Apple appears to be dropping AirPort branding for Wi-Fi

OneMoreThing... · OneMoreThing... #1 (**permalink**)

06-14-2011, 02:10 PM

Apple appears to be dropping AirPort branding for Wi-Fi

Quote:

Since 1999, when Steve Jobs introduced the iBook as the first portable computer with Wi-Fi capabilities, Apple has used the term AirPort to refer to 802.11 wireless connectivity. The rest of the world knows this technology by the name Wi-Fi, and it appears that with the upcoming release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Apple will be changing references to wireless networking from "AirPort" to "Wi-Fi" across the system.

The change resolves a common issue for Mac neophytes, who often search in vain for Wi-Fi controls on their new Macs only to find something confusingly called AirPort. The name change may also explain recent reports that Apple's networking products -- the AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and Time Capsule -- are in short supply at some Apple Stores. Perhaps a Wi-Fi product refresh and a change in branding will both accompany the Lion launch next month.

Will you miss the AirPort name on Apple products if it does disappear, or do you think it was a confusing proprietary moniker? Leave your comments below.

Apple appears to be dropping AirPort branding for Wi-Fi originally appeared on TUAW - The Unofficial Apple Weblog on Tue, 14 Jun 2011 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Doug b · Doug b #2 (**permalink**)

06-14-2011, 02:24 PM

OMGZORS! Does this mean that I won't have extra special magic wireless capabilities anymore!!!?!? OH NOOOOEEEZ!

louishen · louishen #3 (**permalink**)

06-14-2011, 03:00 PM

KInda makes sense, they seem to be trying to make OSX more and more like iOS, to help those coming from iPhones and iPads, after all its called Wifi on the iOS

cwa107 · cwa107 #4 (**permalink**)

06-14-2011, 03:04 PM

It's about time. I think this has done little more than create ambiguity between the AirPort router and the WiFi adapter in Macs.

pigoo3 · pigoo3 #5 (**permalink**)

06-14-2011, 03:22 PM

I hate to say it...but I have to agree. The terminology of the various Apple Airport products over the years could certainly be very confusing to someone not familiar with Apple WiFi products:

- original Airport card

- the 2nd generation Airport Extreme card:

- Apple Base Station:

- Apple Extreme Base Station:

- the Airport Express Base Station:

- the Airport Extreme Base Station:

If you gave the average Apple user a list of the names of the 6 products above:

- Airport card
- Airport Extreme card
- Apple Base Station
- Apple Extreme Base Station
- Airport Express Base Station
- Airport Extreme Base Station

...and asked them to match the terms with the photos...I'm sure a lot of folks would have trouble getting all 6 correct.

- Nick

TattooedMac · TattooedMac #6 (**permalink**)

06-14-2011, 04:11 PM

I do agree with all the above, but will admit i liked the Branding name in the sense as a wireless product. I thought it fit it quite well, but will at least now be uniform with the rest of the industry.

Cheers

baggss · baggss #7 (**permalink**)

06-14-2011, 04:22 PM

As evidenced by the above pictures, removing the Airport name will apparently make the system more compatable with wireless networks. I mean look at how many more networks are available in picture 2 vice picture 1!

This is the kind of responses I expect from this.

Kevriano · Kevriano #8 (**permalink**)

06-14-2011, 04:23 PM

Interesting, given my recent post.

ElegantEsthetic · ElegantEsthetic #9 (**permalink**)

06-15-2011, 11:39 AM

This won't make too much of a difference (I am curious as to what they will call the refreshed routers) but I did enjoy the AirPort name. Sounds less boring 'oh hey, I'm uh...I'm looking for WiFi' and more of a 'HOLY HOTCAKES! AIRPORT IS WORKING, LET'S GET FLYIN'

cwa107 · cwa107 #10 (**permalink**)

06-15-2011, 12:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ElegantEsthetic

This won't make too much of a difference (I am curious as to what they will call the refreshed routers) but I did enjoy the AirPort name. Sounds less boring 'oh hey, I'm uh...I'm looking for WiFi' and more of a 'HOLY HOTCAKES! AIRPORT IS WORKING, LET'S GET FLYIN'

I think the router will keep the name. What changes is that the WiFi adapter in your Mac is now referred to just as "WiFi" instead of Airport.

Ttaylor394 · Ttaylor394 #11 (**permalink**)

06-15-2011, 02:45 PM

I have come to know the phrase AirPort as a normal Mac user with this iMac and my Airport Extreme Base Station.

Although, I am slightly embarrassed to admit that when I first heard the words AirPort related to an Mac, I thought it meant there was some type of country wide, free WiFi available at actual airports, and only for people who had a Mac laptop... yeah, I like to think that I have come a long way.

louishen · louishen #12 (**permalink**)

06-15-2011, 03:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ttaylor394

I have come to know the phrase AirPort as a normal Mac user with this iMac and my Airport Extreme Base Station.

Although, I am slightly embarrassed to admit that when I first heard the words AirPort related to an Mac, I thought it meant there was some type of country wide, free WiFi available at actual airports, and only for people who had a Mac laptop... yeah, I like to think that I have come a long way.

I think free wifi at airports to mac users is a good idea

RONE · RONE #13 (**permalink**)

06-20-2011, 01:13 PM

I hope they don't change the name of their base stations. I like the term "Airport" for Apple's wireless base stations.

Doug b #2 (permalink)
Member Since: Jun 22, 2008 Location: Forest Hills, NYC Posts: 3,339 Mac Specs: 15-inch Early 2008; Processor 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; Memory 4 GB 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM; 10.7.5	06-14-2011, 02:24 PM OMGZORS! Does this mean that I won't have extra special magic wireless capabilities anymore!!!?!? OH NOOOOEEEZ! Alternatives to iTunes click here !
	QUOTE Thanks

cwa107 #4 (permalink)
Member Since: Dec 20, 2006 Location: Middletown, Pennsylvania Posts: 25,916 Mac Specs: 15" MBP, Core i7/2GHz, 8GB RAM, 256GB Crucial M4 SSD	06-14-2011, 03:04 PM It's about time. I think this has done little more than create ambiguity between the AirPort router and the WiFi adapter in Macs. Liquid and computers don't mix. It might seem simple, but we see an incredible amount of people post here about spills. Keep drinks and other liquids away from your expensive electronics!
	QUOTE Thanks

pigoo3 #5 (permalink)
Member Since: May 20, 2008 Location: U.S. Posts: 20,285 Mac Specs: 13" MB 2.4ghz, 2gig ram, OS 10.7.4	06-14-2011, 03:22 PM I hate to say it...but I have to agree. The terminology of the various Apple Airport products over the years could certainly be very confusing to someone not familiar with Apple WiFi products: - original Airport card - the 2nd generation Airport Extreme card: - Apple Base Station: - Apple Extreme Base Station: - the Airport Express Base Station: - the Airport Extreme Base Station: If you gave the average Apple user a list of the names of the 6 products above: - Airport card - Airport Extreme card - Apple Base Station - Apple Extreme Base Station - Airport Express Base Station - Airport Extreme Base Station ...and asked them to match the terms with the photos...I'm sure a lot of folks would have trouble getting all 6 correct. - Nick - Computer slow, too many "beachballs", read this: Beachballs - Computer seems slower than it used to? Read this for some speedup tips: Speedup - Almost full hard drive? Some solutions. Out of Space - Apple Battery Info. Battery
	QUOTE Thanks

TattooedMac #6 (permalink)
Member Since: May 19, 2009 Location: Western Astraya Posts: 6,445 Mac Specs: 13"MBP 2.9Ghz Intel Core i7 10.8.3 ~ iPhone5 6.1.3 ~ iPad Mini 6.1.3 ~ ATV2 5.2.1	06-14-2011, 04:11 PM I do agree with all the above, but will admit i liked the Branding name in the sense as a wireless product. I thought it fit it quite well, but will at least now be uniform with the rest of the industry. Cheers Dont forget to use the Reputation System if someone has helped you out !!! “I have absolutely no pleasure in the stimulants in which I sometimes so madly indulge. It has not been in the pursuit of pleasure that I have periled life and reputation and reason. It has been the desperate attempt to escape from torturing memories, from a sense of insupportable loneliness and a dread of some strange impending doom ….”― Edgar Allan Poe
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Kevriano #8 (permalink)
Member Since: Jul 02, 2006 Location: Crawley, England Posts: 4,560 Mac Specs: 20" Intel iMac 2.4 Ghz/3G Ram/320HD, Snow Leopard. PBook G4, 1.5Ghz/1.5 Ram/250 HD, Leopard 10.5.6.	06-14-2011, 04:23 PM Interesting, given my recent post. Try my custom Mac Forums Search Engine: Mac Forums Google Search Please use the reputation system if you consider any help given useful (it's the little ✓/✘ on the left <---)
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Apple appears to be dropping AirPort branding for Wi-Fi

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baggss #7 (permalink)
Member Since: Oct 10, 2004 Location: Margaritaville Posts: 10,306 Mac Specs: 27" 3.4 Ghz i7 iMac-13" C2D Macbook-OSX 18.8.2-64Gb iPad 2-32 Gb iPhone 5-ATV 2-14Tb of Storage	06-14-2011, 04:22 PM As evidenced by the above pictures, removing the Airport name will apparently make the system more compatable with wireless networks. I mean look at how many more networks are available in picture 2 vice picture 1! This is the kind of responses I expect from this.
	QUOTE Thanks

ElegantEsthetic #9 (permalink)
Member Since: Aug 15, 2010 Posts: 104	06-15-2011, 11:39 AM This won't make too much of a difference (I am curious as to what they will call the refreshed routers) but I did enjoy the AirPort name. Sounds less boring 'oh hey, I'm uh...I'm looking for WiFi' and more of a 'HOLY HOTCAKES! AIRPORT IS WORKING, LET'S GET FLYIN'
	QUOTE Thanks

Ttaylor394 #11 (permalink)
Member Since: Feb 15, 2011 Location: West 'by-God' Virginia Posts: 343 Mac Specs: 21.5 iMac, white iPad 3, white iphone 4, white iphone 5	06-15-2011, 02:45 PM I have come to know the phrase AirPort as a normal Mac user with this iMac and my Airport Extreme Base Station. Although, I am slightly embarrassed to admit that when I first heard the words AirPort related to an Mac, I thought it meant there was some type of country wide, free WiFi available at actual airports, and only for people who had a Mac laptop... yeah, I like to think that I have come a long way. 21.5"iMac i3 3.06:running 10.7  500GB HD  16GB DDR3  Magic Trackpad  Black iPhone4 32GB  White iPhone4 16GB  Apple Extreme Airport Base Station 
	QUOTE Thanks

RONE #13 (permalink)
Member Since: Apr 02, 2007 Location: Merriam, KS Posts: 764 Mac Specs: 15" MBP Core Duo 2.0GHz 1.5GB, 20" iMac C2D 2.4GHz 4GB, PowerPC G4 500MHz 512MB	06-20-2011, 01:13 PM I hope they don't change the name of their base stations. I like the term "Airport" for Apple's wireless base stations.
	QUOTE Thanks

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