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

[oreggero]

yes, plz go with all ssd, smaller more reliable so more tiny design

All SSD would be super-expensive, looking at the price Apple charges for the flash upgrade on MacBooks (where it's just from 512 GB to 1 TB, which costs $500). So, for a Time Capsule with 3 TB (which is already quite small nowadays, I think) that would be around $3000 only for the storage.
Also, SSD does not make to much sense in a backup storage, because of the high cost of flash storage in general and it's mostly writing at low priority as a background process.

 

[willmtaylor]

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.

I'd agree that their router market share is negligible (at best!). : )

Yup, most are paying ISP's extra $$$ on top of their already bloated bills for the convenience of having a pre-configured router.

Maybe not any idiot. ; )

 

[webperfex]

WWDC this year is going to be extreme!

Fingers crossed!

 

[H2SO4]

With the convenience of paying them every month too! Yippee.

Can you let me know where you get your free internet from please?

 

[oreggero]

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.

Yes, it is. Maybe it's a little early now, but Apple never did sell discounted old stuff at Apple Stores except for the non-Retina 13-inch MacBook Pro with optical drive, that's still available online, today.

 

[zorinlynx]

Can you turn off auto-join for an individual network or is it all or nothing?

Yeah, you can turn it off for an individual network. Just hit the "i" and it's in there.

 

[iSRS]

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.

oh yeah! forgot about that. need to run it. thanks!

 

[alfm]

↑
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.
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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Ever tried to get a BT home hub 5 (supplied by the ISP) and an AirPort Extreme to play together? 'Easiest' thing is to buy another modem....

 

[IJ Reilly]

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).

Interesting. Do you have more information on this?

FWIW, both of my Time Capsules (1st gen and current gen) were flashed yesterday, so quite possibly Apple had to recall existing stock for compliance updates.

Edit: I checked into this myself. As of June, Dynamic Frequency Selection is now required on the 5Mhz band to avoid interference with radar systems. So clearly Apple was required to pull back all stock that still allowed users to override DFS.

 

[iSRS]

I'm curious to see if they upgrade the express to 802.11AC. The current version is a joke!

This! I have my wallet ready for two of them!

 

[zorinlynx]

What I’d really like though is a modem+router combo in the same box. COME ON APPLE!!

I'm curious; why?

Modem + router combos are usually not very good at either of those tasks. You're much better off buying the best modem you can get, and the best router you can get.

Not only that, but if you have separate devices and new tech comes along in either, you can upgrade one without having to mess with the other. For example, I recently moved from a DOCSIS 2.0 cable modem to DOCSIS 3.0, and was able to simply swap out the cable modem without having to change anything else. Even my IP address remained the same because it depends on the router's MAC address.

Combo devices are just another example of "jack of all trades, master of none."

 

[oreggero]

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).

Locking users out of disabling DFS is software stuff which could be done by a firmware upgrade. Locking the firmware itself more or less, too.
[doublepost=1464364380][/doublepost]

This would be typical because I bought an Airport Extreme about a month ago to replace my crappy (and totally unreliable) BT Business Hub 5

I also considered buying an AirPort Extreme, about a month ago. But, one never buys an Apple device before checking MacRumors' buyer's guide!

 

[BornAgainMac]

From the product photo, it looks like it hasn't been updated in 10 years.

 

[sw1tcher]

Jony wants a thinner version.

in silver, gold, space gray, and rose gold.

 

[iMerik]

No mention of the previous rumour of Apple making an Amazon Echo-competitor? Is it only me that sees this as another indication of a smarter home device?

For a "rumor" site, I feel MR often misses opportunities to make connections like this, whether they are factual or not. Feel free to speculate and be imaginative, MR.

 

[GenesisST]

I'd agree that their router market share is negligible (at best!). : )

Yup, most are paying ISP's extra $$$ on top of their already bloated bills for the convenience of having a pre-configured router.

Maybe not any idiot. ; )

Even those that are suppose to NOT be idiots can be... I remember debugging system where the wifi router was installed in a metal enclosure in the basement. They were complaining that our software was not reliable... Sheesh...

 

[flux73]

Antennas are popular with consumers. They want Apple to sell something like this....

That thing looks like it'll transform and kill you in your sleep.

 

[willmtaylor]

Even those that are suppose to NOT be idiots can be... I remember debugging system where the wifi router was installed in a metal enclosure in the basement. They were complaining that out software was not reliable... Sheesh...

That's fantastic.

 

[762999]

Please welcome the new airport extreme rose gold edition. It will feature a single usb-c port for power, drive,printer sharing (well, you will a new usb-c hub for that..). The removal of the lan ports will make this thing a beauty. It will look stunning with the arctic-white power cable. Since the new siri assistant will consume most of the cpu's power, the wifi will be lowered down to 802.11b to match processing power left. People will love it.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

So what about the Express? It still doesn't even have AC!

 

[willmtaylor]

Can you let me know where you get your free internet from please?

You've either misunderstood or are purposely being obtuse.

I don't have free internet, though Bernie probably wants it to be "free" for some (but that's for another forum). Instead--and not unlike most other folks--I already pay too much for limited service.

My point is that those simple and pre-configured modem/router combos that the ISP's hawk always come at an ADDITIONAL monthly fee of $10/mo. or so for the entirety of one's tenure as a customer.

 

[avanpelt]

The AirPorts definitely need an upgrade. It's time for Apple to embrace QoS and parental controls on its routers. Not sure if the current hardware is capable of handling those things or not; but if it's not, I sure hope they have those features in the next version.

 

[pat500000]

I wonder how Apple announce all these rumors in 2 hrs. Something will not be announced..

 

[H2SO4]

You've either misunderstood or are purposely being obtuse.

I don't have free internet, though Bernie probably wants it to be "free" for some (but that's for another forum). Instead--and not unlike most other folks--I already pay too much for limited service.

My point is that those simple and pre-configured modem/router combos that the ISP's hawk always come at an ADDITIONAL monthly fee of $10/mo. or so for the entirety of one's tenure as a customer.

You get a ‘free' router whether you use it or not. I’ve not seen it as an additonal cost in the vast majority of cases.

 

[_mdavenport]

Would like to see an Airport Extreme refresh. Wonder if they'll support MU-MIMO in the near future like this Linksys router: http://www.theverge.com/circuitbrea...ut-tri-band-5-3gbps-mu-mimo-into-a-399-router