AirPort Express with AirTunes

[SiliconAddict]

THIS IS SO DAMN COOL!!!

I was going to have to get some third-party WiFi device for use with my new powerbook when i get it. There was no way I was going to spend 300 for an airport extreme base station.

Dude this is not going to be a very good option for WIFI. It can function as a poor mans AP but I'm willing to bet cash its going to suck at it.

Get a netgear: http://www.netgear.com/products/wireless/80211g.php for around $99-$120 and be happy.

Don't get me wrong this is going to be a cool and popular little product but Its not going to be a good sub for a solid router. Esp when you start looking at features and range.

My 108 Extreme G router from Netgear rocks no way would I give it up for a AExpress.

 

[starboard]

I am willing to bet that:

A, this is to wet our apetites for WWDC becuase Airport PRO will be announced, with video or something.

B, its a set up for that iBox thing.

It was said before that using the USB wireless remotes is perfect, I have one and can control iTunes from across the house. Also, and this is speculation, what about a module like the NaviPod but contols iTunes over BlueTooth from an iPod, maybe Apple let that one out to spur even more new products for the iPod. It hasn't been said but i think one of the things that make the iPod so successful is the amount of stuff companies are pumping out for them.

Just my 2 cents

I like those specualations. An "Airport Pro" with A/V output working seamlessly with iTunes, DVD player, Keynote, etc. would be worth the $200+ price tag.

I also do think that the iPod integration will come from third party products instead of from Apple.

 

[SiliconAddict]

Incorrect, the Airport Express is not a wireless bridge, it is a wireless extender/basestation. A wireless bridge that is compatible with an XBox or PS2 can be purchased from Linksys.

[Yada yada yada about getting consoles on the net]


Geesh people if you want to go wireless with your consoles look past the apple brand and go with, as davecuse, said these:

http://www.dlink.com/products/?pid=241 - $85
http://www.linksys.com/products/product.asp?grid=33&scid=38&prid=558 - $100

In either case its cheaper then Apple's offering and since it uses the same 802.11G standard it should be plug and play.

 

[jeffy.dee-lux]

okay, i know this is super annoying... but i figure i'm so behind at this point that research will be unbearably difficult.
i have a slot loading crt imac, 500mhz, got it a couple years ago... i never had anything to do with airport. i only remember noticing an airport control strip thingy back in os9.
Now someone be kind enough to accept my internet lazyness, or "internazyness", and simply tell me all the answers. If i want to use of one of these airport express thingies to hook my living room sound system up to itunes, i would need to install some sort of airport card into my computer? and most computers now have this built in? or just the laptops?

so in all, i'd need this card thing, the express base, and whatever software comes along with it? how much does an airport card cost?
someone let me know if i'm just an idiot and don't have a clue, cause i can deal with that. as long as you throw me a bone.

sorry, simply asking you guys is jus so much easier!

oh yeah, and this thing would be a lot cooler if it could wirelessly transmit electricity, y'know, replace those pesky batteries... i'm thinking some kind of arching web of lightning or something.
seriously though, its quite a sweet product, i could imagine it being quite useful, and catching on with a lot of people.

 

[Powerbook G5]

Well, it's not just a WAN port; it can act as a LAN port if you plug it into a LAN (and, actually, so can the WAN port on the Extreme base stations). This is really bringing us back to the days of the graphite base station, which also had only one Ethernet port (and was more than twice the price of the Express...).

Anyway, as for the whole console question, even with an Extreme base station that has both "LAN" and "WAN" ports, you still can't give your wired-only console access to a wireless network. You just plain need a different product.

Perhaps the best way to explain this is to say that you can only have one AirPort base station that provides any Ethernet functionality on a given wireless network.

*sigh*

Oh, and maybe I shouldn't be so adamant that you can only only only wirelessly extend AirPort networks with the AP Express. It sounds like there's a fair chance that it'll work with any Broadcom-based network. But you're guaranteed that it'll work with Apple. I guess that's how they get us to shell out all that dough.

WM

But if you try connected an Xbox into the WAN port, then how the heck are you supposed to connect your DSL/Cable/LAN into the Airport Express to use it for the internet?

 

[appleguy]

Now someone be kind enough to accept my internet lazyness, or "internazyness", and simply tell me all the answers. If i want to use of one of these airport express thingies to hook my living room sound system up to itunes, i would need to install some sort of airport card into my computer? and most computers now have this built in? or just the laptops?

so in all, i'd need this card thing, the express base, and whatever software comes along with it? how much does an airport card cost?
someone let me know if i'm just an idiot and don't have a clue, cause i can deal with that. as long as you throw me a bone.

You will need to get the Airport Card http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...502/wo/uf63rRl76ZwX2LmfB1BEklVbyca/1.3.0.5.10 from apple

 

[jeffy.dee-lux]

You will need to get the Airport Card http://store.apple.com/1-800-MY-APP...502/wo/uf63rRl76ZwX2LmfB1BEklVbyca/1.3.0.5.10 from apple

okay, cool, thanks
but since my computer is old and only has regular airport capability, i wouldn't be able to get any of that 54mbps action going.
but 11mbps would be fine for streaming music right?

again, sorry if i'm double posting, but 400 is a lot of posts...
will you be able to use one airport express to send your music over to the stereo, while your computer's receiving internetness from another one? or is there just a single communication stream coming out of your computer? My sound system isn't anywhere near a phone chord, so would i either have to enjoy wireless music or wireless internet? or could you get both going at the same time?

 

[a_iver]

okay, i know this is super annoying... but i figure i'm so behind at this point that research will be unbearably difficult.
i have a slot loading crt imac, 500mhz, got it a couple years ago... i never had anything to do with airport. i only remember noticing an airport control strip thingy back in os9.
Now someone be kind enough to accept my internet lazyness, or "internazyness", and simply tell me all the answers. If i want to use of one of these airport express thingies to hook my living room sound system up to itunes, i would need to install some sort of airport card into my computer? and most computers now have this built in? or just the laptops?

so in all, i'd need this card thing, the express base, and whatever software comes along with it? how much does an airport card cost?
someone let me know if i'm just an idiot and don't have a clue, cause i can deal with that. as long as you throw me a bone.

sorry, simply asking you guys is jus so much easier!

oh yeah, and this thing would be a lot cooler if it could wirelessly transmit electricity, y'know, replace those pesky batteries... i'm thinking some kind of arching web of lightning or something.
seriously though, its quite a sweet product, i could imagine it being quite useful, and catching on with a lot of people.

Make sure you have OS 10.2.7 or higher, or OS 10.3 or higher.

I hate to open a can of worms here because I don't know enough about networking, but could you also use an Airport Express as an Airport card? Maybe plug it in with Ethernet cable to your computer and transmit the signal that way?

The only software you would need is the stuff included with Airport Express and of course OS X.

Also (straight from Apple):
The AirPort Extreme Card can be installed only in computers that are AirPort Extreme ready. AirPort Extreme Cards cannot be used in AirPort-ready computers with an AirPort Card slot. Some ISPs are not currently compatible with AirPort and AirPort Extreme.

Hope that all helps.

 

[mclosers]

MAKE THIS

A tv remote sized device that has 802.11b/g support that has a small screen eg 1.67-2" and an ipod like control scheme, that can control the songs in itunes that are playing via AirTunes and see your library on the remote for use with the Airport Express and Airtunes...
Airtunes is virtually useless without a nice remote like this... Why would people want to have to go to their computer to change the songs, while listening on their stereos.... The remote would be cheap .... $49 - $99...
All that is needed is wireless chip set and a small screen... it could use AA batteries...

Apple... PLEASE MAKE THIS... or a 3rd party
Somebody do it

 

[sjk]

wireless a/v

While I'd agree that there's no immediate need for wireless videos, I disagree that the technology is not useful.

Heck, it's already practical:

I use BroadQ QCast Tuner (aka GameShark Media Player) to stream EyeTV USB MPEG-1 video (and MP3 audio) from a Mac [downstairs] to a Linksys BEFSR41 (v1) router to an ORiNOCO RG-1100 Broadband Gateway (802.11b) to a Linksys WET11 Wireless Ethernet Bridge [upstairs] to a PS2 Network Adaptor to A/V components. Whew.

That's been an affordable, surprisingly reliable, and adequate for low-quality streaming video solution.

I'll consider getting AirPort Express if it'll work with my current LAN/WLAN. I'd*like to use AirTunes for streaming non-MP3 audio since it's too much trouble transcoding to MP3 just for QCast compatibility. Also curious to know the answer to this:

Anyone can tell me if this thing works with a library only? Will it be possible to push a radio station live stream to an Airport Express/AirTunes thing as well?

... if it hasn't already been answered in this never-ending thread. [edit: yep, it can; explicitly answered here]

Plus I need an excuse to start migrating to 802.11g.

 

[greenstork]

Nice, Apple releases a set-top box that's not a set-top box, brilliant. Oh, and it also hosts a wireless network.

Next step is a tablet/remote.

Once they can get everyone hooking into their home entertainment system wirelessly, next step will be video, optical input, and then on to total home entertainment domination. Go Apple, very cool new product.

 

[adamcoop]

A tv remote sized device that has 802.11b/g support that has a small screen eg 1.67-2" and an ipod like control scheme, that can control the songs in itunes that are playing via AirTunes and see your library on the remote for use with the Airport Express and Airtunes...
Airtunes is virtually useless without a nice remote like this... Why would people want to have to go to their computer to change the songs, while listening on their stereos.... The remote would be cheap .... $49 - $99...
All that is needed is wireless chip set and a small screen... it could use AA batteries...

Apple... PLEASE MAKE THIS... or a 3rd party
Somebody do it

* head slap *
You don't think that perhaps new iPods will be WiFi enabled?
That would cut out CONTROLLING a device with another iPod-like device...

 

[jbee]

waste of time

This airport express is pointless. So you can wirelessly stream from your mac to a hifi. but with NO CONTROL from the room in which you would like to listen to your music! absolutely ridiculous!!! if a remote control with an lcd display (wireless) was available then this would make sense. You'd be able to use the remote all over the house, choose which room you wanted to stream in from your central computer and stop / play / choose tracks. In it's current form this is a pathetic attempt at apple to plug some serious gaps in it's slowly evolving product line.

 

[adamcoop]

This airport express is pointless. So you can wirelessly stream from your mac to a hifi. but with NO CONTROL from the room in which you would like to listen to your music! absolutely ridiculous!!! if a remote control with an lcd display (wireless) was available then this would make sense. You'd be able to use the remote all over the house, choose which room you wanted to stream in from your central computer and stop / play / choose tracks. In it's current form this is a pathetic attempt at apple to plug some serious gaps in it's slowly evolving product line.

What if you have a laptop?
Say you're in your lounge room, streaming to your loungeroom stereo while working, when your kids come in and want to watch the Wiggles for the 358th time - you switch iTunes to play to your study speakers instead, and by time you sit down, Karma Police is already there to greet you.

 

[adamcoop]

If you could stream to several Airport Express simultaneously, now THAT would be handy.

 

[OPAY]

what if this was the first step before a new "airpod", next generation of ipod with wireless streaming capabilities. No need for a remote control just play your music from the palm of your hand to your stereo... while your sincing your ipod with your computer library, and possibly checking email or news on your sofa far from any computer!!!!

what if...

 

[pjtro2]

Why would people want to have to go to their computer to change the songs,

Isn't that what playlists are for? - anyone serious enough to purchase a AExpress for piping music into their stereos would surely have playlists ready to go.. I imagine I wouldn't want to be running backward and forward to my computer, so I would line-up the songs I want to play and let it go.

For pausing, resuming etc (as I feel you may be specifically referring to), until wifi ipods come out, Salling clicker will do just fine. - but to be honest, when I'm at home, I find navigating itunes on my mac SO much more convenient than scrolling through my ipod when i have it wired into my stereo, Even if a wifi ipod comes out, I'd be much more inclined to use AE + iTunes, and get of my fat ass (hypothetically speaking) to change playlists etc.

 

[jbee]

Don't buy it...

What if you have a laptop?
Say you're in your lounge room, streaming to your loungeroom stereo while working, when your kids come in and want to watch the Wiggles for the 358th time - you switch iTunes to play to your study speakers instead, and by time you sit down, Karma Police is already there to greet you.

I'm not convinced. I see the airport express as a bit rubbish really and totally pointless. i mean not being able to control the songs from a remote is ridiculous and having to use your laptop as some big ass remote even more stupid!

 

[abc123]

i like the idea.
maybe not for everyday use but for a party it would be wonderful.

 

[klaus]

I'm not convinced. I see the airport express as a bit rubbish really and totally pointless. i mean not being able to control the songs from a remote is ridiculous and having to use your laptop as some big ass remote even more stupid!

You need to see the bigger picture, this is just the first step in wireless music, iPods are to follow, maybe the next logical step.

So don't break down a rather excellent innovation, go outside, and enjoy the sun

 

[pjtro2]

I'm not convinced. I see the airport express as a bit rubbish really and totally pointless. i mean not being able to control the songs from a remote is ridiculous and having to use your laptop as some big ass remote even more stupid!

Well, there have been *numerous* posts in this rather lengthy thread citing Steves response at the 'D Conference' when asked about a remote control device, basically he neither confirmed or denied, just smiled. It hasn't deterred me from ordering the AE in the slightest. - Of course additional functionality will come in the future through Apple releases, and I daresay the plethora of 3rd party releases which shall ensue..

There has been so much discussion regarding the lack of a remote control, that it irks me a bit that people can't think past their couch potato lifestyles to take a few dolly-steps to their computer to change a track... Perhaps Apple is subversively trying to get everyone off their ample rears to move about a little.. go Apple.

 

[pjtro2]

i like the idea.
maybe not for everyday use but for a party it would be wonderful.

Exactly. -- I have anxiety attacks everytime I throw a party and my little ipod is just sitting there, wired into my stereo, waiting to be poked and prodded & have someones ill-placed beverage (or stiletto) destroy my little glossy white companion.

 

[iMeowbot]

This airport express is pointless. So you can wirelessly stream from your mac to a hifi. but with NO CONTROL from the room in which you would like to listen to your music!

It makes perfect sense if the computer and stereo are in the same area but, say, on opposite sides of a room. This device is going to eliminate a mess of cables in my apartment.

 

[MacFinn]

And nobody saw this coming

I love Apple. They keep coming up with stuff you never knew you needed until you saw it.

My sentiments exactly!

I think pretty soon I'll have one in my living room. And one each for my student kids.

When was the last time Wintel people came up with something like this? Seriously!

 

[MacFan26]

Awesome, awesome! I'll be getting one when I move into my new apartment in August. That will be so sweet! Would have been cool in my dorm last year..oh well. This will be great.