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Apple Ceases Development of 'AirPort' Wireless Routers as Engineers Reassigned to Other Products
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Just like they've streamlined their product design, in the coming years, there will be nothing beyond: iPhones, MacBooks, iPads (maybe), and online services. It was products like the Airport base stations, monitors, and other products that really rounded-out the whole Apple experience for me. Everything worked together as a cohesive system. While my Dell monitor has a beautiful display (4K), its industrial design is crappy at best and the interface with my MBP is clunky/awkward compared to how my old Apple Cinema Display used to interface with my MacPros/MBPs (10 years ago!). I'm not a huge fan of this brave new world.
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Well said - exactly!
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Well said - exactly!
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I think it's just a matter of time before you see Pages, Keynote and Numbers given up.
Shame they're stopping working on this, but no real surprise.
The AirPort routers have been the most stable and fastest wireless access points I've used. I have 2 of them running my network here (only as access points, have a pfsense box handling routing). They can push 600mbps, and they've never missed a beat. Considering they're 3 years old now, its impressive how they still outperform current models around the same price bracket, and even some more expensive ones.
If you use them as an actual router, then the wan->lan throughput rate isn't great. Only really a problem if you have an internet connection >200mbps and use it as your main router. As a wireless access point at this price they're still unbeatable.
The AirPort routers have been the most stable and fastest wireless access points I've used. I have 2 of them running my network here (only as access points, have a pfsense box handling routing). They can push 600mbps, and they've never missed a beat. Considering they're 3 years old now, its impressive how they still outperform current models around the same price bracket, and even some more expensive ones.
If you use them as an actual router, then the wan->lan throughput rate isn't great. Only really a problem if you have an internet connection >200mbps and use it as your main router. As a wireless access point at this price they're still unbeatable.
I've moved on from Apple wifi routers. But this is an odd thing for a company that has fingers in the IoT world. What is the Apple experience of the future? I am increasingly confused about where this company is going. But maybe the reveal is coming. IDK.
What if Jobs didn't care if Apple lost direction without him? After all, it would make him look better in retrospect. Even Jobs telling Cook not to ask himself what Jobs would do, seems to support the idea.
For that matter, why put anyone like Cook in charge? Didn't Jobs rail against how a multi-SKU, profit oriented scenario nearly destroyed Apple the first time? Why not put someone who had lots of imagination in charge? (Which would leave out Ive, obviously.)
The reason why Apple did so well, was because Jobs was the ultimate demanding naive user... someone with no programming experience and no real technical knowledge... but with absolute authority. This allowed him to demand things that most normal managers would consider to be impossible or impractical to do.
--
I keep half-jokingly suggesting that Apple would be better off to randomly pick an original fervent Apple fan from a website like this, someone with similar personal taste as Jobs, and give them the same absolute authority, backed up by billions of dollars and a good management team.
In other words, let an Apple fan explain and dictate to those execs what it was that made them a repeat customer and a fan to begin with. Someone who still has an appreciation of things that "just work".
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I'm kinda sad. Apple has always said they weren't interested in selling the "most" of any product but instead the "BEST" of a product. Now it looks like they are just concentrating on producing what "SELLS": the best.
As an Apple stock holder I understand, but as an Apple fan and BELIEVER, I am truly sad at what looks like the direction this company is going in after the death of a genius.
As an Apple stock holder I understand, but as an Apple fan and BELIEVER, I am truly sad at what looks like the direction this company is going in after the death of a genius.
They are not killing AirPlay, you'll be able to AirPlay to your AppleTV.
This analysis is spot on. I use Apple products because they create a complete user experience. Not all products can generate direct revenue, however, they form part of the ecosystem. In my view, this is Apple's edge. Now, they're losing it...
Good! I haven't used those in years. The new Office is way better than it used to be.
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They lost the edge when they shifted to Intel. The only real thing separating Apple from the rest was software and overpriced "Apple Approved" components.
It also bothers me that little by little the echo system is falling apart. First the monitors, now the routers - not mentioning their declining focus of professional software. I enjoyed having a full Apple environment because it all worked really well together. This smells like a shift in the wrong direction prioritizing revenue and profit over the customer experience.
Not surprising. I suspected this was going to happen. That's why, just 3 days ago, I finally upgraded my AirPort Extreme 802.11n (5th gen) to a Linksys WRT1900ACS. Was on sale for $50 off.
Thinking about getting rid of the Mac mini too, and just keeping a MacBook or MacBook Pro as the only device for macOS exposure.
Thinking about getting rid of the Mac mini too, and just keeping a MacBook or MacBook Pro as the only device for macOS exposure.
i'd like to think they're working on homekit devices. perhaps that rumored dedicated siri device could act as an airport router as well. why would you buy an airport and as well as a siri device when they could act as one?
(que somber mood)
First they came for the headphone jack, and I did not speak out—
Because I did not use headphones.
Then they came for the MacBook Pro ports, and I did not speak out—
Because I did not use ports.
Then they came for the battery life, and I did not speak out—
Because I work at home.
Then they came for the AirPort—and there was no Apple left over for me.
First they came for the headphone jack, and I did not speak out—
Because I did not use headphones.
Then they came for the MacBook Pro ports, and I did not speak out—
Because I did not use ports.
Then they came for the battery life, and I did not speak out—
Because I work at home.
Then they came for the AirPort—and there was no Apple left over for me.
What are the 100 000+ employees at Apple doing. Last few years:
iPhone = last 3 iterations look the same. Inserted some better parts such as the camera (made by others). oh yah, the hard work and courage to remove a port.
iwatch 2 = looks the same. Its actually thicker (I guess it took a lot of employees to put a GPS in it)
watch straps = This department is doing great. They should get a raise
Monitors = after years of wait. Gets Killed. Just not enough employees to make a frame and stick someone elses panel in it.
Desktops = after years of wait...Desktops, what are those.
laptops = after years of wait, we get the emoji touchbar and amazing thinness that doesn't allow 32GB of Ram
airport = Its just too tiring for the one person that this employed. It just needs to go
Apple Car = Spend billions in resources and then find out. no, we don't want to build a car. disband team
So Really... What has a hundred thousand employees been doing the past few years? Hello. The Mac Pro is over a thousand days old with pricing as if it were introduced yesterday. The Mac ecosystem is being destroyed piece by piece.
Even if we don't buy that particular product, the message being sent is be prepared that we will drop "the product you care for" on a whim. They are breaking trust with everyone.
I've been waiting to upgrade all our companies MacPros for an eternity. Now, I'm just not sure if this is the smart choice anymore even if they do release a new Mac Pro. I am truly shocked at how poor this company is being run right now.
iPhone = last 3 iterations look the same. Inserted some better parts such as the camera (made by others). oh yah, the hard work and courage to remove a port.
iwatch 2 = looks the same. Its actually thicker (I guess it took a lot of employees to put a GPS in it)
watch straps = This department is doing great. They should get a raise
Monitors = after years of wait. Gets Killed. Just not enough employees to make a frame and stick someone elses panel in it.
Desktops = after years of wait...Desktops, what are those.
laptops = after years of wait, we get the emoji touchbar and amazing thinness that doesn't allow 32GB of Ram
airport = Its just too tiring for the one person that this employed. It just needs to go
Apple Car = Spend billions in resources and then find out. no, we don't want to build a car. disband team
So Really... What has a hundred thousand employees been doing the past few years? Hello. The Mac Pro is over a thousand days old with pricing as if it were introduced yesterday. The Mac ecosystem is being destroyed piece by piece.
Even if we don't buy that particular product, the message being sent is be prepared that we will drop "the product you care for" on a whim. They are breaking trust with everyone.
I've been waiting to upgrade all our companies MacPros for an eternity. Now, I'm just not sure if this is the smart choice anymore even if they do release a new Mac Pro. I am truly shocked at how poor this company is being run right now.
Mesh networks are not new, they are probably new in the low-end market. Deployed a Cisco variety of it in our company in 2010, if I remember correctly - and the previous generation of their mesh WiFi equipment was reaching EOL by that time - so the technology is quite old.
For those concerned about the loss of OTA Time Machine backups, I recommend getting a NAS that supports that function along with the many other functions that it can perform on your network.
Again, this is not surprising at all to me. Tim Cook is an operational individual. He excels at maximizing operations and making them as efficient as possible. The end result (and probably desire/goal) being the savings of expenses. He is an accountant's wet dream.
Again, this is not surprising at all to me. Tim Cook is an operational individual. He excels at maximizing operations and making them as efficient as possible. The end result (and probably desire/goal) being the savings of expenses. He is an accountant's wet dream.
And, of course, all software.
Tim: "why are we making iWork?"
Phil: "so that our customers can use these apps on all the devices they love for free."
Tim: "doesn't Microsoft do that?"
Phil: "errr.... you mean Office 365?"
Tim: "That's it! Kill iWork immediately! Shareholders were asking about the revenue and margin on these products"
Can one explain the logic of simple wireless router device that works perfectly with Apple products get abandoned for a dumb Apple Car that only a rich ****** will be the only driving. I guess Apple soon going to force everyone to sign up to a data plan probably one of their own.