We have extensive coverage
of the Flashback malware in this week's Mac News Review. Don't miss
it.
General Apple and Mac desktop news is covered in Mac News Review. iPad, iPod, iPhone, and
Apple TV news is covered in iOS News
Review. All prices are in US dollars unless otherwise noted.
Will Apple Merge MacBook Pro and MacBook Air
Lines?
AppStorm's Jacob Penderworth thinks Apple is intent on standardizing
its notebook lineup on the MacBook Air design and fixing to phase the
MacBook Pro out of the picture almost entirely. That would mean SSD
storage across the board, in which case there will be greater
price/capacity tension in play than there is with the current standard
hard drives, with Apple most likely pushing iCloud to take up the
storage capacity vs. cost slack. Penderworth also hopes economies of
scale resulting from standardization on the MacBook Air form factor
would also enable some SSD price moderation.
Advantages of going all-SSD would include much shorter startup
times, general SSD speediness, and no moving parts, which is
particularly desirable for portable computers.
Penderworth thinks it's unlikely that Apple will completely
terminate availability of a more conventional Pro offering for
professional and power users with a need for hard drive storage
capacity and will keep the current 17" Pro model
to service them, while transitioning the 13" and 15" models to a
MacBook Air-like design, or even just merge the smaller-sized Pro and
Air lines, perhaps calling them simply "MacBook". He is also of a mind
(and I agree) that a rumored Retina Display MacBook is highly unlikely
for this upgrade cycle, although perhaps inevitable in the long
run.
Downsides of moving to more compact notebooks will include saying
good-bye to the internal optical drive, again with iCloud and the Mac
App Store software distribution model touted as substitutes. However,
that will still leave users with no built-in way to import CDs or play
a DVD. Penderworth notes: "For audiophiles, this is appalling and may
seem completely undesirable; the same goes for lovers of the
traditional film on a disk." The remedy, of course, is to buy an
external optical drive like the one Apple currently offers for the
MacBook Air and Mac mini, or a third-party unit like the Apricorn Aegis
NetDock, which is half the price and includes a 2.5" SATA drive bay for
a hard drive (up to 1ÊTB) or SSD.
Another shortcoming of the MacBook Air design is its minimal to
nonexistent upgradability, with the current Airs having hard-soldered
RAM and no memory upgrade slot provision or way to upgrade the SSD
capacity, making the MacBook Air completely unappealing to power users
at this point. One can hope that both points might be addressed with a
MacBook Pro/MacBook Air design merger, but we'll have to wait and
see.
Publisher's note: See Charles Moore's recent review of the Apricorn Aegis NetDock
on MacPrices.
10 Things Laptop Mag Expects from the New MacBook
Pro
Laptop Mag's David Eitelbach predicts that the new MacBook Pro will
be sleeker, faster, and more graphically powerful than any laptop we've
seen before - at least that's what Laptop's editors think.
Eitelbach notes that Apple has debuted incredible technology within
the past year - the ultra-sharp resolution of Retina Display on the new
iPad, for example, which could very well make it into the Pro, and
cites ten things he and his colleagues expect Apple to incorporate in
the latest iteration of its flagship notebook [my comments in brackets
cm]:
Intel Ivy Bridge Processor [virtually 100% sure]
Retina Display [maybe higher resolution displays, but nothing
remotely approaching the 4x resolution increase of the New iPad over
the iPad 2]
Thinner Chassis [assuredly]
No Optical Drive [very probably]
Flash + Hard Drive [highly likely, although I expect that
conventional hard drives or hybrid hard drives with flash memory caches
will still be available for users with high local storage needs]
Nvidia Kepler GPU
Thunderbolt Kills FireWire [strong likelihood, but since Ivy Bridge
will now natively support USBÊ3, will we finally see its
implementation on the Mac?]
No More Ethernet [sadly a possibility]
Increased Battery Life [not if they go with a full Retina Display;
new iPad has a 75% bigger battery and gets worse battery life than the
iPadÊ2]
Mountain Lion Ready [ready, yes, but will the first new MacBook
Pros ship with it?]
Slimming of 15" Notebooks Expected with New
MacBooks and Ultrabooks
DigiTimes' Aaron Lee and Joseph Tsai report that with Apple
preparing to launch its updated MacBook Pro with an ultrathin design
and PC notebook brand vendors aggressively pushing 15" ultrabooks,
market watchers expect the intensified competition will reduce the
average thickness of 15" notebook models.
Lee and Tsai note that OEM supplier Pegatron Technology began mass
production of Acer's new 15" ultrabook in March, with monthly shipment
volumes projected to reach about 100,000 units, while Acer's Ultra Slim
models, produced by Wistron for shipment beginning mid-April, may enjoy
a shipment volume as high as 400,000-600,000 units per month. Ultra
Slim notebook models, are slightly thicker than ultrabooks, thinner and
lighter than traditional notebooks, and utilize advanced spec
components such as hybrid hard drives and fiberglass reinforced plastic
chassis.
Economic Daily News: New iMacs, MacBook Pros Coming
in June
DigiTimes' Joseph Tsai cites a Chinese-language Economic Daily News
(EDN) report saying that new iMacs are set to launch in June powered by
new-generation Intel Ivy Bridge i5 and i7 processors and rumored to
also feature an antiglare display, according to unnamed sources from
the upstream supply chain. The Taiwanese trade journal reports that the
new iMacs will be made by longtime Apple subcontractors Quanta and
Foxconn, and that Apple is also set to release redesigned, Ivy Bridge
powered MacBook Pro notebooks at the end of the second quarter as
well.
Tech Digest's Gerald Lynch says he's expecting exciting new things
from Apple's latest MacBook line and has endeavored to collect all of
the most significant rumors in a general overview. He notes that
according to punditry, Apple is either preparing to slim down the 15"
MacBook Pro so it will be as lightweight and skinny as a MacBook Air,
or that the MacBook Air line is expanding to include a 15" model,
noting that while the results might respectively seem similar, that
wouldn't necessarily mean the same thing, since a bigger-screened
MacBook Air wouldn't necessarily include a discrete graphics chip or
the processing power of the Pro line. He thinks the more interesting
question is whether production of one such 15" model would mean the
other would not happen.
Intel Expects Touchscreen-Enabled Ultrabooks to
Offer Better Value than MacBook Air, iPad
XBit Labs' Anton Shilov reports that Intel Corp. is strongly
encouraging its notebook manufacturer partners to incorporate
touchscreens into Ultrabooks, contending that ultrabooks will
eventually combine major values of products like Apple's MacBook Air
and iPad while offering better overall value.
Shilov cites Intel product manager Anand Kajshmanan in an interview
with PCWorld saying: "We fundamentally believe in the concept of touch,
and touch on a clamshell. We believe it is going to take off in 2012 or
at least 2013, especially with WindowsÊ8. It really feels like
now is the right time, now that the hardware and software are working
really well together. We are strongly encouraging our partners to
incorporate touch on the ultrabooks,"
Windows 8 will enable touch-based input on Microsoft's mainstream
operating system, but Shilov notes that several factors might prevent
touchscreen-based PCs from becoming widespread - to wit: manufacturing
cost and heat produced by components of electronic devices (which makes
touchscreens uncomfortable to use).
He notes that notebook makers will learn how to produce ultrabooks
efficiently and find ways to create touchscreen convertibles and
hybrids, and Intel wants this to happen in 2012 so Ultrabooks can offer
all the technologies that devices like Apple's MacBook Air or iPad and
offer better value.
Intel Launches 'Cinematic and Epic' Ultrabook
Promotion Campaign
PR: Intel says its new Ultrabook marketing campaign is the
company's largest in nearly a decade, aimed at marketing the Ultrabook
experience, and featuring TV commercials set in the American Old West,
ancient China, and medieval times.
The campaign kicks off this week with television commercials, online
experiences, and print ads that the company is hailing as "cinematic
and epic."
The multifaceted global campaign, called "A New Era of Computing,"
is aimed at marketing the Ultrabook experience in exciting and
innovative ways to consumers. Valued at hundreds of millions of
dollars, the campaign is the largest marketing spend for the company
since launching the Intel Centrino CPU in 2003.
"A New Era of Computing is
going to be very different from what you've seen from Intel in a long
time," says Kevin Sellers, vice president, Sales and Marketing Group
and director, Advertising and Digital Marketing. "This is not a
campaign where we're talking about the microprocessor or Intel the
company. Instead, were giving a cinematic and epic feel to how
Intel-inspired Ultrabook systems are ushering in a new era of computing
and making everything else seem like ancient history."
Sellers is referring to initial TV spots set in the American Old
West, ancient China and medieval times that humorously position PCs as
old-fashioned and Ultrabooks being, as the campaign theme suggests, a
new era of computing. The spots were directed by Daniel Kleinman, a
British TV commercial and music video director who also helmed the
title sequence for several James Bond movies.
"Desperado" debuted on
American television on April 6 after a world premiere through paid
promotion on Twitter - a U.S. first, according to the online social
networking service two days earlier at http://twitter.com/intel. A spin
on the classic spaghetti western, Desperado takes place in a saloon
where late-19th century gunslingers frustrated by the lack of
performance of their clunky notebooks feel threatened by this 21st
century, Ultrabook-brandishing new kid in town. The spot highlights the
responsiveness and quickness of the Ultrabook.
Check out the "Desperado" mini-western:
House of Flying Laptops, highlighting Ultrabooks' extended battery
life and a nod to such stylish martial arts films as House of Flying
Daggers and Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, begins in an
ancient Chinese temple during the Ming Dynasty. Two traditionally
dressed women, each wielding a bulky, power-hungry laptop, engage in an
epic battle over a single available power outlet. Their attention
quickly turns to a modern woman sitting at a nearby table and working
on her Ultrabook.
Set inside a medieval European castle and underscoring Ultrabooks'
small form factor and high performance, Round Table shows a team of
less-than-enthused knights subjected to a slide presentation by their
king, who is using an outmoded computer that can't keep up. Relief
comes to the frustrated monarch when a woman suddenly enters the room
with a mystical device - an Ultrabook.
Each ad ends with a metaphoric twist as the original ancient setting
transforms to a modern-day one. A voiceover at the end says, "Suddenly,
everything else seems old-fashioned. Ultrabook. Inspired by Intel."
Venables Bell & Partners in San Francisco created the campaign.
The agency was also responsible for Intel's successful and ongoing
Sponsors of Tomorrow brand campaign that launched in 2009. OMD led
global media planning of a campaign that includes TV, print, outdoor,
online, and other advertisement placements, as well as in-store and
online retail campaigns.
While the debuts of the initial three commercials will be staggered
through May in the United States and abroad, a unique online experience
will allow consumers to interact with the spots starting in mid-April.
Visitors to intel.com/ultrabook can create their
own adventures through a series of decisions while becoming educated on
Ultrabooks product features along the way. Interlude, an Israeli-based
technology company delivering unique interactive video experiences,
created this campaign element that is scheduled to launch in the United
States on April 13 and in 50 countries across 26 languages by the end
of April.
"We're expanding the stories of the commercials, making them more
personalized, fun and sharable," Sellers explains. "Nothing like this
has been done on such an epic scale. We shot scenes for the interactive
experience as we were making the commercials in Spain and China to
ensure that what you see on TV and online will be beautifully
interwoven."
The interactive element also will expose the creative to countries
outside where the TV spots will run, a working list that currently
includes Australia, Brazil, China, Germany, India, Russia, the United
Kingdom and the United States.
Print ads that debut on April 23 in initial markets poke fun at how
futuristic the Ultrabook is. One line reads, "Your great-grandkids just
called. They want their computer back." Another reads, "So futuristic
it'll even feel futuristic in the future." Out-of-home billboards that
debut on April 23 also use humor to illustrate the speed and
lightweight nature of the Ultrabook with such copy as Mastodons. Dodos.
Bulky laptops. Retail campaigns encompass a range of executions, from
merchandising materials and in-store demos to online ads and training
for retail salespeople.
Products & Services
WD Scorpio Blue 7mm 2.5" Mobile Hard Drive Claims
Lowest Power Consumption in the Industry
PR: Western Digital has
announced that its WD Scorpio Blue 7mm hard drive, the latest addition
to its mobile hard drive family and claimed to be the lowest power
consumption 2.5" drive on the market today, is shipping.
Specified to a best-in-class 400Gs shock tolerance, the new
single-platter WD Scorpio Blue small form factor hard drives are
available in 500 GB and 320 GB capacities and the drives' compatibility
with industry-standard 9.5mm slots make them ideal storage options for
mainstream notebooks as well as slimmer notebook and Ultrabook devices
that require a 7mm drive height.
"Consumers want thin and light
personal computers, but the limited storage capacity of SSD-based
notebooks forces them to pick and choose what files to bring from their
library," says WD client storage products vice president and general
manager Matt Rutledge. "With the release of the new WD Scorpio Blue 7mm
mobile hard drives, WD is able to offer capacity, reliability and
data-protection features combined with excellent power management all
in a slim form factor perfect for thin and light notebooks."
Features of the new WD Scorpio Blue 7mm hard drives include:
Low power consumption - Advanced power management features and
algorithms optimize the way the drive seeks data, which significantly
improves power consumption.
Shock Tolerance - WD's ShockGuard technology, now increased to a
best-in-market 400Gs shock specification, protects the drive mechanics
and platter surfaces from shocks.
Cool and quiet - In a notebook drive, silence is golden. WD's
proprietary WhisperDrive technology enables quiet performance.
Reliable - WD's SecurePark parks the recording heads off the disk
surface during spin up, spin down, and when the drive is off. This
ensures the recording head never touches the disk surface resulting in
improved long term reliability due to less head wear, and improved
non-operational shock tolerance.
Compatibility Tested - WD performs tests on hundreds of systems and
a multitude of platforms in its FIT Lab and Mobile Compatibility Lab to
give customers confidence that drives will work in specific
systems.
Shipping now through select distributors and resellers, the WD
Scorpio Blue 7mm 2.5" mobile hard drives are covered by a two-year
limited warranty.
MSRP for the 500 GB, model #: WD5000LPVT is $99.99 and the 320 GB,
model #: WD3200LPVT is $79.99. Additional information about WD Scorpio
Blue hard drives and limited warranty terms may be found on the company
website.
Publisher's note: Lower power consumption will also make these an
option for those with regular laptops who want to stretch battery life
without moving to a low capacity and/or high cost SSD. dk
QuickerTek Releases Highest Charge Density External
MacBook Air Battery Available
PR: QuickerTek has just announced the 4th Generation external
battery and charger for all Apple MacBook Air laptops. This external
battery and charger recharges and powers everything from the iPad, to
iPods to iPhones to MacBook Air laptops. QuickerTek uses Lithium Ion
Polymer Batteries with highest charge density available to date,
resulting in longer computer run times from the lightest external
battery for Macs. It's available from QuickerTek and dealers for
$429.95.
Long airline flights, extended outdoor time, even
location photo shoots and plenty of time with friends at the coffee
shop working on that screenplay or video editing - all possible with
the tremendous additional battery power. And at only 2.15 pounds and
less than an inch thick, it's easy to carry everywhere you want to go.
And best of all, users get more power in the same size case.
The External Battery and Charger uses the standard Apple MagSafe
power adapter to charge and use the 4th Generation Battery. The
QuickerTek 4th Generation Battery also has a 5.1v @ 2.0 amp USB
"iDevice" port for iPod, iPad and iPhones and most if not all USB
devices. You're never without your favorite mobile device when you have
this powerful battery.
There are eight high-density Li-ion Polymer cells inside. At the
front of the anodized machined aluminum case is a "fuel gauge" LED
indicator that shows charge levels. You can even use this battery with
super-rugged QuickerTek 27 and 55 watt Solar Panels, so that you have
even more options for using your Apple devices anywhere you choose.
Rick Estes, QuickerTek president, says: "This new battery gives our
users a huge power reserve so they can go anywhere and do anything. If
you combine our folding solar panels with this battery, there isn't
anything you can't do. Go anywhere, anytime and do whatever you want.
It doesn't get any better than that for mobile device users. Can you
tell I'm excited? Everyone at our offices are just as pumped as I
am."
This battery works with an Apple Modified MagSafe power adapter to
reduce the number of peripheral required. Styled to blend with your
Apple equipment, the External Battery/Charger is small, lightweight and
good looking, making it ideal for any mobile Apple user.
Specifications:
Physical: 6-1/8 x 8.25 x 7/8 inches
Weight: 2.15 pounds just the battery
Shipping Weight: 6.0 pounds
Battery: 8 cells, Li-ion Polymer
Up to 20 hours of extra battery life
6-LED fuel gauge
Like most QuickerTek products, the new External Battery and Charger
is backed with a one-year warranty on parts and labor.
Orange County, CA based ReplacementLaptopKeys.com now offers Apple
and Dell laptop keys. Regardless of the Dell or Apple laptop computer
model, individual keys can be purchased at a low cost and installed
with minimal effort. Spending $5 is much cheaper than replacing a
laptop or notebook computer.
It's unnecessary to waste hard-earned money on a new laptop computer
if the only problem is a broken or damaged laptop key. Replacement
Laptop Keys is an online business that provides individual laptop keys
for all brands and models of laptops and notebook computers. Their user
friendly website allows consumers to simply enter the model number of a
computer, and purchase the laptop key or keys needed for repairs.
Single Laptop Keys Can Be Replaced
Millions of people rely on Apple and Dell computers for daily tasks,
business, and web surfing. Sooner or later, a key tends to get damaged,
not work properly, or pop off. Sometimes the letter or number even
wears off, due to excessive typing. Unfortunately many people are under
the impression that a new keyboard, or even a new laptop is required.
This is where Replacement Laptop Keys can help consumers, businesses,
and computer owners save money. This online business/service has
already catered to over 50,000 customers worldwide.
Installing a Replacement Computer Key
Those unfamiliar with computers and keyboards are certainly not
alone. This is why Replacement Laptop Keys provides free installation
guides, which includes video tutorials on how to replace specific keys.
Live chat assistance is additionally offered to all customers, free of
charge. Business hours are 10:00 am to 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday (Pacific
Standard Time).
There is no reason to leave home to seek out professional assistance
for damaged laptop keys. Web-based experts like Replacement Laptop Keys
can assist you with getting the replacement key you need, and getting
it installed promptly and painlessly. Same day shipping is offered, as
well as a 100% satisfaction guarantee.
Replacement Laptop keys has been in business since 2005 and
continues to help PC and Mac owners every day. The broad selection of
laptop computer brands, which now includes Apple and Dell is one
attribute that truly makes this online business stand out. Regardless
of the laptop key required, this computer service has it in stock and
ready for shipment.
Asset Genie Inc. Launches MacBook Air LCD Repair
Service
PR: Asset Genie Inc., a global provider of notebook computer
service parts, component-level repairs, and LCD enhancements is now
repairing LCDs on all 2010/11 - 11" and 13" Apple MacBook Air
models.
Due to the complexity of the repair itself and the difficulty in
sourcing the replacement LCDs, other repair organizations are only able
to replace the entire display module. AGI says their technical
expertise and worldwide vendor network have allowed them to develop a
repair program that replaces the raw LCD itself, diverting scrap from
landfill, and saving clients nearly half the cost of replacement from
Apple or other repair vendors. AGI claims to be currently the only
independent service provider performing these repairs in the United
States, having already repaired thousands of Apple MacBook Air LCDs for
school districts, universities, and other repair centers.
The MacBook Air LCD repair service is currently only being offered
business-to-business and to all education platforms, but is expected to
be extended to end users in the near future. AGI currently offers end
user repair programs for both the iPad and iPhone.
Program Details
AGI only requires clients send in their broken MacBook Air display
module, not the whole units. It is also recommended that clients do not
attempt to perform any repairs on the LCD prior to sending it in due to
the delicacy of other internal components within the display module.
AGI also offers MacBook Air polarizer enhancement services allowing
clients to convert their LCDs from Glossy (Glare) to Matte (Anti-Glare)
for an additional small fee. All repairs are performed by one of AGI's
highly experienced technicians in a Class 10,000 clean room and ESD
controlled production areas.
AGI prides itself on performing highest quality repairs at
competitive pricing, offering saving of more than half the cost of
going directly to Apple. The turnaround time is typically 1-2 business
days and restores the MacBook Air to factory like condition.
To send a display module in for repair, it is necessary to create an
account on the AGI site. Once you have created an account, you will be
able to include with your order a purchase order number, client
reference number (if you are sending multiple customer units in one
shipment), model number, serial number and any additional comments
MacBook Air 11" Display Module Repair Service $239
MacBook Air 11" Display Module Repair Service w/ Matte Enhancement
$279
MacBook Air 11" Display Glossy to Matte Enhancement $60
MacBook Air 13" Display Module Repair Service $289
MacBook Air 13" Display Module Repair Service w/ Matte Enhancement
$329
MacBook Air 13" Display Glossy to Matte Enhancement $60
WaterField Transforms Purchasing Process for
Customized PC Laptop Sleeves
PR: WaterField Designs,
known for its innovative laptop sleeves and designer bags and cases for
digital-minded professionals, announces a new custom PC laptop sleeve
ordering system. Finding a snug case for a PC can be a challenge. Don't
settle for the handful of sizes offered by big box stores. By providing
just a few key measurements at the time of ordering, WaterField
customers can now quickly get a fitted laptop sleeve for their specific
PC laptop, netbook, or ultrabook. WaterField also offers custom-fitted
laptop sleeves for all Apple laptop models. All WaterField Designs bags
and cases are made entirely in San Francisco.
"We make several hundred different SleeveCase sizes because PC
laptops come in so many dimensions and configurations - different
proportions, various sizes of extended batteries .Ê.Ê. or
not. Too many PC users out there settle for a poor-fitting, protective
sleeve; it's just wrong. Our custom sleeves are one of our greatest
differentiators; we can match up a proper-fitting, protective
SleeveCase with any size laptop made," says a Waterfield
spokesperson.
Features of the SleeveCase:
High-grade, shock-absorbing neoprene padding
Domestically-produced, ballistic nylon shell
Bottom loop to aid in easy extraction
Choice of horizontal- or vertically-oriented case to match both
messenger bags and backpacks
Optional addition of a lightly padded flap for extra
protection
Choice of trim (grey checkered Indium or distressed brown
leather)
Optional D-rings and a strap to use as a stand-alone bag
All metal hardware add-ons
TSA-friendly
Made entirely in the USA - San Francisco
The WaterField Designs laptop SleeveCase secures and protects
laptops without zippers, allowing quick, scratch-free access to the PC
or Apple laptop inside. It combines a classic black, nearly
indestructible ballistic nylon outer shell with a high-grade, 6mm
neoprene interior that absorbs shock as it cradles the computer. Cases
with a snug fit provide optimal protection and wear. A loop at one end
lets users hold the SleeveCase while easily removing the device.
WaterField offers several options to further customize the SleeveCase:
horizontal or vertical orientation; brown leather or grey checkered
Indium trim; standard or with D-rings and a strap; with or without the
Piggyback accessory pouch. Travelers passing through airport security
can leave their PC or Mac protected in the TSA-friendly sleeve while it
moves through the x-ray apparatus, thereby minimizing loss or damage at
security checkpoints.
SleeveCase: $49
Color: Black with trim in either grey checkered Indium or
distressed, brown leather ($10).
Options: D-rings only: $5. Simple Strap: $12. Suspension Shoulder
Strap: $22. Piggyback accessory pouch: $25-$27. Shipping now from the
WaterField Designs online store.
We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.
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We believe in the long term value of Apple hardware. You should be able to use your Apple gear as long as it helps you remain productive and meets your needs, upgrading only as necessary. We want to help maximize the life of your Apple gear.