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Apple ships AirPort Extreme 802.11n router, busts out $1.99 802.11n Enabler
Looks like those new shuffles weren't the only thing to pop up on Apple's store this morning, Apple has also finally released that AirPort Extreme 802.11n Enabler we've heard so much about. We figure there's been enough drama at this point, so just suffice it to say that if you have a MacBook C2D, MacBook Pro C2D, Mac Pro with AirPort Extreme or a C2D iMac that isn't the 17-inch 1.83GHz model, you can fork over your two bucks and update right now to glorious draft-n wonderment.[Via AppleInsider]Update: Apple let us know that you can't identify systems with the Network Utility; the 802.11n capability only shows up if you've used the software update, so know your mac and get the update if you need it. Also, the $1.99 update is considered by Apple to be a site license, so you can upgrade all the machines in your home with the single $2 purchase (if you didn't alright sign up for the router). Not bad!Update 2: It wasn't entirely clear before, but the launch of the Enabler coincides with the launch of the AirPort Extreme today, too. Don't let the "Estimated Ship: February" on their site fool you, Apple is definitely shipping now.
Airport Extreme 802.11n Enabler for Mac
Not only did today bring us colorful shuffles, it also marks the availability of the Airport Extreme 802.11n Enabler for Mac. You'll recall that the following Macs have 802.11n built in, but it is disabled: MacBook Pro with Core 2 Duo MacBook with Core 2 Duo Mac Pro iMac with Core 2 Duo (not the 17-inch 1.83GHz model though) Before you plunk down your $2 for this enabler make sure that your Mac doesn't already have 802.11n enabled (very recent Macs ship with 802.11n enabled). The product page for the Enabler has directions to find this out.Airport Extreme 802.11n Enabler for Mac is available now for $1.99, and since it is a download you can get it within moments of paying for it.Update: As has been pointed out (and which I took for granted), if you are planning on buying one of the new Airport Extreme base stations you need not buy this separately. It'll come with the base station.Thanks to everyone who sent this in.
Software Update: Airport Extreme update 2007-001
Newly available from Apple is the Airport Extreme 2007-001 update. Says Apple, 'This update is recommended for all Intel-based Macintosh computers and provides compatibility with AirPort Extreme base stations and networks.' The Apple site doesn't say whether this "compatibility" includes 802.11n support (which I'd highly doubt--those new Airport Extremes aren't even shipping yet, are they?) or in fact much about what this update actually does. So if the update makes your computer explode or something else that's new, radical or interesting, let us know in the comments.Thanks Ian GowenUpdate: News.com reports that the update plugs several security holes that were discovered during the November "Month of Kernel Bugs" campaign.
Macworld goes in-depth on the new AirPort Extreme
Dan Frakes at Macworld has published an in-depth article that delves into just what the new AirPort Extreme is all about. Pointing out some of the details we covered in our original post, Dan goes the full mile and then some with a history of the device and explanations of some interesting new features. Most notably, he unfolds fancy new technology like the multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) feature of 802.11n, as well as a new time-based access control system which lets you specify times that each device can access the internet. Are your kids (or your roommate?) spending too much time on MySpace when they should be doing homework on their MacBook? No sweat - just use Apple's easy-breezy AirPort Utility to cut 'em off until... well, whenever you feel like it.Dan also covers what's missing - things like Gigabit ethernet (which, given the fact that it's been in Macs for years, still blows my mind) and the once-standard antenna port. He even pulls an industry price check to make sure Apple isn't taking us for too much of a ride with the new station's $179 price. All in all it's a good state-of-the-AirPort-Extreme for anyone interested in this recent sleeper release from Apple.
Apple confirms 802.11n unlock fee, but it's just $2
Ok Apple, you hassle us with those incessant advertisements, you exude smug hipsterocity, and this iPhone hype has really gotten out of hand, but we're going to let you pass on this 802.11n thing. Sounds like you're really trying to do the right thing here, but you just didn't want to get busted on some sort of accounting snafu -- it's alright, we understand. Next time you might try not being so sneaksy with those hidden features and stuff, but we're still kind of glad to have the functionality all the same. That's why we're going to skip over that episode of "Johnny and the Sprites" we were hoping to download from that iTunes Store of yours, snap up this little download for its $2 "distribution fee" (last time we heard it was $5, but Apple is saying $2, so all the better) when you make it available, and only complain about it six or seven times to our close friends and / or mom. We care that much.Your friends,Engadget[Thanks, Matt]
Apple holds 802.11n capabilities hostage
It was odd enough for Apple to slip 802.11n chips into its recent Core 2 Duo systems without really letting on about it, but now they've gone full-out loony by charging $4.99 to download the 802.11n enabler patch on your system. If you purchase one of those new 802.11n AirPort Extreme Base Stations with your hard-earned $179, Apple will throw in the enabler software for free, but if you happen to already own an 802.11n base station or just wanted to feel like a big kid with an 802.11n wireless card of your very own without buying the Airport Extreme Base Station, you'll have to fork over the annoying 5 buck fee. The folks at iLounge dug into the story a bit, and it appears Apple is blaming accounting for the odd fee: "the company believes that if it sells a product, then later adds a feature to that product, it can be held liable for improper accounting if it recognizes revenue from the product at the time of sale, given that it hasn't finished delivering the product at that point." Yeah, crazy. We know. Until we get a better explanation than that bookkeeping hogwash, we're going to go with our first impression of the situation: this is just that tried and true "wear them down with micropayments" part of Steve Jobs' inevitable path to world dominion.Read - AppleInsiderRead - iLounge
AirPort Extreme has AirPort Disk: USB hard drive sharing
Our own former C.K. Sample III turned us on to some more sleeper features of Apple's quietly-introduced AirPort Extreme. Specifically, that new USB hard drive sharing feature is called AirPort Disk, and it has a few tricks up its sleeve. First, it can share a drive with both Macs and PCs, but its setup utility can easily set the drive to auto-mount when you login or start up your machine. Not content to stop there, however, you can even set up individual accounts for each machine on the network with access to only specific files or folders. Not bad for a $179 device.
How much have you spent today?
With Apple TV and the new AirportExtreme Base Station available today for pre-order from apple.com, I'm wondering how many of you have already whipped out your credit cards and bought one (or two, or three...)?If you placed your order(s), tell us what you bought in the comments.
Apple drops Airport Express price to $99
Hot on the heels of announcing a new Airport Extreme base station Apple has dropped the price on the existing Airport Express to $99. This is a great deal for those of you interesting in streaming audio only from iTunes to your home theater, as well as folks that don't have an 802.11n ready Mac.I've had an Airport Express for well over a year now, and I am very happy with it though I might be soon phasing it out in favor of the Apple TV/Airport Extreme pairing (isn't it nice that you can stack on top of the other?).
Update your wireless to 802.11n
Also hidden away in the Airport Extreme revision are software enablers, included with the base station, to field-upgrade the wireless cards in some currently-shipping Macs to support 802.11n, no hardware changes necessary -- we suspected that something like this was in the works. Per Apple's 802.11 page: These Mac computers support 802.11n in the new AirPort Extreme Base Station using the included enabler software: iMac with Intel Core 2 Duo (except 17-inch, 1.83GHz iMac) MacBook with Intel Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro with Intel Core 2 Duo Mac Pro with AirPort Extreme card option Mini users, Core Duo laptops and iMacs continue to chug along with 802.11g. No word yet on whether/if those enablers will be downloadable.Thanks Jeff L. and everyone who sent this in.
Airport Extreme launched: draft 802.11n and USB hosting now supported
It may not bring the thunder like an Apple iPhone but the Airport Extreme does bring draft-N of the 802.11 WiFi standard. That means up to 5x the speed and 2x the performance of traditional WiFi networks which should deliver a bit of a rumble to the living room or office. It also support legacy 802.11a/b/g giving it full 2.4GHz and 5GHz coverage. It also features AirPort Disk, a USB host port around back allowing you to share an external USB hard drive over your wireless or wired network. Or just attach a USB printer and share that, your choice. Best of all, it should work with the unannounced, but apparently real, 802.11n draft hardware in your recently purchased Mac -- look for a software update to roll soon. By February anyway, when the Airport Extreme ships for $180.
Airport Extreme is all-new
Though unmentioned in the iPhone lovefest, there's another new product popping up on apple.com: the all new Airport Extreme. It's flat, in the half-Mini shape of the iTV Apple TV. It's fast; 802.11 n + a/b/g compatible. It has USB for printer sharing AND support for attaching a shared hard drive. It's got three LAN Ethernet ports (yay!) that run at 100mbit (boo!). Shipping now in February for $179.thanks Andrew and everyone else who sent this in.
Apple to unveil 802.11n Airport Extreme X2, X4 at Macworld?
Alright, deep breaths, we might have us some actual pre-Macworld Apple news here, and we don't want anybody passing out on us. It looks like Apple is indeed hopping on board the 802.11n bandwagon, with its own draft-N devices going by the name of Airport Extreme X2 and X4. We're not positive what's the difference between the two versions (though we're sure X4 will be bringing twice the Xtreem of its counterpart) but it could have something to do with that DualBand 802.11n technology which showed up in Linksys' new WRT600N, with 2.4GHz and 5GHz frequency support to bust up on interference -- just a guess though. This news comes to us courtesy of a loose-lipped Macworld Expo "Advanced Wireless" session description, so it could very well be one of strongest rumors we've heard yet of an actual Macworld product launch from Apple -- let's just hope there's at least one more thing.[Via Digg]
Airport Extreme cards experience price drop
I haven't purchased one of these cards in a while, but I'm pretty sure that reader Robert is accurate with this tip. It seems that Airport Extreme cards have experienced a bit of a price drop. They're currently going for $49US in the US online Apple Store (I believe they were previously $69US or $79US...help me out here, TUAWers) and £30 (down from £49) in the UK. If you've been waiting to pick one of these up, now looks like a good time.Thanks, Robert!
