Apple today released Mac OS X 10.6.2, the second maintenance update for Snow Leopard, via Software Update and the company’s software downloads page. The update brings several bug fixes, reportedly including one for a serious issue involving Guest accounts that has caused some users to lose all data from their primary user accounts. (more…)
Apple today also announced that the Mac mini, the world’s most energy efficient desktop, is now faster, offers more storage and comes standard with double the memory. Starting at $599, the entry level Mac mini features a faster 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 2GB of DDR3 1066 MHz memory, a 160GB hard drive, five USB 2.0 ports, FireWire 800, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a SuperDrive. The $799 Mac mini features a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of memory and a larger 320GB hard drive. Apple now offers a $999 Mac mini that is specially configured with Mac OS? X Snow Leopard? Server. Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server features two 500GB hard drives for a total of 1TB of server storage in the tiny 6.5-inch square by 2-inch tall Mac mini enclosure.
The new Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server features a 2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4GB of memory. It also has two 500GB hard drives built in, so you have plenty of room to host wikis and websites, back up the data you need, and store just about anything.
Apple today unveiled an all new iMac line featuring brilliant LED-backlit 21.5 and 27-inch widescreen displays in a new edge-to-edge glass design and seamless all aluminum enclosure. The new iMac line, starting at $1,199, is the fastest ever with Intel Core 2 Duo processors starting at 3.06 GHz, and Core i5 and i7 quad-core processors for up to twice the performance. Every new iMac ships with a wireless keyboard and the all new wireless Magic Mouse, the world’s first mouse with Multi-Touch technology pioneered by Apple on the iPhone, iPod touch and Mac notebook trackpad.
Pricing on the 27-inch model, which carries a 2560×1440 display, begins at $1,699. In addition to the same processor options found on the smaller model, users can also select from a 2.66 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 or 2.8 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor, although machines carrying those higher-end processors will not ship until November.
All new iMac models feature an SD card slot and ship standard with a wireless keyboard and the new Multi-Touch Magic Mouse also unveiled today.
SnowChecker is a Mac OS X program that provides a neat interface to browse compatibility data found on snowleopard.wikidot.com.
It has several features, including:
- Scanning for applications on your hard drive to display only relevant compatibility data
- Robust search
- Sorting
Apple today released Performance Update 1.0, addressing hard drive pauses affecting a “small number of customers” on a number of different Mac models. The update is available in Snow Leopard (300 KB) and Leopard (322 KB) versions.
This update addresses intermittent hard drive-related stalls reported by a small number of customers. For detailed information on this update, please visit this website.
The support document outlines the procedure for applying the update and notes that it applies to the following machines:
- MacBook Pro (17-inch, Mid 2009)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Mid 2009)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, 2.53GHz, Mid 2009)
- MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2009)
- MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2009)
- MacBook Pro (15-inch, Late 2008)
- MacBook (13-inch, Mid 2009)
- MacBook (13-inch, Early 2009)
- MacBook (13-inch, Aluminum, Late 2008)
- MacBook Air (Mid 2009)
- MacBook Air (Late 2008)
- iMac (20-inch, Mid 2009)
- iMac (24-inch, Early 2009)
- iMac (20-inch, Early 2009)
- Mac mini (Early 2009)
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On 10.03.09, In Apple Hardware, Nέα, by dracman
Apple has applied for a patent (in March 2006) which extends the concept of Multitouch to a computer mouse.
The user would be able to perform gestures such as pinching or a virtual scroll wheel on the surface of the mouse. In one embodiment, the touch-sensitive mouse would use an internal light source and a optically transmissive surface to track finger positions.
Gestures can also be used to invoke and manipulate virtual control interfaces, such as volume knobs, switches, sliders, handles, knobs, doors, and other widgets that may be created to facilitate human interaction with the computing system.
Combinations of taps or gestures could trigger different actions such as “tapping with the middle and ring fingers could open iTunes or be set in the preference panel to do any particular action.”
Apple has had a number of patent applications related to multitouch technology in the past, and features multitouch technology prominently on the Apple iPhone.
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Apple’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” media event is scheduled to start in just about 45 minutes, and a number of sites will be covering the event live with text and photo updates. We provide here a collection of links to a number of those sources, and we will update this story to summarize today’s announcements. We’ll also be providing Twitter updates @macrumors. Follow @toucharcade for iPhone game news.
- Gizmodo
- Engadget
- Ars Technica
- gdgt
- Macworld
- CNET
- Wired
Event Highlights
- iTunes link to iTunes 9 is up (link
):
The world’s No. 1 music store just got a makeover. With the iTunes Store’s beautiful new look, everything you love — music, movies, TV shows, apps, games, podcasts, and audiobooks — is even easier to explore.
- TouchArcade reports that Apple’s iTunes is already showing a new list that addresses some of the concerns developers have had about Apple’s Top App Lists. Now, there is a new list ranked by Revenue, not by Units Sold.
- Cocktail appears to be live on the UK store. iTunes LP:
The visual experience of the record album returns with iTunes LP. Get a gorgeous, immersive digital version of select albums — right in your iTunes library. So while you listen to your favorite songs by your favorite artists, you can also dive into beautifully animated lyrics and liner notes, performance videos, artist and band photos, and more.
- iLounge reports that they spotted Greg Grunberg of the TV show Heroes as well as representatives from both Nike and Pandora.
Summary of Event
- Steve Jobs on stage for presentation and receiving a standing ovation.
- Going to talk about music, but first iPhone. Over 30 million iPhones sold in 2 years. 1.8 billion apps sold.
- New today: iPhone OS 3.1. Free. Brings “Genius” to apps. 30,000 ringtones for $1.29 each.
- Now for music. 8.5 billion iTunes songs sold, 100 million accounts. #1 music retailer in the world.
- Introducing iTunes 9: Genius database expanded to include “Genius Mixes”, which automatically plays songs from your library that go together
- New syncing options: artists, genres, etc. Also for photos and movies. Manage iPhone apps in iTunes: arrange home screens.
- Home sharing to manage copying of songs, TV shows, apps, etc. to up to 5 computers in your house.
- Cleaner layout for iTunes Store.
- iTunes LP: Album packages with tons of bonus material – lyrics, photos, videos, etc.
- Now showing a demo of iTunes 9.
- iTunes Extras: Bonus material for movies. Similar to DVD bonus features, but also includes interactive material.
- Schiller on stage to talk about iPods.
- Over 220 million sold to date, 73.8% market share. iPod touch is fastest growing product. Over 20 million sold. Plus 30 million iPhones.
- Fastest growing product is the iPod touch: sold 20 million of them. Going over why it’s so great…music, video, apps, internet, etc. Great gaming device.
- 21,178 games and entertainment apps on the iPhone/iPod touch. 3,680 for Nintendo DS, 607 for Sony PSP. Now showing video montage of games.
- Developer demos: First up, Ubisoft to talk about Assassin’s Creed II. Simultaneous release with other platforms. Put your own photos on wanted posters.
- Tapulous: Previewing Riddim Ribbon, a racing/music game.
- Gameloft: New FPS called “Nova”. Very “Halo-like.”
- EA: Showing off Madden NFL 2010 to wrap up the demos.
- Schiller back on stage. Talking about iPod touch…most affordable gateway to the App Store. Dropping price on 8 GB model from $229 to $199.
- New iPod touch price points: $199 for 8 GB, $299 for 32 GB, $399 for 64 GB.
- Also making the 32/64 GB versions faster, with ability run OpenGL|ES 2.0 like the iPhone 3GS.
- iPod classic bumped from 120 GB to 160 GB. Same $249 price point.
- iPod shuffle: New third-party headphones with iPod shuffle controls built-in.
- Now five colors for the shuffle: $59 for 2 GB and $79 for 4 GB.
- One more thing: video cameras in iPod nanos. Also includes a speaker.
- Also adding an FM radio, and Genius Mixes.
- Built-in pedometer for Nike+, larger display.
- 8GB for $149, 16GB for $179. Bright, glossy colors. Available today.
- Closing performance from Norah Jones.
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With Apple’s “It’s Only Rock and Roll” media event scheduled for September 9, months of rumors and speculation are coming together to generate a picture of what may be in store for the event.
New iPods with Camera
A report from mid-May was the first to suggest that the iPod touch and iPod nano would see the addition of digital cameras. Additional confirmation and mockup images of the next-generation iPod nano appeared shortly thereafter, and the new iPod nano is also rumored to carry a wider-aspect (1.5:1) screen ratio.
Over the past several months, a number of third-party case manufacturers have been advertising cases for the next-generation iPod touch and iPod nano designed to accommodate digital cameras on both models, as well as the new iPod nano screen size. Believable images claiming to be a prototype of the new iPod touch were also revealed last month.
Additional word appeared late last month that Apple has contracted for 3.2-megapixel cameras for not only the iPod touch and iPod nano, but also the iPod classic. Finally, iPod resellers have also reported dwindling stocks of existing iPod models and discontinuation of product codes for those models.
Last minute reports from multiple sources claim, however, that Apple has run into production problems with the cameras on the new models. While the issue may delay shipment of the new iPods, an introduction remains very likely for tomorrow’s event.
iTunes Store – “Cocktail” and Pre-Cut Ringtones?
Apple has been rumored to be developing “digital album” packages of interactive content, code-named “Cocktail”, that the music industry hopes will help spur sales of full albums via iTunes. Major record labels are also rumored to be developing their own competing format.
Another report last week also claimed that Apple has secured the necessary rights to distribute pre-cut ringtones via the iTunes Store as an alternative to the custom-designed ringtones currently available for many tracks in the store.
iTunes 9
A report from early last month suggested that iTunes 9, likely to be introduced at tomorrow’s event, will offer support for Blu-ray media, as well the ability to organize iPhone and iPod touch applications within iTunes. Claims of social media integration also surfaced, along with several groups of questionable screenshots.
Other Rumors
- Beatles: While numerous observers have pointed to several Beatles-related product introductions tomorrow as something possibly more than a coincidence, AllThingsD reportsthat there will be no Beatles-iTunes announcements tomorrow.
- Tablet: Apple’s much-rumored tablet computer has been the subject of significant attention in recent months, with Apple CEO Steve Jobs reportedly focusing nearly all of his attention on the project since his return from a medical leave of absence in late June. Despite some suggestion that the tablet could see an introduction as early as this month, the vast majority of reports claim that it will not be introduced until a later date, likely early in 2010.
- Apple TV: A recent slip in shipping times for the low-end Apple TV has led to speculation that an update to the device could be in store, but sources have indicated that no such announcement will be made at tomorrow’s event.
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