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AirPort Express with AirTunes

Lancetx said:
I assume this would work as a Wi-Fi range extender with 3rd party 802.11g routers as well and doesn't require an Apple AirPort Extreme base station right?
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as the 802.11a/b/g are wireless standards, it would be folly for apple to make the (standard) wireless protocol of the Airport Express proprietry.

I am a little surprised you asked this though. As Wi-Fi is a standard that is now almost truly entrenched in the technology world and as a result the issue of incompatible standards is now almost a non-issue.
 
jholzner said:
Soooo...perhaps future iPods will have wifi ability but not to sync...but to stream from ipod to a stereo. That would mean you WOULD have control over what you were playing right from the room you were playing it...and not even have to preselect it from iTunes.
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wowowowow, i didn't think of this. This is unbelievable lateral thinking. Imagine having an ipod in your pocket walking all around the room, having it play whatever you choose on your stereo! this is the REAL killer app for me... not playing from iTunes as Airport Express does not let me change songs or view info from a remote location.
 
spick@greyfirst said:
I too immediately thought of wireless xbox connectivity. Looks like it should be able to handle it. I was thinking of getting the cheaper linksys or d-link wireless console connector but will definately reconsider if AE will support consoles.

If anyone has the chance to test this out, please let us know.
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there is nothing technically stopping this. i believe this to be a no brainer to be honest.
 
i want to know why apple didn't this airtunes features with ANY sound coming from your mac, not just focusing on iTunes.

It would be great watching DVD's on my 23" cinema display and having the sounds coming from my speaker set up.
 
:eek: :eek: :eek: :eek: :eek:

AMAZING! UNBELIEVABLE! INCREDIBLE!

I just have to say this is the coolest thing invented since the internet. No lies, I really feel that way :) :) :) . I am going to buy a few of these to put around my house!

GO APPLE GO! You've done it again!!!!!

Cheers everyone!
JOD8FY
 
Le Big Mac said:
I wouldn't mind a hardwired one. Heck, I've already gone to the effort of wiring my home for ethernet. How about an ethernet dongle with audio out that I can plug right into my stereo?
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this is technically an ethernet dongle, as it has an ethernet port.

all you have to do it plug it in, plug in your ethernet cable from the wall and connect your stereo.

granted, the wireless feature will be wasted, i know.
 
iChan said:
wowowowow, i didn't think of this. This is unbelievable lateral thinking. Imagine having an ipod in your pocket walking all around the room, having it play whatever you choose on your stereo! this is the REAL killer app for me... not playing from iTunes as Airport Express does not let me change songs or view info from a remote location.
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OK then how about this you are playing your ipod through the wifi network... but you change the song and stuff with your ibook/powerbook with itunes :p also wirelessly
 
Powerbook G5 said:
I just ordered one. Not bad for only $119. I wonder if this would work with my Linksys Wireless-B router. If not, I guess I can sell it to my friend and use this in its place. I wonder if it has security features such as WEP and such. I also wonder how to work it with my setup. My printer and my stereo are on opposite sides of my room. I wonder if I can either get a really long USB cord or if I'll have to move my printer closer to my Pioneer system. Either way, this is great. I was actually thinking of going to Staples or Office Max to look for some sort of wireless printer system so I could hook up my printer and this came out just in time. I just wish it will ship sooner than "mid-July" so I can test it out.
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i have an idea, get two! one for each side of the room, you can't get enough of these things. ;)
 
dontmatter said:
Or, to put it differently, this is new apple innovation, what apple is best at. AEBS is just wifi, and other people have done it better and cheaper, now that it's common. So advantages of AEBS=wifi is huge and apple can sell it to unsuspecting saps at very large profit margin, but almost nobody will buy it instead of some other router. Advantages of Airport Express: People will actually buy it, because it's the only thing out there doing quite what it does. And, itunes is such a big hit.
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i wonder if there are any apple patents relating to this product.
 
Mitthrawnuruodo said:
You forget two important aspects with the AE Basestation:
- the cool factor from the excellent design (and the fact that it's Apple branded)
- the ease of use (since it's much easier - for an average home user - to set up and use)

That it is ridicilously overpriced compared to others, doesn't mean it hasn't got a market... ;)
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Granted, the design and the Apple branding will be all that is required for some people to purchase an AEBS. I haven't set up an AEBS before, but I'd be surprised if it wasn't a piece of cake being an Apple product. But then again setting up a 'regular' 802.11 access point/router is pretty easy too. I agree with you...there is certainly a maket for the AEBS, I just think that it isn't a very large one, and it is up against some very stiff competition. The new Airport Express should go a long way to increasing Apple's penetration in this area...probably much moreso than the AEBS ever could (without some big price drops).
 
bertagert said:
I think this thing has no real use for streaming songs. You're much better off with a third party player like roku. Little dissappointed that Apple coould have done better. Maybe they'll make a player later this year with an LCD.
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i agree with you, i won't get much use out of this without remote song changing and track information. i don't see how apple can implement the things i mentioned in it's current form factor, but i guess that is why i'm not paid to come up with fantastic products such as this.
 
The price is not bad.

I was going to get a faster router this week but I will get this instead. Hopefully Apple will include airtunes on their next iPods, which I am also planning to get. I might plug this thing in some other non-computer room just to play with the airtunes thing.
 
dxp4acu said:
i cant seem to find it yet- how much is it with educational pricing?? I know Panther is regularly 129, but falls to 69 with edu. Could we expect the same here???? :D
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doubt it as APEXPress has no immediate uses regarding education. hehe, we can hope.
 
kwajo.com said:
this is definitely one of those things that is new and everyone wants and within a month or two about 3 other companies will have exact replicas of on the market for 20-30 bucks less. what i mean is that apple is going to spawn a new series of small basestations with audio capabilities. another great idea from apple to be sure. i wish i could afford one :(
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But the thing is, what other wireless router manufacturer also makes audio software that the integration will be anywhere as close to seamless as Apple... Can you imagine the mess of WMP, Napster, Sony, configuring with a linksys, SMC or other consumer level router... It is not going to happen fast -- Because Apple controls the software, network and hardware it is going to take quite some time for anyone else to come up with this level of integration. I would be very suprised is a worthy competitor was on the market before Christmas.

Outstanding Apple-- Once again caught everyone unaware.
 
denm316 said:
Does not ship till Mid-July...typical Apple
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it may be typical, but i doubt anyone cares if they are getting such a revolutionary product and it does exactly what it says on the tin.

i mean, as many people stated, they didn't even know they needed this until it was announced, we have done without it our whole lives. how can 1 month be all that painful?
 
Remote control

The only inconvenient thing about this is you have to run to the other room or carry around your laptop to monitor iTunes. Couldn't there be a remote similar in form to an iPod mini sans hard-drive that could allow you to control the iTunes playlists on the host compter?
 
amin said:
No way. I'd expect something more along the lines of the modest iSight discount. Still, any discount is a good discount!
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The Education discount is $119, I bought mine a few hours ago. It's $126 and some odd change after tax is added.
 
d00d said:
No, you're not retarded. He is. His idea makes no sense. AT ALL. Here's why:
1) all Powerbooks come with Airport built-in now
2) there's no reason to have your AC adapter give you wireless internet access when you're going to need to have the ethernet cord right next to you attached to the AC plug
3) if you want to supply wireless access to others through your ethernet connection, just turn on internet sharing and use your own airport card to act as a base station

Some people need to think things through.
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i agree with you. I think his idea came from the simple fact the the Airport express has a similar form-factor to a charger.
 
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