AirPort Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids
AirPort
Manufacturer	Apple Inc.
Type	Wireless Base Stations and Cards
Release date	July 21, 1999
Online services	Apple.com - AirPort Extreme

AirPort and AirPort Extreme are names for wireless networking products made by Apple. These products help you connect to the internet and share files without using cables.

When people talk about AirPort or AirPort Extreme, they might be talking about a few different things. It could mean the special rules (called a protocol) that let devices talk to each other wirelessly. It could also mean a small card you put inside a computer, or a device called a "base station" that creates a Wi-Fi network.

In Japan, Apple's AirPort products are called AirMac. This is because another company, I-O DATA, already used the name AirPort for their products there.

What is Apple AirPort?
- AirPort Base Stations
  - AirPort Extreme Base Station
  - AirPort Express Base Station
- AirPort Cards
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What is Apple AirPort?

Apple's AirPort products were designed to make wireless internet easy to use. They allowed computers and other devices to connect to a network without needing lots of wires. This was a big step forward for many people.

The first AirPort products came out in 1999. They helped popularize Wi-Fi technology, making it common in homes and schools. Apple continued to update these products over many years.

AirPort Base Stations

An AirPort Base Station is a device that creates a wireless network. It's like a central hub for your Wi-Fi. Your computer, phone, or tablet connects to the base station, and the base station connects to the internet.

Apple made several types of base stations. These included the original AirPort Base Station, the AirPort Extreme, and the AirPort Express. Each model offered different features and speeds for wireless connections.

AirPort Extreme Base Station

The AirPort Extreme Base Station was a more powerful version. It offered faster Wi-Fi speeds and more features. It was designed for homes and small offices that needed a strong and reliable wireless connection.

These base stations often included extra ports, like USB, to connect printers or hard drives. This allowed everyone on the network to share these devices wirelessly.

AirPort Express Base Station

The AirPort Express was a smaller, more portable base station. It was great for travel or for extending an existing Wi-Fi network. It also had a special feature called AirPlay.

AirPlay allowed users to stream music wirelessly from their Apple devices to speakers connected to the AirPort Express. This made it easy to play music in different rooms without cables.

AirPort Cards

Before Wi-Fi was built into every computer, you often needed a special card to connect wirelessly. Apple made AirPort cards that could be installed in their computers, like the iBook and PowerBook.

These cards allowed Apple computers to join wireless networks created by AirPort Base Stations or other Wi-Fi routers. They were essential for early wireless internet use on laptops.