Wiim withdraw Apple Airplay casting from all their products

[Petevid]

For some reason they have had to withdraw this feature , you can still airplay to a Wiim device but not AirPlay cast between two or more Wiim devices. Speculation is rife, whether it’s been forced by Apple or perhaps by Sonos who possibly have exclusive rights over this feature.

There are a few disgruntled users, Wiim are apparently offering refunds and a work around is being discussed but it’s not entirely clear yet whether it is an AirPlay work around or a DLNA one.

Post in thread 'Firmware Update'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/firmware-update.3682/post-56432

 

[MaxwellsEq]

There may be licensing restrictions. I suspect they aren't removing it out of choice!

 

[OldTimer]

Probably the license cost is too expensive.

 

[TonyJZX]

let me ask this though

is the update removing airplay MANDATORY? or can you just sit on an old build?

also remember Apple has precedence with this kind of thing with the shoe sometimes on the other foot

Apple removed ANC algorithms from their headsets because of... reasons... prob. licensing or lack of thereof

 

[AaronJ]

So frustrating I used this feature to broadcast from my main listening space to a Sonos speaker in the kitchen.

 

[AaronJ]

let me ask this though

is the update removing airplay MANDATORY? or can you just sit on an old build?

also remember Apple has precedence with this kind of thing with the shoe sometimes on the other foot

Apple removed ANC algorithms from their headsets because of... reasons... prob. licensing or lack of thereof

Too late for me I immediately checked as soon as I read this and it was already updated. Should have turned off auto updates

 

[OldTimer]

If you don’t update your Wiim then you’ll be missing the best of it which is firmware updates.

The question is whether Wiim product price will be reduced.

 

[AaronJ]

If you don’t update your Wiim then you’ll be missing the best of it which is firmware updates.

The question is whether Wiim product price will be reduced.

I would happily trade most of the “functionality” for airplay broadcasting.

 

[TheBatsEar]

What is it that makes airplay so special, compared to DLNA?

 

[TonyJZX]

i dont get what the admins there are saying

of course they will try to spin it as 'technical difficulties' but also you can ask for your device to be 'whitelisted' so you retain airplay even though future updates will get rid of it?

I expect this is due to the fact that people were sold this as a feature so therefore if you remove a feature you are in essence, breaking a contract?

And so future device sales will not have it but current users who request it are ok?

i mean its better than the way Apple treats their own products i guess?

 

[robertbond]

WIIM just killed Airplay casting. AirPlay / wifi for casting as an Output to my Sonos Fives is gone. Please note I will not be changing my speakers as I bought them just before I bought the WIIM Pro plus, 7 months ago (Nov 2023) after much research, choosing WIIM over the Sonos Port. As Sonos Fives are wifi and don’t support bluetooth, nor DLNA and I don’t want to use any cables to plus my WIIM Pro Plus into anything except my turntable with is already plugged into my line in. The only output I want to use is over Wireless / Airplay and it worked brilliantly until now.Airplay disappeared from configurable Outputs, yet AirPlay is all over the packaging. It needs a resolution.

 

[robertbond]

If you don’t update your Wiim then you’ll be missing the best of it which is firmware updates.

The question is whether Wiim product price will be reduced.

Airplay was all over their packaging and a main selling point for Sonos users

 

[robertbond]

For some reason they have had to withdraw this feature , you can still airplay to a Wiim device but not AirPlay cast between two or more Wiim devices. Speculation is rife, whether it’s been forced by Apple or perhaps by Sonos who possibly have exclusive rights over this feature.

There are a few disgruntled users, Wiim are apparently offering refunds and a work around is being discussed but it’s not entirely clear yet whether it is an AirPlay work around or a DLNA one.

Post in thread 'Firmware Update'
https://forum.wiimhome.com/threads/firmware-update.3682/post-56432

Indeed moderators also active in this forum keep deleting posts from WIIM forum on this subject

 

[robertbond]

i dont get what the admins there are saying

of course they will try to spin it as 'technical difficulties' but also you can ask for your device to be 'whitelisted' so you retain airplay even though future updates will get rid of it?

I expect this is due to the fact that people were sold this as a feature so therefore if you remove a feature you are in essence, breaking a contract?

And so future device sales will not have it but current users who request it are ok?

i mean its better than the way Apple treats their own products i guess?

this is breaking a contract indeed

 

[Joffy1780]

Airplay was all over their packaging and a main selling point for Sonos users

It still has Airplay though, that is why it is still present on their packaging and will continue to be so.

 

[robertbond]

Not for casting but product details on website still state Airplay for Streaming / casting

 

[Joffy1780]

Not for casting but product details on website still state Airplay for Streaming / casting

That screenshot shows info relating to it's abilities as an airplay receiver.

 

[anthony691]

They’re either going to be refunding those who request refunds, restoring the feature, or will likely be sued.

I’m sure none of this was a choice, but they’ve functionally bricked their devices for many users who bought them on the basis of the feature that is now gone.

 

[TonyJZX]

i'm surprised their messaging is this mixed

my read is that if you are a current customer you can ask your existing piece of equipment be whitelisted

however future customers will not have this ability, nor this feature and supposedly all mention of this ability will be scrubbed

 

[terryforsythe]

let me ask this though

It may be a little late (I just saw this thread), but in the attachment in the first post it states that you can contact WiiM to add your device to a whitelist to retain the feature. If your WiiM already has been updated, though, you may be out of luck.