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Apple Dropping "AirPort" for "Wi-Fi"

Slix said:
It makes sense. Though, what happens to all those Air Port base stations and such? Would their names be changed too, eventually?
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I doubt it. AirPort on the mac isn't needed and serves to only cause confusion for switchers. We all know what Wi-Fi is, but switchers wont have a clue what AirPort is, for the most part anyway. The AirPort Extreme and Express are product names. Changing them to Wi-Fi would make no sense in that case.
 
Skika said:
I like AirPort :(
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Me too :( but I guess it makes sense to adopt the industry standard.

If Apple hadn't trademarked the name, perhaps it would have become a standard. After all, the name is clever and describes what it does... The word "Wi-Fi" is just a bastardisation of the word Hi-Fi and doesn't really make sense.
 
I gotta say I picked an Airport Extreme up today and set it up. Marvelously easy, but I was seriously underwhelmed by it's range. If there's a new one on the horizon that will give me better range, I'm taking this one back
 
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Dammit where's my shortage :D.

I agree with WiFi over Wi-Fi - it looks to me like they are using an em dash instead of a hyphen / en dash in the Lion picture, which just doesn't look right, whereas iOS's looks more like a hyphen. I think that is what is making people notice it more so.

Good move I reckon but I can't say I ever really think about it much, the graphic is what you see most of the time, and it remains the same.
 
This is a two way street

The way I see this is that Apple is doing the right thing by changing the name within the system from Airport to Wi-Fi. But at the same time, Airport can still be used as the brand name for Apple's Wi-Fi devices. Most of the confusion lies within the system settings. Not with actual product names like Airport Extreme or Airport Express. They do not need to move to some generic name like "Apple Wi-Fi" for the Extreme, Express and Time Capsule. But that is just my two cents...
 
Menumeters rocks, gets my all-time best utility award, and it's free.

But to get back to the picture, maybe this is from the Server version of Lion?
 
I'm disappointed in this, as I've traditionally named all my Airport base stations after actual airports. While I will continue to do so, the reference will become lost in the mists of historical obscurity.
 
So how many people do ya think clicked on "AirPort" looking to check their flight times? Must have happened. :D


Gasu E. said:
I'm disappointed in this, as I've traditionally named all my Airport base stations after actual airports. While I will continue to do so, the reference will become lost in the mists of historical obscurity.
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awwww . . . that's so cute.

400_F_19621115_UIco5ngHbegxbehMXichGkUVaBRpLu8f.jpg


(clever idea actually!)
 
rorschach said:
Lion does use "AirPort" when referring to the AirPort base station (as in "AirPort Utility").

It makes sense, though. AirPort is the name of one Wi-Fi base station; there are many others. It's been...how many years since Apple stopped selling AirPort Cards and built them into all their computers?
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I think you're right. Keep airport as the name of the wifi router Apple offers but refer to the wireless connection as wifi like everyone else.
 
Avoids confusion with Airplay

It makes sense to me. Airplay is becoming big, with lots of third party gadgets about to adopt it. The name is too similar to Airport and Apple obviously feels there will be some confusion, especially among the new people to the Apple universe not acquainted to Airport.
 
I hope the next airport routers released by Apple have multiple USB ports. It would be nice to have one unit with the ability to connect a printer and multiple drives without an external hub.
 
I never liked the "Wi-Fi" nickname.

AirPort is more fun.

If they have to change the label, it would be cooler to call it 802.11
 
FroMann said:
I'M NOT UPDATING TO LION NOW!!1 /sarcasm

It makes sense, I wouldn't be surprised if Airport confused actual users who bought a Mac for the first time.
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No doubt, they probably thought Airport was a utility to keep track of local Flights. :)
 
MacRumors said:
Wi-Fi has been the preferred term for wireless internet connectivity for most of the tech world , and, notably, iOS applications, for a long time, but AirPort has been Apple's name for the various 802.11 standards since 1999 when Steve Jobs introduced the first iBook with Wi-Fi capabilities.
Wow does this bring back memories. I bought the first blueberry iBook with "WiFi" and an ABS in late 1999 when it was first released. It was amazing how easy it was to set up. A year later Dell came out with their version and ranted on commercials how they were first with this "innovation." I just laughed.
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This is a good move. In 1999 nobody knew what Wi-Fi was, so Apple made their own fun name for it to brand their sets of networking cards and base stations. That made it simple to say "buy this card" and "buy this access point" and you'll be set.

Now Wi-Fi is a very common term, even my Grandma knows what it is! It's just one more way to make the Mac easier to use. Less confusion is always a good thing. :)

And if you really want it to say AirPort instead of Wi-Fi I guarantee you can easily hack it back by changing a few lines of text. ;)
 
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