14 DAY TRIAL // Apple insiders with access to prototypes have leaked almost every important detail regarding the rumored (now seemingly confirmed) new MacBook Air. The device will look absolutely stunning, and it will mark the discontinuation of traditional USB, which will undoubtedly impact the entire industry.
People who work at Apple revealed key technical details to 9to5mac, but refrained from specifying things like display density (Retina?), pricing, or shipping date. Nevertheless, the juicy tidbits coming from these sources are enough to make anyone crave this next-generation laptop.
Thinner, lighter, more compact
The diagonal of the screen is indeed around the 12-inch mark. However, the computer is said to be as small as the current 11-inch version. Apple achieved this by reducing the bezels around the screen and the keyboard. The keys have been brought slightly closer to one another too, and the trackpad has lost its clicking capabilities.
The form factor is considerably smaller than that of the 13-inch model, even though the screen is inferior in size by a mere 1-inch. The system is a quarter-of-an-inch taller than the current 11-inch model, but it’s actually narrower.
The unibody manufacturing method remains in place, but the design is changed. For example, it will have a total of four speakers above the keyboard, and the grills will double as vents. This despite not having a cooling system based on fans. The clamshell design will apparently stay in place, according to renditions published by those who reported the leak.
Say hello to USB-Type C (and goodbye to traditional USB)
In a typical move for the Cupertino, California-based Apple Inc., this year will mark another discontinuation of a standard that the computing industry has been clinging to for far too long.
Similarly to when Apple phased out HDDs and optical media, the Mac maker is now ditching traditional USB in favor of USB Type-C, a reversible plug with a pedigree of features that even includes charging. If history is any indication, Apple's move will most likely influence other vendors prompting them to do the same.
According to the leak, there’s a good chance the system will pack a single USB port for all types of connections, including charging the laptop. A jack headphone plug will be found on the other side of the laptop. No extra ports or connectors are said to be found on the notebook, making it the Mac with the least amount of connectors so far. If the computer does end up with a single USB port, Apple will most likely introduce a hub to allow multiple external connections.
The computer is expected to arrive sometime around mid-2015, which makes a WWDC announcement very likely.
