Wireless Mirroring from iPad to PC Now a Reality with AirServer
Saturday, May 5, 2012 at 7:32PM 
Windows users now have a way to wirelessly mirror iPad and iPhone to their computers with AirSever. Similar to Reflection (now called Reflector) for Mac, AirServer is software installed on a desktop or laptop that turns that the computer into an AirPlay receiver with no Apple TV required. There's absolutely no software to install on iPad or iPhone because AirPlay mirroring is built into iOS (but currently only on iPad 2, iPad 3rd generation, and iPhone 4S).
AirServer offer a 7 day trial period, though you will have to allow the developer to post on your Facebook wall. Standard and student licensing costs are very reasonable and can be installed on up to 5 machines.
After AirServer is installed on a Mac or PC, your iPad or iPhone must be on the same Wi-Fi network. Then just double-click the Home button on your device and swipe right on the multitasking tray until you see the AirPlay icon next to the volume slider. Tap the AirPlay icon and choose your computer from the list and activate Mirroring. Audio and video from your iPad or iPhone will be routed to your Mac or PC.
Mirroring allows teachers to show their iPad's screen on a larger computer screen. Better yet, if the computer is connected to a projector, then iPad's screen can be seen by a large audience or classroom full of students. Because AirPlay is built into all iPads (except 1st generation), students' iPads can also instantly be mirrored and their writing, art, ideas, and projects can be shared with the class.
Besides using AirServer to show a device's screen to audience, it makes screencasting possible. With software like Jing or Screenr, you can record whatever is on your Mac or PC's screen along with audio. This is a great way to make app tutorials! For an example, check out Prime Number Frayer Model with Popplet Lite by Lisa Johnson.
Wirelessly mirroring can turn an iPad or iPhone into a mobile document camera. Simply activate the Camera app while mirroring and what's seen through the camera is piped to the Mac or PC. You might have to be inventive if you want a contraption to hold the device above a surface instead of holding it with your hands.
Another use is realtime monitoring of what students are doing on their devices. AirSever allows multiple iPads and iPhones to mirror all at once to one computer. Each device that mirrors shrinks the others on the computer's screen to make room. You probably won't want to mirror a whole class set of iPads, but certain students who might be on iPad "probation" may be required to mirror to the teacher's computer for monitoring. The teacher's computer wouldn't be projecting--it would just be for the teacher to oversee what's happening.
You might want to know how AirServer compares to Reflection. I have used both and prefer AirServer, mostly because it seems less buggy and scales to take up the entire screen. Furthermore, AirServer's image appears crisper. Reflection does have one option that AirServer does not: Reflection places a cute iPad or iPhone border around your image. Using Reflection is not an option for PCs since it only works in Mac OS X.
Wirelessly mirroring my iPad has greatly improved my workshops. I can walk around the room during demonstrations instead of being tethered to a VGA connection (and I don't have to worry about that pesky iPad VGA adapter constantly falling out). That same improvement can now happen in more iPad-using classrooms thanks to AirSever and its support for Windows PCs.
Reader Comments (24)
Yes I like the full screen also however did you know that reflection has built in recording option. Creates a .mov file. Cheers!
I didn't realize Reflection added recording, That is nice to not have to worry about screencasting. AirServer has been very good at adding features, so I expect to see recording coming to it soon.
Awesome news! Thanks for sharing. I just tried it on my Mac and used QuickTime to record the screen. Monday I'll check it out at school using my PC. WooHoo!
Reflection added recording about a week after release. The recordings are great and capturing the iPads system audio is perfect. However, the recordings do not contain the iPad border.
I purchased AirServer and do like the full-screen mode! Thanks for the tip!
In my school the desktop computers (which run the projectors/Smartboards) are on a separate network from wireless devices. This would seem to be a no-go for us. Wouldn't that be a pretty common setup in schools?
Hey Tony Loving my ReflectionApp! I do like the recording feature. Using Apps like Educreation and ShowMe I capture audio too...
I concur with Peter regarding the desktop on the school network which is separate from the wireless. Is there a solution?
Peter & Marianne:
AirPlay only works when devices are on the same network.
I have the problem of using the networks at the schools where I conduct workshops. Either I cannot connect or they block the ports necessary for AirPlay. I have dealt with this problem in two different ways...
I travel with a MiFi card. It's a portable wireless network that gives me internet access through my mobile provider. AirPlay works pretty well through it, though sometimes there are hiccups. Of course, there's cost to having a MIFi, including the mobile data contract.
Another option is that you could set up a computer-to-computer network and connect iPad to that network. In addition, you will want to enable Internet Sharing if you wish to access the web from your iPad. Here's an article on how to do this on Mac. I bet you can pull this off with Windows too. Just be aware that your network administrator may not want you creating your own network within their network.
Of course, the best solution would be to get the computer that is connected to the projector on the same network as your wireless devices. I know, I know... Easier said than done in many situations.
Or maybe skip using AirServer/Reflection and go the Apple TV route. It could be on the same Wi-Fi network as the devices. If your projector is VGA, no worries. Kanex makes an HDMI to VGA/Audio adapter called the ATV Pro. This Apple TV/Kanex adapter set up will cost you about $160 in hardware, though.
Hey great find in using the Air Server for PC. I have been able to now view my iPad 3 by mirroring it on to my work desktop. Yet, for some reason, I can not hear any audio. Do you have any suggestions?
Forrest,
I noticed that AirServer for PC is version 0.9. This is the first version publicly available and I suspect AirServer's developer will update frequently with bug fixes and feature requests as has been done over the couple of months with the Mac version. I suggest emailing support@airserver.com with your issue and computer set up. They might be able to help you or you might be helping them identity a bug.
I am trying to use this to get my iPad 3, and my boss is trying it out with an iPad 2 on our Dell Laptops. We can't even get the Mirroring button to show up on the ipads. I get it at home when my apple tv is on the network, but the pc just doesn't show up.
Windows 7 enterprise, on same network at home, at work, doesn't seem to matter.
Am I missing something. I have AirServer running on the dell, and I turn Airplane mode on and off as suggested, and have rebooted both systems multiple times since initial install, but nothing.
My boss gets nothing either. We would love to use this for online demos of our iPad app, but honestly, our company isn't going to buy macs for all of our sales team when most of our suite runs on windows.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Brian,
You might check to see if your work network is blocking any necessary communication for AirPlay and AirServer to function.
Also check with AirServer support. Perhaps they can help?
AirServer is a wonderful tool, unfortunately it works great at home but is not supported by my school's wifi network. I was all set to use it at a training, excited that I didn't need to be tethered to the projector and then discovered it wouldn't work. I was so bummed. I did use it for a smaller workshop by running my laptop and iPad off of my Broadband, bypassing the school's wifi. I love the idea of making app tutorials using AirServer and Jing. Guess what I am going to be doing this morning? Thanks for the great information.
We've got quite a few AppleTVs in our school - they're great! I've been using Reflection for a while and will check out AirServer as I've found Reflection to be a bit buggy, much like what Tony describes.
Be mindful of AppleTVs and VLANs - if you're school is using them. Apple TVs won't work between VLANs.We've been trialling aerohive wireless access points which will rebroadcast AppleTVs across VLANs.
One last thing: don't let your techs tell you how to run your school!! Tell them to find a solution and cost it. I can't believe the number of schools where the ICT techs seem to have overlord-type control and mentality!!! :)
Do the Reflection people know about the problems caused by such apps as Sock Puppets? Will there be a remedy soon? I love the way Reflection works with almost all of my other apps on my iPad, but when trying to use Sock Puppets it boots my iPad out of Reflection all together. When I check it's not even showing the airplay icon any longer.
J Nelson,
I think the problem with some apps like Sock Puppets is either an issue with the app or with AirPlay itself. I say that because there are apps like Sock Puppets that the moment you press Record, AirPlay drops out (iTell a Story is another). This happens using Reflection and with AirServer. It also happens through an Apple TV as well. I can record with a similar app like Puppet Pals just fine through Reflection, AirServer, and Apple TV, leading me to think that perhaps the problem is actually with Sock Puppets or how AirPlay works with the app.
I just backed this ... have you checked out this new thing yet?
http://mashable.com/follow/videos/1828048181001-a-gadget-seeking-funding-on-kickstarter-would-make-it-easy-to-share/
I have a problem with reflection, some apps are to dark hence when it is mirrored onto my monitor it is way to dark to even see whats going on. Is there any way to increase the brighteness for reflection so that some apps arn't to dark when mirrored.
Thank you
I'm actually investigating to see if I can replace the laptop in this setup with an iphone or ipod touch. Those two options are so much more portable.
AirServer's video filters allows you to change brightness/contrast on the fly.
The new version, AirServer 4.6 also adds support for Projectors and onscreen passcode - very useful in a classroom environment.
Hi there,
I'd like to get Airserver for the ipads we've just bought at our school. I was just wondering - would the sound go to the laptop and then though the sound cable to the speakers with the Interactive Whiteboard? This is the trouble we have when connecting some of the ipads through a VGS cable to the whiteboard.
Kat,
AirPlay sends video and audio through WiFi to Apple TV or a computer running AirServer of Reflection. So, yes, the sound from an iPad that you're mirroring over AirPlay should come out the speakers connected to your computer.
I do this all the time during my workshops. It works pretty well. There are a few apps that for whatever reason choose to still send their audio out the iPad speaker instead of AirPlay.
Any body know what ports airserver uses? we are tryiing to unblock them b ecause it doesn't work on our network but work else where
Here are the ports that need to be open for AirPlay:
http://tonyv.me/airplayports