed.

Can supply video if needed.

Panzo said:

My 0.02$,

Ive been using airphones on an JB'ed phone in conjunction with the Cydia App called backgrounder in order to use both Airphones and the Apple Remote app simultaneously.

Install Backgrounder, respring, enable Insomnia (Cydia app to keep Wifi Active), run airphones, background it, run Remote app, background it, go into settings and turn auto lock to never, dock the iphone, voila all in 1 multimedia device.

Pros: All in one solution to replace airport express, possibilities are limitless, sound quality not that bad.

Cons: Iphone gets pretty hot, if undocked battery life = **** (sub 30 minute), While switching songs on the remote app there is brief momentary stuttering or chopping up of the audio feed.

Can supply video if needed.

Click to expand...

The perfect illustration of why Apple doesn't allow background tasks. 30 minutes of battery life? Can you imagine the screams if that could happen on a non-jailbroken phone?

I second a question from above -- what about Simplify -- what is the advantage of Air Phones over Simplify?

Sounds pretty worthless.

Simplify Media?
Dot Tunes?
Put the music on your iPhone?

If you have to be on the same WiFi network, what is the point??

I'd love for one of these developers that are doing nothing but confusing people into buying what seems like a "new" product, to explain to me why I need this when on the same WiFI network?

Same WiFi network = worthless

Over the air on 3G or Edge = the whole ballgame

The new standard for music streaming apps is: Of course it works on Wifi, [I[also.[/I] But its purpose is full quality over the air.

Ted13 said:

The perfect illustration of why Apple doesn't allow background tasks. 30 minutes of battery life? Can you imagine the screams if that could happen on a non-jailbroken phone?

I second a question from above -- what about Simplify -- what is the advantage of Air Phones over Simplify?

Click to expand...

Its hilarious how many people defend "Backgrounder" as if its something useful and legitimate. I used it for several months and now know precisely why Apple does not allow it. The processor, memory, and battery are not up to the task. Period.

Next device will feature background processes (done correctly) and it will not overwork your battery, decreasing its dexterity with each use.

useless

Why not use SimplifyMedia or... just sync the music to your device!!

What would be cool is if my iPhone's iTunes would pick up the DAAP streaming on my WiFi right now from my Linux file server using Firefly Media Server, the way my Mac and PC iTunes do. But then again that's the same server SimplifyMedia is playing from, so it's the same thing.

Just bought the App from App Store... Seem to be working well exept there's lot of stuttering

Not to be a crusader against other apps, but you cannot bash apps without proper justification. Every app has its uses, Airphones was designed to let you use your iphone as a receiver for wireless sound.

That being said, the advantage airphones has over simplify media has to be put in context, simplify media or dot tunes can only transmit itunes content over the air both over wifi or edge or 3g.

Airphones can transmit any audio played by your computer system, wether it be an itunes song, a quicktime movie or a youtube video, but no other conection methods except wifi.

They are not substitutes for one another, they are not competition. They are two apps that share 1 feature, but that each distinctively serve different purposes.

To compare them eye to eye wouldn't be fair if you plan on streaming itunes content only.

How is this any different from the free iRemote? (http://www.iphonebuzz.com/control-your-itunes-remotely-with-iremote-262461.php)

A good solution would be if Apple would just go ahead and make the iPhone/Touch a true AirTunes target. Then you could make your iPhone a wireless headset. Granted that would be limited to iTunes content. But still... An Apple solution for all around audio being streamed over WiFi would probably work better than any 3rd party one (even if they start out short on features).

Microphone?

This would be interesting if it can stream microphone input to the phone.

Like a wireless wiretap.

Add stream from the webcam and it's even more useful for spying on your desk

How has no one mentioned ORB software here yet? Allows for audio, video, picture, document, and even TV streaming. (if you have a tuner card) Works well over 3g and WiFi. It allows use as wireless headphones for your pc anywhere. It is pretty much the one app I couldn't live without.