While this feature is not currently in the open beta, Play To highlights Windows 7 ability to be both a control point and server in a DLNA network. What’s so awesome about this is that a ton of devices already have this baked in and Windows 7 can auto-discover them as well as present itself to them. It’s great to see how easily this system works with existing media devices and formats.
Seeing this feature though also raises the obvious opposite perspective from Apple’s model. The iTunes system ONLY works with itself. Sure it works on both Macs and PC’s but there is no way without some hacking to get your AppleTV to play with other sources. Even then it does not function as a DLNA UPnP device like what was shown in the video. There’s no way to share media from my Nokia Handset to my television without first syncing to my desktop and then copying – through iTunes – over to the AppleTV.
Apple’s closed system certainly simplifies the consumer experience though that’s only due to the substantially limited perspective on how we are allowed to share media in the home. I have many more things captures media than just those made by Apple … and I know I’m not alone.
Thanks to eHomeUpgrade for the tip.