By Graham K. Rogers

A report on AppleInsider, by Neil Hughes, looks at a new adapter that Apple apparently has in production for a product to be released later: probably next year. The article examined some of the current power adapter specifications: iPad 12W, AppleTV 6W and iPhone 5W.

I had a look round the products I have to try and gauge where the rumoured new device might fit:

• The Apple TV has 6-watt universal power supply

• The iPhone 4S I am currently running has a 5W power adapter - I checked the details on the device

• The 15" MacBook Pro takes a hefty 85W

• The Mac mini also consumes 85W

• While the MacBook Air uses the 45W MagSafe 2 Power Adapter

• The Airport Extreme Router uses 12V at 5A and the AppleInsider article claims this uses 25W

• The Thunderbolt Display uses up to 250W when charging or 2W in energy-saver mode

The rumoured adapter would be for a new product, demanding a little more power than iOS devices, but rather less than the most economical computer Apple produces. The closest type of product currently in production is the Airport Extreme Router, although that still draws more power at 25W.

And it is not going to be an Apple iWatch, but what about a device for the TV?

Graham K. Rogers teaches at the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University in Thailand where he is also Assistant Dean. He wrote in the Bangkok Post, Database supplement on IT subjects. For the last seven years of Database he wrote a column on Apple and Macs.