I really hope there is a refresh for the time capsule that improves all the faults I keep reading about because when i get my iMac this summer I want the Time Capsule as well.
It's easy on a PC as well since you can use Airport Utility there too. I find it's been the fastest and most reliable router I've owned of the dozen or so ones from Netgear, Linksys, D-Link. It's biggest flaw is lack of QoS, IMO.
It does now if you think about it. My Mac backs up my iPhone and the Time Capsule backs up my Mac
Of note: In Lion, AirPort is branded as "Wi-Fi." You don't see AirPort anywhere. Maybe they're rebranding the base stations as well?
Just yesterday I was thinking how Apple could differentiate their cloud services with a simple NAS solution. Imagine having a centralized backup of all your files in your home, with an itunes media server that can be accessed remotely from anywhere you have an internet connection, all for no subcription fee because you own the storage and the bandwidth. Apple has all the piece. All they need to do now is make it easy.
$179 for the airport extreme is actually pretty competitive. A simultaneous dual-band router with gigabit ethernet and usb NAS support will run you at least $149 from linksys (namely the E3200), and they don't give you usb printing. Apple also gives you a much better setup experience as well as simple integration with the best network bridge available (the airport express), which costs the same as linksys' bridge and has more features.
I was under the impression that a HD attached to the Airport Extreme would be visible to all the network, not just the one Mac that sets it up. More fool me.
I hope this is a lacklustre upgrade if true, since I just bought one yesterday...
Edit: The retailer I bought from has a 30-day return policy. Let's see what WWDC brings.
while it is very possible that they are doing some kind of revamp to these devices, it is unlikely that it has anything to do with WWDC and will be more than maybe a blip in the discussion.
Like the BtS promotion it will just quietly happen, perhaps at the same time if they are going to launch Lion or some other product directly after the keynote. But perhaps not
Of note: In Lion, AirPort is branded as "Wi-Fi." You don't see AirPort anywhere. Maybe they're rebranding the base stations as well?
I wish they'd combine the AirPort Express, Time Capsule, and Apple TV to make an all-in-one you prop by your TV screen.... aw, who am I kidding, aside from myself?
So are you saying they are discontinuing the Airport Base and Time Capsule? I hope not!!
Smaller, SSD option for time capsule? Better heat management / external power brick so they don't fry?
I've been waiting for AAPL to take on the cable companies head to head for a long time. They could easily do so with something like this (I'm going to beg for streaming networks as well).