New Airport Express with 802.11n Next Week?

MacRumors · Mar 15, 2008, 04:35 PM

We had heard reliable reports that Apple will be launching a new version of their Airport Express next week, likely on Tuesday. Apple Retail stores should have stock of the new Airport Express by mid week. The new model will be priced at the same price as the current model ($99).

Though details have not been confirmed, it appears the upgrade will most likely include support for 802.11n wireless networking. MacGeneration points to an prematurely updated description at the Swiss Apple Store that describes 802.11n support.

The Airport Express currently supports 802.11b/g network only. 802.11n offers greater performance, more range, and improved reliability over the earlier Wifi standards. Apple has been including 802.11n in their computers since early 2007.

Article Link

stovetop6872 · 05:03 PM

good to hear!

iDAG · Mar 15, 2008, 04:39 PM

It's about time that the AirPort Express got updated. I guess the endless Apple updates continue.

ctachme · Mar 15, 2008, 04:40 PM

I wonder if the USB port will support full 480mbps now, and if the ethernet port will be full gigabit ethernet...

WannaBMW3 · Mar 15, 2008, 04:42 PM

Nice....can't wait to grab one of these!

Abercrombieboy · Mar 15, 2008, 04:43 PM

I just wish that Apple would make the 10.5 Front Row actually work with the Airtunes feature on the Airport Express.

chr1s60 · Mar 15, 2008, 04:44 PM

I am a fan of the Airport Express. I used one for about 2 years before switching to the Extreme. It worked great for me.

thecritix · Mar 15, 2008, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abercrombieboy

I just wish that Apple would make the 10.5 Front Row actually work with the Airtunes feature on the Airport Express.

me too

despite questions of its reliability on the store review, I'm a real fan of the unit.
I do hope mine continues working wonderfully

theLimit · Mar 15, 2008, 04:46 PM

Figures, an update two weeks after I buy one. Not that I need the new features, my network is 100MB Ethernet and 802.11g. I'm still using an "old" UFO Airport Extreme. Good to hear that Apple is finally bringing the Express in line with the new Extremes and Time Machine, though.

balamw · Mar 15, 2008, 04:49 PM

I hope they do it "right" and support HDDs connected to the USB port, GigE, 802.11n. I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat! (Even if Time Machine isn't supported).

Unfortunately there's no hint of that in the leak.

B

notsofatjames · Mar 15, 2008, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Abercrombieboy

I just wish that Apple would make the 10.5 Front Row actually work with the Airtunes feature on the Airport Express.

+1 on that. I tried Audacity(I think it was called that, or maybe AirFoil, cant remember), but that wasnt good enough.

Its a bit of a long shot, but I'd hope they'd enable Disk Access via the USB on AirportExpress. I know it would cut into Extreme market, but one can live in hope.

California King · Mar 15, 2008, 04:52 PM

Is this like a router? Meaning can we use it to connect to the internet via WiFi?

Bosunsfate · Mar 15, 2008, 04:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California King

Is this like a router? Meaning can we use it to connect to the internet via WiFi?

Yes. I use it as the base for my DSL modem and the central hub for my WiFi network.

I also have an Airport Extreme Base station which is where I connect an external drive and printer.

notsofatjames · Mar 15, 2008, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by California King

Is this like a router? Meaning can we use it to connect to the internet via WiFi?

Kinda like a router but not. It can create a WiFi network, but a computer on that network must be sharing the internet, since the Airport Express cant 'route' internet connections itself. It needs a modem to be handling all that.

manu chao · 06:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsofatjames

Kinda like a router but not. It can create a WiFi network, but a computer on that network must be sharing the internet, since the Airport Express cant 'route' internet connections itself. It needs a modem to be handling all that.

The Express cannot act as a full-blown router (as the AEBS or TC) and the ABEBS and TC cannot stream audio. If you want both features, you have to buy both devices, great business sense Apple!

michaelsviews · Mar 15, 2008, 05:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thecritix

me too

despite questions of its reliability on the store review, I'm a real fan of the unit.
I do hope mine continues working wonderfully

I'll be at the store on Tuesday morning at opening.

notsofatjames · Mar 15, 2008, 05:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by manu chao

The Express cannot act as a full-blown router (as the AEBS or TC) and the ABEBS and TC cannot stream audio. If you want both, you have to buy both, great business sense Apple!

Its annoying, I wish that one device could do all. Isnt that normally what apple promote. I want one device that I can stream audio, have harddrive access (Time Machine supported preferably) and an ADSL Modem built in, (in the UK nearly all internet connections are DSL, cable is hardly anywhere). But no, I have to buy 3 products to get that.

Mindflux · Mar 15, 2008, 05:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by balamw

I hope they do it "right" and support HDDs connected to the USB port, GigE, 802.11n. I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat! (Even if Time Machine isn't supported).

Unfortunately there's no hint of that in the leak.

B

Why Gig-E? The only port on the device is meant to go to a cable/dsl modem etc, which 10/100Mbps ports already exceed MOST consumer bandwidth choices .

ALSO FWIW this showed up on Apple's Hong Kong site about a month ago. I and a few others submitted an article and it never got published. Hum.

dopeytree · Mar 15, 2008, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notsofatjames

Kinda like a router but not. It can create a WiFi network, but a computer on that network must be sharing the internet, since the Airport Express cant 'route' internet connections itself. It needs a modem to be handling all that.

So what happens when you connect it via the ethernet to a dsl modem? does it act as a bridge, resulting in you being able to wirelessly connect?

Mindflux · Mar 15, 2008, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dopeytree

So what happens when you connect it via the ethernet to a dsl modem? does it act as a bridge, resulting in you being able to wirelessly connect?

Yes it will.

powermac_daddy · Mar 15, 2008, 05:09 PM

cool item, but not cool enough

SilentLoner · Mar 15, 2008, 05:11 PM

What does this actually do?

notsofatjames · Mar 15, 2008, 05:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SilentLoner

What does this actually do?

http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

Always a good read. Basically it either connects to your existing wireless network to allow you to print to a usb printer wirelessly, and play music from iTunes wirelessly, or..

It turns an ethernet connection into a wifi connection. So your ethernet modem connects to this and it shares the connection wirelessly. Or your ethernet only computer connects to this and you can share its files/connections etc. wirelessly too.

Hamstring · Mar 15, 2008, 05:16 PM

I found AEX flakey as my only router.

skiwhitman · Mar 15, 2008, 05:17 PM

I currently use the Airport Express as thought my 17" Intel Core Duo 1.83 Ghz imac wouldn't support the Airport Extreme. Is that wrong as I can't find anything about it on apple's website anymore? That would be fantastic if I could upgrade to the 802.11n for my

TV!!! I could stop syncing and start streaming everything on my mac!!!

Mar 15, 2008, 04:35 PM	#1
MacRumors macrumors bot Join Date: Apr 2001	New Airport Express with 802.11n Next Week? We had heard reliable reports that Apple will be launching a new version of their Airport Express next week, likely on Tuesday. Apple Retail stores should have stock of the new Airport Express by mid week. The new model will be priced at the same price as the current model ($99). Though details have not been confirmed, it appears the upgrade will most likely include support for 802.11n wireless networking. MacGeneration points to an prematurely updated description at the Swiss Apple Store that describes 802.11n support. The Airport Express currently supports 802.11b/g network only. 802.11n offers greater performance, more range, and improved reliability over the earlier Wifi standards. Apple has been including 802.11n in their computers since early 2007. Article Link

Mar 15, 2008, 04:38 PM	#2
stovetop6872 macrumors regular Join Date: Dec 2007	yay! good to hear! Last edited by Doctor Q : Mar 15, 2008 at 05:03 PM. Reason: no need to quote entire first post

Mar 15, 2008, 04:39 PM	#3
iDAG macrumors 65816 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Hilliard, Ohio	It's about time that the AirPort Express got updated. I guess the endless Apple updates continue. __________________  MacBook C2D Black 2.2 GHz 10.6.1  iPod touch 16GB 1g 3.1.2  iPod nano 16GB 4g Black  iPod shuffle 1GB 2g Blue Twitter

Mar 15, 2008, 04:40 PM	#4
ctachme macrumors member Join Date: Dec 2003	I wonder if the USB port will support full 480mbps now, and if the ethernet port will be full gigabit ethernet... __________________ "With the recent accomplishment of the manned lunar landing, the next frontier is manned exploration of the planets.... The 1981 manned Mars mission (1982 landing on Mars) is shown as an integral part of the total space program in the next two decades." - Space Task Group August 4. 1969

Mar 15, 2008, 04:42 PM	#5
WannaBMW3 macrumors regular Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Central Cali	Nice....can't wait to grab one of these! __________________ MBP 15" 2.6Ghz/4GB RAM/200GB-7200 RPM/256 MB 8600M GT iPhone 3G White iPod Shuffle 1GB Silver iPod 30GB Black iPod 30GB White

Mar 15, 2008, 04:43 PM	#6
Abercrombieboy macrumors 68000 Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: South Dakota, USA	I just wish that Apple would make the 10.5 Front Row actually work with the Airtunes feature on the Airport Express. __________________ Mac: 20" Aluminum iMac Core 2 Duo 2.4 Ghz, Mac OSX 10.6.1 iPod Touch 32 GB iPod Classic 80GB Silver Motorola Droid A855

Mar 15, 2008, 04:44 PM	#7
chr1s60 macrumors 65816 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: California	I am a fan of the Airport Express. I used one for about 2 years before switching to the Extreme. It worked great for me. __________________ 15" MacBook Pro 3.06GHz, iPod 4G 20GB, iPod Classic 120GB, iPod Shuffle 4G, White iPhone 3G S⃣ 16GB,tv 160GB

Mar 15, 2008, 04:46 PM	#9
theLimit macrumors 6502a Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: uh-ha-yuh, USA	Figures, an update two weeks after I buy one. Not that I need the new features, my network is 100MB Ethernet and 802.11g. I'm still using an "old" UFO Airport Extreme. Good to hear that Apple is finally bringing the Express in line with the new Extremes and Time Machine, though.

Mar 15, 2008, 04:49 PM	#10
balamw macrumors 601 Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: New England, USA	Air disk support? I hope they do it "right" and support HDDs connected to the USB port, GigE, 802.11n. I'd buy one of those in a heartbeat! (Even if Time Machine isn't supported). Unfortunately there's no hint of that in the leak. B __________________ UMBP (15" SD 2.8 GHz), UMB (13" 2.4 GHz), iMac (17" Yonah), 16GB iPhone 3G, 8GB 3G Nano, Airport Extreme, Time Capsule, TV

Mar 15, 2008, 04:52 PM	#12
California King macrumors 6502a Join Date: Sep 2007	Is this like a router? Meaning can we use it to connect to the internet via WiFi?

Mar 15, 2008, 05:09 PM	#21
powermac_daddy Banned Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Philadelphia & Northern California	cool item, but not cool enough

Mar 15, 2008, 05:11 PM	#22
SilentLoner macrumors 6502 Join Date: Dec 2007	What does this actually do?

Mar 15, 2008, 05:16 PM	#24
Hamstring macrumors newbie Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Chicago	I found AEX flakey as my only router.

Mar 15, 2008, 05:17 PM	#25
skiwhitman macrumors member Join Date: Aug 2007	I currently use the Airport Express as thought my 17" Intel Core Duo 1.83 Ghz imac wouldn't support the Airport Extreme. Is that wrong as I can't find anything about it on apple's website anymore? That would be fantastic if I could upgrade to the 802.11n for my TV!!! I could stop syncing and start streaming everything on my mac!!!

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