Sachin Walls
The AirPort Time Capsule was a wireless router sold by Apple Inc. that featured network-attached storage (NAS) and a residential gateway router. It was introduced on January 15, 2008, and released on February 29, 2008. The device was upgraded several times, with the latest model, introduced in 2013, featuring an 802.11ac wireless network and a 3 TB hard drive. In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router development team, and in 2018, the entire AirPort line, including the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme routers, was discontinued without a replacement.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Discontinuation Year | 2018 |
| Reason | Apple disbanded its wireless router development team in 2016 and exited the router market |
| Alternative Products | Third-party routers like the Linksys Velop mesh Wi-Fi system |
| Backup Option | Time Machine |
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What You'll Learn
Apple discontinued the product line in 2018
In 2018, Apple discontinued its AirPort line of products, including the AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Express. The decision came as no surprise to many, as Apple had not updated its AirPort products since 2012 (Express) and 2013 (Extreme and Time Capsule).
The AirPort Time Capsule was a network backup target that embedded a Wi-Fi gateway and ethernet sharing. However, it faced some issues, such as an internal drive that could not be physically removed or upgraded, which caused problems when it crashed or lost data. Additionally, the premium price of Apple's AirPort products, without offering a mesh tri-band system, made them increasingly dated.
In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router development team, indicating that the company was moving away from the router market. This decision provided a boost for other wireless router makers, as Apple rarely discontinues product categories.
Following the discontinuation, Apple offered third-party routers, such as the Linksys Velop mesh Wi-Fi system, and planned to provide service and parts for the current generation models for the next five years. The company also pointed customers towards alternative mesh Wi-Fi systems, such as eero, Netgear Orbi, Google Wifi, and its own pick, Linksys Velop.
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The product line was neglected and lacked updates
The Airport Time Capsule was discontinued by Apple in 2018, marking the company's exit from the wireless router market. The product line's discontinuation was attributed to several factors, including a lack of updates and neglect.
Indeed, the Airport Time Capsule and other Airport products had not received significant updates in years, with the last updates released in 2012 for the Airport Express and in 2013 for the Airport Extreme and Time Capsule. This lack of updates meant that the Airport devices fell behind in terms of wireless networking technology, making them less appealing to consumers.
In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router development team, signalling that the company was no longer prioritizing its Airport products. This decision led to a halt in new developments and updates for the Airport Time Capsule and other Airport devices.
The neglect of the Airport product line was noted by industry observers, who considered it one of the most neglected product lines in Apple's portfolio. Without regular updates and improvements, the Airport Time Capsule struggled to keep up with advancements in wireless technology and consumer expectations.
Additionally, Apple faced challenges with the internal drive of the Time Capsule, which could not be physically removed or upgraded. This design flaw caused issues when the drive crashed or lost data, and the lack of a Disk Utility for Time Capsule further compounded the problem.
As a result, Apple ultimately decided to discontinue the Airport Time Capsule and exit the router market, focusing instead on third-party router options and other product categories.
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Apple disbanded its wireless router development team
In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router development team, signalling the end of its AirPort product line. This included the AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Express. Apple had not released a new router in three years, and the AirPort devices had not been updated since 2013, so the decision to disband the team was not entirely unexpected.
Bloomberg reported that the engineers from the wireless router team would be reassigned to other teams within Apple, including the group charged with developing Apple TV. Rather than laying off staff, Apple opted to reallocate employees to projects that would bring in more revenue.
The AirPort Time Capsule was a network backup target that embedded a Wi-Fi gateway and ethernet sharing. It offered a built-in "server-grade" hard drive and a USB port that could be used for external peripheral devices such as printers. However, the product faced some issues, including the inability to physically remove or upgrade the internal drive, which caused problems when it crashed or lost data.
Following the disbandment of the wireless router team, Apple continued to sell existing AirPort products through its online and retail stores until supplies lasted. In 2018, Apple formally discontinued the AirPort Time Capsule and AirPort Extreme, exiting the router market.
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Apple exited the wireless router business
Apple has exited the wireless router business, discontinuing its AirPort Time Capsule, AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Express models. The AirPort routers were among the most neglected products in Apple’s lineup, with no updates for years. In 2016, Apple disbanded its wireless router development team, and in 2018, the entire AirPort line was discontinued without replacement.
The AirPort routers were first introduced by Steve Jobs in 1999 when wireless technology was still in its infancy. Apple wanted to provide Wi-Fi support for Macs and push the technology forward. Over the years, Apple helped develop faster and more robust Wi-Fi standards. However, newer alternatives to the AirPort routers emerged, offering more features and attractive designs. Mesh network systems from companies like Eero, Google, and Huawei became popular, providing whole-home Wi-Fi coverage.
The Apple Time Capsule, introduced in 2008, included a hard drive for backing up important files. However, it faced issues with data loss and crashes, and the internal drive could not be easily removed or upgraded. With advancements in technology, the AirPort devices lacked the major enhancements that had become available.
Apple's exit from the wireless router business surprised some, considering the company's large following and the increasing number of devices used in homes. Apple fans seeking alternatives can explore mesh router systems that work well with HomeKit and Apple's product lineup. While Apple has discontinued the AirPort line, the company will continue to support existing users and provide service and parts for current-generation AirPort Base Stations for a limited time.
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The Time Capsule was expensive and had limited functionality
The Apple Time Capsule was discontinued in 2018, and while it offered some unique features, it was expensive and had limited functionality.
The Time Capsule was first unveiled about a decade ago, and it seemed like a great idea. It was a Time Machine network backup target that also embedded a Wi-Fi gateway and ethernet sharing. However, it was a little too expensive, and it didn't quite live up to its promise. One of the biggest issues was that it had an internal drive that couldn't be physically removed or upgraded, which caused problems when it crashed or lost data. Additionally, there was no Disk Utility for the Time Capsule, and if the hardware or drive died, it was difficult to swap out the drive.
The Time Capsule also lacked some of the major enhancements that had been made in wireless networking technology in recent years. For example, it didn't have a mesh tri-band system, which limited its range. Apple had not updated its AirPort products since 2012 (Express) and 2013 (Extreme and Time Capsule), and the premium price became harder to justify as the technology became increasingly dated.
Furthermore, there were external alternatives to the Time Capsule that offered more flexibility and capacity for a lower price. For example, multi-terabyte USB 3 drives could be purchased for $100 or less, and these external drives could be easily upgraded and expanded as needed.
In conclusion, while the Time Capsule offered some unique features, its high price and limited functionality, including a lack of hardware revisions and outdated technology, ultimately led to its discontinuation.
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Frequently asked questions
Apple disbanded its wireless router development team in 2016 and discontinued the Airport Time Capsule in 2018. The product was growing increasingly dated, especially for its premium price, and Apple had not updated its AirPort products since 2012 (Express) and 2013 (Extreme and Time Capsule).
Apple and third-party vendors will continue to sell the Airport Time Capsule but only while supplies last.
Alternatives to the Airport Time Capsule include eero, Netgear Orbi, Linksys Velop, and Google Wifi.
You can still use Time Machine for backup and recovery purposes by using Time Machine volumes attached to Mac desktops already on the network.
