If you use your iOS device and an Apple TV to show Keynote presentations to your customers at their place of business, you’ll find life will get a little bit easier for you with the release of iOS 8. Apple will be including peer-to-peer discovery and streaming capabilities in iOS 8, scheduled for release this fall.
AppleInsider notes that currently, users need to connect their iOS device or Mac to the same wireless network as the Apple TV in order to use AirPlay. This presents problems when the host doesn’t want to — or can’t — distribute network credentials, or when the Apple TV is in an enterprise environment with separated networks.
The new system will allow users’ iOS devices to discover, and stream to, a nearby Apple TV with a network connection. This means you’ll be able to walk into a client’s conference room, whip out your Apple TV, hook it up to a projector or monitor start up your iOS device, and BAM! You’re ready to show off your wares!
At this time, we don’t know how Apple will handle security in this set up, or if they’ll also be including this capability in OS X. Apple also hasn’t let anyone in on what technology this is based on. We’ll keep our eyes and ears open and let you know when we find out more.
