Apple launching new MacBook Air in June? Apple is planning to update its popular ultra-thin MacBook Air notebook in the coming months, according to reports, adding more powerful Intel Sandy Bridge processors and the super-fast Thunderbolt connection.

The reports come from Taiwanese newspaper DigiTime, which specialises in the electronics industry and has a sterling track record of sourcing accurate rumours from Apple's component suppliers.

They say that suppliers are ramping up production, in preparation for shipping the new MacBook Air to Apple in late May - suggesting a launch date in June or July.

That would fit roughly with Apple's standard update time for the line, which normally sees it being refreshed every nine months or so. The last update was in October last year, following a longer wait than normal as Apple entirely revamped the product.

The new Airs would retain the same ultra-thin form factor as the 2010 models, coming in 11.6inch and 13.3inch versions, but would boost the processing power by adding in Intel's more powerful Sandy Bridge platform, and would also include the new 'Thunderbolt' connection option for high speed data transfer.

That would bring the Air in line with the MacBook Pro line, which was updated in February with the same features. Apple's desktop iMac also got updated with Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt earlier this month.

The 2010 model of the MacBook Air is believed to have been a quiet hit for Apple, with analysts suggesting that it may have shipped over a million units in the first three months of sales. It also won rave reviews from many tech writers for its combination of portability and power.