Mac OS X 10.8.4 Code Confirms 802.11ac WiFi Support

There is plenty that can be gleaned from the code of an operating system or program, assuming you know on where are the right places to look for. Well, it seems that code in the most recent 10.8.4 beta version of Mountain Lion did point towards the very real possibility of OS X support for 802.11ac WiFi. Just what the heck does that mean? In plain English, next generation Macs could very well come with 802.11ac WiFi connectivity right out of the box, which also goes by the moniker 5G.

802.11ac is capable of delivering speeds of up to 1.3Gbps, where this is made possible courtesy of beamforming, in addition to delivering additional range as well as a new layer of robustness when you place it side by side with its 802.11n predecessor. Of course, this does not mean that this will be the first of its kind, as there is a fair number of routers that support this uncertified wireless format to date. The thing is, code would remain just as code until something official is announced from the lion’s mouth itself, and as with any good rumor or speculation, only time will tell, so playing the patience game is highly advisable in this case.

Edwin Kee
Categories: Apple, Computers
Tags: OS X