Daily Deals: 24″ iMac for $1399, 15″ MacBook Pro for $2099, 8GB iPod touch for $180

Still not recovered from the sugar-laced holidays? What better way to recuperate and get ready for 2010 by perusing some great deals on gadgets? We start off with a trio of Apple products, ranging from iPods to iMacs. If you didn’t get an iPod touch for Christmas, there’s still time to nab an 8GB version of the popular touch for $180. Do you want to update your desktop? There is a deal on a 24-inch iMac (2.93 GHz Core 2 Duo) with three years of AppleCare for $1,399. Or, maybe you’re in the market for a MacBook Pro? Expercom has a 15-inch 2.93 GHz MacBook Pro laptop with three years of AppleCare for $2,099.

Along the way, there are bargains on iPhone cases, storage and assorted gadgets and services. For details on these and other items, check out CoM’s “Daily Deals” page after the jump.

B&H Photo-Video offers the 3rd-generation Apple iPod touch 8GB MP3 Player, model no. MC086LL/A, for $179.99 with free shipping. (Amazon.com charges the same.) [That's the lowest total price we could find by $8, although we saw it for $10 less back in November (since expired).] It touts a multi-touch interface, 3.5″ widescreen display, built-in Wi-Fi support, up to 30 hours of battery life, and support for Apple’s iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store.

Expercom offers the Apple iMac 24″ Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz 24″ Desktop, model no. MB419LL/A, with three years of AppleCare for $1,399 as part of its After Christmas Sale. (With shipping around $17, it’s $37 more than what Apple charges for a refurbished unit, this model is new and is the lowest total price we could find by $53.) This iMac features an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz dual-core processor, 24″ 1920×1200 widescreen LCD, 4GB RAM, 640GB Serial ATA hard drive, NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 graphics, SuperDrive, Bluetooth 2.0+EDR, AirPort Extreme, iSight, Apple Mighty Mouse (wired), Apple Aluminum Keyboard (small), and Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard. Deal ends December 31.

ExperCom offers the Apple MacBook Pro Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz 15″ Notebook, model no. MC026LL/A, with three years of AppleCare for $2,099 as part of its After Christmas Sale. (With shipping around $11, it’s $110 more than our previous mention of the laptop alone and the lowest total price we could find for the bundle.) This 6.6 lb.-notebook features an Intel Core 2 Duo 2.93GHz dual-core processor, 15.4″ LED-backlit glass display, 4GB RAM, 320GB 7200 rpm Serial ATA hard drive, 8x SuperDrive, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M on-board video and 9600M GT 512MB graphics card, built-in iSight camera, 802.11n wireless, Bluetooth, and more. Deal ends December 31.

B&H Photo-Video offers the Canon VIXIA HF S100 1080p Flash Memory HD Camcorder, model no. 3569B001AA, bundled with a Pearstone BP-827 Lithium Ion Battery Pack and Delkin 16GB Pro SDHC Card for $799. [With free shipping, that's the lowest total price we could find for the bundle by $179.] (We saw the camcorder / battery combo without the SD card last week for the same price.) The camcorder features up to 12 hours (3 hours full HD) recording time on a 32GB SDHC memory card (not included), 10x optical zoom, 1920×1080 (1080p) recording, 8-megapixel still photos, face detection, 2.7″ widescreen LCD, HDMI output, and USB connectivity. Deal ends January 16.

Walmart offers this Aiptek PenCam Trio HD with Bike Mount for $143 with $11.91 for shipping. (Choose both items and click the “Add to Cart” button.) [That's the lowest total price we could find for each of these purchased separately by $5.] Sales tax is added where applicable. The PenCam Trio features 4GB of internal memory, 720p recording, 5-megapixel digital stills, MP3 player, and more. It is available in red, blue, purple, or silver.

Today only at MidnightBox.com, click the “Deal 1″ tab to find the refurbished iLuv Clear Crystal Case for Apple iPhone 3G or 3GS, model no. ICC74, for $1.95. (With $3.99 for shipping, it’s $7 under the lowest total price we could find for a new, factory-sealed unit.)

Skype.com continues to offer its unlimited calling plans starting at $2.95 per month. (That ties our mention from last month as the lowest price we could find for a VoIP service of this kind.) The base plan allows you to make unlimited calls to any phone within the US and Canada from your Skype phone. Unlimited calls to Mexico or international calling plans cost $5.95 and $12.95, respectively.

Of note, to receive calls to your Skype phone, you must sign up for an online number. Subscribers to one of the unlimited plans pay $30 per year; otherwise, it costs $60.

OfficeMax cuts up to 92% off a selection of headsets, as listed below. Shipping starts at $7.95, but orders of $50 or more qualify for free shipping. (Even with shipping, each is at the lowest total price we could find.) Sales tax is added where applicable. The deals:

Jabra GN8120USBDT USB Adapter for $10
Jabra JX-10 Wireless Bluetooth Headset for $20
Disco Jabra GN8120USBLT USB Adapter for $20
Jabra GN2000 USB Headset for IP Telephony (pictured) for $20
Jabra GN 4800 Series Wideband Stereo Headset for $40
Jabra GN 4800 Series HiFi Stereo Headset for $50

Dell Small Business offers the Netgear ReadyNAS Duo 500GB Gigabit Network Attached Storage, model no. RND2110-100NAS, for $349.99 with free shipping. This $100 mail-in rebate drops it to $249.99 ($0.25/GB). [That's the lowest total price we could find by $85.] Sales tax is added where applicable. This enclosure features room for two hard drives (it includes one), built-in BitTorrent client for Internet downloads, Gigabit Ethernet, three USB 2.0 ports, and more. Rebate ends December 31.

Dell Home offers the Sony BRAVIA S-Series 52″ 1080p Widescreen LCD HD Television, model no. KDL-52S5100, for $1,039. [With free shipping, that's the lowest total price we could find by $83, although it was $19 less back in November (since expired).] Sales tax is added where applicable. It features a native resolution of 1920×1080 (1080p), 30,000:1 dynamic contrast ratio, three HDMI inputs, and VGA, component, and other video inputs.


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The year has been a sweet one for Apple

In spite of the nation's economic woes, Apple had a very good year in 2009.

To recap:

In January, the company introduced iLife '09 and iWork '09, substantial upgrades to the digital lifestyle and office productivity suites. It also introduced a 17-inch MacBook Pro model with eight-hour built-in battery technology that has since proliferated to almost all Apple notebooks. And it announced record revenue and net quarterly profit for its first quarter.

In March, Apple introduced bigger, better and faster iMacs as well as new Mac Pros with up to twice the performance of previous models.

In April, the big news was that more than 1 billion apps had been downloaded from the App Store in its first nine months of existence and that Apple had had the best second quarter revenue and earnings in its history.

The iPhone 3GS and Safari 4 came along in June. In their first three days, Safari 4 was downloaded over 11 million times and more than a million of the iPhone 3GS were sold.
Download milestone

In July, the App Store celebrated its first birthday with over 1.5 billion downloads. And Apple announced third-quarter revenue and earnings that were its best ever in a non-holiday quarter.

August brought the seventh major upgrade to our favorite operating system: Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard and Snow Leopard Server.

In September, Apple unveiled its latest iPod lineup, including new and improved versions of the iPod touch, shuffle and nano as well as its new iTunes 9 software, which added support for iTunes LP, Home Sharing and Genius Mixes. And App Store downloads surpassed the 2 billion mark.
Record profit

In October, Apple announced its most profitable fourth quarter, citing record Mac and iPhone sales. The entire Macbook product line was updated with LED backlit displays, multitouch trackpads and seven-hour built-in batteries; the innovative multitouch Magic Mouse was introduced; and the iMac lineup was refreshed (again) with new 21.5 and 27-inch models, including the first iMacs to sport quad-core processors.

The only major news in November was that the App Store now features more than 100,000 apps. And while there have been no major announcements thus far in December, there are still a few days left. So anything could happen…

There is one last thing. Apple shares began the year on Jan. 2 at $90.75, bottomed out on Jan. 20 at $78.20 and then hit the all-time record high Monday of $213.95 before settling at $211.72.

I think you'll find it hard not to agree that 2009 was a very good year indeed for Apple.


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27-inch iMacs gets Firmware Update

Earlier this month, 27-inch Apple iMac was rumored of facing flickering, yellow-tint and cracked display issues. Apple later clarified with us that they're trying to fulfill new 27-inch iMac orders and have now released a firmware update for these 27-inch iMacs.

Now, according to web designer Scott Pronych's website, the majority of issues with iMacs (released at Fall 2009) were regarding flickering displays. This new 27-inch iMac Graphics firmware update 1.0 is for Mac machines bearing ATI Radeon HD 4670 and 4850 graphics. The support note states that the issues causing image corruption or display flickering will be solved.

Download the 683kb file and save your 27-inch iMac from flickering or image corruption issues. It's no time to play the blame game but to look forward to how Apple will meet the demand for 27-inch iMac models globally.


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Apple refurbs: 27-inch iMac now available

This week the 27-inch iMac hit the refurb. shelf at Apple's online store. The 3.06Ghz model with 4GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive has been reduced from $1699 to $1449, a price drop of $250. The previous-generation 24-inch iMac with the same configuration is also available for $100 less, $1349, after a massive $850 price cut. A 21.4-inch iMac is also featured with the same configuration as well for $1299.

A wide variety of iPod models are also available in refurbished condition at Apple's online store as well starting as low as $39 for the second-generation 1GB iPod shuffle, or $59 for the 2GB Shuffle. The previous-generation iPod nano is available starting at $99 for the 8GB model, or $129 for the 16GB Nano. For $199 you can pick up a previous-generation 160GB iPod classic. The first-generation 8GB iPod touch is available for only $139, while the second-generation 8GB touch falls at $10 more, $149. Second-generation 16GB and 32GB iPod touch models are also available for $199 and $249 respectively.


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Apple's iMac sales jump 74% in U.S.

Even Apple couldn't have expected a sales jump this big, says analyst


Computerworld - Sales of Apple's iMacs in the U.S. jumped 74% during October and November over the same period last year, a retail research firm said today, making the desktop line refresh "a very big success."

iMac sales during the first two months of the final calendar quarter were up so dramatically that it had to take even Apple by surprise, said Stephen Baker, analyst with the NPD Group. "They've reaccelerated that [desktop] segment for Apple," said Baker, noting that the 21% jump in overall Mac sales were largely due to iMac sales. Sales of Apple's laptops -- the MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air -- increased by just 5% year-over-year during October and November.

"It's hard to imagine Apple could have predicted those iMac sales, especially of the 27-in. models," said Baker.

Although sales of the less-expensive 21.5-in. iMacs were greater than those of the pricier 27-in. version, the big boost in sales of the latter, when compared to previous sales of Apple's top-of-the-line iMacs, was the big surprise to Baker.

"Apple often gets a big jump in sales after a refresh," noted Baker, "and we're on the cusp of that six- to eight-week period. We saw a big jump in March when Apple tweaked the internals of the iMac, but that didn't have the legs that this one seems to have."

Apple launched its revamped iMacs on Oct. 20, replacing the earlier 20- and 24-in. displays with 21.5- and 27-in. screens, and offering quad-core processors on the larger models for the first time. The 21.5-in. model starts at $1,199; the 27-in. version starts at $1,699, with the quad-core model going for $1,999.

When asked why the iMacs have done so well -- a turnaround of sorts for Apple, which has seen desktop sales drop steadily over the past several years -- Baker said simply, "I wish I knew."

But he was certain that Apple's problems in delivering 27-in. iMacs was not solely due to technical issues with the computers' graphics cards, a claim some authorized resellers have made after users began reporting major problems with new 27-in. iMacs.

"The [graphics problem] is probably not the only reason for the delays," Baker said, referring to Apple's current two-week span between ordering a new 27-in. iMac and shipping the unit. "Sales have been so strong that they've had to scramble for more product. But just because the 27-in. is outperforming Apple's expectations doesn't mean the [graphics] problems should be dismissed."

Apple has declined to answer questions about whether the 27-in. iMac delays were caused by an unacknowledged hardware glitch, but the company has issued a statement apologizing for the iMac's availability problems, and put the blame on sales. "The new iMac has been a huge hit and we are working hard to fulfill orders as quickly as possible," the company said in a statement released to several news outlets.

The Mac mini, which was also revised two months ago -- including a $999 model that operates as a cut-rate server -- has experienced a sales spike as well. "That's one of the other hidden points in the October-November data," said Baker. "We've seen some decent increases in the Mac mini, which is doing pretty well."

Baker declined to ascribe the smallest desktop Mac's sales gains to the "Mac mini with Snow Leopard Server" offering, but acknowledged that that model was the biggest difference between the line before and after the Oct. 20 refresh.

"They're making some money on that model," Baker said. "The server edition adds another product to the line."

Apple's sales for the quarter will be solidly within the company's expectations, Baker predicted, and the Cupertino, Calif. computer maker is well placed heading into the new year. "They're sitting pretty good going into 2010," Baker argued. "Macs won't look as overpriced next year, especially in the back half of the year, as they did in 2009. The price declines of Windows PCs, especially netbooks can't continue to come down 25%, like they did this year."

Apple won't release its official sales figures for the final calendar quarter of 2009 until its conference call with analysts sometime in the second half of January 2010.


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MacSpeech Dictate fixes new iMac audio input issue with update

Macworld Awards winner MacSpeech, has introduced MacSpeech Dictate 1.5.8, an update for the only speech recognition solution for the Mac, with the award winning Dragon Naturally Speaking Engine at its core.

According to the MacSpeech Dictate 1.5.8 Release Notes, the company has fixed and addressed an "audio input issue with the iMacs introduced in October of 2009."

The update should be available when launching the application.

A recent update also added "exclusive support" for the Plantronics Calisto Bluetooth Headset. which allows freedom of movement during dictation.

The headset promises a range of up to 10 meters - up to 33 feet - from headset to adapter and offers up to 8 hours of talk time, and up to 240 hours of stand-by time.

The Plantronics Calisto Bluetooth Headset costs £119.95 while MacSpeech Dictate software/hardware bundles start from £279.95 for MacSpeech Dictate rising to £599.95 for MacSpeech Dictate Medical or MacSpeech Dictate Legal with headset. MacSpeech Dictate International with headset costs £329.95.

More information can be found at www.macspeech.co.uk/calisto.

Users can enter UPGRADEDISCOUNT when upgrading to MacSpeech 1.5 to receive a discount, an offer which runs until the end of December.


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Graphics issues force Apple to delay iMac orders, resellers report

Apple has delayed shipping new 27-in. iMacs until it can figure out the cause of flickering screens and other display problems, according to reports from authorized resellers.


Apple has delayed shipping new 27-in. iMacs until it can figure out the cause of flickering screens and other display problems, according to reports from authorized resellers.

The move came just days after a Web designer created a site that tallied issues with the 27-in. iMacs , including screens broken in shipment, on-again-off-again flickering displays and screens that showed a jaundice-yellow tint.

Two Apple resellers -- independent dealers approved by Apple to sell Macs -- contacted the Apple iMac (Fall 2009) Issues site to report that all shipments of iMacs had been pushed back at least two weeks as Apple replaces the machines' graphics cards.

Canadian Web designer Scott Pronych built the tracking site after he received a 27-in. iMac with a shattered screen, saying he wanted to document the display problems. By digging through Apple's support forum and taking reports directly from others via a form on his site, Pronych has identified more than 600 users who have had issues with their new machines.

A thread on Apple's support forum dedicated to the flickering screen problem boasts nearly 1,200 separate messages and has a view count of over 173,000, making it easily the most-read of those on the iMac forum.

The resellers who contacted Pronych are in Europe. "I think they are feeling a bit frustrated as a lot of customers are blaming them for slow delivery, and likely they see my Web site as proof that there are some real problems with the graphics system of the new iMacs," Pronych said in an e-mail Friday.

On Saturday Pronych reached out to the resellers on Computerworld 's behalf, but both declined to comment on the record. "I don't want to hurt my ties with the Mac community," one of the resellers said in an e-mail to Pronych that he forwarded in part to Computerworld . "As you may or may not know, Apple is strong-arming resellers since opening their own Apple Stores," the reseller continued.

Earlier this week, Apple changed the shipping status on its online store for both 27-in. iMac models from "Ships: 5-7 days" or "Ships 7-10 days" to "Ships: 2 weeks." Although high volume sales could account for the change, Pronych said he had been told by some users that Apple had pushed back the projected ship dates for their already-ordered iMacs.

Some U.S. resellers were out of stock. A Mac Connection sales representative, for instance, said that the e-tailer's next shipment of 27-in. iMacs was expected Dec. 18. "I don't have any information regarding a reason for the delay," the representative said in a live chat Saturday. Amazon.com reported that a new 27-in. iMac would ship "within 1 to 2 months." ClubMac.com , meanwhile, said it wouldn't have 27-in. models until the end of the month. A sales representative from the California-based e-tailer said only that "Apple is not able to get us our shipments."

Both the dual-core and quad-core iMacs are affected by the flickering screen issue, according to reports filed with Pronych's site. Those models use AMD's ATI Radeon HD 4670 and Radeon HD 4850 graphics cards, respectively.

The 27-in iMacs were introduced in late October , when Apple refreshed its desktop lines. According to Pronych's data, fewer than 10% of the total reports are from users of the less-expensive 21.-5-in. iMacs. The entry-level $1,199 machine uses the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics chipset rather than an ATI graphics card.

If the problem is, in fact, traced back to the ATI graphics cards, it won't be the first time that AMD's hardware has been blamed for iMac troubles. More than two years ago, Apple began investigating screen lockup problems with the then-new iMac line that sported ATI graphics cards. Several weeks later, Apple issued a firmware update that seemed to solve the problem for most users.

This year's new iMacs have also been plagued with performance issues. Within days of their Oct. 20 introduction, users complained about extremely sluggish playback of Flash video. A Nov. 9 update to Mac OS X 10.6.2 targeted the problem, which was resolved for some, but not all, users.

Apple has not responded to multiple e-mails asking for comment on the 27-in. iMac screen issues, including one Friday requesting information about the two-week shipping delay. Apple typically refuses to comment on hardware issues, preferring instead to quietly publish a support document to its site.


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Apple Updates Mac Pro and Xserve Configuration Options

Apple has quietly updated its Mac Pro and Xserve lines with new high-end configurations. The Mac Pro quad-core model now includes an option to replace the base configuration's 2.66 GHz Intel Xeon processor with a 3.33 GHz Intel Xeon. Price? $1,200 for the processor swap.

Newly available in both the quad-core Mac Pro and the eight-core model is the option to replace each of the base configuration's hard drives with 2 TB 7200 rpm drives. This brings the maximum capacity of the Mac Pro up to 8 TB, from 4 TB, and does so at the price of $350 for the first drive, and $550 for each subsequent drive.

Apple's Xserve lineup sees the same 2 TB hard drive upgrade option, at the price of $450 for the first drive and $550 for each subsequent drive. (Xserve drives are more expensive than Mac Pro drives due to the drive carriers and other reasons; see "Going Deep Inside Xserve Apple Drive Modules," 27 March 2009.) The new option brings the Xserve's maximum capacity to 6 TB, up from 3 TB.

Also, new to the Xserve quad-core model is the option to configure the machines with 24 GB of RAM, or 4 GB per slot, at the hefty price of $2,850. (The eight-core Xserve models feature 12 RAM slots instead of the quad-core's 6 slots.)

Now that the iMac boasts substantial specs (see "New iMac Models Receive Larger Screens, SD Card Slot," 20 October 2009), high end upgrade options such as these help further define the Mac Pro and Xserve as the powerhouses of Apple's product line.


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Apples’ New iMac Lineup

Secretive as always, Apple quietly refreshed its iMac hardware lineup. The 20-inch and 24-inch iMac models have now been replaced by 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMac models carrying LED-backlit displays. Apart from new LED display, the new iMacs come with Wireless Keyboard and the all new Magic Mouse. The top end 27-inch iMac offers choice between quad-core Intel Core i5 and Core i7 processors while 21.5-inch iMac comes with Intel Core 2 Duo processors.

Four new iMac models feature glossy LED-backlit display with 16:9 aspect ratio made from arsenic free glass and are mercury-free. As against the earlier 1680×1050 pixel resolution in 20-inch display, the new iMac progresses to support 1920×1080 pixel resolution. Supporting full HD (1080p) content, the new iMacs are ideal for watching HD movies, graphical designing or editing videos. Apple updated its iMac lineup seven months back in March.

These new displays are packed in all-aluminum enclosures and have 178 degree viewing angle. No Blu-ray in this iMac refresh as rumored but the iMacs feature SD card slot. Both 21.5-inch and 27-inch iMacs are available in two different models.

Apple has spiced up the iMac hardware by making some much required changes. Two more memory slots have been added making 4GB (2×2GB) DDR3 1066MHz memory as default in every iMac model and supports up to 16GB DDR3 1066MHz RAM. Earlier, iMacs had 2GB DDR3 RAM by default and supported up to 8GB memory.

The entry level or the base 21.5-inch model also got storage bump from 320GB to 500GB SATA 7200RPM HDD. Even the dormant audio department spruced up with built-in speakers with two internal 17-watt high-efficiency amplifiers.

Apple has introduced two 21.5-inch iMac models starting at Rs. 64,900 which will replace the outgoing 20-inch iMac model priced at Rs. 70,200. New 21.5-inch iMac models got speed bump from 2.66GHz in 20-inch iMac to faster 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo CPU with 3MB shared L2 cache. Both 21.5-inch iMac models are differentiated on their graphics and storage configuration which is reflected in the price, obviously.

Entry-level 21.5-inch iMac model as Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics with 256MB GDDR3 video memory and 500GB SATA 7200RPM HDD. While the other 21.5-inch iMac model equips ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics with 256MB GDDR3 video memory and 1TB SATA 7200RPM HDD storage.

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Apple Updates iMac, MacBook Lines

Refresh looks to head off Windows 7, offering sharp new monitors and new internals for the Macs.


Apple loves a big spectacle, but every now and then it's content to do things quietly.

Tuesday was one of those moments: Just a day after stealing the spotlight by posting record revenues and profits for its fourth quarter, Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) announced two new iMac desktop computers with updated internals and true widescreen displays, plus a new MacBook.

The new 21.5-inch and 27-inch models replace the 20- and 24-inch models currently on the market and feature a true widescreen 16x9 aspect ratio display. The new screens are backlit LEDs, similar to the ones used in the MacBook line -- the first time Apple has used these displays in its desktops.

These new iMacs have a number of firsts. Along with the widescreen and LED displays, they have an all-aluminum back, come with quad-core Intel (NASDAQ: INTC) processors and come with an SD card slot.

Apple has also upped the capacity of these machines. They now support a maximum of 16GB of RAM, double the capacity of previous models, and can handle up to 2TB of storage.

Another upgrade: the displays support in-plane switching, or IPS -- a feature previously found only on the Mac Pro. The enhancement means the iMacs retain color fidelity with a wider 178-degree viewing angle. Without such technology, displays' colors can shift when viewed at an angle instead of straight ahead.

The 21.5-inch model supports 1920x1080 pixel resolution while the 27-inch model supports 2560x1440 pixels.

Despite the enhancements, Apple is giving a nod to the price-conscious, with the new iMacs starting at the old model's same base price of $1,199. That sum will get you a 21.5-inch iMac with a 3.06GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of RAM, a 500GB hard drive, and Nvidia GeForce 9400M video GPU.

A $1,999 high-end model due in November will sport a 2.66GHz Intel Core i5 quad-core processor, with the option for a Core i7 CPU. It features a Radeon HD 4850 video card.


Magic Mouse

The new models also include a new input device that Apple calls the Magic Mouse. The mouse features support for Apple's multitouch technology -- popularized on the iPhone -- to support trackpad-like gestures and swipes on the top surface of the mouse itself.

As a result, users can click, scroll, zoom and flip between pages simply using finger gestures. The device can be configured as either a single-button or two-button mouse.

The Magic Mouse also, of course, works like a traditional mouse, with laser tracking -- a step up from optical tracking.

In addition to shipping with the new iMacs, the Magic Mouse is also available separately for a suggested price of $69.

"The iMac is widely praised as the best desktop computer in the world and today we are making it even better," Philip Schiller, Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing, said in a statement. "With brilliant LED displays and the revolutionary Magic Mouse, the new iMac delivers an amazing desktop experience that we think customers will love."


New MacBook

The blogosphere had been rife with rumors that the Mac Mini would get an overhaul during Apple's next product update, but that proved not to be. Instead, the MacBook, its low-end laptop, got the facelift.

Apple is giving it the new polycarbonate unibody shell, the LED-backlit display, a glass multitouch trackpad and the built-in battery like the other MacBooks.

Apple promises seven hours of battery life with this new model, and a new battery design that Apple said is good for 1,000 charges -- three times the normal laptop battery lifespan.

The starting price remains $999. It comes with a 13.3-inch display, 2.26GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of RAM, nVidia 9400M integrated graphics and 250GB of storage.

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New iMacs could pack in an aluminum remote and touch-enabled mouse

Third-party resellers are seeing iMac and Mac mini supplies dwindling as Apple quietly informs them it won’t be able to meet new orders. Put simply, new iMacs and Mac minis are imminent.

As rumors about refreshed new iMacs intensify, the latest leads are pointing to an imminent launch. Apple Insider reports that the Mac maker is warning resellers and partners throughout its retail channel of scarce supply of several desktop Mac models. More precisely, Apple’s retail department has made it clear to third-party resellers that it cannot fulfill any new orders for all four iMac models, in addition to the low-end Mac mini model. This is without an exception a tell-tale sign of an impending product refresh. In addition, it appears that the low-end Mac mini has been discontinued.

A quick check on Amazon revealed most iMac and Mac mini models out of stock at press time. Although Apple’s own retail stores still list the usual 24-hour window of availability for iMacs and Mac minis, Apple’s stock reserved for own retail stores traditionally begins dwindling a week or two ahead of an updated hardware arrival, meaning we’re still at least a week or two from a rumored October media event that will serve as a launchpad for updated desktop Macs. Of course, it’s entirely possible that Apple unveils new models without fanfare, via a simple press release.

Apple last refreshed its consumer desktop Mac lineup on March 3, 2009, bringing Nvidia graphics, twice the memory, and twice the storage across most models. The company also shaved $300 off the entry-level 24-inch iMac model, bringing the 24-inch system down to $1,499, the same as the previous 20-inch iMac.

The rumor-mill is predicting redesigned, cheaper iMacs with Blu-ray, echoing Wedge Partners’ report calling for a “thinner, organic design, likely with smoothed or rounded edges.” The research firm expects cheaper iMacs to play a big role in an estimated 3 million Mac units in the fourth calendar quarter. Apple Insider’s sources indicate that Apple has finalized a redesigned iMac lineup two weeks ago, confirming price cuts, Blu-ray, and “classier” industrial design.

The latest tidbits hint at an SD card slot – the first time ever in a Mac desktop – and Intel’s quad-core Core i7 mobile processor replacing dual-core Intel Core 2 Duo CPUs found in current iMac systems. Common sense logic also suggests a newer GPU replacing Nvidia’s 9400M/9600 integrated/discrete chips used across iMacs, Mac minis, and Mac notebooks. A redesigned aluminum remote control matching the iMac’s design and a re-engineered Mighty Mouse with an all touch-enabled casing are also believed to be in the works.

Geek member “davethejackal” hopes for an ATI Radeon 5870 build-to-order option, while we keep our fingers crossed for a high-end 30-inch iMac model. What do you think Apple has in store for new iMacs? Will they adopt Intel Core i7 in the upcoming revision or is it too early for that chip? What about the GPU, will Apple stick with Nvidia’s 9400/9600 GPUs? Please, chime in with your comments below.

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Steve Jobs discusses Apple and environmental issues

"Except for one keynote speech he gave on Sept. 9, Apple CEO Steven P. Jobs has shunned the press since he went on medical leave in January," Peter Burrows reports for BusinessWeek. "But Jobs spoke with BusinessWeek on Sept. 22 about a subject that has nothing to do with the Mac, iPods, or iPhones."

"The topic was Apple's reputation with regard to the environment and its effort to reposition itself as a leader instead of a laggard. While environmentalists tend to focus on carbon emissions from corporate operations and companies' publicly stated goals to do better, Jobs says Apple wants to set the pace in addressing what he says is a bigger challenge: reducing the amount of power required to run the company's products," Burrows reports. "'Unfortunately, we're way ahead of our competitors,' Jobs contends... 'We tend to report rather than predict,' says Jobs. 'You won't see us out there saying what the PC is going to look like in 2016. We quietly go try to invent the PC for 2016.'"

Burrows reports, "The company has finished a multiyear data-mining project to fully understand its environmental impact on the planet and has published data that may stir up controversy. Apple takes issue with studies that hand accolades to rivals such as Dell and Hewlett-Packard for cutting emissions at their facilities. Apple's research suggests that those emissions make up only a small slice of a company's larger environmental impact—a mere 3% in Apple's case. Far more of the carbon footprint, he says—53%—is generated by Apple's products. 'Everyone focuses on whether you have motion detectors in the conference room' so the lights will go off when it's unattended, says Apple Chief Operating Officer Tim Cook. 'But making products cleaner involves real engineering. It's about innovating, and it's hard work.'"

Burrows reports, "Apple is also winning kudos for an intensified effort to eliminate toxic materials. While many tech companies have promised to stop using particular commercial compounds that include bromine and chlorine, Apple two years ago began requiring suppliers to prove that their products included none of these chemicals at all. That required a major investment, says COO Cook, including hiring chemists to help suppliers come up with alternatives. Take PVC, the additive that gives computer cables their flexibility. To avoid using the material inside its products, Apple came up with a 'special blend' of polyester."

Burrows reports, "Meantime, while both Dell and HP had promised to stop using PVC by the end of 2009, both recently said the goal was impossible because of a lack of commercial substitutes. Yet Apple met its target of 2008 for the innards of its devices, and sources say future products will ship with PVC-free power, mouse, and monitor cords."

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Report: Revamped iMac With Blu-Ray (Maybe) Coming Soon

A redesigned iMac with a slimmer chassis, a lower price tag and possibly Blu-Ray is coming in the next few weeks, says AppleInsider.

Citing two sources, the new iMac is already rolling off production lines in Taiwan, says the website. It could be launched as early as next week, though early- to mid-October is likelier.

The new machine will likely be cheaper and sport a thinner industrial design, along the lines of Apple’s latest LED backlit Cinema Displays. It may also have Blu-Ray, AppleInsider suggests, though not very strongly.

“People familiar with Apple’s thinking have suggested in recent months one of these moves could see the company finally embrace Blu-ray — a technology once derided by Chief Executive Steve Jobs as a “bag of hurt” from a licensing perspective.”

CoM is betting against Blu-Ray. The format isn’t yet ready for prime time on computers. Until software and other media ships on Blu-Ray, it’s a format that makes sense only for movies on home theater systems.

If Apple does add Blu-Ray, it’s likely to be at a premium, AppleInsider says, suggesting Blu-Ray may be available as an option, which sounds reasonable. Customers wanting a Blu-Ray drive can pay extra for it.

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