Apple Quietly Updates Time Capsule (2TB and 3TB) and AirPort Extreme

[mrfoof82]

The speed of the WiFi using three antennas now on wireless n 450mbps, of course no one will get these speeds so in other words its rubbish.

Wireless is ALWAYS about theoretical speeds, not actual. The real world makes it impossible for it to hit the theoretical speeds because of obstacles, humans and not working in a vacuum.

I get 120-140Mbps between hosts with my Time Capsule. That's honestly not bad for any wireless technology. Additionally, the new iMacs and MacBook Pros have MIMO support which is also supported by the existing simultaneous dual-band Time Capsules -- realistically that should be good for another 20-40Mbps boost.

The new routers also have six antennas instead of three, so we may see increased throughput on both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands. They've also improved heat dissipation, power consumption, and reduced noise. Honestly, if I could get 200Mbps over MIMO on the 5GHz band, I'd be very happy with that as a wireless technology.

 

[cheops2006]

Where did you see the speed bumps? I was also looking for range increase.

Its my guess based on the fact that the new iMacs use three antennas at max 450mbps.

 

[dlowings]

I want to buy one of these but when I ran my review I see a lot of people saying it has about an 18 month life span... I can't see spending 500 bucks for 18 months of storage.. Can anyone speak to the life span, and if this new version might adress that issue ?

 

[Menge]

I'm pretty sure my yesterday's-model AirPort Extreme already does 450mbps. I tend to get 50% faster transfers on my new MacBook Pro than on my old Aluminum MacBook.

 

[CheesePuff]

With these are you able to mount the hard drive as an external drive and use it to move individual files and what not over to it?

Edit: and do this wirelssly as well?

 

[SicMX]

Wireless is too slow for Time Machine. Even my FW800 slows the computer down... I really need to invest in an internal SSD + external SSD with Thunderbolt

 

[mrfoof82]

I want to buy one of these but when I ran my review I see a lot of people saying it has about an 18 month life span... I can't see spending 500 bucks for 18 months of storage.. Can anyone speak to the life span, and if this new version might adress that issue ?

They've improved heat dissipation to hopefully reduce drives overheating. 2TB drives are more efficient and use fewer platters than they did several years ago, so that helps as well.

Also, if you have AppleCare on a computer, your Time Capsules automatically get covered.

I have an original 2TB. No problems, just works. I've also gifted an older 500GB one to my parents, and a 1TB one (same generation as mine) to my sister. All work like champs.

 

[njn007]

Apple store just removed the pages for Airport Extreme and Time Capsule. Time to create those new pages and hopefully better prices!!!

 

[applefan289]

Apple store just removed the pages for Airport Extreme and Time Capsule. Time to create those new pages and hopefully better prices!!!

I just noticed TC, but AE TOO!!!!!

 

[mrfoof82]

Wireless is too slow for Time Machine. Even my FW800 slows the computer down... I really need to invest in an internal SSD + external SSD with Thunderbolt

No it's not. I back up 800GB of stuff on my 2TB Time Capsule (plus about 70GB from a MacBook Pro). All you care about is it finishes, not how long it takes. Even when I get new media (like a 2GB movie file) it's not the end of the world. Over wireless it takes about 4 - 5 minutes to back it up. Faster backups don't really protect your data any better except in the most extreme cases (coming from someone who does DR/BC consulting for financial services companies) -- in which then you should have redundant systems for high availability anyways.

 

[snebes]

Products are live in the store now. Same pricing

http://store.apple.com/us/product/M...fnode=MTY1NDEyMQ&mco=MjI5NTk5MTM&s=topSellers

http://store.apple.com/us/product/MD032LL/A/Time-Capsule-2TB?mco=MjI5NjEzMDQ

 

[imola.zhp]

Glad to hear nothing is new, my 1TB TC works fine, no reason to "upgrade" if the only change is storage size...

Oh and BTW guys, there are other sources just as good as apple.com to buy apple products. If you can be patient and wait a few months, you'll usually save some cash...

 

[trip1ex]

The new routers also have six antennas instead of three, so we may see increased throughput on both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands. They've also improved heat dissipation, power consumption, and reduced noise. Honestly, if I could get 200Mbps over MIMO on the 5GHz band, I'd be very happy with that as a wireless technology.

Don't see anything yet that says the new routers have more antennas, better power consumption, reduced noise, etc.

 

[NightFox]

So, is this being sold as the 4th Gen or still the 3rd Gen with larger capacity?

 

[SicMX]

No it's not. I back up 800GB of stuff on my 2TB Time Capsule (plus about 70GB from a MacBook Pro). All you care about is it finishes, not how long it takes. Even when I get new media (like a 2GB movie file) it's not the end of the world. Over wireless it takes about 4 - 5 minutes to back it up. Faster backups don't really protect your data any better except in the most extreme cases (coming from someone who does DR/BC consulting for financial services companies) -- in which then you should have redundant systems for high availability anyways.

Editing pictures in Lightroom/Photoshop really slows down during Time Machine backups, at least for me. Obviously only when there is a lot of new stuff to backup, but still. As my MBP only has a 500gb HD i'm moving around photos a lot which means timemachine is often backing up 20gb + of data at which point the system really slows down.

 

[eldertong]

$499

 

[IFRS]

Curious which firmware version is loaded on the new AE/TC. Only difference I can find is the "2 & 3tb server grade" hdd.

 

[njn007]

New products are indeed live now in the regular store.

If, however, you are like me and waiting for your school/business to have them with the discounted pricing, they have yet to put them up yet in special stores.

 

[randomrazr]

Wireless is ALWAYS about theoretical speeds, not actual. The real world makes it impossible for it to hit the theoretical speeds because of obstacles, humans and not working in a vacuum.

I get 120-140Mbps between hosts with my Time Capsule. That's honestly not bad for any wireless technology. Additionally, the new iMacs and MacBook Pros have MIMO support which is also supported by the existing simultaneous dual-band Time Capsules -- realistically that should be good for another 20-40Mbps boost.

The new routers also have six antennas instead of three, so we may see increased throughput on both the 2.4GHz and 5.0GHz bands. They've also improved heat dissipation, power consumption, and reduced noise. Honestly, if I could get 200Mbps over MIMO on the 5GHz band, I'd be very happy with that as a wireless technology.

ur sayin the neew time capsules are better? it only seems the only thing changed is capacity

 

[WiiDSmoker]

I don't see any different from the old AE to the new one??? Someone explain or point it out.

 

[BJonson]

Are these not new features?


- Integrated power supply
- Simultaneous 2.4 and 5ghz

 

[World Citizen]

Crap now i will have to buy an mac mini...
this is just to much money for an HDD with router.

 

[trip1ex]

I don't see any different from the old AE to the new one??? Someone explain or point it out.

It means small refinements at best.

 

[alm99]

Ugh, underwhelming update.

Now I can't decide on whether or not to go refurbed AEBS with external hard drive or go for the 2tb TC.

 

[robbieduncan]

Are these not new features?


- Integrated power supply
- Simultaneous 2.4 and 5ghz

My existing TimeCapsule has both of those so no.