Apple

Axiotron ships Modbook Mac tablet computer

By Noel McKeegan

21:20 January 1, 2008 PST

January 2, 2008 Following its unveiling at last year's Macworld Conference & Expo, Californian based hardware manufacturer Axiotron has announced that the much anticipated Mobdbook™ tablet Mac solution is now available to consumers. Recently designated as an Apple-authorized product, the ModBook is the only Mac-based tablet computer on the market and comes pre-installed with Mac OS X Leopard™ and Inkwell® handwriting recognition software. Featuring a durable aircraft quality magnesium alloy structure, the 13.3" widescreen tablet incorporates Wacom® digitized pen-sensitive hardware with 512 levels of pressure sensitivity for responsive, intuitive onscreen writing and drawing, plus an in-built iSight® camera, a 2.0 GHz or 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, integrated 24x DVD Combo drive or 8x DVD SuperDrive and Global Positioning System (GPS) functionality. Read More

iPhone goes platinum

By Darren Quick

15:36 December 10, 2007 PST

December 11, 2007 Goldstriker International have announced new additions to their expanding range of luxuriously finished consumer electronics showpieces which include a 24ct. gold plated iPhone. The company's new Power of Platinum collection makes some of the world’s most sought after gadgets even more desirable by coating them in the world’s most precious metal. Read More

V-MODA’s Vibe Duo headset

By Kyle Sherer

17:59 November 14, 2007 PST

November 15, 2007 Mobile phones and personal media players are all about entertainment, communications and increasingly, fashion – and any good fashion statement needs fashionable accessories. Designed with assistance from Apple, V-MODA’s noise isolating Vibe Duo headset takes this approach seriously with high-definition sound and a discrete microphone rolled into a slick all-metal design. Read More

Fully gold-plated iPhone

By Emily Clark

19:52 October 31, 2007 PDT

November 1, 2007 Given the record sales figures, you could be forgiven for thinking that your iPhone isn’t quite the stand-out showpiece it once was. If you're aiming for a little extra exclusivity this fully gold plated Apple iPhone from UK based Goldstriker International could be the answer. Read More

iPhone discounts put early adopters offside

By Noel McKeegan

23:22 October 23, 2007 PDT

October 24, 2007 Did Apple upset its biggest fans in delivering a significant discount on the iPhone so soon after its record breaking launch? If you forked-out $600 for the sought after device in the first days after the release only to find the price dropped by a third just two-months later your answer might well be yes. But is it simply a question of dollars, or is there something a little deeper at work here - Gene Heratori at Connectthru.com delves deeper into this question with an interesting discussion on the issue of what makes an early adopter tick. Read More

IEye concept aims to increase Personal Media Player functionality

By Darren Quick

20:14 September 20, 2007 PDT

September 21, 2007 Out with the old and in with the new. That’s the standard approach to keeping pace with rapid developments in consumer electronics. But what if there was a way to delay obsolescence and extend the functionality of devices instead of automatically relegating them to landfill. This is the idea behind the IEye concept by Thomas Miller. Presented as an entry in to the “Create the Future Contest”, the concept proposes extending the life of Personal Media Players by attaching an add on device that includes a video still camera and microphone to boost functionality and re-purpose the existing unit. Read More

Belkin update TuneBase FM transmitter for iPods

By Darren Quick

22:30 September 19, 2007 PDT

September 20, 2007 iPod accessories continue to multiply exponentially, and why not with over 110 million iPods sold to June 2007 according to Apple. The latest add-on to catch our attention is Belkin's updated model of its TuneBase FM transmitter which includes new Clearscan technology - a feature that automatically seeks out the clearest FM frequency through which to relay your music. Read More

"Always-on" mobile Internet device sales to reach 95 million by 2012

By Emily Clark

19:18 September 18, 2007 PDT

September 19, 2007 Sales of a new class of “always-on”, Internet-connected products categorized as “Ultra-Mobile Devices” (UMDs) will reach somewhere in the realm of 95 million units by 2012 according to a new report from ABI Research. The report covers a range of emerging devices that will vary in form and functionality, with established manufacturers such as Nokia and Apple clearly standing to benefit from this next boom. Read More

More iPod news – 160GB Classic, new iTunes, custom ringtone maker and video nano

By Mike Hanlon

12:02 September 5, 2007 PDT

September 5, 2007 Apple’s major announcement of the iPod touch was accompanied by a raft of other significant announcements including the introduction the new iPod classic, featuring 80GB or 160GB of storage, an iTunes Wi-Fi Music Store, a new version of iTunes (7.4) with a custom Ringtone Maker, an all new iPod nano, with video playback on a two-inch display with 204 dpi (effectively the same resolution as the video iPod) and the news it is lowering the price of the 8GB iPhone from US$599 to US$399. Read More

New Apple iPod Touch with multi-touch interface & Wi-Fi & widescreen & …

By Mike Hanlon

11:24 September 5, 2007 PDT

September 5, 2007 Yes folks, they’ve done it again. If the share price has been looking rosy, it’ll be better again tomorrow. Apple today introduced the new iPod touch featuring the same multi-touch interface used on the iPhone, a 3.5-inch widescreen display, Wi-Fi wireless networking, and a new version of the Safari web browser designed for mobile. It’s super slim at just 8mm and pricing starts at US$300 for the 8GB flash-based model and US$100 more gets you 16GB. It has a built-in accelerometer that automatically senses when you rotate it into its landscape position. When playing music, it automatically switches to Cover Flow so you can browse your music collection by album cover artwork. When in Photos, it automatically displays the photo in its landscape aspect ratio; and when in Safari it displays the web page horizontally. iPod touch also has a built-in ambient light sensor that automatically adjusts the display's brightness. The new design puts Apple waaay ahead of the pack ans sales start this month. Read More

Surface computing meets home automation: ROSIE Coffee table touch-panel

By Emily Clark

23:42 September 4, 2007 PDT

September 5, 2007 Surface computing is moving full steam ahead and this latest release from Savant is another reminder that even the wireless mouse is becoming an outmoded piece of technology. The ROSIE Coffee Table Touchpanel Controller offers an easily accessible interface for home automation coupled with interactive multimedia capabilities, connecting to iTunes, digital cameras, IP network cameras, business card readers and various high-tech devices around the home. Read More

Toyota introduce iPod integration kit

By Shaun McKeegan

00:47 September 4, 2007 PDT

September 4, 2007 Toyota has released an iPod integration kit which provides a direct link between your car’s audio system and an Apple iPod. The connection is housed inside the glovebox of the car, providing a simple plug and play option from iPod to stereo that also act as a charger. The iPod can then be completely controlled by using the car’s audio head unit, or (where fitted) the controls on the steering wheel. The integration kit can be installed into any current Toyota and Lexus model, and is compatible with most versions of iPod. Read More

Apple's sleek new all-in-one iMac in 20 and 24 inch designs

By Noel McKeegan

21:21 August 7, 2007 PDT

August 8, 2007 The unveiling of Apple’s new all-in-one iMac comes on the back of several other notable product releases including a new slimline aluminum keyboard design – available in wired and wireless versions – and a Bluetooth wireless “Mighty Mouse” that boasts enhanced laser tracking, four independently programmable buttons and a new scroll ball that lets users scroll in any direction. Read More

Apple iPhone upgraded even before release

By Mike Hanlon

June 19, 2007 You have to hand it to Steve Jobs and the team – they sure know how to build awareness. Yesterday Apple announced the iPhone will deliver significantly longer battery life when it ships on June 29 than was originally estimated when it was unveiled in January - 8 hours of talk time, 6 hours of Internet use and a whopping 250 hours of standby time, which represents more than 10 days without a recharge (provided you don’t do anything else in the meantime of course). On top of that, it’ll run seven hours of video or 24 hours of audio playback. In addition, the entire top surface, including its 3.5-inch display, has been upgraded from plastic to optical-quality glass to achieve a superior level of scratch resistance and optical clarity. Read More

Speculation mounts with the coming of the iPhone

By Mike Hanlon

June 8, 2007 If you have a keen eye for the markets, you’ll no doubt have been watching the publicity leading up to the release of the iPhone which is slated for June 29. Could the iPhone go the way of Project Ginger (the Segway) and have a fantastic product dubbed disappointing because expectation was just so high? And just how much influence can one product have on a global company’s market cap? According to John C. Dvorak, if “you follow the rules and sell on good news and buy on the bad, now would be time to short Apple Inc. There is no company out there with this much good news.” The interest in what happens next has seen regular sports bookmakers frame odds and the latest market on what will happen to the value of Apple Inc.'s (AAPL) stock on June 29 is that it is short odds to post a greater percentage gain than AT&T and … Read More

New MacBook Pro models are finally here - Santa Rosa, LED-backlit displays

By Tim Hanlon

June 5, 2007 Apple have lifted the lid on the new Santa Rosa-based MacBook Pro models, with 2.2GHz or 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo processors, NVIDIA 8600M GT graphics, and 2GB of DDR2 RAM as standard. Only the 15-inch models get the new LED-backlit displays, with the 17-inch model now having an optional display capable of a 1920x1200 resolution - now that's a lot of screen real estate for a mobile machine. Prices remain the same as the previous models. Read More

Apple TV to include direct YouTube access.

By Loz Blain

May 31, 2007 Apple TV was launched in February in a whirlwind of potential. The classy-looking set top box promised a 21st century television experience where the web, the PC and the movies could converge in your lounge room - but it has so far failed to live up to expectations. Still, Apple is pressing ahead, today announcing a deal that allows users to browse and watch YouTube's endless supply of content through their Apple TV unit. Read More

iTunes ditches DRM, adds free educational content

By Loz Blain

May 31, 2007 Apple has finally announced the news that users have been waiting for - the first step in the removal of restrictive Digital Rights Management software that, among other things, prevented iTunes music from being played on non-iPod devices. The entire EMI catalogue is now available DRM-free, at a small price premium but with higher quality sound files. Apple simultaneously announced iTunes U, a free service allowing users to download lectures, campus tours and other materials provided by top US colleges. Read More

It’s Apple Mac-Guyver: pocket sized detective tool hacks into computers

By Mike Hanlon

May 4, 2007 SubRosaSoft’s

MacLockPick is a USB sized gizmo that can extract passwords, e-mail addresses, recently accessed files, search strings, bookmarks and internet history from running or sleeping computers. But the US$499 device can only penetrate the defences of Macs running OSX – apparently, anyone who manages to build an empire of crime using Windows deserves to keep it. The “live forensics tool” is based on Flash drive technology and is available only to law enforcement officials - amateur gumshoes will have to tread the mean streets of the internet superhighway without it. Read More

Apple announces Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Server

By Mike Hanlon

April 16, 2007 Apple today took the wraps off Final Cut Studio 2, a significant upgrade to the company’s video production suite that delivers new creative tools designed expressly for editors. Final Cut Studio 2 includes Final Cut Pro 6, which introduces Apple’s ProRes 422 format for uncompressed HD quality at SD file sizes and support for mixed video formats and frame rates in a single Timeline; Motion 3 featuring an intuitive 3D environment, paint and new behaviors; Soundtrack Pro 2 with dozens of innovative tools for multitrack editing, surround mixing and conforming sound to picture; Compressor 3 delivering powerful batch encoding for multiple formats with a single click; and DVD Studio Pro 4.2 for SD and HD DVD authoring. Apple also introduced Final Cut Server, a powerful new server application that works seamlessly with Final Cut Studio 2 to provide media asset management and workflow automation for post production and broadcast professionals. Read More

Apple cleared to use iPhone Trademark

By Mike Hanlon

February 23, 2007 All those people who feared that Apple’s iPhone might be delayed due to the fact it didn’t have the rights to use the name, need fret no longer. Cisco and Apple have announced that they have resolved their dispute involving the "iPhone" trademark. Under the agreement, both companies are free to use the "iPhone" trademark on their products throughout the world. Both companies acknowledge the trademark ownership rights that have been granted, and each side will dismiss any pending actions regarding the trademark. In addition, Cisco and Apple will explore opportunities for interoperability in the areas of security, and consumer and enterprise communications. Other terms of the agreement are confidential. Read More

WHOOPS - Cisco files suit against Apple over iPhone Trademark Infringement

By Mike Hanlon

January 11, 2007 Apple’s iPhone burst onto the internet yesterday like a nuclear explosion, immediately becoming the most sought after product of 2007. Given that just about every tech journalist in the world was aware of Cisco’s registered iPhone trademark, we all assumed that a deal had been struck, but apparently not! Cisco today announced that it has filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Northern District of California against Apple, seeking to prevent Apple from infringing upon and deliberately copying and using it’s trademark. Cisco obtained the iPhone trademark in 2000 after completing the acquisition of Infogear, which previously owned the mark and sold iPhone products for several years. Infogear’s original filing for the trademark dates to 1996. Linksys, a division of Cisco, has been shipping a new family of iPhone products since early last year, expanding the iPhone family with additional products as recently as December. “Cisco entered into negotiations with Apple in good faith after Apple repeatedly asked permission to use Cisco’s iPhone name,” said Mark Chandler, senior vice president and general counsel, Cisco. “There is no doubt that Apple’s new phone is very exciting, but they should not be using our trademark without our permission. Read More

Apple TV connects the digital world to your television

By Mike Hanlon

January 9, 2007 Apple premiered Apple TV today, creating another easy-to-use and elegant product which delivers an incredibly useful way to wirelessly play all your favorite iTunes content from your Mac or PC on your widescreen TV, including movies, TV shows, music, photos and podcasts. Using Apple TV’s new interface, anyone can quickly browse and view their entire collection of digital media from across the room using the simple and intuitive Apple Remote. Apple TV easily connects to almost all modern widescreen televisions, and will be shipping in February for just US$300. Read More

Apple's knockout US$500 iPhone

By Mike Hanlon

January 9, 2007 Apple today introduced iPhone, and all the anticipation did not dull the event or the remarkable product the company unveiled. The iPhone combines three products - a mobile phone, a widescreen iPod with touch controls, and a breakthrough Internet communications device with desktop-class email, web browsing, searching and maps. The iPhone will be available in the US in June, Europe in late 2007, and Asia in 2008, in a 4GB model for US$500 and an 8GB model for US$600, and will work with either a PC or Mac. Several iPhone accessories will also be available in June, including Apple's new remarkably compact Bluetooth headset. iPhone introduces an entirely new user interface based on a large multi-touch display and pioneering new software, letting users control iPhone with just their fingers. iPhone also ushers in an era of software power and sophistication never before seen in a mobile device, which completely redefines what users can do on their mobile phones. Read More

MacBook Pro goes Core 2 Duo

By Tim Hanlon

October 24, 2006 Apple has updated its entire range of MacBook Pro laptops, all of which are now powered by Intel's new Core 2 Duo line of dual-core CPU's. A choice of 2.16 or 2.33GHz CPU, up to three gigabytes of RAM, an ATI Mobility Radeon X1600 (capable of driving a 30" Apple display), and the ability to dual-boot Windows and OS X legally - all in a 1 inch thick case. With the grunt, compatibility, and portability offered here, it's clear why more professionals than ever are realising the futility of remaining subscribed to just one side of the platform wars, and buying their first Mac. Read More