Synology NAS now has AirPlay & VPN support

[blueroom]

New firmware for Synology NAS was released 6/8/2011.
Just downloading and testing it now. I'll post my findings here.

Version: DSM 3.1-1742

(2011/06/08)

New Features

AirPlay Support:
AirPlay support in Audio Station's Media Renderer mode allows you to stream music from your DiskStation to any AirPlay device which could be either a TV or stereo set in your living room.

iOS Apps:
DS audio is now enhanced with media renderer support helps you remotely control the music playback from DiskStation to Airplay speakers or any compatible media renderer.
DS file is now enhanced with iPad-specific UI design.
DS photo+ is now enhanced with AirPrint support to print photos wirelessly.

Android Apps:
DS file allows you who own Android powered mobile devices to browse the files on your DiskStation via WebDAV, and download/upload files from/to your DiskStation. You can also manage – copy, move, rename or delete - your files while you are away from your office or home as long as the Internet connection is available, off-line browsing for your favorites is also supported in case of the unstable wireless connection.

VPN Center Package:
VPN Center is an add-on package that enables your DiskStation to become a VPN (virtual private network) server, allows DSM users over the Internet to access resources shared within DiskStation's local area network. VPN Center supports both PPTP and OpenVPN service.

 

[fhall1]

Thanks for posting....haven't checked the Synology forums for a while. Keep us informed on your impressions and whether or not they've "broken" something inadvertantly in this new release.

 

[blueroom]

Well the AirPlay is a little odd, but seems to be working. You use either Audio Station or the Audio Station app and you can stream from your NAS directly to any AirPlay device (my ATV2 shows up just fine). It's nowhere near as powerful as a computer running iTunes somewhere on the network.

The VPN setup with no issues. I've just no idea what I'd use it for? I have dropbox & WebDAV so I can get to my files anytime. I wonder if I could see Bonjour remotely with it (iTunes remote server?)

 

[Kaptajn Haddock]

It works with ds directly to airport express.
Now thats cool!
No more pc inbetween to play music.
Control is via ds audio from app store or android market.

 

[Kaptajn Haddock]

Wonder if that also works with apple lossless.

 

[blueroom]

I'll test Apple lossless tomorrow. I've been brushing up on VPN to see if Bonjour works.

 

[mrf-user]

Despite optimistic posting above, the PPTP VPN available in the new released DSM DSM 3.1-1742 is not working with iOS iPhone / iPad devices. All attempts I made to connect an iPhone 3G, iPhone 4 and iPad 2 with a DS210+, failed regardless of configuration. Some people using jailbroken iPhones seems successful, but how somebody else said, this feature should "work out of the box".

See this Synology forum for details:
http://forum.synology.com/enu/viewforum.php?f=173

This is even more disappointing for Apple users when it comes in addition to not supporting Apple HSF file system on USB and eSata attached storage. It is hard to understand Synology adding support for some Linux file systems used by few developers (which is nice), but completely forgetting millions of Apple users.

On the bright side Synology has few iPhone/iPad apps allowing you to access your music, photos and files. No video however, as Synology is still using only Flash and no htlm5, actually another iOS Apple no go.

Still have some hope for more Apple products support.

 

[thorag]

It works with ds directly to airport express.
Now thats cool!
No more pc inbetween to play music.
Control is via ds audio from app store or android market.

Hmmm... for me, Audio Station in browser shows my Airport Express as MediaRenderer, but every time I play a song, it stops after about 3 seconds. It seems, the player goes on, but there is no more music played. My Airport Express is in the LAN via cable and the DS210+ as well, both are connected via a network switch, so the fact that I am using Audio Station via WLAN from my MacBook should not have any negative bandwidth impact (at least I hope so), as the DS and Airport can directly communicate via the switch.

Anyone any ideas? My Airport Express is now about 2 years old, but has the latest updates.