# Time Capsule

> wireless router by Apple Inc.

**Wikidata**: [Q2465802](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q2465802)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AirPort_Time_Capsule)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/time-capsule

## Summary  
The **Time Capsule** (also marketed as the **AirPort Time Capsule**) is a wireless router produced by Apple Inc. that combines standard Wi‑Fi routing with built‑in network‑attached storage for automatic backup of Apple devices.

## Key Facts  
- **Product type:** Wireless router that also functions as a wireless access point and network‑attached storage device.  
- **Developer:** Apple Inc., the American multinational technology company founded on 1976‑04‑01.  
- **Official name/aliases:** AirPort Time Capsule; commonly referred to simply as “Time Capsule.”  
- **Website:** <http://www.apple.com/airport-time-capsule>.  
- **Image reference:** ![Time Capsule](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Appletimecapsule.jpg).  
- **Wikidata description:** “wireless router by Apple Inc.”  
- **Freebase identifier:** `/m/03hmty9`.  
- **Commons category:** “AirPort Time Capsule.”  
- **Supported Wikipedia languages:** English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Italian, etc.  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the Apple Time Capsule?  
**A:** It is a Wi‑Fi router made by Apple that includes an internal hard drive, allowing Mac computers to back up automatically via Apple’s Time Machine software while providing standard wireless networking.  

### Q: How does the Time Capsule differ from a regular AirPort router?  
**A:** Unlike a plain AirPort router, the Time Capsule adds built‑in storage for network‑wide backups, merging routing and backup functions in a single device.  

### Q: Is the Time Capsule still sold by Apple?  
**A:** Apple discontinued the product line several years ago; it is no longer listed on Apple’s current website, though existing units remain in use.  

### Q: Can non‑Apple devices use the Time Capsule’s Wi‑Fi?  
**A:** Yes, the router provides standard 802.11 Wi‑Fi that any compatible device can connect to, independent of the backup feature.  

### Q: What backup software works with the Time Capsule?  
**A:** Apple’s native Time Machine utility on macOS is designed to use the Time Capsule’s internal drive for automated backups.  

## Why It Matters  
The Time Capsule represented a pioneering convergence of networking and data protection for home users. By embedding a hard drive within a Wi‑Fi router, Apple eliminated the need for separate backup hardware, simplifying the workflow for Mac owners who could enable automatic, scheduled backups through Time Machine with a single device. This integration lowered the barrier to regular data protection, encouraging broader adoption of backup best practices. Moreover, the product reinforced Apple’s ecosystem strategy, offering a seamless, out‑of‑the‑box solution that aligned with the company’s emphasis on user‑friendly design and tight hardware‑software integration. Although discontinued, the Time Capsule’s concept influenced later network‑attached storage (NAS) and mesh‑router products that combine connectivity with data services.  

## Notable For  
- First mainstream consumer router to bundle built‑in backup storage with Wi‑Fi functionality.  
- Branded under Apple’s “AirPort” line, reinforcing the company’s home‑networking portfolio.  
- Utilized Apple’s Time Machine backup protocol, providing a seamless, automated backup experience for macOS users.  
- Recognized by multiple language editions of Wikipedia and listed in Wikimedia Commons, reflecting its global consumer presence.  

## Body  

### Overview  
The **AirPort Time Capsule** is classified as a *wireless router* (instance_of) that also serves as a *wireless access point*. Its primary distinguishing feature is the inclusion of an internal hard drive for network‑wide backups.

### Development and Branding  
- **Developer:** Apple Inc., a United States‑based technology firm founded on 1 April 1976.  
- **Branding:** Marketed under the “AirPort” family of networking products, the device carries the alias “AirPort Time Capsule.”  

### Technical Classification  
- **Category:** Wireless router (device that functions as a router and wireless access point).  
- **Additional Function:** Network‑attached storage (NAS) enabling Time Machine backups.  

### Public Presence  
- **Official Webpage:** The product’s dedicated page was hosted at `http://www.apple.com/airport-time-capsule`.  
- **Visual Asset:** An official image is stored on Wikimedia Commons at `https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Appletimecapsule.jpg`.  
- **Identifiers:** Freebase ID `/m/03hmty9`; Wikidata description “wireless router by Apple Inc.”  

### Related Entities  
- **Wireless router (class):** The broader class to which Time Capsule belongs, encompassing devices that route network traffic and provide Wi‑Fi connectivity.  
- **Apple Inc.:** The organization responsible for design, manufacturing, and distribution of the Time Capsule.  

### Legacy and Impact  
While Apple has since discontinued the Time Capsule, its integration of routing and backup set a precedent for later consumer networking equipment that bundles storage, cloud sync, or other services directly into the router chassis. The product remains referenced across multiple language editions of Wikipedia and Wikimedia Commons, underscoring its lasting relevance in the history of home networking.

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013