Seems a bit useless?
DNLA, AirPlay, etc already let me pick any audio device on my network. No bonking involved.
NFC is finally sneaking into a range of hardware, with Sony and Nokia emphasising the audio-pairing capabilities while everyone else is just sticks it in there for laughs. Nokia hasn't announced its new Windows Phone yet, there's a teaser up for next week, but it has announced that such phones will pair with HARMAN speakers …
May be it's the ether's way of telling those who can't be bothered with set up, that they shouldn't have the tech? It's going to be more "fisher price" kit for the 'tards.
I'd rather see folk learning how to use something, than having things done for them.
Maybe if folk learned, hell desk wouldn't have 'tards calling because a device isn't plugged in! Maybe making the 'tards use their brains migh raise the bar for their kids, and stop the social rot.
"DNLA, AirPlay, etc already let me pick any audio device on my network."
Pick an audio device on *your* network, yes. What about when you go to visit someone and want to show them the photos/videos you took recently, or just play some music you've discovered?
This has zero-setup, and is not confined to products from one manufacturer. You don't even have to select a device from a list, just bring your phone to it, and the connection is established.
When you see this in operation, it's effortlessly intuitive.
Legions of consumers complain about the myriad buttons and complex nature of modern remote controls, yet they still use them, rather than walk over to the darn set to switch the channel.
And now, you expect them then to stand up and walk over to the other side of the room every time they want to show a picture or play a song?
Less than useless.