Future abilities of the AirPort Express and Apple TV

[llamame]

I currently have an AirPort Express and am wondering if you think future versions (or current ones with future software updates) will ever be able to do the following:

• Allow multiple printers via a USB hub.
• Allow the use of any USB device (such as a scanner).
• If the APE connections to an already-existing wireless network, use its ethernet port to give internet access to a computer that does not have a wireless card.
• Use an external hard drive wirelessly via AirDisk.

And I am also wondering about the Apple TV. Do you think that it will ever be able to:

• Stream video to your Mac from the television it is connected to (or even do so via cables).
• Record video from the connected television to its hard drive, which can later be transferred to your Mac.

Let me know your thoughts and ask questions or post predictions for other products as well. Thanks!

[baseballboy828]

I'm not sure what the fate of the Airport Express is. It has to be updated at some point to add 802.11n compatibility. Regarding using the ethernet port as a lan port, I'm not sure if this is possible. I'd assume LAN vs. WAN ethernet is set via firmware but it might be a hardware thing. The AppleTV will have to have DVR and video rental to become popular. I don't think the streaming TV from it to a mac really makes sense for the product, but who knows.

[philbowell]

I agree with BBB on the fate of the AirPort Express. I would expect it to get a revision to be 802.11n compatible and continue to have AirTunes as a function, but I half expect it to lose the USB function completely. If it's hooked up to a stereo, and that seems to be it's primary purpose, I can imagine Apple thinking it doesn't need the printer option. I think, now the Extreme has AirDisk capabilities as well as Printer abilities Apple would imagine it to be the centre of everything (ie. located in the home office with printer, hdd's etc).