MacBook Air and Mac Mini updated!

Along with the launch of Mac OS X Lion today, Apple have updated the MacBook Air and Mac Mini.

The MacBook Air has been updated to use Intel’s Sandy Bridge platform, has Thunderbolt and sees the return of the backlit keyboard.
The 11″ model is available with a 1.6ghz i5 processor, along with 2GB or 4GB ram and a 64GB or 128GB SSD.
The 13″ model comes with a 1.7ghz i5 processor, with an option for a 1.8ghz processor. All 13″ models come with 4GB memory and have either a 128gb or 256gb SSD.
Prices start at £849 for the 11″ model and £1099 for the 13″.

The Mac Mini has also had a long awaited upgrade. Similarly to the MacBook Air, the Mac Mini has been upgraded to take advantage Intel’s Sandy Bridge platform, and includes Thunderbolt connectivity. The Superdrive has been dropped and is now available as an external USB drive (similar to the MacBook Air).
The standard model has a 2.3ghz or 2.5ghz i5 processor, with the Server version having a quad core 2.0ghz i7 processor! These machines apparently have 2x the performance of the previous model!

Read more at Apple.com

OS X 10.7 Lion released today!

OS X Lion has been released in the App Store today – available for £20.99/$29.99. Server versions are also available for download.
At the moment, the only way to get Lion is to download it from the App Store on a Snow Leopard system (10.6.6 or above required), which upgrades your current installation. Apple are planning to release it on a USB thumb drive in the near future if downloading is inconvenient.

I have personally downloaded it and I couldn’t recommend it more! Along with the major features that Apple have boasted, there are also many more subtle changes which make the OS easier to use!

“OS X Lion brings a number of new features to the Mac, including an iOS-like application launch screen known as Launchpad, full-screen apps, a new combined interface for Dashboard, Expose, and Spaces known as Mission Control, enhanced Multi-Touch gestures, and improvements to a number of core applications such as Mail.”

Read more at Macrumors

Apple Event on the 2nd March.. Hints at a new iPad?!

Next Wednesday, on the 2nd March, Apple are hosting an event where we will see “what 2011 will be the year of”.
The image hints of a possible iPad refresh? If you want to follow the event live, Engadget are providing live coverage, and I’m sure Apple will probably post a video feed also.

Obviously I will be updating this site after the event!

Watch this space! (Exciting!)

New MacBook Air models introduced!

At Apple’s “Back to Mac” keynote there was “one more thing..”. This one more thing actually ended up being more like 2 more things – a new 13″ MacBook Air, and also a 11″ model!

A hard drive is no longer an option as Apple have decided to use solid state flash memory which is on a custom board (much smaller than a conventional SSD in a hard drive sized caddy). This not only allows the MacBook to be smaller but also allows it to be faster. 11″ models are available with a 64gb or 128gb SSD and 13″ models are available with a 128gb or 256gb SSD.

Apple have stayed with the Core 2 Duo line of processors for this model which I believe is the best option as this has allowed them to continue to use a nVidia chipset with integrated nVidia graphics – 320M, which are much more powerful than Intel’s integrated graphics. The 11″ model uses ultra low voltage 1.4ghz CPUs with an option for 1.6ghz, and the 13″ model uses 1.86ghz or 2.13ghz CPUs.

As the components are kept small, the majority of the space used internally is taken up by batteries. There is an increase in battery life from the previous model – the 13″ gives approimately 7 hours battery life and the 11″ gives approximately 5 hours – and the tests used to get to these numbers have used more more stringent tests than previously, meaning you should be able to get more if light web browsing or writing a document with wifi and bluetooth turned off.

2GB of RAM is still standard across the range, but now 4GB is available as an option which has been wanted by many – if you think you might want 4GB you need to choose the option when ordering as the RAM is soldered to the logic board so it is not user upgradable.

The 11″ model starts at £849 for a 1.4ghz CPU and 64gb SSD and the 13″ model starts at £1099 for 1.86ghz and 128gb SSD.

For more information and specs see the Apple Store website

The Next Version of Mac OS previewed: Lion (10.7).

On Wednesday (20th October), During Apple’s “Back to Mac” keynote, A sneak preview was shown of their next version of the Mac OS X Operating system – Lion. It is due for release next summer (2011).
There are going to be many new features and a few were previewed.

Firstly, and the most significant announcement is the Mac App Store. Due to the success of the App Store on iOS I think this will be a huge benefit to the Mac community as it will encourage more software developers to bring their software to mac and also allow for easy purchasing and installation of apps all from one place. Even better news is that we don’t have to wait until the release of Lion – A version will be coming to Snow Leopard in about 3 months time!

Some other features include Launchpad which shows all of your installed apps in a full screen overlay in the style of the iOS springboard. Apps can also be organised into folders. This will allow for quick opening of apps which you don’t have room in the dock for!
Another feature called Mission control brings Exposé, Dashboard, Spaces and full screen apps all into one interface!

For more information see http://www.apple.com/macosx/lion/

Back to Mac!

After all the concentration that Apple have been putting on iOS devices so far this year (or so it seems), they are still working hard on the Mac side of things.

The event is tomorrow (Wednesday 19th October) and people are hoping to see a number of announcements – in particular a refreshed MacBook Air (possible 11″ and 13″ models?!) and a preview of the next version of Mac OS (10.7).

Come here after the event for a summary of the presentation!

New iMac models released today!

Apple have updated their line of iMac computers today. The design is exactly the same as their last refresh at the end of last year, but now the Core 2 Duo processors have been dropped in favour of the new Intel Core i3 processors – So i3, i5 and i7 processors are now all an option for the new iMac.

All models now come with dedicated graphics, with the cheapest model having a 256mb ATI 4670, which should be a welcome addition over the previous integrated nVidia 9400m.

The 27″ model now allows for both an SSD (256gb) and Hard drive of up to 2TB to be installed as an option, which allows for the speed and reliability of an SSD for the OS along with Applications and some critical data, and the large amount of space for media on the hard drive where speed isn’t such an issue!

The specifications in full are: (From http://www.apple.com/pr/library/2010/07/27imac.html)
“The new 21.5-inch 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,199 (US), includes:

* 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
* 3.06 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
* 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
* ATI Radeon HD 4670 discrete graphics with 256MB GDDR3 SDRAM;
* 500GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
* slot-load 8x SuperDrive® with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
* Mini DisplayPort for audio and video output (adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme® 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* iSight® video camera;
* Gigabit Ethernet;
* four USB 2.0 ports;
* one SDXC SD card slot;
* one FireWire® 800 port;
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
* Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include up to 8GB of RAM.

The new 21.5-inch 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,499 (US), includes:

* 21.5-inch 1920 x 1080 LED-backlit display;
* 3.20 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
* 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
* ATI Radeon HD 5670 discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3;
* 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
* slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
* Mini DisplayPort for audio and video output (adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* iSight video camera;
* Gigabit Ethernet;
* four USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port;
* one SDXC SD card slot;
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
* Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a faster 3.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2TB hard drive and up to 8GB of RAM.

The new 27-inch 3.2 GHz Intel Core i3 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,699 (US), includes:

* 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
* 3.20 GHz Intel Core i3 processor with 4MB shared L3 cache;
* 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
* ATI Radeon HD 5670 discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3;
* 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
* slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
* Mini DisplayPort for audio and video input and output (adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* iSight video camera;
* Gigabit Ethernet;
* four USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port;
* one SDXC SD card slot;
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
* Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a 3.6 GHz Core i5 processor, 2TB hard drive, 256GB solid state drive (SSD) and up to 16GB of RAM.

The new 27-inch 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 iMac, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

* 27-inch 2560 x 1440 LED-backlit display;
* 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i5 processor with 8MB shared L3 cache;
* 4GB 1333 MHz DDR3 SDRAM expandable to 16GB;
* ATI Radeon HD 5750 discrete graphics with 1GB GDDR5;
* 1TB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
* slot-load 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
* Mini DisplayPort for audio and video input and output (adapters sold separately);
* AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking & Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
* iSight video camera;
* Gigabit Ethernet;
* four USB 2.0 ports;
* one FireWire 800 port;
* one SDXC SD card slot;
* built-in stereo speakers and microphone; and
* Wireless Apple Keyboard, Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include a 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Intel Core i7 processor, a 2TB hard drive, 256GB solid state drive (SSD) and up to 16GB of RAM.

USB 3.0 to come in next Mac Pro and iMac?

According to an article on Hardmac, USB 3.0 is to come to the next Mac Pro which is apparently due to be launched at the “end of summer” and the next iMac, which is to follow a few weeks later.

It is also possible that faster Firewire (1600 or 3200) will also be coming, upgrading from the current fastest FW800 currently available on the Mac.

I think this will be a much welcomed addition to the Mac range!

New Mac Mini Released!

This week Apple has updated the Mac Mini to a whole new design, the first major design change since its release. It is now much thinner (nearly as thin as the Apple TV) but the width and length have increased to the same size as the Apple TV.

The graphics chipset has been improved from the 9400m of the previous generation to the NVIDIA 320M chip across all models.

Price has increased to £649 for the standard model and £929 for the Mac Mini Server.

The £649 Model gives you a 2.4ghz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, along with a 320GB Hard drive and 2GB of RAM along with a Superdrive (DVD burner).
There are optional upgrades to a 2.66ghz processor, up to 8GB ram and a 500GB Hard drive.

The £929 Mac Mini Server has a 2.66ghz Intel Core 2 Duo and 4GB of RAM but loses the Superdrive to have 2 500GB 7200RPM Hard Drives. It also includes Mac OS X Snow Leopard Server instead of the regular version of Snow Leopard.

Engadget also have an excellent review which you can read here

iPhone 4 Officially Announced!

Well, Apple have finally done it. As predicted (and as seen by many already from the leak), the iPhone 4 has been announced.
Main features include a brand new design, a “Retina Display”, so called because it has a pixel density which the eye cannot distinguish at a distance of around 10 inches, due to the fact it has 4x as many pixels as before. Definitely one of the major improvements in my opinion. Also a 5 megapixel camera, along with a front facing camera for video chat (supported via wifi from release).
And many many more features (I will try and update this page later, if not tomorrow).

iPhone OS has been renamed to iOS4 and will be released later this month, and will be free for iPhone 3G, 3GS and iPod Touch users!

See more at http://www.apple.com/iphone/