Shairport mimics AirPort Express based on private Apple key
updated 02:00 pm EDT, Mon April 11, 2011
Expands AirPlay streaming options
A developer, James Laird, has reportedly reverse-engineered the private key used in the AirPort Express. The immediate result is a piece of open-source software called Shairport, which emulates the Express and allows iTunes streaming to normally unsupported third-party software or hardware. Officially the Apple technology is intended for AirPorts and a limited selection of other AirPlay-compatible hardware.
The hack could potentially enable streaming to any platform supporting custom software. This includes not just Mac and Windows computers but game consoles, and even mobile devices such as ones based on Android. One possible software destination is VLC, as the Express key was posted to the VideoLAN developer mailing list in case of interest.
Fresh-Faced Recruit
Joined: Jul 2008
reversed engineered?
Isn't Apple going to have this "protected" by patents? Just because someone can reverse engineer doesn't mean they are going to get away with it?