Apple partnering with Broadcom to bring 5G Wi-Fi to 2013 Macs

By Kwame Opam January 2, 2013

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Apple may be on the verge of pushing the next major wireless standard this year. According to The Next Web, Cupertino is partnering with Broadcom to bring high-speed 802.11ac wireless connectivity to its upcoming Mac lineup.

IEEE 802.11ac, otherwise known as 5G Wi-Fi, is the next generation of networking standards currently being developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. It rests on the 5GHz wireless frequency, and promises speeds, according to Broadcom, three times faster and six times more power-efficient than legacy 802.11a/b/g/n networks that presently reside on the crowded 2.4GHz channel.

Suffice it to say, that means extremely speedy Internet for Mac users, moving along at speeds at up to 1Gb per second.

Broadcom is one of only a handful of companies, including Qualcomm and Mediatek, supporting the new standard, which is undergoing late-stage revisions and is slated for final approval this November. While Asus began producing its first notebooks with 5G chipsets last year, the industry at large has been slow to move forward on the technology. However, an early 2011 study showed the Wi-Fi Alliance projecting 802.11ac connectivity surging to one billion devices by 2015.

Apple designing Macs with these chipset could be a boon for users, regardless of their ecosystem of choice. How Macs interact with one another will make streaming content via AirPlay almost instantaneous and easy. What’s more, building 5G wireless into such products as the iPad and iPhone can’t be too far behind. This move could be the push the industry needs to adopt this new super-fast standard and push it into homes everywhere.

Editors' Recommendations

Topics

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Kwame graduated from Stony Brook University with BA in Anthropology and has a Masters in Media Studies. He's done stints at…

Computing

Best desktop computer deals: The cheapest PC deals today

dell inspiron desktop deal april 2023 pc lifestyle

While many people may prefer laptops, desktops offer many great benefits, too, from being able to change and customize the hardware to being able to handle heavier loads, such as playing some of the best PC games. They can also be a good starting point if you don't want to spend a ton of money but instead buy a good base to upgrade in the future. Pricing is also a bit all over the place, but generally, you can get some pretty great desktop deals, even on the best desktop computers on the market.

That's why we've gone out and found our favorite deals that will give you the best bang for your buck so that you don't get too overwhelmed with all the options out there. Also, if you're looking for something better suited to gaming, then you may want to check out these gaming PC deals as well.
Lenovo IdeaCentre 3i Desktop -- $300, was $400

Computing

Best deal ever? Get 80% off PureVPN and an Uber Eats voucher

A close-up of a computer monitor displaying a generic VPN.

Everyone should sign up to a virtual private network, so if you're looking for VPN deals, here's one that you wouldn't want to miss -- two years plus three extra months of PureVPN's Max Plan at 80% off for just $4 per month, for a total of $108 for 27 months. That's $16 in savings per month for dependable online protection, and to top it off, you'll be getting an Uber Eats voucher worth up to $30. We're not sure how much time is remaining on this offer though, so if you're interested, you're going to have to sign up for the subscription immediately.

Why you should sign up for PureVPN Max Plan
A VPN is a necessity in this digital age because it will protect your data from being accessed by cybercriminals. It will also help you get around any geoblocking restrictions as you can have your device appear as if it's located in another part of the world. PureVPN is one of the best VPNs for these purposes, as it uses a global network of more than 6,500 servers that are located across dozens of countries.

Computing

Razer’s most boring product is also one of its best

The Razer Iskur V2 gaming chair in an office.

Razer isn't exactly known for subtlety. This is the company that released a Bane-like RGB face mask, a headset with haptic feedback, and most recently, a mouse pad that has RGB lighting from corner to corner. The Iskur V2 chair is an exercise in subtlety, however, and a change of pace that pays off for Razer in a big way.

There's nothing special about the Iskur V2 at first glance. It's a gaming chair fit with the usual racer-style back and some green trim to let you know it's a Razer product. But there are no motors promising immersive haptic feedback, and no RGB leaving you tethered to a wall outlet (yes, Razer has done both in a chair before). The Iskur V2 is just a well-designed, comfortable chair, and that's exactly why it's so impressive.
Out of the box