Press Releases
AirServer makes history
1 May, 2012
We're so hyped about our latest breakthrough with AirServer that we couldn't hold back any longer. This is something no other app has done. This is history in the making.
AirPlay Mirroring for PC is here!
That's right. AirServer is the first and only software that can Mirror your iPhone/iPad to your Windows PC. This is a pre-release version and doesn't yet have sound or some of the eye candy features of full blown AirServer. But it does have Mirroring. And Mirroring will enable you to take your iPhone 4S and display the screen pixel perfect on your PC. Over the coming weeks we'll be adding free updates to the PC version to bring it up to speed with the Mac version. Exciting times ahead.
And talking of the new Mac version - In parallel to our secret work on AirServer for PC we've been busting our nuts on AirServer for Mac. The improvements are arguably as groundbreaking as Mirroring for PC. To put it simply;
The game console for Mac has arrived!
In this release, AirServer for Mac has been enhanced specifically for gaming. The picture is crisper, the aspect ratio can be changed to suit your taste, and you can now Mirror multiple iOS devices simultaneously in multiplayer split-screen mode. This means that if you have two iPhones in the room running Temple Run you can turn this into temple race on the big screen. A classroom full of Fruit Ninjas becomes that Bruce Lee fight scene in The Fist of Fury. And with over 100,000 iOS games running on tens of millions devices the possibilities with AirServer are endless.
Below is a summary of the main improvements to AirServer 4.3 for Mac:
- Free 7-day trial version
- Gaming split screen for multiple devices (up to 48 devices)
- Added ability to change aspect ratio while mirroring.
- Added iSight camera preview ability while mirroring.
- Greatly improved mirroring performance.
- Added full support for Mountain Lion.
- Added mirroring optimization preferences which enables 1:1 pixel mapping.
- Fixed audio jitters and sync issues.
- Fixed rendering on Macs with HiDPI setting enabled.
- Fixed rendering on virtual machines like VMWare fusion.
- Fixed shimmering borders appearing on some displays with certain games.
And AirServer 0.9 for PC:
- PC version with Mirroring
- Free 7-day trial version
- Free updates
AirServer enhanced for iPad 3 crushes the new Apple TV
21 March, 2012
To coincide with the release of the new iPad and Apple TV we’ve massively enhanced AirServer. Our goals are always ambitious. This time we decided to make AirServer on an average Mac outperform the new Apple TV. Sounds crazy, but we’ve done it. The result: mirroring is smoother, games are finally playable and not just demo-able, and picture quality is enhanced. We even dusted off the oldest Intel Mac running Snow Leopard we could find. AirServer brought it back to life with style.
AirServer now makes full use of the new iPad’s additional power and typically delivers 60+ FPS. Plus, we’ve added video post-processing settings. This is a totally new feature that enables you to fix something that has been lacking – and still is – with Apple TV; increasing the picture quality. Now, using the hardware, AirServer enhances the picture on-the-fly. These settings are customizable and give you control over the sharpening, brightness, contrast, saturation and hue. See AirServer’s video post-processing capabilities here.
Oh, and for those struggling with the back-to-front, upside down ending of Wind-up Knight, you can now flip the display horizontally and vertically.
Below is full list of AirServer 4.2 improvements:
- Optimized for the New iPad
- Apple TV 3 Full-HD support added
- Added Mirroring post-processing settings
- Improved gaming performance (FPS) over Mirroring
- Fixed random disconnects during Mirroring
- Fixed Growl notifications
- Fixed audio related issues
- Reduced memory usage
AirServer 3.2 packs complete password protection & all new audio services
19 November, 2011
We pride ourselves on being able to bring our users’ feature requests to life. Complete password protection and true audio sync have been priorities since day one, so that’s why we’re excited to introduce them to you in our 3.2 update. Rejoice that your AirServer Macs are no longer vulnerable to random interruptions of unwanted AirPlay streams! That’s right teachers, password protection means that you will no longer need to worry about Nyan Cat attacks during classroom presentations!
True audio sync with other AirPlay/AirTunes devices has also been a feature missing from our AirPlay audio services, but now your AirPlay ecosystems will reach sweet-sounding equilibrium at long last. Our all new audio streaming services include streamlined volume control and support for meta-data information from iTunes (Mac/PC).
Here is a complete list of AirServer 3.2 features and bug fixes:
- Complete AirPlay password protection added!
- Audio sync with other AirPlay/AirTunes devices implemented
- All new audio streaming with meta-data info from iTunes (Mac/PC)
- Audio playback now uses hardware based decoding
- Automatically switches over to software volume control if sound device does not support volume controls
- Volume control made linear
- Now supports hot-plugging preferred audio device
- HD video playback improved from Photos app
- Added support for AirPlay audio streaming from MOG
- Fixed black-frozen windows on Lion
- Fixed repeated activation bug
AirServer 3.1 Delivers doubleTwist & iTunes DRM Support
19 October, 2011
That’s right! AirServer’s hacktastic 3.1 update adds compatibility for both doubleTwist+AirTwist and iTunes DRM-encrypted videos.
The goodwill hacking of doubleTwist co-founder DVD Jon helps millions of people around the world enjoy their iTunes videos, podcasts and music on their Android devices. Now Android fans using doubleTwist’s AirTwist add-on can wirelessly beam their music and videos to their Macs running AirServer 3.1. Yeps: AirServer 3.1 enables AirPlay streaming from Android devices running doubleTwist+AirTwist to Mac.
The latest AirServer update even circumvents iTunes DRM restrictions! So now you can stream purchased videos directly to your Mac running AirServer at long last.
Other AirServer 3.1 update features include:
- Optimizations for iPhone 4S
- Fallback to QuickTime on Lion when playing mkv or other unsupported files
- Dynamic port switching if standard ports are in use
- French localization
Bug fixes include:
- Skipping songs no longer wakes up the display or interferes with screensaver
- Video playback now prevents display from dimming
- Streaming photos keeps the display on
- Optimized QuickTime interoperability
- Fixed incorrect version number on Tiger and Leopard
- Fixed preferences icon on Tiger and Leopard
We’d like to thank Alain Gaillard for gallantly volunteering to add French localization to AirServer. This past week has also been extremely busy, so thank you to everyone who kindly offered feedback on the 3.0 release and have been patiently awaiting AirServer 3.1.
All new AirServer 3.0 with enhanced iOS 5 and Lion support
10 October, 2011
We had a busy summer of tireless testing and development at AirServer headquarters, and now we’re excited to introduce AirServer 3.0 for Mac!
Those of you running Lion will instantly notice the sleek and snappy new video player that makes video streaming better than ever.
Although older systems will still need QuickTime for video-streaming, they’ll nevertheless get to utilize our brand-new photo and slideshow players; these optimized players seamlessly support multiple displays, mouse gestures, and keyboard shortcuts.
Furthermore, AirServer 3.0 boasts enhanced iOS 5 support and the unique ability to stream slideshows with visual effects and music intact via AirPlay.
So to make a long and glorious story short, you’ll enjoy:
- Re-engineered support for iOS 5
- New iOS 5 playlist support
- New built-in video, photo and slideshow players for Lion
- New built-in photo and slideshow players
- Slideshow player supports visual effects and music
- Multiple displays, mouse gestures and keyboard support on Lion
- Fullscreen mode with Plex and XBMC in the background
- Support for both fullscreen and windowed mode
- Audio password protection
- Automatic rebroadcasting on overloaded networks
- Automatic relaunching after crashes
We’ve also worked hard to add password protection on audio and fix the iPhone 3GS photo orientation bug that was interfering with 3GS users’ ability to enjoy AirServer’s awesome photo streaming. No other AirPlay receiver app on the market has provided this 3GS bug fix thus far.
Other bug fixes include:
- Audio streaming crash fixes
- Wake on demand (with display) now supported on Lion
- Prevent Mac from going to sleep when streaming videos, music or photos
- Prevent Screensaver from going off when photo or video streaming is in progress
- Fixed cursor issues after playback finishes
- Fixed Dual-mode AirPlay for iOS 5
Before we sign off on AirServer 3.0, we’d like to take this opportunity to thank Michael Fuchs for updating the app’s German localization and Dawid Sobolewski for updating our Polish localization.
Thanks guys, and our best regards to everyone else who beta-tested for us and shared their valuable feedback!
AirServer 2.2.0 adds iOS 5 support
9 June, 2011
It has been an eventful week so far what with all of the news coming out of San Francisco.
We’d like to add to the firestorm of awesome Apple news by releasing a brand spanking new update and announcing that AirServer 2.2.0 is compatible with iOS 5!
Heads up: those of you streaming content to AirServer from iOS 5 will need to deactivate Dual-mode AirPlay in AirServer Preferences.
This is quick and easy to do by unchecking the ‘Dual-mode AirPlay’ box.
And just in case you’ve always wanted to be able to crank up the volume and lose yourself in sky-high quality sound: we’ve also added 24-bit audio support.
For those of you who haven’t been following our blog, we’ve released twelve updates in the past six weeks.
The following outstanding optimizations have been added to AirServer:
- Wake on Demand
- Dual-mode AirPlay for video apps
- Enabled volume slider in video apps
- Full support for PPC machines
- Added support for OS X Tiger and Lion
- Support for multiple displays
- Option to select preferred audio output device / control audio device volume
- Support for Boxee, XBMC, FrontRow
And we’ve recently implemented bug fixes for:
- Play button states
- Audio buffer (internal audio buffer size increased)
- Cursor and menu bar issues
- Playback buttons waking display
Enjoy!
AirServer goes Green & adds Dual-mode AirPlay
3 June, 2011
AirServer 2.1.8 has gone ‘green’ and also added dual-mode AirPlay to video streaming apps!
By ‘green’, we mean that you no longer have to keep your Mac awake to enjoy AirServer. This gives you the best of both worlds: you’ll be able to reduce your carbon footprint, and AirServer will continue to be at your disposal. Whenever you feel like streaming to AirServer, just go ahead and AirServer will do its dance to wake up your Mac without needing any Wake on Lan utility.
AirServer’s ‘green’ Wake on Demand feature is compatible with newer Macs running Snow Leopard or Lion.
Dual-mode AirPlay: We know that everyone who owns older Macs might feel left out in the cold on this AirServer 2.1.8 Wake on Demand feature, so we’ve made you the coolest consolation prize ever. Have you ever wanted to watch a video on your iPad while specifically streaming the audio to your Mac running AirServer? We know you have, and now you can! With the 2.1.8 update, your machine will be listed as an audio and video receiver for AirPlay in video enabled apps.
We’ve also used your recent feedback and crash logs to fix a few unresolved issues that were causing us grief, so we look forward to hearing how 2.1.8 is received. You can see the updated release notes for a complete overview.
We’d also like to send a special shout out to Maksim Kopeikin for generously taking the time to redraw our AirServer menu bar icon for us. Thanks Maxim!
Super nifty 2.1.4 AirServer update
20 May, 2011
Here at AirServer headquarters, the words of the week have been ‘optimization’ and ‘support’. We’ve been implementing as many feature requests as possible and polishing every angle of our amazing app. After having responded to 1,054 emails since AirServer’s launch, we are proud to present our super nifty 2.1.4 update:
- Support for multiple displays has improved
- Support for simultaneous audio streaming has been added
- Volume levels now revert back to their original settings after audio streaming ends
- Support for Boxee, XBMC, Plex, FrontRow has been added
- Support for secondary audio devices while streaming video has been added
- QuickTime application now quits after streaming ends
- Compatibility with iTunes is improved
- Cursor is now hidden when photos are streamed
- Polish localization has been added
- Improvements for PPC machines added
Dawid Sobolewski is responsible for making AirServer’s Polish localization possible, so we’d like to extend a special thank-you to him: Dziekuje, Dawid! Michael Fuchs has also been so kind as to help us improve our German localization: Vielen Dank, Michael!
AirServer added to System Preferences
16 May, 2011
Yesterday we released AirServer 2.1.2. In addition to the awesome AirServer Preferences pane, we’ve added:
- Support for secondary displays
- Support for multiple sound devices (except when playing video)
- The ability to override a computer’s name
- The ability to select a preferred audio device
- The ability to regulate audio buffer size
- The ability to control audio device volume
- Photo rendering on top of FrontRow/XBMC/Plex
- Automatic audio playback pause if iTunes is playing
- Video to fullscreen before seeking
Videos also now play using QuickTime 7 on Snow Leopard and Tiger.
Last but not least, a special thank-you to Mike from apfelhelp.de for keeping AirServer’s German Localization up-to-date. Thanks, Mike!
Apple Distinguished Educator promotes using AirServer in American Schools
13 May, 2011
Mike Amante is an Apple Distinguished Educator, part of a select group of American educators working to expand innovative, creative uses of technology in American schools.
He has been teaching a series of very popular workshops that help school administrators and teachers learn how the iPad can be integrated into their workflow, and this is why he contacted us.
Mike wrote, “I want to share how well your new AirServer software could be part of the iPad-in-education experience. AirServer is one of those outstanding kinds of software I’d love to expose educational leaders to as they start exploring how the iPad can and will be used in the classroom. This software solution has so much potential in education!”
We wholeheartedly support Apple and NYSCATE’s commitment to improving education through the use of technology, and we’re grateful for the opportunity to help Mike show how AirServer can be used by students, teachers and administrators everywhere he works.
Fast and furious week of AirServer optimization
11 May, 2011
It’s been a fast and furious week! We’ve worked around the clock to optimize AirServer, and we appreciate all of the valuable feedback we’ve received.
In the past few days, we’ve added:
- Audio over AirPlay on PPC machines
- Support for Tiger
- Optimized discovery
- CPU and Memory usage optimizations
- German Localization
- Crash Reporter
We’d also like to send a shout out to Mike from apfelhelp.de for adding German Localization to AirServer. Thanks, Mike!