A BRAND NEW MACBOOK AIR
After the launch of the 12-inch MacBook in 2015, many thought the MacBook Air was dead. Today’s Pro models are almost as thin as the Air, and MacBooks are as affordable as the Air but come packed with high-end processors, a touch bar and more. However, much to the surprise of Apple analysts, the MacBook Air, which this year celebrated its tenth birthday, was given a new breath of life, with the Cupertino firm introducing an all-new version. “The Mac was the first computer that was designed for creativity,” teased Cook at the keynote speech, adding that “it’s become one of the world’s most essential creative tools,” before unveiling the new Retina display MacBook Air. With its iconic wedge-shaped design and two USB-C ports, the refreshed MacBook Air has waved goodbye to its aluminum bezel, and features a stunning 13.3-inch display, with narrower black glass and borders to allow for more screen estate. The updated model offers four times the resolution as previous editions, and for the first time, a Touch ID button which allows for Apple Pay and fingerprint recognition - without the inclusion of the controversial touch bar.
With a new T2 system controller, users will be able to summon Siri using the famous ‘Hey Siri’, whilst a larger trackpad and keyboard will make everyday tasks more enjoyable. The new Air has speakers that are louder than ever before, and the device is packaged with an 8thgeneration Intel Dual-Core i5 and up to 16GB 2133MHz memory and a 1.5TB SSD, which is said to be 60% faster than previous models. Battery life also holds up well, with the Air offering up to 12 hours of web browsing and 13 hours of
iTunes movie playback. What’s more, the model is a quarter-pound lighter than the previous Air, and is made from 100% recycled aluminum. The new Air starts at $1199, which is the “most affordable retina Mac” Apple has ever offered and ships in the gold, silver, and space gray colors we have come to know and love.
MAC MINI GIVEN SOME LOVE
The Mac mini has struggled in recent years, with the last version of the device launched back in October 2014. According to the popular Apple news website MacRumors, the average cycle between Mac mini releases is more than 438 days - but the latest gap is more than 1,475 days. After years of complaints from power-users who want the Mac experience with the freedom of using their own screen and peripherals, Apple caved in and designed an all-new Mac mini, with a stunning introduction video of a Mini flying through the air as if it was a spaceship. The mini has four cores, can be upgraded to six and uses eighth-generation CPUs which offer 60% faster graphics performance. The device can be configured to include up to 64GB of memory and an SSD drive of up to two terabytes. The mini now supports Gigabit Ethernet, comes with four Thunderbolt 3/USB C ports, as well as HDMI and two USB-A ports to allow users to connect as many devices as they would like. Also new is the ability to ‘string together’ Mac minis for video editing, or a server farm, offering more performance. Made from 60% post-consumer recycled plastic, the new Mac mini starts at $799 and is available November 7 on Apple.com.