Apple's AirPlay technology has proven very popular since it was introduced in iOS 4. Using Wi-Fi, you can stream music or videos from your iOS device to an Airplay-enabled media device (like the Apple TV), wirelessly. Now it looks like Apple is getting ready to throw Wi-Fi out of the window.
According to a report in
The Telegraph, Apple has been working on a new specification of the AirPlay technology that would eliminate the need of a Wi-Fi network, letting the AirPlay-enabled media device and an iOS device communicate directly. The new technology is codenamed 'AirPlay Direct' but the name may change on launch, which is expected alongside the new iPhone in September.
AirPlay debuted as AirTunes in Apple's Airport Express Wi-Fi router in 2004. Users could connect any music system to the Airport Express and wirelessly stream music via iTunes. With iOS 4, Apple changed the name to AirPlay and added video streaming capabilities. iOS 5 introduced AirPLay mirroring, which can be used to wirelessly stream the contents of your iOS device to a HDTV via Apple TV.
OS X Mountain Lion added support for display mirroring via AirPlay on systems containing 2nd and 3rd Generation Intel Core processors.