NEW Apple - Airport Express - AirTunes

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 6:46 pm 0

Stream audio from you Mac wirelessly to your hifi:
http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/

Don't know if there'll be a UK version.

Rod_S · Post by **Rod_S** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:00 pm 0

Very cool indeed, I'd buy this in a heartbeat if it comes to the UK. I play all my music from the Powerbook through an external USB soundcard, this looks like a much sexier solution. Apple make pissing money away too easy.

It's amazing how this didn't get leaked, the rumor sites didn't even get a hint of it, did they?

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:13 pm 0

Rod_S wrote:Very cool indeed, I'd buy this in a heartbeat if it comes to the UK. I play all my music from the Powerbook through an external USB soundcard, this looks like a much sexier solution. Apple make pissing money away too easy.

It's amazing how this didn't get leaked, the rumor sites didn't even get a hint of it, did they?

The rumor sites have been going on about a wifi audio device for years.
I think most people assumed it would be an ordinary base station though.
Personally I don't like the power brick form, but the price is good.
Besides Apple fanatics are too busy arguing about the PowerMac revision
shown in the service manual.

Ahchay · Post by **Ahchay** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:20 pm 0

Smart. Clever use of the technology

/me waits patiently for a PC friendly version...

Cheers
Chris

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:27 pm 0

Ahchay wrote:Smart. Clever use of the technology

/me waits patiently for a PC friendly version...

Cheers
Chris

Today.

Ads · Post by **Ads** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:31 pm 0

As this is 802.11g technology all it would need is the appropriate EU approvals, as it uses the unlicensed ISM band (~2.4GHz). Other vendors have been selling media adaptors/servers for sometime; though this should have the legendary Apple ease of use...

/me ducks to avoid comments to the contrary from Windows iTunes users

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:33 pm 0

Ads wrote:As this is 802.11g technology all it would need is the appropriate EU approvals, as it uses the unlicensed ISM band (~2.4GHz). Other vendors have been selling media adaptors/servers for sometime; though this should have the legendary Apple ease of use...

/me ducks to avoid comments to the contrary from Windows iTunes users

It wasn't concerned about the wifi. Check out the US plug built into
the unit. Could you even fit a UK plug on it? Looks too small to me.
Pehaps Apple will supply it with a crappy adaptor in the UK.

*does some measuring*

The pins would be flush with the case edges, which means the case
would have to be wider by about 1/4 " I don't think Apple have thought
this through. Hmmm. I see a bodge coming, or a slightly larger version.

*goes back to apple.com*
Looking at the picture is appears the power connector is a separate
part, so they could replace the US one with a larger UK connector,
which would be wider at the top, but wouldn't increase the volume
much. Though it would then have the problem of not laying flat on
a surface.

Ads · Post by **Ads** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:39 pm 0

Kemper_Boyd wrote:
Ads wrote:As this is 802.11g technology all it would need is the appropriate EU approvals, as it uses the unlicensed ISM band (~2.4GHz). Other vendors have been selling media adaptors/servers for sometime; though this should have the legendary Apple ease of use...

/me ducks to avoid comments to the contrary from Windows iTunes users
It wasn't concerned about the wifi. Check out the US plug built into
the unit. Could you even fit a UK plug on it? Looks too small to me.
Pehaps Apple will supply it with a crappy adaptor in the UK.

I don't tend to worry about power connectors on network equipment. If you look at a lot of recent wall-wart style adaptors, supplied with UK equipment, they usually have a plastic flange to provide the extra space for our wonderful three pin plugs. I guess this could be a sticking point for Apple in terms of design or cost for a smaller production run just for the UK. Even if they supplied some sort of trailing power cable.

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 7:44 pm 0

Ads wrote: I don't tend to worry about power connectors on network equipment. If you look at a lot of recent wall-wart style adaptors, supplied with UK equipment, they usually have a plastic flange to provide the extra space for our wonderful three pin plugs. I guess this could be a sticking point for Apple in terms of design or cost for a smaller production run just for the UK. Even if they supplied some sort of trailing power cable.

It comes with an extension cable anyway so perhaps they'll just
supply a UK one, and leave it at that. It's a shame if it was only
1/4 " wider in the first place they wouldn't have to bodge if for the
UK model, IMHO.

matt303 · Post by **matt303** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:06 pm 0

The power plug is removable on apple power supplies so just unclip the two pin and slap on a uk 3pin, just like with my PowerBook and iPod chargers. Doesn't look like a bodge either.

Kemper_Boyd · Post by **Kemper_Boyd** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:12 pm 0

matt303 wrote:The power plug is removable on apple power supplies so just unclip the two pin and slap on a uk 3pin, just like with my PowerBook and iPod chargers. Doesn't look like a bodge either.

It almost certainly will be wider, and thus the Airport Express won't be
able to lie flat when on an extension cord, unless the cord replaces
the whole plug, rather than just provide a socket. I'm not saying it's
a big deal, but accomodating UK plugs will be tricky. Apple could possibly
build a plug component where the case forms the base of the pins.
We'll see I guess.

ji · Post by ji » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:48 pm 0

And because it contains an internal universal AC adapter, thereâ€™s no need to carry extra cables or a power supply. Just unplug and go.

And you all did notice, that it also has an optical output, didn't you?

HGFB · Post by **HGFB** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 8:51 pm 0

It's on the UK apple site

Â£99

Arthur Ringworn · Post by **Arthur Ringworn** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 9:01 pm 0

Hmmm, that's quite an interesting product.

I think the lack of control would be a slight downer compared to a slimp3, but I suppose if your playlists are good enough, it won't be too much faffing...

And of course the wifiPod will take care of that...

goldfish · Post by **goldfish** » Mon Jun 07, 2004 10:12 pm 0

http://www.apple.com/uk/airportexpress/airtunes.html wrote:AirTunes requires iTunes 4.6 or later.

Neat trick.

Simon