Roberta Aguirre
Apple Airport is a discontinued line of wireless routers and network cards developed by Apple Inc. using Wi-Fi protocols. The Apple Airport Express allowed users to create a wireless internet access point anywhere, and it also let them stream multimedia to various devices and extend the range of an existing wireless network. The Apple Airport Extreme was a more powerful version of the Airport Express, supporting up to 50 users and featuring three LAN ports. The Apple Airport Time Capsule was a variant with a built-in hard disk for automated backups.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Introduction | 1999 |
| Original AirPort System Transfer Rate | 11 Mbit/s |
| AirPort Card Discontinuation | June 2004 |
| AirPort Express Introduction | 2004 |
| AirPort Extreme Introduction | 2003 |
| AirPort Extreme Users | 50 |
| AirPort Express Users | 10 |
| AirPort Discontinuation | 2018 |
| AirPort Extreme Update | 2007 |
| AirPort Extreme 802.11 Draft-N Update | 2008 |
| AirPort Extreme 802.11ac (6th Generation) Update | 2013 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Apple Airport's wireless routers and cards
Apple Airport is a discontinued line of wireless routers and network cards that was developed by Apple Inc. using Wi-Fi protocols. The line of products was introduced in 1999 and included the AirPort Base Station (later known as AirPort Extreme), the AirPort Time Capsule, and the AirPort Express. The AirPort card, a repackaged Lucent ORiNOCO Gold Card PC Card adapter, was offered as an option for almost all of Apple's product lines, including PowerBooks, eMacs, iMacs, and Power Macs. The original AirPort system allowed transfer rates of up to 11 Mbit/s and was commonly used to share Internet access and files between multiple computers.
In 2003, Apple introduced the AirPort Extreme, based on the 802.11g specification, which allowed for peak data transfer rates of up to 54 Mbit/s and was backward compatible with existing 802.11b wireless network cards and base stations. The AirPort Extreme was designed for small and medium-sized organisations, supporting up to 50 users and offering three LAN ports for added connectivity. In 2004, Apple released the AirPort Express, a multifunction product that could be used as a portable travel router, an audio streaming device, and a USB printer-sharing device.
The AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express continued to receive updates and improvements over the years, with increased wireless range, faster data transfer speeds, and enhanced functionality. In 2008, Apple introduced Time Capsule, an AirPort Extreme (802.11 Draft-N) with an internal hard drive, allowing any computer running a recent version of Mac OS or Windows to access the disk as a shared volume.
In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router team, and in 2018, the company formally discontinued all AirPort products, exiting the router market. Despite this, Apple continues to provide limited hardware and software support for the AirPort Extreme as of 2023.
Exploring Rome's Airport Options: A Comprehensive Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Apple Airport Express
The first version (M9470LL/A, model A1084) included an analog-optical audio mini-jack output, a USB port for remote printing, and one Ethernet port. The USB port could also be used to charge the first-generation iPod Shuffle, although this was not supported by Apple. The audio output combines a 3.5 mm minijack socket and a mini-TOSLINK optical digital transmitter, allowing connection to an external digital-to-analog converter (DAC) or amplifier with an internal DAC.
An updated version (MB321LL/A, model A1264) was introduced in March 2008, supporting the faster 802.11 Draft-N specification and operation in either the 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz bands. This version includes an 802.11a/n (5 GHz) mode, allowing the addition of Draft-N to an existing 802.11b/g network without disrupting existing connections while preserving increased throughput. Up to 10 wireless units can connect to this version of the Airport Express.
In 2012, Apple introduced a redesigned model with a new square form factor and two ethernet ports. In 2018, Apple added AirPlay 2 support to the 2012 Airport Express, allowing it to be added to the Apple Home app as an audio destination. Despite discontinuing the AirPort line in 2018, Apple continues to support the AirPort Express, although an older version of its "AirPort Utility" is required for the earliest version of the device.
Airport Style: Comfortable and Chic Travel Outfits
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Apple Airport Extreme
Apple's AirPort is a discontinued line of wireless routers and network cards. The AirPort Extreme is a residential gateway that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point and NAS, as well as other functions.
The AirPort Extreme was first announced in 2003 and has gone through three distinct design iterations. The first design featured a round "flying saucer" shape, similar to the original AirPort Base Station. The second design, from 2007 to 2013, was a flat rounded rectangle, similar to the layout and size of the Mac Mini. The third and final design, from 2013 onwards, was taller than it was wide, with a more vertical form.
The AirPort Extreme was updated several times over the years. In 2007, Apple unveiled a new AirPort Extreme with support for 802.11n draft specification, built-in wireless print and storage server, and the ability to operate in both 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz ISM bands. In 2008, Apple released a firmware update that allowed AirPort Disks to be used with Time Machine. In 2009, Apple unveiled a new AirPort Extreme with simultaneous dual-band 802.11 Draft-N radios, followed by an updated version with antenna improvements later that year. In 2011, Apple released the 5th generation AirPort Extreme, and in 2013, the 6th generation, featuring three-stream 802.11ac Wi-Fi technology with a maximum data rate of 1.3 Gbit/s.
The AirPort Extreme received positive reviews from customers, who praised its performance, ease of setup, and compatibility with modern modems. However, in 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router team and formally discontinued the AirPort Extreme in 2018, exiting the router market. Despite this, Apple continues to provide limited hardware and software support for the product.
Cha to JFK: A Quick Airport Transit Guide
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Apple Airport Time Capsule
Apple Airport is a discontinued line of wireless routers and network cards developed by Apple Inc. using Wi-Fi protocols. Apple introduced the AirPort line in 1999, and in 2018, the company discontinued the product line.
The AirPort Time Capsule is a variant of the AirPort Extreme Base Station with a built-in hard disk for automated backups. It was released in 2008 and offered simultaneous 802.11n dual-band operation, allowing older devices to use slower wireless speeds without affecting the performance of devices that could use higher 802.11n speeds. The second-generation model, released in 2009, doubled the hard disk storage space, offering capacities of 1 TB and 2 TB.
One of the key features of the Time Capsule is its ability to back up a system and files wirelessly and automatically, eliminating the need for an external backup drive. This feature requires OS X 10.5.2 Leopard or greater on the client computers. The backup software is Apple's Time Machine, which makes hourly images of the files being changed and condenses older backup images to save space. The initial backup of any Mac to the drive requires a significant amount of time, with Apple suggesting that it may take "several hours or overnight to complete".
The Time Capsule also includes Guest Networking, a feature that allows the creation of a separate wireless network for guests, ensuring the security of the primary network. The fourth-generation Time Capsule, released in June 2011, increased the range of Wi-Fi signals and improved performance with a Broadcom BCM4331 chip. The fifth-generation Time Capsule, released in June 2013, featured a name change to AirPort Time Capsule and a redesign, with square dimensions similar to the latest AirPort Express and Apple TVs.
Metal Detectors: Airport Security Essentials Explained
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Apple Airport's discontinuation
Apple Airport is a discontinued line of wireless routers and network cards that was first introduced in 1999. The original Airport Base Station, also known as Graphite, featured a dial-up modem and an Ethernet port. Over the years, Apple introduced various iterations of the product, including the AirPort Extreme and the AirPort Time Capsule, which offered increased data transfer rates and additional features such as built-in hard disks for automated backups.
In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router team, and in 2018, the company formally discontinued all Airport products, marking its exit from the router market. While the decision came as a disappointment to fans, it was not entirely unexpected. The rise in popularity of mesh Wi-Fi systems had slowly rendered Apple's Airport offerings obsolete. Additionally, Apple's Airport line was growing increasingly dated, especially considering its premium price, and the company had not released any significant updates since 2013.
Following the discontinuation, Apple sold off its remaining inventory of Airport products and began retailing routers from third-party brands such as Linksys, Netgear, and Eero in its stores. Apple also started pointing customers towards alternative mesh Wi-Fi systems, which offered improved range and connectivity for larger homes with multiple devices.
Despite Apple's exit from the router market, some users have expressed their disappointment with the decision, citing missed opportunities for innovation and the integration of Apple products within people's homes. The discontinuation of the Airport line has also created a layer of uncertainty for users who relied on the products for specific functionalities, such as streaming and network extensions.
While Apple has stated that it will continue to offer bug fixes and security patches for the discontinued Airport devices, the company has confirmed that there are no plans for future hardware releases in this category. However, Apple has left the possibility open for a return to the space in the future if it finds a meaningful way to innovate and progress routers further.
Airport Security: Effective or Security Theater?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Apple Airport is a discontinued line of wireless routers and network cards developed by Apple Inc. using Wi-Fi protocols.
There are three types of Apple Airport: Airport Express, Airport Extreme, and Airport Time Capsule.
Airport Express is a compact router that allows users to create a wireless internet access point anywhere. It can also be used for streaming multimedia to various devices and extending the range of an existing wireless network.
Airport Extreme is a residential gateway that combines the functions of a router, network switch, wireless access point, and NAS, among other functions. It supports up to 50 users and has three LAN ports.
Airport Time Capsule is a variant of Airport Extreme with a built-in hard disk for automated backups. It allows users to wirelessly back up their computers and access the disk as a shared volume.
