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News & Opinion
Apple Updates
Troubleshooting
Tech Trends
Products & Services
Software
News & Opinion
Retina Macs: Dream Confronts Reality
AppStorm's Joshua Johnson says that since the release of the iPhone
4 and its high-resolution 326 ppi "Retina" display, he's been dreaming
about Apple expanding its use of this impressive technology to other
devices and perhaps even a Mac.
Johnson notes that the natural next step for the Retina display is
obviously the iPad, one that if the rumor mills are correct will be
realized come March. However, he says that technical hurdles associated
with bringing a Retina-like display to a Mac would be significant and
likely costly.
But Johnson suggests that once you've got a high-resolution display
in the iPad, the jump to the MacBook Air doesn't seem as significant.
If, for example, the the iPad's screen resolution turns out to be 2048
x 1536 with a pixel density of 264 ppi (compared with the current iPad
2's 1024 x 768 and 132 ppi) as similar jump for the 11" MacBook Air
would take it from 1366 x 768 at 135 ppi, to 2732 x 1536 at 270 ppi,
which is not that radically different from rumored iPad 3
specification.
However, in the "be careful what you wish for" department, Johnson
observes that such a transition would require major cooperation from
software developers, recalling that when Apple added the Retina display
to the iPhone 4, every app made for older model iPhones suddenly looked
like crap on the Retina screens, and that in order to compensate for
this problem, every developer had to completely rebuild their graphics
at a higher resolution, leading him to wonder just how older apps, to
say nothing of websites, would look on a new generation of
high-resolution Mac displays.
Publisher's note: For desktop use, I find resolutions up to 100 ppi
are comfortable, as on the 20" 1600 x 1200 Dell displays I currently
use. Much higher than that and text gets uncomfortably small. The
beauty of a Retina Display is that Apple has been building resolution
independence into QuickDraw since the era of the classic Mac OS (see
Resolution Independent Display for a
discussion of this technology). Mac OS X is already coded to
support this, and any current software should have been developed with
this possibility in mind. For instance, your browser would double every
pixel in an image scaled to actual size, but if the image were of a
higher resolution, it should be able to display it that way. Text will
be beautiful with double the resolution. Let's hope Apple can get
something in the 200+ ppi range! dk
Link:
A Retina Mac: Hurdles Between the Dream and Reality
McCracken: The World Needs an iOS Laptop
Cnet's Harry McCracken, a great iOS enthusiast, who announced last
month that he has mainly switched to an iPad as his primary computing
platform, uses a ZAGGfolio
keyboard case, which he says essentially turns an iPad 2 into an undersized notebook with a
high-quality keyboard.
McCracken allows that using an iPad with a keyboard has changed his
life and that he's become addicted to 10-hour battery life and being
able to focus better on his work, because of less call to address the
machine itself compared with using a Windows PC or a Mac. He says
that's why he prefers an iPad-plus-keyboard setup to a similarly-sized
11" MacBook Air.
However, while he likes the Zagg keyboard, McCracken contends that
the ideal solution would be for Apple to build a clamshell form factor
iPad with a built-in keyboard. He notes that Apple isn't physical
keyboard hostile - it even sells its own iPad-compatible Bluetooth
keyboard - and thinks it's also clear that iOS is the future of Apple
operating systems, deducing that it will be showing up on devices a bit
more like conventional desktop and portable computers than the iPad is,
suggesting that someday it may even displace Macs as we know them, and
indeed that he'd be "startled" if we never get an Apple iOS device with
a QWERTY keyboard.
Link: What the World
Needs Now: An iOS Laptop
Kendrick: iOS Laptop? I'm Not So Sure
ZDNet's James Kendrick, another fan of using a tablet and keyboard
combo, is less confident than Harry McCracken (see
above) that Apple will build an iOS laptop any time soon.
He notes that while the iPad with a ZAGGfolio keyboard case works
well for journalist users, most people currently using laptops have
different needs for work than he and McCracken do - for example,
requirement for particular Windows or Mac software unsupported on the
iOS.
Kendrick contends that an iOS laptop would have to be really cheap
to make it a worthwhile alternative to an 11" MacBook Air, reasoning
that an iPad 2 with keyboard is currently around $600, so in his
estimation an iOS laptop would have to be much cheaper than that to
provide a real advantage to the purchase of an arguably more versatile
iPad/keyboard combo. He says he likes being able to use the iPad 2
as a tablet most of the time, only strapping on the keyboard when he
needs it.
Consequently, he's not sure a large enough market exists to make
building an iOS laptop would be worth Apple's while, especially being
as it would inevitably hurt MacBook sales.
Link: Coming, an iOS
Laptop? I'm Not So Sure
iOS Laptop a Compelling Idea, But...
Tech.pinions' Ben Bajarin weighs in on the iOS laptop concept,
saying that he's been checking out an iPad/Zagg keyboard case combo for
some time and bringing up the concept in conversation with industry
executives.
Bajarin is convinced that the limitations of touch computing in
terms of text entry, formatting, etc. are largely offset with the
addition of a keyboard, but that there remain significant challenges
with that approach as an alternative to a Mac or PC laptop.
First, there's the matter of limited storage. Bajarin expects that
hundreds of gigs of storage won't be supported in these devices for
some time, making Cloud services and ready access to the Internet
obligatory in order for devices like an iOS laptop or tablet/PC hybrid
to be fully embraced.
However, the greatest shortcoming he's noted in using the iPad 2
with the Zagg Folio case is the iOS's clumsy and inefficient support
for text formatting and document editing - still a cumbersome
experience using touch only (not impossible, but one area where a mouse
and pointer are clearly superior).
While he says he would love to see what Apple could come up with in
an iOS laptop product, he's convinced Apple is smart enough to be wary
of challenges that would obtain in making a device in this category
that didn't feel cheap or provide a sub-par user experience, and for
now he'd be happy with being able to run iOS apps on his MacBook
Air.
Link: An iOS Laptop Is a
Compelling Idea
Why the iPad Can't Replace a Laptop: No
Trackpad
Cnet's Scott Stein says that truth to tell, he hasn't been thrilled
with any iPad keyboard case solution, despite testing and reviewing
about half a dozen of them.
He says he doesn't use his iPad during mission-critical trips to
trade shows and live-blogged events - or as a laptop replacement. Stein
notes that while ideally having an ultraportable, flexible device with
a long battery life, the iPad isn't it, and of the several reasons it
won't work right now, the biggest by far is the good old-fashioned
trackpad - or rather the iPad's lack of one.
Stein notes that while adding a keyboard to an iPad solves the
problem of basic text entry, when you have to edit a document or create
a blog post with embedded links or do simultaneous web research and
writing - or do anything more than text entry and a few other commands
- you're still obliged to reach up and touch the iPad's screen, which
is neither ergonomic nor time-efficient when you have the iPad propped
up and a keyboard attached (as the late Steve Jobs observed), which is
why touchscreen laptops haven't taken off and why no iPad keyboard case
can replace the experience of working on a laptop. As he puts it, "I
could go grocery shopping on a bicycle, but it doesn't mean it's as
easy as using a car."
Link: Why My iPad Can't
Replace My Laptop: It's the Trackpad
Apple Updates
EFI Firmware Update 2.1 for Mid 2010 MacBook
MacBook EFI Firmware Update 2.1 enables Lion Recovery from an
Internet connection on MacBook
(Mid 2010) models.
For more information about Lion Recovery, visit this website:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/recovery/
The MacBook EFI Firmware Update will update the EFI firmware on your
notebook computer. Your computer's power cord must be connected and
plugged into a working power source. When your MacBook restarts, a gray
screen will appear with a status bar to indicate the progress of the
update. It will take several minutes for the update to complete. Do not
disturb or shut off the power on your MacBook during this update.
Boot ROM or SMC Version Information: MB71.0039.B0E
Version: 2.1
File Size: 3.1 MB
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7.2
Link: MacBook (Mid 2010) EFI Firmware
Update 2.1
EFI Firmware Update 2.5 for 13" Mid 2010 MacBook
Pro
MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.5 enables Lion Recovery from an
Internet connection on MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid
2010) models.
For more information about Lion Recovery, visit this website:
http://www.apple.com/macosx/recovery/
The MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update will update the EFI firmware on
your notebook computer. Your computer's power cord must be connected
and plugged into a working power source. When your MacBook Pro
restarts, a gray screen will appear with a status bar to indicate the
progress of the update. It will take several minutes for the update to
complete. Do not disturb or shut off the power on your MacBook Pro
during this update
Boot ROM or SMC Version Information: MB71.0039.B0E
File Size: 3.1 MB
System Requirements: Mac OS X 10.7.2
Link: MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2010)
EFI Firmware Update 2.5
Troubleshooting
Troubleshooting Keyboard Backlighting on
MacBooks
MacFixIt's Topher Kessler notes that most of Apple's current
portable systems come with a backlight that illuminates the keyboard
for easy viewing in dark environments. He notes that both manual and
automatic brightness level adjustments are supported, but there may be
times when these adjustments do not work properly.
Examples and potential workarounds are provided.
Link: Troubleshooting
Keyboard Backlights on MacBook Systems
Tech Trends
Consumers Are Buying Cheap Laptops, Not
Ultrabooks
The Register's Tony Smith reports that Ultrabooks are still too darn
pricey for a large proportion of consumers, with their average selling
price during Q4 2011 63% higher than that of regular notebooks - and
more than three times the price of a netbook, according to UK-based
market watcher Context.
Citing Context data, Smith says that with traditional notebook
pricing decreasing even further year over year, consumers who opt for
notebooks instead of tablets are doing so with price point in mind,
rather than a focus on weight and battery life.
He notes that Intel is, perhaps a bit optimistically, projecting
that 40% of consumer notebook sales in 2012 will be Ultrabooks, but a
Context spokesperson is quoted contending that consumers are more
likely to choose a tablet PC or cheap, traditional notebook,
particularly if the current economic pressures persist, although AMD's
skinnybook platform, Ultrathin, may help push down prices later in the
year.
Link: Punters to Pick Up
Cheap Laptops not Ultrabooks
Acer, Asustek, and Lenovo to Offer Thunderbolt on
Ultrabooks
DigiTimes' Monica Chen and Joseph Tsai report that according unnamed
industry sources, PC makers Acer, Asustek Computer and Lenovo are
expected to offer Ultrabook notebooks based on Intel's Ivy Bridge
platform, which supports Thunderbolt in the second quarter of 2012,
while Gigabyte Technology will take the initiative to offer
Thunderbolt-enabled motherboards,.
Chen and Tsai note that Ivy Bridge already natively supports USB 3.0
technology, but due to its greater cost, Thunderbolt technology is only
expected to be supported on high-end notebooks or desktops in 2012.
Thunderbolt technology, which has been supported by Apple machines
for nearly a year now, leverages two major data communication
protocols: PCI Express for data transmission, and DisplayPort for image
display, allowing users to only use one port to connect to many
different devices.
Link: Acer, Asustek, and
Lenovo to Offer Thunderbolt Ultrabook PCs in 2Q12 (subscription
required)
Thunderbolt Gets the Nod from Acer, Asus, Lenovo,
but Can It Unseat USB 3?
DigitalTrends' Jeffrey Van Camp says that the battle over which data
cable standard will dominate in the years ahead is beginning to heat
up, and with USB 3.0 beginning to take off, the fate of Intel's
high-speed Thunderbolt data-transfer protocol is coming under scrutiny
as of late. Van Camp notes that while everything PC runs on USB, Apple
has been a huge contrarian proponent of Thunderbolt, including it
rather than USB 3 as the principal data port in its entire line of
MacBook computers. Van Camp cautions that support from the world's most
popular tech manufacturer doesn't necessarily guarantee success, citing
the fate of technically and functionally superior FireWire, which
faltered as the PC world embraced USB 2.0.
Publisher's note: Although USB 3 is not yet a common feature on
Windows notebooks, none have Thunderbolt, so I guess it is legitimate
to say USB 3 dominates. In reality, it is USB 2.0 that dominates, and
with USB 3 being backward compatible with it, there is really no reason
for notebook makers - Apple included - to replace existing USB 2.0
ports with USB 3 ports. Thunderbolt is a far more expensive technology
that, while faster and more flexible, is far more than most users will
ever need. There is certainly no reason the two cannot coexist on the
same machine. dk
Link: Thunderbolt Gains
Support from Acer, Asus, Lenovo, but Can It Topple USB 3.0?
Products & Services
Kingston Digital Ships High Performance SSDNow
V+200 SSD
PR: Next-Generation SSDNow V+200 Balances Kingston Digital,
Inc., the Flash memory affiliate of Kingston Technology Company Inc.,
has announced the latest addition to its SSDNow family, touting the
SSDNow V+200 solid-state drives as a high-performance upgrade solution
for performance minded yet cost-conscious business or home users.
The
SSDNow V+200 is described as equipped with all essential tools needed
to extend the lifecycle and boost a systems performance to the maximum,
with the balance between performance and price making this SSD deliver
the best ROI as an upgrade for a fleet of corporate notebooks or
desktops or the home PC.
The SSDNow V+200 features the second-generation high-speed SATA 3.0
(6 Gb/s) SandForce SF-2281 Processor and supports sequential read and
write speeds of up to 535 MB/s and 480 MB/s. The SSDNow V+200 enables
fast system startup, rapid data access and speedy copying of large
files such as videos, presentations and graphics illustrations.
"Kingston constantly strives to offer the perfect upgrade solution
to cover each market segment. The SSDNow V+200 drive has been
specifically designed to meet the needs of both business and home users
looking for an inexpensive yet powerful upgrade," says Ariel Perez, SSD
business manager, Kingston. "The SSDNow V+200 is equipped with all
essential tools needed to extend the lifecycle and boost a systems
performance to the maximum. The balance between performance and price
makes this SSD deliver the best ROI as an upgrade for a fleet of
corporate notebooks or desktops or the home PC."
The SSDNow V+200 is available in 60 GB, 90 GB, 120 GB, 240 GB, and
480 GB capacities as either a stand-alone drive or as an upgrade kit to
make installation easy and quick. Upgrade kits include cables,
brackets, cloning software and HDD enclosure everything the business or
home user needs to get started.
Kingston SSDs are backed by a three-year warranty and 24/7 live
technical support.
Kingston SSDNow V+200 Features & Specifications
- Dramatic performance for any system upgrade
- Multiple Capacities: the right capacity to meet your storage
standards
- Endurance: Data Integrity Protection featuring DuraClass
Technology
- Dependable: RAISE for advanced data reliability
- Secure: Self-encrypting drive technology
- Durable: DuraWrite optimizes writes to extend endurance
- Form Factor: 2.5"
- Interface: SATA Rev. 3.0 (6 Gb/s), SATA Rev. 2.0 (3 Gb/s), SATA
Rev. 1.0 (1.5 Gb/s)
- Capacities1: 60 GB, 90 GB, 120 GB, 240 GB, 480 GB
- Sequential reads:
- SATA Rev. 3.0: 535 MB/s
- SATA Rev. 2.0: 280 MB/s
- Sequential writes:
- SATA Rev. 3.0: 60 GB 460 MB/s; All Others 480 MB/s
- SATA Rev. 2.0: 260 MB/s
- Sustained Random 4k Read/Write2
- 60 GB 12,000/47,000 IOPS
- 90 GB 20,000/47,000 IOPS
- 120 GB 20,000/44,000 IOPS
- 240 GB 36,000/43,000 IOPS
- 480 GB 43,000/30,000 IOPS
- Max Random 4k Read/Write2
- 60 GB 85,000/60,000 IOPS
- 90 GB 85,000/57,000 IOPS
- 120 GB 85,000/55,000 IOPS
- 240 GB 85,000/43,000 IOPS
- 480 GB 75,000/34,000 IOPS
- Power Consumption: 0.565 W (TYP) Idle / 1.795 W (TYP) Read / 2.065
W (TYP) Write
- Storage Temperatures: -40°C to 85°C
- Operating Temperatures: 0°C to 70°C
- Weight: 115g
- Vibration Operating: 2.17G
- Vibration Nonoperating: 20G
- MTBF: 1,000,000 hours
- Warranty/Support: three-year warranty with 24/7 support
- Some of the listed capacity is used for formatting and other
functions and thus is not available for data storage. For more
information, please consult Kingston's Flash Memory Guide at
Kingston.com/Flash_Memory_Guide.
- Based on out-of-box performance with IOMeter 2008. Speed may vary
due to host hardware, software, and usage.
Link: Kingston SSDNow V+
products
Link: Kingston
SSDNow products at Amazon.com
Software
Battery Status Menu Bar App Monitors Status of
Wireless Devices
PR: Taylor Marks' Battery Status 1.0 is a menu bar
application that shows battery information for Apple's external
wireless mice, trackpads, and keyboards. It includes display of
percentage of battery life remaining, date of last battery change, and
"when the battery is estimated to die."
Battery Status is a handy little app that lives on the right side of
the menu bar and will tell you, for each supported wireless device
connected to your computer,
- What percent of the battery life is remaining.
- When the last time you replaced the battery was.
- When the battery is estimated to die.
Supported wireless devices include Apple's wireless mice, trackpads,
and keyboards. If you have another wireless device that you'd like
supported, don't hesitate to contact me, the developer, and I'll look
into adding support for it in a free update to Battery Status.
Battery Status is currently on sale at an introductory price of just
99¢, one-third of what it will be in a few days.
System requirements: Mac OS X 10.7 or later
Link:
Battery Status
Bargain 'Books
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