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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
National
Andrew Griffin

MacBook Air: Apple reveals new, entirely redesigned version of its small laptop

Apple has revealed the brand new version of the MacBook Air, entirely redesigning its most popular computer.

It is what Apple is calling its "greenest ever Mac" and while borrowing from the beloved design includes a complete revamp of the way it looks.

That includes Apple's decision to finally introduce the Retina Display that has been missing from the computer for years.

And that display will sit in a screen that has also been redesigning, getting rid of the aluminium bezels around the side and allowing the glass to stretch all the way up to the side.

The computer also has TouchID, the fingerprint sensor that has gradually been arriving in Apple's range of Macs. That allows the computer to be unlocked and things to be bought just by pressing the sensor next to the keyboard.

It also includes Apple's newest keyboard and trackpad, the latter of which is 20 per cent bigger and stretches all the way across the top.

The new computer has speakers that are 25 per cent louder, twice as much bass and wider stereo sound. It also has a new microphone, which allows people to sound better on FaceTime calls as well as being used for Siri, which is always listening and can be activated just by saying Hey Siri at any time.

The MacBook Air will start at $1199, considerably more expensive than the old version of the computer. It can be pre-ordered now and will arrive on 7 November.

But Apple appeared to be most proud of its new way of making aluminium, which allows it to make the computers using entirely recycled metal. That is why Apple is referring to the computer as its "greenest ever Mac".

The new MacBook Air was revealed at the same time Apple also revealed a new Mac Mini. That computer is vastly faster than the mostly neglected old version, as well as using the new kind of aluminium.

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