Gizmodo: AirPort Express

Official: Apple Updates $99 AirPort Express to Wireless N

Wilson Rothman — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:33:22 EDT

We first caught wind of this baby on Saturday, an AirPort Express based on 802.11n. This makes Apple's whole networking family N-capable, though this upgrade doesn't entirely solve the fact that AirTunes is not the best way to stream music in the home. Jump for press release.

Apple Introduces New AirPort Express With 802.11n
All AirPort Base Stations Now Run Fastest Wireless Standard

CUPERTINO, Calif., March 17 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ — Apple(R) today updated its AirPort Express(R) mobile base station with 802.11n to deliver up to five times the performance and twice the range of the previous model*. Priced at just $99, AirPort Express is the world's smallest 802.11n-based mobile base station. It can be plugged directly into the wall for wireless Internet connectivity and USB printing at home or easily brought on the road for wireless freedom wherever there is an Internet connection. AirPort Express features AirTunes(TM), which works seamlessly with iTunes(R) to give users a simple and inexpensive way to wirelessly stream iTunes music from a PC or Mac(R) to any room in the house.

"Apple is leading the way with a broad range of innovative 802.11n base stations for almost any wireless networking need," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "From the small and portable AirPort Express, to AirPort Extreme for workgroups of up to 50 users and the new Time Capsule for automated backups, Apple customers now have more great ways to extend their wireless networks with 802.11n."

AirPort Express features a single-piece, compact design weighing just 6.7 ounces, providing maximum portability. AirPort Express offers both PC and Mac users the ability to share a single DSL or cable broadband connection with up to 10 simultaneous users. Users can also share a printer wirelessly that is connected to the USB port. Apple's AirPort Utility software provides easy step-by-step instructions for setting up and configuring AirPort Express; and with its advanced security features, AirPort Express safeguards data on networked computers with support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2),

128-bit WEP encryption and a built-in firewall. Apple now includes 802.11n as standard in its entire line of AirPort base stations and Mac notebooks as well as iMac(R), Apple TV(R) and Time Capsule(TM).

AirPort Express includes a built-in combination digital and analog audio connector allowing users to connect to a home stereo or powered speakers. iTunes automatically detects remote speakers and displays them in a simple pop-up list for the user to select. Once the remote speakers are selected, AirTunes wirelessly streams iTunes music from the computer to the AirPort Express base station. Multiple AirPort Express base stations can be set up around a home, each connected to a set of powered speakers for a whole-home music experience. AirPort Express can also extend the range of an existing AirPort Extreme(R) wireless network.

Pricing & Availability

AirPort Express is available immediately through the Apple Store(R) (http://www.apple.com), Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $99 (US).

*AirPort Express is based on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Actual performance will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network and other factors.

Airport Express Update Spotted at Online Apple Store

Haroon Malik — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 22:15:00 EDT

MacGeneration has spotted a new Airport Express unit listed at the Swiss online Apple Store. The updated router looks identical to the older Airport Express, however, the specification for the refreshed model lists 802.11n wireless network support. The Swiss variety shows a one week ship time and Macrumors is reporting a reliable source informs them of a $99 price point, as well as an ETA of sometime next week for a Stateside release—anyone taking bets for not Tuesday? As before, iTunes streaming, printer and internet sharing should all be thrown in. We'll keep you posted on any midweek confirmation. [Apple Store via MacGeneration via Macrumors]

Video-Enabled Airport Express Coming Sept. 12?

Jason Chen — Tue, 05 Sep 2006 17:20:25 EDT

Rumor has it that the Apple September 12 Media Event is going to give us a whole bunch of video and video related products. One of these is the Video-Enabled Airport Express. Basically an upgrade of the current AE, which streams iTunes music over 802.11b. An upgraded version that supports video will no doubt be 802.11b/g to support the added bandwidth usage.

The rumor also says Apple's making this Airport Express act as a wireless router and print hub (it kind of is already) as well as a video streaming device. Will these features help Apple break into the living room market? Will this even be an actual product? We'll find out next week. – Jason Chen

Update: The current Airport Express is already 802.11g, apparently. I must have missed that when browsing through the site. Chalk it up to too much glue sniffing.

Apple to roll-out iTunes movies and 'one more thing' [Apple Insider via MacRumors]

Airfoil for AirPort Express Now Works on Windows

Gizloco — Fri, 12 May 2006 13:16:45 EDT

One of the nicer features of Apple's AirPort Express wireless router is that it can wirelessly stream iTunes audio from your PC or Mac to a real life sound system, so that you don't have to listen to your undoubtedly cool tunes on your small computer speakers. But what if you want to stream audio from something other than iTunes? That's where Airfoil comes in, a small piece of software from Rogue Amoeba that lets users stream audio from pretty much any application.

It's been available for the Mac for some 14 months, but starting today Windows users can participate in the fun. It's still in beta for Windows, so be mindful of any bugs that haven't been worked out quite yet. It does cost $25 for the full version, but that's a small price to pay to be able to use the AirPort Express the way you want to use it, without any of Apple's annoying meddling. Thanks, Christopher!

Airfoil [Rogue Amoeba via Under The Microscope]