Isaiah's Tech

With the launch of Windows 7, both Microsoft and Apple have released new ads. Of course, Microsoft promotes their own OS and Apple bashes it. Check out this link for three of Microsoft's ads and this link for three of Apple's new "Get a Mac" ads. And yes, I've embedded one of the Microsoft ads above.

Even though Apple bashes Microsoft's OS, they'll be fully supporting it by the end of this year with Boot Camp.

Three New Microsoft Ads: Crunch Gear
Three New Apple Ads: 9 to 5 Mac

Along with the big Apple update from this morning, it looks like they have also updated their AirPort Extreme and Time Capsule. The updated AirPort Extreme looks like it will be 25% faster than the last-gen model thanks to some tweaks in the antenna. This is available for $179 USD. Check it out on their website here.

The Time Capsule also seems to have been updated. Apple has mentioned that Time Capsule back0ups in Snow Leopard will be around 60% faster than they were before. The 1TB and 2TB models are now available for $299 USD and $499 USD, respectively. Check it out on their website here.

Update: TUAW has just mentioned that Apple has actually cut down the price on their high-end 17-inch MacBook Pro. The high-end model features: a 17-inch anti-glare display, a 3.06 Intel Core 2 Duo CPU, 8GB of DDR3 SDRAM, and a 500GB HDD. The good news here is that this will only cost $3,600 USD, which is almost $1,000 cheaper than it was yesterday.

[Engadget]

As expected Apple have just updated their iMacs, their plastic MacBooks, their Mac Mini, and have released their new Magic Mouse (replacing the Mighty Mouse). The new iMacs now come in 21.5 (1,920 x 1,080 resolution) and 27-inch (2,560 x 1,440 resolution) sizes (larger than the old 20 and 24-inch models) and they sport a 16:9 aspect ratio, an IPS panel, and a 178-degree viewing angle. These LED-backlit iMacs come packed with: Intel Core 2 Duo / Core i7 / Core i5 CPU options, an SD card, an optical drive, up to 16GB of RAM, up to a 2TB HDD, Nvidia GeForce 9400M / ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics. The 21.5 and 27-inch iMacs are now available for $1,199 USD and $1,699 USD, respectively. These new iMacs come with Apple's wireless keyboard and mouse. Yeup, no Blu-ray here. Check it on Apple's website here.

The plastic "low-end" MacBooks got a slight design overhaul now sporting a unibody design - with a curvy body. They still feature an LED-backlit display and a multitouch trackpad, so that's good. The cheapest MacBook still costs $999 USD, but will feature: a 2.26GHz CPU, 2GB of RAM (up to 8GB), Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics, and a 250GB HDD. The new MacBooks are slightly thinner than the old models and, of course, a non-swappable battery that should last 7 hours. Check it out on Apple's website here.

Apple has also decided to slightly upgrade their Mac Minis. They may look the same, but as usual it's the internal components that have changed. The new $599 Mac Mini now features: a 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 2GB of RAM, and a 160GB HDD. The higher-end $799 USD model now features: a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo CPU, 4GB of RAM, and a 320GB HDD. Thankfully, both models also come packed with an 8x SuperDrive and the same Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics.

Apple also went on to introduce a Mac Mini server. The Mac Mini server throws away the optical drive and allow you to sub in a second hard drive. The $999 model comes packed with: two 500GB HDDs (that's 1TB in total, kiddos!), an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.53GHz CPU, 4GB of RAM, Nvidia GeForce 9400M graphics, and, sadly, no DisplayPort. Check it out on Apple's website here.

The only absolutely positively new product from Apple today is what you see above: The Apple Magic Mouse - that replaces the Mighty Mouse. This Bluetooth mouse appears to have no buttons, but it actually sports a "multitouch surface." Like the MacBook trackpads, you'll be able to use multitouch gestures, but it will not feature pinch and zoom, which sucks - I guess. Apple has mentioned that this mouse will last four months and it's now available for $69.99 USD. Check it out on Apple's website here - by the way, it comes with the iMac if you choose the right option.

Update: According to Engadget, Apple has also released a new Apple remote with an aluminum body that costs $19 USD. If you're lazy enough to own this, then you'll be able to control your iPod, your iPhone, or your Mac without even touching them. If you want to control your iPod / iPhone, you'll of course have to spend another $49 on a dock. Check it out on Apple's website here.

New MacBooks: Engadget, Mac World
New iMacs: Engadget, Mac World
New Mac Minis: Engadget
Apple Magic Mouse: Engadget

According to Google's CEO, Eric Schmidt, Google Chrome for Macs will be available in a couple of months. Optimistic people are hoping that it gets released by the end of this year, but it could also be in early 2010. Let's hope that by then, extensions are slowly rolling out for the Windows version of the browser.

[9 to 5 Mac]

It looks like that rumoured iMac / Mac Mini / plastic MacBook refresh could be coming very, very soon. According to the latest rumour, Apple will be launching all of these new products on October 7th to 9th of this year. This means that we could see the refresh by the end of this week. Could it really be true? If this is true, I hope we'll also see the Bluetooth keyboard and mouse that just passed the FCC.

[Stuff.tv]

According to Apple Insider, these Apple ads spotted on Google could be hinting at the new rumoured iMac / Mac Mini / plastic MacBook refresh. The ad above says, "Apple's newest MacBook. Thinner, lighter and stronger! Free delivery. Order Today." The two ads below say, "The Brand new iMac. Ultra Thin 20 & 24 inch models. From only € 1099. Apple Store" and "Apple's New Mac Mini. Faster and more affordable than ever. From only € 499. Order immediately." Could it really be? We'll likely find out soon.

[Apple Insider]

Why wait for the iTablet when the iPhone transforming netbook is already here. This pretty awesome video has popped on YouTube and you watch it below for youself. I'm pretty sure this is exactly what Apple is planning to show us.

Update: P.S. Yes, I'm joking, but it's still pretty cool.



[9 to 5 Mac]

We heard about the possible iMac refresh coming up as early as this week. Well, now we're also hearing that the plastic MacBooks will also be getting a refresh within the next month. It's just a rumour right now, but it's something to keep your eye for.

[Crunch Gear]

We heard this rumour before so it shouldn't be all that surprising. These new iMacs will, apparently, be a bit thinner and will "look more like the LED Cinema Display, with mystery features that make them the 'most versatile ever.'" The rumour states that this could be an integrated Blu-ray player and that could be a first for Apple. These new iMacs could actually be launched right before Windows 7 gets released on October 22nd, so try to keep a close eye on it.

[Engadget, Gizmodo]

This may not be an accurate picture, but we've already heard about possible iMac refreshes. W'eve heard about a possible Blu-ray drive and a 24-inch LED Cinema display. Below is what Wedge Partners thinks.

Wedge sees a redesigned iMac witjh a “thinner, organic design, likely with smoothed or rounded edges. The MacBook redesign “is likely to be limited,” Wedge asserts. Meanwhile, the firm also expects “new, lower price points to drive demand and create a meaningful competitive threat” to coming PCs based on Windows 7 as well as to the booming netbook segment. “We believe these new designs and price points will help Apple achieve a 3 million unit quarter for Macs in [calendar] Q4.”

[9 to 5 Mac]

Apple has just released yet another "Get a Mac" ad and it's called PC Innovation Lab. You can check it out on Apple's website now - since I sadly don't know how to embed their video on my blog post. To be honest, I thought this ad was kind of lame...

[TUAW]

Apple had problems with Nvidia's 9400 Series graphics and that is a big deal when it comes to Apple since they strive for perfection. Well, AMD has just announced that ATI's Radeon HD 4000 Series graphics are going to be used in Apple's iMac and Mac Pro desktop computers. In addition, "ATI says that its HD 4870 video card will be offered inside the Mac Pro computer and that its HD 4850 will be offered inside iMac systems." This is probably intended to be a standard

[Slash Gear]

Here's the latest Mac ad. It's called "Trainer." Check it out below.



[9 to 5 Mac]

If you're a Mac user, you've probably had this date marked on your calendar for a while now. If you're out of the loop then I should probably remind you that Apple's Snow Leopard is now available. You can check out reviews from two big names out there. Engadget and Gizmodo.

[The Apple Blog]

Looks like what we heard two days ago about Snow Leopard having a built-in anti-malware / anti-virus program was correct. The malware scanner is called Xprotect and right now it looks for OSX.RPlug.A and OSX.iservice which are two very low threats to Mac users - according to Symantec. Don't worry, it's not a bad thing that you'll have protection, but this is foreboding that Mac users will have to go through viruses and problems too. It's only a matter of time. And yes, Apple will probably be kind enough to update what Xprotect scans for in the future.

By the way, Snow Leopard is expected to be available tomorrow.

[9 to 5 Mac]

Yes, Apple launched two new ads this afternoon targeting Microsoft and their problems with viruses. In the latest unconfirmed Snow Leopard rumour, it looks like Apple is actually scared of viruses now. According to the latest rumour, Snow Leopard will have some anti-malware / anti-virus software built-in to the actual OS. At least Apple knows that it's their turn to fend viruses off - if the rumours are true that is.

[Gizmodo]

According to the latest rumour, Apple is looking to update their plastic MacBooks with an "industrial design overhaul." Here's the official word.

[The MacBook's] industrial design overhaul... will see them reemerge in the coming months with a slimmer, lighter enclosure and restructured internal architecture to boot.

What do you think Apple will do with these notebooks? Maybe we'll see them at their event, which kicks off in about two weeks or maybe that's a bit too early.

[Gizmodo]

Below are two more Apple Mac ads, specifically targeted against Microsoft's Laptop Hunter ads. These ones are kind of lame, targeting Microsoft Windows' vulnerability to viruses and stuff like that. Take a look at them both below. The higher market share you get Apple, the more viruses you'll have. They'll learn the hard way that there's no such thing as perfect software. By the way, I can't remember the last time I've had a virus on my PC...





[9 to 5 Mac, Engadget]