Gizmodo: rumorware

Orbino Aria MackBook Air Case: Was Rumorware, Now Real, Luxurious

Kit Eaton — Thu, 26 Jun 2008 05:36:00 EDT

Remember the MacBook Air case that was announced even before we knew for sure that the Air was real? Well, the Aria from Orbino is now a real product (meaning the 50% of you who voted it to be rumorware were wrong!) and it's pretty darn luxurious. Aircraft-grade aluminum, hand-folded calfskin leather... and that's just the start.

It's got a spring-loaded latching mechanism, removable leather shoulder strap, and a padded "alcantara" exterior. It keeps its Air-matching shape by having all your accessories (read: power brick) in a removable external pocket, which is a little clunky but not too bad. It's made entirely by hand, machined from a single block of aluminum, and it's in premium hand-stretched leather (with exotic skins available on special order.)

I, for one, think it's not a bad-looking way to carry your Air around, and was worth the wait to see it make it to reality. But, of course, there's just one tiny sticking point: its price. Starting at $529, it costs nearly 30% of the entry-level Air. Ouch. [Orbino]

From Rumorware to Bandwagonware: Here Come the MacBook Air Accessories

Wilson Rothman — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:00:43 EST

It starts with a case: This week, after one company preemptively announced a sexy MacBook Air sleeve before the Jobsnote, others have followed suit. Not only is there a real Manila folder case in the works, but others, from WaterField to Belkin, are launching their own lineups. Here are Belkin's first hasty MBA-friendly bags. (They're pretty, but almost too pretty. Is Belkin saying that the MacBook Air is for girls?) Like I said, the Bandwagonware starts with cases—easiest to fudge—but soon we think we'll see companies like Belkin, Targus, Kensington, DLO and Griffin popping other goodies, from neon rubber protective skins to any number of competitively priced drives and dongles, just to fit in. [Belkin]

First Case Announced for MacBook Air Creates New Rumorware Category

Jesus Diaz — Tue, 15 Jan 2008 06:30:22 EST

Behold the new Aria, the only worthy case for the new, magical and still-completely-inexistent MacBook Air. It looks absolutely amazing. Lickable. Pantsable. Apparently it's made of italian leather and aluminum by Orbino. Or probably, just italian pixels and cappuccino vapor:

We don't know if Orbino has a special relationship with Apple that has got them early access to the MacBook Air's physical specs. Perhaps they sold their souls to the Devil to get them. Or to Steve Jobs, if you are one of those who think they are not the same person. Or perhaps this is just a smart publicity stunt, which is precisely what we think it may be.

The only thing we know for sure is that this was hidden inside their web site, not in the open. Could this be yet-one-more "evidence" confirming the rumored MacBook Air? Or just a clever way to get everyone's attention for five minutes today? Well, for sure, they achieved that last one.

[Gizmodo ES —Thanks Edu]