AirPort Express with AirTunes

[pjtro2]

Ok I now think this thread is dead.
any one care to prove me wrong. with some decent talk on this thread you are more than welcome

600 posts and this horse has well and truly been flogged to death. – Not bad for a product that hasn't even shipped. Although, it has made extremely frustrating reading with such random speculation and arguments about what it can and can't supposedly do. It amazes me how adament people are in their beliefs of the products features with no actual real-world testing to prove it. I look forward to some factual discussions once the product has shipped.

 

[DJMad]

my real question is since you can use it as an extender how do you make sure it is connected to the right wifi network. I live in an apartment and am in range of 20 wifi networks, I really hope they add a system preff for this or some kind of software to set up.

 

[appleguy]

my real question is since you can use it as an extender how do you make sure it is connected to the right wifi network. I live in an apartment and am in range of 20 wifi networks, I really hope they add a system preff for this or some kind of software to set up.

READ APPLES website.
It is not supported with any 3rd Party WIFI network...

 

[tveric]

READ APPLES website.
It is not supported with any 3rd Party WIFI network...

I called Apple and on two different phone calls they told me the Airport Express WILL extend a 3rd-party wireless network.

In other words, even Apple can't agree between its website and its support people which is correct. Why should anyone, therefore, listen to anything anyone here has to say on the subject?

That includes Jason Snell, whom I suspect talks out his ass more often than we give him credit for.

 

[supertex]

5.1 Surround

Here's how I figure it...

With optical out on this thing, it would be foolish to not allow DVDs and such to play 5.1 (or better) surround sound into your stereo with this thing. I imagine we'll all drool over this and pine for 5.1 capability until... either Tiger or iLife '05 where surround will magically appear as a feature for the new versions of DVD player or the iLife apps will support surround sound. Seems like a great marketing hook to me. This way we all have one when we find out we need Tiger to do surround, so we resist for awhile, but eventually break down and buy Tiger.

 

[PowerMacMan]

Here's how I figure it...

With optical out on this thing, it would be foolish to not allow DVDs and such to play 5.1 (or better) surround sound into your stereo with this thing. I imagine we'll all drool over this and pine for 5.1 capability until... either Tiger or iLife '05 where surround will magically appear as a feature for the new versions of DVD player or the iLife apps will support surround sound. Seems like a great marketing hook to me. This way we all have one when we find out we need Tiger to do surround, so we resist for awhile, but eventually break down and buy Tiger.

I'll buy Tiger the second it is released... It's the OS, the heart of the computer, well maybe the spirit... since you can't see it.... aw well...

Has anyone had any experience with the AirPort Express yet?... I'm thinking of buying one, but it's quite difficult to understand what it is exactly...

 

[johnnyjibbs]

I have a question. Sorry if it has already been mentioned!

I have a PC at home (Win XP) and use my PowerBook 12" for myself. I'm thinking of getting broadband internet at home and AirPort Express looks like the way to go. I would use AirTunes and it would be nice to have wireless printing.

I see that AirPort Express is billed as being Mac + PC - i.e. Apple is not just cornering itself into the small Mac market. Does this mean there will be Windows software with it too? For example, I'd love to use wireless printing but will our home PC be able to communicate with the Express basestation for wireless printing? The system requirement appears to be Mac OS X 10.2.7 or better.

The only downside to getting AirPort Express over a crappy PC base station is that I'd have to buy a wireless card for our PC desktop, but that can only be a matter of bucks.

 

[Zaty]

Here's how I figure it...

With optical out on this thing, it would be foolish to not allow DVDs and such to play 5.1 (or better) surround sound into your stereo with this thing. I imagine we'll all drool over this and pine for 5.1 capability until... either Tiger or iLife '05 where surround will magically appear as a feature for the new versions of DVD player or the iLife apps will support surround sound. Seems like a great marketing hook to me. This way we all have one when we find out we need Tiger to do surround, so we resist for awhile, but eventually break down and buy Tiger.

Since Panther already is a great OS, Apple will have to include a few goodies in Tiger to help us decide on whether we should spend $129 on 10.4

 

[davecuse]

I have a question. Sorry if it has already been mentioned!

I have a PC at home (Win XP) and use my PowerBook 12" for myself. I'm thinking of getting broadband internet at home and AirPort Express looks like the way to go. I would use AirTunes and it would be nice to have wireless printing.

I see that AirPort Express is billed as being Mac + PC - i.e. Apple is not just cornering itself into the small Mac market. Does this mean there will be Windows software with it too? For example, I'd love to use wireless printing but will our home PC be able to communicate with the Express basestation for wireless printing? The system requirement appears to be Mac OS X 10.2.7 or better.

The only downside to getting AirPort Express over a crappy PC base station is that I'd have to buy a wireless card for our PC desktop, but that can only be a matter of bucks.

According to the Tech Specs page: Wireless printing over USB requires Mac OS X v10.2.7 or later or Windows XP or Windows 2000 and a compatible printer.

 

[timsq]

Fast facts.

From the mouths of Apples: The AEx will work with any network not specifically designed not to work with the 802.11(b/g) standard. i.e. Microsoft makes a wireless router which will not play nice with other products. All D-link, Linksys, 3Com based, Cisco based, popular and homemade routers will work! Exceptions are few and probably user specific. I too declare this thread dead.
Money/Mouth=I'm getting three myself.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

According to the Tech Specs page: Wireless printing over USB requires Mac OS X v10.2.7 or later or Windows XP or Windows 2000 and a compatible printer.

Can someone explain why on earth the compatibility list is so limited?

I have a CX6400 and 2200, neither of which are on the list. I can understand the issues on the CX6400 that some would think that they could scan wirelessly. But what about the 2200?

 

[johnnyjibbs]

Can someone explain why on earth the compatibility list is so limited?

I have a CX6400 and 2200, neither of which are on the list. I can understand the issues on the CX6400 that some would think that they could scan wirelessly. But what about the 2200?

It must be out of date, like their iMovie camcorder list. Surely, any printer that has drivers for the Mac (built in for example) should work wirelessly, shouldn't it? Presumably, it is intelligent enough so that the printer still thinks it's being connected by USB, while the Mac is actually making it go via 802.11g first.

 

[tveric]

From the mouths of Apples: The AEx will work with any network not specifically designed not to work with the 802.11(b/g) standard. i.e. Microsoft makes a wireless router which will not play nice with other products. All D-link, Linksys, 3Com based, Cisco based, popular and homemade routers will work!

Where'd you get this info? is it posted anywhere on the Apple site?

thanks

 

[LaMerVipere]

Airport Range

Is it true that Airport Extreme base stations have a bad range and signal strength in comparison to other third-party products?

If so, i wonder if the Airport Express will have even worse range being smaller and all. GAH, I guess we will have to wait until people start getting them to find out, but if the range is bad, i'll just go get a D-Link instead, i can live without the AirTunes (although i wouldn't want to )

 

[iMook]

I'm asking for some opinions (i.e. hard facts not expected, though welcome ) about whether or not AirTunes will support multiple simultaneous streams to different AirPort Expresses.

What I mean is... do you think AirTunes will allow you to have Playlist 1 streaming to the living room APExpress while have Playlist 3 streamed to the study APExpress?

I haven't seen anything clarifying this issue anywhere on the Apple site.

 

[MontgomeryBurns]

I'm asking for some opinions (i.e. hard facts not expected, though welcome ) about whether or not AirTunes will support multiple simultaneous streams to different AirPort Expresses.

This would be a really cool feature, as would being able to stream one playlist to multiple APExpresses (multiple room streaming), but I don't think either of those things are going to be supported.

Airtunes will probably not let you stream more than one playlist to an Express in the same way iTunes doesn't let you play more than one at a time as it is. I think it will work more like a direct connection, ie, streaming to the Express through airtunes will work just like playing iTunes music through external speakers, only with a few more connectors coming into play.

However if you have two Expresses and two computers, you will be able to play multiple playlists on multiple stereos no problem.

 

[cr2sh]

What I mean is... do you think AirTunes will allow you to have Playlist 1 streaming to the living room APExpress while have Playlist 3 streamed to the study APExpress?

Have you found that feature (playing two playlists at once) anywhere in iTunes so far? Has that feature ever been even discussed (other than by you)?

No I'm fairly sure it will not be. That's a guess.. but I cannot imagine them including it.

 

[timsq]

Where'd you get this info? is it posted anywhere on the Apple site?

thanks

I had lengthy discussions with two techies from Apple who assured me ( I am buying three to start) that the AEx will work as a router (both gateway and standard) and a bridge. "Apple has not built in any non-standard features which would prohibit compatibility." I understand the concerns everyone here has, but it doesn't seem warranted. I will be happy to be the beta-tester and report any and all problems and compliments to anyone wishing to wait for feedback. Holler.

 

[tveric]

Sounds good. And good news.

On the lighter side, does anyone else find it hilarious that so many people participating in this thread are adamant about one side or the other in this argument? The nay-sayers are all like, "You'll never get Airport Express to work as a bridge! You sucker!" Then we get a post like the last one assuring us that it will.

At the very least, I think everyone could admit that no one really knows anything 100% at this point. I personally can't wait for this thing to come out in July so that we can all read the next explosion of posts about what's working and what's not. It might spawn entire websites.

 

[Chip NoVaMac]

Sounds good. And good news.

On the lighter side, does anyone else find it hilarious that so many people participating in this thread are adamant about one side or the other in this argument? The nay-sayers are all like, "You'll never get Airport Express to work as a bridge! You sucker!" Then we get a post like the last one assuring us that it will.

At the very least, I think everyone could admit that no one really knows anything 100% at this point. I personally can't wait for this thing to come out in July so that we can all read the next explosion of posts about what's working and what's not. It might spawn entire websites.

Welcome to the world of MacRumors

 

[chabig]

Have you found that feature (playing two playlists at once) anywhere in iTunes so far? Has that feature ever been even discussed (other than by you)?

No I'm fairly sure it will not be. That's a guess.. but I cannot imagine them including it.

iTunes can play two playlists at once today. Log into one account and start some music playing, then switch to another account and play different music. Today in Panther, the songs play on top of one another because iTunes only has one avenue for sound out. But with Airtunes, you can choose the output device, so I absolutely believe that it will be possible to play two playlists at once over Airtunes--for example, one to the kitchen and one to the living room.

The trick (if you want to call it that) is to run separate instances of iTunes in Panther using fast user switching. One instance could be playing a playlist to the kitchen, while the other user's account is playing a different playlist to the living room.

Chris

 

[mmmbop]

... either Tiger or iLife '05 where surround will magically appear as a feature for the new versions of DVD player or the iLife apps will support surround sound.

Or hopefully before!

DVD Player is a prime candidate for the AirTunes treatment.

 

[mousemd]

Well it's July...

Well, it is July...so where's this highly vaunted airport express?

 

[mclosers]

Airport Express yet?

Has anyone gotten their Airport express yet? or does anyone have an exact ship date on their order? Seem them in an Apple store?

 

[ipacmm]

Has anyone gotten their Airport express yet? or does anyone have an exact ship date on their order? Seem them in an Apple store?

I just checked my order and it still says:

On or before
07/15/2004