Apple's 2012 MacBook Air refresh to include 15-inch model?

Apple looks set to refresh its MacBook Air line up in early 2012 but the latest rumours suggest it will also add a 15-inch model to the range at the same time.

The tip comes from Digitimes, which cites supply chain sources as the foundation for the information.

The refresh will see the 11-inch and 13-inch laptops get a bit of an update, with the existing models expected to get a price drop over the coming months in preparation.

MacBook Flair

Apple's slim Air range has seen increased competition from Intel's Ultrabook project over the course of 2011, with the chip maker's specifications including high performance computing in a slim, stylish package.

Digitimes' isn't always the most reliable tech outlet, but this isn't the first time we've heard talk of a 15-inch Air with previous rumours suggesting that the notebook was in the final testing stages.

The company's MacBook Pro range is also set for an overhaul in 2012, with some rumours suggesting that the Pro design will be brought into line with the Air's idiosyncratic wedge-shape.

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Mass Effect 3 To Include Cooperative Multiplayer

The third and final leg of Commander Shepard’s journey won’t be a lonely one. BioWare confirmed today that Mass Effect 3 will include four-player co-op gameplay via Mass Effect 3: Galaxy at War.

According to an official forum post by BioWare’s Chris Priestly, “Players can choose from a variety of classes and races, form an elite Special Forces squad, and combine their weapons, powers and abilities to devastating effect as they fight together to liberate key territories from enemy control.” The “entirely optional” Galaxy at War system will have players teaming up to on missions to impact Shepard’s “Galactic Readiness” level, which will affect the final battle against the Reapers.

Aware of fan anxiety that the addition of a multiplayer mode might negatively affect the core of Mass Effect 3, Priestly reiterated that a separate Montreal studio was opened to handle Galaxy at War’s development and that players will be able to reach the “the highest levels of success in the single player experience alone.”

BioWare plans to reveal more particulars of the multiplayer and Galaxy at War as we approach Mass Effect 3’s March 2012 release.

Source: BioWare

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