Weak! No support for wireless g devices including Apple's own Airport Express (older model). I don't know what is going on with Apple these days. I feel they are really pushing the limits on trying to capitalize on their customers expense. If they are not careful, they are going to start pushing their customers back to PC. It is ridiculous for them to keep discontinueing support for their older generation devices once a newer model comes out. They put out new models of all their equipment twice a year!

Use new Airport Utility version 5.6 instead. It works with BOTH g and n Airport devices. But note that version 6.0 ONLY works with Mac OS X 10.7 Lion.

Pros: If you like minimized iOS style apps, here you go!

Cons: Despite the simplification and minimization of settings and services in v6.0, there is no Setup Assistant and it a lot of users are finding it to be confusing as well as frustrating. I personally have no use for version 6.0 and use version 5.6 instead.

Summary: Apple released Airport Utility versions 5.6 and 6.0 at the same time along side Firmware Update 7.6.1 for n Wi-Fi type Airport devices. They also released accompanying documentation that has confused A LOT of people as to what is what and for what. Several of us up at Apple's discussion boards have worked to sort out the actual situation. Here is a quick summary of what we found:

1) No one requires Airport Utility version 6.0. You can entirely skip it if you don't like it. There is nothing special about it apart from it being based upon the interface for the iOS version of Airport Utility.

2) Airport Utility v5.6 is completely functional with BOTH g AND n Airport devices. This is the version to use if you want to keep full functionality control on BOTH types of Airport devices. It's that simple. You don't require version 6.0 for anything at all, but you can use it if you like it.

3) You can install BOTH versions 6.0 and 5.6 on your Mac. They don't overwrite each other. They work fine together.

4) Despite Apple's odd documentation, you CAN install Firmware Update 7.6.1 from Airport Utility version 5.6 or even earlier.

5) Airport Utility v6.0 brings with it newly updated Apple Help. Sadly, the Help has some errors and does not reconcile the differences between v6.0 and v5.6. The result is user confusion. Not good.

IOW: Just download and install Airport Utility version 5.6 and nothing changes except the added iCloud functionality and bug fix in Firmware Update 7.6.1. I personally have no use for version 6.0 and won't be using it at all.

VERY POOR SHOW APPLE. This is how to update and document things the WRONG WAY. But thank you for Airport Utility version 5.6, the REAL update, as well as Firmware Update v7.6.1 ! ! ! Both get 5 stars from me.

Most annoyingly, my old AirPort Express is now listed as "not supported by this version of Airport Utility. It's still displayed next to my supported AirPort Extreme, but the tooltip tells me to download 5.6. So I did that, and it works with both base stations fine. (This reeks of planned hardware obsolescence to me, since it's not like it'd be hard to support it...especially when they have a new version of the older 5.x utility just out as well.)

As others have noted, various configuration options have disappeared as well. No "advanced" options or anything; I'd have been fine if they were just made less accessible. But apparently Apple doesn't think we're smart enough to set up or use certain things anymore...

At least installing 5.6 leaves the new version alone, so both can co-exist. Though, I wonder if 5.6 will get automatic updates...

First, Apple did a stealth downgrade of the Airport Express hardware in removing the ability to manage profiles. I don't know about the other Airport models.

Then, this software update removes--among other things--the ability to manage profiles even if you have older hardware.

For anyone who totes around an Airport to set up ad hoc networks, this is a deal-breaker.

Here is the link for version 5.6: http://support.apple.com/kb/DL1482

I have not tested this version to see if it still gives access to the hardware features.

I've got no issue with the new interface. Different, yes, so therefore takes time to get acquainted, but it still provides all the functionality as before. I appreciate the visual network mapping too.

Along with the firmware update, I've noticed no real changes in performance, which is a good thing in my case.

/

Anybody else notice that after the update the "Time Connected" no longer displays correctly? Not sure if this is a result of the AirPort Utility update or the latest AirPort Extreme firmware update, but since the updates, the timer no longer resets when I disconnect and reconnect. I have a dynamic IP, and I like to know how long I've been connected via a given IP. Instead, now I can tell exactly how much time has passed since I made the software/firmware update ;) Any suggestions on how to correct this would be appreciated.

This update has bugs in it. Whereas my network was A-Okay with the previous version, it now has a major issue: it periodically loses connection every dozen minutes or so. It does this by either disconnecting me from my network (even though my network remains in the pull down list) or by simply losing connection to the Internet even if the network connection remains strong. In each case, turning off airport and turning it back on fixes the problem.