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Hidden new iTunes feature: multiple speaker streaming

A commenter known only as "David" on my post about the new MiniStore in iTunes noticed a great new feature that I'm surprised wasn't somehow worked into yesterday's keynote: multiple speaker streaming. iTunes can now stream music to multiple AirPort Expresses, and even keep playing the music on the originating computer.

Users have been clamoring for this ability since the day the AirPort Express hit store shelves, it finally shows up in a .0.2 iTunes update - and not a single peep about it? I guess not every new feature, option and button can claim a coveted keynote mention, but it's good to see you TUAW readers are on your toes when we're neck-deep in news ourselves.

 

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Helsing

I'm experiencing the same problem as #14 & #15. Does someone know if it's possible to monitor the iTunes volume control while using the "Multiple Speaker" feature?

February 01 2006 at 4:00 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John

Quicktime will not read my DVD! How do you get it to your iTunes Library?

January 19 2006 at 11:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dalton

Oh yeah, and the firmware update last week seems to have done wonders for me. Very little to no skipping on the Express. Thank goodness, I was getting ready to throw the thing out the window.

January 11 2006 at 4:33 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Gizzard

This is absolutely BRILLIANT! I have been waiting for this for such a long time and it rocks. Seems to be perfectly synched between my 3 AE units and my Mac. A total house of music. I am the happiest person ever.

January 11 2006 at 3:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Dalton

The multiple speakers function works perfectly for me, and sounds great coming from the computer and my stereo. It's like super-duper surround sound!

Can't adjust the volume of the remote speaker, though. Not a big deal, as my stereo has a remote control.

January 11 2006 at 2:43 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
John Laur

Is the audio synced? Is it phase-synced? This is the biggest benefit on the sonos zoneplayer and would be a shame if the airports did not output perfectly in-sync audio.

I agree about the volume control. You really ought to be able to adjust the volumes on each output individually and globally relative to the individual volumes...

January 11 2006 at 2:26 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Sal

Can anyone explain exactly how i can now stream music to my stereo while contemporaneously listening to music on my laptop? I only have one base station, so the multiple stream function is useless to me unless I can also listen on my laptop.

--sib

January 11 2006 at 1:20 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Stephen Jonke

I don't have an Airport Express, but can see in the preferences that there is an option to ignore the iPod volume for Airport Express "speakers". Presumably you just need to uncheck that setting in order to have the iTunes volume affect the remote speakers

January 11 2006 at 12:01 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
n8thegr8

I've had nothing but problems with 6.0.2...it hangs my powermac dual 2.3 everytime i try to transfer content to my ipod :(

January 11 2006 at 11:43 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rick Montero

This is Keynote material!! The only thing I don't like is that I can adjust the volume while its set to multiple spkrs.

January 11 2006 at 11:36 AM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
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