Apple's latest AirPort networking product also streams iTunes music to your home stereo, but it lacks the computer-free control found in competing network media products. The AirPort Express is the latest member of Apple's family of wireless networking products. In addition to working as either a wireless router or a wireless bridge for your existing 802.11b/g network, the AU$219 device — which is little more than a slightly bulbous AC adapter — can also interface with a home stereo, so you can pump your iTunes music to the other side of the house. It even does triple duty as a wireless print server for USB printers.
Upside: If your hard disk is brimming with gigabytes' worth of home-ripped MP3s and songs downloaded from Apple's iTunes Music Store, the AirPort Express is a great way to hear those songs through the superior speakers of your home stereo. The fact that the audio output can handle analog or digital optical connections is a nice touch. And the AirPort Express is surprisingly Windows friendly, but we suspect controlling it from a Mac will be a bit easier.
Editor's note: Apple has made no announcements regarding Australian availability of the iTunes Music Store at this stage, although iTunes for Mac and Windows is available from Apple Australia's Web Site.
Downside: If you're looking to solve some wireless networking shortfalls in your home network, we concede that the AirPort Express offers some compelling advantages. But as an audio device, it leaves us wanting more. With no control interface, you're left running everything from the iTunes application on your Mac or PC -- long playlists notwithstanding, that's no fun if your computer is several rooms away. Meanwhile, owners of Apple's iPod (standard or Mini) can invest in a dock that has a similar line-out stereo hookup -- for AU$144 less than the AirPort Express.
Outlook: From a networking standpoint, the AirPort Express is an intriguing jack-of-all-trades, but its audio capabilities seem limited at best. We'd like to see Apple take things to the next level -- adding a wireless remote similar to Creative's cool Sound Blaster Wireless Music or releasing an iPod-style networked media console. Until then, the AirPort Express will remain well below the threshold of the "insanely great" success enjoyed by iPod and iTunes.
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