What is the difference between Apple's Airplay and DLNA?

[Illico]

http://www.quora.com/What-is-the-differ ... y-and-DLNA

Divergences are mainly on the protocols used in the back-end as well as on their openness with the rest of devices.

Indeed, in some use cases, Apple AirPlay and DLNA (Digital Living Network Alliance) technology are both providing a similar user experience (UX): sharing media from one device to another over the network (using WiFi or Ethernet). However, it seems important to differentiate the UX from the technology components behind it (i) and from its place in a wider ecosystem (ii).

(i) AirPlay and DLNA use different communication protocols for address auto-configuration, device discovery, network protocol and content access. To simplify, DLNA technology mainly relies on an international standard: Universal Plug and Play (UPnP, network protocol) and UPnP AV (UPnP-based audio and video protocols). On the other side, AirPlay uses Apple proprietary technologies: iOS Bonjour communication (network protocol) and Remote Audio Output Protocol (RAOP) as well as Digital Audio Access Protocol (DAAP) for the audio protocols, protected by an Advanced Encryption Standard (AES) key managed by Apple.

(ii) Beyond the protocols used, one other big difference between AirPlay and DLNA is their connectivity factor with the rest of devices. Basically, AirPlay technology is focused on Apple ecosystem (sharing with AirPlay is only possible from an iOS device or an iMac via iTunes) while DLNA aims to be more universal. The DLNA technology results from a consortium of major electronic manufacturers - including Ericsson, Hewlett-Packard, Huawei, Intel, LG Electronics, Microsoft, Samsung Electronics, Sharp, Sony. As of today, the DLNA organization is claiming to have over 4,000 DLNA-certified television models while AirPlay is only compatible with the second generation of Apple TV. Nevertheless, Apple has made partnerships with selected audio manufacturers to provide AirPlay-enable speakers in addition to Apple AirPort Express system. It is also said that Apple intends to license its AirPlay technology to other TV manufacturers.

[patters]

I really think Apple are going about this all wrong. I got rid of my iPad2 because, thanks to their lockdown of the GPU video decode API, it was unable to act as a DLNA client for anything other than 720p MP4 files, even using apps. I know you can jailbreak and use Xbmc but that's not really the point. Nokia have a beta app called Play To on Windows Phone that allows you to browse your photos on the handset and with a tap display them on a TV without even touching the TV remote (by acting as a DLNA Media Controller and server). Really neat implementation. With Apple, you need to buy more equipment. What's the point Apple, when the TV can already do all that stuff? Then they try and claim the Apple TV is innovating when there's an existing open standard which most consumer entertainment kit since 2009 already supports. Brilliant.