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Happy Owl Studio Briefcase for MacBook Air is a stunning accessory
A while back, I met with two of the Colorado-based partners involved in Happy Owl Studio -- Devon Read and Ryan Jordan. We were talking about some of their other products, including the Wallet and Clutch for iPad and the Cashbox iPad cash register, when a beautiful leather briefcase caught my eye. Asking about the briefcase, I found out that it was a future product for the MacBook Air. Well, the future is now, and the US$249.99 Briefcase for MacBook Air is a reality. Read on for a full review and a chance to win this beautiful case. Design If you like the look, feel, and smell of top-quality leather, you're going to love the Briefcase. It's a rather boxy design, somewhat like a small lawyer's briefcase that measures 13.5" long x 10" tall x 2.7" thick. The exterior fittings are made out of a shiny metal and are quite subtle -- a ring on either end for the shoulder strap, a set of feet on the bottom, a pair of studs on each leather "tongue" used to close the case, and one on either end of the nicely padded handle. On the back of the case is a full-size pocket with a magnetic snap closure. That pocket is lined with a bright paisley print material that is very classy looking. That same material lines the padded interior slot where your MacBook Air resides, as well as the large interior pocket for accessories, power cords, and other goodies. %Gallery-158481% Those extra goodies include a leather slot for business cards, several interior loops for pens and styluses, and a pair of button-down leather loops for keys. There's plenty of room for items in the main pocket -- I was able to stuff the review case with a fully loaded Quirky PowerCurl, two small USB external drives, an iPhone and charging cable, and a BRAVEN 600 bluetooth speaker, and still had room to spare. I have an 11" MacBook Air, but the Briefcase will hold a 13" Air with no problems. If you're wondering if the Briefcase will work for the 13" MacBook Pro, I would say no. The case is definitely designed for the MacBook Air, and the slot is too thin for the .95" thick MacBook Pro. For MacBook Air owners, this is the case to buy if you want to make your friends and coworkers jealous. Yes, I am a sucker for nice-looking leather accessories, and it is with a lot of tears and pouting that I am going to have to bid adieu to the Briefcase. But one lucky TUAW reader is going to win this case and be the envy of his or her friends. Giveaway As with all of our TUAW giveaways, all you need to do to enter is fill out the form below and submit it. We'll do a random drawing, and the winner will be contacted via email for shipping information. Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 20, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Daylight Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Happy Owl Studio Briefcase for MacBook Air valued at US$249.99. Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
MacBook Air review (13-inch, mid 2012)
More Info Apple announces refreshed MacBook Air: Ivy Bridge processor, USB 3.0, shipping today The 2012 MacBook Air vs. the 2011 model: what's changed? ASUS Zenbook Prime UX21A preview The last time we reviewed the MacBook Air, we didn't have a whole lot to compare it to. Sure, there was the original Samsung Series 9, but it was more expensive, at $1,649, and ran off a standard-voltage processor, often at the expense of battery life. Companies like Lenovo and Toshiba already had deep experience making ultraportables, but those notebooks generally weren't as light, or as skinny, as the Air. A year ago, too, Ultrabooks, as we now know them were little more than a concept as far as the computer-buying public was concerned. Today, there are 110-plus Windows-based Ultrabooks on the horizon, leaving consumers with an overwhelming smorgasbord of thin, shockingly powerful laptops. Apple, for its part, has stuck with the same Air design we liked so much the first time around, though it's refreshed the lineup with speedier Ivy Bridge processors and traded those USB 2.0 ports for 3.0. Additionally, the Air can now be configured with more RAM and roomier storage. Oh, and the 13-inch version now starts at $1,200, down from $1,300. (The 11-inch version still goes for $999 and up.) That sounds promising, making an already-excellent laptop faster and less expensive. Still, with so many comparable products on the Windows side, we have to wonder, does Apple really continue to define the category or have other companies narrowed the gap? Let's find out.%Gallery-158436%
Dear Aunt TUAW: Why can't I get a Retina display on an Air?
Dear Aunt TUAW, I'm in love with the new MacBook Pro Retina but it's way too expensive for my wallet. Why can't I just get a Retina display on an affordable MacBook Air instead? Your loving nephew, Jim J. Dear Jim, Although a lot of consumers would benefit from a consumer Retina display, it's not that simple both for economic and technology reasons. The Retina display provides one of Apple's key selling points for its top-of-the-line models: the iPhone 4S, the new iPad, and the new MacBook Pro. Although the new iPad is a "consumer" machine, it represents the high end of its iOS family. Adding the Retina to a budget Air would degrade the desirability of the new feature, allowing more people to "buy down". That's something Apple would prefer to avoid when the Retina display is so new to its laptop product line. The laptop display is also much bigger. The iPad's 2048-by-1536 display uses just 60% of the pixels of the MacBook's 2880-by-1800 display. There's a price differential right there. Also, as Uncle Rich points out, a smartphone-class GPU is not in the same league as a mobile-computing one, so the hardware to support the larger display is more costly. The iPad uses a fabulous battery but isn't tasked as much as a laptop battery. Its 42.5 Watt hour battery delivers almost twice the battery life as the MacBook Pro does. Adding the 15" Retina display to the MacBook Pro and keeping the battery use-life the same bumped up the 78 Watt hour MBP battery to 95 Watt hours, an 18% increase. Again, the higher battery needs must be taken into the cost equation. If you add the price of the display, even a smaller Air-sized one, the enhanced GPU requirements, and the upgraded battery to the consumer MacBook Air, the costs would start to creep up -- perhaps not to Pro levels, but up. Will we see a Retina Air? Auntie thinks, "yes". Will we see one very soon? Probably not. Hugs, Auntie T.
Apple's WWDC keynote video is up, play along at home (update 2: video for everybody)
Next-generation MacBook Pros? iOS 6? The new Maps app? Sure, you watched the whole thing live, but is that really enough? Apple's tossed up the Tim Cook-led WWDC keynote, so now you can experience the magic of liveblogging the whole thing all over again. Check out the video in the source link below. Update: Looks like it's only Safari users who get a peek at first: if you're on Chrome, Firefox or another browser, you'll have to sit tight for a little while longer. Update 2: The keynote video now looks to be working for most, so stream away.
Apple rolls out Thunderbolt to Ethernet adapter for $29
When it rains, it pours -- and today is a downright thunderstorm in Cupertino. If you need some wired internet access for your Air or Next Generation MacBook Pro, Apple's got you covered. The company added a Thunderbolt to Gigabit Ethernet adapter to its store. You can pick one of the "small and compact" add-ons up in the source link below.
Apple adopts new MagSafe 2 connector, offers an adapter for your old gear
While Apple was busy unveiling a completely new MacBook Pro and a refreshed MacBook Air, it also introduced a new MagSafe 2 power connector. The new version is longer but slimmer than its counterpart, no doubt to make sure it fits in the MacBook Pro's skinnier confines, but also renders obsolete the connectors for your existing MagSafe adapter or Thunderbolt Display power connector. Not to fear if you absolutely need the connection, however: there's a new, $10 MagSafe to MagSafe 2 converter (seen above) that will keep your new laptop powered up. We're worried the adapter may crowd out wider USB devices, as you might have gathered from the above shot, but it's good to know that earlier peripherals will keep humming along. Update: Check out our hands-on photos of the new connector versus the old!
The 2012 MacBook Air vs. the 2011 model: what's changed?
No, we didn't get the Retina Macbook Air many of us may have been hoping for, but the Apple ultra-portable did get a significant Ivy Bridge boost, including a pair of USB 3.0 ports. There's also an option to double the flash storage capacity with a 512GB SSD, along with adding up to 8 gigs of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM and Apple's new MagSafe 2 connector on the 13-inch Air. Base model pricing remains the same for the 11-incher, at $999 for the bare-bones configuration, while the larger Air will be available starting at $1199 -- a $100 drop over its predecessor. All of the new Airs will ship beginning today, but that doesn't mean it's upgrade time for you. Click on past the break for our side-by-side comparison and a closer look at what's new.
Apple: 26 million copies of Lion OS sold, 66 million Mac users
As we try to get to our feet after that tidal wave of hardware announcements, Apple's moved onto Mac OS, quoting with some impressive new figures. Over 26 million copies of OS X Lion have now been sold, making it Apple's "best-selling release ever." Meanwhile, Mac users now total over 66 million -- that's three times the number in 2007. For more coverage of WWDC 2012, please visit our event hub!
New MacBook Air announced with Ivy Bridge CPUs, USB 3.0
Phil Schiller took the stage at WWDC 2012 this morning to announce an update to the MacBook Air. line. The new Airs feature New Ivy Bridge CPUs, up to 2GHz dual core. Inside you'll find up to 512GB of flash storage, up to 8GB of RAM and USB 3.0, which Apple says is "up to 10 times faster than USB 2." Additionally, the FaceTime camera now does 720p. Prices start at US$999 (11-inch model) and $1099 (13 inch). They'll start shipping today. For more, follow our meta live blog of the event.
Apple announces refreshed MacBook Air: Ivy Bridge processor, USB 3.0, shipping today
Apple's skinnier, lighter MacBook option checked in for another (irregular) hardware update at this year's WWDC. Just under a year since the last time the range was renovated, the move to Ivy Bridge processors wasn't the only thing that changed. First up, those processors will reach up to 2GHz Core i7, with Turbo Boost tipping these up to 3.2GHz. The FaceTime camera is now 720p, with the display on the 11-inch model staying put at 1366 x 768 (but with Intel's HD graphics 4000 doing the pushing). The 13-incher will house a 1440 x 900 screen and both will arrive with a pair of USB 3.0 ports and capacity for up to 8GB of RAM. Storage will now extend to 512GB, while prices will start at $999 for the most basic option, up to $1099 for the speediest offering. The best part? They'll start shipping today.%Gallery-157897%%Gallery-157963% For more coverage of WWDC 2012, please visit our event hub.
Twelve South SurfacePad for Air: Hands-on luxury
Twelve South is maintaining its record of success with Apple-only accessories with a new twist on an existing product. The company has made soft leather pads for the area around the trackpad on a MacBook Pro for several years; now they're shipping a MacBook Air-specific version of their venerable SurfacePad product. SurfacePad for Air (US$29.99) comes in sizes to fit the 11" and 13" MacBook Air, and in two classic colors -- Jet Black and Pop Red. Made from soft Napa leather, the thin SurfacePad provides a way to pad your hands on the cold aluminum surface of the MacBook Air and protect the device from skin oils and potential scratches. I had an opportunity to try out the SurfacePad for Air on an 11" MacBook Air recently. Twelve South's innovative and classy packaging continues; the SurfacePad is boxed in a thin wedge designed to be hung from a wall display and features a small strip of the leather material on the outside to not only give potential buyers an idea of the color of the product, but the soft feel as well. Inside the box is a strip of cardboard with instructions on the back. During shipping, the adhesive back of the SurfacePad is covered with a two thin plastic sheets, which are removed just prior to sticking the SurfacePad to your MacBook Air. To ensure that the SurfacePad sticks properly to the laptop, Twelve South recommends cleaning the surface first. For that, I used a Qmadix Smudge-Free Cleaning Kit ($14.99), which comes with a cleaning foam and Microfiber cloths to keep your tech toys clean from smears and stains. The SurfacePad installed easily, and according to Twelve South it can also be removed with no residue staying behind. The feel of the SurfacePad is nice -- much better than the cold metal -- and it softens the impact of your palms on the MacBook Air by giving them another layer of "skin" (leather) to lay against. The SurfacePad is a simple product, but one that adds so much comfort for the MacBook Air user. If you spend a good portion of your day typing on a MacBook Air, indulge a little for the simple pleasure of the SurfacePad.
Apple receives patent on MacBook Air wedge design
Apple's MacBook Air has a characteristic slim design that's immediately recognizable by both Apple fans and Windows users. According to The Verge, Apple now owns a design patent that covers this distinctive tapered design. In their analysis, The Verge points out that the patent's drawings focus on the sloping edges and the overall shape of the lid and base of the laptop, not the placement of extras like the ports and rubber feet. This emphasis could be problematic for companies like HP and Asus which mimicked the look of the MacBook Air in their recent products. As pointed out by Daring Fireball and Boing Boing yesterday, even ultraslim PC laptops seem to be kneecapped by a vintage design constraint: the thickness of a conventional VGA port. Apple's migration to Thunderbolt and DisplayPort may require a separate adapter for VGA or DVI connections, but it definitely reduces the chunk factor.
Apple snags broader design patent for the MacBook Air's wedge shape
It's not the first design patent related to the MacBook Air that Apple has received, but the one it managed to obtain from the USPTO earlier this week is certainly the broadest to date. As explained by The Verge, this one is intended to cover the laptop's distinctive wedge shape, or what's indicated by the solid lines in the illustrations included with the patent. That doesn't include things like the hinge, rear or sides of the device, but it would appear to give Apple some fairly solid ground to stand on should it choose to go after other laptop manufacturers using a "substantially similar" wedge shape (regardless of any other differences). Those interested can examine the full patent at the link below.
THD N2-A is a KIRF MacBook Air that runs Ice Cream Sandwich for $149, we go hands-on (video)
It wouldn't be Computex without some KIRF Apple products. And what we have today isn't quite a MacBook Air. But it's amazingly close. The N2-A, as it's known in the OEM underground, is one of the most impressive MacBook Air lookalikes we've seen -- and one of the cheapest. $74,500 will net you 500 of these lovely 13.3-inch bundles of almost-Mac goodness, which comes out to just $149 apiece. The THD (Thread Technology Co.)-made clamshell comes complete with an LED-backlit 1366 x 768 LCD, 1.2 GHz ARM Cortex A8 processor, 1 gig of DDR3 RAM and 8 gigs of SSD storage. There's also built-in 802.11b/g/n WiFi (we're a bit devastated about the lack of 802.11ac), and the option to add a 3G dongle or Ethernet adapter via the pair of USB 2.0 ports. As you may have gathered from the image, there's a full-size QWERTY keyboard and a familiar, yet incredibly mediocre trackpad, along with a 2-cell 4200 mAh battery (rated to 8 hours), an SD card slot, a not-so-MagSafe 110-240-volt AC adapter, a headphone out, mic in and an HDMI port.In typical MacBook Air fashion, the N2-A is very thin and quite light (1.55 kilograms or 3.4 pounds) -- it's not as svelte as a top-of-the-line ICS tablet, but it's manageable for sure. While it may look perfectly fine on camera, the device's build quality certainly isn't up to Apple's standards -- but then again, it doesn't cost $1,000+. After a few busy trade show days, the trackpad was noticeably scratched up, with plenty of other blemishes around the silver case to boot, along with some warping here and there. The N2-A wasn't hideous by any stretch, even upon close inspection, but any Apple newbie would be able to recognize that this didn't come out of Cupertino, even before noticing the missing Apple logo and the added Windows key (it's there to support the nearly identical N2-C, which adds a dual-core Atom processor and Windows 7 support).ICS felt quite snappy, though without a touchscreen you're forced to use the unimpressive trackpad, which wasn't responsive enough for regular use. (You can always sacrifice portability and use a USB mouse instead.) Overall, the N2-A is a pretty slick device -- not to mention quite a bit of fun. Don't expect to see this KIRF in any stores in the US -- you'll need to order 500 units or more directly from THD to take advantage of that $149 price tag, though we may see the Android laptop make its way to the public through third-party channels, perhaps with a retail price of about $200. For now, you can take a closer look in our meaty gallery below, or in the hands-on video after the break.%Gallery-157461%
Twelve South unveils SurfacePad: leather wrist pad for MacBook Air
In line with its Mac-exclusive focus, Twelve South's pulled back the curtain on SurfacePad, a genuine leather wrist rest protector just for MacBook Airs. The leather strip aims to keep the notebook's casing unscathed by watches or jewelry and the undersides of hands comfortable. Need some added cushion and panache for your slice of computing aluminum? You can snag a SurfacePad in Jet Black or Pop Red for $29.99.
Clamcase's Clambook gives Android phones and iPhones a laptop shell, feels decidedly Airy
The idea of creating a full-fledged laptop companion to a smartphone isn't new -- just ask the former Palm team -- but rarely has it come across as so pretty. Clamcase's upcoming Clambook, while it has more than a slight hint of MacBook Air about it, is really meant as a large canvas of sight and sound for an Android phone or iPhone. Although the Clambook can at least be used as a big, 16:9 ratio display for an iPhone, the emphasis is clearly on more Google-inclined users that can use an MHL port: the one cable provides audio, video, power, an Android 4.0-native keyboard and a multi-touch trackpad. More recent Motorola phone owners might get the most out of it, since Webtop's full-size Firefox browser and windowed interface will kick in without needing one of Motorola's proprietary docks. We're still waiting on many basic details, like exact device support and the all-important matter of pricing, but the Clamcase should be ready for supersized Real Racing sessions by the holidays.
Belkin promises spec upgrade for Thunderbolt Express Dock with USB 3.0, eSATA
Belkin has added some upgrades to its soon-to-be-shipped Thunderbolt Express Dock, and a new Thunderbolt cable for Mac and PC users. The Thunderbolt Express Dock is a first-of-its-kind docking solution for both PC and Mac users that enables instant access to up to nine desktop peripherals with one cable, and provides an easy transition from a desktop workstation to a mobile device. Upgrades to the latest version of the dock include the addition of three USB 3.0 ports, instead of USB 2.0 ports, as well as an eSata port. Thunderbolt hasn't really caught fire yet in the market place, if you'll pardon the pun, but it holds great promise as file sizes get larger, especially media files. Apple includes Thunderbolt ports on the MacBook Air, The MacBook Pro, the iMac and the Mac mini. The Express Dock will retail for US $399.00 and the Thunderbolt cable will list at $44.99. There are already Thunderbolt storage products from Pegasus, LaCie and Sonnet. The newest Apple displays can also connect via Thunderbolt.
Apple reportedly readying numerous Retina display MacBooks and multiple accessories for WWDC
New MacBook Pros are practically a given for WWDC (or, let's just say tears will be shed if they elude us), but now, 9to5Mac is stepping up the expectations in a major way. The outlet is now reporting that we could see two different versions of a revised 15-incher, not to mention Retina display-equipped editions of the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. Less certain (but certainly believable) is an iMac refresh, which would again get served with a Retina display, and a fourth major Mac update is apt to see the practically forgotten Mac Pro or the Mac mini updated with bolstered internals. For those following Apple, you'd know that updating so many products at one event isn't a typical move for the company, but Tim Cook's been doing things slightly differently of late -- and honestly, there's no better way to enforce the importance of Retina than to blow it out across the portfolios. Finally, a whole host of new accessories are said to be on tap, with "refreshed keyboards, mice, trackpads and AirPorts" on the list. Hit the source link for the down and dirty, and go ahead and wipe your calendar for June 9th; we'll be liveblogging every last announcement direct from Moscone.
Fu-design Super Robot MacBook Air Sleeve: Review and giveaway
Last November I had the pleasure of reviewing an iPad case featuring a whimsical design created by Taiwanese-born graphic artist Keng-Fu Chu, AKA "Fu". Now Fu has teamed up again with Echo Creative to bring Super Robot to the front of a cool envelope-like MacBook Air sleeve. The Super Robot MacBook Air Sleeve (US$53.99 for 11" or 13" sizes) is a lightweight polyurethane sleeve that looks a lot like an interoffice envelope, but with a colorful rendition of one of Fu's latest creations -- Super Robot -- zooming high above the Earth. Even the packaging is fun; see the gallery below for details. %Gallery-156918% The sleeve features a soft leather lining and a combination closure that includes a pair of strong magnets and an elastic band that imitates the look of those button-and-string closures you used to see on reusable envelopes. There's also a soft "luggage tag" that attaches to the buttons and can be used to clean smudges off of your MacBook Air screen. There's just enough padding to keep your MacBook Air protected, but not so much as to make this sleeve fat and unwieldy. If you're like me and throw your MBA into a backpack full of other tech gear, you'll appreciate the way that the Super Robot Sleeve protects your laptop from scratches and bumps without taking up much more room than the naked laptop. The Robot 99 iPad cases are sold out and appear to now be a collector's item, so if you want one of these MacBook Air sleeves you'd better act quickly. Alternatively, you can enter our giveaway of an 11" MacBook Air Sleeve from Fu-design today! Here are the rules for the giveaway: Open to legal US residents of the 50 United States, the District of Columbia and Canada (excluding Quebec) who are 18 and older. To enter, fill out the form below completely and click or tap the Submit button. The entry must be made before June 7, 2012 11:59PM Eastern Standard Time. You may enter only once. One winner will be selected and will receive a Fu-design Super Robot 11" MacBook Air Sleeve valued at US$53.99) Click Here for complete Official Rules. Loading...
Ask Engadget: best cheap external Macbook Air monitor?
We know you've got questions, and if you're brave enough to ask the world for answers, here's the outlet to do so. This week's Ask Engadget inquiry is from Neil, who wants a display for his Macbook Air that costs less than a cinema display. If you're looking to send in an inquiry of your own, drop us a line at ask [at] engadget [dawt] com. "Dear Engadget, I use my Macbook Air in clamshell mode 95% of the time. I use an Acer V223W 22-inch monitor, but connected over Mini Displayport to DVI, it looks dull and fuzzy. I know an Apple Cinema Display is fantastic, but I don't want to splurge over $1000 for one. Can you suggest something a little more reasonably priced please? Thank you!" The first thing that came to our mind was one of Dell's high-end offerings, the 27-inch U2711 is available for $815 (a little cheaper) and comes with the same 2560 x 1440 IPS panel. But we suspect there's an even better option out there, tucked away in the brains of our commenters. So why not share your knowledge with the group and add a note below?
