New MacBooks, MacBook Pros, MacBook Air, Apple Cinema Display!

Today at Apple's notebook-focused media event on it's campus in Cupertino, California, Steve Jobs took the stage to announce updates of all Apple's portable computers, as well as a new Cinema Display.

MacBook Air
The MacBook Air recieved a RAM upgrade, a hard drive upgrade, improved graphics, and a Mini Display Port. The Air now comes standard with 2GB of DDR3 RAM, a 120GB hard drive with an option to upgrade to a 128GB SSD, an NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor, and it now includes a Mini Display Port to work with the new Apple Cinema Display.

MacBook Pro
The MacBook Air got a complete redesign. Apple's Senior Vice President of Product Design, Jonathan Ive, introduced a whole new way of manufacturing notebooks. Until now, the aluminum casing of the MacBook Pro has played little part in being the structure of the actual product. There were reinforcments made of Magnesium throughout the inside of the product, which not only took up space, but made the notebook heavier. Apple has a new manufacturing process, that uses thicker aluminum for the casing, however aluminum makes up the entire structure of the case. The new "unibody" design is lighter and thinner. The MacBook Pro now has an LED-backlit display, 2GB of DDR3 RAM, the new NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT graphics processor. On the side, there is now a Mini DisplayPort for compatibility with the new Cinema Display.

MacBook
Not only did Apple introduce a new aluminum MacBook, but they kept the old plastic one in the lineup, but with a lower price point of $999. Analysts are calling the $999 MacBook the most important part of the KeyNote because it greatly widens Apple's addressable range of customers. This is Apple's first ever sub-$1000 notebook. The new aluminum MacBooks are very similar to the new MacBook Pros. They have an aluminum unibody design, a LED backlit display, and the addition of a Mini DisplayPort. The new trackpad includes no physical button because it is the button. The new trackpads are made of glass and include support for multi-touch gestures. Apple introduced 2 new 4-finger gestures today. One to enter Expose, and the other for quick app switching.

The MacBook recieved a few specification updates, most notably: 2GB of DDR3 RAM, the new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor.

24" Cinema Display
Other than the new notebooks, Apple announced a new LED-backlit Cinema Display today. The display is 24", and has 2 cables. One power cable, and one connector which brances off into 3 separate cables specifically designed for notebooks. There is a MagSafe connector for notebooks, so you can hook up a MacBook to charge off of the display's power cable, a USB cable for the display's built in iSight, and a Mini DisplayPort for connecting to computers with that port. An adapter is available so you can use a DVI or VGA port. This is Apple's first display to include a built in iSight camera as well as a microphone and speaker system. As usual, the Cinema Display includes 3 self powered USB ports, so you can use the display as a USB hub as well.

New MacBooks!

The October 14 Apple event is over, here is what was announced:

Redesigned MacBook and MacBook Pro

-The MacBook and MacBook Pro has been redesigned from top to bottom, looking real sexy, ;-)
-The MacBook and MacBook Pro comes with a better graphics card(NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics).
-The MacBook and MacBook Pro has a new LED-backlit display.



MacBook price: 2.0ghz; $1,299.00
2.4ghz; $1,599.00
The original white MacBook is available on Apple's online store for $999.
MacBook Pro

New iPods and More! Let's Rock!

Apple has released updates for the entire iPod line. There are new iPod shuffles, iPod nanos, iPod classics, and iPod touches.

The most notable new design is in the iPod nano. The rumors were true about the curved design and the tall screen. The new iPod nano comes in 9 different colors. New features in the firmware include a "shake to shuffle" tool that uses the new built in accelerometer to sense vibration, and automatically go to shuffle mode. You can also use the accelerometer to turn the iPod on it's side, and watch video in widescreen, or browse music in coverflow. Another new feature is the "genius" tool. It lets you hold down the center button, and it will bring up a menu that asks if you would like to enter genius mode. If you select yes, it will give a list of songs that are similar to the song you are listening to.

The iPod touch now more closely resembles the iPhone 3G, with a curved backing that is still chrome, despite rumors of it recieving a plastic back similar to the iPhone. The Touch has the same genius, and shake to shuffle features that are in the new iPod nano. There is also a built in speaker on the side. Also introduced was the iPhone 2.1 firmware which costs $9.99 to those who haven't purchased the iPhone 2.0 firmware, but is free to those who have.

The iPod classic got a slight revamp. It now comes just 120GB, in silver or black. The 160GB model was discontinued.

The iPod shuffle now comes in new colors, but the same design, and same storage capacities. The new colors match the iPod nano colors, but not all 9 colors are available for the shuffle.

Also released today was iTunes 8.0. New features are "genius" which, like in the iPod, suggests music similar to the song you are listening to. There is also a new visualizer, and it is amazing. You have to see it for yourself because I can't express the pure shock I was in through words. You can now purchase HD TV shows for the $2.99 per episode.

You can not use the back to school promo which continues until September 15th to get one of the new iPods. Apple also announced new In Ear Headphones for $79.

Apple Campus Fire Caused $2 Million in Damage

Tuesday's fire on Apple's campus in Building 6 caused roughly $2 million dollars in damage. Nobody was harmed in the fire which burned for around 2 hours. Most of the damage was smoke damage. The fire was in Valley Green drive across from Apple's main campus on Infinite Loop. The fire was said to be caused by workers on the roof doing construction work which included welding. It was previously thought that the fire was caused by an air conditioning unit.

Apple Campus on Fire (Update)

Some details of the Extent of the damage at Cupertino have been released on FOX news.
Some of the Roof and the second floor were scorched. Apparently, the fire was not very large, but smoke damage will be a BIG problem.

Apple Campus on Fire

Apple's sales have been on fire lately, but last night, building Valley Green Six at 20705 on Apple's campus in Cupertino caught fire. The blaze drew 60 firefighters, and has been put out. An air conditioning unit may have been the cause of the fire. Fortunately, all the employees in the building got out unharmed. There is currently no news on how much damage there was.