Oxygen Brisbane » Apple

Apple updates iMac line with new models

Edwin — Thu, 29 Jul 2010 14:00:24 +0000

Apple has stayed true to form, unveiling a new line of iMacs for the masses this time round to up the ante by making what is widely regarded as the world’s best desktop computers even better. The new all-in-one iMac line will feature the latest Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors, depending on your needs as well as budget, not to mention powerful new graphics that shouldn’t leave your computer chugging when it comes to heavy duty applications. Pricing isn’t too far out of reach for most people either, starting from $1,199 upwards depending on your computing needs. This new iMac line is the fastest ever with dual-core processor speeds up to 3.6GHz, while those who opt for quad-core processors will be able to see speeds of up to 2.93GHz alongside discrete graphics that include the powerful ATI Radeon HD 5750.

The new range of processors will come with an integrated memory controller that helps it access the system memory directly, letting the iMac take full advantage of its faster 1333 MHz memory. Thanks to the discrete ATI Radeon HD processor, it is more than capable of delivering incredibly smooth, crisp graphics for even the most demanding and advanced 3D games, creative software and technical applications. With In-Plane Switching (IPS) technology, the iMac can deliver a brilliant image across a wide 178 degree viewing angle. Nice to see Apple also throw in an SD memory card slot which also supports the new SDXC memory card standard, making it possible to add another 64GB or so of memory to the cause when required. If you happen to have a penchant for the 27″ iMac, then you can also opt for a 256GB solid state drive (SSD) as a primary or secondary drive for a greater performance and storage boost, since the iMac SSD supports up to 215 MB/s data transfer rates for faster startup and application launch times.

Each purchase of the iMac will be accompanied by Apple’s innovative Magic Mouse, with the option to bring home the new Magic Trackpad as well for an added fee. You will also find that the iMac will ship with Mac OS X Snow Leopard, alongside iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. Do you think it is time to upgrade your iMac?

Press Release

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Apple updates iMac line with new models copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apple Magic Trackpad offers multi-touch gestures for desktop users

Edwin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:30:21 +0000

Could the introduction of the Apple Magic Trackpad prove to be the death knell of the mouse? We don’t think so, despite the device delivering a similarly intuitive Multi-Touch gesture experience that was previously available on Mac notebook trackpads, to the desktop. Boasting a glass surface that will definitely turn heads, this wireless Magic Trackpad lets you scroll smoothly up and down a page with inertial scrolling, alongside other now familiar gestures such as pinch to zoom in and out, rotating an image using your fingertips, while swiping three fingers will help you flip through a collection of web pages or photos. The Magic Trackpad can also be configured to work as a single button or two button device, while boasting understanding of tap-to-click and a physical click. You can pick up the Magic Trackpad as a separate peripheral for $69 a pop.

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Introducing Foolish Gadgets because not all gadgets are cool
[ Apple Magic Trackpad offers multi-touch gestures for desktop users copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apple has new Mac Pro line to rock your world

Edwin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 17:15:33 +0000

Do you have plenty of spare cash lying around, that you won’t mind forking out a premium for one of the better computers out there in the market? If your answer is in the affirmative, then we would be more than pleased to inform you that the new Mac Pro line has just been announced, where you will be able to enjoy up to a dozen processing cores and up to 50% more performance compared to its predecessor. Thanks to the inclusion of the latest quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors, an all new ATI graphics card as well as the option to slot in up to a quartet of 512GB solid state drives (SSD), the new Mac Pro is definitely not pushover, delivering amazing performance and expandability that will keep even the most demanding consumers and professionals happy.

Needless to say, the new Mac Pro is the most powerful and configurable Mac to date, where its next generation quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors run at speeds up to 3.33GHz. These multi-core processors rely on a single die design, enabling each core to share up to 12MB L3 cache in order to further improve efficiency while increasing processing speed. Turbo Boost will dynamically boost processor speeds up to 3.6GHz, while Hyper-Threading technology can create up to two dozen virtual cores. Each Mac Pro will now ship with the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor that is equipped with 1GB of memory, and you can also choose to fork out more dough for the faster 1GB ATI Radeon HD 5870.

Each Mac Pro purchase will be accompanied by Apple’s innovative Magic Mouse, and you can also opt to drop more dollars for Apple’s new Magic Trackpad if that is your cup of tea. Of course, we don’t expect you to use the Mac Pro for simple tasks such as web surfing and doing spreadsheets while typing out documents, but we don’t suppose it is wrong either to spend your money that way if you’re so inclined. Expect the new Mac Pro to hit the market this coming August with prices starting from $2,499.99 upwards.

Press Release

Coolest Gadgets UK – For all your UK centric tech and gadget news.
[ Apple has new Mac Pro line to rock your world copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apple has new 27-inch LED Cinema Display, out go the old ones

Edwin — Wed, 28 Jul 2010 16:58:25 +0000

It has been confirmed – when the newly announced 27″ Apple LED Cinema Display hits the market later this September, you won’t be able to get hold of the older models any more. We’re talking about the end of the road for the 24″ and 30″ models, so those who want a larger viewing real estate might want to snag the latter at the moment while stocks last, otherwise you will just have to make do with the 27″ model when it arrives. What does the new Cinema Display offer, you ask? Well, for starters, it delivers a stunning 2560 x 1440 resolution as well as 60% more screen real estate than its 24″ predecessor. Not only that, you will be able to think of the various possibilities with its built-in iSight video camera, microphone and speakers, a powered USB 2.0 hub for added connectivity options, and an universal MagSafe connector, making the new LED Cinema Display an ideal companion for the MacBook family or a Mac desktop.

Priced at a cool $999, this is definitely not a model for those who are on a limited budget. After all, at that price point, you can already purchase a working, entry level desktop machine which runs on Windows, but it is quality that you’re getting here. Boasting a beautiful 16:9 edge-to-edge glass display alongside an aluminum stand, you will also get an adjustable hinge which makes tilting the display almost effortless. The LED Cinema Display will also deliver vivid colors and exceptionally high contrast, thanks to the implementation of a premium display technology known as in-plane switching (IPS) that offers a brilliant image across an ultra wide 178 degree viewing angle.

It is nice to know that the new LED Cinema Display sports a new ambient light sensor which will automatically adjust the display brightness based on external lighting conditions, helping you save power in the process whenever you work in a well lit area. It also has a heart for the environment, thanks to its construction using mercury-free LED technology, arsenic-free glass and highly recyclable materials. Just make sure your Mac has a Mini DisplayPort for it to talk to each other.

Press Release

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Apple has new 27-inch LED Cinema Display, out go the old ones copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apple iPad gets international release date on May 28th

Edwin — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:45:44 +0000

Folks living outside of the USA will be pleased to know that the Apple iPad will finally make its way to their part of the world officially without having to rely on imports or gifts from friends Stateside. The hallowed date would be May 28th, and if you happen to live in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, then hip hip hooray for you and a bottle of rum! To make sure that you are able to get your hands on one of these puppies, make sure you place a pre-order on the iPad model that you want (Wi-Fi only or the 3G with Wi-Fi version) from Apple’s online store in all nine countries stated from next Monday onwards (May 10th). Do you think the continent of Europe will see superb iPad sales just like those in the US, where Apple actually moved over a million iPads since its official release? Here’s some trivia – customers of the iPad have already downloaded more than 12 million apps from the App Store, alongside over 1.5 million ebooks from the new iBookstore.

As for folks who are residing in Austria, Belgium, Hong Kong, Ireland, Luxembourg, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand and Singapore, you will have to wait until July for this device to hit the respective markets, and there is still no official word on local pricing as well as pre-order plans, although Apple isn’t going to leave you hanging high and dry as they will be announcing availability as well as the relevant details for those nine countries at a later date. Guess this is where you learn to exercise patience as a virtue, eh?

Just in case you were living under a rock for the past year, the iPad is a device that boasts a much larger display than the iPhone and iPod touch, although it functions pretty much the same way using a similar operating system, letting you connect to your apps and content in a more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before. With it, you can browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch HD videos, listen to music, play games, read ebooks and much more, all using iPad’s revolutionary Multi-Touch user interface.

Press Release

Tech Cult – We cover the latest tech news, but always with a funny twist.
[ Apple iPad gets international release date on May 28th copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apple updates MacBook Pro line

Edwin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:19 +0000

Apple has done it yet again with their annual update of products, where the MacBook Pro line is now on the receiving end of the engineering department at Apple. As with any update, you will be able to find the usual suspects lined up including speedier processors, a more powerful next-generation NVIDIA graphics card as well as superior battery life. The highly popular 13″ MacBook Pro now comes with a spanking new NVIDIA GeForce 320M graphics processor which is capable of performing up to 80% faster in terms of graphics compared to its predecessor, while achieving a whopping 10 hour battery life with its integrated battery. As for the new 15″ and 17″ models, you will find Intel’s Core i5 and i7 processors within alongside Apple’s new automatic graphics switching technology which enables one to toggles seamlessly between powerful NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M and energy efficient Intel HD Graphics processors when you want to save power.

All 13″ MacBook Pro models are now equipped with a faster Intel Core 2 Duo processor and 4GB RAM, where you can choose from a 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 250GB hard drive package for $1,199; while those who opt for a speedier 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo and 320GB hard drive will have to fork out another $300. Being up to 50% faster than previous iterations, the 15″ and 17″ MacBook Pro models will rely on Intel’s Core i5 and i7 processors that feature an integrated memory controller and Level 3 cache for faster access to system memory. These models come with a couple of graphics processors, where you can use the new NVIDIA GeForce GT 330M for peak performance and Intel HD Graphics for energy efficient operation. This means both work and play are the same for the new MacBook Pro line.

Regardless of which model you choose, all of them will be powered by the Mac OS X Snow Leopard operating system and accompanied by iLife, Apple’s innovative suite of applications for managing photos, making movies and creating and learning to play music. You looking to upgrade to the new MacBook Pro?

Press Release

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Apple updates MacBook Pro line copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apple updates MacBook Pro line

Edwin — Fri, 16 Apr 2010 13:00:19 +0000

Press Release

Cool Gift Idea: Digital Picture Frames, check out our reviews.
[ Apple updates MacBook Pro line copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Amazon announces Kindle for Mac

Edwin — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 15:00:01 +0000

Amazon has just announced to the masses that they will be offering a new free application known as “Kindle for Mac”, where this piece of software is able to allow readers worldwide to enjoy books that were meant for the Kindle on their respective Mac computers. Just in case you were wondering whether there are enough tomes to get you interested, you would be well pleased to know that the U.S. Kindle Store (www.amazon.com/kindlestore) holds more than 450,000 books at the moment, and these aren’t dusty digital versions since they comprise of New Releases and 102 of 111 New York Times Bestsellers, making it THE place to look for some of today’s most popular books in digital format. This means that Kindle books can now be read on the Kindle, Kindle DX, iPhone, iPod touch, BlackBerry, PC and Mac, as well as the upcoming iPad.

Guess there is no longer any more need to purchase a Kindle since you can experience the joys of reading on your Mac alone, eh? Kindle for Mac will boast Amazon’s Whispersync technology which automatically saves and synchronizes bookmarks and last page read across devices. This means you can always be up to date with your reading without having to search where you last left off even if you were dabbling with a plethora of devices to fulfill your daily reading quota. In a nutshell, Kindle for Mac allows you to read some on your Mac, followed by some on your Kindle later on, always pick up where you left off without missing a beat.

Some features of Kindle for Mac that readers can take advantage of include :-

Purchase, download, and read hundreds of thousands of books available in the Kindle Store
Access their library of previously purchased Kindle books stored on Amazon’s servers for free
Choose from 10 different font sizes and adjust words per line
Add and automatically synchronize bookmarks and last page read
View notes and highlights marked on Kindle, Kindle DX, and Kindle for iPhone
Read books in full color including children’s books, cookbooks, travel books and textbooks

Additional features will be thrown into the mix sometime down the road, including full text search and the ability to create and edit notes and highlights. How has your experience been so far?

Press Release

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Amazon announces Kindle for Mac copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

i-Got-Control for your Apple device

Edwin — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 12:30:01 +0000

Don’t be too happy that your Apple contraption (be it an iPhone, iPod touch or the upcoming iPad) is more or less capable of doing everything under the sun that a road warrior needs, otherwise there would not be room for improvement thanks to the genius of the folks at i-Got-it Corp., where they have come up with the launch and immediate availability of i-Got-Control. Surely you would ask just what i-Got-Control is – well, it comprises of a plug-and-play accessory which is capable of transforming your iPhone, iPod touch or iPad into a universal remote control, virtually giving you a free reign of any infrared device in your home, be they TVs, stereo systems and more. Hmmm, sounds interesting, but could the Gizmodo guys equipped with this zap away TVs at showfloors and conventions just like how they did a few years ago at CES?

The i-Got-Control will feature an industry-leading database of over 40,000 IR codes for consumer electronic devices worldwide, and its associated iTunes app is able to support a nearly unlimited number of IR electronics globally, virtually making it a snap to take control anytime, anywhere. Thanks to the inclusion of i-Got-Control’s built-in IR library, you will be able to CONNECT, SELECT and CONTROL your A/V components in a jiffy without having to worry about issues such as the lack of a Wi-Fi network, wires or batteries.

If you are adamant on getting started with this, then just download the free i-Got-Control application through iTunes, hook up the compact accessory to an iPhone (OS is 3.0 or higher), iPod touch or iPad, launch the i-Got-Control application and you are good to go once the selection process of the device is complete. Selection is painless thanks to pre-defined, user-friendly screens that ought to give you full control in a jiffy thanks to a highly intuitive user interface. Just in case of the rare occasion of not finding your device’s IR code, the i-Got-Control’s user-friendly learning capabilities will let it learn so in a snap. Interested parties might want to think about forking out $69.95 for the i-Got-Control.

Press Release

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ i-Got-Control for your Apple device copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Apple iPad to hit the US this April 3

Edwin — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 02:32:38 +0000

It seems that in recent years, anything that Apple comes up with seems to generate a whole lot of publicity. We can’t really blame them for making good on their range of devices though, delivering quality as well as the most important of them all – a fantastic user experience which appeals to the broadest user base. Well, the iPad which was unveiled a couple of months ago certainly raised quite a furore amongst the general population, but there are also the fair share of detractors. Well, fans of the iPad will be pleased to know that the magical and revolutionary device is tipped to hit the US market on April 3rd, although this is limited to just its Wi-Fi models while others who want the high end Wi-Fi + 3G models will have to wait until the end of April. As for people living in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Switzerland and the UK, they will be able to get their hands on the iPad in late April as well.

Too lazy to queue up at an Apple Store and fight with the crowd? You can always place your pre-order for both Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi + 3G models from Apple’s online store from March 12th onwards. With prices starting from $499 upwards, we do wonder whether the iPad will do well based on its merits alone and not because of all the hype generated over the past few months. To recap, the iPad is capable of letting users browse the web, read and send email, enjoy and share photos, watch videos, listen to music, play games and read ebooks among others. It measures all of 0.5″ thin which makes it a snap to slide it into a MacBook Air case without any trouble, while the 1.5 pounds weight makes it the thinnest and lightest device out there when compared to any netbook (of course, this is comparing apples and oranges – pun intended), since it can do many things the netbook already does.

Press Release

Check out the Coolest Gadgets 2008 Gift Guides, Christmas shopping made easy.
[ Apple iPad to hit the US this April 3 copyright by Coolest Gadgets ]

Oxygen Brisbane » Apple

Apple updates iMac line with new models

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Apple Magic Trackpad offers multi-touch gestures for desktop users

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