Soforino has released Beamer 4, an update of the Mac app (macOS 10.15 and higher) that allows users to stream any video format to their Apple TV and Chromecast devices.
It’s a handy tool for simplifying the process of streaming content to an Apple TV set-top box and other devices. Compared to the original Beamer, the new version packs even more features — tvOS 16 and AirPlay 2 Support, enhanced Subtitle Support, Playlist and Queue Features.
Unlike AirPlay mirroring, Beamer enables native streaming. This means that any TV device plays your movies without glitches and complications. You can pick any movie format, add subtitles, and start streaming.
With the app you don’t have to worry about juggling streaming formats. You can deal with MOV, MKV, AVI files and even rare formats such as HEVC (H265), H264, VP8 in high quality on Apple TV and Chromecast devices.
Disclaimer: I don’t have a Chromecast device, so I’ve just tested the app on my Apple TV set-top box. The integration between macOS and tvOS is used to stream content from your Mac to an Apple TV.
Beamer handles all the conversion and does so relatively quickly. It can stream videos from Mac to any AirPlay 2-enabled smart TV. Just drag a video file and immediately begin watching it on an AirPlay 2-enabled TV.
Here are the new features in Beamer 4:
° Videos can be organized with custom playlists and queues for uninterrupted play.
° Beamer detects and synchronizes subtitles for a multi-language viewing experience.
° Beamer 4 enables direct streaming of audio files to TVs.
You can download a free demo of the app at https://softorino.com/beamer/. It offers 20 minutes of streaming, but you have to use it within 24 hours. Registration is US$35 for an “annual Universal License Subscription.”
Do you need this app? If you have multiple TVs, speakers, and set-top boxes, it will make life much easier. Note that I’ve read online complaints that versions of Beamer prior to 4.0 didn’t work well with the latest version of tvOS, but I had no issues with version 4.0 and tvOS 16.6.
Apple World Today rating (out of 5 stars): ★★★★
