The complaints are aimed at AirPort Utility and not the firmware per se. You can update the firmware only and update to AirPort Utility 5.6 instead of AirPort Utility 6.
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Apple Releases Redesigned iOS-Like Airport Utility 6.0 and an Airport Base Station Bug-Fix
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The complaints are aimed at AirPort Utility and not the firmware per se. You can update the firmware only and update to AirPort Utility 5.6 instead of AirPort Utility 6.
Until they discontinue the 5.x line and 6.x is 10.8 only and Xcode 5.x only runs on 10.8 and I need Xcode 5.x to submit applications to the app store so I can make money. Eventually I'm forced into their new way of thinking regardless. Should I really be expected to keep a machine or even an OS partition around just for configuration utilities in the future?
My point is that they're slowly but surely pressuring people into situations that some of us do not want to be in. I have never felt the way Apple makes me feel right now. It's like they've become all-out hostile to power users and options.
I still use MobileMe (yes, I haven't switched). What happens when that goes away and I'm still on 10.6.8 because I can't stand Mission Control? Well, I lose all that functionality because Apple has refused to release 10.6.9 in an effort to force people onto 10.7.
This is what pisses me off. This lame ass iOS-ification that is spreading around like a goddam cancer. If I'm still using Mac stuff in 5 years when my kid is old enough to comprehend some of this stuff, I can't wait until he asks me "Daddy, were computers ever free? Did you ever use them to do whatever you wanted whenever you wanted?".
-SC
Version 5.6 is here, for those who need it.
If you do update to 5.6, does it still spam you to update to 6.0 every time you launch the app?
Most of us are not 'apple haters'. We are mostly loyal apple supporters who get bitterly disappointed when the company produce products and software that are half baked and missing functionality.
Being critical of a something does not mean you hate it. It means you are disappointed that it is not achieving what it is capable of (and I don't mean generating money).
As has been mentioned above, the Aiport Utility 5.6 was also released today. And it has EXACTLY the same functions as before.
So it seems like there are two utilities, the one that is more like iOS and the 5.6 version. Just use the 5.6 version and you should be fine, if you haven't had any problems so far.
So it seems like there are two utilities, the one that is more like iOS and the 5.6 version. Just use the 5.6 version and you should be fine, if you haven't had any problems so far.
Kind of funny that in reality Apple came out with an update to the original Airport Utility and simultaneously released a dumbed down iOS like version, and everyone is going nuts. I think the fault may lie with the original news item, which didn't mention 5.6 being available. The news should be:
NEW AIRPORT UTILITY AVAILABLE!!!!*
*plus a new lame lite version too.
NEW AIRPORT UTILITY AVAILABLE!!!!*
*plus a new lame lite version too.
Is it exactly like the iOS version, with no available options for managing the profiles of the base stations?With iOS version, I can't seem to do this properly.
I use mine both as a travel unit and a network extender when at home.
Managing the profiles is not good at all as it does not give me options when I switch profiles.
I use mine both as a travel unit and a network extender when at home.
Managing the profiles is not good at all as it does not give me options when I switch profiles.
I like the UI as it shows a network map of the routers (if you have multiple airport expresses for example). Problem is, I cannot find the list of the devices connected to my base station with their IP addresses anymore. In the past, this is accessible under the wireless client section. Now, the popup only listed 3 IP addresses (without info on which devices they are) and I see no way to expand this. Help?
All works fine here Time capsule. 5 A.Express. Good luck with Cheapsys or Dcrap.
You can run the new AirPort Utility 6 and AirPort Utility 5.6 side by side. In other words you can update to v6 and install v5.6. In the Applications folder you would find two apps one is called AirPort Utility (that is the new interface) and the other is called AirPort Utility 5.6 (The old interface)
I totally agree. This isn't the first time Apple makes updates and leaves out crucial features. Typically I like the changed they make (in this case I do like 6.0's interface), but I do hate that they keep releasing half products when upgrading their software. Remember when they released Quicktime X? It was supposed to add in the extra features that Quicktime 7 had, eventually. I haven't seen any updates to Quicktime X, and often I still need to rely on Quicktime 7. And don't get me started on iCloud.... This is just the latest in their trend to "improve" the interface of things by leaving out core functionality.... I thought Apple was supposed to be "perfectionist", caring about every little detail, like the color of the G in Google, when displayed on an iPhone.
They sure seem to be missing the details lately. Half finished products rushed out to razzle and dazzle us. I'm pleased to see this outcry, hopefully Apple will take notice soon and get back on track.
IMO you make some fair points about the functionality changes, but the reality is that Apple does not exist to build computers or software that you want. They have always made what they want, and if people like it, then great. This approach is how they have always operated and is praised until it is no longer convenient for your particular use case.
I am not defending their decisions, rather simply stating that you are welcome to go over to Windows or Linux if OSX no longer suits your needs. People talk about "choice" as if it is a concept that only exists inside of a specific ecosystem. In reality, the ecosystem itself is a choice.
The consumer market is much larger than the power user market. Which would you go after if you were trying to make the most money?
Edit: Also, 5.6 is available. http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482
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Ah. Well, when I launch 5.5.3 on my Air, it tells me that 6.0 is the latest and greatest. No mention of 5.6. Software Update also only shows 6.0 -- with no mention of 5.6 whatsoever. Just really seems that Apple is pushing 6.0 since there's no official mention of 5.6 via the update methods on the Air (Software Update and AirPort Utility itself). If 5.6 makes all the 6.0 spam go away -- great.
Damn, for a moment I thought they had an update to fix the ridiculous network problems in Lion. Full strength Wifi, chat works fine, mail works fine, safari does not
just no friggin' page.
And then suddenly nothing works, reset wifi, it works, 5 minutes later not anymore, again reset. Even with ethernet the network is messed up, randomly not showing pages and so on. And the iOS devices all work, yeah they work.
And then suddenly nothing works, reset wifi, it works, 5 minutes later not anymore, again reset. Even with ethernet the network is messed up, randomly not showing pages and so on. And the iOS devices all work, yeah they work.
Does that mean it also has the bug that you can't specify a range for port forwarding? (because the text box accepts numbers only, and specifying a range requires typing a hyphen in the middle)
As evidenced by the back and forth concerning choice in versions there seems to be a whole lot of complaining about nothing. I guess this is one of the unintended consequences of growth in the marketplace. I would imagine that for 99% of people there isn't going to be a discernible difference in user experience. It certainly hasn't changed anything on this end, in fact, it looks easier than ever to get connected to the internet and see who is on my network.
Are there any specific complaints or is this just reaction to something changing?
Well if Apple did everything right what would you find to complain about since that's your favorite past time?
Yup clearly Apple is screwing the pooch here. Why make things more simple? Keep it nice and complex so that the rank and file user gets confused. After all the key to amassing 90 billion in cash is to appease to the geeks of the world right?<sarcasm>
Though I will empathize with those who relied on features that are now missing. Apple needs a way of creating easy interfaces that can expose more advanced features through steps that a geek could use. I wouldn't be surprised to see things fleshed out and features returned in a future update.
Another thing which is nice for the dummy user, but which I find a security flaw is the fact that you can see all passwords for your airport device. In previous versions (and throughout Mac OS X) I used my keychain for storing and viewing my passwords whenever I forget them, but now everybody who has access to your Mac and knows how to start (or install) the Airport utility is able to view all the passwords of your Airport devices. So you'd better make sure any passwords in there are not the same as any of your other password(s) you use elsewhere... 
(in Airport Utility 6.0, select an airport device --> click 'edit' --> click in the menu bar on 'Base Station' --> 'Show passwords')
(in Airport Utility 6.0, select an airport device --> click 'edit' --> click in the menu bar on 'Base Station' --> 'Show passwords')
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Seems to me some so called "power users" don't like the masses to be able to manage their home networks easier. It would be different if Apple didn't update and release both versions of the utility today but they did. You can use either one you'd like. Or even switch between the two. They provided more options, not less. They both can be installed (at the same time even) so I don't see the problem.
I see a lot of knee jerk reactions that aren't very well informed.
A toggle between simple/advanced would be great, which they did here by releasing the two apps, albeit a clunky way to appease the geeks.