Apple's AirPort Utility points to next-gen Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme
A routine update to Apple's Airport Utility application contains references to new 4th generation Time Capsule and 5th generation AirPort Extreme devices, according to a new report.
After Apple released the AirPort Utility 5.5.3 update for Windows and Mac on Monday, device listings were uncovered in the update's binary, MacRumors reports. Apple's documentation for the 10MB downloads lists only that it "resolves an issue that caused the AirPort Utitlity to unexpectedly quit during setup."
Of particular interest are listings for "K31 K30B Time Capsule (Simultaneous Dual-Band, Gen3)" and "K10B Apple AirPort Extreme (Simultaneous Dual-Band, Gen3)." Elsewhere in the code for the utility, the rumored devices are reportedly listed as "Time Capsule 802.11n (4th Generation)" and "AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation)."
Apple's current simultaneous dual-band AirPort products, which were last updated in October 2009, are described as "Gen2."
Recent reports have suggested that available stock of Apple's AirPort and Time Capsule wireless base stations has dwindled ahead of a product update. The latest rumors claim Apple may shift the base stations to run iOS.
iOS-based AirPort base stations could allow for more robust features, such as print and media streaming services, integration with iCloud, and cached wireless software updates. Code references in AirPort Utility seem to support the likelihood of software update caching, according to people familiar with the matter.
Also, indications that Apple is working on wireless drivers for non-Intel CPUs may point to the possibility that Apple plans to enable iOS devices to setup and configure new AirPort or Time Capsule devices without the help of a Mac or Windows PC. Such a move could align with Apple's Post PC strategy, as the company recently revealed that the forthcoming iOS 5 has been designed to be "PC Free" by way of wireless activation, syncing and backup.
After Apple released the AirPort Utility 5.5.3 update for Windows and Mac on Monday, device listings were uncovered in the update's binary, MacRumors reports. Apple's documentation for the 10MB downloads lists only that it "resolves an issue that caused the AirPort Utitlity to unexpectedly quit during setup."
Of particular interest are listings for "K31 K30B Time Capsule (Simultaneous Dual-Band, Gen3)" and "K10B Apple AirPort Extreme (Simultaneous Dual-Band, Gen3)." Elsewhere in the code for the utility, the rumored devices are reportedly listed as "Time Capsule 802.11n (4th Generation)" and "AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th Generation)."
Apple's current simultaneous dual-band AirPort products, which were last updated in October 2009, are described as "Gen2."
Recent reports have suggested that available stock of Apple's AirPort and Time Capsule wireless base stations has dwindled ahead of a product update. The latest rumors claim Apple may shift the base stations to run iOS.
iOS-based AirPort base stations could allow for more robust features, such as print and media streaming services, integration with iCloud, and cached wireless software updates. Code references in AirPort Utility seem to support the likelihood of software update caching, according to people familiar with the matter.
Also, indications that Apple is working on wireless drivers for non-Intel CPUs may point to the possibility that Apple plans to enable iOS devices to setup and configure new AirPort or Time Capsule devices without the help of a Mac or Windows PC. Such a move could align with Apple's Post PC strategy, as the company recently revealed that the forthcoming iOS 5 has been designed to be "PC Free" by way of wireless activation, syncing and backup.
Comments
Most likely it's a typo, transcription error, something heavily tied to the sketchiness of reporting tech rumors.
Heck, I'd say that 98% of all articles posted to Apple rumor sites are wrong. Why would anyone expect this one to be any different?
Probably no generation skip.
Most likely it's a typo, transcription error, something heavily tied to the sketchiness of reporting tech rumors.
Heck, I'd say that 98% of all articles posted to Apple rumor sites are wrong. Why would anyone expect this one to be any different?
Given that I have seen shots of AirPort Utility embedded into iOS5, this seems entirely accurate. Post PC indeed.
I wouldn't have thought it would add much to the cost of manufacture and they are way overpriced already, so it would add value.
It just seems very un-Apple like, to have to rely on a load of different boxes plugged into each other.
I'm not sure how common ADSL is in America... maybe that's the problem.
A built in ADSL modem would be nice... So you could use it as a cable 'or' ADSL router.
I wouldn't have thought it would add much to the cost of manufacture and they are way overpriced already, so it would add value.
It just seems very un-Apple like, to have to rely on a load of different boxes plugged into each other.
I'm not sure how common ADSL is in America... maybe that's the problem.
You do know how many version of xDSL there are? ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+, VDSL ...
And we are aiming for fibre! So ... no ... not on this planet!
You do know how many version of xDSL there are? ADSL, ADSL2, ADSL2+, VDSL ...
And we are aiming for fibre! So ... no ... not on this planet!
ADSL2+ is backwards compatible and Fibre would just use the ethernet connection surely?
Fibre is years away for most of the UK.
My point is... why not make a device that everyone can use (as a standalone device for most of them), instead of just limiting it to cable users?
It seems wasteful plugging a wireless adsl modem router into a wireless Apple router, when all you really want is one wireless device, that combines the functionality of the two.
The only visual difference to the Time Capsule/AirPort Extreme would be a tiny little RJ11 port, that all the cable users could ignore.
I thought Apple products were supposed to 'Just Work'... but as it stands, this situation is as confusing as Hell, to the average home user.
ADSL2+ is backwards compatible and Fibre would just use the ethernet connection surely?
Fibre is years away for most of the UK.
My point is... why not make a device that everyone can use (as a standalone device for most of them), instead of just limiting it to cable users?
It seems wasteful plugging a wireless adsl modem router into a wireless Apple router, when all you really want is one wireless device, that combines the functionality of the two.
The only visual difference to the Time Capsule/AirPort Extreme would be a tiny little RJ11 port, that all the cable users could ignore.
I thought Apple products were supposed to 'Just Work'... but as it stands, this situation is as confusing as Hell, to the average home user.
If DSL would be the thing I can agree. But there is one more thing with the xDSL-modems. And it's not technical at all. In many market's it is part of a "rental"-contract, i e the xDSL hardware comes with the subscription to the service. The subscriber does not own it but rather rent it. And it is not only a business case thing but also a network management thing. Different service providers would want different management set ups. And they will depend on other internals of a typical xDSL-modem, rather than the xDSL protocol as such.
It has never been the business case of Apple to make their AirPorts part of that set up. It may be tiny as you say to add xDSL but knowing that Apple rather strips things out of hardware I would say this is not likely.
On top pf that comes other lower layers such as Cable (CATV based broadband), VDSL now rolling out in many places, fiber with BPON & EPON (CommonAsia) and GPON (France, Verizon and many others) as well as point to point fibre (Sweden, Netherlands, UK, Switzerland and many others). Apple better stick to a Ethernet WAN port and let others mess with lower levels of communication.
Also - who would want their AirPort Extreme wasted if you change subscription or there is a lightning strike? Not me at least.
If DSL would be the thing I can agree. But there is one more thing with the xDSL-modems. And it's not technical at all. In many market's it is part of a "rental"-contract, i e the xDSL hardware comes with the subscription to the service. The subscriber does not own it but rather rent it. And it is not only a business case thing but also a network management thing. Different service providers would want different management set ups. And they will depend on other internals of a typical xDSL-modem, rather than the xDSL protocol as such.
In a lot of markets the subscriber owns the DSL modem, it would be a waste of money to rent one, they are dirt cheap. And who cares about what the service provider wants on their setup, that's why you set them up when you get them. It makes sense for Apple to release a unit with built in dsl modem.
A built in ADSL modem would be nice... So you could use it as a cable 'or' ADSL router.
I wouldn't have thought it would add much to the cost of manufacture and they are way overpriced already, so it would add value.
It just seems very un-Apple like, to have to rely on a load of different boxes plugged into each other.
I'm not sure how common ADSL is in America... maybe that's the problem.
Am I reading your post correctly...you can already use TC as a cable modem?
Am I reading your post correctly...you can already use TC as a cable modem?
He did seem to say that, but the TC is *not* a cable modem. There are too many different ways people connect to the internet. That's why the Apple products just stick to ethernet for the physical connection. Adding extra hardware in there would only benefit a few, but cost everyone.
Anybody know how to enable Time Machine to backup wirelessly to an external hard drive connected to an Airport Extreme? I do not want to use a Time Capsule since they fail so often and are not upgradeable.
Apple has not enabled recognition of a USB-connected external hard drive to an Airport Extreme or Express for Time Machine backups
Anybody know how to enable Time Machine to backup wirelessly to an external hard drive connected to an Airport Extreme? I do not want to use a Time Capsule since they fail so often and are not upgradeable.
Airport Extreme does not support Time Machine. As for Time Capsule, I guess some fail and some don't. But why do you say it's not upgradeable? Apple has updated the software several times, and you can easily swap the hard drive.
I won't be satisfied until there are more-than-one RAIDed drives for redundancy. It doesn't have to be hot swappable, have dual power supplies, or other enterprise-level requirements, just multiple drives so that no single drive can cause the failure of all data.
As a backup device, the Time Capsule drive can fail and you haven't lost any data because it's still on your Mac. You replace the TC drive, and off you go.