Apple Updates AirPort Utility, AirPort Base Station Firmware - Adds iCloud Remote Access
by Brian Klug on January 30, 2012 5:27 PM EST- Posted in
- Apple
- iCloud
- Airport Extreme
- Time Capsule
- Airport Express
Apple just pushed out a slew of updates to its WiFi related products which we've covered and reviewed already, including the AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule. The latest update brings the Base Station firmware version to 7.6.1, and adds performance fixes as well as iCloud remote access for attached disks. From the release notes:
This update is for all 802.11n AirPort Express, 802.11n AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule models. It fixes an issue with wireless performance and provides support for remote access to an AirPort disk or a Time Capsule hard drive with an iCloud account.
I've just updated my own AirPort Extreme and 802.11n AirPort Express, and we'll update if we see anything major. The other part of the update includes AirPort Utility 6.0 which matches the style and theme of the recently released AirPort Utility for iOS. Thus far the update seems to be primarily aesthetic, though a number of old options panes have been consolidated in some places.
One notable change is the repositioning of the wireless client RSSI graph, which now gets reported after clicking on the base station as a pop-up. Interestingly enough, older AirPort devices will be configured using AirPort Utility 5.6 going forwards, and it's in this client that you can access options absent in 6.0, including the logs and wireless client graphs.
We're playing around with the updates and will update soon with more details. Both updates are currently available over Software Update.
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Henk Poley - Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - link
Don't forget about the IPv6 (tunnel) settings they removed in Airport Utility 6.0BetChesed - Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - link
indeed. it seems like 6.0 is an attempt to remove a handful of features that only confuse novice users.NCM - Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - link
Also AirPort Utility 6.0 appears to be Lion only, or at least it doesn't show up in Snow Leopard's software update.evilspoons - Tuesday, January 31, 2012 - link
Huh, you have exactly the same wireless configuration as me (bridge mode, Airport Express, etc) except I have a Time Capsule instead of an Airport Extreme + hard drive.laytoncy - Wednesday, February 1, 2012 - link
I'm thinking of getting an Airport Extreme but am a Windows user. I know this is a firmware update but it seems they updated the Airport Utility as well. From what I've read that is used to administer the router as opposed to a web page based utility. Was the Airport Utility updated for Windows?jaffa62 - Thursday, April 12, 2012 - link
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stevefer - Thursday, April 19, 2012 - link
What happened to the logging that was available under the previous release?It seems to be dumbed-down.