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Apple Releases Firmware Update for AirPort Express With AirPlay 2 Support
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Can we ask which brand of router you are using? I keep reading about firmware backdoors and bad security in various brands of router and now that Apple no longer sells the AirPort I have no idea which brand to buy. Not that I searched much, but at the moment I only have a list of brands I'll never buy but no list of brands I can trust.
I know, I’ve replaced them already twice. Each lasted about 2 yrs.
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It isn’t just about the drive, it was also wanting the additional features the Netgear offers.
Ah yes, the only plausible explanation for any mistake in my initial post about testing new firmware must be that I was LYING.
If you read my subsequent posts, there is indeed a difference between AirPlay 2 functionality of Apple TV/HomePod devices and AirPort Expresses with this new firmware.
I am having trouble figuring out how to add the AirPort Express to the Home app - how did you do it (holding the iPhone with the Home app near it didn't work and is there something on the Airport Express you can scan??? My wife loves Siri, so I gotta get it working...
Otherwise AirPay 2 on it is working great, via iPhone, Mac, etc,
Here's the trick - when you click 'Add Accessory', you then have to click 'Don't have a code or can't scan?'. It will then show you a list of new devices on your network, including the updated AirPort Express.
That doesn't work for me, it never shows up. Of course it shows up as an AirPlay 2 destination when streaming from my iPhone. I also can't get it to voice-activate. My AE is called "Arbor" and I also have a room with other HomeKit devices in a Home room called Arbor, i.e. lights. When I say "play music in the Arbor", Siri responds "I couldn't find a speaker in the Arbor". As a general concept, I know this works in my home, because up until 1 hour ago, I had an AppleTV 4 designed in the Arbor room, and Siri would play music just fine with it.
EDIT: oops spoke too soon. It didn't work from the Home app on my iPad, but it shows up via iPhone X.
I'm not surprised that Siri isn't working for you - the AirPort Express must be added to the Home app in order for Siri to work.
I'm not sure why it's not showing up in the Home app as a new device. Have you confirmed via Airport Utility that the new firmware has been applied? Is your iOS device on the same network as the AirPort Express?
I know I could do that, but I prefer to have everything connected by cable, except iPhones and iPads of course. I just have to buy a suitable switch. But thanks for your tip anyway!As the mini’s plugged, share your internet connection via wi-fi on the mini & use the AP elsewhere?
You can plug in any speaker with a aux cord into the AirPort Express to add Airplay 2 features. Such as Multi Room music from your iOS device and add to home app for Siri commands
Just getting home from work now... anyone else having issues updating? AirPort utility on my phone says it's ready on the latest firmware, and AirPort utility on my Mac doesn't give me the usual red update needed indicator
Nope, just the later one. I have both; only one got the update.
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My 2008 did not get the update, my 2012 did.
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Are your pants on fire? That's usually a dead giveaway.
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This and the firmware update for pre-2013 Mac Pros. It's like some consumers got jobs at Apple just to finally give people what they want, lol.
Thank you Apple!
The Airports (especially the Airport Extremes) are among the best accessories made by Apple….. too bad they dropped them. But I still like the recent update!
The Airports (especially the Airport Extremes) are among the best accessories made by Apple….. too bad they dropped them. But I still like the recent update!
This is great news! Just updated my Airport Expresses (attached to stereo receivers and Como Audio radios).
But I have a question -- someday my Airport Extreme will give out and most likely be replaced with a mesh router from another company. Will I still be able to use my Airport Expresses as Airplay 2 targets (via Airport Utility) if I'm using another brand of router for wi-fi? (My Airport Expresses are not being used to extend the wi-fi signal, just acting as Airplay 2 targets.)
But I have a question -- someday my Airport Extreme will give out and most likely be replaced with a mesh router from another company. Will I still be able to use my Airport Expresses as Airplay 2 targets (via Airport Utility) if I'm using another brand of router for wi-fi? (My Airport Expresses are not being used to extend the wi-fi signal, just acting as Airplay 2 targets.)
There is. Apple TVs have the ability to manage their own playback. The AirPort requires a client device to manage playback.
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Yes you can still use them. They’ll simply be added to the network as regular devices. You’ll lose the “mesh” functionality.
Right, you were whining about how Siri doesn’t listen or work independantly per AirPort Express.
News flash: The update for AirPort Express is AirPlay 2, it’s not like the AirPort Express has a brain of its own that can manage data like an Apple TV can, it doesn’t have hardware to support it. That method you’re talking about is not AirPlay 2, with that method you’re just remote controlling the device that way. That isn’t actually AirPlay unless you stream the content from the device.
This update killed compatibility with Airfoil 5.8.1 for me. :-(
Same here. Rogue Amoeba seem to have good product support, so I'm hopeful that a patch won't be far away.
I have an AirPort Extreme to use as a router, and I have an Airport Express specifically to connect it to speakers. Guess which one I would want to be AirPlay 2 compatible. The one that is connected to speakers, not the one sitting hidden in a cupboard with a few hard drives connected.
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Also the price. You can easily justify buying an Airport Express _just_ to connect it to your WiFi. I actually got a second one for £25 from eBay to connect it to a second WiFi. AirPort Extreme is too expensive to use it that way.