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Apple Releases Firmware Update for AirPort Express With AirPlay 2 Support

I wonder if its worth it to buy another Airport Extreme AC. Just in case my current one breaks (if ever). I mean its so reliable and seamless. I'm not confident with other brands.
 
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azentropy said:
Really stinks that Apple gave up on routers. My previous gen Time Capsule drive died about 6 months ago and rather than replace the drive or get the last Time capsule I decided it was time to look elsewhere for a router. Decided on a Netgear Nighthawk R8000. While it has been a very good router, Timemachine backups have been a nightmare with each of my 3 macs having issues finding the routers attached drive at various times. I miss the “it just works” factor. I’m tempted to go back to the Time Capsule, but it took me a month to move all my devices to the new WiFi networks (I took advanage of all the different ones netgear can configure segregated) and really don’t want to go through that again.
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Why not hook up an external drive to the TC and use that for time machine backups? I have externals connected to my original TC doing the backups and have for years, with minimal problems.
 
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So has anyone been able to apply the update an 1st Gen 802.11N Airport Express? Or is the thinking this update is only for the newer generation 802.11N Airport Express??
 
I can’t seem to get Siri to play music to a particular speaker like I can with the Apple TV (e.g. “hey Siri, play Pearl Jam in/on the kitchen.”). The airport express is showing as an airplay 2 device and is named “kitchen.” Anyone else have any success with this?
 
IMPORTANT NOTE: This does not appear to provide *full* AirPlay 2 support for AirPort Express.

Specifically - for Apple TVs and HomePods, there are two ways to stream music:

1) Select them as an 'output' from your iOS device. The new AirPort Express firmware *does* allow this.

2) Ask Siri to play music directly on these devices, and manage the playback on these devices separately from your iOS device (they will appear as independent devices in the iOS AirPlay menu). The new firmware does NOT seem to support this.

Note that an updated AirPort Express *can* now be added to the Home app as a speaker, but if I ask Siri to play music on this device it errors out.
 
Macwick said:
IMPORTANT NOTE: This does not appear to provide *full* AirPlay 2 support for AirPort Express.

Specifically - for Apple TVs and HomePods, there are two ways to stream music:

1) Select them as an 'output' from your iOS device. The new AirPort Express firmware *does* allow this.

2) Ask Siri to play music directly on these devices, and manage the playback on these devices separately from your iOS device (they will appear as independent devices in the iOS AirPlay menu). The new firmware does NOT seem to support this.

Note that an updated AirPort Express *can* now be added to the Home app as a speaker, but if I ask Siri to play music on this device it errors out.
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I just got it to work! I forgot to set it up in the home app. Just make sure you are using the correct name for the speaker when you ask Siri. Just worked perfectly for me! No error.
 
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Kermetajb said:
I can’t seem to get Siri to play music to a particular speaker like I can with the Apple TV (e.g. “hey Siri, play Pearl Jam in/on the kitchen.”). The airport express is showing as an airplay 2 device and is named “kitchen.” Anyone else have any success with this?
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Yes - see my earlier response. I don't think this firmware update supports it :(
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Kermetajb said:
I just got it to work! I forgot to set it up in the home app. Just make sure you are using the correct name for the speaker when you ask Siri. Just worked perfectly for me! No error.
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Well - maybe? I tried again from my iPhone ("Play Chill Radio on Living Room"). It did indeed play Chill Radio on my Airport Express, but with my iPhone as the source. Note this is very different from HomePods and Apple TVs, which can play back music independently of an iOS device.

Does this matter? Maybe, maybe not. I'll be curious what happens if I try this from HomePod.
 
Lax608 said:
https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT208724

This is a link to add speakers to homekit if anyone is interested.
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Macwick said:
Yes - see my earlier response. I don't think this firmware update supports it :(
[doublepost=1535494412][/doublepost]

Well - maybe? I tried again from my iPhone ("Play Chill Radio on Living Room"). It did indeed play Chill Radio on my Airport Express, but with my iPhone as the source. Note this is very different from HomePods and Apple TVs, which can play back music independently of an iOS device.

Does this matter? Maybe, maybe not. I'll be curious what happens if I try this from HomePod.
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Interesting! OK I just tested this out. It seems that some devices can be AirPlay 2 'hubs' while others can just be AirPlay 2 targets. HomePods and Apple TVs can be 'hubs'. This means that you can start playing something on these devices and then 'add' other devices as targets.

If you ask Siri (from your iOS device or HomePod) to play music on a 'hub' device, it will begin playing music directly on that device (its status will show up independently in the AirPlay menu).

However the AirPort Express is not a hub. If you ask Siri to play music on the AirPort Express, *it will actually stream it from one of the hubs*. Specifically, here's what I tried:

1) Ask my iPhone to play music on the Living Room (AirPort Express). My iPhone started streaming music directly to the Living Room AirPort.

2) Ask my HomePod to play music on my Living Room AND an Apple TV in the bedroom. The Apple TV in the bedroom started playing *and* started streaming the same music to the AirPort Express!

So what does this actually mean from a functionality perspective? Fortunately, I think it should all be really seamless - you just ask Siri to play something in one or more locations, and it does it. But it's interesting to note that the way this is implemented does differ between AirPort Expresses and other devices.......

PS there is one small but important way it is not seamless. I generally don't want my phone to be the source of the music stream. If it is, then every time I step outside of Wifi range the music will stop.

So be aware that if you stream from your iPhone/iPad to an AirPort Express, it is dependent on your phone. Get around this by streaming music from one of the 'hubs' to the AirPort Express.
 
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Lax608 said:
I would think so, if you can still find one.
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I purchased 2 Airport Expresses in mid July from Target just in case the rumors were true. I am so glad I did. I have just upgraded both of my units with the new firmware and connected them to older Klipsch G-17 airplay speakers. Now all my speakers are Airplay 2 compatible. Thank you Apple for a great product :)
 
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MacRumors said:



Apple today released updated 7.8 firmware for 2012 802.11n AirPort Express models, introducing support for AirPlay 2.

The new software can be downloaded onto compatible AirPort Express devices using the AirPort Utility app for iOS devices.

airport_express_2012.jpg

After downloading the firmware update, AirPort Express users have reported being able to target the AirPort Express right alongside other AirPlay 2 devices when running iOS 11.4.1 or iOS 12. With the AirPlay 2 update, 2012 AirPort Express models offer support for multi-room audio and are able to work with other AirPlay 2 devices such as the HomePod, the Apple TV, and Sonos speakers.

There has been speculation that the AirPort Express would be updated to include AirPlay 2 support after the accessory started showing up in the Home app as an AirPlay 2 accessory in the iOS 12 beta.

Apple in April announced that its entire AirPort wireless router lineup, AirPort Express included, had been discontinued. Apple sold the AirPort Express until available stock ran out, but it is no longer available for purchase at this time.

Because the AirPort Express was discontinued, it wasn't clear if it would indeed gain AirPlay 2 support because Apple's AirPort unit was disbanded, but Apple did indeed opt to introduce support for customers who are still using the AirPort Express units.

Apple plans to provide service and parts for current AirPort Base stations for the next five years.

Article Link: Apple Releases Firmware Update for AirPort Express With AirPlay 2 Support
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Woohoooo!!!!
[doublepost=1535496054][/doublepost]Woohoooo!!!! There is hope for Apple. I'm totally dumbfounded!
 
Ollifi said:
I thought AirPlay 2 should have no delay at all, however I'm still experiencing the same delay as without the latest update, about 2 sec. Did I understand wrong?
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Maybe there is some processing going on within the speakers circuitry that is the cause of the delay.
 
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