MacBook Air

I’ve already done details about MacBook Air in my previous article.

Time Capsule

Gone will be the days of the hassle of plugin in a USB/FireWire drive just to get your Time Machine working. At the MacWorld Expo, Apple unveiled Time Capsule, a hardware companion to Time Machine which will automatic backup of your whole drive wirelessly.

Time Capsule combines an 802.11n network access point and a hard disk drive. Time Capsule is a Full Airport Extreme Base Station plus a server-grade hard drive.

With Time Capsule, users will be able to go back through archived backups to find lost files, photos, digital media, and other data. Once the missing file is found, users can restore it wireless from Time Capsule; they can also restore an entire system from a Time Machine backup stored on the device.

The Time Capsule sports some amazing features –

• dual-band antennas for 2.4GHz or 5GHz frequencies
• one USB 2.0
• one Gigabit Ethernet
• three Gigabit LAN ports
• built-in power supply
• can connect to print wirelessly from a USB printer

In addition, Time Machine offers Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA-2), 128-bit WEP encryption, and a built-in NAAT firewall that support NAT-PMP for Leopard’s Back to My Mac feature. Apple will start shipping Time Capsule in February and will initially be available in two capacities — 500GB model for $299, and a 1TB version for $499.

iPhone – powerful maps, multi-person SMS

Apple CEO Steve Jobs also unveiled the latest iPhone features. Apple expanded the iPhone’s capabilities with a free software update that adds a location finder to the Maps feature, customized home screens, multi-person SMS chats, and the ability to add Web sites to the home screen. In addition, video playback on the phone has been enhanced, with support for chapters, subtitles and languages, and lyrics support has been added for music tracks.

Read more details of the new iPhone features at MacWorld.

iPod touch – add more apps for a price

Just as iPhone users were getting new capabilities via an iPhone software update announced during Steve Jobs’ Macworld Expo keynote, iPod touch users will get new features for their handheld device, too. But unlike the free iPhone update, iPod users will have to pay for their new capabilities, to the tune of a $19.99 fee.

So, what new features do you get for the upgrade fee?

You’ll get five new mobile apps that match those already on the iPhone. With the update, the iPhone touch adds Mail, Maps, Stocks, Weather, and Notes features—essentially giving the music player the same capabilities as the iPhone, with the notable exception of calling features.

More about iPod Touch features and updates at MacWorld.

Apple TV – price drop and untethers from the Mac

The new and improved Apple TV software will be available in about two weeks as a free update to existing Apple TV devices. The entry-level 40GB model had its price dropped to $229, while the 160GB version now costs $329, a $70 price reduction for both. The Apple TV will sport a completely changed and enhanced interface adding numerous new features — most notably the ability to rent movies and purchase music and TV shows directly via the device.

The upgraded Apple TV operates as a standalone device. While it will still synchronize content with your computer, no computer is required to operate it. Once it’s connected to your television and your computer network, you can rent movies directly on your widescreen TV, using Apple’s new iTunes Movie Rentals feature, navigating using the Apple TV’s remote. iTunes Movie Rentals cost $4.99 for new high-definition releases, $3.99 for older high-definition films and new standard-definition releases, and $2.99 for older standard-definition releases.

Apple TV will be able to play at HD – 720p resolution with many available Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack. Standard-definition films purchased on the Apple TV are of “DVD quality” and will not play back on Macs, PCs, or iPods. However, the Apple TV is also able to play back rentals purchased on a Mac or PC, albeit at reduced “near-DVD quality.”

The Apple TV can also now be used to directly purchase TV shows and music, which will also automatically sync back to a Mac or PC via iTunes. A new podcast browser allows users to browse Apple’s podcast directory and pick certain podcasts as “favorites” for quick access at a later time.

iTunes Movie Rentals

Apple also introduces iTunes Movie Rentals, a new feature of the iTunes Store that enables users to download movies and watch them for a short time rather than having to buy them.

The new feature is dependent on iTunes 7.6, a new release of Apple’s jukebox, music, TV and movie software that’s available for download from Apple’s Web site. It also requires an update to QuickTime.

Apple is supported by all the major movie studios — Fox, WB, Disney, Paramount, Universal and Sony, along with Touchstone, Miramax, MGM, New Line and Lions Gate. Apple CEO Steve Jobs said that the new service will launch shortly, and by the end of February will contain over 1,000 movies. Movies will become available for rental on iTunes 30 days after they are released on DVD.

Movie rentals will be priced at $3.99 for new releases and $2.99 for older films. High Definition (HD) movies will be downloadable only via Apple TV and will cost $4.99 for new releases and $3.99 for older films.

Apple unveils “the thinnest notebook in the world” – the MacBook Air. Apple went and looked at most of the thinnest notebooks – Sony TZ series, for example and tried to distill the best of all of them –

• ~3 lbs
• 0.16 to 0.76 inches thin, 12.8 inches wide and 8.95 inches deep
• 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display that has a 1280 × 800 pixel resolution
• full sized MacBook-style black keyboard with Ambient light sensor
• built-in iSight
• multi-touch trackpad (Move a window by double-tap and move. Rotate a photo by pivoting your index finger around your thumb)
• 80GB drive as standard, 64GB SSD as an option
• 1.6 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo as standard chip which operates with 4MB of on-chip shared L2 cache running at full processor speed, and uses an 800MHz frontside bus (1.8 GHz as an upgrade)
• 45w MagSafe
• 1 USB 2.0 port
• Micro-DVI
• 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.1/EDR
• 5 hour battery life
• 2GB of 667MH DDR2 SDRAM

The MacBook Air runs from 0.76″ to 0.16″. The thickest part of the MacBook AIr is thinner than the thinnest part of the Sony TZ series. So thin it fits in a manila envelope. This crazy thin MacBook is silver, got a camera with more rounded edges.

Fullsize, 13.3″ widescreen display. LED-backlit display saves power, gives bright display, instant-on the minute you open it. There’s a built-in iSight camera, and a fullsize MacBook-style black keyboard. “Perhaps the best notebook keyboard we’ve ever shipped.” And it’s got a backlit keyboard with an ambient light sensor (previously a MacBook Pro-only feature). Multi-touch gesture support on the trackpad. There’s a preferences pane that lets you turn on a bunch of different gestures and it gives you a video that shows you what things do. Double-tap and then you can drag the cursor around. Pan around a large photo with two fingers. Rotate with a two-finger interface, like turning a dial. Three fingers lets you pan through photos, and of course there’s a real pinch interface for zooming in or out.

Hard drive is a 1.8″ 80GB (with an option of a 64GB solid-state disk). It’s about the length of a pencil. Amazing feat of engineering and there is no compromise on performance. Core 2 Duo chip on the board at 1.6GHz standard with an option to go to 1.8GHz. They asked Intel to consider something: Apple wanted the chip, but needed the same die on a smaller package. So Intel engineered the same chip but made it 60% smaller.

What do we do with optical drive?

Movies, install software, backups, burn music CDs. Here’s why we don’t need to do that: wirelessly rental movies, most of us have iPods instead of CDs, for backups Time Machine and Time Capsule to wirelessly backup.

So what about installing software?

Going to do that wirelessly too. New feature built into MacBook Air OS called Remote Disk, under Devices. It’ll show you all the Macs and PCs in the area with special software (Macs or Windows machines). You can ask to borrow a machine’s optical drive. Once they’ve accepted, you can see what they’re disc is. A PC can even read a Mac disc with this special software. Click on it, and it’s just like having a local optical drive. “That’s how we’re going to install stuff. Wirelessly.” Don’t think users will miss optical drive.

They didn’t want to compromise on battery life. With wireless turned on, they still eked out 5 hours of battery life. So, a 3 lbs., 0.16″-.76″ thickness, 13.3″ fullsize display, fullsize keyboard (backlit), multi-touch gestures, iSight camera, 1.6GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB of memory, 80GB hard drive (64GB SSD optional), 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, and Magsafe connector — price starts at $1,799.

Apple is taking pre-orders today onwards and will ship them in two weeks.

The MacBook Air has a fully recyclable aluminum case. It also has the first mercury-free display with arsenic-free glass. All the circuit boards are BFR-free and PVC-free. And the retail packaging is 56 percent less volume than MacBook packaging. Helps with energy for transporting and disposing of materials. MacBook Air joins MacBook and MacBook Pro, “best note books in the industry.”

Visit;

• MacBook Air
• MacBook Guided Tour
• View the MacBook Air Ad
• Image Gallery of MacBook Air at Gizmodo
• MacWorld’s details on MacBook Air

More power with less power
Inside the new Mac Pro is the latest technology from Intel – Quad-Core Intel Xeon “Harpertown” processors. These processors run at blazingly fast speeds up to 3.2GHz.

Cache count
A huge amount of L2 cache — 12MB per processor — keeps frequently used data and instructions close to the processor cores and improves overall performance. 6MB of cache is shared between pairs of processor cores, allowing an individual core to use all the available shared cache at any one time.

Built at full tilt With the fastest Xeon architecture available, the new Mac Pro features 1600MHz dual independent frontside buses. These 64-bit buses give each processor a direct connection to the system controller and deliver improved processor bandwidth of up to 25.6GB per second — 20 percent greater than the previous Mac Pro. With a new system architecture, speedier system buses, and fast 800MHz DDR2 fully buffered DIMM memory, Mac Pro memory throughput is up to 1.6 times faster than before. Every Intel Xeon processor features an enhanced SSE4 SIMD engine. Capable of completing 128-bit vector computations in a single cycle, SSE4 is ideal for transforming large sets of data, such as applying a filter to an image or rendering a video effect.

Smarter memory
The Mac Pro incorporates a 256-bit-wide, fully buffered memory architecture with Error Correction Code (ECC), which corrects single-bit errors and detects multiple-bit errors automatically. These features are especially important in mission-critical or compute-intensive environments. Apple designed a more stringent thermal specification for the Mac Pro FB-DIMMs, so the internal fans spin at slower speeds and keep the system quiet.

Prices for the Mac Pro start at $2,799 for a machine running two 2.8-GHz quad-core Xeons with 2GB of memory, the ATI Radeon HD 2600 XT graphics card and a 320GB SATA drive. At the top of the configuration line, a machine tricked out with two 3.2-GHz processors, 32GB of memory, the Nvidia Quadro FX 5600 graphics card, a RAID card and four 1TB internal drives prices out at a whopping $18,199. The extra RAM alone adds $9,100 to the bottom line of that machine. The Mac Pro comes with Mac OS X 10.5 “Leopard”, Apple’s newest client operating system.

Xserve

Along with the new Mac Pro announcement, Apple also refreshed its Xserve server to include the same 45nm Penryn-family Xeon processors, the first time since August 2006 that it has punched up its 1U rack-mounted server. The Xserve, which starts at the same $2,999 as its base-line predecessor, comes with an unlimited client license edition of Leopard Server, boasts three drive bays and can be equipped with up to 32GB of memory. For $2,999, buyers get a server running a single 2.8-GHz quad-core Xeon, 2GB of memory, an 80GB SATA drive and dual Gigabit Ethernet on board.

The new Xserve is actually the more important of the two systems, argued an analyst at Technology Business Research Inc., because it “draws attention to the Leopard Server operating system’s capabilities as a small-business or departmental server for organizations with limited IT support.” While both new models significantly improve on characteristics of the machines they replace, the analyst said the Xserve and the Leopard Server operating system make a more compelling case.

Image from Axiotron

Axiotron ModbookThe first Apple-Authorized Tablet Mac

Axiotron has released its Apple-authorized tablet Mac, the first of its kind, which targets artists and design-oriented professionals. The Modbook, which started shipping 31st Dec, 2007 uses a pen-sensitive LCD slate-style display from Wacom for onscreen writing and drawing. Axiotron unveiled the Modbook a year ago at Macworld.

The Modbook pen offers 512 levels of pressure sensitivity to achieve a level of precision needed in creating and editing digital art. The computer comes pre-installed with Mac OS X Leopard, officially OS X 10.5, and is powered by a 2.0 GHz or a 2.2 GHzIntel Core 2 Duo processor. The device uses Leopard’s built-in Inkwell software for handwriting recognition.

The tablet has a 13.3-inch screen, a built-in iSight Webcam, a global positioning system, and a CD/DVD combo drive. The computer also has built-in support for Bluetooth and 802.11n Wi-Fi. It has a triple layer of metal plating, including nickel over copper and topped with chrome, and is available in standard satin or optional mirror finish.

The Modbook is a modified MacBook with its screen and keyboard severed and replaced with a tablet screen. The device, which is available through Axiotron resellers, has a suggested retail price starting at $2,290. The computer will be shown at Macworld 2008 in San Francisco, Jan. 15-18.

Read more details of the Axiotron Modbook.

The new iMac comes with the newly redesigned Apple Keyboard. Its ultra-thin anodized aluminum enclosure features low-profile keys that provide a crisp, responsive feel. The keyboard includes special function keys for one-touch control of Mac features, and two USB 2.0 ports for high-speed connectivity to your iPod, Mighty Mouse, digital camera, and other devices.

The initial release have the following pricing and configuration;

$1,199

• 20-inch, 1680 × 1050 LCD
• 2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1GB RAM
• 250GB SATA
• 8x SuperDrive
• ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT

$1,499

• 20-inch, 1680 × 1050 LCD
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1GB RAM
• 320GB SATA
• 8x SuperDrive
• ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro

$1,799

• 24-inch, 1900 × 1200 LCD
• 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo
• 1GB RAM
• 320GB SATA
• 8x SuperDrive
• ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro

More about the iMac at Apple.

The bad thing is that it is very costly here in India and add an additional 4.4% VAT + another 5% just to bring it inside Mumbai (INDIA). The cost of the 15″ Macbook Pro was Rs. 1,47,278 including the taxes ( ~ $3,680 US). However, I got some discounts as the deal was done through my 6+ year-old-relation Hardware vendor.

Hey, why not look at the photos of the Unpacking of the 15″ Apple Macbook Pro.

UPDATES

2007 5th May – The Migration was a breeze and it restored everything right till the last site that I had it opened in Firefox. Mac rocks!

Apple vice president of worldwide iPod marketing Greg Joswiak told MacWorld that the iPhone uses an optimized version of OS X tugged in just about 500 MB. The OS sits in the flash memory of the iPhone and Apple will provide updated to the OS automatically when connected to the internet. He further emphasizes that “Apple has a proven and very smooth update mechanism for everything from our computers to our iPods. We will follow that kind of model here, which is an advantage a lot of phones don’t have.”

It is said that the small footprint of the OS is a result of expertise of the team at Apple, rather than cutting out functionality or removing core technologies. It is also reminded that the OS X on a Mac features a lot of Applications that won’t be needed on the iPhone. Apple chose flash because it is small and very durable; “more versatile” than a hard drive.

Macwelt confirmed that Apple will have the final say on all software installed on the iPhone. You’ll also not be able to purchase iTunes Store content directly from your iPhone. It is also determined that iPhone will not be able to use iTunes songs as ring-tones. VoIP will also not be entertained on the iPhone. It is also unsure whether or not Flash and/or Java would be enabled on the build of Safari browser on the iPhone. Nonetheless, Macwelt has determined from Apple’s comments that there will be “as many plugins as possible” enabled and that “Flash and Java will be enabled for sure”.

Gizmodo got the iPhone ring-tone, skins and papercraft model for you. And here is a YouTube link where Microsoft CEO Ballmer laughs at Apple iPhone.

Updates

• 2007 Jan 20 — I’m sorry for hot linking the iPhone ring-tone to Gizmodo. Updated to reflect the downloaded link to my server.
• 2007 Jan 20 — Gizmodo got the Midi File too.

Here is an excerpt from the article

Apple intends to integrate the software on a couple of devices beginning early next year, those people say, while more comprehensive plans call for it to form the bedrock of a jaw-dropping device not due to hit the market until the following year.

By leveraging the underpinnings of Mac OS X, Apple is striving to deliver with its consumer electronics products the same flawless digital media experience enjoyed by the approximate 20 million people who use the system on Macs worldwide. The commonality of the underlying software will also unlock expansive interactive capabilities between the company’s electronics devices and its PCs, further fortifying its industry leading integrated model and software advantage.

One of the first Apple devices rumored to draw from the new system is the company’s forthcoming iPhone. Sources have maintained that Apple plans to ship the handset on time next quarter despite a flurry of doubt from members of the analyst community.

Well, the story is neither of the store nor the Huge Display but of the cool Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse that I bought. As very typical of me, I decided to use it without the software that came with it. I like devices that are automatically recognized by the hardware. Yes, it works out-of-the-box with Mac OSX 10.4. Following the instruction to Pair the Mighty Mouse with the Laptop’s Bluetooth, I was able to setup and use the Mouse right away. I’ve already washed/cleaned my hands before I begin to use it.

Here is a brief synopsis of features of the Mighty Mouse from Apple –

• Wireless Bluetooth connectivity up to 30 feet
• Laser tracking engine for better precision on more surfaces
• Use two or just one AA battery (1 to make it lighter, 2 to make it last longer)
• With no clickable flap per se but Apple have done it so cool, that the Touch Sensitive technology detects right and left click
• The 360° scroll is awesome
• You can even squeeze the two sides to launch Expose´ (you can customize these button and others to your choice)

I’m not sure what additional features does the software (that came with the Mighty Mouse) have but it looks like Mac OSX is prepared to handle the Mighty Mouse right out of the box. The Wireless Mighty Mouse cost me Rs. 4000 here in India (this is about US$88.88) which I think is fine with the tax that India imposes on Electronic Items. It is retailed for $69.00 on Apple’s Website. It came with 2 AA batteries too.

For those in Mumbai, Imagine store is on the 3rd Floor bearing Shop No. 306 at the Atria Mall, Dr. Annie Besant Road, Worli, Mumbai (INDIA). I learnt that they have another store too in the Inorbit Mall, Link Road, Malad (W), Mumbai. They have a website, though it shows Under Construction at the time of writing this article.