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So I've ignored all the chatter of the headphone jack and the MBP and chalked them up to being in a transitionary period both for wireless and USB-C. But this

So I've ignored all the chatter of the headphone jack and the MBP and chalked them up to being in a transitionary period both for wireless and USB-C. But this move seems to indicate a fundamental misunderstanding of the Apple ecosystem. Starting with the WiFi in a consumer's house, today, the Apple 'System' provides you with the entire experience from simply using your iPhone/iPad to easily playing your music on your speakers through AirPlay to watching content on Apple TV to backing up your computers via TimeMachine and providing remote access through Back-To-my-Mac. Further, the devices provide guest and "Mesh" like functionality to have an extended WiFi network -- before mesh wifi technology existed. All this and easily configured though, most appropriately, an app. Shutting down this most fundamental base functionality of AirPort to me is a signal that Apple really doesn't want to be in the business beyond iPhones and iPads. This coming at a time when the competition is actually ramping up providing WiFi devices (Google WiFi) and providing something that Apple has had for years. It's mind boggling.

pat2man 10y ago
Apple can easily sell something like the Eero at the Apple stores and provide a similar (app based) setup. Apple tends to try to innovate where they think other companies are dropping the ball but the wifi router space is getting quite crowded. Not really an opportunity for Apple to blow everyone out of the water.
- eridius 10y ago
  Agreed. I think Apple can still sell the entire experience if you shop at their store, they just no longer feel the need to have the Apple logo on each product you buy. For monitors there's a strong argument that the monitor is a very visible piece of technology and so should retain the Apple design, but routers generally are put in some out-of-the-way place and, as long as they work well, it doesn't really matter who makes them.

pat2man 10y ago

Apple can easily sell something like the Eero at the Apple stores and provide a similar (app based) setup. Apple tends to try to innovate where they think other companies are dropping the ball but the wifi router space is getting quite crowded. Not really an opportunity for Apple to blow everyone out of the water.

eridius 10y ago
Agreed. I think Apple can still sell the entire experience if you shop at their store, they just no longer feel the need to have the Apple logo on each product you buy. For monitors there's a strong argument that the monitor is a very visible piece of technology and so should retain the Apple design, but routers generally are put in some out-of-the-way place and, as long as they work well, it doesn't really matter who makes them.