Just bought an Apple TV - how to play to my various remote speakers?

Question

I must be missing something. This thing does everything but I see no way to get it to play to my remote speakers I have throughout the house (I have 4 base stations w/speakers in every room). This seems like a no brainer from a design perspective given radio/podcasts/audio is part and parcel with this thing.
I thought perhaps that since it's pulling audio from iTunes that I could just turn on Airplay there, but when it's pulling audio from iTunes, iTunes does not really appear to be playing, thus, turning on speakers does nothing.
Highly disappointing.

Answer 1

Mike, the method you want to use was available in the first version, which I have owned since release, and used them for exactly what you describe - using one or the other of the ATV's to push audio to other ATV's and remote speakers.
I have bought the new ATV and am still doing the same thing, with the one new condition of using iTunes to be the main "player" of the content and using it to choose which devices; two old ATV's connected to speakers and one Express connected to speakers. In addition I carry around my iPod Touch as a remote to control song selection, which speakers are on and even their volume. It isn't really a big deal to me to have iTunes up and running to have my whole house music system working. It really wasn't much of a transition to be honest with you. Yeah, it was nice to have the music on the ATV's and use them to control it, but really what is the big deal of having iTunes going? I have adjusted just fine.
The problem with the original method was users couldn't grasp the simple concept of synching and streaming content to the original ATV's. There were so many complaints about it, although it was terribly simple, that I guess Apple gave up on it. All the home experts out there who butchered their networks blamed the ATV for their woes and ruined the synching/streaming concept.
I love the new box as much as the old ones. Give it a chance and you will too. It really is an awesome and affordable way to have whole house music on multiple levels using multiple devices. We continue to love it.
Brian.