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Macworld banner: "Something in the air"

updated 02:40 pm EST, Fri January 11, 2008

Something in the air

We've gotten our first, tantalizing glimpse of what's to come at Macworld Expo 2008. A banner spotted by Ars Technica reveals the tagline "2008. There's something in the air." The banner users an atypical (for Apple), light font that seems to suggest thinness, or least an "airy" quality. The banner could be referring to a widely-anticipated subnotebook, which would mark Apple's first such computer since the PowerBook 2400 released in the late 1990s. It is predicted that a new subnotebook will make use of NAND flash storage, not only increasing access speed but improving weight, reliability and battery life.

Ars thinks the slogan has to do with sending content wirelessly: "Our own Jon Stokes puts money on purchasing songs over the AT&T network when you are not browsing the iTunes Store at Starbucks. Or perhaps it's streaming content to Macs in your home or away from home."

Meanwhile, a recent Apple patent application, disclosed by the US Patent and Trademark Office, may point to a radically new notebook docking station. The submission is entitled Integrated monitor and docking station, and depicts a device that solves two problems of current docks, namely the space and lack of convenient transport posed by having to hook up separate dock, notebook and display components. The Apple invention is essentially a "hollowed-out" iMac, into which users insert a MacBook completely from a side-facing opening.

Another recent patent filing conjured by the banner would allow fully mobile devices such as cellphones and MP3 players to automatically discover each other on a local network, similar to the way the Zune can recognize nearby devices on its Wi-Fi connection; also as with the Microsoft jukebox, owners would be able to "push" media and other files to other devices. But the patent's implementation would also let a device make such requests, Apple says, allowing one handheld to pick files for download in a way the Zune currently forbids. A wireless sync method could automate these requests simply by coming near the right device.


 
Previous Comments

!

01/11, 03:04pm reply

Powerbook G5 coming on Tuesday!

gudin

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Joined: May 2000

0

/

01/11, 03:16pm reply

I don't know, guys. Something in the air? Sounds like some kind of WiFi related announcement to me.

Unless, of course, it's like a WiMAX enabled ultraportable or something.

tomodachi

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Joined: Apr 2002

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wow

01/11, 03:25pm reply

this definitely means the 4G iPhone is coming.

zl9600

Forum Regular

Joined: Oct 2003

0

vote

01/11, 03:31pm reply

I dunno.. my vote is Powerbook G5's!! I'm siked :P

eldarkus

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Joined: Feb 2004

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LOL

01/11, 04:03pm reply

The "something" in the air is simply this:

RUMORS!

Guest

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Joined: Nov 1999

0

What it means...

01/11, 04:04pm reply

Bill Gates farted...

Macola

Mac Elite

Joined: Mar 2001

0

Apple TV

01/11, 04:13pm reply

While I would love it to be a notebook, Something in the Air sounds more like TV content to me? Or should that be on the air?

Geordiekeith

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Joined: Aug 2003

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nation-wide WiFi service.

01/11, 04:13pm reply

Apple will roll out nation-wide WiFi service called iNet. It will be a net reaching the entire northern hemisphere and iTunes will become out homepage...replacing Apple's homepage.

cgmpowers

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Joined: Mar 2003

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in the air

01/11, 04:15pm reply

Hmm...I'm sure "in the air" is a clever pun. But what could be in the air?

The 3G network iPhone would use the faster wireless network. Slingbox wireless downloads to your iPhone? No, last year's MacWorld was turned into iPhoneWorld. I think Steve will focus on the Mac this time.

What could be "in the air" with respect to new Macs? 3G network access built into all laptops? Imagine your laptop could access AT&T's 3G network anywhere. You wouldn't be tethered to a Wi-Fi hotspot. That would be cool. Imagine riding down the road with fast internet access.

More outlandish ideas...perhaps new MacBooks will come with scent-producing inserts that will let you smell the movies you're watching. Or helium/hydrogen filled tanks so that your laptop can float! :-)

johncarync

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Joined: Oct 2002

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Star Trek Transporter.

01/11, 04:26pm reply

Apple's definitely announcing a transporter device, like you might have seen used in Star Trek. According to my (confidential) source, It will have a very simple UI, and and will be operated with a single large button.

sgirard

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Joined: Aug 2005

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