BananaTunes - Stream Music from iDevice to a Mac

[Kyle Matthews]

We posted about Banana TV a while back, which lets you use a Mac as an AirPlay destination for video. We're working with developer Erica Sadun to market the app, and so I see the support emails daily - the most common one being "when can I stream audio"?

With the recent discovery of the AirTunes private key, it's now possible to integrate streaming audio from an iOS device to any Mac running a new beta build of Banana Tunes (which is the app Erica is using to beta test this new streaming possibility). She's been feverishly developing and researching the past couple weeks to get audio streaming working from iOS to OS X. The hope is it will be integrated into a future build of Banana TV.

You can download the beta files from her FTP at ericasadun.com/ananab. There's two links there - an install pack (read the readme inside to see how to install) and the actual Banana Tunes app.

Test away, folks! Erica would love your feedback on how the app is working, as it will help development.

[bluaeon]

jailbroken phones i believe?

also instruction that came with does not specify where to put the banana tune app. anyone know?

[Kyle Matthews]

No, this does not require a jailbreak. The app runs on your Mac, and any iOS device can then stream to your Mac!

[Norb]

This is awesome been waiting for this for a pretty long time now... PC version would be great too but I'm definitely going to take advantage of this.

[dallasnights]

Is there a windows version like this that works for us PC users?

[bereninga]

Why not just use the Remote app?

[vantheman169]

Why not just use the Remote app?

Thats what i am saying.

[GenesisDH]

Why not just use the Remote app?

Say, you want to play your music on a computer that isn't yours, such as a friend's computer or a Mac used as a presentation tool at a school or business. Than this would be the only way you could do so, since Remote doesn't work with computers it isn't authorized for.

Also, it works with almost any app that allows for AirPlay audio streaming. So you could play non-iTunes media through a Mac just like you could with an Airport Express or AppleTV.

[rocketApe]

Good fruit choice.

[Antman217]

Why not just use the Remote app?

Isn't the remote app just to control your iTunes library from your device. This is completely different. Your are streaming your music from your idevice to the computer not controlling what's already on your computer.

[iBanks]

Isn't the remote app just to control your iTunes library from your device. This is completely different. Your are streaming your music from your idevice to the computer not controlling what's already on your computer.

True.... and this completely replaces the rhapsody website streaming for me, as I can now use the rhapsody app on my device and play through my surround system since Rhapsody fails to create an app for the Mac. This is good stuff. Plus, I had broken the adapter door for my iPhone to connect directly to my surround sound, and now able to do it all over again, and don't have to leave it docked.

[The Man of Sand]

Wow this is totally bananas!!!

[Kyle Matthews]

Is there a windows version like this that works for us PC users?

Yah kinda. Under development at least, no ETA.

Why not just use the Remote app?

See below.

Say, you want to play your music on a computer that isn't yours, such as a friend's computer or a Mac used as a presentation tool at a school or business. Than this would be the only way you could do so, since Remote doesn't work with computers it isn't authorized for.

Also, it works with almost any app that allows for AirPlay audio streaming. So you could play non-iTunes media through a Mac just like you could with an Airport Express or AppleTV.

[Norb]

Umm so there is a reason why it's beta... mine connects just fine but sounds very choppy at the moment.

[StellarZ]

Here's my reason for using it.

I have my iTunes library on my MacBook Air and sync with that computer. What If I want to listen to my music on my Mac Mini that's connected to my TV? I would have to close the iTunes app on my MBA and start it on the Mac Mini and when I'm done I would have to close it on the Mac Mini in order to use it on the MBA again. It's really just making it super convenient for me and avoiding some what I think are some unnecessary steps. Great work Erica!

Now all I need is the ability to play on multiple AirTunes speakers via iPhone's iPod. Is there a Cydia app that will accomplish this?

[barryson77]

why would i wanna stream music from my iphone to my mac?please people tell me,because i think this app is useless.banana tv is cool,its nice to stream video or photos from ur idevice to your mac considering the large display

[emckissack]

anyone have better install instructions? So far I have had to "Show all hidden folders" in order to find my "usr" folder which is in my "root dir?" or "windows version of C: drive. so in that folder I create "local" folder, then in there create "lib" folder. I copied the files "ao and libao.4" into there and then tried to run the banana app. i get a message that the app is not built for my version of osx. Not sure what to do from here. I am running the latest version of snow leopard.

[MindGem]

Tyvm

[nkgneto]

If you could stream the Crackle app to your mac it would be nice, since this app doesn't work on Macs. Then you could watch free movies.

[Kyle Matthews]

anyone have better install instructions? So far I have had to "Show all hidden folders" in order to find my "usr" folder which is in my "root dir?" or "windows version of C: drive. so in that folder I create "local" folder, then in there create "lib" folder. I copied the files "ao and libao.4" into there and then tried to run the banana app. i get a message that the app is not built for my version of osx. Not sure what to do from here. I am running the latest version of snow leopard.

Open Finder and hit Command+Shift+G. This will allow you to type which directory path you want to type. Type /usr/local/ and hit return. You'll prob already see a lib folder, but if not create it. Either way, drop the two files in there and then run Banana Tunes.