New Macbook Pro - AppleInsider pics

This blog has been predicting a Macbook Air-style facelift for the Macbook Pro line for some time now, and the chances of that just got a little more likely today with the publication of these spy shots from Apple Insider, which appear to show the new outer aluminum enclosure of something that looks like a 15” Macbook Pro, but with the more rounded styling of a Macbook Air case. Indeed, from the look of these spy shots, Mac Predictions mockups are looking pretty prescient.

Previous Macbook posts:

• Entire MacBook lineup (13.3”, 15” and 17”) to get Air-styling [Mockup]
  
• Second Generation Penryn Macbook Pro with new enclosure [Mockup]
  
• MacBook Pro updates may reflect MacBook Air design style (mockup)
  

Entire MacBook lineup (13.3”, 15” and 17”) to get Air-styling [Mockup]

Mac Predictions has been saying for some time now that Apple is likely to redesign the MacBook Pro to follow the styling of the new MacBook Air. Apple Insider provided support for that view this week, citing a source that claims the entire MacBook line including the 13.3” MacBook will receive the new look, which reflects both the Air and the new iMac.

Whilst the 13.3” MacBook enclosure is not showing its age to the same extent as the MacBook Pro, it certainly feels like an Apple-style move to go for a bold revision of the entire line in one fell swoop. Here’s a speculative visual to see how that might look. As you can see, we’re guessing that the new MacBook and MacBook Pro will take their cues more from the Air than the iMac.

New MacBook Pro and MacBook launched today

The new MacBook Pro and MacBook updates have just been posted on the Apple Store. Sadly no new enclosure design - just faster processors for the MacBooks and more powerful graphics processors and Multi-Touch trackpads for the Pros.

This makes our prediction of new MacBook Pro enclosures following the design style of MacBook Air less likely, at least for the time being. We still think it's probable by the end of the year.

MacBook Air - sub-notebook with no cables

As usual, Apple has thrown us a bone to chew on for the weekend before MacWorld. Banners raised around San Francisco's Moscone Center are reported to feature the tease "2008 There's something in the air". For what it's worth, here's my guess at what this might mean.

The design of the banner features a lighter cut of Apple's corporate font (Myriad). The font is very thin indeed, and this, together with the reference to air, suggests a very thin product - further evidence of a sub-notebook. But I can't help thinking that the use of "air" is multi-layered - implying more than just a "lighter than air" design. MacNN.com reported that Apple had filed a patent for an iMac-style dock for a notebook - one which could communicate with the notebook wirelessly. Imagine if it charged the MacBook wirelessly as well, using inductive coupling like an electric toothbrush. Cables and sockets could be eliminated altogether.

Not only would that enable Apple to make the world's thinnest notebook, but it would define a whole new class of gadget.

UPDATE: Just discovered another Apple patent relating to inductive charging, reported by Hrmph.com which seems to make this idea all the more possible.