Most of you know that motor vehicles manufactured since the mid-1990s contain onboard black boxes that not only provide system diagnostics for service technicians, but record data about your day-to-day use of the vehicle. You might compare it to the black box that investigators always try to recover in the wake of an airplane crash. They want to know exactly what happened in the moments before a crash so they can determine a cause.

With a motor vehicle, when you take the vehicle to the shop for service, they will often connect their diagnostic computer to an OBD-II port, which is usually accessible from the driver’s side, which gives them the full readout. If something failed, they’ll know when and what, so they can repair or replace the appropriate parts. Of course this doesn’t mean there’s no need for a skilled mechanic, but just listening to the engine isn’t enough with today’s complicated engine management hardware.

I remember some recent visits to the dealer to check into a curious starting problem on my Kia. This happened in December, where, on a cold morning, I couldn’t put the car in reverse. Usually, just shutting the engine off and starting it again would fix the problem. On the first visit, the dealer declared two battery cells dead, replaced them and assumed that was it. But the transmission oddity didn’t flag an error code.

It took a second visit to get to the real cause — or an additional  cause — a failing switch attached to the transmission. This time the failure was properly flagged, and traced to a $53 part, easily replaced. The car hasn’t misbehaved since. But due to the erratic nature of the problem, and the difficulty duplicating it after the engine warmed, the onboard computer readout was essential to finding a solution to the problem.

Since those onboard systems record driver actions too, some insurance companies have developed schemes to tap into that information and figure out just what sort of risk you really are behind the well. It requires attaching a wireless telematics device to the vehicle’s diagnostic port to send this information to their datacenters.

In order to entice you to reveal your true day-to-day driving behavior, the insurance company will usually offer you some sort of discount to install the device, with the promise of further discounts if your driving record matches their pre-built profile for safe drivers. And, yes, they assure you the information is being kept confidential.

Allstate calls the system Drivewise. It’s known as TrueLane at The Hartford. I’ve had both as I changed insurance carriers in recent years. You can even log onto an online dashboard or console to check the stats for yourself. The charts indicate whether you stopped the car too quickly, accelerated too quickly, drove above what they regard as a safe speed, or otherwise engaged in risky behavior.

Now I am not what you call a really fast driver. I don’t tend to buy cars known for their racing prowess, or their ability to run from zero to 60 in four seconds flat. I tend to be more conservative about such matters, but prefer a vehicle to be reasonably fast, with decent acceleration, at least enough to maintain a fairly high speed while going up a mountainous road. Handling has to be good enough to keep out of trouble, but I don’t test the limits of the Kia’s acceleration capability, which is relatively modest anyway, nor do I find myself engaged in frequent hard breaking except to avoid an obstacle.

So I would think I should score pretty well on the stats produced by those wireless gadgets.

Well, after 0bserving the readouts for my driving during the first two weeks with Drivewise, I had to be shocked. I saw an unusual number of hard breaking and rapid acceleration spikes. Even the two-mile trip to the local Circle K convenience store, where I seldom go faster than 30 or 35 miles per hour, would allegedly trigger frequent episodes of hard breaking. This didn’t make sense, and so I persuaded Allstate to send me another Drivewise module to test after a tech admitted customers sometimes received defective units.

A couple of weeks later, I installed the replacement. Understand I did not in any way change my driving behavior. I’ve been a licensed driver since shortly after I turned 21, and that was several decades ago. But the spikes were no longer displayed. Clearly these modules are sensitive and likely prone to error.

While some time later, after I had switched to The Hartford, I enrolled in their TrueLane program and again monitored my driving behavior with a different though superficially almost identical module. For the most part the trips were the same, being a creature of habit and having a fairly consistent agenda from week to week.

Unfortunately, TrueLane also reported alleged episodes unruly driving behavior on my little trips around town. The same trips, the same speeds, the same basic driving behavior instilled in me for decades, delivered sharp spikes in the readings, worse than Drivewise. So did I get yet another faulty module? Are they all built by the same manufacturer?

So I sent the unit back.

Now this is doubly curious: Before I removed the TrueLane gadget, I had noticed the onset of a strange sort of crackling noise from the steering column sometimes upon making a turn. I had assumed it to be related to some sort of rattle in the dash, and vowed to have the dealer check it out on the next visit. But after the device was unplugged, the symptoms disappeared. The frequent dropouts on the Sirius radio were also less frequent. So these devices may do more than just post misleading profiles of your driving behavior.

These gadgets are all or mostly made by Octo Telematics North America, a company based in Boston and Vista, CA. But the insurance companies no doubt have different, though probably similar priorities in evaluating your driving results. Regardless, I would not want my insurance rates to be based on obtuse black boxes that are thoroughly undependable. Maybe I was just unlucky in getting two defective units out of three. What about you, gentle reader? Would you want your driving behavior to be monitored by some outside party in the hope of keeping your insurance rates low? After this experience, my answer is no way.

Ahead of Monday’s Apple media event, it seemed to be all about Apple Watch. Now that it’s over and done with, it’s also clear Apple is making big investments into the future of the Mac, and, in fact, appears to be pointing into a probable direction for PC technology.

So when you look at the new MacBook, which some referred to as a MacBook Air with Retina display before it was launched, you can see the sum total of Apple’s priorities. It’s slim, it’s light, but it appears to offer grown up features with the promise of a better typing experience and a more useful trackpad.

I say promise, as reaction to the new keyboard appears to be mixed, at least based on quick hands-one experiences from some reporters. There’s less travel than a standard note-book keyboard, to allow for the slimmer form factor, and it may take a while for you to get used to it. I’m not 100% sold on the standard Apple desktop and note-book keyboards as it is. My personal preference is a Matias quiet pro, which offers traditional mechanical key switches with the sound tamed to the level of a regular keyboard.

Indeed, the Apple Bluetooth keyboard that came with my last iMac purchase still sits unused in my bookcase because it’s not my cup of tea.

But what about that single USB-C port? That appears to be a deal killer for many of you, especially if you expect to attach multiple drives, perhaps an extra display, and you want to swap USB sticks. Having to buy a $79 dongle for extra ports may seem to be an unnecessary tradeoff for super slim and light, but I suppose that’s up to the customer.

Remember that the MacBook is a first generation product, and Apple didn’t spend countless millions of dollars developing slimmer unibody cases, tinier logic boards and unique battery shapes just to have a one-off. There’s a game plan here, and it’s about freeing note-books from physical wires. That unifying name may indicate that Apple’s end game is to have a single portable product lineup consisting of the usual range of display sizes with several CPU, RAM and storage options that depend on the target audience. I suppose Apple might keep the standard MacBook Air around for those who don’t want to pay extra for a Retina display, at least as long as Retina displays cost a fair amount more than the regular ones.

Let’s look at the wireless factor.

I can see where Wi-Fi and Bluetooth can handle most of the data transmission chores. Transfer speeds of 802.11ac are, theoretically, 900MB per second, but it’s rarely realized in the real world. However, it’s more than sufficient to move data at the speed of a storage device without the need to connect cables. But that’s today’s technology and Wi-Fi will continue to get much faster in the years to come.

So in 2016, the Wi-Fi Alliance is expected to produce a draft of a successor technology, 802.11ax, which is expected to quadruple connection speeds to individual network clients. Buy a Wi-Fi storage device to skip the cables. Actual wireless transfer speeds under ideal conditions are already in the SSD range and can only get better. That, plus a wireless display connection, would mean you may not need to connect anything to your future MacBook except for the charging cable.

And maybe not even that. So with a future wireless charging scheme, Apple would only provide that port, USB-C or a successor technology, for legacy hookups. Besides, some tiny flash drives are wireless. Aren’t cables old fashioned yet? Clearly Apple wants you to believe that they are. The original MacBook Air with minimal ports was Apple’s first foray into this wireless universe. The 2015 model has two USB 3 ports, and a single Thunderbolt 2 port, but the 13-inch model ads a slot for an SDXC card.

Thunderbolt? Well, maybe Apple will keep it going if a MacBook Pro stays in the lineup, along with desktop devices. But Thunderbolt gear is not cheap and not plentiful. Would a faster successor to USB-C, a standard that would surely receive widespread adoption, ultimately replace Thunderbolt except maybe for professional workstations?

Indeed, it’s possible USB-C, using reversible connectors, can be a unifying standard for the iPhone and iPad too. That means goodbye Lightning connector after hundreds of millions of you bought new cables.

Don’t forget that the first iMac, in 1998, jumpstarted USB technology. It’s very likely the new MacBook, if it’s successful as I expect it to be, will speed USB-C adoption, and promote more wireless solutions. There will certainly be various third party docks for desktop use, so you can use cables if you must. Don’t forget all those floppy drives for Macs after Apple ditched the technology.

So, yes, I do expect a future MacBooks to come with larger displays, possibly 15 inches. The 12-inch model is clearly meant as a compromise to replace both 11-inch and 13-inch versions. Ditto for higher caliber processors, since Intel Core M isn’t known for stellar benchmarks.

On a more personal level, would I buy a larger version of the new MacBook as a successor to my 2010 17-inch MacBook Pro? A good question. I recently had it upgraded with an OWC 480GB SSD and it runs just great. While standard definition, the display is clear and sharp enough and I’ve no problems using it.

Well, except for the weight. At 6.6 pounds, it’s a lot to carry in a shoulder bag. Even though I work out almost daily — despite a back condition — the strap digs into my shoulder and it becomes painful after a while. If Apple can deliver a 15-inch MacBook weighing less than 3 pounds, it would be a compelling choice. The current 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display comes in at just shy of 4.5 pounds.

Ports? Well, I can backup wirelessly to a cloud-based service such as CrashPlan. I don’t hook up too many things to that MacBook Pro except for the MagSafe adapter for charging, and, for remote recordings, a USB mic. So I don’t feel constrained by Apple’s decision to offer a single port.

Ask me again when or if there’s a larger, more powerful MacBook with the new form factor.

All right, so Apple did release a product that might kinda sorta be referred to as a 12-inch MacBook Air with Retina display. Only it was called MacBook, signaling a new product generation, and it made the existing MacBook Air seem positively thick and heavy by comparison. But I get ahead of myself.

Ahead of the event, some members of the media boldly asserted that Apple’s entire future depended on the success of the Apple Watch. Jonny Ive’s reputation was at stake. If you can believe this nonsense, Apple’s record breaking sales in the last quarter were illusory, since no smartwatches were sold. What’s more, the history of the market is limited, and there have been no breakout products so far.

In fact, the definition of success hasn’t been written yet, since nobody out there knows the true potential of the market. It won’t take a huge amount of Apple Watch sales to exceed those of all other contenders, but it’s not as if Apple Watch can overnight exceed the popularity of the iPhone. It make take years, it may never happen, but that isn’t a definition of success. The Mac is extremely successful, with higher revenues than ever, but the division delivers only a fraction of Apple’s total sales.

Facts, however, never get in the way when it comes to media agendas. Apple must fail, and every product, if not an overnight success, must do them in. By that definition, Samsung would have been history ages ago.

But let me get to the MacBook, which is clearly meant as a next generation product. So you can forgive its limitations. Indeed, it’s very likely the new configuration is meant to eventually replace the MacBook Air and possibly, if Apple offers enough display size options, the entire MacBook lineup. Simplify is the name of the game at Apple.

For now, though, the largest benefit is the thinner, lighter form factor. Being just two pounds makes the MacBook less than nine ounces heavier than the fourth generation iPad 4. Remember, the iPad has a 9.7-inch display and no physical keyboard. That makes the comparison even more amazing. In contrast, the iPad Air 2 is 437 grams, or 15.41472 ounces.

In any case, the new MacBook is undeniably attractive, but it’s not all about size. The upgraded keyboard, with butterfly mechanism, is designed to offer a more solid feel, with 17% larger keys, meaning more comfortable and accurate typing. The Force Touch trackpad, with a built-in Taptic Engine, provides haptic feedback and a way to adjust the pressure of clicks to offer additional gestures. I expect a learning curve.

The downside of the MacBook is the predicted single USB-C multipurpose connector that would require a breakout Multipart Adapter cable to offer direct connections to both a USB drive and an external display. And it’s also used for charging from a brick that reminds you of the one that comes with an iPad.

The Core M processor, from Intel’s Broadwell family, is designed to favor power efficiency over raw power, and you don’t expect much from the standard 1.1GHz and the optional 1.2GHz dual-core processors, though both turbo boost to more than twice that number. PCIe-based onboard flash storage should help boost performance.

You’ll likely be impressed with the new battery system, taking up more space inside the tiny case and thus offering up to 10 hours battery life. Sporting the predicted Retina display, it’s $1,299 for the standard version with 8GB RAM and a 256GB flash drive, but that figure is actually much cheaper than the original 2008 MacBook Air. The gold version is a standout, though gray and space gray are sufficiently attractive. You’ll be able to buy one on April 10th, the same day you’ll be able to preorder an Apple Watch.

Force Touch also made its way to a revised 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, which also gets the Broadwell chip, Intel Iris Graphics 6100 and other enhancements. It’s available within 1-3 business days according to the listing at Apple’s online store. The 15-inch model is untouched, possibly because Apple is still waiting for the faster Broadwell processors for Apple’s most powerful note-book. So maybe it’ll arrive by summer.

As previously predicted, the MacBook Air lineup was updated with Broadwell parts, speedier flash storage, and boasts 10 hours battery life for the 11-inch model and 12 hours for the 13-inch model. Prices, starting at $899 for the smaller Air, are unchanged.

I’m curious to see how long these aging models hang around as the new MacBook technology is developed with faster hardware and, one hopes, lower prices.

Now if you were waiting for a ton of additional information about the Apple Watch, aside from the prices and shipping date of course, you may or may not have been disappointed. Battery life is, as previously reported, said to be all-day, estimated at 18 hours for what Apple has determined to be normal use by defining a given number of functions. It can be as little as three hours if you consider uninterrupted talk time.

The real question was about pricing, and most models will be reasonably affordable, I suppose. As previously announced, the 38mm Sport model starts at $349, but the 42mm version is $50 more. The stainless steel model starts at $549 for the 38mm version, and $599 for the 42mm model. Prices for watchbands range from $49 for a Sport Band in various colors to $499 for the link bracelet version.

The limited production Edition version falls at the high end of price estimates, with the cheapest model coming in at $10,000 for the 38mm configuration, but rises to $17,000 for the 42mm version with the most expensive watchband. Unfortunately expectations that Apple would offer a way to future proof the device with low-cost upgrades to the core module are as yet unfulfilled. Since it’s likely not many Editions will be sold, maybe it won’t make a difference, but I can see how some potential buyers might just prefer to wait till next year. If you preorder on April 10th, prepare to wait at least two weeks for delivery.

And, remember, Apple Watch is, for most functions, little more than an iPhone companion.

Early in the press event, Tim Cook announced a price cut for the Apple TV from $99 to $69, no doubt to boost sales until a new model is ready. HBO’s cord-cutting service, HBO Now, will debut exclusively on Apple TV in April for $14.99 per month. This move may herald the future direction of Apple’s streaming media device by offering exclusive content compared to the competition. But none of that will manage the growing channel clutter with the existing interface, and it can only get worse.

And not a thing was said about the rumored iPad Pro.

For a company that prides itself on secrecy, Apple certainly gets a lot of press. True, Tim Cook has been traveling hither and yon in recent weeks releasing juicy tidbits here and here. So we learned a little bit more about Apple Watch, but I’ll avoid that subject simply because this column would otherwise be outdated by the time many of you read it.

Instead, I’ll focus on the assumption that other products must be announced at that singular event. Now maybe they will, and thus my efforts to keep the column current will be wasted. While it’s always possible there will be a simple MacBook Air refresh, I’m more interested in the rumored products that seem to have slipping ship dates.

The most common rumors don’t appear to be made up stories. Some of it comes from no less than the Wall Street Journal, an Apple preferred newspaper, so you expect there’s some truth involved. But things can be extrapolated real fast and the story becomes outdated, or just plain wrong. Worse, a story in what is considered a responsible source will be repeated by other media outlets, and each repetition might include some further speculation. The story soon gets out of control.

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