News & Opinion
Apple Updates
Tech Trends
Products & Services
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. Older Macs are covered in Vintage Mac News. All prices are in US
dollars unless otherwise noted.
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News & Opinion
Apple Puts Some 13" MacBook Pro Component Orders on
Hold
DigiTimes' Aaron Lee and Joseph Tsai report that Apple has recently
stopped some of the component orders for its 13" MacBook Pro due
high inventory, with shipments reportedly down some 20% from Apple's
original estimates.
The report leaves unspecified whether the component supply slowdown
affects the new 13"
MacBook Pro with Retina Display, the old-school non-Retina MacBook
Pro (which for some time has been the best-selling Mac system overall),
or both.
Link: Apple Puts Some
MacBook Pro Component Supply Streams on Hold (subscription
required)
Apple Updates
OS X 10.8.2 Update Reissued
Apple has reissued its 10.8.2 update for specific Mac systems after
having originally released a specific version of the updater for the
2012 Mac Mini, iMac, and 13" MacBook Pro with Retina
Display models, then quickly pulled it more than a week ago.
The OS X Mountain Lion 10.8.2 Update for 13" MacBook Pro with Retina
Display, 21.5" iMac (Late 2012), Mac mini (Late 2012) is recommended
for all 13" MacBook Pro with Retina Display, 21.5" iMac (Late 2012) and
Mac mini (Late 2012) systems. It includes all features and updates from
OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.2 plus system-specific enhancements and fixes
for Late 2012 systems.
New features include
- Facebook
- Single sign on for Facebook
- Facebook as an option when sharing links and photos
- Facebook friends' contact information and profile pictures in
Contacts
- Facebook notifications in Notification Center
Game Center
- Share scores to Facebook, Twitter, Mail, or Messages
- Facebook friends are included in Game Center friend
recommendations
- Facebook Like button for games
- Challenge friends to beat your score or achievement
Other new features
- Power Nap support for MacBook Air (Late 2010)
- Messages sent to your phone number now appear in Messages on your
Mac
- From Safari and Mail on your Mac you can add passes to Passbook on
your iPhone or iPod touch running iOS 6
New shared Reminders lists
- FaceTime now receives calls sent to your phone number
- New sort options allow you to sort notes by title, the date you
edited them, and when you created them
- Dictation now supports Mandarin, Cantonese, Spanish, Korean,
Canadian English, Canadian French, and Italian
- The Dictionary application now includes a French definition
dictionary
- Sina Weibo profile photos can now be added to Contacts
This update also includes general operating system fixes that
improve the stability, compatibility and security of your Mac,
including the following fixes:
- An option to discard the changes in the original document when
choosing Save As
- Unsent drafts are opened automatically when launching Mail
- Receive Twitter notifications for mentions and replies from
anyone
- URLs are shortened when sending tweets from Notification
Center
- Notifications are disabled when AirPlay Mirroring is being
used
- SSL support for Google searches from the Smart Search Field in
Safari
- New preference to have Safari launch with previously open
webpages
- Graphics performance and reliability enhancements
- USB 3 reliability enhancements
File Size: 654.49 MB
System Requirements: OS X Mountain Lion v10.8.1
Link: OS X
Mountain Lion 10.8.2 Update for 13" MacBook Pro with Retina Display,
21.5" iMac (Late 2012), Mac mini (Late 2012)
Tech Trends
Should You Buy an Ultrabook with Windows 8?
PC Mag's Tim Bajarin notes that there are dozens of beautiful new
Ultrabook laptop designs available this holiday season, with more than
60 new models available priced from $650 to $1,799. But consumers
question whether ultrabooks are worth their premium price.
Bajarin is convinced that ultrabooks are the future of laptops but
suggests that if you want the most out of Windows 8, which will be
on every PC laptop you buy this fall, you really need to buy an
ultrabook with a touch screen. The bad news is that many of the best
ultrabooks with touch screens start at around $1,100.
However, Bajarin notes that research shows a device like a $499.99
fourth-generation iPad can handle as much as 80% of a person's
computing needs, so for tablet owners the tendency is to buy a cheaper
laptop or even just opt to extend the life of their current one.
Link: Should You Buy an
Ultrabook Now?
Lenovo X1 Carbon: An Ultrabook for Old Pros and
Classic-Laptop-Loving Business Users
InfoWorld's Serdar Yegulalp says if Lenovo's X1 Carbon Ultrabook is
any indication, professionals are in no hurry to move to
Windows 8, since this new iteration of the ThinkPad ships with
Windows 7 Professional instead - eschewing a touchscreen and a tablet
form factor in favor of design elements and preloaded ingredients that
appeal to both business-class users and business-class IT support
folks.
Measuring 13.03" x 8.9" x 0.74" and and weighing only 3 pounds, the
Carbon X1 qualifies as thin and light, and as its name implies, it's
clad in the matte carbon-fiber-reinforced plastic common to the
ThinkPad line, instead of the brushed metal that encases so many other
Ultrabooks. Yegulalp says it feels rugged, not cheap. Another reviewer
observed that the X1 reminds him of none other than Apple's erstwhile
G3 PowerBooks in terms of looks and feel. The X1's 14" display is also
the same physical size as the old PowerBook's screen, but with 1600 x
900 resolution rather than the PowerBook's 1024 x 768.
The Lenovo comes with a 1.8 GHz Intel Core i5-3427U processor, 4 GB
of RAM, and a 256 GB SSD, which compares favorably with the 13" MacBook Air, but starts at
a pricey $1,499 (same as the 13" MacBook Air with 256 GB SSD).
Link: Lenovo X1 Carbon:
An Ultrabook for Old Pros
Microsoft Surface Pro to Start at $899
AppleInsider's Brian Marder reports:
"Microsoft on Thursday announced the pricing for its forthcoming
Surface Pro tablet, starting at $899 for the entry-level 64-gigabyte
version with an Intel processor and the full Windows 8 operating
system."
"Given the price points and features of the Surface Pro, Microsoft's
high-end tablet hardware may be targeted as more of a MacBook Air
competitor than something positioned to take on Apple's iPad."
Link: Microsoft Surface
Pro to Start at $899 for 64 GB Model
Surface with Windows 8 Pro to Be Priced in MacBook
Air's Ballpark
In a Microsoft Blog, Panos Panay, General Manager of Microsoft
Surface, has posted pricing information on the Surface with Windows 8
Pro tablet PC that will be available in January 2013.
Surface with Windows 8 Pro will be available in two versions:
- 64 GB standalone version at $899
- 128 GB standalone version at $999
That compares with the entry-level Surface with Windows RT 32 GB
model that lists for $499, or 44% less than the 64 GB Surface with
Windows 8 Pro and a minimum $200 more than a Windows RT Surface with 64
GB of storage.
Both versions
will both include a Surface pen with Palm Block technology and include
the ability to use a Touch Cover or Type Cover (sold separately for an
additional $120 for the Touch cover, for a total of $1,019 for the 64
GB version or $1,119 for the 128 GB version).
Surface with Windows 8 Pro uses the same design principles as
Surface with Windows RT, including the Dark Titanium VaporMg casing,
dual 2x2 MIMO antennas designed specifically for Surface, and the
kickstand.
However, it also has some differences.
On the inside, Surface with Windows 8 Pro will come with a much more
powerful Intel Ivy Bridge Core i5 processor, which will provide the
necessary graphics boost for its 10.6" 16:9 ClearType display that runs
at a 1920 x 1080 full HD resolution.
Surface with Windows 8 Pro also includes a full-size USB 3.0 port.
Its Mini DisplayPort can drive an external display up to 2560 x 1440
resolution, and the standard Pen input features expanded capacitive and
digitizing technology Microsoft is calling Palm Block that will prevent
your handwriting from getting interrupted if you accidentally place
your palm on the screen as you write.
Surface with Windows 8 Pro will run current Windows 7 desktop
applications, will weigh less than two pounds, and will be less than 14
millimeters thick.
Link: Next Up for the
Surface Family: Surface with Windows 8 Pro - Pricing
Products & Services
Sonnet Echo Express, Echo Express II, or Echo
Express Pro Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis for PCIe Cards
PR: Today's ultralight notebooks, mini, and all-in-one
desktop computers now have tremendous processing power, power that many
people thought would only be possible in full-size desktop computers.
Smaller in size and portable, they're very desirable. For professionals
in the creative fields, this processing power alone is not
enough. You need expansion slots to install specialty cards to
connect various video and audio inputs, for processing data, and to
connect to high-speed storage and networks. The problem is, only
desktop computers (which aren't very portable) have expansion slots,
and currently available PCIe expansion for notebook computers has been
very limited in performance - until now.
If you've got a
computer with Thunderbolt technology, then an Echo Express, Echo
Express II, or Echo Express Pro Thunderbolt Expansion Chassis for PCIe
cards is exactly what you need.
Sonnet's Echo Express, Echo Express II, and Echo Express Pro enable
you to use high-performance PCI Express (PCIe) adapter cards (sold
separately) with any computer with a Thunderbolt port. Imagine using
compatible full-size professional video capture, audio interface, SAS
& SATA HBA, 8 Gb Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, and RAID
controller cards with your iMac, Mac mini, MacBook Air. or MacBook Pro;
these Sonnet products make it possible.
Expanding Outside the Box
Sonnet harnessed the potential of Thunderbolt technology to enable
you to connect high performance expansion cards to computers without
expansion slots.
Developed by Intel and brought to market with technical
collaboration from Apple, Thunderbolt technology supports
high-performance data services and high-resolution displays through a
single, compact port. Based on PCI Express (PCIe) and DisplayPort
technologies, Thunderbolt provides support for two channels on the same
connector with 10 Gb/s of throughput per channel in both directions.
Connected via a Thunderbolt cable (not included, sold at the Apple
Store), an Echo Expansion Chassis carries the computer's PCIe channel
to the PCIe slot(s) and passes both PCIe and DisplayPort data through a
second Thunderbolt port for daisy chaining other devices.
Standard or Pro
One or two cards, different lengths, different requirements -
there's an Echo Express to meet your needs. The Echo Express
(ECHO-EXP1H) supports one half-length (up to 7.75" long), full-height,
double-width, x16* PCIe 2.0 card. The Echo Express II (ECHO-EXP2H)
supports two half-length (up to 7.25" long), full-height, single-width,
x16* PCIe 2.0 cards (or one double-width card), while the Pro model
(ECHO-EXP2F) supports two standard width, full-length cards, or one
double-width, full-length card. All three models support an I/O
bracket.
The Echo Express and Echo Express II include a built-in 100W
universal power supply; the Pro model includes an integrated 150W
universal power supply.
Do you have a card in mind but aren't sure which Echo Express you
need? We've worked closely with expansion card manufacturers to provide
a list of compatible PCIe cards on our supporting PCIe
Card Thunderbolt Compatibility Chart. The chart provides an
up-to-date list of cards that have been tested to be recognized over a
Thunderbolt connection and compatible with Thunderbolt technology
requirements.
Key Features
- Adds Expansion Card Slots to Any Computer with a Thunderbolt
Port: The Echo Express supports one half-length (up to 7.75" long),
full-height, double-width, x16* PCIe 2.0 card. The Echo Express II
supports two half-length (up to 7.25" long), full-height, single-width,
x16* PCIe 2.0 cards (or one double-width card), while the Pro model
supports two standard width, full-length cards, or one double-width,
full-length card.
- High Bandwidth: With Thunderbolts PCI Express performance
and 10 Gb/s of throughput on each of the two channels in both
directions, Echo Express Expansion Chassis are perfect for
special-purpose PCIe cards for video capture, audio interface,
8 Gb Fibre Channel, 10 Gigabit Ethernet, digital audio, RAID
control, and more
- Power for Powerful Cards: Integrated 100W power supply (150W
in Pro model)
- Two Thunderbolt Ports: Daisy chain up to six devices to a
single port on the host computer
- Temperature-Controlled, Variable-Speed Fans: Operate slow
and quiet with cooler cards, better cooling for hot cards
- Energy Saver Mode: Powers on/off automatically with the
computer
- Integrated Universal Power Supply: Built-in power supply
means no external power brick to dangle or loose
- Rugged Aluminum Housing: Portable protection for any
environment
Constructed of rugged extruded aluminum, the Echo Express' outer
shell helps transfer heat away from the cards and securely protects
them inside. The top cover slides off to offer quick access to the PCIe
slots and enable easy installation of cards. Ventilated front and back
panels plus quiet, temperature-controlled fans (with no switches or
jumpers to configure) automatically help keep even the very hottest
cards cool; when not needed, the fans slow down to a whisper so you can
work without a lot of noise in the background. Echo Express products
are enviro-friendly, automatically powering on and off with your
computer. To keeps things as compact as possible, universal power
supplies are integrated inside the chassis so there're no dangling
power bricks.
Strong Link in the Chain
These Sonnet solutions support daisy chaining of additional
Thunderbolt technology-enabled peripherals such as an additional Echo
Express, the Apple Thunderbolt Display, video capture devices, and data
storage devices. For connected devices requiring extra power, 10 watts
is provided through the daisy chain port to peripherals.
Link: Echo Express, Echo
Express II, and Echo Express Pro
WaterField Unveils New MacBook Pro, Air, and Retina
HardCase Laptop Bag
PR:
San Francisco-based WaterField Designs has announced a redesign of its
HardCase bag for Apple's MacBook Air, Pro and Retina laptops. The
laptop bag combines sturdy ballistic nylon with smooth leather for
rugged laptop protection in a classic, minimalist design. WaterField
has extended the bag's main compartment and added additional interior
pockets for more carrying capacity and organization. Waterfield's
original HardCase Slim remains for those who prefer a more minimalist
version.
The new HardCase is designed to hold an Apple laptop,
accessories and files. The protective main compartment is layered with
a soft, no-scratch, padded liner, a layer of high-density foam and an
inner layer of impact-resistant plastic. Within the chamber, a padded
laptop pocket offers further protection to cradle the Mac, and two
pockets provide organization options. Two additional slim pockets under
the flap plus a self-locking zippered back pocket finish the case.
The HardCase projects a tastefully understated refined look,
with its dual-tone leather flap, an integrated leather handle, and an
aluminum paragliding buckle. Customizable options include a choice of
hardware - matte black or nickel; a choice of colors for the underside
of the flap - black, cardinal, camel, chocolate, grizzly, kiwi or
orange; and different sizes for each Apple laptop model. A removable,
Suspension Shoulder Strap with a built-in, non-slip, shoulder pad
spreads the briefcase load, making it feel lighter.
"Functionally, the HardCase is an amazing laptop case," says company
founder, Gary WaterField. "The combination of the smoothly-finished
leather flap with its colored underside along with the unique
paragliding buckle, make this case at home in both formal meetings and
on city streets."
- The HardCase 13" sells for $239 and is available now, made to
order. Cases ship within five business days.
- The HardCase 15", sells for $249, and may be pre-ordered now, with
shipping to begin in early January.
Options:
- Hardware: black matte or nickel
- Dual-leather flap in black plus underside color choice of: black,
cardinal, camel, chocolate, grizzly, kiwi or orange (especially good
for SF Giants fans).
Link: WaterField HardCase
Laptop Bag
Real Wood Skin for MacBook
PR: This real wood MacBook skin backed with 3M Pressure
sensitive adhesive for easy application.
The unique design provides grip and protection to your MacBook
cover. Each MacBook wood skin is hand made in BKNY so your order is
produced only once purchased
Three
wood species are offered: Ebony, Bamboo, and Wenge.
The appliqués are available for MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13,
MacBook Pro 15, and MacBook Retina.
Prices start at $25.
Link: MacBook Wood Skin
New Line of iHome Smart Cases Designed Specifically
to Hold Apple Devices
PR: Packing all your Apple devices for business or
vacation travel is often a tangled affair with inadequate protection
that often leaves your prized possessions at risk of being damaged or
lost. The iHome Smart Case line from Lifeworks features three unique
styles. The bags are engineered with pockets specifically designed for
individual Apple products and their accompanying gear, and come in
three different versions: Smart Sleeve, Smart Brief, and Smart
Pack.
"Being big-time users of multiple Apple devices ourselves, we are
excited to introduce our cases to the entire Apple community," says
Jonathan Freeman, Director of Marketing for Lifeworks. "We went through
several design iterations to come up with three different cases that
perfectly fits all our gear, and a variety of lifestyles."
Each case has specially designed plush pockets for your iPhone,
iPad, earbuds and chargers. The Smart Sleeve can also accommodate up to
a 13 MacBook (or 14 laptop); while the Smart Brief and Smart Pack can
securely carry a 15.6 MacBook. Complete product information (and
Amazon.com purchase links) can be found online.
The Smart Sleeve carries a suggested retail of price of $69.99,
while the Smart Brief and Smart Pack are expected to retail for $79.99
and $99.99, respectively.
Link: Mac
Bags
Bargain 'Books
For deals on current and discontinued 'Books, see our 13" MacBook and MacBook Pro,
MacBook Air, 13" MacBook Pro, 15" MacBook Pro, 17" MacBook Pro, 12" PowerBook G4, 15" PowerBook G4, 17" PowerBook G4, titanium PowerBook G4,
iBook G4, PowerBook G3, and iBook G3 deals.
We also track iPad,
iPhone, iPod touch, iPod classic, iPod nano, and iPod shuffle deals.
