The latest rumor circulating this weekend is that the still unconfirmed 11.6-inch MacBook Air will be launched during Apple’s October 20 event.
Sources have leaked specs today, as well, saying most notably that the computer will use a new type of SSD for storage instead of the 1.8-inch enclosed drive used in current models.
The “SSD Card” will resemble a stick of RAM but will be almost impossible for users to replace. It will also take up much less space.
There are already a few notebooks, netbooks and embedded devices that use similar sticks, such as SanDisk’s pSSD but this should be the first move for the SSD into ultraportables.
Rumored processor is an Intel Core i5.
Aesthetically, the new model will resemble the current 13.3 inch model but be “more wedge-shaped” including sharper edges.
Most importantly, Apple will “almost certainly” drop the price “significantly” under the MacBook Air’s current $1500 price tag.
Result for: new model
Sony Computer Entertainment Europe has said this weekend that it will no longer sell development kits for the PlayStation Portable handheld.
The company “will no longer be selling the PSP development tool (dtp-t2000a) or testing tool (dtp-h2500a) past November 15th.”
Sony says they will advise consumers “when a new model becomes available.”
The company quickly explained that they intend to support the handheld, but the current kits are expiring.
“Due to the certification on the current development and test tools expiring, we will be stopping selling them on November 15. However, we will continue to provide loan stock for registered and new developers, until a new certified model is available,” adds the company via GI.
Result for: new model
Amazon has announced it will sell two new models of their popular Kindle e-reader beginning tomorrow, with one costing just $139, the cheapest price yet for a Kindle device.
To justify the price of the Kindle Wi-Fi, Amazon has removed the ability to connect to the Internet via 3G cell networks, making it Wi-Fi only.
The second model will replace the Kindle 2 and include 3G access, and will sell for $189.
Each new model is slimmer and include higher contrast screens and “crisper text.” Both have six-inch screens, but weigh 15 percent less and are 21 percent slimmer. Each also has twice the storage of the original Kindles, allowing for up to 3500 books to be stored.
Says CEO Jeff Bezos: “The hardware business for us has been so successful that we’re going to continue. I predict there will be a 10th-generation and a 20th-generation Kindle. We’re well-situated to be experts in purpose-built reading devices.”
The Kindle Wi-Fi is now cheaper than both the rival Nook and the lesser rival Sony Reader, and over $250 cheaper than the Apple iPad.
Pre-prders start tomorrow, and both devices ship August 27th.
