Apple Announces New Airport Base Station and Time Capsule with Faster 802.11ac Wi-Fi

At today's Worldwide Developers Conference Keynote, Apple's Senior Vice President of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller announced a new AirPort Base Station and new AirPort Time Capsules, featuring sleek new designs and improved internals.

capsule

All of the devices feature 802.11ac WiFi, which allows for 40 percent faster data transmissions at the same distance as the previous models. They also feature beamforming, which is electronically steering antenna directions. All of the new products are available for purchase from the Apple Online Store today.

The AirPort Extreme Base Station is priced at $199.

The Time Capsules come in 2TB and 3TB variations and are priced at $299 and $399, respectively.

Apple has released new firmware updates for both the Base Station and the Time Capsule.

This update is for AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule base stations with 802.11ac. It resolves a rare issue that may cause the hard drive in AirPort Time Capsule or a hard drive connected via USB to become unresponsive.

Apple has also released an update for the AirPort Utility App for Mac and iOS.

Use AirPort Utility to set up and manage your 802.11n and 802.11ac AirPort base stations, including AirPort Express, Extreme, and Time Capsule. AirPort Utility 6.3 allows you to configure and manage the new AirPort Extreme and AirPort Time Capsule with 802.11ac Wi-Fi, and includes enhanced remote management capabilities.

AirPort Utility for iOS can be downloaded from the App Store for free. [Direct Link]

AirPort Utility for Mac can be downloaded from Apple's software update website.

Top Rated Comments

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musser

77 months ago

tedium

After a time, one simply gets fatigued with all the various sniping negativity. It's fine if you hold an opposing view or wish to lodge a constructive criticism. But, if you're here just to appear that you're clever in your oblique negativity, you're just taking up space and adding nothing to the discussion. Personally, I want Apple to succeed. I have a lot invested in that outcome (my work, not stock). I, too, want Apple to make the best decisions. My approach is to think of myself as a hired contributor with a voice who might hold stock. Sure, offer suggestions. Take a stand on actions you think off-base. But, gosh, minimize the self-centered, whiny protestations which offer no useful advance.

Rating: 36 Votes

verniesgarden

77 months ago

I'm going to get the time capsule and paint it like a tardis.

Rating: 14 Votes

iScott428

77 months ago

No longer cat-proof? Wouldn't be very happy hearing my backup go thump in the night.

Get a dog, dog will eat cat, problem solved. ;)

Rating: 13 Votes

leman

77 months ago

No USB3? What the ***? :mad:

Rating: 13 Votes

atari1356

77 months ago

The old Airport Extreme looks too short next to my Ikea lamps. The new tall one will match better.

Rating: 13 Votes

smithrh

77 months ago

Before anyone freaks out about how big it is, it has to be that big to get spacing between the antenna elements.

I'm glad they didn't let aesthetics trump functionality in this case (pun intended!)...

Rating: 12 Votes

Anonymous Freak

77 months ago

I mean adsl modem capabilities.

The simple answers there are:

There are different DSL protocols, not every provider uses the same ones. That would add complexity and variation.

Not everyone uses DSL. Many use Cable, or FiOS, or other technologies that just give them a Ethernet port to plug in to. Again, adding complexity and variation.

To cover the US alone, if they were to go that route, they'd need to offer at least five different base stations (they'd still have to offer at least one "basic" model, because nobody would want to pay the extra $40+ to add the modem.)

Back when the original "UFO" AirPort base station came out, it made sense to include a dial-up modem. A majority of people were still on dial-up, and dial-up modems were cheap ($10 or less at Apple's bulk cost.) But for a company that makes very few individual models, having DSL/Cable/FiOS modems built in just doesn't make sense. Even Linksys stopped doing that a few years ago.

Rating: 12 Votes

gramirez2012

77 months ago

I mean adsl modem capabilities.

ADSL modem? You're kidding, right?

Rating: 11 Votes

potatis

77 months ago

No more AirPort Express which means you have to pay twice the price for the cheapest base station.

But it's not discontinued.

As for the height, if you drill a hole in your shelf, you can lower it down and have just the top peak out, then it will lok like an Airport Express.

Rating: 11 Votes

iVoid

77 months ago

I guess with this and the new MacPro, "TALL" is the latest trend at Apple.

Next iMac will be a portrait display. :)

Rating: 9 Votes

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