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craig-e said:
How about this for the setup? The new Imac is launched, It has a detachable, tablet like display. You put all your music onto it, once you take your display off the machine, that becomes your remote, possibly with a dock to keep the battery topped up.

This would be the best way to sell more of the flagging Imac models.
😀

With at least a 17" screen, that's an enormous remote!
 
I will ask the question again

Can the optical out on the Airport express be used to push digital video out?



If so can there be, using the new Airport Express, an 802.11g or another 802.xx protocol to push a compressed HD (new version of Quicktime?) stream into the rumored monitors where it could be decoded and Voila' audio video nirvana. This opens the field for downloadable Full length High Def Quicktime content and Samurai stroke to the Windoze media center. Positioning Apple via the airport express and Quicktime to not only take back the desk top but the whole house. Remember the airport express is both Apple and
P(iece of) C(***) users to use the Apple interface.

Give them a taste of the simplicity of the Apple OS and they might take the plunge to the hardware. It is already considered "cool" with ipod and ipod mini.

Or, am I already looking for products that don't exist for 10 more years??

thanks,
 
AirTunes Remote

All that is needed is the remote to be an ipod without the hard drive!
It has the exact same screen and scroll wheel, and has one of those mini 802.11g things instead of a hard drive. It is the perfect thing, exactly what everyone wants. No new stuff to be learnt-perfect companion for the airport express
 
I posted this yesterday in another thread:

"My take...

It is somewhat disappointing that the 3's aren't out. Overall, I do not care, as I am more than happy with my MDD 867 and couldn't move to the G5 if I wanted to right now anyways. However, I do have some "speculations":

1. There will be a g5 imac announced at WWDC. Hopefully headless and a hell of a lot cheaper than the one I have upstairs.

2. Is it possible that the rumored XStation or whatever it was called could be announced as well - running dual 3s or quad 2.5s?

3. Perhaps the 3s will be released in new Xserves first. I know that Apple updated these not too long ago, but they also pissed off a lot of people with fulfillment problems. Maybe this is their way of making up for it.

4. Given the announcement of AirTunes, I do believe the fabled "tablet" will arrive - perhaps not in the manner it has been typically envisioned (like a notebook) - rather as I wireless access system to control iTunes as well as do basic browsing and email. Or even just an embedded and flash-able version of a system with a really redesigned Apple Remote Desktop. It's also possible that these functions will be added to the iPod along with WiFi streaming. We already know that a 60 gigger is eminent. The tablet would also pave way for something like AirPort Express Extreme with video as well as audio capabilities.

We shall see."

Please do not respond to items 1-3 as they are off topic. 🙄
 
DavidFDM said:
Has everyone seen the pricing Tivo is doing for their Series2 DVRs? I have been considering buying a new Tivo so I can have it do the work of AirTunes, plus all the DVR work. The USB printer sharing and 10 user router has little interest to me.

wow, that discount is NICE. take them up on it, it will be the best $129 you can spend. of course, if you want the Home Media Option, it's extra. i can't condone spending the $ on that CURRENTLY simply b/c i haven't had the chance to use those extras very much yet.

i TRIED hooking up my Tivo wirelessly last year, but i was using a little USB-->802.11 dongle & it just didn't have the bandwidth to stream music and i really hated having an ethernet cable strung across the living room (dog & i kept tripping on it). SO, my Tivo isn't currently on the network, so the Home Media Option hasn't been worth the extra cash so far.

however, i have my new AXp (i like the new acronym, btw) on order & i think that will kill 2 birds w/ one stone. i'll have my AirTunes streaming to the stereo AND i will have the Tivo on the network via the ethernet connection on the AXp.

also, let's not overlook future uses of that little AXp. AirTunes is cool, but let's not forget the ethernet AND USB connections on there. i don't know what all i'll be able to connect wirelessly, but that's for the engineer types to figure out, i'm just a designer...
 
WiFi + iPod display & scroll wheel - HD = Apple Wireless Remote

(sorry I missed the post above)

It appears that WiFi is getting much cheaper. The HD is the majority of the cost of the iPod. Perhaps this is doable for $49? Don't know. But here's what I think it is safe to say:

- WiFi + Rendevous are the backbone.
- Apple will do MUCH more with all of their technologies, combined in new, interesting and non-obvious (to us anyway) ways.

I could also imagine a AirPod which does streaming to AirportExpress devices too. But not everyone will want such a thing. And this will likely be the top line iPod, perhaps with the Apple Wireless Remote as an option for the rest of us.
 
Overkill?

Isn't WiFi overkill for sending tiny little remote commands to a desktop running iTunes? I would have thought Bluetooth would be much more appropriate.
 
Airport Express and Airitunes

Are Apple's version of the MediaPC crap that M$ is pushing now..
But apple is doing it the right way
 
whfsdude said:
it could be the next gen ipod..

Airport card in the ipod. Steaming to it, streaming from it. Control your airport express. 😀

It would be silly to have another device. People don't want to carry a 100 things in their pocket


Yep, I suggested the iPOD as the remote a couple days ago here when the little bugger was announced. Makes sense not to do a new device when the iPOD mini is a perfect sized remote with a display...........

😉
 
AE/Video on Demand

I think that wireless video is in Airport Express' future.

My prediction: Apple is moving towards an iTunes Music Store model for video on demand. Here's why:

Netflix has announced its intention to start providing downloadable titles next year. There is no standardized platform for video on demand. Are people really going to watch movies on Windows Media player?

By the way, Apple already has a marketing relationship with Netflix.

Look at the recent news from TiVo: DirectTV has sold its equity stake in TiVo (in anticipation of...?) and TiVo is scrambling to retool as an "open system" with PC integration and wireless as major components.

The wireless display should be the next item we see from Apple. We'll also need to see the Airtunes upgraded to multichannel, high quality DVD-style audio.
 
jsw said:
Perhaps you were being sarcastic, but there are numerous wireless headphones, some which are pretty decent, already on the market. Plug the headphone base into the AirportExpress audio out jack, and you're good to go. These aren't WiFi phones, but why would they need to be?

Ugh.. no.

I want headphones with 802.11g built in that will connect to AirTunes. That way I don't have to buy wireless headphones AND and an airport extreme.
 
hybrid_x said:
Isn't WiFi overkill for sending tiny little remote commands to a desktop running iTunes? I would have thought Bluetooth would be much more appropriate.

Possibly, but there would be a couple of other things going on...2-way...the remote knows what's playing from iTunes on your Mac as well as control. Secondly, it could be that doing WiFi is not terribly more complex, costly or power hungry than Bluetooth. So maybe use it instead. But BT would be fine. In the end I don't think I care. It is wireless (RF not IR)...it has a display and scroll wheel like the iPod. It costs about $50.
 
hybrid_x said:
You can already use your Palm to control iTunes through Bluetooth with Salling Clicker.

Bluetooth is great but the short range might cause difficulty for larger homes. Ideally, controlling via bluetooth, 802.11 or Wireless FireWire would be the best way. The conduit shouldn't be the driving factor. The device should use whatever is available.

- D
 
Modem please

Just add a modem please. Most laptop travelers don't have an ethernet jack everywhere you go! But they do have national dialup for people on the road.

I'd buy one in a second if that ethernet port was like the old PowerBooks, where you could plug an ethernet OR a smaller phone cable into the same port.
 
nagromme said:
Just add a modem please. Most laptop travelers don't have an ethernet jack everywhere you go! But they do have national dialup for people on the road.

This was a surprise to me too (the lack of modem). I know network access is becoming more common in hotels these days. But not universal.
 
USB port

Maybe I missed this in another thread but I haven't seen any discussion of the uses for the USB port on the airport express. Everyone seems to have just accepted Apple's explanation of this as a printer port. I just wanted to throw in the fact that despite USB's limited bandwidth, at 11Mbps it is actually capably of transporting broadcast quality MPEG2 program streams - just. Translate this to MPEG4 to give yourself a bit more room on the bandwidth, add a USB powered MPEG4 decoder cable and hey presto, you have an airport express with the potential to stream your video to TV.
 
petej said:
Maybe I missed this in another thread but I haven't seen any discussion of the uses for the USB port on the airport express. Everyone seems to have just accepted Apple's explanation of this as a printer port. I just wanted to throw in the fact that despite USB's limited bandwidth, at 11Mbps it is actually capably of transporting broadcast quality MPEG2 program streams - just. Translate this to MPEG4 to give yourself a bit more room on the bandwidth, add a USB powered MPEG4 decoder cable and hey presto, your airport express that can potentially stream your video to TV.

I assure you that this has been mentioned several times by several people. Right now the AXp is set up to work with serving as a print-server the only use for the USB port. There is no reason to think that future uses could be found for the port. Do we know if it is USB or USB 2.0?
 
cr2sh said:
It would be nice if someone developed wireless headphones (with batteries)... I could sit in my cube and listen to music without having a damn wire to tangle under my chair and always be in the way.. control it via iTunes and such...



No offense... but a wireless dock? The dock is used to transfer yes.. but also charge the ipod. You may get rid of the wired transfer.. but there's no way you're getting rid of the power source. Why have a wireless transfer when you'll still be tethered to the wall for power?

Building 802.11g into the ipod makes a lot of sense.. but even then you'll still need a charger (but it'd be almost an after thought, like a cell phone charger).

__

Um, they could just design it with a cord to plug it into the wall, I'm just talking about wireless syncing. An iPod with built in wireless would probably make it too bulky and use up too much of the battery. A wireless dock is more of a practical solution to wireless syncing.
 
Macrumors said:
With the release of Apple's newest device, AirPort Express, alongside AirTunes wireless audio broadcasting capabilities, MacWorld Editor Jason Snell speculates about potential directions Apple and other developers could take this technology.



Based on conversations with Greg Joswiak, Apple appears to be aware of the logical steps beyond this basic framework... but wants to first establish this product.

I'm guessing a remote (iPod capability?!) for iTunes and also a Movie streaming capability, along with a Movie Store... i something..... iFilm? iFlick?
iShow? iTheatre?
 
ccuilla said:
This was a surprise to me too (the lack of modem). I know network access is becoming more common in hotels these days. But not universal.


I agree. All of my hotels this summer have modem lines, not ethernet. I was thinking about how great the AEx would be for this, but then I realized that I couldn't use it for a Base Station to share the net there anyway, so.....


Also, if Apple won't add a modem, couldnt someone hack the Base Station and allow an External modem to be used? 😕

On the Movie thing.... I hope that they include this feature, including streaming the audio to the stereo for the movie and the video for the movie to the TV.
 
there is a current frenzy

to sign Pixar for distribution. If Jobs CEO of Apple and Pixar can make a joint deal with say Warner Bros or another studio then imovie may be the next big blockbuster or netflix.

what a coup! do to online movies what itunes did/does for music. Add a little DRM and you have an intoxicating soup!

T

😉
 
Salling Clicker is awesome.....

caveman_uk said:
It shouldn't be too didficult to sort out a remote. Can't salling clicker control itunes with a bluetooth mobile phone?

I have been using clicker for a while now and I love it. I can control iTunes with my Sony Ericcson T68i and my T616 trough the bluetooth connecton. You can also control Keynote, Powerpoint, DVD player, and system. I think its customizable because it uses applescript. Although its limited to 30 fet or so. But if bluetooth were put on the iPod, it would be nice. Maybe Apple's scratched PDA project was a cell/PDA/MP3/bluetooth/AE enabled device all in the size of a Treo? That would be nice.
 
Knox said:
This doesn't really apply to the keynote IMO. The keynote is just a general, mostly non-technical, overview and an opportunity to display/announce new products - any developer is going to be more interested in the in-depth seminars during the rest of the week.

A wireless iPod would be great as an addition but i would much rather have a simple (maybe wifi based) remote control, especially if it was also IR and could be programmed to control the TV, hifi etc. In the home it doesn't really make sense to use a device that needs frequent recharging when your mains-powered computer is going to be within range of the hifi.

I totally agree. The iPod may be the best solution, except for battery life, but I already have my iPods and I am sure somepeople have no plans to buy one. I don't intend to buy another just to control my iTunes on my mac. There must be a cheaper solution.
 
Macswell said:
I totally agree. The iPod may be the best solution, except for battery life, but I already have my iPods and I am sure somepeople have no plans to buy one. I don't intend to buy another just to control my iTunes on my mac. There must be a cheaper solution.

I don't see how the iPod would be a good solution as a wireless remote. It just seems like a total waste of the iPod's power. Who needs a remote control with a 40GB hard drive in it. It would make more sense to make a remote with an iPod style interface and a 1GB or so of flash memory that could sell for a fraction of the cost of the iPod.
 
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