The latest news, tips, reviews, and rumors for Apple’s MacBook Air laptops.
Let’s face it, the default battery indicator on MacBooks is pretty boring. If you want to liven it up a bit, consider the terminally cute (and free) app Battery Buddy by Neil Sardesai. This indicator shows your MacBook’s battery charge using cute smiley faces. Fully charged, the indicator smiles at you, but he grows less happy and more sad as your battery drains. When you plug in, your little battery buddy gets a charging icon next to him.
Rumors are swirling about future Apple Silicon and the devices that updated chips will go in. MacRumors picked up on one leak that suggested an M2 going into Macbook Air, which will be released next year.
On Twitter, Dylandkt claimed that a new MacBook Air model is “on track” to launch in the first half of 2022, featuring an M2 chip and a more colorful design. They also claimed that the “M1X” chip is being reserved for high-end “Pro” Macs, which could include the MacBook Pro and a larger, more powerful iMac model. Dylandkt’s claim is not entirely new, given that Jon Prosser has previously said that the next-generation MacBook Air will feature a complete redesign, a range of iMac-like color options, and an M2 chip. Dylandkt has been resolute in previous comments about the “M1X” being destined for the next-generation MacBook Pro, while the “M2” will apparently be a lower-end chip for the MacBook Air, but it is worth noting that this does not seem to fit very well with the specific thoughts of reliable Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman about Apple’s upcoming custom silicon chips for the Mac.
Upcoming MacBooks could incorporate multiple discrete haptic areas. That’s according to a new patent, spotted by Patently Apple.
Apple’s granted patent generally relates to electronic devices with one or more input areas that also function to provide spatially localized haptics via the Taptic Engine. “Spatially localized” haptics (or haptic output) generally refers to any haptic signal, e.g., haptic output, that is tactilely perceptible to a person touching a particular active region of the electronic device, but imperceptible outside that region. The surface area over which a single haptic output is perceptible is referred to as a “discrete haptic region.” There may be any number of discrete haptic regions in an input area of a laptop computing device. The discrete haptic regions may be separated from each other, or they may overlap. Either way, they remain discrete haptic regions each associated with an individual haptic actuator. An “input area” is a structure or surface configured to accept a user input.
Apple is working on a thinner, lighter, higher-end version of the MacBook Air, and it might even be available this year.
Dr. Mac intended to kick of 2021 with a “year in review” column, but it bored him and would have bored you, so instead he named Apple Silicon as the “Best Technological Achievement of 2020.”
Bryan Chaffin and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the year in Apple software and hardware. Tune in to see what stood out!
Apple is offering gift cards worth up to $150 with the purchase of various products from Black Friday until Cyber Monday.
I was fortunate enough to receive my built-to-order M1 MacBook Air (16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, 8-core GPU) last Tuesday, and I’ve had a week to truly experience it. We’ve all read the early reviews (Snell, Gruber, and Bohn are the highlights), and they’ve focused on the specs and the highlights, so I won’t rehash (much of) that here. What I want to focus on are the little things.
Dave’s had his M1 MacBook Air for a week, and John has some questions for him! Lots more about Big Sur including your questions answered *and* some Quick Tips. Of course, MGG wouldn’t be complete without more in-depth tips, too, and y’all have been keeping the queue full in that department! Press play and enjoy learning at least five new things.
Charlotte Henry and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the reviews of the new M1 Macs, including Dave’s new M1 MacBook Air.
Initial reviews indicate the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro with the M1 chip are a major leap forward for laptops.
The recently announced MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini containing the new M1 chip are now available to buy.
Bryan Chaffin is joined by Jeff Gamet to dive deep into Apple’s new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini, with special attention on the Apple M1 processor that powers them. They also talk about macOS Big Sur.
The first benchmark scores for Macs containing the M1 chips are emerging and they show the newcomers outperforming Intel-based devices.
Today Kelly is joined by OmniGroup CEO/Founder Ken Case to talk about the prep work needed for new hardware and impending software from Apple.
John Martellaro and Dave Hamilton join host Kelly Guimont to discuss what we know about Apple Silicon, aka M1. And also what we don’t know!
Today Charlotte Henry and John Martellaro join host Kelly Guimont to discuss the “One More Thing” event, Apple Silicon, and imminent purchases.
If you’ve been holding off on buying a new 2020 MacBook Air, it’s time to make your move. Right now, Amazon offers great deals on the lightweight laptops with digital coupons worth up to $100. You can purchase a 256GB MacBook Air for $849.99, down from its retail list price of $999.99. Amazon lists it at $949.99, plus you get a $100 digital coupon at checkout. Even better, the 512GB MacBook Air can be yours for $1,149.99. This is marked down from the usual $1299 price tag and also uses a digital coupon.
