{"id":10660,"date":"2022-03-22T13:27:00","date_gmt":"2022-03-22T13:27:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/TheNextWeb=1383000"},"modified":"2022-03-22T13:27:00","modified_gmt":"2022-03-22T13:27:00","slug":"i-have-a-theory-about-why-apple-wont-release-another-router","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/?p=10660","title":{"rendered":"I have a theory about why Apple won\u2019t release another router"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>I miss <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/topic\/apple\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple\u2019s<\/a> AirPort range. Back when I was taking my first forays into home networking, these wireless routers and extenders were a vital part of my setup.<\/p>\n<p>Yet, as per usual, good things couldn\u2019t last.<\/p>\n<p>Back in 2018, <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/apple-is-done-making-airport-routers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple bowed out of the networking game entirely<\/a> and discontinued its AirPort and Time Capsule line-up.<\/p>\n<p>Besides me, one who hasn\u2019t let this slide is Bloomberg\u2019s Mark Gurman. In a piece <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bloomberg.com\/news\/newsletters\/2022-03-20\/does-apple-aapl-sell-a-wireless-router-what-happened-to-the-apple-airport-l0zbztrg\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">published earlier this week<\/a>, the renowned Apple analyst and leaker called for the company to reintroduce Wi-Fi routers as part of its product portfolio.<\/p>\n<p>And, honestly? The argument for this relaunch is compelling.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1232974 js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express.jpeg\" alt=\"apple airport express first gen\" width=\"768\" height=\"557\" sizes=\"(max-width: 768px) 100vw, 768px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express-280x203.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express-372x270.jpeg 372w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express-186x135.jpeg 186w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/a-theory-about-why-apple-will-not-release-another-router#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2022%2F03%2F22%2Fa-theory-about-why-apple-will-not-release-another-router%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: This is the AirPort Express, which was both capable of AirPlay and being a wireless access point.\" data-title=\"Share This is the AirPort Express, which was both capable of AirPlay and being a wireless access point. on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share This is the AirPort Express, which was both capable of AirPlay and being a wireless access point. on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>This is the AirPort Express, which was both capable of AirPlay and being a wireless access point.<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1232974\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express.jpeg\" alt=\"apple airport express first gen\" width=\"768\" height=\"557\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express.jpeg 768w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express-280x203.jpeg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express-372x270.jpeg 372w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2019\/07\/apple-airport-express-186x135.jpeg 186w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p>Effectively, Gurman argues that now Apple has finally pulled its head out of its arse with its Mac range (ergo, dropping irritations like <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/life-apple-macbook-touch-bar-awful-hate\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Touch Bar<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/what-hell-apple-butterfly-keyboard-keys-design\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Butterfly Keyboard<\/a>, while <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/apple-macbook-pro-16-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">improving the MacBook Pro<\/a> and introducing <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/everything-you-were-wondering-about-apples-new-m1-chip\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the M1 chip<\/a>), the time is nigh for the company to take another look at networking.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s some sense in this by itself, but the aspect of Gurman\u2019s reasoning that appealed to me most was the suggestion that Apple should develop a mesh system using its devices.<\/p>\n<p>The company has already <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/apple-airtags-danger-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">done something similar<\/a> with its AirTags, as it uses a mesh of Apple devices to locate the trackers. In terms of providing a Wi-Fi signal in your home, the company could release an updated AirPort router that then connects to other Apple devices (like <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/apple-homepod-discontinue-homepod-mini-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the HomePod Mini<\/a>), creating a mesh network covering your whole house.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s a fantastic idea \u2014 but it\u2019s not gonna happen.<\/p>\n<h2>Why won\u2019t Apple release new routers?<\/h2>\n<p>There are two main reasons. Shockingly, let\u2019s start with the first: technical limitations.<\/p>\n<p>When Apple shuttered the AirPort range, it began retailing other companies\u2019 routers as a replacement. For example, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.apple.com\/shop\/accessories\/all\/mesh-wifi-networking\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">it\u2019s currently selling<\/a> a Linksys Velop mesh system with three units for $500.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1383002 js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system.jpg\" alt=\"Linksys Velop mesh system\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1280px) 100vw, 1280px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-280x158.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-796x448.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-1200x675.jpg 1200w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/a-theory-about-why-apple-will-not-release-another-router#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2022%2F03%2F22%2Fa-theory-about-why-apple-will-not-release-another-router%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: This is a pic of the Linksys Velop, a mesh system that even looks a tiny bit \u2018Apple.\u2019\" data-title=\"Share This is a pic of the Linksys Velop, a mesh system that even looks a tiny bit \u2018Apple.\u2019 on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share This is a pic of the Linksys Velop, a mesh system that even looks a tiny bit \u2018Apple.\u2019 on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>This is a pic of the Linksys Velop, a mesh system that even looks a tiny bit \u2018Apple.\u2019<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1383002\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system.jpg\" alt=\"Linksys Velop mesh system\" width=\"1280\" height=\"720\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system.jpg 1280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-280x158.jpg 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-240x135.jpg 240w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-480x270.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-796x448.jpg 796w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2022\/03\/Linksys-Velop-mesh-system-1200x675.jpg 1200w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p>The point here is that mesh networking doesn\u2019t come cheap. And if the company wants to get its beloved \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/apple-studio-display-entry-level-version-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Apple tax<\/a>\u2019 and deliver a comparable experience, the new AirPort units will be bum-clenchungly expensive.<\/p>\n<p>This leads onto our next point. For the new AirPort router range to be worthwhile for the average user, they need to deliver something beyond what other companies are doing with their networking equipment.<\/p>\n<p>The aforementioned idea of meshing Apple products gets us close \u2014 as will expected features like an improved setup experience \u2014 but we bump into another problem: there aren\u2019t enough home-based devices to provide an attractive mesh option.<\/p>\n<p>Using iPhones, iPads, and MacBooks as nodes would be too battery taxing (let alone unreliable, as they\u2019re constantly moving). If we look to Google, a company thriving in this space, the reason its Nest Wi-Fi mesh network has been so successful is because people have widely adopted its smart home products, from<a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/the-google-nest-mini-sure-looks-a-lot-like-the-home-mini\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"> the Nest Mini<\/a> to <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/google-home-max-best-smart-speaker-money-period\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">the Home Max<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Apple simply doesn\u2019t have this advantage.<\/p>\n<p>Maybe if the business had released <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/apple-release-homepod-with-a-screen-analysis\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">a HomePod with a screen<\/a>, things would be different. Instead, the company knows most Apple users don\u2019t have homes brimming with its smart speakers, so that avenue of using them to create a mesh network is currently off the cards.<\/p>\n<p>As it can\u2019t look to this for differentiation, Apple would need to search elsewhere \u2014 and this is where other technical limitations arise.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"post-image post-mediaBleed aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1342855 js-lazy\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen.png\" alt=\"header image the homepod with a screen\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" data-srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen-280x147.png 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen-516x270.png 516w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen-258x135.png 258w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen-796x417.png 796w\"><figcaption><a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/a-theory-about-why-apple-will-not-release-another-router#\" data-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https%3A%2F%2Feditorial.thenextweb.com%2Fplugged%2F2022%2F03%2F22%2Fa-theory-about-why-apple-will-not-release-another-router%2F&amp;via=thenextweb&amp;related=thenextweb&amp;text=Check out this picture on: BEHOLD, A HOMEPOD WITH A SCREEN! (We pay this artist a lot of money).\" data-title=\"Share BEHOLD, A HOMEPOD WITH A SCREEN! (We pay this artist a lot of money). on Twitter\" data-width=\"685\" data-height=\"500\" class=\"post-image-share popitup\" title=\"Share BEHOLD, A HOMEPOD WITH A SCREEN! (We pay this artist a lot of money). on Twitter\"><i class=\"icon icon--inline icon--twitter--dark\"><\/i><\/a>BEHOLD, A HOMEPOD WITH A SCREEN! (We pay this artist a lot of money).<\/figcaption><noscript><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1342855\" src=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen.png\" alt=\"header image the homepod with a screen\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen.png 1200w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen-280x147.png 280w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen-516x270.png 516w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen-258x135.png 258w, https:\/\/cdn0.tnwcdn.com\/wp-content\/blogs.dir\/1\/files\/2021\/03\/header-image-the-homepod-with-a-screen-796x417.png 796w\"><\/noscript><\/figure>\n<p>For all intents and purposes, the Cupertino firm shuttered its division responsible for routers <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/apple-kills-development-airport-wireless-routers\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">all the way back in 2016<\/a>. This means there\u2019s a cavernous knowledge gap in the company and, although I believe Apple has the resources to bridge it, it\u2019d take an extensive amount of time and money to not just catch up, but actually outstrip organizations whose entire business is networking.<\/p>\n<p>Again, this is possible, but here\u2019s where we encounter our second reason why Apple won\u2019t release a new router any time soon: reputation.<\/p>\n<p>A key element in Apple enticing so many people into its ecosystem is due to the strong positive feelings its devices endear. For example, how many times have you heard people say they use the company\u2019s products because \u201cthey just work?\u201d<\/p>\n<p>This is by design.<\/p>\n<p>Anyone who has ever used a defective or poorly designed piece of tech knows just how much daily rage you direct towards it. Currently, Apple has fine control over the way the majority of its devices work.<\/p>\n<p>If there\u2019s a bug with an iPhone, it can be fixed via an over-the-air software update. If there\u2019s a flaw on a MacBook, you can take it into an Apple Store. These problems have a clear workflow.<\/p>\n<p>The same isn\u2019t true of a wireless network.<\/p>\n<p>Consider the last two years of the pandemic. How many times did your home Wi-Fi network drop out or frustrate you? The variance in people\u2019s homes and where they place routers has a huge impact on how well they perform.<\/p>\n<p>Think of Wi-Fi like a printer. Although the technology has improved in leaps and bounds, the nature of their operation inevitably leads to mistakes.<\/p>\n<p>So, if Apple re-enters the world of routers, it risks suffering reputation damage over something it can\u2019t control. And, if people start losing faith in Apple, they stop buying so many of its devices. That means less money. And we all know how Apple feels about money.<\/p>\n<p>These two issues (the amount of investment and potential reputational damage) will, in my mind, keep Apple from re-entering the router market any time soon. This doesn\u2019t mean it <em>won\u2019t<\/em> happen, but I\u2019d expect the company to first invest in its smart home offerings before branching out into networking again.<\/p>\n<p>Which is a shame. I still miss my AirPort Express \u2014 and I\u2019m holding out hope that, one day, we see its like again.<\/p>\n<p> <a href=\"https:\/\/thenextweb.com\/news\/a-theory-about-why-apple-will-not-release-another-router\">Source<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I miss Apple\u2019s AirPort range. Back when I was taking my first forays into home networking, these wireless routers and extenders were a vital part of my setup. Yet, as per usual,&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":10661,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10660"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=10660"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10660\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/10661"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=10660"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=10660"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.londonchiropracter.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=10660"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}