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

[chrono1081]

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...

None taken. I work in IT, but I'm not a networker. I do very little of it. I generally support Windows desktops and servers, mobile devices, configure and test high end systems for the art department and support the programs they use that the other IT guys (with the exception of one other) don't touch.

I personally like the airports. It does what I need it to.

 

[acfusion29]

Slightly annoying, but 6.0 can't configure my older Airport Express, making me download 5.6 solely to manage it.

oh no.. apple's not supporting hardware that is well out of date. HOW ANNOYING

 

[Corrode]

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

WTF? The first rule of Fight Club is... nevermind.

 

[KPOM]

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

Image

This is a good analogy. "Back in the days" people used to tinker with cars all the time. Now, most people put the key in and turn it on. The car lets you know when it needs an oil change, and some will even e-mail you when they need service. Very little can be accessed or modified by the average consumer. However, in general, cars are a lot safer and more reliable than they ever have been.

 

[iSayuSay]

WTF? The first rule of Fight Club is....

You do not talk about ... Oh wait I just did that, didn't I Tyler?

 

[DrDomVonDoom]

I don't generally thing OSX is becoming iOS anytime soon, I think the two will converge at one point in time, but, PLEASE. Stop being drama queens about this, its a damn network utility. What is the big fracking deal? Its the same ****, just prettier. Lets stop the world, because you can't feel like a power user, wwaaaaah!

What I think Apple IS doing, is the same thing that Microsoft is doing, slowly merging their mobile and desktop software so that one day maybe we can have a universal OS, (platform wise) that can easily transfer between phone, tablet or desktop. You can take your computer with you on your tablet and use it in a iOS platform, take it home, and sync with your computer (hopefully, iCloud will do this automatically over the national public wifi[one can wish]) and work on those files seamlessly on your desktop.

It won't be so much about the hardware, it will focus on the information, and making it available no matter where your at, and what device your using. However I have a sneaking suspicion that Windows and OSx will still face off on different platforms.

 

[netnothing]

Welp. That's it. I'm buying a cisco router ASAP. Apple needs to know that some of us are intelligent and don't need or appreciate this hand holding. As soon as I have to JB my Mac I'm headed out...

First off.....good luck with the Cisco. Their craptastic software and outdated web interface from 1999 is enough to make most people just give up and go back to dialup AOL.

Second, did you not see where Apple released 5.6 with all the same features as before?

Oh and by the way......walk into an Apple store and look around. A vast majority of the people buying Macs are NOT tech savvy. This is Apple's way of appealing to them....WHILE AT THE SAME TIME.....releasing 5.6 to keep us geeks happy

-Kevin

 

[kas23]

I just love all the people going on about how Apple used to make "high end" software and devices. This update is for the software that controls the AE and AEBS. In what world does "high-end" belong in the same sentence as "AEBS"? To me, the AEBS is a dumbed-down router, a router even a blind grandma could set-up, so this update is very fitting.

 

[dXTC]

I'm a smidgen confused here. The Apple support pages say that the 7.6.1 firmware requires AU 5.5.3, which I have on my Snow Leopard iMac (I haven't upgraded to Lion). When I run AU, it notices the availability of the new firmware.

Does anyone know whether upgrading to 7.6.1 firmware in Snow Leopard messes up the ability to manage it? Will 7.6.1, once upgraded, require Lion to manage?

 

[encro]

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!!!!!

Tell me about it: I have 6 Airport Express / Time Capulses to update... now its a PITA, one at a time thanks to a crappy modal UI.

Modal is the default, but you can configure multiple devices in Airport Utility 6.0 by double clicking on the device with the Option Button held down (or clicking the Edit button while Option is held down).

I think the direction of this utility going forward is a tragedy. There are some vital items missing (especially the IPv6 stuff) that make Airport Utility 5.6 an essential download. Hopefully this utility is improved considerably before the 8th of June 2012 (http://www.worldipv6day.org/).

EDIT: Sorry, I misread the email and thought it was referring to Configuration, not Software Update.

 

[rdlink]

You will have two versions of Airport Utility on your mac. You can use the simplified 6.0 version or the new 5.6 version that has all the same old options as before.

See, we still have choice.

I guess my question is why Apple didn't just roll the more powerful interface into 6.0, and allow us to just set default GUI, or just put an advanced tab on 6.0 edit settings. Seems a little kludgy to have two versions of the same app on my computer. Not very Apple like, IMO.

 

[KPOM]

I'm a smidgen confused here. The Apple support pages say that the 7.6.1 firmware requires AU 5.5.3, which I have on my Snow Leopard iMac (I haven't upgraded to Lion). When I run AU, it notices the availability of the new firmware.

Does anyone know whether upgrading to 7.6.1 firmware in Snow Leopard messes up the ability to manage it? Will 7.6.1, once upgraded, require Lion to manage?

Airport Utility 5.6, which runs on Snow Leopard, can also manage an Airport updated with 7.6.1.

 

[iMouse]

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.

Oh, I know how to remove it. I'm just making the point that Apple is really starting to control what the basic user can do with the OS. I can't tell you how many times I've had to explain to a user how to access ~/library in Lion.

 

[dXTC]

Airport Utility 5.6, which runs on Snow Leopard, can also manage an Airport updated with 7.6.1.

In that case, where's the Snow Leopard compatible version of 5.6? The version available at the link that's been passed around earlier in this thread says it requires Lion on the installer notes. Do I ignore that? (My instincts say no and to search for a confirmed SL-compatible version.)

 

[iMouse]

I just love all the people going on about how Apple used to make "high end" software and devices. This update is for the software that controls the AE and AEBS. In what world does "high-end" belong in the same sentence as "AEBS"? To me, the AEBS is a dumbed-down router, a router even a blind grandma could set-up, so this update is very fitting.

Makes for an awesome simultaneous dual-band bridge since even the WAN port on the newer Extremes is Gigabit. I'd never use mine for more than that...the AirPort Utility just does way too little from a configuration standpoint.

 

[noibs]

Tired of the NEW Apple Apologists

Some have said in this thread that there is nothing to be worked up about because Airport Utility 5.6 can still be used to do USEFUL things.

The point is that it's Airport Utility 5.6 and the newer one is 6.0. How much longer do you think Apple will offer two versions?

It won't be long before only the iOS-ified version will work with Lion.

I can remember putting the iOS Airport Utility on my iPod Touch and then discovering THAT IT DID ALMOST NOTHING USEFUL. Just like Airport Utility 6.0.

Apple is making money because it has learned to grovel at the feet of all the idiots of the world who are basically clueless. This sucks so bad.

When only the iOS-ified version of Airport Utility can be used with Lion (it won't be long) how in the hell do I take an Airport Express on vacation, set it up in my hotel room and transmit at 10% power? It won't be possible.

And what about checking to see the DHCP clients on my Airport devices? I use all the security I can, but I still want to know.

One year from now I can guarantee that 5.6 won't work any more with Lion and people who are smart and want to do useful things with their Airport products won't be able do.

The good news is that other vendors are making better and better wireless products--faster than Apple's Airport n and with multiple USB ports for connecting disks and printers.

I started with the 1984 Mac. The current Apple should be ashamed of itself.

 

[Stella]

Modal is the default, but you can configure multiple devices in Airport Utility 6.0 by double clicking on the device with the Option Button held down (or clicking the Edit button while Option is held down).

Thanks.

 

[tshort]

Exactly!

An so continues the total dumbing down of all products Apple.

Can no longer configure printers, can no longer see wireless and DHCP clients, lost IPv6, lost logs and stats, lost multicast rate, lost transmit power, lost wide channels, lost interference robustness etc etc etc

Gained: A Nice big Internet globe icon and a nice big Base Station icon.

Exactly. I can't see any of that stuff. It's all gone?

 

[dXTC]

I just love all the people going on about how Apple used to make "high end" software and devices. This update is for the software that controls the AE and AEBS. In what world does "high-end" belong in the same sentence as "AEBS"? To me, the AEBS is a dumbed-down router, a router even a blind grandma could set-up, so this update is very fitting.

Makes for an awesome simultaneous dual-band bridge since even the WAN port on the newer Extremes is Gigabit. I'd never use mine for more than that...the AirPort Utility just does way too little from a configuration standpoint.

Not only that, but the AEBS does something I haven't seen any other router do: intercept iTunes item requests from my tv using a Bonjour proxy, wake up my sleeping iMac and tell it to feed that item to the tv, then tuck it back in to sleep when it's done. Any other router would simply report my iMac's iTunes library as unavailable.

 

[Can't Stop]

What. The. ****.

Okay, I'm about to jump ship. **** this ****.

I am so sick and tired of Apple targeting the idiots of this world. Especially when I invested $10K in their ****ing hardware, and this is how I get treated? You take away all the options that I use, give me NO SUITABLE REPLACEMENT, then proceed to tell me that I can't actually use older versions of the software because it won't run on the latest greatest Apple OS and I absolutely -must- be current to use the things that I actually rely on (ie, Xcode)?

This is pure ****ing madness. Pure. ****ing. Madness.

What the hell is wrong with options? O P T I O N S. You know, check boxes and drop down menus and stuff. What is wrong with giving us advanced UI pages that normal users don't have to use, so those of us who can't stand the bling bling blingety bling UI interfaces can actually still get to the things that matter to us?

"Our way or the highway" is ****ing arrogant, that's what it is. I have seen Apple go from a professional company making truly high end stuff, to a consumer company targeting everyone, to this ****ing fischer-price mammoth obsessed with building toys for people who can't even comprehend a ****ing folder on their desktop.

This **** needs to end. Give us our ****ing options, and stop being lazy ass programmers. I swear to god this company is going to implode like a goddam atomic bomb if they don't smarten the **** up soon.

-SC

Relax, genius.

 

[iMouse]

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...

I'm an IT/network nerd with a pfSense box, Cisco GigE switch and a house wired for it all...

...and I own an AirPort Extreme.

There aren't a whole lot of simultaneous dual-band routers out there with a Gigabit WAN uplink. Those that do cost just as much as the AirPort Extreme. Granted, my APX is in bridged mode with pfSense doing all the heavy lifting, but I bought it to compliment the professional-grade equipment in my house. Buying a Cisco access point with the same features as the APX would have been easily 3x the price.

 

[KPOM]

In that case, where's the Snow Leopard compatible version of 5.6? The version available at the link that's been passed around earlier in this thread says it requires Lion on the installer notes. Do I ignore that? (My instincts say no and to search for a confirmed SL-compatible version.)

Sorry, I looked again, and 5.6 is Lion only. It exists primarily to support older 802.11b/g devices.

----------

Some have said in this thread that there is nothing to be worked up about because Airport Utility 5.6 can still be used to do USEFUL things.

The point is that it's Airport Utility 5.6 and the newer one is 6.0. How much longer do you think Apple will offer two versions?

It won't be long before only the iOS-ified version will work with Lion.

First of all, 5.6 is Lion-exclusive, so there is no reason to think that it won't be supported on Lion in the future. It exists primarily to service 802.11b/g Airport devices.

Second, 6.0 does have a lot of the same functionality of 5.5.3/5.6. That's what the edit button is for. Some of what it lacks (e.g. ability to set up wireless printing) exists in System Preferences. IPv6 is going live later this year, so undoubtedly Apple will address this either through another utility or through an update.

Third, and most importantly, if you have been paying any attention to Apple at all since 1984, or since 1997 or even 2007 then you'll understand that Apple is as much about removing features as it is adding them. Mac has never been a "tinkering" platform. Airport is geared toward the average user.

 

[kas23]

I opened the box, it was very slickly-designed. Then I hooked it up and connected to it wirelessly from my Mac. What happened next blew my mind... a window popped up which looked like a very simple web browser. No icon in the Dock or anything, but just this simple Wizard window. I walked through a couple of steps configuring the router and was done. This beat Airport Utility hands-down in terms of being simple and straightforward. Now, I'm sure I'd need to go into the browser and access that manually next time, but I was impressed by the elegance.

This is what happens when people's heads aren't lodged too far up their rears. Apple does make some excellent products. In fact, sometimes it feels like we are addicted to their ecosystem. But, we need to all take a step back and just see what's out there. I think many people here would be pleasantly surprised.

When it comes to the AEBS, I don't think people buy it for its features. Compared to other similarly priced routers, feature-wise, the AEBS can't hold a candle to the other ones. What the AEBS does offer us is guaranteed compatibility, great customer service, and finally some basic router functions. And don't even get me started on the TC....

I'm an IT/network nerd with a pfSense box, Cisco GigE switch and a house wired for it all...

...and I own an AirPort Extreme.

There aren't a whole lot of simultaneous dual-band routers out there with a Gigabit WAN uplink. Those that do cost just as much as the AirPort Extreme. Granted, my APX is in bridged mode with pfSense doing all the heavy lifting, but I bought it to compliment the professional-grade equipment in my house. Buying a Cisco access point with the same features as the APX would have been easily 3x the price.

Interestly, you're not even using your AEBS as a router. Very telling.

 

[MonkeyET]

I have no idea whether this is related, but I figured it was worth a shot. Ever since I have signed on today, and noticed there was an update to the firmware, my software update does not work. All of my internet functions correctly but I have been unable to connect to software update. I had to update the firmware on my Airport Extreme using my iPhone. It seemed to be unwilling to update the firmware when initiated on my iMac.

I have restarted, removed the plist for software update and placed on my desktop (a suggestion that was given by googling the problem). Every time I run software update it says there is a network problem. Every time I run network diagnostics it says everything is fine.

Anyone have any suggestions or am I overlooking some simple solution? Thanks for your time...

 

[discounteggroll]

Until they discontinue the 5.x line and 6.x is 10.8 only and Xcode 5.x only runs on 10.8 and I need Xcode 5.x to submit applications to the app store so I can make money. Eventually I'm forced into their new way of thinking regardless. Should I really be expected to keep a machine or even an OS partition around just for configuration utilities in the future?

My point is that they're slowly but surely pressuring people into situations that some of us do not want to be in. I have never felt the way Apple makes me feel right now. It's like they've become all-out hostile to power users and options.

I still use MobileMe (yes, I haven't switched). What happens when that goes away and I'm still on 10.6.8 because I can't stand Mission Control? Well, I lose all that functionality because Apple has refused to release 10.6.9 in an effort to force people onto 10.7.

This is what pisses me off. This lame ass iOS-ification that is spreading around like a goddam cancer. If I'm still using Mac stuff in 5 years when my kid is old enough to comprehend some of this stuff, I can't wait until he asks me "Daddy, were computers ever free? Did you ever use them to do whatever you wanted whenever you wanted?".

-SC

thanks for that, I see myself in the exact situation. I've got a 15" uni macbook pro (main hauler) running 10.6 beautifully and a 11" air as my casual lazy that I 2 weeks ago upgraded to lion, and I hate the OS of lion completely. Mainly expose is crippled in favor of mission control which is trash. They claim iOS is the future but it truly is a dummied-down hunt, point and choose environment.

I'm 27 and already being happy with the past generation of OS and unhappy with the current...what does that make me in digital years? Gramps? I'm a proudly certified/authorized and experienced professional support in all OS X and Windows environments as a career and fanboy, but see a major demise in true power usage/standard usage versus the rise utilitarian options currently available.