Briefly: AirPlay to add Bluetooth support, Stephen Wolfram on Steve Jobs, upcoming iPhone 4S launches
Apple looks to add Bluetooth 4.0 support to its AirPlay wireless protocol, while Wolfram|Alpha founder Stephen Wolfram remembers his years working with Steve Jobs. Also, the iPhone 4S prepares to launch on Dec. 16 in at least 11 countries.Apple puts focus on AirPlay
During its recent MFi Technology Summit 2011 in Shenzhen, China that ended on Friday, Apple announced that it would be releasing a new certification chip for MFi devices that will allow future AirPlay products to connect via Bluetooth 4.0, according to Japanese Mac blog Macotakara.
By adopting the low-power Bluetooth 4.0 protocol, compatible devices being dubbed Bluetooth Smart Ready, Apple looks to create opportunities in largely untapped iDevice accessory markets like healthcare and mobile gaming.
The low power consumption of version 4.0 makes it an attractive data transfer option to Wi-Fi for battery operated devices. Apple was the first to implement the protocol by introducing one of the first Bluetooth Smart Ready handsets with the iPhone 4S, which has recently come under fire for alleged battery issues.
AirPlay has traditionally used Wi-Fi technology to stream media content to compatible devices like an HDTV through AppleTV or speakers attached to an AirPort Express. Third-party products include AirPlay compatible speakers that can stream music from iTunes or, more recently, a device running iOS and certain Wi-Fi enabled printers.
The company touts AirPlay as being one of the main features of iOS 5, featuring HDTV mirroring, video and music streaming and wireless printing.
Currently, only the iPhone 4S, Mac Mini and MacBook Air boast Bluetooth 4.0, while remaining Bluetooth-capable Apple products have chips using version 2.1 of the protocol. In June, the Cupertino, Calif. tech giant was nominated to the Bluetooth Special Interest Group board of directors, the organization oversees the development and standards of the wireless technology.