[6corewhore]

That's what I was referring to, but I don't think iOS-based AE/TCs are a done deal yet. AFAIK it's just rumors based on low AE/TC stock and speculation about them playing a part in iCloud.

The low stock could just mean minor hardware updates, and Apple could just add features to the existing OS on the AE/TC for the iCloud stuff... hopefully they won't though and will go to iOS. It'd make a lot of sense to reuse the OS and hardware that the iPhone/iPad/iPod/atv2 are all using.

While they're updating the AE it'd be nice to see some Airplay features, audio at least.

The latest commercial release for Airport Utility update to 5.5.3 (this is the same utility run since the Lion DP's) shows tags that relate to next gen iOS based AE/TC's:

References to Next-Generation AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule Found

coupled with:

New Time Capsules to Run iOS on A4/A5 Processors?

...Ars Technica briefly notes that it has received word that the new Time Capsule may actually follow the pattern of the Apple TV, taking on an A4 or A5 processor from Apple and running iOS to manage the more advanced functions that could appear in the device...

...Harnessing the power of iOS directly within the Time Capsule device, even if on a scaled-down basis as in the Apple TV, naturally opens the door to further speculation of how Apple could tie together iCloud services with local storage on users' own networks, whether it be caching some iCloud content to the Time Capsule for faster access when on the local network or even pushing some of the Time Machine functions included on the current Time Capsule out to iCloud itself.

Separately, we've heard an unconfirmed tip that iOS 5 may finally be bringing wireless syncing to iOS devices, including the intriguing claim that the wireless syncing could be performed directly with the new Time Capsules, bypassing the need to sync with a specific computer.

I've been running iOS 5 on my iP4 and iPad 1 and 2, and been using iCloud (still in very early stages as you need to create a free [temp] MobileMe ID to use it until full integration with MobileMe accounts), and there has been a lot of info that relates to caching of data to mobile routers for users, more AirPlay integration, iOS Apps for the Apple TV, and on and on - it's a bit odd that Apple may/will be releasing so much "new" material at once. Much of the "speculation" has been confirmed recently with developers such as myself *coughNDAcoughcough* fishing through code. These announcements were supposed to be made around WWDC, but with the Foxconn tragedy in building A5 (obviously the bldg for iOS based A5 devices) a lot of the production was put back and announcements have been delayed.

The other news going around which relates directly to you guys is the next Apple TV model, which is rumored to have at least double the RAM and a dual core or greater processor to handle 1080P content (it seems Cupertino is streamlining all their mobile media/routers to move to the iOS platform and increasing hw specs across the line). If that is the case, WOO HOO!