If there’s one thing that never rests, it is the rumor mill. They are yet again working overtime to bring you news from unknown sources. This is usually news that you really want to hear and news that you will click. However, this time around, two very well respected sources have claimed insider news about two very important companies – Intel and Apple.
Light Peak Wasn’t Intel’s Idea After All, Says Engadget
Engadget, a well respected tech blog, has claimed insider information that Light Peak is actually the brainchild of Apple and Intel is only the one who brought it to life.
Light Peak is a new standard that is being aimed at ending all connection compatibility problems once and for all. Well, yes, that’s what USB set out to do and now look where it is. USB actually fell behind and because people needed more bandwidth, new standards like FireWire 400/800 came out. And displays have always preferred things like VGA and HDMI.
This new standard is actually an optical cable that carries 10Gbps both upstream and downstream at the same time. That is higher than anything that exists at the current moment. It was shown off by Intel at the IDF, where it was feeding an HD display and saturating an SSD at the same time – both being very high bandwidth jobs.
Interestingly, USB was created the same way when Apple approached Intel with an universal standard.
If these sources are correct, Apple is planning to debut this new technology late next year. This looks like the perfect standard that can run multiple devices out of a single connection. It can keep the speed constant up to 100 feet, which is much more than what is usually required.
If Apple does go ahead with this, they are likely to cause a similar uproar that took place when they skipped FireWire on the lower-end MacBooks. This time they will probably skip every other type of connector. Apple just might throw in a multi-adapter though, else the new devices will have to run all by themselves.
Apple is readying iMacs and new Macbooks For October ‘09 Release?
According to AppleInsider, Apple is getting ready with new iMacs and all new MacBooks to release this October. Just in time for the holidays of course. So what do the sources say that Apple has in store for us?
The iMacs are likely getting a slimming job done and that is not just skin deep. Apple is going to cut prices in order to remain competitive in the ever chaotic and now falling computing market. But Apple should not be worrying because its iPhone is a major part of what is causing everyone to shy away from buying more computers.
The iMacs were apparently finalized earlier this month and are already being manufactured in an Apple factory in Taiwan. Other than the slimming, they are apparently getting more features on the audio side of things, so that they might appeal to creative semi-professionals more than before.
In another leak, the tech blog has received news that Apple would be releasing new white polycarbonate MacBooks alongside the new iMacs. It was no secret that Apple wants to retain the white MacBooks and make them their cheapest available MacBooks. Now it looks like they might actually be acting on that plan.
This new model has also gained some features like more RAM but the most important thing is something that it has lost. And that thing is price. If all goes right, this new model will be the first sub-$1000 MacBook. Given Apple’s reputation, the tag of ‘cheapest Mac ever’ will sell pretty well.
