May 22, 2013 - 11:39 AM EDT — AAPL: 445.08 (+5.42, +1.23%) | NASDAQ: 3498.965 (+33.722, +0.97%)

Apple silently refreshes Airport Extreme with no known changes

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 · 3:10 pm · 24 Comments

“The imminent release of an updated Airport Extreme was telegraphed early Tuesday by a filing with the U.S. Federal Communications Commission,” Josh Ong reports for AppleInsider.

“The new base station went up on the Apple Online Store late Tuesday, but other than a new model number, it carries no new specifications, as discovered by Macworld,” Ong reports. “The device continues to sell for US$179.”

Advertisement: Students, parents and Faculty save up to $200 on a new Mac.

Ong reports, “The new model number is MD031AM/A, compared to the previous generation’s model number of MC340AM/A. Apple also quietly updated its Time Capsule base station on Tuesday, with a bump in a capacity from 1TB and 2TB models to 2TB and 3TB models.”

Thank You for supporting MacDailyNews!

 Apple 13.3" MacBook Air dual-core Intel Core i7 2.0GHz, 8GB RAM, 512GB Flash Storage, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Mac OS X Lion (Z0ND-20GHZ8GB512) only $2,159.99
 Secret Sale Exclusive for MacMall Valued Customers Only
 Apple 15.4" MacBook Pro (with Retina display) quad-core Intel Core i7 2.3GHz/16GB RAM/256GB FS/IntelHD Graphics4000/OS X Lion (Z0MK-15-2.3-16-256RT) only $2,333.99
 Apple Blowouts: Up to $649 OFF on Last Gen Macs. Prices start at $1,999.99 w/ Free Upgrade to OS X Mountain Lion & Free FedEx Overnight ends 02/08 6:15PM PST.
 Apple 13.3" MacBook Pro dual-core Intel Core i7 2.9GHz, 8GB RAM, 750GB 5400-rpm hard drive, Intel HD Graphics 4000, Ships with Mountain Lion (MD102LL/A) only $1,419.97

Comment Feed

24 Comments

BananaJoe

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 3:20 pm · Reply

Oh yeah! These wifi devices are wicked extreme. I like it!
Zulkifli

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 3:28 pm · Reply

Agree use the 5th band , it is fast
- Paul
  
  Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 4:29 pm · Reply
  
  How do you do that?
  - Zulkifli
    
    Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 7:48 am · Reply
    
    Sorry I mean use the 5gh band , wicked fast!!
Jafo

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 3:29 pm · Reply

Now that’s one Apple device I will not buy again.
Every time I have to move a large amount of data over wifi (like updating my stereo set) I end up failing the data transfer and resetting my Extreme.

As it’s still working, with exception of the weekly reset, I will look into a replacement when conditions get worse.
- breeze
  
  Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 3:32 pm · Reply
  
  Don’t you think this log overdue upgrade will solve that?
  - Jafo
    
    Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 7:00 pm · Reply
    
    With every upgrade I’m hoping for a fix.
    Don’t you think that a persistent problem will drive me away from these scary devices? I think, and know, they do.
    I like most products of Apple, but the AEBS is not one of them. It’s just a disaster.
- breeze
  
  Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 3:32 pm · Reply
  
  Don’t you think this long overdue upgrade will solve that?
- FTB
  
  Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 3:56 pm · Reply
  
  Mine has worked flawlessly.
  - LordRobin
    
    Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 4:40 pm · Reply
    
    Mine, too. It’s run 24/7 for maybe two years now (I’ve honestly lost track) and has never given me the slightest problem. And we now own 8 devices that connect to it.
    
    ——RM
- deasystems
  
  Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 6:29 pm · Reply
  
  Fix your networl. It’s not the AEBS.
  - Jafo
    
    Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 6:57 pm · Reply
    
    That a very brave, bold and incorrect statement.
    I will fix the my network by removing the AEBS one of these days indeed. Better yet, I’ll remove them both. 2 generations, both with the same problem.
    - FTB
      
      Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 9:02 pm · Reply
      
      if they both have the same problem… I’m leaning towards Operator Error also.
      I bet if you were to post some logs when you transfer loads of data, and it fails, we would see the AEBS is not at fault..
      
      Have you ever contacted support over the issue?
      Ever ran any logs to see exactly WHY it happens?….
      
      I just checked apple discussions, there was a bug in an older version of the airport. but an update fixed it.. Other people said they had problems also, but all were fixed via drivers or using correct settings.
    - Widerwake
      
      Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 10:23 pm · Reply
      
      Start by moving your modem at least 2-3 ft away if they kept together. This seems to have solved daily reset problems for us (amazingly, upon Comcast’s suggestion). There’s a weird interference thing that resets the AE and many other devices, I’m told.
  - KingMel
    
    Thursday, June 23, 2011 - 12:13 am · Reply
    
    My AEBS problem ended up being a DSL problem – failed isolation of the telephone line going to my Dish DVR. Fixed that and no more problems.
    
    I also bought a new UPS with regulated output for my iMac, Time Machine external HDD, AEBS, and DSL modem. No problems in a very long time.
    
    Clean power. Clean DSL signal. That’s the ticket!
Paul

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 3:56 pm · Reply

The previous AE has been very good in terms of speed and reach and stability. The model I had prior to that had the problems that you complain about. This new one should be really good.
ChalkOutline

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 4:02 pm · Reply

Does this model update somehow introduce a secret (yet to be disclosed) way allowing us to configure and Airport Extreme Base Station, or Time Machine, using an iPad?

Maybe they finally have a web interface because there is NO app for that!
- FTB
  
  Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 4:20 pm · Reply
  
  I saw the article yesterday, they said they ordered one so they can tear it down and see what (if any) changes there were.
  
  They may have new abilities that are not implemented yet, like the rumored iOS update caching.
  
  Mine runs great, so unless tree is something hidden i have no need for an update, yet…
TimD

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 4:24 pm · Reply

Perhaps it will tie in with iCloud? The existing AE works with mobile me allowing you to see the files on an external drive.
Sam E. Lawrence

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 4:45 pm · Reply

I’m an ACN Apple Consultant (ex employee). The one thing that repeatedly fails on these devices is the power supply (usually long before the HDD). Hopefully that is fixed & possibly these new devices will allow Time Machine usage with tethered disks (unlikely).
- BananaJoe
  
  Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 5:17 pm · Reply
  
  Mind works now for time machine with a tethered disk. Works great as a matter of fact.
  
  Also, mine has been running forever without a restart. Awesome product.
ken1w

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 5:25 pm · Reply

It just shows you can’t rely on most of the rumor mongers out there.
alan

Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 6:52 pm · Reply

Sometimes the “product refresh” (i.e. part number change) is as simple as a packaging change. Has anyone seen the “refresh” model?
- FTB
  
  Wednesday, June 22, 2011 - 9:24 pm · Reply
  
  Not sure it’s shipped yet, may be in Apple stores though..
  Macworld will tear it apart. As with others… Give it a week and we will know the whole deal.
  
  My guess: It’s the same hardware with packaging updates. Except for one thing…
  It has an internal flash storage (not user accessible, like the Apple TV) for that Rumored Cache storage of iOS updates.
  
  Granted i’m only about 50% behind my own idea