Apple has updated the Airport Utility for Mac OS X Lion to version 6.0, and once again went back to the Mac by making it look just like the iPhone and iPad version released earlier this year. Used to manage everything from the Airport Express and Airport Extreme Wi-Fi base station routers, to the Time Capsule router + hard drive Time Machine backup companion, here's what Apple has to say about Airport Utility 6.0 for OS X Lion.

Use AirPort Utility to set up and manage your Wi-Fi network and AirPort base stations, including AirPort Express, AirPort Extreme, and Time Capsule. See a graphical overview of your Wi-Fi network and devices. Change base station and network settings, or manage advanced features such as security modes, wireless channels, and more.

iOS for iPad and iPhone has taken huge strides in making all kinds of computing tasks easier and more accessible to mainstream users, and the Airport app for iPhone and iPad is no exception. OS X Lion, however, hasn't always successfully transitioned that accessibility to the older Mac platform, with some re-interpretations working magnificently and others feeling like they need a few more revisions worth of polish (or even a solid Snow Leopard-ing)

The Airport Utility for OS X Lion, however, looks solid and should make something as potentially intimidating as managing and Airport Extreme or Time Capsule

Source: Apple.com via MacStories

Information on Apple's new Airport Extreme 802.11n, dual-band routers has just hit the FCC, according to Engadget, who speculate:

it'll also arrive with support for the new three-stream standard for 450Mbps over both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands

Meanwhile, 9to5Mac has a source that claims Time Capsules could be bumped up to 2TB and 3TB models, and both the Time Capsules and Airport Extreme could drop in price as well.

The big news for iPhone, iPod touch, and iPad users is the continuing rumors that Time Capsule could serve as a local cache for iCloud, or at the very least [download and cache [iOS 5](http://www.imore.com/ios] (and OS X Lion) software updates](http://www.imore.com/2011/06/02/apple-time-capsules-cache-ios-software-updates/).

The new Airport Extreme and Time Capsules could hit any day now. Anyone planning on jumping on them?

Update: They're here! Head on over to the Apple Store to pick your up, then tell us how they're working for you!

[Engadget, 9to5Mac]

Apple released firmware updates for both the AirPort Wi-Fi router and Time Capsule router + hard drive combo today to version 7.5.2, in part to fix AirPlay bugs that prevented some users from properly streaming content from their iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad to their Apple TV.

• General fixes to Wi-Fi base station stability
• General fixes with USB interoperability including connection to external storage devices
• Fixes some issues with NAT port mapping settings
• Disables TKIP security with 802.11n rates per the Wi-Fi Alliance specifications

Apple also updated the Airport Utility for both Mac and Windows to version 5.5.2.

• Resolves an issue that caused the DHCP settings tab to display incorrectly
• Resolves an issue that caused the application to quit unexpectedly when automatically launched
• Resolves an issue that prevented the network password from being stored in the Keychain when the network on the 5GHz band was named differently

Were you having any issues with AirPlay? If so, does the update correct them?

[TUAW x2]

Owner of a previous generation Airport Extreme or Time Capsule WiFi router and jealous of the newer versions Apple dropped this week? Well, while you can't shove the drool-inducing, iPhone-friendly dual-radios into the older tech, you can now upgrade them to firmware 7.4.1 which includes the new MobileMe / Back to My Mac sharing feature for AirDisks.

Fire up Software Update and go get it!

(Via @TUAW)

UPDATE: MacRumors also found remote file access for MobileMe users:

Access files on a networked drive from anywhere - Allows MobileMe subscribers to register their AirPort Express Base Station or Time Capsule with their MobileMe account, providing them access to their files from anywhere via the Internet. Drives will appear in the Finder sidebar like any other attached drive, acting just like a personal file server with remote access.

ORIGINAL: It was rumor, it is now fact. Apple has released new versions of their Airport Extreme (WiFi router) and Time Capsule (WiFi router + HD) base stations, with simultaneous dual-band Wi-Fi:

For maximum range and compatibility, AirPort Extreme works simultaneously on both the 2.4GHz and 5GHz bands, allowing all the devices on the network to use the most efficient band automatically. And AirPort Extreme uses the latest 802.11n wireless technology so you can enjoy up to five times the performance and up to twice the range of 802.11g wireless networks.

Think of it as having 2 lanes on your WiFi highway. While your 802.11g iPhone is out taking a Sunday drive on your network, it's no longer blocking traffic in front of your screaming fast 802.11n MacBook.

The only other new feature we could find was Guest Accounts:

Now you can set up a separate Wi-Fi network with a separate password for your visitors. Simply enable the new guest networking feature, and your guests can use the Internet but can't access other parts of your private network, such as your computers, printers, and attached hard drives.

Anyone going to upgrade? Anyone in the market for a new router going to consider one of these?

Mac Mini, iMac? Check. Check. Mac Pro. Check. Airport Extreme. Check. Time Capsule. Check. Yep, that's the rumor list Apple just plowed through one after the other, with nary anything resembling a "Spotlight on Desktops" Event in sight.

Nary anything, aside from the friendliness of the new routers, approaching iPhone updates either -- though we imagine new developers eyeing Macs to get into iPhone App-making with have their hands, and charge cards, full today.

You getting anything?

Since all current and previous iPhone (and iPod touch) devices have 802.11b/g WiFi, if placed on a faster, wider-range 802.11n network, they typically cause such networks to downgrade to 802.11b/g speeds for compatibility. This means your hyper-fast router will slow down your iMac or MacBook whenever your iPhone hits the network...

...But maybe not for much longer?

Apple Insider reports that the FCC has just been hit with new versions of the Airport Extreme (802.11n Router) and Time Capsule (802.11n Router + HD for Time Machine backup) that handle things a tad more gracefully:

The documents appear to indicate that Apple is adding a combined mode, allowing its AirPort base stations to simultaneously support iPhones and other 802.11b/g devices operating at 2.4 GHz, while also broadcasting 802.11n wide signals in the 5GHz band to maximize throughput for notebooks and devices such as Apple TV. Existing models can only run in one mode or the other, providing either wide compatibility or the highest possible network performance, but not both.

While only the most power-mad of power users will likely ditch their old Airport Extreme or Time Capsule for the latest/greatest, the new features should appeal to iPhone users looking for high-quality routers to round out their setups.

Now who wants one?