Apple AirPort firmware update fixes 'Back to my Mac' bug, but hardware's destiny still in doubt

Apple updated its AirPort router software with a patch to fix a "Back to my Mac" problem in conjunction with the AirPort Utility, but the update portends nothing for the future of the hardware.

On Tuesday, Apple released versions 7.6.8 for the 802.11n AirPort Extreme, and 7.7.8 for the 802.11ac AirPort Extreme. According to Apple's release notes, the update fixes an issue where the routers would not respond to the AirPort Utility when "Back to My Mac" is enabled. Other fixes noted are un-named security fixes.

AirPort software updates are installed through the AirPort Utility. If the routers are not visible as a result of "Back to my Mac" being enabled, disabling the feature and rebooting the routers rectifies the problem, allowing the software patch to be installed.

The update is being held up by some as an example of Apple not abandoning the AirPort hardware platform. However, that may not be the case. AppleInsider spoke with our contacts inside Apple regarding the matter shortly after the update went live.

"The hard drive iPod people were gone for a long time, when we issued the last update for the iPod classic firmware," we were told by our contacts within Apple. "Just because the hardware guys have moved on to other things, doesn't mean we won't support the software."

Near the end of November, reports started circulating — backed by AppleInsider sources — suggesting that Apple may be ending the AirPort family hardware. Former AirPort engineers are now reportedly working on other teams, including Apple TV development.

"The original AirPort wasn't really ours, we bought that," we were told. "[Apple] supported that for a very long time, even after we built our own, re-organized the division, and some of the guys we brought on to advance the platform were twice-removed."

The internal departmental changes suggest that Apple has no plans to update its existing lineup of routers, including the AirPort Extreme, Time Capsule, and AirPort Express, but do not discount the possibility of the functionality being added to a different product. Apple's AirPort Express network extender and AirPlay audio target has not even been updated to the 802.11ac Wi-Fi specification.

Without specifically confirming the dissolution of the AirPort hardware division, were were told by our contacts that the AirPort ecosystem back to the 802.11n version of the AirPort Extreme basestation would be made "as safe as possible for as long as possible."

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35 Comments

techprod1gy

said about 7 years ago

Can someone give any facts about the fate of this stuff versus rumors?

robin huber

said about 7 years ago

techprod1gy said:

Can someone give any facts about the fate of this stuff versus rumors?

It should be Apple. It's really bad form to keep loyal customers in the dark about the fate of something so fundamental to their connectivity. My brother has an older AirPort and asked me to help him upgrade. Want to stick with Apple that I know and understand, but don't want him to invest in orphaned technology with mesh coming to the fore. I think Tim could give us some direction without compromising future products.

usersinceos1

said about 7 years ago

Also updated is vers 7.6.8 for the Airport Express.

AppleZulu

said about 7 years ago

Let me say that I appreciate this article's somewhat different approach to reporting on this issue.

The visible facts are still that Airport devices continue to be widely available for sale (not just listed online or 'by request' from the back of Apple stores. I checked my local store this week, and the full line is on the shelf, several deep), and supported by Apple (I just performed this week's firmware updates on mine).

According to this article, unnamed inside sources are still maintaining that engineering staff have been re-assigned, but the previously reported dissolution of the AirPort division is not 'specifically confirmed' by these sources. That leaves a lot of possibilities open that were previously asserted not to be. These sources have in fact indicated that the product line will continue to be supported.

This paints a fundamentally different picture than the previous reports, which gave a strong impression that Apple was totally abandoning the product line, even stating that devices were no longer available for sale or were otherwise scarcely available, and also leaving a strong impression that the devices wouldn't be supported much longer or at all.

Taking that information at face value, many readers were believing all this to mean that they should also quickly abandon the product line and quickly start finding other routers and networking gear.

Instead, a reasonable reading of today's report suggests that a wait-and-see approach is just fine or even wise for consumers. An Airport device purchased today will remain usable and safe for the foreseeable future, and perhaps a smooth transition will be had into whatever Apple comes up with next, whether it's new versions of AirPort, networking integrated into other devices like AppleTV, or something entirely new.

zoetmb

said about 7 years ago

It's not that I don't believe the rumors, after all - Apple hasn't updated the Express to ac, but I think we'll know for sure if we see Apple Retail and/or the website selling a third party router.

Considering that Apple has been removing ports from machines because "everything is wireless anyway", it doesn't really make sense to me that they'd abandon this line. On the other hand, while the supposed team was still working on this product line, what the hell were they doing day-to-day? Airport Extreme 802.11ac and Airport Time Capsule 802.11ac were released in June of 2013, 3 1/2 years ago! Airport Express 802.11n was released in June of 2012.

Maybe they got rid of the team (or moved them on to something else) because they were unproductive. Maybe a new team is coming in. Although Apple doesn't make printers, scanners, computer speakers, monitors and many other desktop devices, I consider their router to be part of the ecosystem. I'm surprised Ive would want a third-party's router sitting on a desk, although if he doesn't care about a monitor, then he wouldn't care about the router (which in the case of third party routers don't necessarily sit on a desk anyway).