iOS 12 beta 2 confirms AirPort Express to support AirPlay 2
Apple’s latest iOS 12 beta release has a surprise hidden gem for owners of the AirPort Express. Following the edition of AirPort Express showing as a HomeKit accessory within an early iOS 11 beta, and then the quick removal of the feature by Apple, iOS 12 beta 2 has again re-added AirPort Express as a Home and AirPlay 2 accessory.
As discovered by myself, within the latest beta release the Home app now explicitly says that AirPort Express requires a software update to work with HomeKit and AirPlay, seemingly an acknowledgement by Apple that a future update will bring the features required to link the AirPort Express with HomeKit and AirPlay devices.
Although iOS 12 beta 1 mentioned AirPort Express in the Home app, the update didn’t reveal much about how the device would link with the software, however; the specific mentioning of HomeKit and AirPlay within iOS 12 beta 2 leaves nothing to the imagination.
Apple officially ended development of its AirPort line of products in April, announcing that the AirPort Express, the AirPort Extreme, and the AirPort Time Capsule, will remain available through Apple.com, Apple’s retail stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers while remaining supplies last.
It is possible HomeKit and AirPlay support could again disappear in a future beta software update, however; the inclusion of the specific mentioning of the feature within the Home app today does suggest Apple is still updating a fully discontinued “obsolete” product to support a new feature, which is quite exciting!