AirPort Utility app for iOS about to debut

While iOS 5 includes a new feature that allows for initial setup of an AirPort device from an iPad or iPhone, any future tweaking of settings still has to be done from a Mac or PC. However, Twitter user Sonny Dickson found references to an AirPort Utility app in iOS 5's Settings app. Without going into too much NDA-licious detail, I'll just say that I've independently confirmed what he's found, although the relevant link currently goes nowhere and does nothing.

iOS 5 will go live to the public on October 12, and it's highly probable this AirPort Utility app will as well. Its release will address one of the last remaining feature gaps that has prevented "normal" users from going PC-free with iOS devices. Once the app comes out, we'll take a look at it and report on what we find.

[via MacStories]

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Source: https://twitter.com/#!/sonnydickson/status/12253821262641561…

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While iOS 5 includes a new feature that allows for initial setup of an AirPort device from an iPad or iPhone, any future tweaking of...

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Kelmon

I think this is one of those stories where the headline can legitimately be proceeded by that classic word "finally". Yes, I do have a Mac in the house but it is upstairs and it can be pain in the backside to have to trump upstairs in order to change a setting yet I have my iPhone or iPad beside me. Given all the other things that these devices can control remotely it always seemed odd that the AirPort base stations wasn't one of them.

October 11 2011 at 2:40 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

loup407

That's great news! NIce to hear Apple DOES listen!

October 11 2011 at 12:17 AM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

dorjesyber

Ya but can we put our iOS devices into Ad-hock mode finally? Seriously, one of my bigger complaints about the functionality of the iPad.

October 10 2011 at 11:25 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

somelucky

Great news. I would assume that the majority of airport extreme/express owners have a Mac. However, there are those of us that do not own a mac who love the portability and convience of the airport express. This will allow me to change it's settings on the go.

October 10 2011 at 7:32 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Tom

I haven't tried it but if you have a non apple router can't you still just go to your routers address in safari and modify the settings from there? I know my link sys router I used to just go to 192.168.1.1 in safari and I could change all the settings

October 10 2011 at 7:23 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

2 replies to Tom's comment

Dave

Sure, it works for non-Apple routers like that, e.g. I have a mobile Cradlepoint EVDO router which I can access from Safari browser of an iPhone. However, Apple wi-fi base stations use 'Airport Utility' (an application found in 'utilities' folder on all Mac desktops/laptops) to manage Airport settings. Hence the relevance of the announcement....

October 10 2011 at 8:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Yuusharo

Apple routers don't use a web server on itself to configure it, unlike most other routers. Until now, you had to run an application on either Windows or Mac OS X in order to make changes to it. With iOS 5, you can make similar changes on any iOS device.

October 10 2011 at 8:14 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Michael

YES YES YES!

Hopefully we'll be able to connect to remote AirPort devices and if we're really lucky do some port forwarding, but I'm excited nonetheless. AirPort setup within iOS 5 is fantastic so far. :)

October 10 2011 at 7:20 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply

Yuusharo

This really completes the "pc-free" initiative for me. I love the idea of configuring and rebooting my router directly from the handheld, rather than booting up the PC or digging out the Macbook Air to make a simple change. Looking forward to it.

October 10 2011 at 7:06 PM Report abuse Permalink rate up rate down Reply