The wireless software updates released by Apple this week — AirPort 4.1 , along with AirPort Express 6.1 and AirPort Extreme Base station 5.5 microcode — don’t hold in a throng of changes . But the fix that are there should go a foresighted way to resolving the frustrations of a few users who had no workarounds for their troubles .

AirPort 4.1 for Mac OS X 10.3lists just three change . But each is meaning in its own way .

WPA for WDSWhile this may sound like acronym soup , it ’s really an significant surety upgrade . WPA is Wi - Fi Protected Access , a method acting of secure a wireless mesh by encrypting all the data that passes across it . You use a bare word to enable WPA . An older method acting , acknowledge as WEP ( Wired Equivalent Privacy ) , can be broken with freely uncommitted software . caller that sell Wi - Fi gear wheel , like Apple , recommend using WPA .

But Apple did n’t have the software documentation to allow WPA when a electronic connection also used Wireless Distribution System ( WDS)—a way to connect pedestal stations using a wireless joining . AirPort Express , in particular , has been promote as an add - on to an existing wireless internet : or else of running an Ethernet cable , you could use WDS to add an AirPort Express near your stereo system .

WDS without WPA meant that users who desire the most reliable security had to revert to a pumped up net . AirPort 4.1 resolution that disparity . All base stations on a WDS - connect internet require the unexampled firmware to employ WPA .

Renaming USB Printers connect to a Base StationPreviously , when you plugged a USB printer into an AirPort Express or AirPort Extreme Base Station , the printer ’s generic name — Canon i950 , say — would become its Rendezvous name seen over the internet . The new AirPort Admin Utility 4.1 allows you to pick out how the printer seem on Rendezvous on base station elevate to the tardy microcode .

This small change resolved a year - long problem that my wife and I had on our AirPort mesh . Her iBook , running Jaguar and then Panther , terminate being able-bodied to publish to our USB - connect printer after initial winner ; my Panther - based PowerBook had no difficulties . The problem clear stemmed from lay away values in some unsung setting file . change the printer ’s name in our AirPort Express immediately solved the trouble . A confrere confirmed via e - chain armour that this solved an identical long - standing print failure , too .

( On a related note of hand , Apple has opted to stop heel printer that are sustain by the base stations.iFelix ’s unofficial listis now the best root of entropy . )

Keyspan Express Remote SupportKeyspan has introducedan infrared remote control unitthat comes in two component : the remote control condition itself and a base that connects to a Mac , PC , or AirPort Express via USB . AirPort 4.1 , coalesce with the AirPort Express 6.1 microcode upgrade , allows the Express Remote to remotely control iTunes play through the AirPort Express .

Other update

The firmware upgrade forAirPort ExpressandAirPort Extreme Base Station modelscontain the completing parts for the above features , but also seem to solve a number of cases in which mesh communicating can be disrupted or discrepant . We have heard many reports of standard File Transfer Protocol failing to work correctly via an Apple home station where , on the same mesh , switching to a pumped-up connection works utterly .

The proficient notes for both firmware updates suggest that FTP , QuickTime ’s RTSP streaming protocol , and IPsec ( a virtual private networking encoding protocol ) are all improved . TCP and UDP — the Internet ’s underlying data point communication communications protocol — are also better in undescribed ways . The proficient notes also admit items about improved performance and bug fix for problems with DNS , USB impression , and PPP over Ethernet .

Two specific firmware additions are deserving mentioning , one for each framework :

disenable the AirPort Interface or Ethernet Interface in AirPort ExpressIt ’s now potential to become off either user interface entirely if it ’s not in use . This prevents access to the AirPort Express through that user interface . If an AirPort Express is connected via Ethernet and used for USB printer share-out or AirTunes music streaming , then the AirPort port can be release off .

The Ethernet port can be incapacitate in two circumstances now , too . If you ’re using the AirPort Express as a wireless customer , it can connect to any Wi - Fi base post — not just Apple’s — but it ca n’t be connect to by wireless client . In this circumstance , the Ethernet interface is n’t available , but it still “ look ” functional to a computer , which can be confusing . AirPort Express 6.1 adds a setting that allows the Ethernet port to seem numb as well as be deadened .

you’re able to also choose to handicap the Ethernet interface when you ’re using WDS mode to restrict approach through that means .

Multiple USB Printers for the Professional / Academic Models of AirPort Extreme Base StationsThis microcode rising slope allows the Power over Ethernet ( PoE ) manikin , sell only to business and schools , to treat multiple USB printers through a USB hub . This seems like an contrived market place note as there ’s no good intellect to disable this function on a home or small billet foot post since Apple specifically omits listing the PoE exemplar on the Apple Store for anything but a few types of grocery .