Apple's new AirPort, Time Capsule add dual-band networking
Apple on Tuesday refreshed its AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule wireless products by adding a new Guest Network feature and support for simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual-band networking. Time Capsule drives are now also accessible over the Internet for MobileMe subscribers.
The new Guest Network feature, available on the new AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule, allows you to set up a secondary network for friends and visitors with Internet-only access so you don't have to hand out your WiFi password.
Meanwhile, the new combined 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz mode allows your AirPort base stations to simultaneously support iPhones and other 802.11b/g devices operating at 2.4 GHz, while also broadcasting 802.11n wide signals in the 5GHz band to maximize throughput for notebooks and devices such as Apple TV.
Previous-generation AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule models can only run in one mode or the other, providing either wide compatibility or the highest possible network performance, but not both.
Also new to Time Capsule -- and oddly omitted from any of Apple's press-releases -- is that MobileMe subscribers using Mac OS X 10.5.x Leopard can now now access all of their files on their Time Capsule drive over the Internet.
You need only to register their Time Capsule with your MobileMe account. The Time Capsule drive will then appear in the Finder sidebar of your Mac just like any other attached drive.
"It's like having your own personal file server wherever you go," Apple says.
The new Time Capsule, which combines an 802.11n router and server-grade hard disk for automatic wireless back-up with Time Machine, and is immediately available in two models: a 500GB model for $299 and a 1TB model for $499.
The rear of Apple's AirPort Extreme.
The rear of Apple's Time Capsule backup appliance.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station is also available immediately for a suggested retail price of $179.
The new Guest Network feature, available on the new AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule, allows you to set up a secondary network for friends and visitors with Internet-only access so you don't have to hand out your WiFi password.
Meanwhile, the new combined 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz mode allows your AirPort base stations to simultaneously support iPhones and other 802.11b/g devices operating at 2.4 GHz, while also broadcasting 802.11n wide signals in the 5GHz band to maximize throughput for notebooks and devices such as Apple TV.
Previous-generation AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule models can only run in one mode or the other, providing either wide compatibility or the highest possible network performance, but not both.
Also new to Time Capsule -- and oddly omitted from any of Apple's press-releases -- is that MobileMe subscribers using Mac OS X 10.5.x Leopard can now now access all of their files on their Time Capsule drive over the Internet.
You need only to register their Time Capsule with your MobileMe account. The Time Capsule drive will then appear in the Finder sidebar of your Mac just like any other attached drive.
"It's like having your own personal file server wherever you go," Apple says.
The new Time Capsule, which combines an 802.11n router and server-grade hard disk for automatic wireless back-up with Time Machine, and is immediately available in two models: a 500GB model for $299 and a 1TB model for $499.
The rear of Apple's AirPort Extreme.
The rear of Apple's Time Capsule backup appliance.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station is also available immediately for a suggested retail price of $179.
Comments
The Guest Network and dual-band networking features are very, very nice, (I'm definitely going to get the new AE) but Apple is really stretching credibility to suggest that a 1TB hard drive is worth $320.
sure wish I could just load Iphoto and Itunes on it and play off all my macs.. come on apple..
Will go get the new extreme and keep my old one to ..
I wonder if the other airport extreme n versions could be updated (even for a fee) to support guest and dual band. I would love to use dual band, all my devices except my wife's and my 3G's are N and I hate running at g just for iPhone's! I just can't justify a $200 upgrade for these features.
I've been running two different Airport Basestations for this reason. The n serves up my laptop; the G, plugged into my n via Ethernet, serves up another g network for the iPhones and guests who come over the house. That way, my laptop always gets maximum bandwidth. The Apple TV and mini are plugged into the Airport via Ethernet, so they never interfere.
I don't need anymore clutter!
No 2TB? Geez, way to disappoint.
Availability. Apple's not magic I doubt they could get the quantity they need and at 300 dollars the 2TB WD drive would mean at the least a $599 Time Capsule
Availability. Apple's not magic I doubt they could get the quantity they need and at 300 dollars the 2TB WD drive would mean at the least a $599 Time Capsule
It should at least have been an upgrade. I have a 1TB Time Capsule and it has only 300MB left, This is spanned through my small business.
Apple on Tuesday refreshed its AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule wireless products by adding a new Guest Network feature and support for simultaneous 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz dual-band networking.
The new Guest Network feature allows you to set up a secondary network for friends and visitors with Internet-only access so you don't have to hand out your WiFi password.
Meanwhile, the new combined 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz mode allows your AirPort base stations to simultaneously support iPhones and other 802.11b/g devices operating at 2.4 GHz, while also broadcasting 802.11n wide signals in the 5GHz band to maximize throughput for notebooks and devices such as Apple TV.
Previous-generation AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule models can only run in one mode or the other, providing either wide compatibility or the highest possible network performance, but not both
The new Time Capsule, which combines an 802.11n router and server-grade hard disk for automatic wireless back-up with Time Machine, and is immediately available in two models: a 500GB model for $299 and a 1TB model for $499.
The rear of Apple's AirPort Extreme.
The rear of Apple's Time Capsule backup appliance.
The AirPort Extreme Base Station is also available immediately for a suggested retail price of $179.
[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]
Any idea if a firmware upgrade will be available for older Time Capsules?
If not, I have a new (sealed box) 1TB model that I will sell for $100 less than current price, to anyone interested
I've been running two different Airport Basestations for this reason. The n serves up my laptop; the G, plugged into my n via Ethernet, serves up another g network for the iPhones and guests who come over the house. That way, my laptop always gets maximum bandwidth. The Apple TV and mini are plugged into the Airport via Ethernet, so they never interfere.
If I get the new base station, would it be possible to use my current one as an extender? I'd like to hook my Blu-Ray up to it to access BD Live content
If I get the new base station, would it be possible to use my current one as an extender? I'd like to hook my Blu-Ray up to it to access BD Live content
Yes, follow the below listed link titled : Using the AirPort Admin Utility to create a WDS network with multiple base stations
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107454
I guess I'll have to wait until "someone" buys one and takes it apart.
It should at least have been an upgrade. I have a 1TB Time Capsule and it has only 300MB left, This is spanned through my small business.
You can always attach external HD to you TC or AE. You can even use a powered USB port to connect an external HDD and a printer.
Yes, follow the below listed link titled : Using the AirPort Admin Utility to create a WDS network with multiple base stations
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=107454
Excellent! But it leads to another question: I want to take advantage of the dual-band features on the new base station. Will my devices know to connect via the new base station and not the old one, or does it not matter? I'm worried that if they somehow go to the older base station, then all my wireless-N devices would be forced to work at wireless-G speeds.
Excellent! But it leads to another question: I want to take advantage of the dual-band features on the new base station. Will my devices know to connect via the new base station and not the old one, or does it not matter? I'm worried that if they somehow go to the older base station, then all my wireless-N devices would be forced to work at wireless-G speeds.
I'm sure that's a common situation that has a solution, in light of the ability to have two protocols available simultaneously. The new Time Capsule manual should address these situations, however, Apple product specialists are always pretty helpful if you call and ask for specific walkthrough, setup and configuration help too.
I so want one of these! But i don't see the point in having an adsl router, which i then have to connect into this in order to use it as a wireless access point! If apple where to add the capabilities into it for it to function as an adsl modem/router combo, i would buy it in a flash!
I don't need anymore clutter!
No one else would buy it. Not everyone has DSL.
The new Guest Network feature allows you to set up a secondary network for friends and visitors with Internet-only access so you don't have to hand out your WiFi password.
THANK YOU APPLE!
I just bought a new LinkSys router because it had QOS. Turns out it's completely unusable, and it locks up all the time (DHCP just stops working). Guest access is worth more to me than QOS, so that's that.
For those of you that have a Time Capsule, can you hear it? I have an Apple TV and it bothers me that I can hear the drive from across the room (yes, very good ears). Does the TC spin down the drive when it's not being used?
Maury
THANK YOU APPLE!
I just bought a new LinkSys router because it had QOS. Turns out it's completely unusable, and it locks up all the time (DHCP just stops working). Guest access is worth more to me than QOS, so that's that.
For those of you that have a Time Capsule, can you hear it? I have an Apple TV and it bothers me that I can hear the drive from across the room (yes, very good ears). Does the TC spin down the drive when it's not being used?
Maury
Time Capsule noise: I don't know-- it's usually located on the other side of the house. Unlike AppleTV which has to be close to the TV, you can put the time capsule in the basement, closet, attic, kitchen cabinets...