Apple Releases Redesigned iOS-Like Airport Utility 6.0 and an Airport Base Station Bug-Fix

[odotan]

Have no fear! The functionality is still there if you download Airport utility 5.6. Apparently this $%&^#% version 6 is only a shell for a subset of the features... I hate when apple over-simplifies. I, too, use the dyndns service with my airport extreme... and was shocked to see it gone when I update... I immediately searched for this issue and found your post... then read on this forum and saw that there's a 5.6 version... which I downloaded and discovered that the dynamic global host is still there luckily. Pheeew.... BOOO APPLE FOR TREATING US LIKE INCAPABLE IDIOTS!

Whaaa?

It looks like the ability to update my IP address from the router is gone, it used to be called "Dynamic Global Hostname" but it appears to have been removed from the network config.

I used to use DynDNS for this, but not using their scripts run on a PC, but updated directly from the AX

http://dyn.com/support/airport-time-capsule-with-dynamic-dns/

Boo for removing features

 

[Bear]

Requires lion.

Fat chance. Looks like all my HW is going to get really long in the tooth over the next year.

I was just thinking that myself.

 

[Macsterguy]

Seriously Apple do I need to wait in turn to update my devices?

Prior to the update I was able to update the firmware on all my devices simultaneously. Now I need to update them one by one. I am working on Mac OS X which is able to have full multitasking not iOS!!!!!

Apart from that it was convenient when I needed to set up a number of devices I was able to have multiple windows open so when one is restarting I was able to continue setting up the others. Now it isn't possible.

Apple Remote Desktop will allow you to do what you want and more. Mac App Store - Fantastic

 

[jeffmgr]

More important: Does this fix a bug where Firmware version 7.6 would cause USB-connected disks to spin up every few minutes?

I installed 7.6 and went back to 7.5.2 because of this issue!

I have the same problem. Using Snow Leopard, I just downgraded to 7.5.2 also. I had tech support have me reset the time capsule...I'm waiting to see how it pans out...so far so good.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

I have 6.0 only!

 

[Bear]

There is an "Expert Mode." It's called Airport Utility 5.6, which was also released today.

And what happens when 5.6 is no longer useable due to an OS upgrade? There needs to be an expert mode in 6.x.

 

[KPOM]

And what happens when 5.6 is no longer useable due to an OS upgrade? There needs to be an expert mode in 6.x.

Cross that bridge when you get there. 5.6 was released today. Apple hasn't even announced the next OS update. My guess is that 10.8 (or whatever it will be called) won't be available for at least 18 months, or even longer.

It isn't as if the Airport is the only router that works with the Mac. Either the new devices will support that functionality in some other way, or people who need that functionality will look elsewhere. But I'm guessing that 99% of people will be fine with what is provided.

 

[Rocketman]

Lion is continuing the convergence toward and compatibility/compliance with iOS. Soon MacOS and iOS will be one. About 2 years.

Last chance. Buy a Mac.

Rocketman

 

[iSayuSay]

OSX is becoming iOS in 3, 2 and so on and so-forth.

You may go sarcastic about it .. but too bad, it's true. More than 70% of Apple's revenue comes from iOS now. So, yes .. Apple dumbing things down to iOS level.

Starting with Airport Extreme firmware, anything from Apple ... super extra hyper simplified, from now on

 

[Digital Skunk]

Lion is continuing the convergence toward and compatibility/compliance with iOS. Soon MacOS and iOS will be one. About 2 years.

Last chance. Buy a Mac.

Rocketman

I agree, but it does sound very familiar. . . How was the OS9 --> OS10 transition? I will admit that I wasn't a Mac fan back then, so I missed all the hoopla with that switch.

 

[iSayuSay]

Sad ... but Apple makes it true and truer everyday now ...

 

[drambuie]

The purpose of AirPort Utility 5.6 is to allow Lion with 6.0 to connect to 802.11g Airport routers. In case anyone has not seen it, this is explained here:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT5022

I said, "connect to 802.11g." I meant to say, "configure 802.11g."

 

[redmac]

No. The only thing "easy" with this is to see that you have multiple Airports as it provides a network map. Other than that, troubleshooting is not easier. Heck, it won't even list DHCP clients on ethernet. Let's say you have a computer on the LAN with connectivity problem, this app is useless. At least on the old one, I can see if the router assigned an IP address or not. How would not showing the info make things easier for people to troubleshoot?

Version 6.0 is for those who don't know and don't even want to know what a DHCP client is. Version 5.x is for the remaining 2% of Apple's customer base. Tools are there for you to find them. If you are too lazy to search for ways to solve your problem, you can't expect everybody else to spend their time.

I don't understand the level of snobbery among the tech-blog followers. Not every body want to spend hours to figure out how to create a wireless network. How would you feel if you needed to read a manual every time you use a new device? Needing to read manuals to buy gas, to use an ATM, a toaster oven etc!

 

[Apple Corps]

As of tomorrow morning I am selling all of my airports and time capsule and buying some real hardware. I'm done with this company.

Talk about overreaction. Your departure is favorably anticipated and your absence appreciated.

 

[solace]

A bit dramatic don't you think considering two versions of the utility were released?

You can choose between the normal version, or the easier to use version, or both. I don't understand why this is a bad thing.

no offense, but if you were truly an IT/network nerd, you would not ever have considered Apple's own routers REAL hardware in the first place...

 

[JohnDoe98]

I don't understand the level of snobbery among the tech-blog followers. Not every body want to spend hours to figure out how to create a wireless network. How would you feel if you needed to read a manual every time you use a new device? Needing to read manuals to buy gas, to use an ATM, a toaster oven etc!

And that is exactly why an "advanced" toggle makes sense. Not everyone wants advanced features, I grant you, but pretty much everyone wants to only have one app to deal with as far as regulating their networks is concerned. I don't understand why asking for such a solution means someone is a technological snob.

 

[SuperCachetes]

AirPort Utility 6.0 for Mac OS X Lion weighs in at 14.13MB and requires Mac OS X 10.7.2. The user interface has been redesigned to look more like the iOS Airport Utility application available through the App Store for the iPhone and iPad. It is also streamlined, with fewer windows required to access the full range of Airport Base Station settings.

Ironically, the iOS version of Airport Utility does more and gives out more information than this new "streamlined" OS X version. What the hell, Apple?

 

[Peace]

Ironically, the iOS version of Airport Utility does more and gives out more information than this new "streamlined" OS X version. What the hell, Apple?

There ARE more and more Windows users buying Macs. Perhaps they appreciate the simplicity ?

 

[3282868]

The things you own end up owning you.
It's only after you lose everything that you're free to do anything

LOVE THIS. Very appropriate, and a tad ironic on a tech site. Thanks for the quote, I'm stealing it

 

[derbothaus]

I like the UI as it shows a network map of the routers (if you have multiple airport expresses for example). Problem is, I cannot find the list of the devices connected to my base station with their IP addresses anymore. In the past, this is accessible under the wireless client section. Now, the popup only listed 3 IP addresses (without info on which devices they are) and I see no way to expand this. Help?

Not sure why this is needed. If you set it up shouldn't you understand it without a picture reminding you?
I don't have a problem with Apple releasing an update and then a (FCPX) simple version but if you can't configure a majority of basic settings, what was the point of writing it? Though truly the regular utility is a walk in the park compared to other "advanced" routers. They are starting to break their own UI rules. Look at 10.7 address book. What a mess. The 3-pane Cocoa UI made sense as all apps looked and acted similarly which made them simpler for the end user. Learn one you learn the functionality of all the others, more or less. This type of simple is a real step backwards to even the end goal of simplicity.

 

[JohnDoe98]

Ironically, the iOS version of Airport Utility does more and gives out more information than this new "streamlined" OS X version. What the hell, Apple?

Well that's because the iOS devices are power wireless devices. For your basic mac you don't need the same full-experience as you do on true wireless devices . It's been said before, the Mac platform is moving away from "pro" and "advanced" usages to more basic functionalities. iOS is the future!

 

[DESNOS]

Can anyone figure out where the IPv6 config went? My tunnel still works, but the settings have vanished... I hope this wont force me to manually edit the settings via the xml restore file just to change IPv6 settings...

EDIT: Oh, for that matter, where did the settings backup/restore go?... I'm a bit scared Apple just removed some functionality I actually had a use for...
EDIT: And I don't mean "Restore default settings". You used to be able to restore your airport's settings from a backup of them incase something went awry. Not a huge deal, but if IPv6 configuration is no longer visible, it would be the only way to change it...

 

[SuperCachetes]

There ARE more and more Windows users buying Macs. Perhaps they appreciate the simplicity ?

I don't disagree with you one bit, and the lack of functionality on AU6.0 won't kill me, especially when I can keep AU5.6. My point would be that more and more Windows users are buying iOS devices, too - so why do I have to whip out my iPhone to see Tx data, etc...

Well that's because the iOS devices are power wireless devices. For your basic mac you don't need the same full-experience as you do on true wireless devices . It's been said before, the Mac platform is moving away from "pro" and "advanced" usages to more basic functionalities. iOS is the future!

If that's supposed to be sarcastic, it's very, very faint. Not sure I see it making sense otherwise, though.

In any case, even my old C2D MBP is anything but basic compared to the iPhone. If Macs are getting simpler, that would in no way explain why iOS devices are staying more complicated, at least in the case of Airport Utility.

 

[iMouse]

Like...

Apple is over time clearly merging iOS and Mac OS and they are becoming a company that sells electronics to the masses (tech phobic). This is a shame in my opinion because they started as a hacker machine. But no longer. They are going for simply the lowest tech denominator. We control everything/everywhere etc....

My prediction is the file system will eventually be gone in the future of the Mac OS. It will be designed for the desktop but users will have no control of the OS on a system level a la iOS. Mark my words.

this...

 

[DESNOS]

this...

Bleh, this isn't really an issue. Type "rm -rf /Applications/Utilities/Airport\ Utility.app" into the terminal. Mac OS almost never interferes with command line operations.

EDIT: As long as the command line is as liberated as it is, I'll never consider Mac OS to be a closed OS.
EDIT2: You might need "sudo rm -rf /Applications/Utilities/Airport\ Utility.app" actually. I believe the Utilities folder is protected.