We've received several reports today indicating that Apple's retail stores are quickly running out of stock of the various AirPort and Time Capsule wireless networking products, hinting that a full refresh for the line could take place as part of the company's Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) keynote next Monday.
One source has indicated that his local Apple retail store has completely sold out of both Time Capsule models, as well as the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express base stations. A second source reported that Time Capsules are sold out at a different location, with Apple sales reps indicating that no new shipments appeared to be planned. There was no word on the status of AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express stocks at that location.
It seems now that TUAW has been hearing similar reports. They too have heard that several Apple Stores across the US are low or out of stock of AirPort devices.
A reader let us know that all of the Apple Stores in his area are out of AirPort Express models, and one of our sources confirmed the Apple Store in his area is out of stock on not just the Express, but the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule as well. Another source says supplies at one store are not constrained and never have been, but the store "may have" received a notice to send its AirPort device inventory back.
TUAW acknowledges that WWDC is expected to be a software only event, but also raises the possibility that updates could come somehow be tied to Apple's iCloud offering.
Top Rated Comments
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.
Don't think Apple wants to add cars to their routers ;)
Ditto!