Our Verdict
Until the acquittance of the AirPort Utility app in October 2011 , the only way to configure an AirPort Extreme Base Station , Time Capsule , or AirPort Express was from the screen background AirPort Utility software included in recent variant of Mac OS X and available as a free download for Windows . The freeAirPort Utilityfor iOS fromAppleincludes all the relevant functionality of the screen background software plus a little supererogatory .
Except for enhancive advance and a minor name modification , the Mac and Windows version of AirPort Utility has n’t changed all that much since 1999 . The mobile app , however , opens with a striking conflict : a graphical depiction of your internet ’s wiring and wireless routes to the Internet and among basis post . At a glimpse , you could pick a router , which Apple represent with an accurate thumbnail of its show , to try or configure . A ruddy or yellow ikon next to the globe represent Internet connectivity or a router means something ’s wrong . The computer graphic operate as well on the scale of the iPhone and iPod touch and on the iPad . If only Apple would bring such simpleness to its desktop utility .
Social Networking : The iOS version of AirPort Utility includes something that would be welcome in the background version : a graphical depiction of your connection ’s set - up .
Social Networking: The iOS version of AirPort Utility includes something that would be welcome in the desktop version: a graphical depiction of your network’s set-up.
The app allow quick approach to information you call for from a router , such as the IP computer address at which it ’s operating and has been assigned by an Internet service provider or set manually . But tap an Edit release , and you may drill down into most but not all constellation particular , from pick a particular 5 - Gc radio duct to the rate of speed at which a give wireless guest has connect . AirPort Utility can even place up fixed addresses for data processor on the local connection using DHCP Reservation . The drill - down access of knock bill of fare and choosing configurations works well . at times , I would mistakenly tap Cancel alternatively of Done — both option are near each other at the top — and erased a modification I made . Apple could provide a prompt when tap Cancel if changes would be drop off to avoid unintentional do - over .
AirPort Utility has a surety defect : the app never forgets a base station password , and a few hydrant give away the unmixed text of both the web and contour passwords . Apple should add an alternative to either lock the app or discard one or more passwords .
A few forward-looking details usually handle on corporate meshwork by IT common people are neglect , and you ’ll need to flip-flop to a desktop for IPv6 internet form , system of rules logging , and some charts . AirPort Utility for Io also ca n’t load up or stack away conformation profiles , a minor issue for most home and small office web .
AirPort Utility for iOS is the pure tool for configuring and trouble-shoot Apple ’s gear mechanism without having to lug a laptop around , but it needs to improve its handling of password storage .
update at 3:32 p.m. PT to take away interface mapping from AirPort Utility ’s missing feature lean , as you’re able to configure porthole mapping via the mobile app .
