The Mac-buying public was treated to a nice surprise today: Apple released revisions to their MacBook Pro line of computers. Previously, it was assumed that the expected update would arrive along side the iPad 2 being announced Wednesday, March 2nd.
While rumors assumed that a new design and perhaps a liquid metal case would debut, it didn’t. The line has been improved, with Intel’s new “SandyBridge” processors, more powerful graphics chips, and an HD FaceTime camera. The most significant addition to the portables is Intel’s LightPeak I/O port, now dubbed “Thunderbolt.”
Looking identical to the MiniDisplay ports already popular on all new Macs, this new port offers 10GB of symmetric throughput. Apple and Intel are banking on Thunderbolt becoming the new, premium, standard for high-speed connectivity and data transfers. The technology allows users to plug-and-play with high-performance peripherals and high-resolution displays —- all in one port. Thunderbolt is 20x faster than USB 2.0 and 12x faster than FireWire 800.
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We all knew that it was just a matter of time, and with all the recent web chatter, it comes as no surprise that Apple has announced a media/press event one week from today, on March 2, 2011. The invitation (above) doesn’t leave much to the imagination: I think that it’s fair to assume that Apple will introduce the 2nd generation of their revolutionary mobile darling: the iPad.
It’s also likely that the new iPad will feature a faster core processor, slightly improved battery life and a camera or two (for FaceTime chats). I also think that the price may come down a notch or two. If not, i think the original iPad will remain available at a lower price point [than it exists today]. While i would LOVE to see the iPhone 4′s Retina Display incorporated into the iPad 2, i’m not sure a device like that could sustain a screen that sharp and that big and still maintain it’s highly lauded battery life…yet.
There have also been a number of rumors circulating that Apple will also introduce a revision to the MacBook line of portables. Reports are clamoring to guess the various changes and upgrades that may be coming. As usual, i think any improvements are good ones and i’m eager to see what new technologies Apple will be introducing.
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Every few months, for the last few years, Internet bloggers have rumored that Apple’s MobileMe Internet service is just moments from becoming free. Recently the rumors have kicked up to explain the massive data center Apple recently finished building in North Carolina. Then there was “evidence” discovered in some of the iOS 4.2 framework files. Still, if you buy a new Mac, or a new iOS device and want “syncing for the rest of us,” you need to sign up, and pay, for MobileMe.
MobileMe is (according to Apple), “a service that pushes email, contacts, and calendar events over the air to all your devices.” Basically keeping your “iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC…in perfect sync,” wirelessly. Preceded by .Mac, MobileMe was released in the summer of 2008. Since it’s introduction, MobileMe has retailed for $99US (per year) for individual users and $150US (per year) for a 5-member-family pack. While I find the price reasonable (especially when divided monthly) and have dedicated several tutorials to maximizing the service, it would still be nice to get MobileMe (or a majority of it’s features) for free.
So, is MobileMe becoming free for the masses? I think it might be, soon, and here’s why:
Loyal Apple fans likely noticed that the mother ship slightly modified their public website a few weeks ago. The tweaks were minor, but fun, bringing us a slightly darker navigation bar and some flashy sprites under the “Mac” landing. Apple made the modifications using HTML5, a new Internet standard that they’ve been backing for sometime. While the modifications were simple and welcome, most people didn’t perk up and take notice too much, myself included. That was until today.
While helping a new Windows-to-Mac convert, I was explaining the benefit of MobileMe, particularly in light of their new Verizon iPhone purchase. “It’s a great way to keep all of your information synchronized and backed up,” I said before jumping online to load up additional reading for the switcher. Instead of just typing the URL to Apple’s MobileMe page (which I know based on their site map/setup), I chose to navigate through Apple’s website instead. In the past, I’d log onto Apple.com, click “Mac” in the navigation bar and then click “Applications” in their product-slider. A little box icon of MobileMe sat, in that section, just after the respective iLife and iWork icons.
But, guess what was missing now? MobileMe. I continued exploring, assuming that it had been moved. I checked “Mac,” “Accessories,” even “Server.” Nothing. Not even a self-promoting banner on the page, like the one that had lived there for-eve-er.
Anxious, I typed in the URL that I had initially skipped: http://www.apple.com/mobileme
BAM. Finally, some info on the service popped up. But, a bit hard to find, don’t you think? Imagine being a new user, someone unfamiliar with Apple’s site, or perhaps not even sure what the “internet service” they heard about was called. Apple certainly isn’t advertising MobileMe in television commercials.
My last stop was Apple’s Online Store: again, there was nothing on the landing page. In fact, there wasn’t a single mention of the service ANYWHERE on the main-store-page. I had to dig to find it buried in “Mac Accessories,” twelve products deep.
It’s particularly odd that Apple adjusted their product matrix just before and during the launch of the Verizon iPhone. MobileMe is such a natural compliment to the iPhone/iPad/Mac that it seems unusual to hide it from millions of potentially new customers.
Unless, of course, you were just about to announce that it’s FREE…another reason for Mac & iOS users to taunt the others.
What do you think?
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The App Store was originally included in Apple’s “Back to the Mac” event as preview to the upcoming OS, Lion. Steve, however, mentioned that the new Mac App Store would be available long before Lion would be publicly available. Today, Apple announced that the App Store will officially launch on January 6, 2011. Developers are encouraged to submit their apps before December 31, 2010 so that they can be included for the debut.
I have mixed feelings about the App Store:
it will be a great way for new users to discover, buy and install new software, but users cannot preview or trial software before they buy. Most Mac software doesn’t cost a 99¢ US or even just a few dollars (unlike iOS apps). I think Apple needs to include demo versions (that can be activated the same way iOS apps include extras with “in app purchasing”). Hopefully this will happen in the future.
Also, there have been a lot of rumors that Apple would announce an update to their iWork software (and sell each of the 3 apps…Numbers, Keynote & Pages…individually, instead of in a bundle). I would be surprised if the software is released before Steve has the opportunity to sing about its newest features. I wouldn’t be surprised if an update to iWork is announced in January (Steve tends to make big announcements immediately after the holiday season), and then sells the apps within the new store.
It’s also worth pointing out that Apple is expected to sell a record number of Macs this holiday season. What better timing for the store to launch (and developers to profit) than shortly after you’ve unwrapped your happy new Mac?
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Earlier this morning, Apple announced another media event for this coming Wednesday (October 20th, 2010). The invitation is traditionally nebulous: the Apple logo slightly turned revealing, what appears to be, a lion behind it. Written below, “Back to the Mac.”
A few months ago Steve Jobs made news when a consumer emailed, his famous email address, to ask why Apple had seemingly abandoned the Mac OS, spending all of their time on iOS: this year’s developer’s conference was dedicated 100% to iOS (iOS powers iPhones, iPod Touches and the iPad). Steve responded, telling the concerned user “…not to worry.”
Apparently, Steve wasn’t lying: The invitation (pictured above) clearly reminds us all that Apple is dedicated to the Mac platform and isn’t abandoning it anytime soon.
In a recent Apple patent filing, the company applied to trademark a Mac that could stand upright (like a traditional iMac), but also kneel down, possibly transitioning to iOS and better suiting itself to touch interaction.
Microsoft has supported touch with their OS for some time now and they even advertise it with many of their licensed desktops and “tablet” PCs; the problem is that Microsoft has never modified their OS to truly adapt to touch. Instead, they’ve simply supported hardware that will allow you to touch your screen. Trying to touch something small is still one hell of a task. After all, there is a reason most of these devices ship with a pen-like stylus —- our fingers are just too big.
Apple, on the other hand, has recognized that touching an operating system designed for a mouse is not only unpleasant, it’s unacceptable. Their iOS was built specifically for touch. The question at large is, “will Mac OS X somehow integrate with iOS?“ Could a hybrid Mac be on the horizon?
While we won’t know what Apple has up their sleeves until the 20th, that won’t stop us from hoping speculating: One can reasonably assume that we’ll see a preview of what OS X.7 will look like, perhaps even a release timeline (i, personally, doubt we’ll see it released during this time). But, here’s hoping to something MUCH more exciting…
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During Steve’s keynote in early September, he finally admitted that the AppleTV was no longer just a hobby; Jobs and the other folks at Apple finally felt as though they had figured out what consumers wanted in an entertainment companion. The AppleTV went from an expensive, lack-luster peripheral to a small, reasonably priced, internet streaming device. Now featuring $0.99 tv show rentals, streaming HD movies, Netflix and AirPlay, the AppleTV has been posititioned to finally take the world of “home entertainment” by storm. But, will it?
Earlier this summer Google announced ”GoogleTV.” While GoogleTV will offer similar features to Apple’s device, Google is hoping to infiltrate more consumer homes by building their “device/feature-set” into new consumer television sets.
While Apple has beat Google in getting their device to market (the AppleTV is available now, while GoogleTV devices and tv sets won’t start showing up until November 2010), the holiday season is still upon us; it will take a while to figure out exactly who’s winning/won the competition.
What i find interesting, in recent news, is that Google has started showing off their device integration AND their new “remote control” (pictured left). While Apple prides itself on simplicity (their remote has only 3 buttons), the Google device looks a lot like the massively advanced/complicated scientific calculator i used during the latter half of my high school career — the TI-92.
I still think the world is plagued by having “too many remotes” in their living room: there is one for the audio receiver, the tv, the cable box, the dv-r, etc. Who wants another remote? Further, how FEW people would NOT be intimidated by seeing a remote (for a TV) like this!?
I’m a little baffled surprised that Google thinks introducing this complex remote is a good and inviting idea.
What do you think?
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I stumbled upon this image online the other day and thought it was amazingly interesting. What a difference 10 years makes, huh?
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Apple has deployed a quick and easy update for iTunes 10, correcting a few minor bugs and tweaking a few features: while the terrible icon remains, iTunes version 10.0.1 enhances the functionality of Apple’s new “music-centric social network,” Ping. Now you have the ability to “Like” (a la FaceBook) or “Post” about your music directly within your local iTunes library. In addition, you can also see recent Ping activity within a newly introduced sidebar panel.
It’s interesting that Apple shipped iTunes 10 without the side panel, forcing users to enter “Ping” through the source panel in iTunes. Removing the user from their library seems a bit unintuitive, so it’s nice to see that Apple identified their mistake and have fixed it.
Mac users can get the update by running “Software Update” in their “apple menu” or by downloading directly from the web, here.
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image via The Mac Observer
Our friends at Apple have release a flurry of updates this week.
Starting with a little housekeeping, Apple updated iWeb. If you use iWeb to host your website or blog, the updates should help streamline your site further. At a meaty 177+MB, the 3.0.2 update is fixes “a variety of issues related to publishing sites to MobileMe.” It also, refines and cleans up the comment & search functions for blogs and podcasts.
Apple’s Safari web browser was also updated this week: it is available for Mac OS 10.6, 10.5, 10.4, Windows XP, Vista & 7.
Though minor, the update was deployed to fix three primary areas: “issues that could prevent users from submitting web forms…issues that could cause web content to display incorrectly when viewing a Google Image result with Flash 10.1 installed…And, [it also] establishes an encrypted, authenticated connection to the Safari Extensions Gallery.”
Finally, the granddaddy of updates (and one many of us have been waiting for) was the first major bump to iOS 4. Available for iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS, iPhone 3G & iPod Touch (iPad will still have to wait until November), iOS 4.1 is chuck full of goodies.
General housekeeping, in the update, will fix annoying bugs like the iPhone 4 promiximity sensor issue, the wonkiness of the Nike+ app and whatever sluggish performance iPhone 3G users reported.
But, the housekeeping issues aren’t really what really has this update shining — it’s got some cool new features:
To start, it now has the HDR (or High Dynamic Range) photo capability that Steve demonstrated in the September 1, 2010 Music Event. The update also includes Apple’s “Game Center,” and [finally] the ability to upload HD footage directly to YouTube. This update also adds support for AVRCP Accessories (like 3rd party ear buds that use built-in controls).
Game Center is the social-network-of-sorts that Apple announced back in April. Similar to Microsoft’s Xbox Live, Game Center allows users to send and receive requests between friends, so that they can invite others to multiplayer games (even over the net). Users can also be auto-matched to play games together (also over the net), discover new games to play and compare stats & achievements with their peers.
Game Center will only work with the iPhone 4, iPhone 3GS and the iPod Touch (2nd generation or later).
Users can update iWeb & Safari, by selecting “Software Update” from their “Apple” menu in the top left-most corner of their screen.
To receive the iOS update, plug your iDevice into your Mac, and head to iTunes. If iTunes doesn’t ask you to update your device automatically, select the device (in the source menu on the left) and click the button that says, “Check for Update.”
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While using Apple’s MobileMe service and web interface today, it occurred to me that some of my tutorials needed to be updated to reflect recent, online, changes.
Since the tutorial section of Maximize Ur Mac is the heart of the site…i knew i had to get working! Both MobileMe tutorials are up-to-date!
MobileMe Part 1: Using Email Aliases to protect your identity & reduce SPAM/Junk mail
MobileMe Part 2: Redirecting Ur GoDaddy.com Domain To Ur iWeb/MobileMe Website
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