Apple unveiled their new OS X for iMacs and Macbooks yesterday, named OS X Mountain Lion. One of the most interesting new additions is AirPlay Mirroring that allow users to wirelessly stream their Mac screen onto a TV via Apple TV. It is a great solution for media center users, and also marks the beginning of Apple’s game console strategy.

AirPlay coming to Mac with Mountain Lion
AirPlay (and AirPlay Mirroring) is one of the best features of iOS - and it is coming to Macs this summer with the release of OS X Mountain Lion. All it requires is an Apple TV box connected to a TV screen.


AirPlay Mirroring coming to Macs

With Airplay Mirroring Mac users can stream their Mac display onto the TV screen. AirPlay will show up in applications such as iTunes and will also be open to developers to implement in their applications.


AirPlay Mirroring can turn a Mac or iOS device into a gaming console with Game Center integration

AirPlay will also interact with Apple's Game Center. In a presentation Apple demonstrated how a Mac user and iPad user can play head-to-head in the Real Racing arcade game. The Mac user on a living room TV via the Apple TV box and the iPad user on the iPad screen. Spectators reported “no or very little lag”. Apple also believes that AirPlay in OS X will become a powerful tool for presentations.


AirPlay Mirroring coming to Macs

AirPlay Mirroring is a completely wireless solution. The resolution is currently capped at 720p due to the Apple TV box that does not support 1080p (but that seems to change soon). Sound is transmitted in stereo. It obviously requires that all devices are connected to the same home network.

In the video below a developer demonstrates AirPlay Mirroring on a Mac.


Apple OS X Mountain Lion will also offer iCloud integration, Messages, Notification Center, Game Center and much more when it arrives in "summer 2012". Learn more about AirPlay and the other features in OS X Mountain Lion here.