Flying Meat Software:Introducing JSTalk, an alternative to AppleScript

Although by no means perfect, JavaScript is the future of scripting on the desktop operating system.

Several months back, we mentioned that we were working on Airfoil Speakers Touch for the iPhone and iPod Touch. Development hit some snags that threw us off schedule, but these have recently been overcome. Along with that news, we thought we’d provide a bit more detail on the application, as we’ve had immense interest.

What is Airfoil Speakers Touch?

Airfoil Speakers Touch is a companion application for our Airfoil for Mac and Airfoil for Windows products. Coupled with Airfoil, you’ll be able to send audio from your Mac or PC to any iPhones or iPods Touch on the local network. Stream baseball games from your computer to the iPhone as you work around the house. Set up an iPod Touch in a dock and make it act as a remote speaker (just like an AirPort Express). With Airfoil and Airfoil Speakers Touch, you’ll have access to your music in more places.

Even better, this audio plays in sync with any other outputs. Audio played to AirPort Express units, Apple TVs, and other computers will all play in sync with the audio on the iPhone and iPod Touch. It’s very cool.

What does it look like?

Airfoil for Mac sending to Airfoil Speakers Touch

Airfoil Speakers Touch receiving audio

When can I get it?

We’ve heard from hundreds of users eager to use Airfoil with the iPhone and we want to get it in your hands as soon as possible. We’re hoping to submit a finished Airfoil Speakers Touch to the App Store sometime in April. Once approved, it will initially be available free of charge for all Airfoil users.

If you already own Airfoil, just subscribe to our RSS feed or sign up for our mailing list to receive word when Airfoil Speakers Touch is available. If you’re not using Airfoil yet, check it out now for both Mac and Windows. Stay tuned – Airfoil Speakers Touch is coming soon!

The EFF’s Fred von Lohmann, on the new iPod Shuffle and its horrendous headphone-related DRM:

“Normally, of course, independent headphone makers could simply reverse engineer the interface. The “authentication chip” is there so that Apple’s lawyers can invoke the DMCA to block those efforts. So this shows us, yet again, what DRM is for — not stopping piracy, but rather impeding competition and innovation.”

Sometimes companies can claim that their DRM has a valid purpose. But this is just pathetic, and really serves to illustrate exactly what’s wrong with the DMCA.

To donate to the EFF, click right here and tell ‘em Rogue Amoeba sent you.