Apple now has a guaranteed steady supply of high-performance controllers made by Anobit that make the NAND flash used in its mobile devices, especially in higher capacities, perform better. Anobit’s expertise could potentially help Apple improve battery life and storage capacity in future devices, and also lower costs related to flash components, which are traditionally some of the most expensive single components used in the production of iOS hardware.

As usual, when it comes to these strategic acquisitions, Apple wouldn’t comment on its plans for Anobit. “Apple buys smaller technology companies from time to time,” a spokesman told Bloomberg in an interview. “We generally do not discuss our purpose or plans.”

In this case, however, we have a precedent we can look to: Apple used its purchase of PA Semi and Intrinsity to help further its own in-house designed A-series of ARM-based processors. Custom NAND flash modules that have unique optimizations based on Anobit tech could help Apple deliver an even more tightly integrated device/software combo that pushes its existing advantages in terms of power consumption, speed and product margins further still.

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The MacBook Air was the only notebook that saw increased shipments during the quarter, according to Digitimes Research, which said on Monday that notebook shipments slowed by 8.7 percent sequentially to 48.59 million units worldwide during the quarter.

In Apple’s last quarterly earnings report, it reported 4.89 million Macs sold, meaning if we use Digitimes’ estimate of 1 million MacBook Airs sold, the notebook represented roughly 20 percent of the total. We know Apple’s iMac is also performing well, but it’s logical to assume the Air is growing in influence in terms of the overall Mac picture. Expect that trend to continue, since analysts expect the so-called Ultrabook category to explode in the next six years.

Apple doesn’t usually break out sales of individual Mac lines from the overall Mac category total, but it will still be interesting to see if it has any official comment on the success of the Air during its quarterly earnings conference call on Jan. 24.

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Doing it before it was cool

The iMac was an all-in-one long before the form factor was popular, although it arrived much later than its own predecessor, the original Macintosh computer. Still, at the time the iMac arrived, the competition was all about separate towers and monitors. All-in-ones had trade-offs that seemed considerable at the time, including fewer customization options and no opportunity to really get into the high-performance range of personal computing.

Fast-forward to today, 14 years after the introduction of the first iMac, and it is the computer with the lion’s share of the hottest growth area in desktop computing. According to DisplaySearch, as reported by Bloomberg on Wednesday, the iMac accounts for 32.9 percent of the all-in-one desktop market, which itself grew 39 percent over the course of 2011 to 14.5 million shipments worldwide. DisplaySearch believes that the market will reach 23.3 million units by 2014, and Apple looks likely to lead the pack, since its next-closest competitor is Lenovo, with 22.7 percent of all-in-one sales.

Early investment pays later dividends

Apple doesn’t always strike a vein when it comes to early, unusual designs for its computers. The G4 Cube is a prime example. But that doesn’t mean they don’t bear fruit. The Cube formed the groundwork for the Mac mini, which succeeds as an HTPC and an inexpensive Mac desktop option. Likewise, the early MacBook Air, which was expensive, somewhat underpowered and mostly admired from afar, paved the way for the current generation of sleek, fast, awesome general-use machines.

Apple worked out its ultraportable teething issues early, while competitors either looked on in disbelief that anyone would want such a device (its downsides vs. traditional notebooks were similar to the iMac’s flaws regarding user customization and repairs) or offered even more half-baked attempts at competing, like Dell’s Adamo. The first iteration of the MacBook Air meant Apple was ready to come back cheaper, faster and stronger.

Playing catch-up

Now Intel is prompting other notebook manufacturers to jump in late and try to capitalize on the demand for ultraportables. CES pitches are littered with the term, and it seems like every PC maker is planning an Air-like notebook for release in the near term. But the iMac’s doppelgängers haven’t managed to dethrone it, and I highly doubt we will see the notebook market behave very differently.

With both the iMac and the MacBook Air, Apple managed to successfully skate to where the puck’s going to be, and in doing so it has put itself at the fore of growth areas in overall markets (desktop and notebook PCs) that are otherwise sluggish. For users, that means both the iMac and the Air will be among Apple’s most exciting products to watch in 2012 and beyond.

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Natural beauty

The Blackbox is a handmade case, currently available for iPad 2 and MacBook Pro. I got the chance to check out the upcoming MacBook Air version, and it’s a beauty in natural bamboo. The good looks owe as much to the craftsmanship as to the materials, as this is one clean-looking case with smooth lines that echo those of the MacBook Pro case created by Apple’s own industrial designers.

Rugged and ready

The experience of having your MacBook Air in the Blackbox feels a little like nestling it inside a cutting board, and that’s a very good thing. Thanks to the leather strap, the corners of your computer are protected, and a snug, secure fit is guaranteed. The wood feels solid despite being hollow, and there seems to be almost an inch of coverage on the edges, making sure that there’s no weak connection points that will come apart or snap apart during a minor tumble. It also means you can stack plenty of weight on top of the case with your computer inside without worrying about hurting your Mac.

Life resistant

Blackbox cases are treated with a water-resistant finish that helps enhance their good looks and also make sure that an accidental spill won’t fry your machine. I tested it out by dripping a bit of water on top and then wiping it clean; definitely looks like it’ll hold up to all but the most grievous of Starbucks incidents. Thanks to the weight resistance and a very snug fit, it should also stand up well to be tossed in a bag with other loose kit. Just make sure there’s nothing in there with edges that might scratch the exposed portion of your MacBook, as the top is open save for the strap.

Not trim, but light

The one downside, especially if you’re using an Air mainly for its portability, is that this case does add considerable girth to your device. In fact, it more than doubles the height of the Air at its thickest point. But the Blackbox is surprisingly light despite its added bulk. On its site, Blackbox says that the existing versions only add around 1.5 lbs, and I’d say that’s about where the MacBook Air model is, too. It’s not heavy at all, considering how durable these things are.

A good friend you see only once in a while

That’s how I’d best describe the Blackbox MacBook Air case. You won’t need it every time you need your Mac, but for adventurous outings, and times when bringing dedicated computer bags separate from your other luggage isn’t practical, the Blackbox is a rugged performer that’ll give you peace of mind when transporting your valuable, but fragile-feeling MacBook cargo. It isn’t yet available on the Blackbox site, but according to the Kickstarter site for the project it’ll retail for $109 when it arrives sometime soon.

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According to its CEO François Prudent, who spoke to French newspaper Le Figaro (via AppleInsider), eBizcuss saw a 30 percent decline in business during the third quarter of 2011 due to stock shortages of iPad 2 and MacBook Air computers. That wasn’t due only to their popularity, Prudent claims. Apple’s tendency to prefer its own retail outlets when shipping new stock contributed significantly to its inability to meet customer demand. Likewise, the iPhone 4S has been in short supply in the fourth quarter, Prudent says.

EBizcuss has spent around $6.5 million getting its point-of-sale system up to scratch with Apple’s very specific criteria. Also, Apple also has taken away eBizcuss’ business customers by offering them prices that the third-party reseller can’t possibly match, since they undercut what it pays Apple itself for the hardware.

Apple’s practices have been the subject of legal action before. MACadam, an Apple reseller that shuttered its business in 2005, joined together with other third-party Apple partners to file a class-action lawsuit alleging unfair business practices, among other alleged wrongdoings. According to both that suit and this new one, Apple has preferred its own retail operations for available inventory since they began opening around the world.

Almost every time Apple unveils a new product these days, especially in the mobile space, early demand leads to supply shortages. According to Apple executives, these shortages result from Apple’s not being able to make product fast enough to keep up with consumer appetite; but these accusations suggest that when new stock does come in, it goes to Apple’s stores and online customers first. That would indeed harm the business of outside resellers, since customers will go with the retailer most likely to be able to meet their needs in a pinch.

Back in February, Dave Greenbaum talked about how Apple’s approach to dealing with its third-party reseller and service partners is beginning to look like outright hostility. This latest suit suggests that the problem isn’t improving as Apple’s own retail reach expands and its website continues to be a hit with consumers. After all, if Apple can sell direct, it will: It recoups more money and builds a stronger direct relationship with customers than through third-party sales. But is it worth costing the Apple user community the benefits of the local independent Mac shop forever?

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Apple actually already uses an Anobit chip that improves the performance of flash memory using digital signal processing (DSP) in its iPhone, iPad and MacBook Air. It could be useful to help expand the available onboard storage in future iterations of these devices. By acquiring the company in its entirety, Apple can ensure it has continued access to a key competitive differentiator.

Official details on price are still unknown, but earlier reports pegged the amount being negotiated between the two companies as somewhere between $400 and $500 million for the 200 person firm. It has been suggested that Apple will open an R&D center in Israel, its first such facility outside the U.S., and it is possible the Anobit acquisition could have something to do with those plans.

The office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tweeted a welcome to Apple on Tuesday morning, congratulating the company on its “1st acquisition here,” and assuring the company that it will “benefit from the fruit of the Israeli knowledge.” It’s not clear whether the PM’s office is just reacting to the news reports, however, or if it has inside knowledge of the deal’s progress.

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The 15-inch Air has been a subject of rumor in the past; earlier this month, DigiTimes reported a 15-inch ultraportable was in the works from Apple, though at the time it wasn’t clear whether this would be an addition to the MacBook Pro line or an Air notebook. According to the sources for Monday’s report, component suppliers have already begun early production of 11- and 13-inch Air models and will add a 15-inch version, so it’s likely this is the machine those earlier reports made reference to.

Apple’s MacBook Air is increasingly becoming a key product for Apple, especially for its computer business. The Air has been cited by Apple execs in recent calls as a strong seller, and could become Apple’s flagship notebook with relatively low entry-level pricing and extreme portability. A major update of the Air line, including the introduction of a new 15-inch model, is a good way for Apple to maintain its grasp on the ultraportable market as more competitors move to try to take some of that market in 2012.

A larger MacBook Air could be more appealing to MacBook Pro customers who value screen size for work real estate, while also offering a larger display better suited to older eyes, and potentially longer battery life, too. If Apple can combine that with a decent price, I think we’ll see a larger Air add significantly to its ability to remain competitive in this market.

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According to the DigiTimes report, it isn’t clear whether the device being produced will be classified as a MacBook Pro or MacBook Air, but it will sport a thinner design, with the aim of making a lighter, more portable notebook computer. Intel has dubbed this category the “Ultrabook,” and a number of Windows-based PC manufacturers either have or intend to join the fray, based largely on Apple’s success with its current MacBook Air offerings.

The Air has been a strong seller since its introduction, according to estimates from industry analyst groups like NPD, and has helped buoy Mac sales to record heights in recent quarters. Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer also cited “very strong growth” of MacBook Air sales during the company’s last earnings call as a driver behind the 74-percent share of Mac revenue accounted for by Apple notebooks.

Meanwhile, the general ultrabook PC market isn’t exactly going gangbusters. According to a tweet from industry-watcher Steve Paine, it looks like all the competition combined can’t compete with the MacBook Air, which is probably due in part to aggressive pricing from Apple. Apple has a significant advantage in the ultraportable space as a result, and can likely afford to diversify its line in order to take advantage of that momentum.

A 15-inch MacBook Air would probably have more limited mass-market appeal compared to more travel-friendly 13- and 11-inch models, but it should appeal to MacBook Pro users who’ve just been waiting for a larger screen to pick up a lighter, more portable machine. Also, a 15-inch will definitely attract some consumers who appreciate more screen real estate, and a larger chassis could lead to another upward bump in battery life, like the two-hour improvement between the 11- and 13-inch Airs.

Apple making a thin and light 15-inch notebook isn’t yet guaranteed, since no official announcement has been made, but given that the ultraportable category is a space where Apple is at least three or four years ahead of the competition, and increasingly a key part of its Mac division, it seems likely we’ll see one sometime soon.

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Apple has continually edited the design of the Air since it debuted in 2008. The 2010 major redesign and price drop has turned it into a big seller for the company. Apple took out the ethernet port, optical drive, hard disk drive and left just two USB ports in the Air. But these non-traditional features have not driven potential notebook buyers running for the hills: Reports after Apple launched 11.6-inch and 13.3-inch models in late 2010 indicated the company sold 1 million in the first two months. Customers responded positively to the extremely lightweight, solid-state storage-only option, near-instant boot/wake times, long battery life, and most importantly, the $999 starting price. A subtler set of updates to the line this summer lead the company to drop its previous (and popular) entry-level notebook, the white MacBook, altogether.

Ultrabook makers are, a year later, following in Apple’s footsteps, both in terms of design and features. But it’s been mostly at the behest of Intel. The chipmaker has encouraged PC makers to make ultrabooks, based on lower-power Intel chips (of course). The results, so far, are not exact copies of the Air’s feature set — for instance, the Acer Aspire S has dropped the optical drive but kept the hard drive. But the prices are close to the Air and the overall design inspiration is unmistakable.

So far there are indications that great expectations may need to be modified, as early reports say that Acer and Asus aren’t shipping nearly as many ultrabooks as initially thought. But that could change once the holiday buying season is here, and people are shopping for super portable, well-priced notebooks.

But will it help boost the overall PC market? The PC business, as we know, isn’t in great shape, thanks to a bad economy and a growing interest in touchscreen tablets. Apple has bucked that industry trend — selling more iPads while still selling more computers — and a huge reason is the MacBook Air, which the company said last month helped lead to a record quarter for Mac sales. But the company is obviously not going to sit still.

The things that really wowed people about the Air — the incredible thinness, the deletion of non-necessary features, and the responsiveness of the machine — have to be improved upon. So how can they? Well, as some very accomplished industrial designers told me, it’s very hard to get much thinner than the Air and still have a traditional notebook form factor. Take away too much and you essentially wind up with the iPad.

So it’s going to have to come with advances in software, in interfaces and new forms of input, like voice and touch, and the continual improvement in battery size, life, and — while we know chips will regularly get faster — how manufacturers deal with heat dissipation and battery life in conjunction with those chips’ advances.

To read about these and other factors facing the companies designing our future notebooks, and what some of today’s most forward-thinking electronics designers have to say about it, please read my latest long view at GigaOM Pro.

Asus Zenbook image courtesy of Amazon.com

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PlugBug is a simple adapter that connects easily to your existing MacBook power adapter, adding a 10 W USB charger (the same wattage as the one that ships with the iPad) for charging your iOS devices. The 10 W capacity means that it will charge your iPad faster than the standard iPhone and iPod charger, and it will still also be able to charge those devices just as easily, too.

This innovative but oh-so-simple design from Twelve South will really come in handy for travelers, since it means you can use the often-scant hotel power outlets to maximum efficiency: Just one outlet is needed to charge both your MacBook and a USB-connected device, and the design keeps the top outlet in a two-socket wall panel free for other uses.

Even if you aren’t taking your MacBook with you, PlugBug stands on its own as a very noticeable (it’s red) solo iPad and iPhone charger, thanks to a bottom attachment that covers the power brick plug component when it’s not in use. At $34.99, it’s actually only $5 more than the standard Apple iPad 10 W power adapter, too, so it really seems like a no-brainer for multiple Apple device owners.

This is the first iPad and MacBook accessory in a while that feels like a necessity to me. Anyone else blown away by the design?

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What is Bluetooth 4.0?

It’s the latest incarnation of Bluetooth, the wireless device-to-device technology that allows your phone to talk to headsets, car stereos, keyboards and other devices directly, without the need for a router or shared wireless network. The 4.0 version of the specification (also called Bluetooth Smart) introduces greatly lowered power consumption, thanks to a new way of maintaining a connection between devices without the need for a constant stream of data being transferred between the two.

Bluetooth 4.0 also contains the high-speed data-transfer specifications that were introduced with Bluetooth 3.0, which allows for speeds of up to 25 Mbps. The latest spec is backward-compatible with previous versions, so your iPhone 4S will still work with the Bluetooth 2.0 stereo headset you have, for instance, or with your Apple Wireless Keyboard.

What can Bluetooth 4.0 do for you?

Thus far, not much. Bluetooth 4.0 requires both sending and receiving devices to have the technology on board before it can really start showing benefits for users. As mentioned above, it works fine with devices using older versions of the spec, but it doesn’t get to take advantage of any of its power-saving features with Bluetooth 3.0 or lower.

The big benefit of Bluetooth 4.0 will come from peripherals, much like with Thunderbolt technology. Unlike with Thunderbolt tech, however, consumers can expect Bluetooth 4.0 accessories to launch with price ranges and use cases that are much more palatable to the average consumer. Thunderbolt, like FireWire before it, will at first be a cost-prohibitive high-speed data-transfer tech aimed at film and video pros; Bluetooth 4.0 plants the seed for a wide range of more-consumer-oriented applications.

Input, input, input

Bluetooth 4.0 will be most useful for the new crop of sensor devices coming to market that aim to provide your iPhone or computer with a wealth of external data to help inform special applications. Perfect examples of how the tech might be used include heart rate monitors, GPS sensors and environmentally aware devices, somewhat like the new Nest thermostat.

Such peripherals will be able to be powered much more efficiently than those using previous Bluetooth standards, which will make their promise of being set-and-forget devices more of an attainable reality. Bluetooth 4.0 peripherals powered by simple watch batteries will be able to collect and inform specialized applications on iPhones and other devices, allowing for a smarter and more integral connection between our lives and our devices.

One example of where Bluetooth 4.0 could come in handy is with the smart watch technology that Kevin Tofel has been following so closely. Theoretically, a smart watch using Bluetooth 4.0 would be able to get much more out of limited battery life than existing devices, allowing for a long-lasting connection that doesn’t require much attention from a user. Imagine the battery life of your current quartz wrist watch but with the ability to deliver notifications when your phone receives a text or call.

Whole-home devices

Bluetooth 4.0 paves the way for a future in which your MacBook Air, Mac mini or iPhone can passively monitor and keep abreast of everything going on in your house. Monitor the temperature of that roast you’re cooking, note when your solar array stops receiving direct sunlight, and have your cordless robot vacuum tell you when it needs to hit the charging station: All could be possible through future implementations of a low-power, direct-communication spec like Bluetooth 4.0.

That’s the long-term play that Apple has made with the 4S. Nice to see users get something that could pay dividends much further in the life of their product, rather than just another limitation that becomes a reason to upgrade in a year’s time.

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Macs retain higher overall resale values than many other PCs, but they don’t last forever. But how do you know when to act? What are the symptoms of impeding Mac death or obsolescence, and when is a good time to consider replacing an old Mac with a new one?  The following seven points should help you make an educated decision about whether or not to invest in one of the new MacBook Pros unveiled Monday, or any other new Mac for that matter.

1. Will not run OS X Lion (or Snow Leopard). In the past, if you had a Mac running an older version of OS X, you could keep it running for a long time without much issue. But iCloud’s minimum specs have changed that. Your Mac must have an Intel Core 2 Duo, Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, or Xeon processor to run Lion 10.7.2 which is required to use iCloud on a Mac. If you’re not certain your Mac meets these requirements, you can easily identify exactly what Mac you have and get the specs from there. Users hoping to update to iCloud from MobileMe will need a newer Mac, and those hoping to stay on top of what could become the core of Apple’s business will also want to upgrade.

Not everyone needs the convenience features of iCloud, but you should note that Apple has also stopped releasing security updates for older Macs as well.  To play it safe, you may need to have a Mac that can at least run Snow Leopard.

2. Battery no longer keeps its charge. While certainly not the primary reason to get rid of a MacBook that still works when plugged in, it’s a sign that you may be getting near the end of your machine’s useful life.  Apple does have a battery replacement program, even for MacBooks that do not user-accessible batteries, but the cost of replacing a battery can run anywhere from $130 to $180, and if your battery is past its prime, other system components might be nearing their end, too. It may be time to consider turning that laptop into a desktop, and get a new MacBook.

3. Most-used apps are sluggish. New software tends to get bigger and more demanding with time. With each new update comes a lot more features. These may not be features you need or care about, but sometimes they’re required in order to maintain compatibility with a particular file format. You can always try sliding back to an earlier version to preserver performance, but if apps you use time and time again are making your computer slow or unusable, it’s probably time to look for something new.

4. An iPad outperforms your Mac. It may surprise you to learn that the current iPad 2′s geek bench scores are about as high as the Mac mini G4′s scores from 2005. You could try to clean out your Mac, free up some hard drive space, or even add some memory or a solid state drive to help and improve performance. But at the end of the day, there is a limit to the gains in performance you can squeeze out of older hardware, and the cost of doing so might outweigh the benefit.

5. Difficult-to-replace component has failed. If you’re not comfortable replacing the internal components of you Mac yourself, service prices can become cost-prohibitive when compared to buying a new Mac.  You may also end up being very disappointed following a major upgrade when something else goes wrong, like a hard drive failure.  With MacBooks especially, when one part starts to fail, the rest are likely not too far from failing as well.

6. The Mac you want was just updated. Following the rumors about possible Apple product updates can become more obsession than hobby.  I have looked toward’s MacRumor’s Buyer’s Guide for years now in an effort to track down when a particular product is going to be updated.  The simplest rule to follow, however, is that if you need a new Mac, buy a new Mac. But if your need happens to coincide with a fresh product update, don’t hesitate.

7. You own a PC, but all your mobile devices are Apple. Like works best with like, and that’s particularly true of Apple products. Apple has a great guide to help with the transition from a PC to a Mac.  And with Apple’s Boot Camp, VMware Fusion or Parallels, you can keep on using Windows on a Mac if you like.

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While UBS told us in a research note that the plant closing could affect supplies of MacBook Air and other notebook computers, DigiTimes is confident that the temporary suspension of operations won’t cause Apple or others to switch to other suppliers, since Catcher has such strong production capacity and the best manufacturing technology. Apple uses Catcher for up to 60 percent of its unibody enclosures for its MacBook and iMac computers.

Catcher, for its part, is considering investing more money in additional production facilities to ensure any similar problems in the future won’t completely shut them down. Another plant located in Tainan, Taiwan recently ramped up production, and Catcher has another massive lot located there for planned future expansion.

The planned re-opening is promising news for the possibility of an imminent MacBook Pro refresh, so hopefully Catcher’s investment is enough to satisfy local Chinese authorities.

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A friend recently asked me, knowing that I was involved with Siri, what Steve Jobs’ legacy will be. Siri was the last giant milestone in Jobs’ career, but he had a long list of accomplishments.

In the course of one lifetime, Steve Jobs:

• Helped create and popularize the personal computer (Apple II, 1977)
• Oversaw the second most valuable American IPO, after Ford Motor Company (Apple, 1980)
• Helped create the modern personal computer with mouse, icons and a graphical user interface (Macintosh, 1984)
• Co-created an influential modern operating system (Mac OS, 1984)
• Created the most memorable advertising campaigns of his generation (Macintosh Superbowl Ad, 1984; “Think Different” campaign, 1997; etc.)
• Co-created a modern publishing platform (bitmapped display, Apple LaserWriter, Aldus PageMaker, 1984–1985)
• Ushered in the concept of a modern movie animation studio (Pixar, which he bought in 1986)
• Popularized two more modern operating systems (NeXTStep, 1989, then OS X in 2002)
• Released the modern object-oriented programmer’s toolset (NeXTStep, 1989)
• Resurrected the company he founded after returning to it when it was 90 days from bankruptcy (Apple, 1996)
• Reimagined and popularized digital music players (iPod, 2001)
• Transformed the retail experience and created the highest revenue-per-square-foot retail stores in the world (Apple Stores, 2001)
• Enabled easy digital music management (iTunes software, 2001)
• Released mass-market digital media creation and management software (iLife, 2003)
• Revolutionized online paid digital music distribution (iTunes Store, 2003)
• Sparked a transformation of the broadcast TV and cable industries (iTunes + Apple TV, 2007)
• Introduced the modern smartphone and helped shift the focus from telephony to music and Internet access (iPhone, 2007)
• Took down the “walled garden” application stranglehold of telecom carriers (with the iPhone + App Store, 2008)
• Reimagined the modern laptop computer (MacBook, 2006; MacBook Air, 2008)
• Transformed online software distribution with the application (“app”) store (Apple App Store, 2008)
• Invented the modern tablet computer (iPad, 2010)
• Along with Amazon, reimagined digital magazine publishing and distribution (Apple Newsstand + iTunes, part of iOS5, 2011)
• Laid the groundwork for mass-scale adoption of the artificial intelligence revolution in mass-market computing (Apple “Siri,” 2011)
• Built one of the world’s best management, engineering and marketing teams (Apple, 1996-2011)
• Created the world’s most respected and highly valued brand (Apple, 2008-2011)
• Increased value to shareholders 65-fold in 10 years (Apple, 2000-2011)
• Built the most valuable company in the history of the world (Apple, 2011)

Steve Jobs did not achieve any of this alone. But he was the visionary, instigator, leader, motivator, marketer, pitchman and showman for all of them. He was the most prolific technology and business innovator of our time. His restless intellect uniquely combined the humanities with technology and science, and brought a Zen sense of spare aesthetics to our everyday lives.

His brilliance, passion, commitment and energy changed, and continues to change, the lives of hundreds of millions of people for the better.

Steve’s legacy is hard to judge as a whole, as it lives on in the company he created, the technologies he unleashed, the many acolytes he trained and the aesthetic sensibility he imbued in all of us.

My family, many friends and I mourn for someone we never met.

Gary Morgenthaler is a partner at Morgenthaler Ventures. He was the first VC investor in Siri and was a board member at the company until it was acquired by Apple. Morgenthaler was also an investor and board member in Nuance, a partner of Apple. 

Image courtesy of Flickr user Keng Susumpow.

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Apple’s new MacBook Air and Mac mini are likely driving the increase in Mac sales, which NPD says are on track to deliver between 14 and 18 percent total growth year over year. That’s based on current numbers which put Mac sales at 22 percent greater than the same quarter last year, with only one month left to go in the three-month period. NPD’s numbers are estimates based on data gathered from retailer point-of-sale systems. It’s worth noting that NPD’s estimates are often under Apple’s final official tallies, in part because they don’t necessarily account for online sources.

Double digit increases in Mac sales at a time when other PC sales seem to be flatlining seems like an endorsement of Apple’s strategy, which involves pushing the envelope of what constitutes portable computing and also moving beyond physical disc-based media. It’s a vote of confidence that stands a good chance of encouraging Apple to pursue a similar strategy along its remaining Mac line, including MacBook Pro and iMac computers.

The flip side, as mentioned, is that NPD’s data suggests iPod sales are down 16 percent year over year currently. Munster notes this is actually less of a slide than most analysts predicted going into the quarter, and it’s probably not something Apple is too concerned with. Declines in the media player line are likely attributable to record increases in iPhone and iPad sales, which will be a much more lucrative opportunity for Apple going forward anyway.

Apple’s newest Macs could lead the company to a record quarter for Mac sales, which will be a significant victory for a company whose admitted focus is more on mobile devices. If Apple’s tablet efforts can slow down the competition from PCs while not affecting the growth of their own traditional computers, that’s about as much as Cupertino can ask for.

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Magma’s three-slot expansion chassis for Thunderbolt, the ExpressBox 3T announced by the company on Wednesday, is a perfect example of how Intel’s high-speed I/O port, which ships on nearly all new Macs, could bring back a greater range of customization options for owners of Apple computers. The accessory will allow you to use any PCIe 2.0 cards with Thunderbolt-equipped Macs, including video capture devices, media transcoding tools and high-speed data storage.

The ExpressBox 3T can be daisy-chained with up to six Thunderbolt devices, including the new 27-inch Cinema Display that Apple just recently began shipping to stores. It also could mean that PCIe graphics cards will let less powerful machines like the MacBook Air keep up with higher end devices for gaming and video editing applications.

It’s another step along the path of Thunderbolt allowing Mac notebooks to become powerful workstations through single-cable plug-in solutions, something which can’t come fast enough in my opinion. Portable computers already account for the bulk of PC sales, and if tech like Thunderbolt can ensure that we can have portability without sacrificing power, storage or speed when settling in to performing demanding tasks, we should be able to move closer still to Jobs’ Post-PC era.

Magma hasn’t announced pricing or availability info for the ExpressBox 3T yet, but the company will be showing off the device, and possibly releasing more information at the Intel Developer Forum in San Francisco, which runs Sept. 13 – 15. Sonnet, which makes the upcoming ExpressCard/34 Thunderbolt adapter, has also announced PCIe expansion chassis products, but no details about its release timeline have yet been unveiled. Let’s hope they all hurry up and get here so we can see what Thunderbolt is really capable of.

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