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Airport Utility 6.0 flies right into the iCloud, leaves old AirPorts behind

Mat Smith — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:37:00 EST

The latest version of Apple's Airport Utility software has arrived, alongside those iCloud-supporting firmware updates for the company's network hardware, including the AirPort Extreme, the AirPort Express and Time Capsule. Unfortunately, Airport Utility 6.0 doesn't support pre-2007 models, that is; 802.11g-only devices. As we already know, iCloud support requires the new release, running on OSX Lion and if you're still clinging onto your MobileMe account, we've got more bad news -- this won't work with the new software either. Fortunately, you'll still be able to configure (firmware-updated) older models with previous AirPort Utility versions. TidBITS has gone into fine detail on compatibility changes, so be sure to check the source if there's any niggling doubts.

Airport Utility 6.0 flies right into the iCloud, leaves old AirPorts behind originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 03 Feb 2012 15:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple updates Airport stations and Time Capsule, brings bug fixes and iCloud support

Edgar Alvarez — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:12:00 EST

It looks as if the Final Cut Pro X update wasn't the only software refresh Cupertino folks had in store for us. In this particular case, it's the company's networking and backup goods -- also known as Airport Express, Extreme and Time Capsule -- that are on the receiving end of the virtual enhancements. The 802.11n stations are getting a fix that solves "an issue with wireless performance," while the capsule is seeing some much needed iCloud support. Additional Apple cloud integration doesn't stop there, as you'll also be able to remotely access your Airport disk. Though, it's worth mentioning that in order to take full advantage you'll have to update your Airport Utility to the latest version (6.0). That means you'll also need Lion, so those of you keepin' your OS X old school with Snow Leopard will be out of luck on using some of the new features. Looking to up your wireless game? Hit up the source link for the full details.

Apple updates Airport stations and Time Capsule, brings bug fixes and iCloud support originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:12:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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AirGo Outdoor Speaker adopts AirPort Express, shrugs off rain

Sean Buckley — Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:32:00 EST

Sure, you could buy an outdoor speaker with native AirPlay support, or you could stuff that spare AirPort Express you have laying around into the AirGo Outdoor Sound Station. This weather resistant speaker forgoes the usual baked in BridgeCo silicone for an integrated AirPort Express dock. Of course, this kind of ad hoc integration isn't cheap -- the AirGo will set you back almost $400, and that's without an Apple AirPort Express. The AirGo's AC cord (that's right, no batteries) ensures that you won't get too far into the great outdoors with this rig, but Russound's CEO is confident that weather won't be a problem. Rain? "Break out the Slip 'N Slide," he says "and continue to rock on." Sounds good to us. Slide on past the break for the official press release.

Continue reading AirGo Outdoor Speaker adopts AirPort Express, shrugs off rain

AirGo Outdoor Speaker adopts AirPort Express, shrugs off rain originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 11 Nov 2011 15:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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IRL: AirPort Express, Jabra Freeway and rooting the Nook Color

Engadget staff — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:08:00 EST

Welcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

Now that we've gotten all the dirty details on the new iPhone, we Engadget editors have a few precious days to kick back, unwind and futz around on our aging gadgets before Google and Samsung team up to announce a certain something something next week. Until then, Darren's traveling from Japan to San Francisco and back -- most likely with his AirPort Express in tow, Joseph is rooting the snot out of his Nook Color and Brad's just trying to keep up on podcasts while driving the kiddies around.

Continue reading IRL: AirPort Express, Jabra Freeway and rooting the Nook Color

IRL: AirPort Express, Jabra Freeway and rooting the Nook Color originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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playGo USB does wireless audio in the style of a kitchen counter top (update)

Daniel Cooper — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:38:00 EST

Audiophiles wanting to wirelessly liberate their music from desktop speakers have a tough choice -- buy a $99 Airport Express, which uses a less-than-ideal 3.5mm line-out jack, or spend big on a Sonos.
Audiophiles wanting to wirelessly liberate their music from desktop speakers can either grab a $99 Airport Express or a $299 Sonos Play:3. Bicom's playGo USB is the new cord cutting kid on the block, ~~and it's aiming for the middle slice of that market~~. For $450 you get a transmission unit which connects via microUSB to your computer and a receiver that connects to your HiFi with RCA or Optical cables. Song streaming couldn't be easier, the two have a range of 75 feet and pair up automatically over the 2.4 GHz band to send 24-bit sound to your beloved home audio kit. To stand out from the crowd, the playGo is hewn from Corian (yes, the stuff used for kitchen counter tops) and has a layer of LEDs to add some color to your musical experience. It's currently on sale for $400, but let's be honest -- you can't put a price on freedom from wires, can you?

Update: The Airport Express' line-out port is a hybrid -- capable of using analog or optical cables.

Update 2: We incorrectly wrote in the original version of this post that the Sonos Play:3 was more expensive than the playGo USB, the Play:3 is $299

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

playGo USB does wireless audio in the style of a kitchen counter top (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 25 Aug 2011 21:38:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ask Engadget: best mini stereo for use with AirPort Express

Darren Murph — Fri, 06 May 2011 22:29:00 EST

We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is coming to us from Gaurav, who can't seem to contain his excitement for cord-free audio. And we can't blame him. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com.

"Pretty simple: I am looking to purchase a small stereo system which can fit on a side table, and can connect to AirPort Express. Something stylish, but more importantly, reliable. Thanks!"

Any of you kitchen thrashers care to spill the beans on your preferred system? If so, comments are welcoming one and all down below.

Ask Engadget: best mini stereo for use with AirPort Express originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 06 May 2011 22:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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ShairPort emulator cracks open the door for more unofficial AirPlay streaming options

Donald Melanson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:34:00 EST

There's already a few unofficial AirPlay applications out there, but looks like developer James Laird has now gotten right to the heart of the matter and enabled a whole host of new streaming possibilities. Here's apparently managed to crack the private key used by Apple in the AirPort Express (literally by ripping one open and dumping the ROM), and he's used that to build an emulator dubbed "ShairPort," which will let you stream music from iTunes to any third-party software -- or hardware, for that matter, if someone decided to go as far as to build a device that takes advantage of the private key. Have something in mind? You can download the emulator at the source link below.

ShairPort emulator cracks open the door for more unofficial AirPlay streaming options originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 12:34:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes 9 breaking AirTunes connections?

Donald Melanson — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:59:00 EST

Apple breaking support for third-party devices in iTunes may not have been all that unexpected, but you'd think it'd have support for its own products lined up before pushing a major update out the door -- especially something that it had already broken with the last major iTunes update. AirTunes users apparently aren't that lucky, however, as reports are now cropping up that iTunes 9 is breaking connections with the home audio streaming service left and right -- although at least a few people seem to be reporting only intermittent problems. No word from Apple itself just yet but, if the last go 'round is any indication, it should have a fix for the problem sooner or later. In the meantime, feel free to relay your tales of AirTunes woe in the comments.

[Thanks, Sami K]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Wireless, Networking

iTunes 9 breaking AirTunes connections? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Keepin' it real fake, part CLXIII: AirPort Express gets expressly aped

Darren Murph — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:14:00 EST

Listen up, KIRF fans. We've got a real unique one on our hands today, as this critter copies not one, but two entities in a single fell swoop. For starters, the company is named CNet Technology -- we'll let you do the math there -- and secondly, this thing looks just about exactly like Apple's own AirPort Express. Sure, there are a few extra LEDs on there to really ugly it up, but only someone in serious denial would ever say this thing didn't get its inspiration from Cupertino. Officially dubbed the CWR-635M, this portable router / WAP simply plugs into one's wall socket and provides a pair of Ethernet jacks and two USB ports locally for even more networking fun. There's no telling if this copycat will ever be released on US soil, but given that made it into the FCC's database, we reckon anything is possible.

Filed under: Wireless, Networking

Keepin' it real fake, part CLXIII: AirPort Express gets expressly aped originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:14:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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iTunes 8 kills AirTunes, iPod touch causing BSOD

Joshua Fruhlinger — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:48:00 EST

We were all excited to stream Genius-generated playlists from iTunes 8 to our Airport Express last night when -- poof -- "-3256 Unknown Error Occurred." This cryptic error, along with another under the equally descriptive name "-15000," has been keeping iTunes 8 upgraders from using their Airtunes on remote speakers. Turns out the issue is one of Firewalls and Firmware. The solutions come from users at Apple's discussion boards. Basically, you need to either turn off your Firewall and / or allow iTunes to accept incoming requests or update your Airport Express to the latest (7.3.2 as of this post) firmware version via AirPort Utility 6.3. Meanwhile, Windows-based iPod touch users are seeing Blue Screens of Death when plugging in their players due to some other undocumented problem. The solution there looks to be a reboot with the touch plugged in to force the system to recognize the device, run a sync, and turn off photo syncing (not the most elegant solution, clearly). Let's hope Apple at least updates this with something more descriptive than "-3256" in the future. Customer service reps at Apple say they're aware of the problems and are working on a fix.

Read - iTunes 8 & Airtunes/Airport Express
Read - blue screen comes up when plugging in ipod

[Thanks to everyone who sent this in]

Filed under: Home Entertainment, Networking

iTunes 8 kills AirTunes, iPod touch causing BSOD originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 10 Sep 2008 09:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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802.11n AirPort Express hands-on

Nilay Patel — Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:53:00 EST

Well, what can we say? The new 802.11n AirPort Express looks exactly like the 802.11g AirPort Express we've been using to stream iTunes and wirelessly print to an el-cheapo USB laser printer since 2004. In fact, if not for the different model numbers (A1264 now, instead of A1084) and the fact that our old unit has some random battle scars, we would have found it almost impossible to tell them apart. Check the gallery for the hot side-by-side action.

Gallery: 802.11n AirPort Express Hands-on

Filed under: Wireless

802.11n AirPort Express hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 18 Mar 2008 11:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple launches 802.11n Airport Express right on cue

Thomas Ricker — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:28:00 EST

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.

Filed under: Wireless

Apple launches 802.11n Airport Express right on cue originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 17 Mar 2008 08:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hawking's Wireless-108G MIMO for Macs

Paul Miller — Wed, 26 Jul 2006 09:30:00 EST

While rumors of a MIMO or otherwise high-speed networking tech to replace Apple's aging Airport Express wireless networking products have been bandied about, actual products still do a bit more to actually boost networking speeds. Hawking Technology's new Hi-Gain Wireless-108G aims to do just that, though from the looks of it they don't offer a compatible 108G wireless card to take full advantage of the speed boost. The router is rather equipped to get the most out of a multi-user 54G network by boosting range up to 3x, stabilising connections and penetrating dead zones. Of course, most MIMO routers claim a similar collection of enhancements, and Hawking's compatible Hi-Gain range-boosting adapters are merely 54G, but it might be just the bump your network needs until those Airport ExpressErer products come along.

Filed under: Wireless

Hawking's Wireless-108G MIMO for Macs originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Jul 2006 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Airfoil Airport Express streaming comes to Windows

Marc Perton — Fri, 12 May 2006 10:19:00 EST

It's been over a year since Rogue Amoeba came out with Airfoil, a program that lets you stream music from your computer to an Apple Airport Express using any application, rather than just iTunes. Unfortunately for Windows users, Airfoil was Mac-only, leaving the Airport Express as an iTunes-only device on Windows boxes. However, that's now changed, as Rogue Amoeba has launched a beta version of Airfoil for Windows, which the company says will work with most Windows media programs, including Windows Media Player and Real Player. Of course, in the past year, Airport Express has had a lot of competition on the Windows streaming front, with devices like the Linksys Wireless-G Music Bridge undercutting it on price, and offering full compatibility with most Windows programs out of the box. But if you're a Windows user with an Airport Express and you've grown frustrated by its limitations, here's your chance to set it free.

Filed under: Home Entertainment

Airfoil Airport Express streaming comes to Windows originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 12 May 2006 10:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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