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AirPort Express with AirTunes

aswitcher said:
No I read and felt I understood it BUT I was a little confused by the "no" to AAC. As I read on I understood what you were saying about the encryption tunneling, but then I couldn't understand straight off why that no wasn't qualified...that's why I asked. I know it would be absolute madness for Apple to put out AExp without supporting AAC (and AirTunes) but I was just a little confused by the "no" coming after AAC. Dont worry, I get it now...just being a bit thick :eek:
Click to expand...

Does getting it have any correlation to your PB finally arriving? :D
 
jbee said:
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.
Click to expand...

I really don't think APExpress is pointless, h*ll I already ordered one... my iBook is always hooked up to my HiFi when I'm home and now I can get rid of that wire that "temporaryly" is streached over our livingroom floor (and my girlfriend will probably be very pleased...)
 
And this is why I own a mac...

You have to take you hats off to the Apple design team. Until I saw it I didn't know I needed it and now I need one bad... I supplied the music to a party over the weekend and because I don't have an Ipod (poor) I cut CD's rather than take my computer... I mean who needs to have their computer by the stereo at a party!!!!!

Now this little beauty comes along and all me problems are solved. Compute in a safe place elsewhere in the house and its green for go in the party department using Air Express to link up to the stereo wirelessly... its so small and unobtrusive... its a think of wonder... now I sound like I'm going soft in the head...

its true innovation - who knew we needed it until se saw it - just like a Ferrari....
 
pjtro2 said:
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.
Click to expand...

I'm still not convinced... Most people like to change songs at will. I personally love party shuffle, but many have tons of songs on their computer that they don't really wanna hear...Unless you are having a party you aren't usually going to let your playlists decide what you are going to listen to.
Another thing.. Why the hell is everyone so kean on the idea of a WiFi iPod? It's a bad idea and won't happen just like the iPod isn't going to become a PDA. Jobs repeatedly has said it's for playing music.... Why waste battery and space on something very few people need or want... Once someone has an idea on these forums, everyone else takes it and runs with it... If you have your iPod with you... why do you need an Airport Express. It somewhat defeats the purpose. It also means you need a $400 device to control a $120 device.... Most remotes don't cost more than what they control (except those crazy 5" LCD remotes with touch screens) When I have time I will make a crappy mock up of what the AirTunes WiFi remote should look like.. Basically an ipod look but thinner and sligtly more remote shaped... maybe a smaller LCD (mini sized) and 2 AA batteries.. If you lose this remote it isn't a huge deal if you sat on or lost your ipod it would be... This has been the first plausable solution (roku and others don't work with itunes) It's a good first attempt. it needs to have the ability to play on more than one airport express at a time and a few others
 
ANother Solution

If apple wanted to give the iPod WiFi capabilities it should be through a new dock with WiFi built into the dock so you could drop the ipod into the cradle and it starts playing on your Airport Express... That solves a lot of problems.. But a remote would be cool for this new dock idea as well
Doesn't waste battery life and raise costs.. Also doesn't add features that not many will use
 
Maclicious said:
So, could I use this to connect my XBOX to the internet without unplugging my airport basestation and running an ethernet cable through the whole house, as I currently am forced to do? Must read more...
Click to expand...

Yes. I do this at the moment using a little Netgear WiFi-Ethernet bridge. It works really well (zero configuration), but the Airport Express is about the same cost and also does the streaming music thing.
 
greenstork said:
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.
Click to expand...

this is not a set top box is any sense of the word to be honest. there is no visual feedback of anything other than the green light, it has to remote control facilities, it has no video out or ANY video stream of any kind whatsoever. granted, this is a first step, albeit a very small one, however, judging by the speed at which new products come out of Cupertino, we'll be waiting a while for the set-top box we have all dreamed about.
 
jbee said:
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.
Click to expand...

My guess is that it will not take very long and we have salling clicker to provide that functionality and then you simply use your cellphone. :D If you don't know what I am talking about look here:
Salling Clicker
 
CmdrLaForge said:
My guess is that it will not take very long and we have salling clicker to provide that functionality and then you simply use your cellphone. :D If you don't know what I am talking about look here:
Salling Clicker
Click to expand...

i don't think there is any doubt that the majority of people know what you are talking about as salling clicker is probably the best use of bluetooth technology since its inception. As a result, there was massive publicity for this software.

THe point i am trying to make though (again) that it does not fulfil the purpose of controlling itunes arouns the house. It is designed to work in the vicinity of your computer...
 
WM. said:
Weellll...I guess it depends. I learned something in this thread too: WDS isn't necessarily as brand-specific as I thought. But I wouldn't buy an AP Express without knowing pretty well that it would work with my network (i.e. WAIT to buy it until other people have tried to extend networks similar/identical to yours).

Heh. Like "we take our coffee black", but with the whole networking...um...yeah. :)

Yes, that should work fine. Perhaps a bit kludgy, but I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work.

HTH
WM
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for your help, I thought it might too. I'll keep my eyes on the threads for success stories on it's release, then I'll take the plunge.

H
 
iChan said:
i don't think there is any doubt that the majority of people know what you are talking about as salling clicker is probably the best use of bluetooth technology since its inception. As a result, there was massive publicity for this software.

THe point i am trying to make though (again) that it does not fulfil the purpose of controlling itunes arouns the house. It is designed to work in the vicinity of your computer...
Click to expand...

You are right. The computer and the hifi should not be in completly different locations. I guess it should work one room away but not more. So if you Mac is upstairs and the hifi downstairs you have a problem. Maybe Apple creates a solution here (Steves smile ?) or you can only listen to your playlists, which is not that bad btw. :)

Cheers
 
australian pricing

looks like apple australia isn;t going to rip us off completely...! :rolleyes:

pricing is going to be AUD$219, or US$154, which is not as bad as i thought it was going to be!!

so yet another item to add to my powerbook order (on top of the bt keyboard, iCurve, extra ram, macally bt mouse...!) - why can't they stop making these really useful 'things' ;)
 
yinyang said:
looks like apple australia isn;t going to rip us off completely...! :rolleyes:

pricing is going to be AUD$219, or US$154, which is not as bad as i thought it was going to be!!
Click to expand...

Where did you get that pricing from? - just curious, it's not available to order yet in the Aus Apple Store & a reseller friend didn't get an answer from Apple Aus either. (damn it)
 
Not shipping yet?

I can't wait! How can they (Apple) put such a bitchin device up for grabs and not have a million ready to go? It's worth it just so the PC guys go "aw" until I tell them "it works for you too...". Rrrrgh! Must have more wireless... Est. ship date before July 15. Let it be just a cruel joke. ~it will be here by the end of the week, yeah that's it.~
 
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.
Click to expand...




i disagree with you disagreeing....


apple also touts this for the wireless-addicted traveler.

if you have an ibook/powerbook, you would only need to bring one white plug in device instead of two!


also... considering wi-fi chips are becoming extremely inexpensive, imagine a world where every other device you plug in to the wall can act as an ad-hoc wifi bridge...


i thought his seemingly accidental wonderings were interesting.



r.
 
timsq said:
I can't wait! How can they (Apple) put such a bitchin device up for grabs and not have a million ready to go? It's worth it just so the PC guys go "aw" until I tell them "it works for you too...". Rrrrgh! Must have more wireless... Est. ship date before July 15. Let it be just a cruel joke. ~it will be here by the end of the week, yeah that's it.~
Click to expand...

On my Order Confimation, which I got a couple of hours ago, it says:
Your order should ship on or before 14.06.2004.
Please allow a further 3-7 days from this date to deliver your order.
Click to expand...
I'm really getting my hopes up, but I guess it's an error... :eek:
 
Now if they only put a video out on it. Then we could stream video over it. Cool device though. One big step towards computer integration into our normal household devices. :)
 
roflo said:
Now if they only put a video out on it. Then we could stream video over it. Cool device though. One big step towards computer integration into our normal household devices. :)
Click to expand...

And I wonder if they can do some sort of Tivo-like device that would also allow for HD streaming/recording using the upcoming wireless firewire.
 
whyrichard said:
i disagree with you disagreeing....


apple also touts this for the wireless-addicted traveler.

if you have an ibook/powerbook, you would only need to bring one white plug in device instead of two!


also... considering wi-fi chips are becoming extremely inexpensive, imagine a world where every other device you plug in to the wall can act as an ad-hoc wifi bridge...


i thought his seemingly accidental wonderings were interesting.



r.
Click to expand...

This can't supply power to a 'Book. It doesn't have the power cord that plugs into the PB attached or available.
 
UK Store?

The Airport Express has not appeared on the Apple Store Uk yet even thouigh there is a 'Buy Now'link on the UK pages. The picture also shows a US power plug, any idea when the UK can expect it?
 
I'm a newbie here and just had a quick question about this Airport Express. I'm not super tech savvy, so please bare with me.

I'm setting up a home office in Miami, and I'm working for a company in Los Angeles. I'm going to be accessing files from the LA office's server. I was told for security reasons that If I wanted to go wireless with an Airport Base Station I would need a static address (a LAN???) plus some security software. Will this new product be as safe, or am I going to have to stick with the Base Station?

Hopefully one of you might be able to help me out.

Thanks for the help!
 
This little gadget will cause a lot of trouble for Apple. When people get the ability to play their iTMS songs on their stereo, they will begin to realize what low quality recordings they have purchased.

They will complain and Apple will ignore them and iTMS will get a reputation as the place you go to download tapes. Meanwhile people will go flocking back to the record stores to get CD quality and the digital downloads dream will be over for another 10 years.

All because someone lied to Steve about how good 128kpbs AAC really is - it is not "pristine" it is "tape hiss."
 
jbee said:
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.
Click to expand...


So just suppose the new iPODs, when they arrive, have wi-fi built in, talk to iTunes 4.6 computer wherever it may be on the network and via some updated software 'controls' the jukebox/music stream. Perhaps there's a plan for the iPOD to becomes a really kewl remote.

Afterall, the iPOD mini has buttons, and LCD screen, and is the perfect size for a 21st century remote/DJ device........just a thought
 
broken_keyboard said:
This little gadget will cause a lot of trouble for Apple. When people get the ability to play their iTMS songs on their stereo, they will begin to realize what low quality recordings they have purchased.

They will complain and Apple will ignore them and iTMS will get a reputation as the place you go to download tapes. Meanwhile people will go flocking back to the record stores to get CD quality and the digital downloads dream will be over for another 10 years.

All because someone lied to Steve about how good 128kpbs AAC really is - it is not "pristine" it is "tape hiss."
Click to expand...

a lot of people have already been listening to 128 aac on their stereos, whether it be from the line out of their ipods or connecting laptops to their powered speakers, etc. simply listening on stereos isn't going to reveal artifacts and shortcomings of 128 aac - it's easier to distinguish differences b/n 128 vs. 320 vs. lossless on the ipod with good headphones (like etymotics, shures, grados, etc.). most people who use the airtunes streaming feature won't be using it thinking that they'll now get audiophile quality sound out of their stereo systems. audiophiles will continue to use CDs. airtunes will be useful for those who have large itunes libraries and just want to listen to it out of their stereos. most people's stereos are probably the weakest part of the link, anyway...just increasing the quality of the source isn't going to make a $200 system suddenly sound like a $5000 system.

i agree that 128 aac isn't that great, but we already knew that. airtunes isn't going to suddenly enlighten people. it's about convenience more than quality.
 
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