No, they won't. Apple could never compete with the Orbi 970 or Asus Zen BE30000. WiFi routers are too sophisticated today and would require too much development effort for Apple to compete. Back when the AirPort was available, the market was simpler and the devices were less sophisticated. I loved my AirPort, but Apple won't be getting back in the router business.
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AirPort Base Stations: Will Apple Ever Return to Wi-Fi Router Market?
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The routers from providers are junk, and you are subject to their data collection of your browsing - I told both Quantum and Xfinity to keep their trash, put their modem in transparent bridge mode, and set up my own Orbi and Asus Zen (2 different homes).
I still have a 2021 Time Capsule, that's by far my oldest Apple Hardware that is active, and still doing what it is expected to do.
I really hope they do not. Because they’d hide features behind it that you must have their wifi. It’s what they do best. I’m invested in unifi.
How about an iPhone-like moment where they introduce a mesh-wifi + TimeMachine+ AI assistant + hi-fi thing that we can put in every room without Jeff Bezos personally listening to our farts?
My comment was really referring to hardware, but as I wasn't specific I'd still counter that:
Aperture = 9 years (plus still continued to work for several years after that)
iWeb = 5 years
Front Row = 4 years
I wouldn't class any of those as abandonware, much as Apple's decision to stop development of Aperture still baffles me to this day.
Isn’t Time Machine compatibility a feature of Synology drives? Apple solution now is to have users purchase iCloud for backup and syncing so they only need users to have decent internet connection and don’t worry about domestic WiFi issues such as thick walls.
In that respect I doubt Apple are interested in handling user WiFi issues going forward - they got out of that game once the market caught up. Yes, good mesh network vendors are pricey but there’s some good choices on the market now which might not have been the case back in the day.
As with televisions I would say people generally won’t be replacing hardware to go from WiFi 6 to 6e and then to 7 unless they are forced to.
This is what I have been saying for years. macOS actually have a caching facility. So the macOS, iOS, iPad OS update are all downloaded and stored on the server along with all the Apps update. So these update wouldn't go through internet but actually served directly from local server.
The Time Machine doesn't even mean zero subscription revenue. Apple could force Cold Storage Time Capsule Subscription as part of the package. You get a peace of mind as the Time Capsule gets backed up in the cloud as well. While having my data local.
The eero mesh system is about the easiest system you can use. The UI is very friendly and the speeds are fantastic. Hands down one of the best mesh systems on the market.
Just no. Ubiquity integration is better than anything today's Apple would have ever done.
There is already too much Apple thinking in Ubiquity software as it is. Like dropping features for a few releases then adding them back, releasing features that are not fully tested, unclear or lack of documentation, etc.
On the other hand, Ubiquity has seemed to hold on to the "It just works" philosophy that Apple used to have. Apple would destroy that if they had the chance. Not by malice but just from Apple's current culture.
My network is mostly Ubiquity and I don't have to think about it. When I do the UI is really good, not perfect. And it is easy for someone with any networking skills to use.
It is my understanding that Ubiquity was formed by members of the old Apple AirPort networking team.
One challenge with Apple entering the networking market "again" is that most won't fork up the money for a router. I have seen to many paying +£50 /month for their fast internet connection and loads of money on expensive gadgets in their house. But between all these expensive gadgets and their super fast internet connection there is a cheapo router for 30 bucks.
When trying to convince users to get proper networking kit most aren't willing to spend it cuz they don't understand why its needed.
Sure, coverage is generally one thing, that's when they get an even cheaper range extender that messes up things even more.
Many don't have a clue that routers need security updates just as phones do.
I'd love to see an Apple router that "just works" but I can't see enough people willing to spend money if there aren't obvious benefits of getting an Apple device.
But, here's a few ideas.
Homepod + router all in one device.
Apple TV and router all in one device
Homekit device with microphone built in so you can control stuff with Siri
When trying to convince users to get proper networking kit most aren't willing to spend it cuz they don't understand why its needed.
Sure, coverage is generally one thing, that's when they get an even cheaper range extender that messes up things even more.
Many don't have a clue that routers need security updates just as phones do.
I'd love to see an Apple router that "just works" but I can't see enough people willing to spend money if there aren't obvious benefits of getting an Apple device.
But, here's a few ideas.
Homepod + router all in one device.
Apple TV and router all in one device
Homekit device with microphone built in so you can control stuff with Siri
I used to think this too, but Apple would destroy everything that is great about Ubiquiti. They'd simplify configurations to the lowest common denominator, jack up prices, hide the logs in favor of "it just works", etc.
Nightmare fuel.
Homepods should be Mesh Nodes. Simple as that. Mesh systems, not just routers, are the key. Add an ethernet port to the homepod with Mesh capability and done.
The main problem is network, we need them to stop making wifi problems a problem, it seems that thread is a good idea but still is not good enough for thinks like music, faster voice commands, or wifi accessories.
I know they know that's a problem for a high % of their users, I'm hoping the next generation of Home devices (HomePod, AppleTV and this new device) have a "Wi-Fi EasyMesh" o similar solution. They are so big perhaps they are working with the WiFi Alliance on WiFi 8 to have something better (like they did with Wireless Power Consortium with MagSafe and Qi2).
Edit: I wrote this on another post, it was ment to be here.
I know they know that's a problem for a high % of their users, I'm hoping the next generation of Home devices (HomePod, AppleTV and this new device) have a "Wi-Fi EasyMesh" o similar solution. They are so big perhaps they are working with the WiFi Alliance on WiFi 8 to have something better (like they did with Wireless Power Consortium with MagSafe and Qi2).
Edit: I wrote this on another post, it was ment to be here.
They could acquire Plume — secretly one of the best — and be back in the game overnight. (I know, they won't, but they could.)
My Airport's still going strong, I would support their return
IMO it’s the best WiFi router you can get. You can fetch a great condition AirPort Extreme of its last iteration for $30.
I still have a 2007 AirPort Extreme that I had in my garage to extend my network and it still worked great till I replaced it recently with the newest AirPort as I discovered how cheap they are. I bought one for my parents as well because their Spectrum router always had issues. Shame Apple gave up.
I still have a 2007 AirPort Extreme that I had in my garage to extend my network and it still worked great till I replaced it recently with the newest AirPort as I discovered how cheap they are. I bought one for my parents as well because their Spectrum router always had issues. Shame Apple gave up.
I've never had a better router, even my Ubiquiti gear has been (slightly) less reliable than my AirPort Extreme. I still have it as a backup network. I'd love for Apple to make my HomePod Minis act as mesh nodes. I have 4 of them, all in places that would work really well to provide great coverage around my house. I have considered purchasing one more Unifi node for better coverage on the East end of my house, but this really shouldn't be necessary - my house is tiny, and I've already got an Apple TV and HomePod Mini down there. If either of those devices were AirPort enabled, I'd be golden.
Photos is a surprisingly capable replacement for Aperture, nowadays. I've edited my own RAW photos with it when I didn't want to bother transferring them to my other Mac with the Adobe suite installed, and it works really well!
Explains a lot! I've always said they're the Apple of networking products. Set them up all over at my last workplace, and that convinced me to buy a lot of their products for my home as well: 1 Cloud Key+, 1 switch, 2 APs, 1 doorbell camera, and 4 other cameras. All working basically flawlessly and keeping me from having to trust anyone else's computer to store my security cam footage. The internet could cease to exist and I'd still have it all on my local network.