The best trick up Apple's sleeve is yet to come with the Apple MacBook Air
With no MacBook announcements made, or even hinted at, during the big reveal of the iPhone 6 and Apple Watch, one has to wonder is Apple is thinking of making any significant changes or innovations to its line of notebooks.
One thing is certain, Apple has been known to hold out on the next best thing until the time is right. September 9 2014 was not the right time, and the company has made it crystal clear by focusing on its “readiest” product yet, the iPhone 6, while teasing Apple fans with the promise of an Apple Watch. Even with HealthKit and Apple Pay, the event seemed rather bland and inconsistent with the way Apple has been making announcements in previous years.
According to MacRumors, the one more thing Tim Cook is likely to tell us about, well into 2015, is a completely new line of MacBooks Air, promising to be even thinner, lighter, more powerful, and incorporate the much anticipated next generation Type-C USB connector.
What is the USB Type-C?
In a nutshell, USB C is a next generation USB port that is capable of carrying diverse types of data, including video signal. What this means is that this new standard, will enable devices to connect, and power, multiple displays, including 4K, without the need of additional HDMI or VGA ports, while still retaining the ability to use the same connector type to plug-in external hard drives, printers and other peripherals compatible with USB 2.0 and 3.0, effectively making this Serial Bus port truly Universal, as its name conveys.
The USB Type-C has been the object of rumors several months ago, but now that VESA has officially included DysplayPort, into the new USB connector, there is a strong possibility for widespread adoption. The new standard carries also some important advantages over previous versions, such as its ability to be reversible, and able to connect in both directions between peripherals, potentially allowing battery-powered devices to power each other in both directions.
What we know so far, from much of the same sources that brought us predictions of what the iPhone 6 was going to be, is that the MacBook Air will feature a 12 screen size, in an ultra-slim, fanless design, set to rival the most popular ultraportable notebooks on the market, including the Chromebook.
Beyond the USB Type-C integration, the predicted size of the MacBook Air has caused a degree of concern that the new line of notebooks might cannibalize iPad sales, a notion that has yet to be proven right in regard to similar rumors spawned by the unveiling of the iPhone 6 Plus.
The 12 inch Apple MacBook Air is rumored for a big reveal in 2015, possibly in concert with an official release of the first-of-its-kind Apple Watch.