Apple AirPort Utility for Mac

4.0 stars

"Fully Functional, Unlike v6.0. Works with g AND n Wi-Fi"

February 2, 2012  |   By zunipus

Version: Apple AirPort Utility 5.6

Pros

This is the fully functional upgrade from version 5.5.2. It works on BOTH g and n Wi-Fi Airport devices, despite Apple's poor documentation. This is all you need if you don't like v6.0 and require access to all the features of your Airport devices.

Cons

The GUI could use some simplification, but not to the point of stupefaction as found in v6.0. The Help requires revision and coordination with v6.0.

Summary

When Apple released Airport Utility version 6.0, they provided very poor documentation. A typical user didn't even know that the ACTUAL update from Airport Utillty v5.5.2 was v5.6. The documentation for v5.6 suggests (at this time) that it is only for g Wi-Fi Airport devices. This is WRONG. V5.6 works on BOTH g AND n Wi-Fi Airport devices. Shame on Apple.

V5.6 is also FEATURE COMPLETE, unlike the remarkably hobbled version 6.0. In fact, NO ONE actually requires v6.0. The only possible exception would be the iCloud setting present in v6.0. IMHO v6.0 is betaware, fine for testing and basic functionality. But if Apple intended it to be more user-friendly than v5.6, they FAILed. It is confusing to use and doesn't even have a Setup Assistant!

v5.6 is the definitive version to use to administer your Airport devices. It works well.

I'd like v5.6 to have some improvements in user-friendliness. It also requires updated documentation within the application and revised Help in order to improve accuracy, detail and to distinguish it from v6.0.

Apple: Version 6.0 is fine as a beta iOS GUI revision. But it's a non-starter for anyone who wants to fully administer their Airport devices. Please make v6.0.1 into what this app should have been in the first place: Fully functional, like v5.6.

Reply to this review

Was this review helpful? (0) (0)