"However, Apple may not consider it enough of an issue to address it with time and labor costs." Really? A multi-trillion dollar company can't afford this? You know...to keep their customer base happy? Seriously, how much "time and labor costs" are we talking about?
The real issue isn't the cost of time and labor costs to fix this one particular issue, but the can of worms it opens up on every other product/sw that is beyond the last date of support that is found to have a bug/defect/vulnerability. If Apple fixes this one, but not a different one later, how many class-action lawsuits get spun up against them using this as reference or precedent?
....although...after I think about this more and more...equally possible is someone bringing legal action against Apple for *not* maintaining these devices, as they have actual knowledge of them being defective now. Conceptually this was the basis for the "right to repair" statutes that have gained some traction, and have made some manufacturers rethink their design and maintenance strategies.
I still sorta wonder if Apple could have it both ways by simply turning over the software to a third party for any future updating.
"However, Apple may not consider it enough of an issue to address it with time and labor costs." Really? A multi-trillion dollar company can't afford this? You know...to keep their customer base happy? Seriously, how much "time and labor costs" are we talking about?
The real issue isn't the cost of time and labor costs to fix this one particular issue, but the can of worms it opens up on every other product/sw that is beyond the last date of support that is found to have a bug/defect/vulnerability. If Apple fixes this one, but not a different one later, how many class-action lawsuits get spun up against them using this as reference or precedent?
....although...after I think about this more and more...equally possible is someone bringing legal action against Apple for *not* maintaining these devices, as they have actual knowledge of them being defective now. Conceptually this was the basis for the "right to repair" statutes that have gained some traction, and have made some manufacturers rethink their design and maintenance strategies.
I still sorta wonder if Apple could have it both ways by simply turning over the software to a third party for any future updating.
Vendors are generally not legally required to update obsolete products. While there are some specific regulations and laws regarding product lifespan and repairability, I don't know of any blanket legal obligation for vendors to update every obsolete product. I think the UK requires 7 years of support. With the last 3 AirPort models being discontinued in April 2018, which is now just over 7 years ago I don't think there's a legal obligation that would hold up in court anywhere.
How far do these petitioners want Apple to take this? Would the original AirPort that came out 26 years ago need to be included?
"However, Apple may not consider it enough of an issue to address it with time and labor costs." Really? A multi-trillion dollar company can't afford this? You know...to keep their customer base happy? Seriously, how much "time and labor costs" are we talking about?
The real issue isn't the cost of time and labor costs to fix this one particular issue, but the can of worms it opens up on every other product/sw that is beyond the last date of support that is found to have a bug/defect/vulnerability. If Apple fixes this one, but not a different one later, how many class-action lawsuits get spun up against them using this as reference or precedent?
....although...after I think about this more and more...equally possible is someone bringing legal action against Apple for *not* maintaining these devices, as they have actual knowledge of them being defective now. Conceptually this was the basis for the "right to repair" statutes that have gained some traction, and have made some manufacturers rethink their design and maintenance strategies.
I still sorta wonder if Apple could have it both ways by simply turning over the software to a third party for any future updating.
Vendors are generally not legally required to update obsolete products. While there are some specific regulations and laws regarding product lifespan and repairability, I don't know of any blanket legal obligation for vendors to update every obsolete product. I think the UK requires 7 years of support. With the last 3 AirPort models being discontinued in April 2018, which is now just over 7 years ago I don't think there's a legal obligation that would hold up in court anywhere.
How far do these petitioners want Apple to take this? Would the original AirPort that came out 26 years ago need to be included?
That's fair, and I don't have specific knowledge of the specifics either. I do think there might be some disagreement about what an "obsolete product" is.
I know of only one specific US Federal statute regarding protections for very old aviation products: GARA - the General Aviation Revitalization Act. It was a specific statue of repose for very old aircraft. No idea where that area of the law now stands, but my guess is commercial aircraft made many decades ago are still subject to various licensing requirements. That is of course not broadly applicable to computers, but aircraft are now *full* of computers. Would the US FCC have something to say about these Airports? They are after all, nothing but radios.
Betcha Apple has a legal staff that is well versed on the issue. Be interesting to chat with them over beers.
Just sold 10 of them. Switched to Unifi. Just as expensive as Apple stuff, and they have a great array of products to complement, and just as easy to set up. Plus side is the speed is much better, as is security, especially with today's Internet speeds which Apple can't match.
Unfortunately unifi support can’t match Apple. I too switched to unifi equipment, but their support is basically nonexistent.
I've got a couple of Apple routers. One seems to have taken a break but the other is still in service, at my peril. AirPort Utility is up to date but the last update was long ago.
It would be nice if Apple started providing software and firmware updates again but we know that won't happen. A petition is a fun idea but it won't get traction. By that I mean Apple won't provide updates. I wish they'd get back into the router business but I doubt that will happen.
It doesn't matter what anyone but Apple defines as obsolete beyond what Apple currently uses as its standard. Routers have been out of production since early 2018. Nobody in their right mind expects Apple to support them. Apple did have "lifetime support" for Macs eons back but that's long gone.
So use obsolete WiFi hardware, software, and firmware at your peril. I do. Or get new gear that is up to date and will be supported for a few years down the road. I think about that often.
Apple (phone) Support on the first tier isn't always helpful but it is provided when other companies have long since dropped it. That's assuming they every had phone support. So many companies don't give good phone or don't do phone at all. I had a problem with my iPhone that First Tier couldn't help me with so it got bumped up to a Senior Advisor. I think that's the title. This guy was super sharp and very pleasant. The problem got sorted fairly quickly.
I have NO hope of Apple supporting old routers. I'd rather they get back into the router business. That would make me happy.
Comments
I still sorta wonder if Apple could have it both ways by simply turning over the software to a third party for any future updating.
How far do these petitioners want Apple to take this? Would the original AirPort that came out 26 years ago need to be included?
I know of only one specific US Federal statute regarding protections for very old aviation products: GARA - the General Aviation Revitalization Act. It was a specific statue of repose for very old aircraft. No idea where that area of the law now stands, but my guess is commercial aircraft made many decades ago are still subject to various licensing requirements. That is of course not broadly applicable to computers, but aircraft are now *full* of computers. Would the US FCC have something to say about these Airports? They are after all, nothing but radios.
Betcha Apple has a legal staff that is well versed on the issue. Be interesting to chat with them over beers.
It would be nice if Apple started providing software and firmware updates again but we know that won't happen. A petition is a fun idea but it won't get traction. By that I mean Apple won't provide updates. I wish they'd get back into the router business but I doubt that will happen.
It doesn't matter what anyone but Apple defines as obsolete beyond what Apple currently uses as its standard. Routers have been out of production since early 2018. Nobody in their right mind expects Apple to support them. Apple did have "lifetime support" for Macs eons back but that's long gone.
So use obsolete WiFi hardware, software, and firmware at your peril. I do. Or get new gear that is up to date and will be supported for a few years down the road. I think about that often.
Apple (phone) Support on the first tier isn't always helpful but it is provided when other companies have long since dropped it. That's assuming they every had phone support. So many companies don't give good phone or don't do phone at all. I had a problem with my iPhone that First Tier couldn't help me with so it got bumped up to a Senior Advisor. I think that's the title. This guy was super sharp and very pleasant. The problem got sorted fairly quickly.
I have NO hope of Apple supporting old routers. I'd rather they get back into the router business. That would make me happy.