When macOS 27 arrives in 2027, it will end support for Intel Macs. Not only will you need a Mac with Apple Silicon when it arrives, there are other things to be noted as well.
As noticed by @StellaFudge, and by other users who have installed the first macOS Tahoe beta, the Time Machine page in the System Settings app now indicates that the next major version of macOS will no longer support the AirPort Time Capsule or any other storage drives that use the Apple Filing Protocol (AFP).
Apple already announced that its AFP client had been deprecated, in its enterprise release notes for macOS Sequoia 15.5 last month. MacRumors reports that, starting with macOS 27, Time Capsule backups will require a storage drive that supports more current file-sharing protocols like SMBv2 and SMBv3.
As I’ve said repeatedly, Apple However, as I’ve written many times, Apple definitely should consider reviving its AirPort line-up.
History of the AirPort Line-Up
In 2016, Apple discontinued the AirPort Express, the AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule line of wireless router/backup hardware. I think it ranks as one of the top two dumb ideas the tech giant made in discontinuing products. (The other is when it quit making semi-affordable Mac displays. Thankfully, it’s reversed course on that.)
In November 2016 Bloomberg reported that this was a move to try to sharpen the company’s focus on consumer products that generate the bulk of its revenue. The AirPort Express, the AirPort Extreme, and AirPort Time Capsule, which cost US$99, $199, and $299, respectively, made up a small slice of Apple’s revenue and were part of Apple’s “other products” category on its financial statements.
What I want to see
I want to see a WiFi 6 compatible AirPort mesh networking system akin to that of the Eero and Orbi with a base station that doubles as a server hub for Apple’s HomeKit to make smart home devices easy to set up and use.
On a brighter note for owners of Intel Macs, Apple has updated a developer document to indicate that Rosetta 2 will remain available through macOS 27. Rosetta 2 enables Macs with Apple silicon (Arm architecture) to run apps that were built for Macs with an Intel processor (x86 architecture), by translating code.
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