MacBook updated to Santa Rosa

MacRumors reports that Apple has moved MacBook to Santa Rosa architecture with a GMA X3100 video card.  Santa Rosa is the code name for Intel Centrino's fourth-generation platform, released on 9 May 2007.

OS X Leopard and Boot Camp for Windows installation on a Mac

Boot Camp which is included in OS X Leopard has a simple set up to get a Mac running Windows OS.  Boot Camp supports the most popular 32-bit releases of Win XP and Vista.  Windows will run at native speed.  When Windows is installed using Boot Camp, you can start up either OS.

Apple iPhone Software Development Kit

Today Apple announced that they will be allowing outside developers
to develop add-in software for the iPhone. The targeted release of a
Software Development Kit will be in February 2008.

Apple sub-notebook

It's been announced that the featherbook will run a cut-down version of Mac OS X used in the Apple iPhone.

Parallels Desktop for Mac

Parallels is another product that allows you to run your Windows OS on an Intel-based Mac.  You can usually pick one off the shelf from an Apple store.  It cost about US$80.

 

Link: http://www.parallels.com/en/products/desktop/sr/

 

VMware Fusion for Mac

You can run Windows OS on a Mac using VMware Fusion.  Your Mac has to be an Intel-based Mac OS must be Mac OS X version 10.4.9 or later.

 

Link to download a evaluation copy http://www.vmware.com/products/fusion/system_requirements.html 

Price of Mac Book Pro

I was in Kuala Lumpur recently when I popped into an Apple store in KLCC.  To my surprise I found that the Mac Book Pro was selling for at least £200 less than what you would pay in London.  I say what!!!  It is true.  The 15in 2.4GHz was definitely at least £200 less.  You can get a Mac Book Pro any where in the world and it will be cheaper than London but £200 is a great savings.  If you get one from America you still have to add tax but not in Kuala Lumpur :)

Flash memory in future Apple products

Speculation indicates that Apple has plans to use flash memory across its future products.  There is indication of a new Apple sub-notebook that will have a new flash memory.  The release of flash memory products will depend on how fast the prices of flash memory will come down.  Analysts say that a 1GB flash costs $5.  To deploy a 32GB flash memory will cost $160.

Source: MacWorld
 

Having some fun with the iMac

Here are the evidence :)

At the Apple store grand opening

Apple store grand opening at Bentall centre, Kingston upon Thames. I managed to get a black Apple tee :) We arrived at 9:30am and there were already a queue outside the store. It is much smaller in size compared to the store in Regent St. but it is great that Apple is in Kingston because I can go there anytime now.

Apple in Bentall Centre, Kingston upon Thames

Apple is finally opening a store in my town.  It is officially opening this Saturday at 9:00

Using GoogleTalk on a Mac

You can chat to your gmail buddies by using iChat in Mac. Create a jabber account. Jabber ID : email@gmail.com (your email address) password : your gmail password Server : talk.google.com Port : 5222 Uncheck "Connect using SSL" If you are unable to connect using the above settings, change Port : 5223 Check "Connect using SSL"

Green my apple

More than 60 Greenpeace activists danced around the Apple store on the 5th Avenue of New York turning the glass cube store to green by shining green light.
They protest Apple's use of toxic chemicals in its hardware.  A web site following Apple's web site template was created to send the message about Apple's
lack of consideration for the environment. The web site is www.greenmyapple.org.

Pix of the protest on the 5th Avenue : http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/news/all-greenpeace-wants-is-a-gree

 

Apple's iPhone casing made of zirconia

Apparently when Apple filed for patent for iphone in August, it would protect the use of cubic zirconia for the casing material of certain wireless handhelds. It is speculated that the it is the iphone. Zirconia is used as substitute for diamonds and it is stated that it is good material to use for small device that needs to transmit radio frequency. Source: CNet News

iPod phone

Speculation of iPod phone may now be a reality.  In August, Apple filed a patent in the U.S. patent office according to MacNewsWorld.  The application disclosed a mp3 player with a mobile phone.

The new iPod nano - is it really that new?

I wonder. You get a look of a slimmer version of iPod mini, better battery life, storage of up to 8GB but what else is new? You have to use iTunes 7, there is no question about it. Would this gadget sell well this Christmas, I wonder. It is not revolutionary. If I compare this product to a software application, I would consider it just a minor upgrade but Apple is focussing on the packaging and we know that sometimes packaging sells. I find that Apple have selected colours that will appeal more to girls and women. So iPod mini users, it may be time to give up the mini and go for a new nano.

mac software

List of software for .mac members

http://www.mac.com/1/sdknewfeatures.html

iLife 06 upgrade price, not acceptable!

I bought a mac mini last nov. when I went to NY for a holiday. It is my first Apple since the Apple IIe days, I think it was the 80s. The mac mini came installed with Mac OS X Tiger and iLife 05. It was recently that I signed up for a trial of the .mac service and discovered iWeb for blogging. Of course I want to use iWeb but it is not available with iLife 05. So I thought okay, lets see if I can upgrade to iLife 06 and to my surprise I have to pay $75 to upgrade. Why do I have to pay that amount to upgrade to iLife 06 when I paid for iLife 05 less than 6 months ago. I am furious and it does not justify to upgrade to iLife 06 when there has not been any significant changes since iLife 05 apart from iWeb. Now we know how Apple makes their money from desktop/laptop users, by charging for each upgrade and charging for the usage of .mac. What a rip off.

France challenges Apple

French law is asking for interoperability in the online music industry.  This is a threat to Apple's number one position in selling online music.  If you buy music from the iTunes store, you can only play the music using iTunes or iPod.  Hence, the monopoly.  The French law was aimed at preventing any single media-playing operating system from building a grip on the digital online music retail market.  As a consumer, I totally agree with the French law because I would want to have the choice to play the music on any mp3 player of my choice.  For now it is only iPod for music bought from iTunes but let's keep an eye on Apple's strategic response to the French law.

Apple in the limelight

I read that Apple is enabling purchase of iPod through iTunes. This according to technologists could be the way forward for Apple to evolve the iTune software into a browser. Apple has made some headline news in the past couple of weeks. First with the announcement of the Intel duo core products in MacWorld 2006, then the discovery of virus(es) and spyware, now the plan to make iTunes into a browser, it looks like Apple is in the limelight.

ipod nano

Seen the advert, read the Apple website and finally I went to John Lewis yesterday to look at the actual thing. I like the design, the look, it is slim, small, sleek but one down side. The ipod nano's battery is not a separate unit. It is part of the entire ipod, integrated. It has a life span of 2 years if you take care and charge the unit properly. So what after 2 years? According to Apple, if the battery dies on you, bring it back to Apple, pay £100 and they will exchange your nano for a new nano. Hmmm... I don't know if I want to do that. I will think carefully before rushing to the shop/online to buy a ipod nano!