Any one have any thoughts as to what they'd like to see in an Airport revision. I'm only hoping for smaller, cheaper, and faster. What do you all think?
Got a tip for us?
Let us know
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.
Speculation on the next Airport
- Thread starter The Black Rock
- Start date
- Sort by reaction score
Actually the size of both units is just fine in my opinion. Some of the small wireless bases from other companies feel like they'd break if you dropped a toothpick on them.
Faster speed isn't so necessary anymore, but Apple should keep up with the standards. However, the faster standard9s) haven't been ratified yet, so Apple is waiting on those.
What I would like to see is a little more flexability in the dhcp service. As in being able to permanently assign IP addresses based on the units MAC address.
In truth, Apple has done fairly well in the design so it doesn't need much changes. Although a lower price would be nice.
Faster speed isn't so necessary anymore, but Apple should keep up with the standards. However, the faster standard9s) haven't been ratified yet, so Apple is waiting on those.
What I would like to see is a little more flexability in the dhcp service. As in being able to permanently assign IP addresses based on the units MAC address.
In truth, Apple has done fairly well in the design so it doesn't need much changes. Although a lower price would be nice.
Really? I'm hoping for cooler, better, and awesomer. I'm sorry, just haad to make fun of the fact that you are expecting the three goals of practically every electronic device in production.
But for reaeeaaalll..... I'd like to see the option to stream video through the express..... but we all know that would take some serious bandwidth. I's also like to see a wider range of support for wireless printers. Improved Rendezvous networking would be nice too.... but we've all heard about Tiger's new "Bonjour" service... (trying to hold back a laugh)...
pdpfilms said:
That shouldn't be that hard. I guess you'd have to build in the decoder into the base station though. a DV stream like you get from a digital video camera is only about 3.5Mbps IIRC and even 802.11b can have a through put of 11Mpbs. With WiFi-G you should have plenty of bandwidth together.
http://standards.ieee.org/announcements/bkgnd_802stds.html
http://standards.ieee.org/wireless/overview.html
My guess is the next major airport revision will contain the next 802 standard.
802.11e has streaming video that you are looking for.
http://standards.ieee.org/wireless/overview.html
My guess is the next major airport revision will contain the next 802 standard.
802.11e has streaming video that you are looking for.
Ok, but if the base station became 802.11e, that would most likely mean that computers with a "g" card would still be able to stream to it? Or would it require a new card? If Airport Extreme gets replaced, would one be able to replace an AE card with it's replacement?
Anyways, what I would like to see (for the Airport Express, which I'm considering but waiting for a revision):
- inclusion of the audio cables
- an included remote
- the option to stream audio from DVD player/Quicktime
- the ability to directly plug an iPod into an AEx's USB port and play music through the stereo via it
If the remote and audio cables weren't bundled, a price drop to $99 would be fair.
Anyways, what I would like to see (for the Airport Express, which I'm considering but waiting for a revision):
- inclusion of the audio cables
- an included remote
- the option to stream audio from DVD player/Quicktime
- the ability to directly plug an iPod into an AEx's USB port and play music through the stereo via it
If the remote and audio cables weren't bundled, a price drop to $99 would be fair.
chameeeleon said:
You can already stream any app to Airport Express with Airfoil.
http://www.macupdate.com/info.php/id/17357
There are third party solutions to do this, but you will not have shynchronization with the image due to the buffering delay.chameeeleon said:
Umm, this isn't needed as you can just plug the iPod directly into the stereo as well.
I think Apple will adapt the 802.11n which is 108mbps and is backwards compatible. Apple could also support the 5.4ghz frequency, 802.11a, while supporting keeping the 2.4ghz frequency at the same time (Is this possible?).
To support 802.11a and 802.11b/g/n in the same base would require almost double the hardware.auxplage said:
Apple will pro'ly support 802.11n when it is ratified as a standard.
Bear said:
I see. Well it would be cool just to have the 5.4ghz frequency for those who want it at there house since less household things interfere with that band. No "hotspots" use 802.11a, so it is not really important.
I would like a base station to come standard with the Airport Express, there are third party solutions though. Better reception is a must. I find Airport reception to be lacking ever since Airport Extreme was introduced.
And about a 15% price drop. The prices for airport are just way too high. I actually might buy one if the price came down. $179 for a base station is crazy.
And about a 15% price drop. The prices for airport are just way too high. I actually might buy one if the price came down. $179 for a base station is crazy.
Bear said:
1. I know there are third party solutions, but I don't think you should have to pay for something that should be included out-of-the-box. And I'm sure Apple could find a way to add a short delay to the start of the video while it buffered the audio or something.
2. A direct iPod-to-Express connection would be ideal for me because to plug the iPod directly into the stereo requires a whole different cable, dock, etc. none of which I have and if I got I would have to flip back and forth between the iPod's audio cables and the Express's cables when it would be easier to just plug the iPod in. If it could sync with iTunes over AirPort as well, then it would serve as a very functional remote.
yeah expextily since I can go out and get a linkey wireless G router for 60 bucks. Now that is hard to beat and I can get hte speed boosted one for like 80 which is faster than the Airportauxplage said:
Apple's basestations are getting up there in price, but the Express is still a good deal in my opinion because of its streaming capabilities and because it can print wirelessly, two awesome factors in my book
Granted, it's a software issue, not a hardware one but I reckon they should add the option for administrators to see exactly who's on their networks. I still haven't found out how to do this and I'm pretty sure you can't but I'd love to be proved wrong. 
Also, they could add more options for the USB ports such as scanner attachments and network storage.
Also, they could add more options for the USB ports such as scanner attachments and network storage.
mad jew said:
There is software for this, made by Apple in fact, I can't seem to find a download link at the moment but it is shown on their website:
http://www.apple.com/airportextreme/campus.html
Only shows MAC addresses at the moment, there are 3rd part programs that exist too
Darwin said:
Thanks for that but it's not like Apple to make it so user-unfriendly. It really should just be part of the Airport admin utility.
mad jew said:
I do agree, it feels like it has been rushed and really should be intergrated into the Admin Utility, hopefully they will fix this in the next release
A good time to announce would be with the release of iTunes 5 on the second anniversary of the music store. *Fingers crossed*
When was it announced last year? Right after the release of 4.5 at... some conference thing.
When was it announced last year? Right after the release of 4.5 at... some conference thing.