Price Check: New Apple Products.

By Benedict Wee

iMacs

US

21.5-inch screen, 500GB HDD, NVIDIA 9400M graphics -

US$1199/NZ$1603

21.5-inch screen , 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics - US$1499/NZ$2005

27-inch screen, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics -

US$1699/NZ$2272

27-inch screen, Quad-Core, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics - US$1999/NZ$2673

NZ

21.5-inch screen, 500GB HDD, NVIDIA 9400M graphics -

NZ$1999

21.5-inch screen , 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics -

NZ$2499

27-inch screen, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4670 graphics -

NZ$2899

27-inch screen, Quad-Core, 1TB HDD, ATI Radeon HD 4850 graphics - NZ$3399

MacBook

US

2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 250GB HDD, 2GB DDR3, NVIDIA 9400M graphics - $US999/NZ$1336

NZ

2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 250GB HDD, 2GB DDR3, NVIDIA 9400M graphics - NZ$1669

Mac minis

US

2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 8x SuperDrive, NVIDIA 9400M graphics -

US$599/NZ$801

2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 8x SuperDrive, NVIDIA 9400M graphics -

US$799/NZ$1070

2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 2x 500GB HDD, NVIDIA 9400M graphics -

US$999/NZ$1336

NZ

2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, 8x SuperDrive, NVIDIA 9400M graphics -

NZ$1049

2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 320GB HDD, 8x SuperDrive, NVIDIA 9400M graphics -

NZ$1398

2.53GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB RAM, 2x 500GB HDD, NVIDIA 9400M graphics -

NZ$ 1749

Magic Mouse

US

US$69/NZ$92.30

NZ

NZ$119

Apple Remote

US

US$19/NZ$25.50

NZ

NZ$29

Source:

Apple Store US

Apple Store NZ

New Apple Stuff: Macbooks, iMacs, Minis, Mice & Remotes.

By Benedict Wee

Apple has announced a slew of next-gen computers and accessories today starting with new iMacs which come in 21.5 and 27-inch screen options.

The new iMac allows you to fit in 4 RAM modules (for a maximum of 16GB memory) and comes with a choice of Core 2 Duo (3.06 GHz) or Core i5/i7 (2.66/2.80 GHz) quad-core processor options. Its design has been changed from a plastic back and metal front to a unibody one which means the whole body is covered in a metal chassis. Prices range from US$1199 to US$2000.

Next up is the new Mac Minis. Apple has removed the optical drive in favor of two 500GB HDDs and it runs on a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo processor on 4GB of RAM and GeForce 9400M graphics. The new Mac Mini will run Snow Leopard Server and set you back US$1000 though cheaper options can go as low as US$599.

The new US$1000 MacBook comes with a rubberized bottom, a multitouch trackpad, LED backlighting, a non-replaceable battery and its internal specs have been improved to a 2.26 GHz processor with 250GB disk space. Its 2GB DDR2 RAM has also been upgraded to a DDR3 one which provides faster memory.

Now on to accessories. The infinitely frustrating Mighty Mouse has been replaced with the Magic Mouse which comes with a sleek aluminum base and a smooth multitouch top. No more getting that stupid trackball dirty (which in turn, causes the scrolling to not work). Instead, navigation such as flipping, 360-dregree scrolling and clicking is done with finger gestures on the touchpad. The US$69 Magic Mouse runs on AA batteries and is supposed to last for 4 months before having to change them (the batteries, not the mouse. Though you never know with Apple products).

Finally, the new Apple Remote comes with a new design and costs US$19.

Will update the actual cost of Apple's new line of products in Kiwi dollars soon.

Source:

Gizmodo - Apple iMac Hands On.

Gizmodo - Mac Mini Updates: Faster Processors, More Memory And A Dual Hard Disk Server/

Gizmodo - New Unibody LED MacBook Hands On.

Gizmodo - New iMac Finally Gets Matching Apple Remote.

Warning: Snow Leopard Deletes All Files If You Use A Guest Account.

By Benedict Wee

Recent reports by various tech-blogs indicate that anyone who logs on to the Guest account of Snow Leopard-run computers will cause the OS to delete all user files on the main account.

If you've just upgraded your Mac and have a Guest account, I highly suggest that you disable it until the situation has blown over.

As of writing, Apple has not responded nor addressed the issue of the fatal bug.

Source:

Gizmodo - Reports: Snow Leopard Bug Eats User Accounts Whole.

Apple Tablet News/Rumor Roundup: New Release Date Is September, New iTunes Markets, Toshiba Makes A Comment

By Benedict Wee

Let's add to the list of tablet rumors shall we? Gizmodo reports that the Financial Times has information that Apple is trying to launch the their tablets the same time as the new iPod Touches in September. It makes sense as the OCD-ness of Apple would want only two scheduled launch dates in the year (one in middle and one during the holidays).

To further back up this new rumor, CrunchGear reports that Toshiba will ramp up their production of flash memory chips during the month of August to 90%. Apple buys their memory from Toshiba so it makes sense that the increase in orders point in the direction to Apple's portables. But we don't know how many exactly they are ordering so it could just be memory for the new iPod Touches only.

The Financial Times also reports that Apple is in talks with record labels regarding a secret project code-named: "Cocktail" which will provide a full CD's worth of music instead of the current pick-a-track model on iTunes. The companies named in the project thus far are EMI, Sony Music, Warner Music and Universal Music Group.

This report follows the other rumor that the Apple Tablet will come with a Book Marketplace that will allow you to download books (what else?) at a cheaper price (since it doesn't use paper) to your tablet. E-book readers like the Amazon Kindle are hot gadgets in the US now so it makes sense that Apple would want a piece of that pie.

Source:

Gizmodo - FT Claims Apple Tablet, Possible September Launch

CrunchGear - Toshiba Is Making A Whole Lot Of Flash-Memory Chips This Month: New iPods? Tablet-Related? Puppies?

Sony Notebooks To Have Touchscreen Windows 7, Playstation Network, Perhaps Be Cheaper?

By Benedict Wee

In an interview with the vice president of the Sony Information Technology Products Division -Mike Abary- tech blog Laptopmag was given details on the new features and marketing plans for their future notebooks.

When asked about their new netbook -the VAIO W- and its higher price point compared to other netbooks in the market right now Mike admitted that all Sony products would have to be reviewed price-wise in order to remain competitive. This is in light of a report in May made by Sony predicting their 110 billion yen loss for the financial year ending March 2010.

"I’ll acknowledge we have had those issues across the board on all of our products and there has been a paradigm shift in the marketplace that has rendered Sony products to be seconded guessed in terms of its competitiveness by consumers. It means we have to do a better job of being relevantly competitive in terms of price points, but it doesn’t mean we are going to abandon our position in the marketplace."

Does this mean we'll get to see cheaper consoles and notebooks soon? The Playstation 3 costs around NZ$729 and plays most games the Xbox 360 does but the latters' low price tag has attracted more consumers into buying their console instead. The price for the new PSP Go has also been criticized by many game journalists and gamers to be too expensive and Sony computers are known for having Apple-like prices.

When asked about having the Playstation Network (an online service for the Playstation 3 and PSP which allows users to download games, movies, television shows and music) integrate with Sony computers Mike said that the VAIO team are working on bringing it to not just Sony PCs, but all of them.

"We are absolutely talking about that internally. The PlayStation network is growing. We believe that network will have an option with VAIO PCs or any PCs for that matter. What we are trying to do is collaborate with our peers at PlayStation in that regard."

He also highlights the point that though they are currently focusing on just providing movies and television shows via the PSN, video games are a possibility in the future

"That is a possibility but we are concentrated more on movies and TV content. We find casual gaming to be interesting for PCs and we are driving right now to establish our role in that area. We believe this segment of end user of causal gaming is growing we can address that marketplace in a way that is unique on VAIOs."

Lastly, when queried on touchscreen notebooks running Windows 7, Mike hints we could expect them between when Microsoft launches their new OS and the holiday season.

"There are certain things that will be native on Windows 7 that we are certainly going to take advantage of. Without giving too much away, we think touch on Windows 7 is something we find compelling and we will certainly introduce touch into some of our products at the launch of Win 7. You will see touch capabilities introduced on VAIO products that take advantage of Windows 7."

Looks like Sony has some interesting stuff in the works. Me? Am just waiting for the PSP2 to be announced later this year *fingers crossed*

Source:

Laptop - Sony Promises Touchscreen VAIOs for Fall, Playsation Network Support Coming

Apple Tablet Due Next Year

By Benedict Wee

Credible sources from the Apple camp have commented that the long rumored Apple Tablet will be hitting the market in the 1st quarter of next year. The tablet is said to be 10 inches and shaped like a jumbo iPod Touch and more interestingly, support a 3G connection. This would mean that that telcos could also be selling the tablet with a subsidy when singing up for a mobile broadband plan.

The Apple Tablet rumor has been wafting around the internet for as long as 2 years. The reason it took so long for the device to actually reach its final form might be due to big-boss Steve Jobs' perfectionism towards Apple products, causing the project to be restarted over and over when it did not meet his expectations. This is reflected in their current line of devices which have been mostly met with positive reviews.

The price of the tablet is said to be somewhere in between that of a high-end iPhone (US$599/NZ$913.18), and their most affordable MacBook Pro (US$999/NZ$1522.98). There is speculation that the tablet might also be named "MacBook" as all current Apple notebooks are now named under the "MacBook Pro" line.

The launch of the Apple Tablet might provide an alternative (and perhaps better valued) choice to its line of portable gadgets available to Kiwis as the current high-end iPhone sold by Vodafone - the 32GB iPhone 3GS- currently retails for NZ$1379.

Forex: US$1 = NZ$1.52

Source:

AppleInsider - Apple's much-anticipated tablet device coming early next year

The Duros 8404 Rugged Tablet: A Computer For Us Outdoor Kiwis

By Benedict Wee

Ever went to the slopes for a bit of skiing and while admiring the beauty of nature that our country has to offer stopped and thought to yourself: "Wish I could read my email or look at that chart I made." ? Well Duros has the answer for you.

They've introduced the Duros 8404 Rugged Tablet PC which is sealed to IP-65 levels, making it water/dust proof, shock resistant and able to withstand extreme temperatures.

The 8404 runs on an Intel Atom Processor with memory options of up to 1GB of RAM and uses the Windows XP OS (Vista and Linux versions are also available). It also has a hot-swappable battery, allowing you to work longer outdoors and an 8.4 inch touchscreen which can be viewed under sunlight.

There is no price attached to this rugged tablet PC yet but going by their specifications, it's not going to be cheap.

Their website can be found here.

Source:

Hot Hardware - Duros 8404 Rugged Tablet Gets Atom, Daylight LCD

Google Wave To Hit 100,000 People In September

By Benedict Wee

Google continues its attempts at net/mobile/software domination by announcing that their Gmail/Google Docs/Twitter/AIM frankenstein monster: Google Wave will be available to 100,000 volunteer users come September 30th.

If you're interested in squeezing a part of your internet life onto one organized page you can register for more information here.

Source:

Gizmodo - Google Wave Going (Semi)Public On September 30th

Apple to Microsoft: Please stop saying we're expensive on television

By Benedict Wee

We've all seen the snooty "I'm a Mac and I'm a PC" ads throughout the years where Apple ridiculed Microsoft's operating system for being slow, buggy, virus ridden and not for "creative" people to use.

Well Windows responded in kind by releasing their line of Laptop Hunter ads which showed everyday people searching for a notebook which would fit their budget. Their ads depicted people going into computer shops to compare and browse a range of laptops (including Apple's MacBook, to which they commented were too small and expensive) before arriving at a, surprise, Windows run notebook.

These ads seemed to have worked not because manufacturers are reporting a significant increase in notebook sales, but due to an alleged call by their competitor to quit running the ad as CCO Kevin Turner explains:

And so we've been running these PC value ads. Just giving people saying, hey, what are you looking to spend? "Oh, I'm looking to spend less than $1,000." Well we'll give you $1,000. Go in and look and see what you can buy. And they come out and they just show them. Those are completely unscripted commercials.

And you know why I know they're working? Because two weeks ago we got a call from the Apple legal department saying, hey — this is a true story — saying, "Hey, you need to stop running those ads, we lowered our prices." They took like $100 off or something. It was the greatest single phone call in the history that I've ever taken in business. (Applause.)

I did cartwheels down the hallway. At first I said, "Is this a joke? Who are you?" Not understanding what an opportunity. And so we're just going to keep running them and running them and running them.

Don't know if the story went exactly as he portrayed but you know who wins when two tech-giants compete for a share in the market, us the consumer.

Source:

Gizmodo - Microsoft Gloats: Apple Begged Them To Stop Running "Laptop Hunter" Ads

Kogan Argora Netbook for NZ$570.38

By Benedict Wee

Our neighbors across the Tasman are having a sale on their netbooks today. The Kogan Argora Netbook is going for AU$459 (NZ$570.38) and its features include -

• a 10" LCD screen
• 1GB of RAM
• a 160GB Hard Drive
• A 3-cell battery (up to 3 hours)
• Weighing 1.2kg
• Wifi
• 1.3 Megapixel Camera
• SD/MMC/MS/MS Pro memory card slot

The netbook uses gOS as an operating system which is a variant of the Ubuntu Linux OS and comes with Wine 1.0 which runs software made for Windows. It's pretty easy to use though you can switch to Windows XP and 7 if you prefer a familiar OS.

gOS desktop with widgets and dock

gOS running Open Office, compatible software with Microsoft Office

The sale lasts for 24 hours or till they run out of stock.

Source:

Kogan Agora Netbook