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MacBook Air - page 19

Please, Apple, sort out your product naming nightmare [Opinion]

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Jumbled letters
Apple's new iPads underline its problem with product naming.
Photo: Lucille Pine/Flickr CC

As thrilling as new Apple devices are, this week’s surprise hardware updates really screwed the pooch on one important front: product naming.

The “new” iPad Air and iPad mini join a lineup of tablets with a variety of features and price points that will boggle the minds of even the most ardent Apple fanatics.

How did Apple’s naming strategy go so far off the rails? For the sake of the average customer, Cupertino’s once-brilliant branding needs to kick into gear. Because right now, the toxic hellstew of Apple product names is utterly confusing.

Sell your old Mac today and bag a bargain upgrade

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Mac
Isn't it time you swapped that dusty old Mac for a new one?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

With B&H Photo offering up to $600 off the MacBook Pro at right now, and big discounts on other Apple computers popping up all over the place, it’s a great time to sell your old machine and bag a bargain upgrade.

And you could just be sitting on a small fortune. Cult of Mac typically pays more for your old Apple devices than other trade-in services — and we won’t leave you waiting ages for your cash. Get a quote today and find out how much your old Mac is really worth.

20 most important Macs of all time

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128k Mac and 21-inch iMac
Things have come a long way in 35 years.
Photo: iFixit

Today marks 35 years since the launch of the original Macintosh computer, the product which most defined Apple until the iPod and iPhone came along years later. The Mac changed the course of personal computing history, and started a product line which Apple continues today. But which Macs along the way rank as the biggest game changers?

We went right back to the start to bring you our picks for the top 20 most important Macs of all time.

Ranking all the major hardware Apple released in 2018 [Year in Review]

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Year in Review Every Apple Product 2018
What was your favorite device Apple released this year?
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Cult of Mac Year in Review 2018 It’s been one heck of a busy year for Apple, and we’ve got the devices to prove it! Truth be told, despite Apple’s shrinking share price, this has been one of the company’s best years in a while for hardware.

What was the cream of the 2018 Apple crop? Here’s how we rank Apple’s major new product launches for 2018.

2018 was a wild ride for Apple [Year in Review]

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Year in Review Everything Apple Did 2018
It was a busy year in Cupertino.
Photo: Killian Bell/Cult of Mac

Cult of Mac Year in Review 2018 2018 was a rollercoaster year for Apple — with incredible highs, massive dips, and probably an executive or two throwing up along the way.

Apple became the first $1 trillion public company in U.S. history, unleashed some amazing new products, and pulled in record amounts of cash. But it also faced lows, from the iPhone-throttling controversy to a tanking stock price at the end of the year.

One thing that can’t be said, however, is that this was an uneventful 12 months for Cupertino. Here’s a recap of some of the year’s most memorable Apple moments.

Unlock the dual audio outputs in new Macs

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A totally legit audio-routing setup.
A totally legit audio-routing setup.
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

Up until last year, if you plugged a pair of headphones into your Mac, the speakers were effectively disconnected. There was no way to send simultaneous audio stream to both headphones and speakers. Now, with modern T2-equipped Macs, you can double up on audio. For instance, you could have alerts sound through the built-in speakers, with music routed through the headphone jack, so you don’t get notifications interrupting your banging tunes.

The best part is that its really easy to set up. And, if you prefer the old behavior, you don’t have to do anything.

MacBooks become modern art on gorgeous walnut stand [Review]

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Yohann Macbook stand
The Yohann Wood MacBook Stand is artful and sturdy.
Photo: David Pierini/Cult of Mac

In German, the boy’s name “Yohann” means “gift of god.” The same could be said about the Yohann MacBook stand, a sculptural walnut base divine in both look and function.

You may want to say a little prayer when you place your MacBook Pro on this elevating perch for the first time, though. You will wonder how this thing can support your rather expensive machine.

2018 MacBook Air teardown confirms repairs aren’t so painful

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2018 MacBook Air teardown
See what's inside the new MacBook Air.
Photo: iFixit

Even if you take good care of your new MacBook Air, there’s always a small chance something could go wrong. But it is a lot easier for Apple and its Authorized Service Providers to fix the new ultraportable than other Apple notebooks.

A new teardown reveals all the changes Apple has made to make swapping components simpler.

Apple made 2018 MacBook Air battery replacements easier

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MacBook Air 2018
Battery replacements will be faster, more affordable, and environmentally-friendly.
Photo: Apple

Buyers of the new MacBook Air will be pleased to know that it’s much easier to perform a battery replacement.

Apple has glued its battery in place again, but according to a leaked internal document, it will provide authorized repairers with the tools required to remove it so that it can be easily swapped out when necessary.

First iPad Pro, MacBook Air, Mac mini preorders are arriving

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2018 iPad Pro unboxing
Have you got yours yet?
Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Cult of Mac

It’s wet and miserable outside here in the United Kingdom, but for Apple fans who have preordered one of the company’s brand new devices, it’s going to be a wonderful day.

The first iPad Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini preorders have started reaching customers around the world. Those in Australia and New Zealand were the first to get their hands on them, but as the sun rose in other countries, more and more packages arrived.

Do you have yours yet?

2018 MacBook Air review roundup: A beautifully big improvement

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MacBook Air 2018
The original ultraportable is back with a bang.
Photo: Apple

The long-awaited MacBook Air update sports an all-new design and more powerful internals, but early reviews indicate there’s still room for improvement.

It’s also the most expensive MacBook Air to date. So, should you spend $1,199 on it when it lands in stores this week? Here’s what the first 2018 MacBook Air reviews have to say.

Not so fast: Maybe new AirPods are coming soon!

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AirPods supplier confident of booming business through 2021
We're dying for updated AirPods.
Photo: Ste Smith/CultofMac

There’s still a slight chance Apple could release updated AirPods before the end of the 2018 holiday season.

A newly granted Bluetooth SIG certification indicates that new wireless earpods are in the pipeline. Tim Cook recently bragged that Apple has the best product lineup ever going into the holidays, but there may not be enough time to add AirPods 2.0 to the roster.

Apple’s 2018 hardware blitz! [Cult of Mac Magazine]

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What a week! New Apple hardware and an earnings surprise.
What a week!
Cover: Leander Kahney/Cult of Mac

This week was one heckuva wild ride for Apple fans. First we got new MacBook Airs, iPad Pros, Mac minis and Apple Pencils. Then Apple threw Wall Street a curveball during yet another surprising (and surprisingly positive) earnings call.

Get the scoop on the latest Apple hardware, plus reviews and how-tos, in this week’s free issue of Cult of Mac Magazine. Then get ready to spend your weekend drooling over it on your iPad or iPhone. Grab your free subscription to Cult of Mac Magazine from iTunes now.

Bonus: Don’t miss your chance to win an iPhone XR!

What we loved and what we didn’t — catch our ‘More in the Making’ hardware reax on The CultCast

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360 CultCast MacBook Pro
New Macs, new iPads, new specs, new prices. We break it all down.
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: Apple’s “There’s More in the Making” keynote was an action-packed ride stuffed with one hardware update after another! We’ll tell you what we like (and what we don’t) about Apple’s newest product updates. Plus: Apple quietly offers a big “screw you” to 2018 MacBook Pro owners. Prepare for a rant!

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to accept Apple Pay and sell your wares with your very own Squarespace website. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10% off your first hosting plan or domain.

Apple suppliers don’t expect big profits from Retina MacBook Air

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MacBook Air 2018 open
Apple's new MacBook Air is a stunner. But will it be a commercial hit?
Photo: Apple

Apple’s new Retina MacBook Air looks to be one of the more gorgeous laptops in Apple history. However, suppliers reportedly aren’t expecting to be awash with profits thanks to Apple’s orders.

That’s partly because of the price of the laptop, but also because of a bit of belt-tightening on Apple’s part which will reduce how much it has to pay manufacturers.

Sleek sling bag lets you carry iPad Pro with style

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iPad Pro bag
The iPad Pro has a secure home in the Sutter Tech Sling.
Photo: WaterField Designs

If you’re going to move all of your personal computing to a new iPad Pro or MacBook Air, you may want to consider a bag made to fit Apple’s newest devices.

WaterField Designs, makers of bespoke tech cases, has a one-shoulder solution with its all-new Sutter Tech Sling.

MacBook smackdown: Which laptop is right for you?

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MacBook Air 2018
If you need a new laptop, you won't want to miss this deal.
Photo: Apple

Apple finally dusted off the MacBook Air. The 2018 model sports a brand new design, a gorgeous Retina display, and powerful upgraded internals. All of sudden, Apple’s most affordable notebook is up there with its best.

In fact, the new ultraportable is so good, you would be crazy to buy a 12-inch MacBook right now. So, how does the new MacBook Air stack up against the rest of Apple’s laptop lineup? Which model best suits your needs, and which delivers the best bang for the buck?

Find out right here in our comprehensive MacBook comparison.

New MacBook Air’s T2 chip protects your mic from hackers

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T2 chip
Apple's most secure laptop yet.
Photo: Apple

Tapping into a Mac’s microphone is about to get a lot harder for hackers thanks to Apple’s new T2 chip.

Apple didn’t dedicate much time to its new T2 chip during today’s ‘More in the Making’ keynote, but the company’s newest security guide gives an in-depth look at the chip. Not only is it designed to prevent MacBook Air users from getting malware but it also makes it physically impossible for hackers to access your microphone when you’re most vulnerable.

New MacBook Pros with updated graphics are coming next month

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macbook pro
The new graphics will be a big boost the video editors.
Photo: Apple

Apple didn’t totally leave out the MacBook Pro from receiving some new features today, even though the company didn’t give its most powerful notebook any stage time at today’s event.

While the MacBook Air, Mac mini and iPad Pro were the stars of today’s keynote in New York, Apple quietly revealed on its website that the MacBook Pro is getting a spec bump too.

Burn your credit card before watching these new Mac and iPad Pro vids

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apple keynote
Apple dives into its recycled aluminum process in a new video.
Photo: Apple

Didn’t have time this morning to watch the full keynote video from Apple’s ‘There’s More in the Making’ keynote this morning in New York? Well, you can now catch all the highlights by watching the new videos Apple produced to go with the products.

Apple just uploaded six new videos to its YouTube channel showing off all the new features on the MacBook Air, Mac mini and iPad Pro. We’ve gathered them together here so you can catch up on all the new goodies.

Check it out: