Time Machine plays nice with USB HDDs on Time Capsule

Well, would you look at that. It seems as if Time Machine is all buddy-buddy with externally connected HDDs on Time Capsule after all. If you'll recall, many Apple users were miffed (to put it gently) by the disappearance of said feature from vanilla AirPort Extreme Base Stations just before Leopard hit the streets, but according to a hands-on report over at Macworld, "you can perform Time Machine backups to drives attached to the Time Capsule via USB." Granted, it wasn't exactly speedy or anything, but at least the functionality is tucked away in there -- hit up the read link if you're still spinning in disbelief.

[Via TUAW]

[Joey @ Mar 3rd 2008 2:52AM]

Great Apple! So, add functionality where you already have it and leave the current AirPort extreme owners in the dark.

[JohnPQ @ Mar 3rd 2008 6:28AM]

What else is new? Apple always treats the owners of old products like dung.

[Big John @ Mar 3rd 2008 2:58AM]

I hope a coming firmware update for AirPort Extreme adds this functionality. I'm guessing they finally trashed that nasty buffer bug that removed the planned capability for Leopard in the first place.

[JD @ Mar 3rd 2008 3:41AM]

I wouldn't hold my breath. If they did that, why would you fork out for a Time Capsule?

[Marcos @ Mar 3rd 2008 9:39AM]

Those who already own an Airport Extreme wouldn't buy a Time Capsule... but many of us don't have an 802.11n base station yet and would like to have that plus the hard drive all in one neat package.

[Big John @ Mar 3rd 2008 6:20PM]

...because a Time Capsule is capped at 1TB and isn't backed up itself?

This was a feature in Leopard right up until release. Seriously, I doubt even a hack is that far away.

[McBanjo @ Mar 3rd 2008 3:16AM]

At the moment I am disgusted.

They need to upgrade that Extreme Base Station pronto.

Else, I will consider it a mark against their name. :-O

[Kelmon @ Mar 3rd 2008 3:49AM]

BOOOOO!!

Yours, Disgruntled Airport Extreme Owner

PS. Next time, don't advertise that a product will do something if you aren't sure.

[Kizorblade @ Mar 3rd 2008 5:03AM]

Microsoft would benefit hugely from your wise words.

[Joey Geraci @ Mar 3rd 2008 11:15AM]

I assume you are making some oblique reference to Vista. Except that doesn't apply. At all. Microsoft never advertised having any of the features that got removed from Vista (telling developers way ahead of time that you are going to have it is completely different from consumer advertising). Are you talking about something else?

[Kelmon @ Mar 3rd 2008 5:06PM]

@Joey Geraci

I suspect this is a reference to the Vista Certified fiasco.

[slackercow @ Mar 3rd 2008 4:07AM]

i wish they would just use the standard naming schemes, such as "one touch backup", etc, instead of this ridiculous time machine/capsule terminology.

[Roy Hobbs @ Mar 3rd 2008 7:47AM]

OneTouch would be a stupid name for Apple to use. The point of Time Machine and Time Capsule is there is nothing to touch.

[zoara @ Mar 3rd 2008 8:03AM]

Why would you call Time Machine "one-touch backup" when it isn't one-touch backup?

[Reid @ Mar 3rd 2008 9:21AM]

Yes, because we all know the real money is in doing things exactly the way everyone else does and never rocking the boat.

[tkny @ Mar 3rd 2008 8:41AM]

It's more like the "touch it one time then never again" back up

[Iphtashu Fitz @ Mar 3rd 2008 9:33AM]

Anybody know of a good external RAID enclosure that could be plugged into this USB port? I'd feel a lot more comfortable doing Time Machine backups to a RAID volume than a single drive built into this thing.

[kubmg @ Mar 3rd 2008 10:09AM]

If Drobo works with Time Capsule, that would be a good option.

I'd like some more information about Airport Express. Will this integrate with Time Capsule? Why is it completely sold out in stores and not available for 2-weeks on Apple.com? I assume there's something coming down the pipe?

[Gorillamonk @ Mar 3rd 2008 10:46AM]

Can someone buy this, plug their 360 into it and tell me if they can stream music through.

Just want to know...then, it will be a total sale for me.

[Blaktornado @ Mar 3rd 2008 1:53PM]

Obviously Apple pulled wireless back-up support so that they could sell Time Machine.

Steve Jobs: "Wait. Pull the wireless back-up feature from Leopard. I've had a new idea explosion. It's an Airport extreme base-station that will have an internal hard drive to back-up wirelessly to. If we remove the function from normal Airport base stations for a while then people will be suckered into buying this instead of the Airport Extreme. Aren't a genius?"

Suck-ups: *Applause* "Oh yes, Steve. You are a genius. You're a true Apple Genius... although, of course, your superiority is much higher than any old Apple Genius in our retail stores.... uh... will you marry me?"

[frederic.brutin @ Mar 3rd 2008 3:45PM]

I wonder what would it look like with Iomega's MiniMax connected ???

any pictures engadget ?


cheers :)