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Apple's Retail Stores Running Dry of AirPort and Time Capsule Stocks?

Wednesday June 1, 2011 6:01 pm PDT by Eric Slivka

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.


Related Roundup: AirPort
Tag: tuaw.com
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budafied
92 months ago
A new Airport Extreme would be nice, along with AT LEAST a $50 price cut. $180 for that thing is ridiculous, especially with similar routers going for well under $100 (sometimes under $50) from other manufacturers...
Rating: 12 Votes
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AriX
92 months ago
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?
Rating: 8 Votes
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labrats5
92 months ago
Wow, Apple is reading my mind

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.

A new Airport Extreme would be nice, along with AT LEAST a $50 price cut. $180 for that thing is ridiculous, especially with similar routers going for well under $100 (sometimes under $50) from other manufacturers...


$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.
Rating: 7 Votes
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Hberg
92 months ago

Good luck keeping a high load multiple connection on your Linksys. There is a good reason the Airport Extreme costs as much as it does: it works.


Ditto!
Rating: 6 Votes
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basesloaded190
92 months ago

Thunderbolt and SD would be nice, and a direct integration with Apple TV.


Don't think Apple wants to add cars to their routers ;)
Rating: 6 Votes
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Lesser Evets
92 months ago

A new Airport Extreme would be nice, along with AT LEAST a $50 price cut. $180 for that thing is ridiculous, especially with similar routers going for well under $100 (sometimes under $50) from other manufacturers...


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?
Rating: 6 Votes
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saving107
92 months ago

Wonder if they'll add some kind of iCloud functionality? What else would they add?


Time Capsul that now backs up your iOS devices.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Blake the Great
92 months ago
AirPrint

I hope that this allows the printer you share over the Airport to be used for Airprint.
Rating: 5 Votes
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Craiger
92 months ago
I'm sure they will release a new one since I just decided last month to finally get an extreme. :rolleyes:

But really, what feature of icloud would require new hardware as opposed to a firmware upgrade?
Rating: 4 Votes
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mdriftmeyer
92 months ago

A new Airport Extreme would be nice, along with AT LEAST a $50 price cut. $180 for that thing is ridiculous, especially with similar routers going for well under $100 (sometimes under $50) from other manufacturers...


Similar routers? I've test those similar routers and their simply piles of crap.
Rating: 4 Votes

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