Apple Ceases Development of 'AirPort' Wireless Routers as Engineers Reassigned to Other Products

[Razeus]

Sure does. But I am not very keen on worrying about virus and trojans just yet. The ONE thing that keeps me on the Mac platform amidst the constant erosion of goodness, is that there is still no real constant threat of virus from flash drives and internet JUST YET. It is not as mainstream as in the Windows world.

I hear ya. I've been back on Windows for over a here now (personal system, outside of work), after 6 years being on a Mac. I've never caught a virus on either system. Catching virus's are usually the user's fault. I rock Windows 10 with only the default Windows security.

 

[JamesPDX]

and unencrypted..

Triple score!
[doublepost=1479933864][/doublepost]

He didn't. Gene Munster if I remember correctly was quoted as saying Apple would never have paid dividends under Jobs, I'm not sure that is exactly true but he absolutely didn't pander to investors.

On the subject of Apple having plenty of money sitting around collecting dust, thats partially true. They have plenty of money outside of the US that they can't/won't repatriate. Tim Cook has actually raised Apples debt to pay the dividends and fund buy backs.

The constant focus under Cook seems to be one of trying to upsell customers into buying the more expensive model or device. It permeates nearly every product line now..

• The 21.5 4k iMac,released in 2015, base model ships with a 5400 rpm hard drive.
  
• The 16gb iPhone fiasco that went on far longer than was acceptable.
• culling of any products that dont ship in the millions or yield large margins. Even seemingly important ones like the Mac Pro*
• The storage situation on iOS devices that seems to have got more and more extreme. iPad Pro, marketed as a laptop replacement, starts as 32gb storage!?
• hiking of prices in response to falling sales (iPad pro again)
• Putting higher end features on the larger (more expensive) iPhone. Some of this can be passed off as space restraint on the smaller device but much of is a marketing decision.

This kind of nickel and diming shows that there is a focus on pleasing Wall Street as much as there is the customer these days. Remember the interview when Cook sat there next to Jobs while Jobs insisted Apple would not ship junk? That philosophy is certainly gone now.


*He gets the benefit of the doubt for now on the Mac Pro but it doesn't look promising.

I know. Where can one find USB-C to Coax dongle? When your internet cable connection is thicker than your SocialMediaShoppingBookPro, there's a problem.
[doublepost=1479934119][/doublepost]

Hmm, so since in your made up fantasy world you have convinced yourself that great apple products are coming in "3-5" years, that means they can cripple, cancel and/or overharge for the products they have on the shelf today?

5 years ago, FCPX was a harbinger of things to come. Final Cut used to be the industry leading editing software, now its user base is tiny. The whole company will soon follow that same path
[doublepost=1479834933][/doublepost]

THIS!!!

It's about content-creation control. And this: http://boingboing.net/2015/04/13/nsa-declares-war-on-general-pu.html

 

[Klaatu63]

Apple has dissolved its division which develops wireless routers and is now sending engineers who worked on the AirPort lineup into other product teams, including one currently working on Apple TV. The news comes from a report by Bloomberg, who said Apple has been slowly shutting down the division over the past year and made the decision "to try to sharpen the company's focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue."

Currently, Apple sells three wireless routers, including the AirPort Express ($99), AirPort Extreme ($199), and AirPort Time Capsule ($299), but none of the devices have seen a refresh since 2013. A temporary stock shortage earlier in the year gave hope that a refresh of the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule was coming during WWDC, but Apple never mentioned the products during its keynote. The trio of wireless routers still remain available for purchase for the time being.
The central reason for abandoning the AirPort line appears to focus mainly on its small revenue gains in comparison to the company's more lucrative products, like the iPhone. Apple includes its routers in the "other products" category of its annual financial results, a section which generated $11.1 billion in fiscal 2016, or about 5 percent of the company's total sales.

Article Link: Apple Ceases Development of 'AirPort' Wireless Routers as Engineers Reassigned to Other Products

 

[Amigalander]

I wonder how much profit Apple makes on their keyboard products. Whether wired or wireless, I can't really see the keyboard business taking a significant piece of the profit pie. I guess they'll have to abandon that too and ship Macs without keyboards.

 

[Klaatu63]

I honestly think that Tim is a bean counter and not a visionary. The Airport products have enabled many many people years of trouble free communication. The Airport line might not offer all the bells and whistles but for the average consumer they are a perfect match. Tims is looking at every individual product and making decisions at the micro level. In the past Apple had a vision and a visionaty now they have an accountant.

 

[jmc77]

I went ahead and ordered an eero system. They're having a sale today that's advertised in the details of their app update.
https://appsto.re/us/dTva9.i

I already moved from AirPlay to Sonos last year as the room-to-room audio sync was always off with AirPlay and works perfectly with Sonos.

I love my eero system! I actually recently switched to it from an Airport Extreme and Airport Express setup. I replaced my Extreme with eero's mesh system, but was told by support I could keep my Express on the network so that I could continue to use Airplay. It's worked seamlessly so far.

I actually hadn't seen that deal, but I saw they're going to have a Black Friday deal. http://www.theverge.com/circuitbrea...sh-router-wifi-sale-black-friday-cyber-monday

 

[hindmost]

One day, the public will grow bored with the iCost2much goods and jump ship in large numbers. Will their computer division save them - No, as it has been stymied and left to rot. Will their higher end accessories save them - monitors, routers and long ago laser printers, no. Will their over priced laptop division save them, no.

It appears the only thing that will save Apple is the continued success at raising lemming fanbois who will buy whatever is in front of them that Apple tells them to buy whether it be older technology or some feature that is over-hyped


Why wouldn't your TC work with either of those fiber connections?

1) You can drop an Ethernet cable from your fiber "router" to your TC.
2) You can go in a bridge mode WiFi from your fiber "router" to your TC if the fiber "router" has WiFi
3) With either of the above options, you have a choice to allow the fiber router to control all IPs or
let it act like the WAN and your TC does the IP assignments (DHCP in most cases).

I have hooked up via Ethernet routers to a very old FIOS router to gain both 802.11n and 802.11ac. It works like a champ. I also did similar with a aDSL modem router. I find it interesting that for some people, you have to give them a "proof of concept" before they will upgrade their hardware. When they get on the added router's WiFi network they are shocked how much better things can be with respect to range and connectivity.

[doublepost=1479945091][/doublepost]Thanks for the input. I am definitely going 'Google Fiber' and will await them installing the 'Fiber Plug' in my home (should be with a week or three).

Various 'search engine queries' from me trolling for anybody who has success with the Google box (I deduce it's a modem/router) seems to have more 'issues' than 'solutions' even with 'bridge mode'.

However, I'll give it a try. Perhaps the solution lies in a USB connect to an external 2T external HD I have. At any rate, I await the adventure...but do think the Time Capsule will not be in it. Regards.

 

[tech4all]

Let me then pose a counterpoint.

Google just released their own router, at a time when Apple is reportedly getting out of the router business.

Why? And don't just tell me it's about profits. We all know it's more than that. If people are just to focus obsessively around this idea and blind themselves to all other possible reasons, then this discussion will never get anywhere and we will simply see more of the same whining and griping.

What value does Google see in releasing a router (a heavily commoditised product) that Apple apparently doesn't? What about their respective business models and strategies causes them to see this space differently?

I feel this is something worth debating. Has anyone thought to raise such a point in 800 posts? I am not going to bother sifting through all these posts, but I think you and I both know the answer to that.

Of course it's about profits. That's what ultimately drives every company. Why did Google release a router? They're primarily an advertising company that tailors ads based on how we surf. Maybe they'll use the router to study how we surf and tailer ads based on those results. If people don't like that, they don't use Google products.

Likewise some don't like the way Apple's does business. Paying a premium for out-of-date hardware. Have new hardware being neutered in some way. People that don't like that, will find better alternatives.

 

[Rob_2811]

Let me then pose a counterpoint.

Google just released their own router, at a time when Apple is reportedly getting out of the router business.

Why? And don't just tell me it's about profits. We all know it's more than that. If people are just to focus obsessively around this idea and blind themselves to all other possible reasons, then this discussion will never get anywhere and we will simply see more of the same whining and griping.

What value does Google see in releasing a router (a heavily commoditised product) that Apple apparently doesn't? What about their respective business models and strategies causes them to see this space differently?

I feel this is something worth debating. Has anyone thought to raise such a point in 800 posts? I am not going to bother sifting through all these posts, but I think you and I both know the answer to that.

Put simply Apple is a hardware company first and foremost their primary source of revenue is profit from selling hardware, Google make the majority of their revenue, about 90%, from advertising. For them it isn't about making 40% margin on every piece of hardware they sell, the data they can collect is worth much more to them.

So in short, from Apples point of view it is about profit.

 

[Abazigal]

Put simply Apple is a hardware company first and foremost their primary source of revenue is profit from selling hardware, Google make the majority of their revenue, about 90%, from advertising. For them it isn't about making 40% margin on every piece of hardware they sell, the data they can collect is worth much more to them.

So in short, from Apples point of view it is about profit.

You haven't answered my question.

How does a router by Google help strengthen their business model? It's not as though people had problems connecting to the internet or using their services prior to their google home router.

True, google has a penchant for giving stuff away for cheap or free, but that doesn't mean they go around doing stuff wholly unrelated to their core strengths.

 

[BangTheDish]

How does a router by Google help strengthen their business model? It's not as though people had problems connecting to the internet or using their services prior to their google home router.

It helps them because presumably the router can report every DNS query and connection made from your network.

 

[moxin]

no need to go wireless, you need a dongle for that

 

[ardent73]

Looks like Apple is in the midst of a major restructuring. No more Displays, no more AirPorts, and I'm going to guess no more Mac Pros. I awonder how long the iMac has left to live, seeing as it didn't get unveiled along with the new MacBooks. It appears Apple is going to all but abandon their computer line to focus on the phone, tablet, and watch.

Apple is walking a slippery slope. They better be careful.

IBM was at least smart enough to sell their PC business and not just kill it.

 

[Basic75]

I'm thinking you just like to bash capitalism.

You can't deny that between shareholders, customers, workforce and nature, there is a clear bias towards the first in our current system. I also think that a better balance would be healthier for us as society.

PS: This is admittedly rather off-topic, so if you want to reply you might want to do so in private.

 

[jndm]

iCloud is the alternative to Time Capsule and I have a feeling its adoption has far exceeded the purchases of Time Capsules. But I am definitely sad about Airport Express being discontinued.

How can I restore from iCloud version of my document from last week?

 

[Clix Pix]

As a Mac user since 2005 I am very disappointed in the news about the AEBS and Apple Time Capsule being discontinued.....I've been very happy with my AEBS devices through the years and a friend who has relied on her Time Capsule for several years has also been very happy with the easy setup and use of these devices. Both of us found this latest news very upsetting.

On one hand I can see how Apple might decide to get out of the router business when now there are new applications of technology coming down the street (the "mesh" thing demonstrated by Eero and others) so that they might have decided they just don't want to get into that kind of technology at all..... On the other hand, where does this leave people who have been using AEBS or Time Capsules for a long time now, have found them reliable and dependable, not to mention easy to set up and use right out of the box? Will all of current AEBS / Time Capsule device users want or need to use a "mesh" system or go to another router when their AEBS or Time Capsule dies? I guess if there are no more AEBS or Time Capsule devices available from Apple at the time someone needs to do an update in their system, well, if they won't have the option of continuing with Apple yes, they will need to look at what else is out there......

The suggestion that maybe the Time Capsule/Time Machine part will all be transferred to an iCloud function maybe through the Apple TV -- is all well and good but that doesn't solve the problem of the person who just wants a good, reliable router and who uses other devices for backups and so on..... Some of us don't really trust iCloud or any cloud system all that much and therefore are not about to be entrusting all of our personal data to it. Photos? Sure.....Some documents? Sure.....Other stuff? Eh, maybe not so sure. I want a router that is simply a router and not a device which will transport much of or even all of my personal data to iCloud..... AND I don't have an Apple TV as it really does not fit into my lifestyle and needs at the moment anyway. I've got external drives (both "spinners" and SSDs) and I put what I want on those and know that the information is retained right here at home or wherever I choose to safely store any of those devices. I run a backup on one of my external drives that includes my tax return information, it stays on the external drive under my control. My router has nothing to do with all of this, nor does iCloud......Am I going to put my tax return information on iCloud? No way! My router should have nothing to do with iCloud or AppleT V at all.....

Others have mentioned some sort of new implementation which would involve Siri. Um....again, that is problematic for some people. Siri, while a wonderful idea for many Apple users, for various reasons really just does not work out well for others at all, and so it is not even activated and used by those who don't or can't benefit from it. Setting up a WiFi router system utilizing Siri? No thanks! I really don't see how that could be useful or even available to some people who are otherwise fully engaged in the Apple Ecosystem. Since Apple is so big on demonstrating how they support accessibility I can't imagine that they would release a product which in reality would not be accessible or useable to some of their customers.

 

[cmaier]

You are misunderstanding the Siri aspect. We are talking about something like Alexa. A stand-alone device to answer siri queries, control homekit devices, stream music, etc. we aren't saying you would set up the router using Siri.

As a Mac user since 2005 I am very disappointed in the news about the AEBS and Apple Time Capsule being discontinued.....I've been very happy with my AEBS devices through the years and a friend who has relied on her Time Capsule for several years has also been very happy with the easy setup and use of these devices. Both of us found this latest news very upsetting.

On one hand I can see how Apple might decide to get out of the router business when now there are new applications of technology coming down the street (the "mesh" thing demonstrated by Eero and others) so that they might have decided they just don't want to get into that kind of technology at all..... On the other hand, where does this leave people who have been using AEBS or Time Capsules for a long time now, have found them reliable and dependable, not to mention easy to set up and use right out of the box? Will all of current AEBS / Time Capsule device users want or need to use a "mesh" system or go to another router when their AEBS or Time Capsule dies? I guess if there are no more AEBS or Time Capsule devices available from Apple at the time someone needs to do an update in their system, well, if they won't have the option of continuing with Apple yes, they will need to look at what else is out there......

The suggestion that maybe the Time Capsule/Time Machine part will all be transferred to an iCloud function maybe through the Apple TV -- is all well and good but that doesn't solve the problem of the person who just wants a good, reliable router and who uses other devices for backups and so on..... Some of us don't really trust iCloud or any cloud system all that much and therefore are not about to be entrusting all of our personal data to it. Photos? Sure.....Some documents? Sure.....Other stuff? Eh, maybe not so sure. I want a router that is simply a router and not a device which will transport much of or even all of my personal data to iCloud..... AND I don't have an Apple TV as it really does not fit into my lifestyle and needs at the moment anyway. I've got external drives (both "spinners" and SSDs) and I put what I want on those and know that the information is retained right here at home or wherever I choose to safely store any of those devices. I run a backup on one of my external drives that includes my tax return information, it stays on the external drive under my control. My router has nothing to do with all of this, nor does iCloud......Am I going to put my tax return information on iCloud? No way! My router should have nothing to do with iCloud or AppleT V at all.....

Others have mentioned some sort of new implementation which would involve Siri. Um....again, that is problematic for some people. Siri, while a wonderful idea for many Apple users, for various reasons really just does not work out well for others at all, and so it is not even activated and used by those who don't or can't benefit from it. Setting up a WiFi router system utilizing Siri? No thanks! I really don't see how that could be useful or even available to some people who are otherwise fully engaged in the Apple Ecosystem. Since Apple is so big on demonstrating how they support accessibility I can't imagine that they would release a product which in reality would not be accessible or useable to some of their customers.

 

[Rob_2811]

You haven't answered my question.

How does a router by Google help strengthen their business model? It's not as though people had problems connecting to the internet or using their services prior to their google home router.

True, google has a penchant for giving stuff away for cheap or free, but that doesn't mean they go around doing stuff wholly unrelated to their core strengths.

It helps them collect data which they use to sell advertising.

 

[Abazigal]

It helps them collect data which they use to sell advertising.

How? I have yet to see anyone offer specifics. How does a router allow Google to collect data any better than how they are already doing now?

 

[Clix Pix]

You are misunderstanding the Siri aspect. We are talking about something like Alexa. A stand-alone device to answer siri queries, control homekit devices, stream music, etc. we aren't saying you would set up the router using Siri.

No, you are misunderstanding me. The point I was making is that some people cannot utilize Siri or Alexa or any other sort of device in which someone has to talk to it to make things happen. NOW do you get it?

 

[cmaier]

No, you are misunderstanding me. The point I was making is that some people cannot utilize Siri or Alexa or any other sort of device in which someone has to talk to it to make things happen. NOW do you get it?

No i still don't get it. If you can't use it, it's still a router, so what's the harm?

 

[Rob_2811]

How? I have yet to see anyone offer specifics. How does a router allow Google to collect data any better than how they are already doing now?

Its a part of an Ecosystem along with Google Home, The search engine, Android, Chromecast, daydream VR etc etc etc. The ultimate goal is to collect data and serve relevant advertising. Not every single part of that ecosystem has to collect that data they are a value add.

Obviously Google recognizes the value of a strong ecosystem.

Then you've got Apple culling anything that doesn't ship by the boatload. Incredibly short sighted.

 

[Abazigal]

Its a part of an Ecosystem along with Google Home, The search engine, Android, Chromecast, daydream VR etc etc etc. The ultimate goal is to collect data and serve relevant advertising. Not every single part of that ecosystem has to collect that data they are a value add.

Obviously Google recognizes the value of a strong ecosystem.

Then you've got Apple culling anything that doesn't ship by the boatload. Incredibly short sighted.

And what's the value add of a google router?

With Apple routers, I get integrated time machine backups, AirPlay support for devices and a simplified user interface. So if I am deep in the Apple ecosystem, there is value in getting a time machine over other routers even if the former costs more. I get that and I understand why some people might be unhappy to (eventually) this functionality, especially if you have come to rely on it.

What exactly does Google's mesh routers do that I can't already get using mesh routers from Eero or a normal router from Asus or TP-link? How exactly does it strengthen Google's ecosystem? This is what I am not getting specifics on, beyond very vague "it rounds out the Google ecosystem" responses which don't answer the question at all.

Assuming it does, can someone tell me how? List me 3-4 advantages a google router would have over a typical router, for starters. How would it promote the use of other Google services and / or hardware?

Discuss.

 

[Rob_2811]

And what's the value add of a google router?

With Apple routers, I get integrated time machine backups, AirPlay support for devices and a simplified user interface. So if I am deep in the Apple ecosystem, there is value in getting a time machine over other routers even if the former costs more. I get that and I understand why some people might be unhappy to (eventually) this functionality, especially if you have come to rely on it.

What exactly does Google's mesh routers do that I can't already get using mesh routers from Eero or a normal router from Asus or TP-link? How exactly does it strengthen Google's ecosystem? This is what I am not getting specifics on, beyond very vague "it rounds out the Google ecosystem" responses which don't answer the question at all.

Assuming it does, can someone tell me how? List me 3-4 advantages a google router would have over a typical router, for starters. How would it promote the use of other Google services and / or hardware?

Discuss.

Time Machine back ups are nothing that you can't get from plenty of third party external drives so your point about Airport devices is moot. I have always used time machine and never owned and Airport device. Time Machine is a function of OS X not the Airport devices.

Why would anybody bother listing advantages for you, could you list four that Airport devices offer that the competition dont? There aren't even four to list..

What is the ultimate point that you are driving at here?

 

[Abazigal]

Time Machine back ups are nothing that you can't get from plenty of third party external drives so your point about Airport devices is moot. I have always used time machine and never owned and Airport device. Time Machine is a function of OS X not the Airport devices.

Why would anybody bother listing advantages for you, could you list four that Airport devices offer that the competition dont? There aren't even four to list..

What is the ultimate point that you are driving at here?

My point is that people are essentially making very superficial and uneducated arguments here. We see very generic statements like "it strengths the google ecosystem (somehow)", yet the people making these claims are completely unable to support their claims with any facts or examples whatsoever.

It's not exactly rocket science. Even when we do debate in school, we are expected to research on evidence and proof to support the arguments we make.

We see people wailing about how Apple exiting the router market weakens the Apple ecosystem somehow, yet I am seeing very little evidence to corroborate those claims.

I am hoping for deeper, more in-depth, well-reasoned and thought out arguments, and well, I guess it's a shame that this simply isn't happening.