Apple not interested in cheap computers. Netbooks? Maybe.

News from Steve Jobs' recent meeting with analysts show there's a glimmer of hope for those of us after an Apple netbook, but it does look like we'll have to make do with our iPhones and iPod touch's until the market for netbooks picks up (surely it has already?).

"As we look at the netbook category, that's a nascent category. There's as best as we can tell not a lot of them getting sold," Jobs said. "But we'll wait and see how that nascent category evolves and we've got some pretty interesting ideas if it does evolve."

"You know, one of our entrants into that category, if you will, is the iPhone for browsing the Internet and doing email and all the other things that a netbook lets you do, and being connected via the cellular net wherever you are, an iPhone is a pretty good solution for that, and it fits in your pocket."

Read the full article on MacUser.

MacLiveExpo free tickets still available

MacLiveExpo incorporative LinuxLiveExpo and CreativeProExpo is on this weekend. It's a shame Apple have lost interest in the show since they opened their stores. It's still worth a visit if you're in the area.

Yesterday's (not so) special event is online now.

Even ex-pat designer Ive gets a go on stage. See it here

New 15" MacBook Pro and updated MacBook Air.

I'm so depressed, I can't even be bothered to type anything about these. I'll just cut and paste from the Apple site. Before I do, the Air doesn't have the new glass trackpad.


MacBook Pro 2.4GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo
15-inch widescreen
2GB Memory
250GB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 256MB
£1,399.00

MacBook Pro 2.53GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo
15-inch widescreen
4GB Memory
320GB hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M + 9600M GT with 512MB
£1,749.00



MacBook Air 1.6GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1066MHz frontside bus
2GB Memory
120GB SATA hard drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Ships: Early November
£1,299.00

MacBook Air 1.86GHz
Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 1066MHz frontside bus
2GB Memory
128GB solid-state drive1
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Ships: Early November
£1,799.00

New LED Cinema Display

The cheap product that appeared on the leaked price list last week ended up being a new 24" LED Cinema Display. They say it's made for the new MacBooks and due to its connection cable (containing three connectors: Mini DisplayPort, MagSafe, USB 2.0) it can only be used with the MacBooks with a MiniDisplayPort. Unlike Apple's other Cinema Displays it also has a built-in iSight camera and 2.1 speaker system. There's no UK price yet but in the US it'll cost $899.

Apple shock (the price) and awe (the looks) with new MacBooks

OK, so they've given them faster graphics cards, precision aluminium 'unibodies', glass trackpads, LED displays, and therefore greener credentials, but unfortunately it all comes at a cost; they've only gone and bumped up the price of a MacBook by £250! What planet are Apple on? Alright, so they still sell the old plastic white Macbook, but for how long? (and how come it's gone up by £20?!) I have to agree with what Brad Brooks, vice president of Windows Consumer Product Marketing, said yesterday about Mac users paying an "Apple tax". Yes, Apple have produced a set of MacBooks that are engineered to standards that don't even exist yet, but couldn't they have applied all of that innovative thinking to produce a well-built, stylish notebook for under £500? When did any of them last read a newspaper? Perhaps to follow a trend isn't thinking different enough? Perhaps they have a larger iPod touch in the wings that will fill their ever widening compact portable hole? Perhaps I should bash my 12" PowerBook back into shape and modify its guts? Or maybe buy an Asus EeePC and stick an Apple logo to it? Linux can't be that bad.

MacBook Pro given sexy iMac look.

These spy shots from Engadget show what can only be the new MacBook Pro that will be officially revealed this evening. Notice that there is no button underneath the trackpad. That's because the track pad will be multi-gesture like the screen on an iPhone/iPod touch. With all that glass, the notebook better be strong. Another rumour is that the MacBooks will no longer have a Firewire port; bad news for all you budding moviemakers. I've given up hope for a netbook sized laptop. It looks like we'll witness yet another underwhelming special event tonight.

The invites are out.

Invites have been sent out to the event that will take place on October 14th at Apple's campus in Cupertino at 10AM PST.
Aluminum MacBook anyone?
Notice how the invite says notebooks and not MacBooks...could they be about to introduce a notebook without the MacBook moniker? Like a NetBook or WebBook, or even reintroduce a new iBook?

New leaked photos of Macbooks and retail prices appear

Japanese site Apple.pro have posted these spy shots of what looks like the new MacBook Pro in it's new 'brick' form. Also MacRumors has information on the new price lists with the cheapest MacBook being £150 (well $300) cheaper than the current price. Could this signal a new laptop rather than a price cut of the 13.1" MacBook? Let's hope so.

Genius comes to Apple TV

The new Apple TV software update 2.2 lets you create Genius playlists; allows you to browse movies by actor or director; gives access to Chapters, audio and subtitles when you press and hold the Play/pause button and movie descriptions when you press up during playback; lets you create on-the-go playlists; place music videos in playlists; and a standby mode has been added (not good for reducing your carbon bum print). They also added the ability to play HD movies... but only if you live in the US.

Music from the Mighty Mac OS Sound System

I found this on The Technology Guardian 'You Choose'. Someone who was obviously bored with waiting for Apple to bring out a Netbook decided to use their time by sticking the Mac OS X system sounds in GarageBand to make the most boring piece of music in the world. What do they want? A biscuit?!