Apple launches 802.11n Airport Express right on cue
By Thomas Ricker 
posted March 17th 2008 8:28AM
posted March 17th 2008 8:28AM
What's this? New Product from Apple on a Monday? Why, yes, yes it is. The 802.11n Airport Express rumored over the weekend just became official. $99 takes the little iTunes streaming, pocket base station home to a draft-n network near you. Yes, today.
Tech Specs:
"One 10/100 Ethernet port for connecting a DSL, cable modem or Ethernet network"
Is the possibility of a connection to a Ethernet network a new feature? I'm not sure, but I guess so. If so, it's the perfect enhancement of my wirelss network!
Thanks Apple!
Can someone tell me if I can use this in "bridge mode"?
yes. you can.
All well and good....
I think this is great! Actually. Primarily because if I use a "g" 8032.11 device with an "n" device - the "n" steps down to "g" - os I have read. I use all Airport Extremes. Will now get a couple Express "n"s to expand the network. cool....
What I want to know is....
What's on for Tuesday? (Let the rumours begin)!!!!
I am hoping new Displays!!! (I can always hope)
Cheers!
oops... 802.11
:(
Sure wish we could edit our posts - most especially when there is a major dyslexia attack!
Question: Can networkable game consoles and digital video recorders join my network via AirPort Express?
Answer: Yes, if you have the proper network adapters for your devices and have set them up properly. They can connect wirelessly when AirPort Express is your only base station or when it's in WDS mode. They can connect via wire when AirPort Express is a WDS remote (the reason for this is described in the next question). They cannot connect either way when AirPort Express is in client mode.
One word of caution on that: the 360 DOES NOT like 'n' networks; Airport Extremes and Time Capsules don't seem to work with their default wireless adapter, so I would imagine this will be no different. One option is to get a new wireless adapter (the linksys n game adapter is usually recommeded), or to wait for Microsoft to update their device w/better 'n' drivers. I just have mine plugged in for the time being, but if you only have an Express that wouldn't be an option for you. I haven't tried the PS3 yet, but I've heard it'll work, but bring stuff down to 'g' speeds.
@Chicksta
my 360 is hooked up to an 'n' network no problem.
So when Linksys/Netgear/Dlink/Buffola/whoever releases a new router that'll get coverage, right? Right? Oh wait... no. Because somehow an Apple router is more special. I like this blog but the obvious bias toward Apple is getting quite old. I agree a new product release is fair to cover but a "rumor" then a release get covered... and I have never seen anything of the sort for any other manufacturer.
What do you mean "no"? Do you mean to tell me you have never seen an Engadget story featuring an N wireless router before - besides the Airport? Because I have, so I have to ask - are you blind? Or just stupid? This "bias towards Apple" is seriously just in your head. The next time Linksys or Dlink or whoever updates one of their routers with N, Engadget will run an article on it, just like they have every other time. And then I'll be back to shove this in your face and watch you choke on it.
The moral of this story is don't be an idiot.
I hope you are right. No I have not seen a post about other brands... If they do I'll be pleasantly surprised. And I hope you are there to remind me, and I'll agree with you.
Chill dude: "And then I'll be back to shove this in your face and watch you choke on it." such anger... lol. All I was doing was commenting that they seem biased, no need to go superrabidfan on me.
Are you seriously comparing Linksys to Apple? Linksys doesn't get the coverage that Apple does... and for good reason!
What an idiotic argument.
koresho - the fact that you haven't seen a post about other brands indicates that you're just not paying attention. See, ignorance like yours is why I respond to posts. Would it have killed you to do a search to find articles about other brands of n-routers before making that comment? And this is what I don't really understand - you're paying enough attention to think Engadget is biased towards Apple, but not enough attention to see all the other articles they write on every other piece of gadgetry there is. How does that work, exactly?
Why do people think it's okay to post things directly out of their asses? You have no idea if Endaget posts articles on all n-routers, so you just assume they're only doing it for Apple routers? How does that make sense? Is a little bit of common sense just too much to ask for? Seriously what makes you think they seem biased towards Apple, if you admitted you haven't been paying attention?
http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=Linksys
http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=netgear
http://www.engadget.com/search/?q=Buffalo
your hatred has blinded you. You hate Apple so much that all you see now is Apple. that's probably not healthy.
sweet. I am proved wrong, I admit it. Thanks guys, no more Endgadget bashes about bias from me, ok?
oops meant to put "engadget", not "endgadget". Sorry
Ah it's just like an Apple user to render the lower power outlet useless by plugging that into the upper socket =P
But it looks so much more clean and symmetrical this way ;)
So plug it into the lower socket. I do and have no issues with it being there.
I just wish they would make a Airport Extreme/Apple TV. I would be on that like Asians on rice.
huh?
Am I the only one who notices that it blocks a perfectly good power outlet.
Solution: Move the Airport Express into the lower outlet. Do you want them to put that in the FAQ, or do you think you could have figured that out yourself?
seriously though, you'll have to run a line from the cable/DSL modem, is this thing just for businesses or for homes that are already fully wired?
"you'll have to run a line from the cable/DSL modem"
if it's your ONLY router, sure, thats how ALL routers work.
if you're just using it for streaming music, and extending your network, and acting as a print server, etc... then it's a wireless bridge. It'll hook up WIRELESSLY to your existing wireless network, and extend/stream/printserve... without requiring you to "run a line"
you guys don't get sarcasm unless I use a :)
my "joke" had to regard that if the Airport blocked a the power connection port, that you would have to plug in the modem at a different power connection.
why are you reading, Steve Jobs said that no body reads anymore.
so I apologize fort not using :) or /sarcasm. {mustn't offend the fanboys and form trolls}
Nice, get the minor update out of the way so that we can get new iMacs on Tuesday!
Does anyone know if this will stream Apple Lossless without first converting it to 128 Kbit AAC like the first models did? I'd pick one up today if I could stream all my lossless music, but will pass if it still has to down-convert it.
In fact, it uses Apple Lossless for streaming. As it always did. I wonder where you picked up that nonsense about down-conversion...
@DT
I have had power adapter that fall out if there is nothing supporting the weight :)
You people need to lighten up. If you dislike the Apple posts so much, why even spend time commenting in them?
N sucks, it is horrible as far as frequency bandwidth is concerned and isn't even a finished spec.
If there wasn't such a demand by technologically illiterate people for broken unfinished draft products then the world would be a better place.
But go ahead, throw your money at apple and all the other companies for the wonderful uNfiNished N.
I have the AppleTV, my iMac, and my router all running N, and it's great.
so... what's the problem?
Shame it's not yet showing on the UK store. Will drop by the Apple Store later and see if they know the availability. However, as the current version says the shipping wait is a week, I might have just answered my own question
What? No gigabit ethernet? Pffff.
(This Apple fanboy ain't blind.)
@Eric
My thoughts exactly. Why would they cripple the up to 248Mbps with a 100Mbps wired port?
The wired port is probably ment only for connecting cable modem. It shouldn't bother such users unless they live in Singapore ;)
@John : re: hitting the AE when you walk passed it, when I bought mine when the first one came out, I had an issue with placement (went behind my stereo rack with minimal room.
I ended up taking a longer power cord from my iBook and using that with the AE allowing me to place it behind one of the components on the rack itself, out of view, and not sticking out. Maybe ebay for one of the longer power cords that is compatible with the AE, that help you out with the AE sticking out.
so let me get this straight...Apple invented a router?
Will this work with a Mac?
Any one here know if the horrid time lag issue is resolved with this update, finally allowing properly sync movies and all?
Good news for Canadians - it's the first product in Apple's lineup that has "par" pricing with the US product. It's $99 on Apple.ca as well.
Toleraen, think about that for a second, how would putting a gigabit connector make this any faster? If your using it as wireless bridge, the fastest the data will move is at 802.11n speed. And if your using it as a wireless router, the fastest data will move is at 802.11n speed. Either way you're not even going to max out the throughput on the 100mbit connector, much less get anywhere near gigabit speed.
My credit card is waiting for it to show up on the UK store...
Darn it. I was hoping to use this with Popcorn Hour so I could stream movies wirelessly.