, a feature that debuted with Apple’s iOS 4.2 and iTunes 10.1 updates, lets you stream music wirelessly—over your local Wi-Fi network—from your Mac or iOS device to compatible speaker and home-entertainment systems. The feature has been available since November, but aside from Apple's own and units, systems that take advantage of AirPlay have been slow to emerge.
Harman International jumped into the market on Monday morning, providing a —a circular desktop speaker system—to fans of , but provided no information on pricing and availability other than "Available this spring."
Still, the promise of an AirPlay-compatible product is a step further than many manufacturers have gone. Here's a quick look at the state of AirPlay products: what's actually on the market, what's coming, and what might be on the horizon.
: appears to have earned the distinction of First To Ship, as the company hit the market early with its , an AirPlay-enabled version of the . The $600 audio system features five individually powered drivers for high-quality sound; it also sports a traditional dock-connector cradle for iPhones and iPods, as well as a USB connection for grabbing digital audio from a computer. The Zeppelin Air is available for purchase through the .
: Although hasn't recently introduced any products that feature AirPlay, the the company is offering a $50 that brings AirPlay support to : the ($600) and the ($1000), ($1200), , and ($2,500) receivers. (Audiophiles who stream music from their iPad or iPhone will also want to download the free for room-to-room control of their music.
: Denon's sister company, , is also offering a $50 that adds AirPlay capabilities to two of the company's : the ($1,500) and the ($1,600). Two other AirPlay-compatible components, the $700 and the $800 , will be available soon. A free for these products.
In addition to the JBL On Air, noted above, these AirPlay-enabled products have also been announced.
: made one of the splashiest AirPlay announcements, unveiling its forthcoming at January's . The price of the iW1, which features a rechargeable battery and an inductive charging bass, is expected to be $299, and you can sign up on the iHome Website to be notified—and to receive an exclusive discount"—when the iW1 becomes available.
iHome also has two less-expensive AirPlay-enabled systems in the works, the iW2 and iW3. The company has provided few details on these models, although the iW2 is expected to retail for $199, with the iW3 at $169. (These prices may change by the time the products actually ship.)
: is also asking users to register for first dibs on its forthcoming speaker system. The “eco-friendly” product will cost $500, but the company hasn't said when the One Foundation will hit the market.
: There's a (barely) more-definitive date from , which in January , which includes a trio of wireless audio systems: the Gallery Studio, Gallery Forum, and Gallery Arena. Although no pricing information is available, Klipsch promises to ship the new products in "spring or summer."
: Philips , a luxury (and luxury-priced, at €799) "lifestyle" system that combines a standalone iPhone/iPod dock cradle (adopted from the company's Fidelio line), excellent sound quality and free-floating tweeters (based on Philips' SoundSphere technology), and AirPlay functionality. The system will be available in Europe starting in May; no release date has been announced for the U.S..
: This week, Pioneer Electronics , and the top-of-the-consumer-line, $550 will include AirPlay support when it debuts in early April. In addition to playing music, the VSX-1021-K will also be able to display song info and cover art on your connected TV. The company says it will release eight AirPlay-compatible AV receivers in 2011, most in its Elite receiver line.
: Finally, also reportedly on the horizon is an AirPlay-compatible system for your car from . The company hasn't released details of the product in the United States, but a number of reported on the proposed AP1000 system back in November. Sadly—for those of us excited by the idea of a reliable, high-quality way to get our iOS audio into our car stereo without messy cables—links to PhotoFast's product page, as well as to a YouTube video demonstrating the product, have since disappeared.
That might not be too surprising, though—when it comes to AirPlay, there appear to be more ghosts than actual products ready for consumers to buy.