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News & Opinion
Apple Updates MacBook Air with Core i5/i7
Processors, Thunderbolt, and Backlit Keyboard
PR: Apple on Wednesday updated the MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge Core
i processors, ultra high-speed Thunderbolt I/O technology, a backlit
keyboard, and Mac OS X Lion.
Apple claims up to twice the performance of the previous
generation,1 featuring flash data storage for instant-on
responsiveness, and the MacBook Air's famous compact design continues
without any major changes. The base MacBook Air starts at $999 and is
available now.
11.6" and 13.3" 2011 MacBook Air
As before, the MacBook Air is available in 11" and 13" models with
an aluminum unibody enclosure measures 0.11" at its thinnest point and
0.68" at its thickest. Standard flash storage allows the slim notebook
to turn on virtually instantly and deliver fast data access, improved
reliability and better energy efficiency. The 11" model weighs 2.38
pounds and provides up to a claimed 5 hours of battery life, while the
13" weighs 2.96 pounds and provides up to 7 hours of battery
life.2
With the latest Intel Core i5 and Core i7
dual-core processors, the new MacBook Air is claimed to be up to twice
as fast as the previous generation. with plenty of power for editing
photos and movies, making FaceTime calls, playing games, and working
with documents and presentations. A downgrade is that these Sandy
Bridge MacBook Airs have Intel HD Graphics 3000 IGPU, which are less
powerful than the Nvidia GeForce 320M IGPUs used in the previous
generation Core 2 Duo MacBook Airs, but the extra processor speed of
the Core i CPUs should compensate and more. As before, the MacBook Airs
support up to 4 GB of 1333 MHz memory, but any upgrades must be
specified as build-to-order options at the time of purchase, and cannot
be retrofitted.
Indeed, it's a disappointment that the base, $999 11.6" MacBook Air
still comes equipped with just 2 GB of RAM and a and a puny 64 GB SSD,
since 4 GB and 128 GB respectively had been speculated in prerelease
rumors, especially since Apple quietly terminated the $999 white
polycarbonate MacBook,
leaving the $999 Air as the sole offering in that price slot.
Thunderbolt I/O technology provides expansion possibilities never
before available to MacBook Air users. Through a single cable, users
can connect to high performance peripherals and the new Apple
Thunderbolt Display, the ultimate docking station for your Mac
notebook. Thunderbolt can easily be adapted to support legacy
connections such as FireWire and Gigabit Ethernet.
The revised MacBook Air now comes with a full size backlit
keyboard and a glass Multi-Touch trackpad. The backlit keyboard uses a
sensor to automatically detect a change in ambient lighting and adjusts
the keyboard brightness for any environment. The Multi-Touch trackpad
supports Lion's new Multi-Touch gestures such as momentum scrolling,
tapping or pinching your fingers to zoom in on a web page or image, and
swiping left or right to turn a page or switch between full screen
apps.
The MacBook Air also features LED
backlit displays of 1366 x 768 resolution for the 11.6" model, and 1440
x 900 for the 13-incher. The New Airs can share files wirelessly with
other Macs that support Lion's AirDrop, and include Bluetooth for
wireless peripherals and two USB ports.
The new MacBook Air meets Energy Star 5.2 requirements and achieves
EPEAT Gold status.3 Each unibody enclosure is made of highly
recyclable aluminum and comes standard with energy efficient
LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free
glass. Mac notebooks contain no brominated flame retardants, are
PVC-free and are constructed of recyclable materials.
Every new MacBook Air comes with Mac OS X
Lion, the eighth major release of Apple's OS X operating system, but be
aware that if you have favorite or mission-critical applications or
utilities that contain PowerPC code, the new Airs will not run OS X
10.6 Snow Leopard for retention of Rosetta PowerPC emulation.
Also bundled are iLife apps for creating and sharing photos, movies
and music. Lion introduces more than 250 new features to the Mac,
including Multi-Touch gestures; systemwide support for full screen
apps; Mission Control, an innovative view of everything running on your
Mac; the Mac App Store, the best place to find and explore great
software, built right into the OS; Launchpad, a new home for all your
apps; and a completely redesigned Mail app.
The 11" and 13" MacBook Air are available for order on the Apple
Store. The 1.6 GHz 11" MacBook Air is available in two models, one with
2 GB of memory and 64 GB of flash storage for a suggested retail
price of $999, and one with 4 GB of memory and 128 GB of flash
storage for $1,199. The 1.7 GHz 13" MacBook Air comes in two
configurations, one with 4 GB of memory and 128 GB of flash
storage for a suggested retail price of $1,299, and one with 4 GB
of memory and 256 GB of flash storage for $1,599. Configure-to-order
options and accessories include a 1.8 GHz Core i7 processor, additional
flash storage, MacBook Air SuperDrive and a USB Ethernet Adapter.
Additional technical specifications and configure-to-order options
and accessories are available online.
- Testing conducted by Apple in July 2011 using preproduction MacBook
Air configurations. For more information visit http://www.apple.com/macbookair/features.html
- The new Wireless Web protocol testing was conducted by Apple in
July 2011 using preproduction MacBook Air configurations. Battery life
and charge cycles vary by use and settings. For more information visit
http://www.apple.com/macbookair/features.html
- EPEAT is an independent organization that helps customers compare
the environmental performance of notebooks and desktops. For more
information visit http://www.epeat.net
Apple Introduces World's First Thunderbolt
Display
PR: Apple on Wednesday unveiled the new Apple Thunderbolt
Display, the world's first display with Thunderbolt I/O technology and
the ultimate docking station for your Mac notebook. With just a single
cable, users can connect a Thunderbolt-enabled Mac to the 27" Apple
Thunderbolt Display and access its FaceTime camera, high quality audio,
and Gigabit Ethernet, FireWire 800, USB 2.0, and Thunderbolt ports.
Designed specifically for Mac notebooks, the new display features an
elegant, thin, aluminum and glass enclosure, and includes a MagSafe
connector that charges your MacBook Pro or MacBook Air.
"The Apple Thunderbolt Display is the
ultimate docking station for your Mac notebook," said Philip Schiller,
Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With
just one cable, users can dock with their new display and connect to
high performance peripherals, network connections and audio
devices."
With a beautiful 16:9 edge-to-edge glass design, the Thunderbolt
Display uses IPS technology to provide a brilliant image across an
ultra wide 178° viewing angle. Any Thunderbolt-enabled Mac notebook
can dock with the display to quickly and easily create a full-fledged
desktop solution. The Thunderbolt Display includes a built-in FaceTime
HD video camera for crisp video conferencing, a 2.1 speaker system for
high quality audio, an integrated MagSafe charger to keep Mac notebooks
charged, three USB 2.0 ports, one FireWire 800 port, one Gigabit
Ethernet port, and a Thunderbolt port for daisy chaining up to five
additional Thunderbolt devices.
The Thunderbolt Display is the world's first display to include
Thunderbolt I/O technology. Featuring two bi-directional channels with
transfer speeds up to an amazing 10 Gbps each, each Thunderbolt port
delivers PCI Express directly to external peripherals such as high
performance storage and RAID arrays, supports DisplayPort for high
resolution displays and works with existing adapters for HDMI, DVI and
VGA displays. Thunderbolt-based Macs with discrete graphics can drive
two external displays giving professional users over 7 million
additional pixels of display real estate and the ability to daisy chain
additional Thunderbolt devices, as well as video and audio capture
devices.
The Thunderbolt Display includes an ambient light sensor which
automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting
conditions and uses only as much energy as necessary to provide an
optimum viewing experience. Made with mercury-free LED technology,
arsenic-free glass and highly recyclable materials, the new display
meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.* The
new display contains no brominated flame retardants and all cables and
components are PVC-free.
The new Thunderbolt Display will be available within the next 60
days through the Apple Store, Apple's retail stores, and Apple
Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $999. The Apple
Thunderbolt Display requires a Mac with a Thunderbolt I/O port.
New MacBook Air Shipments Expected to Stay Strong
from June to August
DigiTimes' Aaron Lee and Joseph Tsai say shipments of Apple's just
released third-generation MacBook Air from the supply chain already
reached 400,000-500,000 units in June and volume is expected to remain
strong throughout July and August, according to sources from Apple's
upstream supply chain.
The sources estimate that MacBook series sales will reach 13-14
million units in 2011 and may even reach 15 million units, adding that
Apple is the only vendor that has provided a full shipments forecast to
the first quarter of 2012
Link: New MacBook Air
Shipments Expected to Stay Strong from June to August (subscription
required)
How to Check Your 'Book's Battery Health
AppleHeadlines.com's Brian has posted a quick and simple how-to on
checking the health of a Mac laptop's battery - useful when purchasing
or selling a used Mac laptop to see if a new battery is possibly
needed, along with a video.
Link: How to Check the
Battery's Health on Mac Laptops
Apple Developing New Keyboard Configuration for
MacBook Pro?
AppleBitch reports that an image appearing to show a unibody MacBook
Pro with a different key configuration from the current model has been
unearthed by Macgasm from
the Apple website, with the image, which was apparently pulled shortly
after it was grabbed, showing a MacBook Pro apparently running an early
build of Lion, with a keyboard that has a different set of arrow
navigation keys on the right side as well as small modifications to the
Shift key.
Publisher's note: The addition of dedicated Home and
End keys, as seen in the images, would be a real plus.
dk
Link: Apple Looking at
New Lion-Specific Keyboard Configuration for MacBook Pro?
Troubleshooting
Managing Overheating External Hard Drives in OS
X
MacFixIt's Topher Kessler notes that many laptop users have external
hard drives with smaller notebook-sized 2.5" disks that can be powered
by the computer's USB or FireWire bus, and that although compact and
convenient, sometimes these drives can end up getting exceptionally hot
with use, to the point where it may hurt or even burn if you hold the
drive for more than a few seconds, with the heat also contributing to
premature drive failure.
He offers some tips to help keep heat buildup to manageable
levels.
Link: Managing
Overheating External Hard Drives in OS X
Products & Services
Waterfield Designs' New Smart Case for MacBook Air
Style
PR: Waterfield Designs, the preeminent San Francisco
manufacturer of custom laptop sleeves and distinguished bags and cases
for digital gear, introduces the all-new MacBook Air Smart Case. Lion
MacBook Air sales are predicted to hit 1.5 million per quarter as
reported by AppleInsider, and Waterfield Designs is poised meet
resulting demand for its quality MacBook Air cases.
The
robustly protective and impeccably stylish new Smart Case is available
in custom sizes for both the 11" and 13" MacBook Air models. The Smart
Case, shipping now, joins four premier MacBook Air cases already
available from Waterfield Designs.
"The Smart Case with its bold colors and distressed leather sides is
a unique, eye-catching case," says owner Gary Waterfield. "A plastic,
impact-resisting insert and padded sides offer matchless protection and
the color choices match our popular Muzetto bag."
Features:
- Two sizes: Custom fitted to 11.6" or 13" MacBook Air
- Light and protective
- Water-resistant, nylon exterior
- Lightly padded interior
- Ultrasuede scratch-free liner that helps remove fingerprints
- Flanked by eco-friendly, distressed brown leather
- High-impact, rigid plastic inserts for additional protection
- Stretch back pocket to hold power adapter and cables
- Six vibrant color choices
- TSA-friendly
With this new addition, Waterfield now offers three MacBook Air
sleeve options - the new Smart Case, the SleeveCase, and the Suede
Jacket Sleeve - all of which can work in conjunction with Waterfield's
popular Muzetto laptop bag. Waterfield Designs offers two MacBook Air
bag options with room for the Air, a power adapter, cables and more:
the MacBook Air Travel Express, and the MacBook Air Wallet.
MacBook Air Smart Case: 11": $79. 13": $89. Colors are available in
Black, Copper, Flame, Green, Pearl, or Pine. Available now at
Waterfield Designs/SFBags company store.
Link: MacBook Air Smart
Case
eggshell Hard Case for MacBook Air 11" and 13"
PR: Available in two sizes, eggshell will fit both the
MacBook Air 11" and 13" models. The tough polycarbonate comes is two
pieces which fit snugly and protect the top and bottom of MacBook Air
from light bumps and scratches. The clarity of the case allows one to
still enjoy the color of MacBook Air's brushed aluminum finish.
Four rubber feet on the bottom of eggshell keep MacBook Air
from sliding during typing, and the case ensures that MacBook Air stays
put when placed on smooth surfaces. eggshell does not obstruct any of
the MacBook Air ports, so the MagSafe and USB ports are fully
accessible.
This case is suitable for:
- MacBook Air (13", Late 2010)
- MacBook Air (11", Late 2010)
Specifications:
- 13" model
- Top: 328(W) x 229(H) x 5(D)mm
- Bottom: 328(W) x 229(H) x 10(D)mm
- Weight: approximately 300g
- 11" model
- Top: 328(W) x 195(H) x 5(D)mm
- Bottom: 303(W) x 195(H) x 10(D)mm
- Weight: approximately 230g
Color: Carbon Black
13" version - $43.99
11" version - $42.95
Link: 13"
eggshell Hard Case for MacBook Air
Link: 11"
eggshell Hard Case for MacBook Air
Magma Announces Plans for Thunderbolt Expansion
Solutions
PR: Magma, a developer of PCI Express expansion and
connectivity products, has announced plans to support the all-new
Thunderbolt technology, developed by Intel and brought to market in
collaboration with Apple. Magma has a long history of providing
expansion systems that extend PCI and PCI Express bus signals over
cable from the computer to an external expansion chassis. Magma's
Thunderbolt expansion offerings will provide a migration path to
Thunderbolt, while protecting customers' investment in specialized PCI
and PCI Express option cards made for video capture and edit, broadcast
video, pro audio, communications, data acquisition and more. The
introduction of Thunderbolt technology on Apple MacBook Pro and iMac
computers provides an opportunity for Magma to embrace the next
generation of "outside the box" high-speed connectivity and support the
users who will be upgrading hardware while continuing to depend on PCI
and PCI Express peripherals.
Thunderbolt technology is a new, high-speed, dual-protocol I/O
technology designed for performance, simplicity, and flexibility.
Thunderbolt technology features dual-channel 10 Gbps per port
bidirectionally. Thunderbolt supports both PCI Express and DisplayPort
protocols, bringing together high-speed data transfer and
high-definition (HD) display onto a single copper or optical cable. A
high performance media workstation can be built by simply connecting a
Thunderbolt equipped computer to external Thunderbolt devices such as
data storage, media capture, high-resolution displays and expansion
chassis.
"Thunderbolt technology is the interconnect protocol that
performance hungry video and audio production professionals have been
demanding for quite some time," says Magma's CEO and President Randy
Jones, "We are thrilled to be involved in supporting this cutting edge
technology collaboration between Apple and Intel and to be bringing
Thunderbolt expansion solutions to market before the end of the
year".
"Thunderbolt technology combines high-speed data and display
transfers, delivering great responsiveness with absolute ease of use,"
comments Jason Ziller, Intel director of Thunderbolt planning and
marketing. "Magma's upcoming products will use Thunderbolt technology
to extend system capabilities even further."
Magma is dedicated to providing expansion products for a variety of
platforms. As new interconnect options become available, Magma will
adopt technologies like Thunderbolt that remove bandwidth bottlenecks
for users with sophisticated audio, video, mass storage and high
performance computing applications.
Link: Thunderbolt Expansion
Chassis
Software
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Editor, Special Edition
of Photoshop Elements, Debuts in Mac App Store
PR: Adobe Systems Incorporated has announced the immediate
availability of Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Editor in the Mac App Store,
providing Mac users with powerful yet easy-to-use photo-editing tools
for creating extraordinary photos.
Based on the industry-standard Adobe Photoshop software, Photoshop
Elements 9 Editor helps users take their photos from ordinary to
phenomenal in seconds. Photoshop helped pioneer creativity on the Mac,
so its appropriate that this special edition of Photoshop Elements is
Adobe's entry into the Mac App Store.
"The powerful capabilities in Photoshop Elements 9 Editor complement
iPhoto perfectly, for users who want to take their photos to the next
level with advanced compositing and stunning effects," says Winston
Hendrickson, Adobe's vice president of Digital Imaging Products.
"Photoshop helped pioneer creativity on the Mac, so its appropriate
that this special edition of Photoshop Elements is Adobes entry into
the Mac App Store."
Photoshop Elements 9 Editor includes popular editing features
available in the full version of the No. 1 selling consumer
photo-editing software. Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Guided Edits offer
easy-to-follow, step-by-step instructions for creating artistic effects
such as Out of Bounds for making photos leap off the page, Pop Art for
creating retro-style images, or Perfect Portraits for easy retouching.
Users can instantly remove clutter from photos or repair imperfections
with one stroke of the Spot Healing Brush, which uses powerful
content-aware technology adapted from Photoshop CS5.
For the perfect group shot, Photoshop Elements 9 Editor combines the
best facial expressions from a number of different shots into a single
perfect photo. And, the new Adobe Photomerge Style Match analyzes
stylistic characteristics of any photo, such as contrast or color tone,
and automatically applies them to another photo.
One-step shortcuts provide quick fixes such as whitening teeth or
creating vibrant blue skies, and automated layout options quickly
showcase selected photos. Users can also create and print customized
calendars, cards and photo books right at home.
Adobe Photoshop Elements 9 Editor can be downloaded immediately for
$79 from the Mac App Store.
Link:
Photoshop Elements 9 Editor
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