What is Apple Airport Express?

Imagine a device that is handheld. Now imagine the device to be a wireless base. Imagine a wired network that requires a lot of connection with regular, large routers. Now imagine a small unit that plugs into a wired port and transmits the Gigabit Ethernet signal to up to ten wireless devices. That is the Airport Extreme, the tiny, cheap offering from Apple that boasts not only great portability and value for money, but also something that is not even found in the high end models of the Apple wireless base lines. It offers streaming from a devices’ iTunes library into any supported music system (that is, a music system with a 3.5mm music jack) that can also be remotely controlled by your iPod Touch or iPhone.

The Express has three ports. A Gigabit Ethernet port for Wireless LAN or other connections. A USB port for sharing a printer or other peripherals that can work wirelessly and a sound output jack (3.5mm) that plugs into any system that is capable of supporting it. The wireless connection is a blazing fast dual band 2.4GHz or 5GHz network, but does not support simultaneous dual band, that is, all devices should be of the same frequency match-up either 2.4GHz or 5GHz. It also supports additional Airport Express devices for network bridging in a large, well spaced area. It is easy to set up with the bundled Airport Express Assistant Software that locates, manages and secures the connection for any computer that wishes to connect with the Express device.

How to Use Airport Express at Home for Wireless Printing , Airtunes – Stream Wirelessly to your Speakers and Players & Connect upto 10 Users through the Wireless Port. Here is a Demo

Arguably the best feature is the music streaming that can wirelessly stream music from your desktop to the living room, dining room or even the bathroom! The only system requirements for that are a 3.5mm input jack, an iTunes software freely downloadable from Apple. Connection and configuration is very simple, and with multiple Express devices, the user may control where the music needs to stream. With the iPhone and the iPod Touch becoming remotes for this music engine, it is nothing but the advancement of technology that amazes us.

However, security is a concern as the device has no hardware configurations to control the broadcasting. However with additional software and a good, hard to crack password with encryption, the signal can be blocked out for all hackers and crackers around to tinker with. Thus the Apple Airport Express is a convenient way of mobilizing a wired internet.