Gizmodo
At Macworld 2008, Apple just announced Time Capsule, a full Airport Extreme base station with 802.11n wireless and four Ethernet ports, plus server grade hard drives to back up all of the Leopard Macs in the house. Did we call this or what? OK, minus the leopard spots, that is. Yes, all signs suggested that something like this would happen, but little did we know it would come with such a reasonable price tag: 500GB for $300; 1TB for $500. Click here for our Time Capsule hands-on at Macworld, or jump for details, plus the official press release:
The Bare Facts:
• After setup, all Macs on network are automatically backed up wirelessly and constantly.
• USB port is so it can act as print server; no word on whether you can attach addional USB disks.
• No hidden bricks: The sleek design includes a built-in power supply.
• Full three-port Gigabit Ethernet router (fourth port is for WAN); 802.11n network supports up to 50 users.
Official Press Release:
Apple Announces Time Capsule[Macworld Keynote 2008]Wireless Backup for all Your Macs
MACWORLD SAN FRANCISCO—January 15, 2008—Apple® today introduced Time Capsule, a backup appliance that automatically and wirelessly backs up everything on one or more Macs running Leopard™, the latest release of Apple's Mac OS® X operating system including the amazing Time Machine™ automatic backup software. Time Capsule combines an 802.11n base station with a server grade hard disk in one small package. Simply plug it in, then easily set up automatic wireless backup for every Mac® in your house to a single Time Capsule with just a few clicks. Time Capsule offers the benefits of a full-featured 802.11n Wi-Fi base station, and comes in two models: a 500 gigabyte model for just $299 and a 1 terabyte model for just $499.
"Bring Time Capsule home, plug it in, click a few buttons on your Macs and voila—all the Macs in your house are being backed up automatically, every hour of every day," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "With Time Capsule and Time Machine, all your irreplaceable photos, movies and documents are automatically protected and incredibly easy to retrieve if they are ever lost."
Built to work seamlessly with Time Machine, Time Capsule lets users wirelessly back up all of the data on their Macs, find lost files and even restore all of their software. In the event a file is lost, users can wirelessly search back through time to find deleted files, applications, photos and other digital media and then instantly restore the file. If it's ever necessary, Leopard can also easily restore an entire system from the Time Machine backup on Time Capsule.
In addition to being the best way to back up a Mac, Time Capsule is also a full-featured Wi-Fi base station with the latest 802.11n technology. Delivering up to five times the performance and twice the range of 802.11g, 802.11n* is built in to Apple's iMac® desktop and the entire Mac notebook line up, including MacBook®, MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air. Time Capsule features a sleek design with a built-in power supply and connections to print wirelessly to a USB printer. With Time Capsule, it's very easy for users to create a secure, wireless network for up to 50 users and set security restrictions such as Internet access limits for children's computers.
At $299 for a 500GB model and $499 for a 1TB model and a fully integrated 802.11n AirPort Extreme® Base Station, Time Capsule can serve as a backup solution for multiple computers as well as the backbone for a high-speed, 802.11n wireless network, making it effortless and affordable for everyone at home, school or work to protect their digital files.
Additional Time Capsule features include:
dual-band antennas for 2.4 GHz or 5 GHz frequencies;
three Gigabit LAN ports;
one Gigabit Ethernet WAN port;
one USB 2.0 port;
Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA-2), 128-bit WEP encryption; and
a built-in NAT firewall supporting NAT-PMP for features like Back to My Mac.
Pricing & Availability
Time Capsule will be available in February through the Apple Store® (www.apple.com), at Apple's retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $299 (US) for a 500GB hard drive and $499 (US) for a 1TB hard drive.*Time Capsule is based on an IEEE 802.11n draft specification. Actual performance will vary based on range, connection rate, site conditions, size of network and other factors.
Apple ignited the personal computer revolution in the 1970s with the Apple II and reinvented the personal computer in the 1980s with the Macintosh. Today, Apple continues to lead the industry in innovation with its award-winning computers, OS X operating system and iLife and professional applications. Apple is also spearheading the digital media revolution with its iPod portable music and video players and iTunes online store, and has entered the mobile phone market with its revolutionary iPhone.
Comments
You couldn't do this before? Didn't the backup suport network drives? TB for $500 isn't a bad price though.
Woohoo! I've been holding off buying the Airport Extreme, but this is awesome. Sign me up.
not a bad price at all for $500 am might grab one
But now it's coming in a pretty case...
I'm wondering what "server grade hard drives" means. Are we talking 10,000 or 15,000 RPM Seagate Cheetah or what?
Now what would be nice is if they released a real home backup server with a RAID. I'm guessing in of these things, if your drive goes south, you're done for. Not only that, but if it's got Apple's traditional warranty (aka crap), you're looking at another $100+ for AppleCare to extend the warranty to three years.
I just can't trust any all-in-one external storage solution that doesn't have a five-year warranty. My data's too important for that.
So does "server grade" mean a 15,000 RPM Seagate Cheetah, or is just using fancy words for a standard SATA drive?
Not only that, but if the warranty on these is anything like all of Apple's other hardware, I'll pass. I'd rather have a five-year warranty than a pretty box for backing up my critical personal data.
BOO it double posted....i don't think gizmodo likes me :( sorry about that.
This is certainly a last minute response and a poor one at that to MS Home server and the various appliance like the HP mediaservers. Too bad the HP Mediaserver doesn't backup Macs as well. (maybe it will though, there seems to be a lot of new software extensions for it. BTW, wireless-n I do not want as my backup technology, plug me in instead. Apple just not good enough.
Well now we know what they did with all those Apple TV's that wern't selling. :)
Eh windows home server looks like a more feature full solution.
probably for a geek but for the rest of the workd this is gona be superb, look the sales figures for windows home server, nobody is buying it.
Windows Home Server is just what the name implies - a server. If you want a complete computer running a server derivative OS, with all the features and complications associated with it, get Windows Home Server.
If you want a single, small piece of hardware that functions both as an 802.11n Wi-Fi base station and backup solution, without any additional features or complications, then get this thing.
Comparing Windows Home Server to this thing is along the lines of comparing apples to oranges as the cliche goes, no pun intended. While they both offer the same basic functionality, they are in different product categories. If you need RAID 5 with all the other wizbangs a fully-featured backup server offers then you'd obviously find little utility in this Apple product. If you're John Q. Public who just wants a little gizmo you can plug in and click a few buttons to backup your family vacation pics, then you might be more interested in this thing.
windows home server isn't actually just for geeks, it's actually a great piece of software, and talk about flying off the shelves, HP is always sold out of their new hardware piece, it's selling quite well, albeit I am still waiting to see if I can back up a Mac on it.
Anyone catch the end of the press release: 802.11n* is built in to Apple's iMac(R) desktop and the entire Mac notebook line up, including MacBook(R), MacBook Pro and the new MacBook Air.
@unicron02: To be fair WHS PC's are neer $500.
What about the 500GB HDD I already use for my iTunes library; can I hook that to the Time Capsule and access it as an AirDisk?
I don't want a Time Machine full backup of multiple computers or even one computer. Can the Time Capsule disk be used as just a mountable big fat disk on the network, in short a decent NAS? If so I am interested. If not then I pass.
Are you telling me that I can't just connect a drive to my current Airport extreme that I just bought a few months ago, I'll have to throw it out and buy a new 'appliance' if I want to use time machine on my macbook pro?!?!?! That is SERIOUSLY f'd.
See, you can get a good NAS going with an existing AirPort Extreme and a 1TB USB drive...
But you can't use Time Machine to backup to that.
If there isn't some sort of update to Time Machine to address this, if the only solution is this 500MB dealie, then meh.
Very important question for me, an owner of an Airport Extreme: Will Airport Extremes be upgraded (firmware or whatever the problem is) to support wireless Time Machine backups? Or is my only option to replace my Airport Extreme and buy a Time Capsule. I want very much to do wireless backup of my two Macs.
(Note: I am aware of the squishy workarounds for Airport Extreme/Time Machine. Not interested.)
Does this mean time machine will work on any AirDisk now?
bit-torrent support?
Okay, I think this is a neat concept that might help their core base of users. However, I am not certain they will be smart enough to buy one.
Can this also be used as a external hard drive (not just for time machine backup) to stores itunes music, movies, etc....
Where is Time Machine's remote storage option? It's all well and good to have an easily accessible, easy-to-use, automated backup on one's network, but that still isn't going to protect against fire, tornado, flood, hurricane, earthquake, etc. Heck, I'm surprised Apple hasn't enabled that feature using a .mac account or through a corporate deal via Google or Amazon.
This will be great. And when it stops working and you spend hours trying to get it to re-connect to your network, you're only out $300 - $500! What a deal.
I'm interested in getting a NAS for my home network of 2 macs and a PC (hopefully an macair soon)will time capsule do the trick? Back up is great but my kids are on both macs and need to get their files.
@Monty: Even if they aren't smart enough to buy them, that's why they have Apple Stores and Specialists. This will be a no brainer for complete system sales.
@robgiallo: I agree with you. I just sold my airport extreme and bought a gigabit airport extreme. I was fully anticipating that Apple would enable time machine back ups over AE attached HDD's (like they were showing in the Leopard previews on their website). When I saw this device, I just got pissed off. All in all, a very disappointing keynote. Investors seem to agree.
@vnsrock, @robgiallo
Well, is this true? I was under the impression that Time Machine backup to an AE connected hard drive was just a firmwarre upgrade away. Has anyone confirmed there is no firmware upgrade coming? In light of the other 2 products announced all being simple software upgrades with full backward comatibility that would be surprising.
GIZMODO, please investigate this.
No firmware yet but.. "Enable Airport disk destinations with iTimeMachine." From lifehacker: "Enable Airport disk destinations with iTimeMachine." [www.xiotios.com]
@STWF
"I was under the impression that Time Machine backup to an AE connected hard drive was just a firmwarre upgrade away."
I'd like to echo that. I'm seriously p*ssed. The only reason I invested in a 500gb hard drive was because Apple explicitly stated that Time Machine would be able to use AirDisk. The fact that they later pulled that statement from their website without explanation doesn't excuse them.
I am currently using a WD MyBook connected to an AEBS using the WD backup, which is kind of a PITA. I just bought, but haven't installed a leopard family pack. I didn't know I couldn't use time machine to backup to the remote drive. I'd really like to see the auto backup as a firmware add to the AEBS, as well.
I was hoping for the ability to connect a firewire harddrive.
"...nd four ethernet ports, ..."
Except that there are only 3 Ethernet Ports and 1 Uplink_
I am kinda of a noob with macs so bear with me, is the WAN ethernet port used to connect to a router?
now if Apple will just release a firmware update that fixes their NAT/uPnP on their old Airports...
Yes it is AJAX622. I am also peeved at Apple. I love my new Airport Extreme, and I dearly hope they have a firmware upgrade to allow current airport extreme users to back up to an attached USb External HDD. I mean, what's the difference technology wise right? It shouldnt matter that the Time Capsule has a HDD built in vs an attached HDD? Anyone see a possible difference? I would venture to guess that the internal HDD is no different than any other standard HDD in an external enclosure. (The internal Poweer supply is a cool idea though, and I Still think they should have made it wall mountable)
Great.
I bought the AEBS gigabit/802.11n SPECIFICALLY for the print server and drive sharing. Printer server works great. Drive sharing (via AFP or SMB) blows major chunks and should be the seed of a class-action suit.
Follow this thread:
[discussions.apple.com]
This is a known issue for over 6 months and not only is there no fix but there's not even an acknowledgment about the problem and a work around, a refund, or a rebate.
And now I know why... the were too busy working on a new router.
I could have bought a new router and stayed with my NSLU2 for half the price of the AEBS.
I love my 13.3" MBP, but I'll be darned if I by another product of theirs without 'borrowing' one first.
Good luck to all who want to by the new 'server grade' (maybe this means it actually works as advertised) 'Time Capsule'.
Apple, blink twice if you hear us.
I wonder if hooking a HDD to a time capsule will give you a NAS capability ala the airport extreme with attached HDD.
server grade is a reference to the duty cycle of the storage drive, typically always on with either 8x5 or 24x7 of use.
I specifically purchased a new airport and 500GB HDD because I wanted to do Time Machine backups. I'm won't be a happy camper if this doesn't work.
Can I still use this to backup my old PowerMac G4 without Leopard or wireless?
@balikian: huh?
So will Leopard support a "real" NAS for wireless Time Machine backups now? Time Capsule looks nice and all, but when you're relying on backups, redundancy is kinda important.
With out RAID 1 (2 drives mirroring each other) in the Time Capsule, it's hardly server grade storage.
The main problem I see is that the average everyday user will see this as a fool-proof way to archive the important data. And when the uncooled, over-heated 1TB drive fails after 1 year, that person is going to be SOL. Will it happen to everyone? No, but it'll happen.
I really contest their "server grade storage" marketing.
~sigh~. I bought an airport extreme just 1 month ago.. Knew I should have waited :'(