We're thrilled to announce the return of GamesBeat Next, hosted in San Francisco this October, where we will explore the theme of "Playing the Edge." Apply to speak here and learn more about sponsorship opportunities here. At the event, we will also announce 25 top game startups as the 2024 Game Changers. Apply or nominate today!
This year’s MacBook Air is reportedly ditching every port you’ve ever known, except for the headphone jack and a new USB port.
That includes the MagSafe port you’ve been using to charge your laptop for years.
Apple is doing this to make the Air even thinner than it already is.
The reality is that you just don’t need other ports anymore.
An SD card reader and an optical drive would be convenient, but they’re not must-haves. Streaming has largely replaced buying DVDs and fewer people use heavy DSLR cameras anymore.
We’re guessing the new MacBook Air will use USB Type-C, which is smaller and faster than previous generations. It’s also reversible, so you don’t have to worry about plugging it in the right way.
The biggest advantage of USB Type-C is that it can send power in either direction. Previous generations were only able to send power from the host device out to whatever was connected.
That also means Apple would probably create a USB-based charger for its devices.
Apple moving to USB would be annoying for people hoping to use their old chargers, but it could be a good thing in the long run. When USB Type-C becomes the industry standard, you won’t need to by an adapter to another cable to connect your non-Apple devices.
This story originally appeared on Business Insider. Copyright 2015
VentureBeat's mission is to be a digital town square for technical decision-makers to gain knowledge about transformative enterprise technology and transact. Discover our Briefings.
