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Apple Begins to Sell Out of AirPort Base Stations [Updated]

I never understood why people favoured the Apple routers over the others...

I also feel its selling out because of collectors who 20 years later want to show this on "Did you know Apple used to sell routers?" article. It will be like Apple Newton or Printers from the 90s.
 
Really love my extreme 802.11ac I'm going to keep it as long as it doesn't break or a new/improved standard force me to upgrade. My old 802.11n extreme is still providing my in laws with a great connection at their place and again, I won't change it unless it stops working.

I wish they replaced their airport with something ready for mesh networking. A smaller version of HomePod could have replaced the airport express to provide both connectivity and music/siri.
 
Considering how a built-in WiFi base station has been a standard feature for cable, ADSL and wireless network modems for quite a while and they're not as terrible as they were in the heyday of the AirPort line, it's probably to be expected that sales will only be a fraction of what they used to be and that kind of situation canceling a product range is simply going to be the expected outcome.
 
I would of preferred Apple to make both modem/routers and routers. Internet access is crucial for Apple services, and these devices are the gateway into those. Apple had the engineering talent to make these, but probably they are all gone now.
 
It's a shame Apple didn't get into this new Mesh router setup, they could have combined their awesome designs with a newer mesh standard, would have been great.
 
busyscott said:
Killing off two untouched products to “focus” on other products is total BS. How many iPhones are they coming out with this fall? Exactly.

They are trying to spin this as a Steve Jobs era “focusing”, but really it’s very much a Tim Cook era “bottom line” thing.
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You'd think a product with high margins, very limited R&D expenses, no marketing expenses etc. would be nothing but a positive for Apple's bottom line...
[doublepost=1526637098][/doublepost]The sad/awesome part is, they likely sold roughly as many Airport Products as they did HomePods this quarter.
 
alexandero said:
Thanks. So the only possible replacement at the moment is a ATV with a good digital-analog converter connected to the HDMI-port. If only I wouldn't have to ask my neighbours to borrow their tv whenever the ATV needs to be setup (I assume that will be necessary on e.g. each OS update).

Edit: as Apple allows third party manufacturers to build Airplay compatible hardware, I wonder why no one yet released a simple Airplay adapter in the $100 price range – it seems the only Airplay compatible items are all-in-one speaker systems.
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My AV Yamaha amp is Airplay compatible - although I generally don't use the functionality. I have my AppleTV hooked up to it in any case, so tend to listen to use Airplay through that instead.

Still - I'm glad I picked up a refurb Time Capsule and Airport Express fairly recently. I'm still using the old Apple iPod Hifi with the Airport Express connected via optical so I can use Airplay in my office. Sad to see these products go.
 
Tech198 said:
Another shift.. ??
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If you look at what Cook has done with the Mac it’s clear to me that he views it as a niche product. He’s scrapped or simply not updated the more affordable models like the Mac Mini and MBA. The newer models have seen price increases which take them out of the price range for most people. He’s moving the Mac into a corner for the rich and die hard Mac fans who are willing to pay any premium for their Mac. He never commends the Mac, he never shares stories of people running their business on Mac, I doubt he even uses a Mac. Remember when he said most people could do 95% of their daily workload on an iPad.
 
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My Yamaha HT amp is Airplay compatible but once the Airplay channel is switched in then HDMI CEC breaks and I have to manually change back to HDMI to watch TV from Sky box again. Bit of a pain, but Apple TV just works beautifully
 
ksnell said:
Have you given Ubiquiti a try? Their Unifi system is incredible and has been extremely stable for me. They also have a more consumer friendly system called Amplifi which I have not tried.
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I have the Amplifi and it works terrific in my 4000 sq ft home. Router on main floor and one mesh point in the basement and 2nd floor. I have 6 ATV's plus numerous iPads, iPhones, a few macbooks, and Amazon Echos. Quite a bit of traffic between the 5 people in my house and doesn't seem to be any performance issues. Never had any dropouts or had to do a reboot other than installing updates and I can control it from anywhere. I can get a good reliable connection pretty far into my backyard as well. I highly recommend.
 
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ipedro said:
When AirPower gets rolled out ....
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wake me up. Apple is becoming notorious for paper launches.


TimUSCA said:
Gotta love these armchair CEOs. If these were profitable, Apple would still be making them. Period. But since the average home doesn't look to Apple as a router brand, they obviously don't sell enough to make the R&D worth it.

I'm upset about them being killed too, but it is what it is.
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Not everything is about profit (e.g., loss leaders). This is something Apple understood under SJ--the ecosystem is (was) very important to customer retention.

Enjoy the current state of profits at Apple because, at least in my circles, there is growing dissatisfaction with Apple's entire lineup (from iPhones to computers). If Apple is not careful, they will find out just how fickle is their new customer base, which has changed considerably in the last 5 years.
 
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I can see the effect of that 'sharp focus' in the HomePod speaker. :D:D:D:D:D:D:D:eek:

I wonder what Steve would say. I mean, it's better to get money from selling wifi good then having someone else get the money, right?
 
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femike said:
I would of preferred Apple to make both modem/routers and routers. Internet access is crucial for Apple services, and these devices are the gateway into those. Apple had the engineering talent to make these, but probably they are all gone now.
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There are many, many, many very good routers/modems on the market so it's not even an issue.
 
I’ve been using Time Capsules for years and never really investigated anything else out of lack of need, so pardon the ignorance — with the alternatives suggested here (Eero, Orbi, etc.), is there an easy way to plug an external hard drive into that system to use as a networked drive for Time Machine? My TC has been serving as both a router and a backup drive for two different computers, so I just want to make sure I’m not totally hosed if my TC decides it’s done with life.
 
Bacillus said:
So be it. Any recommendations on Windows laptops and Android phones ?
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Laptops: Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon (14") and Dell XPS 13" are two of the top rated portables. I am looking at both in case my 2013 MBA goes belly up before Apple redesigns their laptop keyboards.
 
This is Apple's sleeper hit product. I have had it since 2013 and not once have ever had an issue with it. The range is awesome as well. Going to hold onto it for as long as I can.
 
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I think I may purchase the google WiFi mesh system once my 2nd time capsule goes.

It works great but now that I have 4 Ring HD cameras in the house I can see it’s limitations.

Anyone own and like/dislike google WiFi?
 
Last week my older brother, who is not a technical person at all, had a minor flood at his house and his wifi router got pooched. I offered a lot of ways to help but in the end, due to cost, he decided to go for a Netgear Nighthawk - one of the smaller ones. I helped him choose it, and after work I said I'd help him set it up via Facetime. Well, half way through my work day he texts me that he's all good. The router had a complete setup app which walked him through configuration, setup, password setting, and did everything practically automated. He did it himself in less than an hour.

This sold me that routers don't need to be in Apple's wheelhouse. They're fine - they've improved greatly and for the vast majority of people, they're set.

The only thing I'd like is if Apple could offer router companies software to allow Time Capsule-like experience with stock routers. Otherwise, I'm good and I don't think it's going to hurt long-term.
 
iriejedi said:
Replaced with new Lynksys Velop Tri Band System - Love my apple products - but have to be honest - the Velop System is pretty sweet for a 2 story home with the Internet in a top corner room....and a man cave i a concerted garage - oppisite corner.. Still have some dedicated devices linked to old Apple System... for now... maybe the AirPort Team can work on that new Modular Mac Pro. LOL
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Mine also is an early 2008 Mac Pro which had a nVidia 8800GT that died - orange screen. Used iPad to look on Amazon for a replacement which was a reasonable cost (new video card). It's been 19 months since it was replaced. Wondering what the new Mac Pro might be and WHEN it will be available. Soon some software will not work with current Mac Pro. Mac OS 10.11.6 is latest that this model can use.
Just discovered 8-year-old NexStar dock no longer functions.
 
MacBH928 said:
I never understood why people favoured the Apple routers over the others...

I also feel its selling out because of collectors who 20 years later want to show this on "Did you know Apple used to sell routers?" article. It will be like Apple Newton or Printers from the 90s.
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You've obviously never had one. They are light years beyond other brands.
 
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