07 Jun 2004 | CM Harrington said...

This really is just the beginning of it all. Couple this device with the Salling Clicker and you have a remote music station.

I've been waiting for Apple to come out with this shortly after the advent of the "dockable" iPods. I expect the new iPods will have some feature to leverage this new device

07 Jun 2004 | Andrew Dupont said...

... no extra power supply, nothing. Only $129. Apple, how do you do it?

Not to diminish the genius of Apple, but I think they eliminated the need for an extra power supply by putting a plug on the thing.

(ducks, runs)

07 Jun 2004 | Jon Gales said...

Andrew: I think the "Apple, how do you do it." was meant to be like, "Wow, such a great product, how can you keep coming up with stuff like this?", not "how does that work".

I can't wait to try one of these things out. Just wish my printer and stereo were next to eachother...

07 Jun 2004 | Anthony Baker said...

Okay, lemme get this straight (because I don't).

Is this unit a wi-fi transmitter or receiver? I can't just plug it into a wall socket and suddenly have wi-fi access from, say, a laptop, can I?

Or, rather, does it act as a wi-fi bridge of sorts -- able to receive signals from a wi-fi enables device (laptop, for example)?

07 Jun 2004 | Jon Gales said...

Anthony: It's both. It's a portable base station, for like a hotel room or what have you, or if you already have WiFi in your house (via another base station), it's a bridge.

Then on top of that it does some USB and MP3 stuff.

07 Jun 2004 | Brad Hurley said...

My first reaction was, wow, I want one...but then I started reading the specs and realized I'd have little use for something like this. I have an iPod with a dock, a setup that's just as portable as an AirPort Express station and can connect to my stereo or powered speakers. Why transmit music from my computer to a stereo elsewhere in the house if I can just plug my iPod into it directly?

Second, Apple points out that this is a handy gadget for travel; among other things you can plug it in to Ethernet in a conference room and provide instant wireless internet access for "everyone in the room with a WiFi-equipped computer." But you have to read the specs that "everyone" is 10 people or less, which is the maximum number that AirPort Express can handle.

Third, it's not a solution for mixed wired-and-wireless networks, like mine at home, because it only has a WAN input and nothing for LAN.

So I guess the main market for this product would be people who don't have an iPod (or who have an iPod but not a dock), and people who want to go wireless all the way. A little more limited than it seems at first glance, I'd say.

07 Jun 2004 | Brad Hurley said...

Oh, and one other thing: when's the last time you stayed in a hotel room that was so large that you would benefit from wireless? I can't see myself using it for that either.

07 Jun 2004 | RS said...

So I guess the main market for this product would be people who don't have an iPod (or who have an iPod but not a dock)

Not true for people with way more music than their iPod can hold. My music collection requires 8 times the capacity of my iPod.

07 Jun 2004 | Anthony Baker said...

Am assuming this also works with any wireless network, not just AirPort.

But have got to hand it to Apple -- I give them props for coming out with a device that has so many differnt inputs (USB, Ethernet, Stereo) in one small package _and_ rolls it out for a PC audience on Day One, as well. Really very much in line with a consumer electronics focus.

Additionally, given that it's 80211.g -- how far behind are we from seeing a video iPod-type device where you can stream video to your TV using a TV-enhanced version of AirPort Express? That would be very cool, indeed.

07 Jun 2004 | forme said...

Perfect for my "iPod-less" self. I have an eMac with all of my music on it. Now I can transmit it to my stereo instead of burning CDs. Pretty cool in my opinion.

08 Jun 2004 | Not that Steve, but another Steve said...

Regarding the niche that this appeals to, I also offer those who only want to spend $129 on a basic base station instead of the previous threshold of $199. Also, it appears that the plug is removable. This means that the placement can be extended with a regular powerbook plug or even an extension cord. This appeals to hotel rooms and other spaces with hard-to-reach plugs.

On top of it all, I haven't used a non-wireless connection at home in at least 3 years, including both laptops and desktops. I appreciate that Apple understands and creates products for me.

08 Jun 2004 | ~bc said...

Third, it's not a solution for mixed wired-and-wireless networks, like mine at home, because it only has a WAN input and nothing for LAN.

If you already have a mixed WLAN/LAN network, then your wired machine will work over this since the Express can work as a wireless bridge. Theoretically. It's not designed to replace fully-fledged wireless/wired routers. Besides, where is there room for another port? When do you stop putting ports on this thing? Where's the FireWire? ;-)

Personally, I can't wait to get one. But I'm a little biased. My girlfriend will be psyched to come home an not have to see me using her/my iBook on the shelf streaming audio to the sound system, while I control it from my PowerBook. Now she won't have to wait. And she can listen to her tunes, too.

08 Jun 2004 | Anthony Baker said...

Wonder what the range of the sucker will be.

I've got a Netgear wi-fi router that I dig, but if the AirPort Express is better...

I'm a geek, but not the biggest wi-fi networking one. Anyone know if this device can act as a repeater for a wi-fi signal originated elsewhere, increasing the range of the original source?

08 Jun 2004 | Anthony Baker said...

BTW: I called the Apple Store here in SF and they don't expect these until July sometime. AirTunes will require iTunes 4.6, which has yet to be released.

08 Jun 2004 | pb said...

Brad, you're missing it on quite a few levels. First, it's a base station that's $70 cheaper than Apple's other offering. 2, the portability is somewhat interesting whether it be hotels, friends, classrooms, offices, etc. 3, perhaps wi-fi-enabled iPods are not so far off. 4, you can plug it right into the back of your receiver with a 6 inch cord going into the aux port. 5, it's among the only wireless base stations on the market experimenting with a different form factor. There's probably more.

08 Jun 2004 | Brad Hurley said...

1. First, it's a base station that's $70 cheaper than Apple's other offerings

Right, and that's why I wanted one at first. But then I realized that it's too limited to replace my existing base station. I've been thinking of upgrading to Airport Extreme, but because my main work computer's not wireless I would need to either buy a wireless card for it or buy the Airport Extreme base station. I'd rather keep my work computer wired for security reasons. I use WEP on my wireless network, but that's not foolproof.

2. the portability is somewhat interesting...

That's exactly how I'd put it, somewhat interesting. Practically speaking, I find it hard to imagine many cases where I'd find an Airport Express useful for travel or visiting friends. If I want to play some music at a friend's house, an iPod is a more portable solution than my laptop and Airport Express. And if I happen to stay in a hotel room that has Ethernet (something I actually haven't encountered very much in my travels; usually they just have a modem connection), it seems easier to just plug my computer into the Ethernet directly. The only advantage I can think of to having wireless in a hotel room is that maybe I could check my e-mail while sitting on the toilet or in bed, but hey, I can live without that.

3. perhaps wi-fi-enabled iPods are not so far off

That might be cool, but again the iPod is so portable and easily connected to your stereo (or your computer) that it doesn't seem like a killer feature to me, just a convenience.

4. you can plug it right into the back of your receiver with a 6 inch cord going into the aux port

And you can do the exact same thing with an iPod.

Don't get me wrong, I think the Airport Express is very cool; I love the concept and the size. I guess it just doesn't strike me as all that useful. But if I didn't already have WiFi at home (and if I didn't want to keep one of my computers wired), this would be the base station I'd choose, no question about it. Small is beautiful.

08 Jun 2004 | johnza said...

Beautiful, simple. And a great straightforward name. I like that.

08 Jun 2004 | sloan said...

This is wonderful for schools with wi-fi already set up. Its a cheap, small, easy way to extend their networks. It is also a great addition to a wired/wireless set up as it again, extends the network.

The idea of a wi-fi enabled iPod working with the system won't work because AirTunes requires iTunes to turn everything into Apple lossless format, encrypt it and send it (this way it can send everything from MP3 to 5.1 DTS in theory without any degradation)... I am not positive, but I would think that is waaaay beyond the processing power of an iPod. The idea of a wi-fi iPod as a remote would be really cool, but from what I've read of the specs, it won't happen. (I suppose a new iPod could have a new chip dedicated to lossless encoding and it could happen)

08 Jun 2004 | pb said...

I don't get what's the point of loss-less encoding from an AAC source. I don't see any reason why AAC or whatever couldn't be streamed.

08 Jun 2004 | KennyEarl said...

So I guess the main market for this product would be people who don't have an iPod (or who have an iPod but not a dock), and people who want to go wireless all the way.

I think perhaps you are assuming that everyone else uses their iPod like you do. I have an iPod and a dock, and this should solve a couple of issues for me.

I want a quasi-permanent solution to play my digital music collection (which is everything I have) through my entertainment center. Pre-iTunes, I tried everything from the Turtle Beach AudioTron to installing a small PC in my cabinet and running WinAmp. Neither solution passed the ultimate test: My wife could never figure out how to just play some random music or play a specific CD like the 'good old days'. It was all very cool, but not very functional, which she constantly reminded me of.

Since we moved everything to iTunes, we now have a very practical and intuitive way to access our music....as long as it's on the Mac. I don't want to dedicate my iPod to the task of being the only audio source through our entertainment center, so this seems like a great way to continue to use iTunes to play music, without being confined to the audio output of the Mac, or whatever speakers I have connected to them.

In addition, I can use this as a wireless bridge to help improve the wireless signal where I recently moved the Mac. This seems like a no-brainer for me.

08 Jun 2004 | Brad Hurley said...

I dunno, it still just seems so awkward to me. I mean, your wife wants to listen to a CD, so she yells "Honey could you go to the Mac and put on ?" Or else she has to go to the Mac herself and select that CD or playlist, and then go back to the stereo, adjust the volume, etc....maybe if enough people get this product we can solve the obesity crisis, at least.

And what if she wants to skip a track that she doesn't like, then she's got to go back to wherever the Mac is to do that too.

Whereas if you've got your iPod dock wired to your stereo like I do, it's all right there. As long as you aren't off somewhere with the iPod, of course, in which case I suppose she could just put on the original CD.

08 Jun 2004 | cj said...

For all you ipod folks wanting to use your ipod as a stereo remote buy an iTrip (frequency modulator). Granted, it doesn't carry the signal in a digital format but it's completely portable around the house and you can control the volume and songs right from your pocket.

09 Jun 2004 | sloan said...

"I don't get what's the point of loss-less encoding from an AAC source. I don't see any reason why AAC or whatever couldn't be streamed."

I don't understand why either, except maybe that the lossless codec takes LESS processor to decode, I'm just going off of an interview with an Apple rep. This would mean the heavy lifting is done by the sending computer and the Airport Express can stay small...

I would love an Airport hub that connected to a TV. Have it stream video, music, whatever and provide a web interface as well. Kind of like the Eye Home from El Gato but also acts as an Airport hub.

09 Jun 2004 | Scott said...

I have no proof of this currently, but I can all but guarantee that the bridge and/or repeater funtionality of this WILL NOT work with other WiFi routers besides an Airport Base Station. The bridge might, but I doubt the repeater will. From what I discovered from my recent attempt at buying a repeater for my NetGear router, there is no standard for the repeating of a 80211.x signal, so each company tends to use a proprietary version to get it done. So most repeaters only work with like brands. I can only assume it will be the same with this. It's a shame however.

Oh, and Andrew...the genious of it IS that they "put the plug on the thing." It's called simplicity. And most products don't have it. Yes, everyone will say this is a novelty item, but in a few years, this will be the form factor for most WiFi routers. If it can easily be this small, then why would you have a big honking box on your desk, with a wall wart sticking out of the outlet?

It's not for everyone, but that's not a reason to discredit it.

09 Jun 2004 | Ahvus said...

I don't know why everyone is so amased of the fact that you can connect your stereo to the thing. The cable you plug into the AirPort is the same one you can plug into you Mic-output. Other than that, I think the Airport Express is an excellent device. Even students like me can now afford to read the newspaper in the loo. Online that is.

P.S. Does anyone know how to make an host-based printer work with Mac OS?

09 Jun 2004 | Bardo said...

Do a Google for WI-FI audio streaming and see what you find. There's just not that much out there. I was about a month from buying the Roku Soundbridge which is immensely cool looking, but Apple has solved the problem, plus added WAN and USB Printing capabilities, for less than half the cost! (Look for my Aiport Extreme Base Station on eBay in the coming month...)

10 Jun 2004 | Charles said...

Great idea but I'll be interested to see how well it plays with PC's and other wireless routers such as my Linksys.

10 Jun 2004 | Paul Hart said...

My own feeling (and I have to admit, I only just came up with this) is that they could also turn this into an optional alternative power supply adapter for their products. With bluetooth etc being available now, you could have a single power cable to your G5, iMac or [i|Power]Book, a cable from that to your display (in the case of the G5), and everything else be wireless or hidden.

In fact, I'm almost surprised it doesn't have power out for all the current portable models (they appear to all use the same power adapter model, since at least 2002).

I like the idea of a reduction in visible wire count.

10 Jun 2004 | One of several Steves said...

My own feeling (and I have to admit, I only just came up with this) is that they could also turn this into an optional alternative power supply adapter for their products. With bluetooth etc being available now, you could have a single power cable to your G5, iMac or [i|Power]Book, a cable from that to your display (in the case of the G5), and everything else be wireless or hidden.

That works fine for networking, sharing of data, etc. But I'm pretty sure electricity physically doesn't work that way. Given that they've been transmitting electricity for 125 years now, and wireless technology has existed for roughly as long (radio was invented, when, the 1900s? Maybe even 1890s?), I'm sure if it were physically possible to transmit electricity wirelessly, it would have been done by now.

10 Jun 2004 | Paul Hart said...

:) I didn't mean that the electricity should be transmitted wirelessly, that's "Tesla-being-a-freak speak"! What I meant was that the Airport Extreme has a form factor very similar to that of the current Apple power adapter. I was surprised that they didn't have a power cable coming out of the device too.

I know it wouldn't be as aesthetically pleasing if it had a wire coming out of a piece of wireless gear, but it would be very cool to have as an option instead of the 'stock' power adapter.

Think about it this way: I'm one of those a "road-power-warrior-user", and I often stay at hotels with ethernet high-speed in the rooms. Right now I need to carry my normal power adapter and the airport extreme, but it'd be nice if I could carry a single device; sit on the bed and surf, then plug in when needed. Not the core market they seem to be targeting, but there are a lot of Apple notebook users out there.