Sachin Walls
In April 2018, Apple announced it was discontinuing its AirPort line, which included the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule. Apple had not updated the hardware for these products since 2014. Apple continued to support the AirPort Express and sold the product until supplies ran out. The AirPort Express was first introduced in 2004 and included a built-in audio jack that could connect speakers and stream music wirelessly.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of discontinuation | 2018 |
| Availability | Available while supplies last |
| Support | Apple will continue to support the product |
| Hardware updates | None since 2014 |
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What You'll Learn
Apple discontinued the AirPort Express in 2018
In April 2018, Apple announced it was discontinuing its AirPort line, exiting the consumer router market. The AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule would continue to be sold by Apple and authorized resellers while supplies last, but the company would no longer be producing these Wi-Fi routers.
The AirPort Express, first introduced in 2004, included a built-in audio jack that could connect speakers and stream music wirelessly. Over the years, Apple released updated versions of the AirPort Express, such as the one released in March 2008, which supported the faster 802.11 Draft-N draft specification and operation in either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands.
The decision to discontinue the AirPort line was likely influenced by the advent of mesh networking, which allows better and more robust coverage for larger and more irregular areas. Instead of releasing an AirPort Mesh, Apple chose to offer the Linksys Velop at its retail stores. This indicated that Apple no longer saw Wi-Fi routers as a core part of its business and recognized the presence of multiple highly-motivated vendors in the market.
While some customers may have been disappointed by the discontinuation of the AirPort Express, it is important to remember that companies like Apple must make tough choices about which products to commit to and which to cancel. With the rapid advancements in technology, it is not surprising that Apple decided to focus its efforts on other areas, leaving the router business at least for the time being.
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AirPort Express can still be purchased while supplies last
In April 2018, Apple announced it was discontinuing its AirPort line, including AirPort Express, exiting the consumer router market. Apple and authorised resellers will continue to sell AirPort Express while supplies last.
AirPort Express was introduced in 2004 and included a built-in audio jack that could connect speakers and stream music wirelessly across your house or business. The first version (M9470LL/A, model A1084) included an analogue-optical audio mini-jack output, a USB port for remote printing, and one Ethernet port. The USB port could also be used to charge the first-generation iPod Shuffle, although this was not supported by Apple. An updated version (MB321LL/A, model A1264) was introduced in March 2008, supporting the faster 802.11 Draft-N draft specification. Up to 10 wireless units can connect to this AirPort Express.
OS X Mountain Lion introduced AirPlay support, which allows output of the audio of protected video content within iTunes and also correctly maintains the audio sync with the image displayed on-screen. For Windows and Mac operating systems (before OS X Mountain Lion), there are a few software options available for streaming system-wide audio to the AirPort Express, such as Airfoil and TuneBlade.
Although Apple is no longer producing AirPort Express, it can still be purchased from Apple or authorised resellers while supplies last.
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AirPort Express can be used in 2022
Apple's AirPort Express, a Wi-Fi router, was first introduced in 2004. It featured an audio jack that allowed users to connect speakers and wirelessly stream music. In 2008, an updated version was released, supporting faster speeds and dual-band operation. However, in 2018, Apple announced the discontinuation of its AirPort line, including the AirPort Express.
Despite this, the AirPort Express can still be used in 2022. While Apple is no longer producing or selling the AirPort Express, they have committed to providing firmware updates and support for a period of time after the discontinuation. Additionally, users who already own an AirPort Express can continue to use it with their existing devices.
To use an AirPort Express in 2022, some configuration may be required. It is recommended to reset the base station to factory/default settings and recreate the network. An older version of the "AirPort Utility" software may also be needed to support older versions of the device. With the correct setup, all capabilities should still function in 2022, including audio streaming and network extension.
While Apple has exited the consumer router market, there are alternative options available that offer similar or improved features. These include routers from Asus, D-Link, and Netgear, which provide faster speeds, greater coverage, and additional features such as network storage and Time Machine support.
In conclusion, while Apple's AirPort Express has been discontinued, it can still be used and configured in 2022. However, with the availability of newer and more advanced routers, users may find that upgrading to a modern alternative provides a better experience and takes advantage of the latest advancements in Wi-Fi technology.
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AirPort Express was introduced in 2004
Apple's AirPort Express was introduced in 2004. The first version (M9470LL/A, model A1084) included an analog-optical audio mini-jack output, a USB port for remote printing, and one Ethernet port. The USB port could also be used to charge the first-generation iPod Shuffle, although Apple did not support this. The audio connector combines a 3.5 mm mini-jack socket and a mini-TOSLINK optical digital transmitter, allowing connection to an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) or amplifier with an internal DAC.
The main processor of the 802.11g AirPort Express was a Broadcom BCM4712KFB wireless networking chipset, which incorporated a 200 MHz MIPS processor. An updated version (MB321LL/A, model A1264) supporting the faster 802.11 Draft-N draft specification was introduced by Apple in March 2008. This revised unit includes an 802.11a/n (5 GHz) mode, allowing the addition of Draft-N to an existing 802.11b/g network without disrupting existing connections while preserving increased throughput.
In April 2018, Apple announced it was discontinuing its AirPort line, including AirPort Express, exiting the consumer router market. Apple and authorised resellers continued to sell AirPort Express while supplies lasted. However, the AirPort Express is no longer supported by Apple, and the company has not released any new hardware since at least 2014. Despite this, some users have reported that they were able to configure their old AirPort Express to join their existing network using WiFi as recently as 2022.
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AirPort Express can be used with other speakers
In 2018, Apple announced the discontinuation of its AirPort line, including AirPort Express, exiting the consumer router market. However, AirPort Express can still be purchased and used with other speakers to stream music wirelessly.
AirPort Express, first introduced in 2004, included a built-in audio jack that could connect to speakers. With the AirPlay feature, introduced with OS X Mountain Lion, users could output audio directly to AirPort Express, streaming music across their house or business.
To use AirPort Express with other speakers, you can follow these general steps:
- Reset the AirPort Express to factory settings.
- Connect the AirPort Express to your existing Wi-Fi network.
- Connect your speaker's audio cable to the AirPort Express audio jack (3.5 mm minijack socket or mini-TOSLINK optical digital transmitter).
- Launch the Home app on iOS and add your AirPort Express as a new HomeKit accessory.
- Send music to your AirPort Express-powered speaker using the Apple Music app, Control Center, or other apps.
It is important to note that while AirPort Express can enhance your speaker system, its primary purpose is to provide Wi-Fi network capabilities, and newer devices and networks may support faster standards. Therefore, it is recommended to use AirPort Express solely for adding AirPlay 2 capabilities to your speaker system and turning off its Wi-Fi router capabilities.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Apple discontinued the AirPort Express in 2018.
Yes, you can still buy an AirPort Express while supplies last.
Yes, you can still use an old AirPort Express. You may need to reset it to factory settings and then reconfigure it to join your existing network.
