AirServer is a Mac app that turns your computer into a receiver for AirPlay. We have seen this kind of thing before, in the shape of Banana TV, but AirServer works better, and adds in some functionality not found in Banana TV.
AirPlay is what lets you throw content from an iPad or iPhone wirelessly to speakers or your TV. To do this, you need to have an AirPort Express next to your speakers, or an Apple TV hooked up to your TV. Bluetooth speakers show up in the list, too. What you can't do is beam movies from your iOS device direct to your big-screen iMac.
AirServer is a $3 app that adds in this last piece of the puzzle. With it running on your Mac, a new entry will show up in the AirPlay popover of any iOS device on the same network, as you'd expect.
Music just appears magically from your Mac's speakers, or whatever speakers are hooked up to it. Movies open after a second in the Quicktime player, and it's on-screen controls let you play, pause, scrub and change volume on the Mac itself.
Both of these (usually) work just fine in Banana TV (although that app can also use its own video viewer). The difference is with photos. With AirServer, you can not only view individual photos, but you can also run a slideshow. Pick your album in the Photos app, choose slideshow and a popover will pop, erm, over to let you choose a destination. You need to select a photo in that album to see the popover, and the promised transition is replaced by one photo simply appearing to replace another, but it works.
Like the $8 Banana TV, AirServer has no trial, and thanks to its nature it won't be making it into the app store. Then again, it costs just $3, and you pay with PayPal, so there's little risk. And as I took one for the team and tested it, you know it works.
AirServer product page [AirServer]
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