Apple mulling carbon-fiber parts for MacBook Air?

Apple may be searching for ways to make the MacBook Air even lighter.

AppleInsider reports that the company is investigating using materials enhanced with carbon fibers in some of the parts on a future MacBook Air. Given the time and energy Apple poured into the latest redesign of its notebooks, developing a new unibody chassis milled from a single block of aluminum, it's unlikely that the entire chassis would be replaced anytime soon.

But AppleInsider thinks the company could shave 100g off the overall weight of the Air if it used some sort of carbon-fiber material for the bottom cover of the notebook. That may not sound like a lot, but it's within shouting distance of 10 percent, and could make for a really nice marketing slogan at some point in the future.

Apple considers the MacBook Air a sort of halo product for the Mac lineup, a demonstration of its engineering prowess that it knows won't be adopted by the mass market. Given the weight-loss formula could increase the production costs of the system, any future carbon-fiber MacBook Air would likely stay in that category.

Via CNET News

Instant sandwich in a bag

Making sandwiches can be such a chore. Not only do you have to toast the bread, spreading on the butter, grilling the cheese and ham and other assorted fillings can take up so much time. Which is why the latest Toastabags aim to make your sandwich creation process as painless as possible, after liberating S$15.25 (US$10.21) from your wallets, of course. Toaster not included.

Bundled in packs of two, the Toastabags are essentially heat-resistant pockets of joy. Just slide in the pieces of the puzzle, set the toaster, and away you go. In just minutes, viola you have piping-hot sandwiches trapped within the confines of these expensive bags. In fact, these costly pockets can also be used to heat up almost anything that can fit into the slot of a toaster, be it pizza, pastries or chicken nuggets. Oh, did we also mention that you'll need a special toaster with larger slots, and that these Toastabags are quite expensive to boot? But hey, can we really put a price on convenience?

Via Latest Buy

Seven things you may not know about Windows 7

While Windows 7 has gotten plenty of attention over the past two weeks, there are some features in there that haven't gotten as much attention. I wrote about a new programming interface for location-based services. Here are seven more features that caught my eye.

1. Standard approach to mobile broadband
Windows 7 treats cellular modems as a standard connection, much like a Wi-Fi network, popping them up in the same available wireless networks dialog.

Sierra Wireless has already said it will support the new approach, which should make life much easier for road warriors (myself included). One of my few gripes about the prebeta Windows 7 laptop I'm using is that it doesn't recognize my relatively new USB Sprint modem.

2. Help with public Wi-Fi spots.
This was a little feature I discovered on my own. With many public Wi-Fi hot spots, once you connect to the network, you have to do something in your browser, such as agree to certain terms or enter a password. Windows 7 pops up a notification that tells you that, although you have to be connected to the network, more action may be needed and it gives you a direct link to open your browser.
Read more »

Windows 7 knows where you are

Windows 7 has a new programming interface designed to make it a whole lot easier for software to figure out where in the world a PC and its user are located.

That should make it easier for a whole new range of location-based services from finding nearby friends to LoJack-like (a US-based anti-theft recovery service) PC tracking programs. Even search could be a whole lot better if the search engine knew where you were. Indeed, searchers often enter their city with their location to try and get just that benefit.

"There's so many times you have to enter in where you are at," said Microsoft program manager Alec Berntson.

At the same time, broader use of location-based services could also open up a range of privacy concerns.
Read more »

Your MacBook is too classy to be wrapped in neoprene

While everyone else is rushing out to their local Apple store to buy a mass-produced, cookie cutter case for their new MacBooks and Pros, try to resist the urge and instead look around for something a bit more unique, like the newest "Held" MacBook cases from Hard Graft.

Although they're definitely gender neutral, I personally think this case looks like it was pulled directly off the set of a 1960s James Bond flick. It's actually designed to mimic the look of a leather shoulder holster pressed against a fine wool suit; the entire sleeve is wrapped in a thick heather gray felt with ivory herringbone elastic straps that keep your laptop safe and secure. Of course, all the Hard Graft distinctions are in place as well, including their signature external pocket made from dyed European cow leather and matching pull tab inside.

The Hard Graft Shop Window also features cases for your phone (several brands and styles are represented), iPod, Moleskine, eBook, and car keys. Even a foldable mouse pad is available through the site, and at a very affordable price.
Read more »

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