Quest doesn’t have AirPlay, however it’s not for the shortage of making an attempt. In a submit on X, Meta CTO Andrew ‘Boz’ Bosworth says the corporate is completely happy to do the “heavy lifting” on bringing Apple’s media streaming to Quest—if Apple will enable it.
John Carmack, legendary programmer and former CTO of Oculus, posted on X just lately that whereas at Meta he “at all times needed to get Apple AirPlay help on Meta Quest.” Nevertheless he maintained Apple apparently “wouldn’t cooperate” with bringing its wi-fi streaming protocol, which permits streaming audio, video, and different media content material from one gadget to a different.
I at all times needed to get Apple AirPlay help on Meta Quest, however it was stated that Apple wouldn’t cooperate.
I’m certain there have been “screw Meta” factions, however absolutely there are additionally factions that need AirPlay to be a ubiquitous customary on each show, and would see the worth of…
— John Carmack (@ID_AA_Carmack) August 21, 2024
In response, Bosworth stated this: “We’re very happy to do no matter heavy lifting is required to help it!”
That’s a giant “if”. Whereas AirPlay isn’t unique to Apple gadgets, as many Google TV and Android TV customers can attest, it does require Meta to primarily enter right into a partnership with Apple, which could possibly be a primary. Apple could also be reluctant to ‘give away’ one among its large ecosystem advantages, particularly whereas Meta has been ostensibly following Imaginative and prescient Professional’s lead by integrating quite a few Imaginative and prescient Professional-style options on Quest, similar to bringing native help for the spatial MV-HVEC video codec.
Such a partnership would usually embody a licensing settlement, entry to AirPlay SDK and documentation, and a submission course of for testing and validation. Moreover, Apple often requires producers to repeatedly replace the firmware on their gadgets to remain suitable with new variations of iOS, macOS, and tvOS, and to include any updates to the AirPlay protocol.
It stays to be seen to what extent Apple would enable AirPlay help. On Imaginative and prescient Professional, customers cannot solely solid media from their iOS and Mac gadgets to the headset, but additionally solid sport classes to AirPlay supported TVs so onlookers can observe together with the motion—much less possible since AirPlay classes require Apple {hardware} to provoke. Nonetheless, that performance is basically lined by Meta’s personal casting function.
Within the meantime, there are some unofficial workarounds on Quest proper now that embody fundamental AirPlay help. The Skybox VR Video Participant has an experimental function for AirPlay, though casting and display screen mirroring has blended outcomes.
Right here’s a video, courtesy of YouTuber ‘The Assemble’ that takes you thru the ropes of getting AirPlay to work utilizing the paid app on Quest.
