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AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule Out of Stock at U.S. Apple Stores [Updated]

Even if Apple was going to introduce new versions, they wouldn't pull in-stock product without then having the new product ready to sell. And if there was something wrong with them, such as needing to re-flash them, or having some significant issue that could effect consumers, they'd need to put out some type of press release. And I don't think they would re-flash new units, because they would not be "new" once they're opened.

So it's very curious to have them pull existing stock like this with zero details on why they're doing it. I've been happy with my 4th gen Time Capsule, although it definitely could use better antenna as my various devices always seem to default to an xfinity wifi hotspot - that is two buildings away, which is crazy.
 
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Corrode said:
jdillings said:
It probably has more to do with the fact that there is a new FCC rule going into effect on June 2 that requires router manufacturers to lock down their firmware and prevent users from disabling dynamic frequency selection (DFS).
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Get out of here with your logic. I want more outlandish speculation.
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This. They're pulling these to replace them with tvOS/iOS equipped landing beacons for our soon-to-arrive alien overlords.
 
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bitslap47 said:
I was extremely surprised to see when I checked Airport Utility that it was a firmware update.

It had been so long since a firmware update was available, that when I saw the blinking yellow light I immediately assumed a hardware failure or anomalous double NAT message.
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What they really need to do is update Airport Utility, so we can control our networks, (like blocking those goddam iOS updates). Either that or rename it Fisher Price Utility.
 
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One thing I would love to see is iCloud caching with Time Capsule.

It seems so silly to get home with 300MB of photos and have to have them all upload to the cloud, then download them again to my iPad and Mac. There should only have to be ONE upload to the cloud, then the data should be distributed on the local network to save bandwidth.

Apple could do this with the Time Capsule if they wanted to. The TC could have a complete cache of your entire iCloud account, which would not only serve to speed things up locally but it would also be an additional backup. Too many people only have their data in ONE place (whether it be their phone, Mac or iCloud)
 
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It's most likely some sort of security update from a white hat that has reported a vulnerability.

They've updated the firmware for existing units and they'll update the old units to include it out of the box.
 
In short, there's a product defect quietly being brushed under the carpet, too much competition has added more functionality/bling and Apple doesn't want to look more embarrassed, and/or there's a new product version to soon be released. And/or it's all of a sudden (and magically so) selling far more than hot pancakes by some astronomical margin, pump up the stock!
 
kis said:
So it's very curious to have them pull existing stock like this with zero details on why they're doing it. I've been happy with my 4th gen Time Capsule, although it definitely could use better antenna as my various devices always seem to default to an xfinity wifi hotspot - that is two buildings away, which is crazy.
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Just turn off Auto-join for the xfinity networks. There's really no reason to have them auto-join, as 75% of the xfinity wifi hotspots suck anyway.
 
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I don't see where pulling the current stock can be affected by an updated firmware or even something new coming in the next WWDC. i just downloaded the new firmware last night on mine.

It may be just a lower demand that doesn't warrant having stock in stores.
 
zorinlynx said:
One thing I would love to see is iCloud caching with Time Capsule.

It seems so silly to get home with 300MB of photos and have to have them all upload to the cloud, then download them again to my iPad and Mac. There should only have to be ONE upload to the cloud, then the data should be distributed on the local network to save bandwidth.

Apple could do this with the Time Capsule if they wanted to. The TC could have a complete cache of your entire iCloud account, which would not only serve to speed things up locally but it would also be an additional backup. Too many people only have their data in ONE place (whether it be their phone, Mac or iCloud)
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Bingo. Time Capsule was the perfect local cache for everything from Apple, including software updates. But instead hardware was abandoned in favor of multi-billion dollar data centers, because silicon valley decision makers live in a world where everyone has unmetered, unlimited bandwidth.
 
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paulrbeers said:
I want a thinner design!

Especially for the Airport Extreme. Why does it have to be as big as a Time Machine with a giant gap in the middle for a non-existant hard drive? The smaller they are, the easier it is to hide
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My , how times have changed.

We used to proudly display our Apple stuff and logo

Now we want to make sure it's small enough to hide!

"Siri, where is my airport extreme?"

Siri: The next airport is 15 miles away, extreme weather forecasted!

Opens iTunes and plays: I'm all out of love" by air supply
 
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Surprised with the firmware update yesterday. I had an airport extreme, but just recently tossed it because it was very unreliable. Just purchased the OnHub, its been ok. good speeds though.

Using time capsule just for backup purposes only.
 
kis said:
Has anyone considered that they may simply discontinue them? There are tons of routers that offer better speed and better coverage - it's not like this is an outstanding product.
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Hardly. Most folks' internet speeds don't come close to maxing out their routers' limitations.

Furthermore, Average Joe doesn't have the faintest idea on how to set up and manage his wireless network, and Apple Routers remain the simplest to set up and easiest to maintain for folks using Macs exclusively.
 
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bebo said:
Surprised with the firmware update yesterday. I had an airport extreme, but just recently tossed it because it was very unreliable. Just purchased the OnHub, its been ok. good speeds though.

Using time capsule just for backup purposes only.
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Was looking at that until I saw the single LAN port. What I’d really like though is a modem+router combo in the same box. COME ON APPLE!!
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willmtaylor said:
Hardly. Most folks' internet speeds don't come close to maxing out their routers' limitations.

Furthermore, Average Joe doesn't have the faintest idea on how to set up and manage his wireless network, and Apple Routers remain the simplest to set up and easiest to maintain for folks using Macs exclusively.
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I wouldn’t say that they are as simple as those you get from an ISP. These tend to be preconfigured quite well, Mac or PC.
 
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willmtaylor said:
Hardly. Most folks' internet speeds don't come close to maxing out their routers' limitations.

Furthermore, Average Joe doesn't have the faintest idea on how to set up and manage his wireless network, and Apple Routers remain the simplest to set up and easiest to maintain for folks using Macs exclusively.
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I'd say Apple's market share in the router business is negligible - if your theory were true, nobody on this planet would have WiFi. The fact is: most people get their WiFi router pre-configured from their ISP. And for those who don't: it's not exactly rocket science to set one up. Every idiot (excuse my language) can do so.
 
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H2SO4 said:
Was looking at that until I saw the single LAN port. What I’d really like though is a modem+router combo in the same box. COME ON APPLE!!
[doublepost=1464363677][/doublepost]
I wouldn’t say that they are as simple as those you get from an ISP. These tend to be preconfigured quite well, Mac or PC.
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With the convenience of paying them every month too! Yippee.
 
Is it normal to pull back stock for a refresh? I thought they just let them run out. When I worked at Microcenter we could always tell when the refresh on Apple TV and Airports was coming because we would be out of stock two or three weeks ahead of an event.
 
zorinlynx said:
Just turn off Auto-join for the xfinity networks. There's really no reason to have them auto-join, as 75% of the xfinity wifi hotspots suck anyway.
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Can you turn off auto-join for an individual network or is it all or nothing?
 
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