Apple Reportedly Strikes Deal with Broadcom to Add 802.11ac Gigabit Wi-Fi to 2013 Macs

[MacRumors]

TheNextWeb reports that Apple has struck a deal with wireless chip firm Broadcom that will see high-speed 802.11ac 5G "Gigabit Wi-Fi" come to the company's Mac lineup later this year.

While it's believed that Apple's 2013 Mac lineup will feature the same designs as their late-2012 counterparts, they are set to include a range of updated internal features and hardware. We've learned about one such chipset change - the inclusion of 802.11ac networking - providing Apple's updated Mac range with super-fast WiFi connectivity.

Sources familiar with Apple's plans have told The Next Web that Apple has struck a deal with chip maker Broadcom to outfit its new Macs with 802.11ac chips.

The report notes that 802.11ac will roughly triple the speeds seen with the current 802.11n standard, supporting up to 450 Mbps on one antenna and up to 1.3 Gbps when used with three antennas as on Apple's latest Macs.

According to our sources, the WiFi chip isn't currently available and is still in development. As for availability, we have been told that if work goes according to schedule, they should be part of the new line of Mac computers. There is no word on whether Apple will introduce similar chipsets in the iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Time Capsule or other products.

A similar report from nearly a year ago claimed that 802.11ac would be coming to Macs in 2012, but the development failed to occur as Broadcom has apparently continued to work on its chips supporting the forthcoming standard.

Article Link: Apple Reportedly Strikes Deal with Broadcom to Add 802.11ac Gigabit Wi-Fi to 2013 Macs

[MH01]

Nice. More speed!

[hleewell]

The Best News Ever !!!

[Laird Knox]

5G? Enough with the marketing.

[pgiguere1]

With the small capacity of flash storage in Mac laptops unless you have an insane budget, it's good to know we'll be able to rely on a (relatively) speedy wireless NAS.

I tried hooking a USB hard drive to my Airport Extreme but 802.11n is just too slow.

Also, I hope that the "5G Wi-Fi" term doesn't catch on. There's enough confusion about those marketing terms already.

[Rocketman]

http://www.google.com/search?q=802.1...w=1280&bih=608

802.11ac routers. I got the Buffalo and it is pretty good for the price and there are cheaper alternatives too.

Rocketman

[adildacoolset]

This 4G, 5G, 3G marketing terms are getting annoying now.

Whenever a company wants to hype it's product, just slap on an increment of the previous number and add a 'G' at the end. Lo and behold, people will assume it's awesome.

[adrian.h]

Macbook Air Retina with super fast Wifi? Yes please!

[Ddyracer]

bout ****in time!

[Jaro65]

Haswell + 802.11ac? This should be a good year.

[basesloaded190]

Originally Posted by adildacoolset

This 4G, 5G, 3G marketing terms are getting annoying now.

Whenever a company wants to hype it's product, just slap on an increment of the previous number and add a 'G' at the end. Lo and behold, people will assume it's awesome.

This time the "G" has actual meaning and not just marketing.

[troop231]

Sweet, this should actually make Safari snappier

[Confuzzzed]

Quick, cancel that errant iMac order which has been in processing since 4th December!

[mdelvecchio]

yes, please.

[gingaman]

Just after I ordered mine!

[stepshows]

Now if only the Restaurants and airports would dare to be so bold...

[ifij775]

What about LTE for the laptops? I think this seems likely but not guaranteed.

[iMcLovin]

darn, guess I need to update my mac house in 2013. Too bad I just got a $4200 iMac - this is gonna get expensive

[Sjhonny]

Don't get your hopes up. That 1.3 Gb/s is only theoretical. Real life ~ 150 Mb/s (18 MB/s)

comparison to n: Netgear promo video

[adildacoolset]

Originally Posted by basesloaded190

This time the "G" has actual meaning and not just marketing.

I've seen some examples of just marketing:
1. My local carrier calls their HSPA+ connection "3.75G". HSPA+ is NOT 75% the speed of LTE and so holds no meaning. It just deceives people.

2. Even 4G LTE is a marketing term. At the beginning, it was agreed on the 4G would be a cellular connection of 1000 mbps or over. Now, LTE was developed but it could only go to 100. How could they persuade customers that it's a difference? Market the damn thing.

[Undecided]

I had a Time Capsule-based network, extended with an Airport Express - it worked ok, but I switched instead to equipment from an enterprise class networking vendor. Too many glitches, too unreliable. I switched back to my Time Capsule (extended) and It Just Works (tm). I love Apple stuff.

[Quu]

I already have an 802.11ac router (Asus AC66U) so this news makes me real happy. I hope the new Retina MacBook Pro has it as I intend to buy the the new refreshed 15" model.

[mattopotamus]

Does that mean all of my airport express's will need to be updated too enjoy those speeds =/

[dbernie41]

Excellent news. I will be replacing my 2008 MBP soon and wanted to be sure the machine I buy has AC as I keep mine for a relatively long time.

[Quu]

Originally Posted by adildacoolset

This 4G, 5G, 3G marketing terms are getting annoying now.

Whenever a company wants to hype it's product, just slap on an increment of the previous number and add a 'G' at the end. Lo and behold, people will assume it's awesome.

The 5G here stands for 5th generation. And it is.

1st Generation = 802.11
2nd Generation = 802.11b
3rd Generation = 802.11g & a
4th Generation = 802.11n
5th Generation = 802.11ac

They are not as you seem to believe relying on the 3G/4G moniker from mobile phone devices to indicate the speed of 802.11ac

When 802.11n first launched it was referred to as 4th Generation WiFi. And even quite recently I purchased an 802.11n card which said exactly that on the box.

Originally Posted by mattopotamus

Does that mean all of my airport express's will need to be updated too enjoy those speeds =/

You would need a new router to make use of the 802.11ac specification as it uses a new radio.