Apple is believed to be launching a new range of MacBook systems at a media event on October 14th, but the rumour-mill has today hit overdrive with news of an all-new manufacturing process codenamed Brick.
Over at 9to5Mac - a rumour site which previously reported aluminium iMacs, the iPod touch and the MacBook Air prior to Apple's official announcements - Seth Weintraub has boldly claimed that Apple has spent the last few years quietly building its own in-house manufacturing process to build forthcoming MacBook systems.
Not just any old system, mind you, the report suggests that Apple's new plant will use 3D lasers and jets of water to carve MacBook chassis out of bricks of aluminium. The technique could result in a single piece of metal providing a completely-smooth chassis.
On the consumer front, it could mean portable systems with stronger and seamless shells. With 3D lasers at its disposal, Apple could also knock out all-new designs at an even quicker rate.
The real advantage, however, would lie with Apple itself. With its own manufacturing plant, the US-based company may no longer need to outsource its manufacturing to the likes of China and Taiwan. Apple has a track record of doing things its own way, and is known to prefer keeping all its operations in-house.
Steve Jobs, Apple's head honcho, is also no stranger to building manufacturing plants. In 1988, he created a 40,000-square-foot plant in Fremont, California for NeXT - a computer company later acquired by Apple.
With billions of dollars now in the bank, it's a step that Apple could certainly take. But does the rumour hold any truth? Only time will tell.
