Apple

Analyst: Apple will launch netbook competitor in response to slowdown

Paul Mah — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 01:06:32 -0500

Despite the launch of a new line of MacBooks just last month, the current economic climate will force Apple to roll out a lower-priced laptop to compete with netbook offerings currently flooding the market, according to an analyst. Ezra Gottheil, an analyst at Technology Business Research noted that, "Apple is facing the possibility that as the economic news gets worse, that they're increasingly pricing themselves out of an important market. Economic conditions are accelerating this."

If anything, Apple's concern about how the economic climate is impacting sales is also shared by some of the world's largest manufacturers. Samsung Electronics issued a warning earlier this week about cellphone market growth over the next two years. James Chung, a spokesman for Samsung, said, "As for next year, it is possible that the market could post a single-digit or even negative growth."

The opinion is that Apple will not directly compete in terms of price or size. Gottheil asserts, though, that the company will respond with an entry-level notebook that can compete with the $300-$500 price tags of most netbooks on the market today. Any attempts to predict the features of such a laptop will be nothing more than guesswork, at this point; though, it is safe to say the final product will be able to differentiate itself from the current netbook market. The price is unlikely to be less than $500, based on remarks by Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who said, "We don't know how to make a $500 computer that's not a piece of junk, and our DNA will not let us ship that."

Indeed, Jobs himself opened the door to a possible shift in strategy. During a conference call with Wall Street analysts in late October, Jobs reportedly said, "We'll wait and see how that nascent category evolves. And we've got some pretty interesting ideas if it does evolve."

To read more:
- check out this article from ComputerWorld
- check out this article from redOrbit

Existence of Windows Mobile 6.5 confirmed

Paul Mah — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 07:04:32 -0500

Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer gave the official confirmation of the existence of Windows Mobile 6.5, while speaking at a conference in Australia this week. With no previous indication that there would be another release before the highly-anticipated Windows Mobile 7 upgrade, this came as a surprise to many in the community.

The dates were dropped at a Q&A session as Steve Ballmer responded to a question about what plans Microsoft has to stay competitive against companies such as RIM and Apple. As he highlighted the Microsoft roadmap, Ballmer said, "And with releases we'll make this year, releases we'll make with Windows Mobile 6.5 next year, Windows Mobile 7, I think we've got a pretty interesting roadmap." It should be noted that Windows Mobile 7 was originally slated for early 2009, and has been pushed back to an undetermined date.

For more on this story:
- check out this article from BetaNews

The link between Smartphones and sales of Windows PCs

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:36:30 -0500

Shane O'Neill has a different take on Apple's ever-increasing prices--as evidenced by the price tag on the new MacBooks, unveiled just a few weeks ago. Recent comScore data shows that even consumers below the median household income are buying into the iPhone, and O'Neill argues that folks who can only afford either a laptop or Smartphone are choosing the iPhone. He wonders whether this will be a blue Christmas for sales of Windows PCs, as a result of this below the belt sweep by Apple. Somehow, I doubt that. To me, users who opt for a Smartphone instead of a PC don't really need a PC anyway. What do you think?

To read more about this story:
- check out this article from CIO.com

Apple in the process of reinventing the iPod

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:35:43 -0500

Remember the story we ran about Apple hiring away chip-guru Mark Papermaster from IBM? Well, it appears that he will be taking over as the head of Apple's iPod group, replacing longtime Apple executive Tony Fadell, the inventor of the iPod. Now, Apple CEO Steve Jobs has made it clear that he believes the future of the mobile computer is based on the quality of its software. For that to happen, top-notch hardware will be the order of the day for the next generation of iPods. It is clear that Apple intends to leverage Papermaster's experience in designing cutting-edge, energy-efficient chips. Looking forward, and noting its P.A. Semi acquisition, Apple could manufacture its own custom chips for a lineup that others will be hard-pressed to copy.

To read more on the article:
- check out this article from CNET News.com

Will better graphics hardware result in a revitalized games market for the MacBook?

Paul Mah — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 04:31:58 -0500

If you have been following the news recently, you would have known that Apple recently dropped its long-standing integrated Intel graphics chip set in favor of a discreet Nvidia GeForce graphics processor. The GeForce 9400M, which is currently proprietary only to Apple, promises to be twice as fast as the old Intels.

Will this move herald the dawn of gaming on Apple's MacBooks? The answer: Probably not. A number of factors cause me to cast doubt, among them is the fact that the PC games market has actually shrunk by over a third, and let's not forget the effects of piracy. Piracy drives PC and Mac publishers toward platforms that are more difficult to steal from, such as gaming consoles. Well, I suppose MacBook-toting graphics professionals can now benefit from the hardware-acceleration for Adobe's Photoshop rendering, at least.

For more information about the story:
- check out the article at TechNewsWorld

Intel shows off new cooling technology for ultra-thin laptops

Paul Mah — Wed, 29 Oct 2008 04:59:18 -0400

In anticipation of a rush of ultra-thin laptops from PC makers, Intel unveiled new cooling technology that will help ensure that these thinner models stay cool. According to the general manager of Intel's Mobile Platforms Group, Mooly Eden, current thermal design technology only focuses on keeping internal component temperature down, and pays little attention to the outside of the computer. This results in laptop hot spots that can be uncomfortably hot. By using a system of laminar air-flow technology however, it is possible to move heat off a laptop's skin. This is akin to that of a jet engine where its wall is kept cool despite heat of 1,000 degrees centigrade on the inside. As it doesn't make actual laptops, Intel will license this technology to customers so that they can make thinner laptops like the Apple MacBook Air and the Lenovo ThinkPad X300.

To read more about Intel's new cooling technology:
- check out this article from CNET News.com

Testing the battery life of the new MacBook, MacBook Pro

Paul Mah — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 06:11:54 -0400

Macworld assistant editor Chris Holt recently got a hold of Apple's new MacBook and MacBook Pro, running them through their paces by performing a battery-drain test that involves playing a movie clip that has been ripped from a DVD. Screen brightness was set to maximum, and the movie was played at full screen. Both the 2.4GHz and 2.0GHz MacBooks lasted just over 2 hours and 30 minutes. The 2.53GHz MacBook Pro model, on the other hand, lasted 2 hours and 12 minutes, while the 2.4GHz MacBook Pro ran for 6 minutes more. Switching to the 9400M graphics option resulted in only an additional minute of runtime. Of course, Holt was quick to point out that these tests do not indicate the expected battery life for everyday tasks such as email and web browsing.

To read more on the new MacBook and MacBook Pro:
- check out this article from PC World

Apple unveils MacBooks with multitouch trackpad and Nvidia graphics

Wed, 15 Oct 2008 09:55:32 -0400

As expected, Apple introduced a new line of MacBook laptops yesterday, and they are faster and slicker than their predecessors. The key innovations are its "multitouch" trackpad and thinner laptop casing, which is constructed from a single aluminum slab. Gamers will rejoice over the inclusion of a new Nvidia Geforce 9400M integrated graphics processor and more powerful 9600M GT, both of which will be exclusive to Apple for now. Apple says the 3D graphics power will be "up to five times" that of previous MacBook Pros.

The multitouch trackpad is especially interesting. The first of its kind, the trackpad is 39 percent larger and as its name implies, it sports multitouch capabilities. It has no button, though; instead, one can simply press down on the pad itself, or define parts of the trackpad to act as the button. Users will swipe and pinch by moving one to four fingers across the glass surface--which means entirely different configurations are possible.

For more on MacBook:
- check out this list of related articles
- check out the article at CNETNews.com

New law in the EU could force iPhone redesign

Paul Mah — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:49:51 -0400

The EU's 2006 Battery Directive, which originally was implemented to prevent the use of unnecessary toxins, is now being strengthened and amended under a "New Battery Directive." Essentially, all battery-powered devices that pack a power cell will be required to have batteries that can be easily removed for disposal or replacement. This makes perfect sense--users will no longer have any excuses not to properly dispose of their batteries before throwing their obsolete gadgets into the dumpster. The downside though, is that media players and mobile devices belonging to a certain company named Apple probably would not make the cut. While I personally don't think gadgets would become bulkier as a result, some redesign would certainly be in order.

To read more about the New Battery Directive:
- check out this article in The Inquirer

Microsoft reiterates that it will not make handsets

Paul Mah — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:13:10 -0400

Even as the first Google G1 Android phone launched and Apple looked set to sell between 10 to 12 million iPhones this year, Microsoft's group product manager for Windows Mobile, Scott Rockfeld, remained adamant that Microsoft there are "no plans to build our own phone." He added that, "Right now we're happy to share the limelight." So far, Microsoft's strategy has worked well. Fiscal year 2008 saw Microsoft's partners shipping 18 million units, up from 11 million the year before. Still, competitors like RIM are certainly ratcheting up the pressure by releasing more consumer-centric headsets. Barely two years into the market, Apple too, has managed to garner an incredible momentum, if not in absolute numbers, certainly in mindshare. It remains to be seen whether Microsoft will attempt to tweak its strategy in the near future.

To read more on this topic:
- check out this article from Silicon Alley Insider