iMac Updated

The Aluminium, Intel-powered iMac has just been updated and lauched a day ahead apparently. No sign of any new MacBooks.
"Apple® today updated its all-in-one iMac® line with the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors and the most powerful graphics ever available in an iMac. With prices starting at just £799, iMac includes faster processors with 6MB L2 cache and a faster 1066 MHz front-side bus across the entire line, and 2GB of memory standard in most models. The 24-inch iMac now offers a 3.06 GHz Intel processor and the high-performance NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS graphics as options, extending iMac’s lead as the ultimate all-in-one desktop computer for both consumers and professionals.

“The iMac’s gorgeous aluminium and glass all-in-one design has been an incredible hit with our customers and is just one of the reasons Mac sales are growing three and a half times faster than PC sales,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “With the latest Intel processors, a faster new graphics option and more memory, customers now have even more reasons to love the iMac.”"

Steve Ballmer - Mac User.

What laptop does Steve Ballmer use for his presentations? Right..., originally uploaded by Paint.It.Black.

This was taken at a media conference in Louvain, Belgium last week. I bet he's using Boot Camp to run Windows Vista on this MacBook Pro. Ballmer running on Mac OS? Hell would have to freeze over before that happened.

New iMacs out next week. Rumour resurfaces

Don't say I didn't warn you.
See the Macworld website if you don't believe me.

ITV comes it iTunes. Well, almost.

OK, so the programmes are no way half as good as those on the BBC or Channel 4, but they did do Cold Feet. It seems a bit strange to launch with just this and Lewis, Brideshead Revisited, Goodnight Mr Tom, The Saint and Captain Scarlet, but hopefully it's just the start. Clobber Castle, Cholton & The Wheelies, Willow The Wisp, Metal Mickey, George & Mildred? Morcambe & Wise? See. ITV do have some good stuff worth dusting off. OK, perhaps not Metal Mickey.

O2 knock £100 off the iPhone 8GB.

This is no doubt due to everyone holding out for the 3G, iPhone 2 that'll be out this summer. The deal is 600 mins, 500 texts and unlimited EDGE internet access for £35 a month when you spend £169 on an iPhone. The 16GB remains at £329.

Redesigned Notebooks Coming Soon.

If you're thinking of buying a MacBook, don't. You'll only kick yourself once the new ones are out. For a start, they won't have a plastic case. Plastic isn't as eco-friendly as Aluminium. This means that they'll be completely redesigned. The last thing any new Mac owner wants is for their shiny new Mac to be replaced by a bigger, better, faster, prettier version. It'll be something you'll have to begrudge for the next five or so years. I'd like to see new MacBooks in a variety of colours, like the iPod nanos. Otherwise they may look the same as the 'more professional' MacBook Pros. I don't think Apple will want that. Here's what those at AppleInsider predict.

Motion control Quake for iPod!

Things are getting exciting now the developers are getting their teeth into the iPhone SDK. This amazing film of Quake being played on an iPhone has been posted on Hardmac.com . And what a triple treat it is!

New Mac mini and slimmer iMacs out in the next few weeks.

LoopRumors reckon that Apple these new models are in production already. The Mac mini will see a dramatic change in form - 'less that half the size'' and see modest speed increases with significantly larger storage. The iMacs will only be slightly slimmer and feature the new Intel Penron chips. So don't do something silly in the meantime, like buy a new iMac or mini. I'm warning you.

Safari updated to v3.1

They say it's the fastest browser in the world. But they're not neccessarily refering to the Windows version. "Safari loads web pages 1.9 times faster than IE 7 and 1.7 times faster than Firefox 2. Safari also runs JavaScript up to six times faster than other browsers, and is the first browser to support the latest innovative web standards needed to deliver the next generation of highly interactive Web 2.0 experiences." In my opinion the only real advantage over Firefox it Safari's RSS reader. I haven't found a use for the other new widget clipper thingy, as I don't see the point of Dashboard. I was a big fan of Konfabulator (what Dashboard ripped-off) because your infomation was always on the screen without you having to push a button. That why I don't see any point of Dashboard. If you want to use a translator or calculator, why jump to another screen? These apps are far more useful when you can use them in conjunction with the apps you already have open. Anyway that's only one small gimmick in Safari. A faster browser is a good. Just continue to do that.

Apple updates AirPort Express with 802.11n

I'm not sure why they took so long to do this but the new Airport Express is here. Now I've a few of the old Express's and I have one plugged into my stereo. The trouble is, it only plays AirTunes sent music through the right speaker. Don't ask me why, I don't know. I've searched the Apple Support site to no avail. Perhaps buying a new 'n' one will fix this problem? Afterall, they're still under £70.
Here's the P.R. garb:

CUPERTINO, California—March 17, 2008—Apple® today updated its AirPort Express® mobile base station with 802.11n to deliver up to five times the performance and twice the range of the previous model*. Priced at just £65 (inc VAT), AirPort Express is the world’s smallest 802.11n-based mobile base station. It can be plugged directly into the wall for wireless Internet connectivity and USB printing at home or easily brought on the road for wireless freedom wherever there is an Internet connection. AirPort Express features AirTunes™, which works seamlessly with iTunes® to give users a simple and inexpensive way to wirelessly stream iTunes music from a PC or Mac® to any room in the house.
“Apple is leading the way with a broad range of innovative 802.11n base stations for almost any wireless networking need,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “From the small and portable AirPort Express, to AirPort Extreme for workgroups of up to 50 users and the new Time Capsule for automated backups, Apple customers now have more great ways to extend their wireless networks with 802.11n.”
AirPort Express features a single-piece, compact design weighing just 6.7 ounces, providing maximum portability. AirPort Express offers both PC and Mac users the ability to share a single DSL or cable broadband connection with up to 10 simultaneous users. Users can also share a printer wirelessly that is connected to the USB port. Apple’s AirPort Utility software provides easy step-by-step instructions for setting up and configuring AirPort Express; and with its advanced security features, AirPort Express safeguards data on networked computers with support for Wi-Fi Protected Access (WPA/WPA2), 128-bit WEP encryption and a built-in firewall. Apple now includes 802.11n as standard in its entire line of AirPort base stations and Mac notebooks as well as iMac®, Apple TV® and Time Capsule™.

AirPort Express includes a built-in combination digital and analogue audio connector allowing users to connect to a home stereo or powered speakers. iTunes automatically detects remote speakers and displays them in a simple pop-up list for the user to select. Once the remote speakers are selected, AirTunes wirelessly streams iTunes music from the computer to the AirPort Express base station. Multiple AirPort Express base stations can be set up around a home, each connected to a set of powered speakers for a whole-home music experience. AirPort Express can also extend the range of an existing AirPort Extreme® wireless network.