Yet, as per usual, good things couldnt last.
Back in 2018,Apple bowed out of the networking game entirelyand discontinued its AirPort and Time Capsule line-up.
Besides me, one who hasnt let this slide is Bloombergs Mark Gurman.
The argument for this relaunch is compelling.
Its a fantastic idea but its not gonna happen.
Why wont Apple release new routers?
There are two main reasons.
Shockingly, lets start with the first: technical limitations.
When Apple shuttered the AirPort range, it began retailing other companies routers as a replacement.
For example,its currently sellinga Linksys Velop mesh system with three units for $500.
The point here is that mesh networking doesnt come cheap.
This leads onto our next point.
Apple simply doesnt have this advantage.
Maybe if the business had releaseda HomePod with a screen, things would be different.
This is by design.
Currently, Apple has fine control over the way the majority of its devices work.
If theres a bug with an iPhone, it can be fixed via an over-the-air software update.
If theres a flaw on a MacBook, you might take it into an Apple Store.
These problems have a clear workflow.
The same isnt true of a wireless internet.
Consider the last two years of the pandemic.
How many times did your home Wi-Fi web link drop out or frustrate you?
The variance in peoples homes and where they place routers has a huge impact on how well they perform.
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.
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.
Which is a shame.
