“News everyone!”
SCI FI Wire is quoting Collider.com on the rumor on new Futurama episodes ordered by Comedy Central.
Well, it’s time to get Nadine to call Billy West and to get Carlos to call John DiMaggio. Confirmations are needed!
The Upcoming Unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro
Let’s recap what went on Apple’s “The spotlight turns to notebooks” event. Steve Jobs unveiled new 15-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook, dubbed as “Late 2008” model. They are also described as Aluminum and Glass MacBook and MacBook Pro. Some would call em as “the brick” MacBook Pro; well that sounds stupid, but this whole “brick” thing went out of control. Apple never once mention anything about “brick” or implying anything. The new MacBook and MacBook Pro can now have “unibody” designation, as Apple uses the word over and over.
MacBook is significantly updated , but missing one important feature: FireWire Port. The 15-inch MacBook Pro is also missing one FireWire 400 port, while retaining the FireWire 800 port. Both MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro gains new glass screen with LED-backlit display, and large multi-touch glass trackpad.
Overall, it is a significant upgrade for the MacBook and a nice incremental upgrade for the MacBook Pro. The inclusions of nVidia chipset is one of the biggest upgrade for the MacBook and MacBook Pro. The nVidia 9400M chipset adds h.264 support on the hardware level.
Now, whatever happened to the 17-inch MacBook Pro? For those who are complaining about the lack of 17-inch MacBook Pro update needs to take a big cup of “shut the hell up.” Apple is working on it, and it will be announced when it is ready for release. Apple engineers have been exploring different avenues in redesigning the MacBook Pro, and more often they stumbled upon some road blocks. The new unibody MacBook and MacBook Pro feature a reduced size logic-board similar to the one in MacBook Air. Apple engineers are working to find the balance between features and form factor in the notebook line. No coubt that Apple would like to include Intel QX9300 processor (or higher model) in the MacBook Pro. It is likely that the upcoming unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro would have this CPU in the BTO options. Even though the current MacBook and MacBook Pro seem to be running cooler compared to the previous models, there will be some thermal challenges with Intel QX9300 in the MacBook Pro form factor.
It is possible to have the Intel QX9300 in the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but it would make more sense to have it in the 17-in model. The 17-inch MacBook Pro would have some extra surface area to dissipate heat compared to the 15-inch model. Eventually Intel QX9300 or its successors would make their way to the 15-inch MacBook Pro, but we would see it on the 17-inch Model first.
Logically, January 2009 would be the next window for Apple to introduce the unibody 17-inch MacBook Pro. We all have to wait until then.
To quote Ice-T, “Shut up, be happy”
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Ice-T: The Iceberg/Freedom of Speech…Just Watch What You Say
If you bought it through Amazon link above, and I get some kickbacks.
“If you buy the CD, I can buy a MacBook Pro” to paraphrase the great Robert Schimmel.
“Thanks to the spoilers, I hate the soon to be released MacBook Pro already.”
Apple has yet to officially reveal the new notebook line on “The spotlights turns to notebooks” event, but the leaks and spoilers are ruining everything I’d ever hope for. Well, at least for the design of the MacBook Pro. The Mac news/rumors sites seems to think that John Gruber has already nailed it.
According to Gruber there’s only one display for the MacBook and MacBook Pro from now on. That display is a shiny and glaring one. Yeah, apparently no more matte-finish display. On the other hand, we get to use the screen as an emergency mirror now.
Personally, I am not really liking the black keyboard on a silver aluminum casing. But that’s not really a huge issue. The biggest issue for me right now would be the rumored pricing. I have been paying a lot for PowerBook G4’s and MacBook Pro (yeah, I only bought one Macbook Pro from January 2006) and hoping at least that Apple would reduce the price. I still remember when Apple introduced Aluminum PowerBook G4 at lower prices.
One thing that has not really been discussed in the leaks/spoliers/rumors so far is the CPU of the MacBook Pro. I have been hearing that somehow Apple would utilize Intel’s mobile Quad-Core CPU (here and here) into the MacBook Pro. The real question is “when?”
I know that I am complaining about products that have not been officially announced yet. It is only two hours away from this posting.
In spite of all the bitching and complaining based on the leaks and rumors, there are a few things that I am looking forward to find out. As I’ve been saying before, according to a super stealthy secret source the new MacBook Pro line would have an easily accessible hard-drive bay. That would be a huge advantage for the consumer. All you would have to do is removing the battery and a few screws. No more cracking open the casing by removing 14 screws just to get to the hard-drive bay. A few more screws to actually replace the hard-drive. I have done so many hard-drive upgrades on MacBook Pros, my best record is about 15 minutes to actually open the case, take out the hard-drive, install the new hard-drive, and putting it back together.
Apparently I am rambling too much for now. We’ll see in exactly two hours from this post if I’m going to buy a new MacBook Pro today. The sad thing is that I am still on the fence. Should I wait for the Quad-Core MacBook Pro to arrive?
Disclaimer, this is a poor attempt at sarcasm and irony.
I have compiled an extensive list of sites that would be covering the event live on this post. So, click this link. Yes, this link. CLICK.
Apple: The spotlights turns to notebooks. October 14th 2008
UPDATES:
Will it be 14, 16, and 18?
Apple sends out select invitations for notebooks related event today with the tag-line “The spotlight turns to notebooks.” The event is set to take place at Apple’s Town Hall in Cupertino. Based on rumors and speculations, Apple will be introducing it’s new notebooks line-up. Numerous pictures are hitting the web claiming to be the part of the new Apple notebooks.
To summarize the currently circulating rumors and leaks, Apple will be dropping the Polycarbonate MacBook in favor of new Aluminum MacBook. Price point is set to be as low as $800.00 for the entry level notebook.
According to our imaginary source who seems to be a pathological liar, who claims to be a person who works for Apple and is not Phil Schiller (again?), the new MacBook Pro will have the option for Quad-Core CPU. It will only be available for the larger model. We are not sure if that applies only for the 17-inch model or also for the 15-inch model. We are guessing the the Quad-Core option will be available for the 15-inch model. Our source assures us that the new Apple notebooks pack a surprise feature, but refuses to disclose further informations.
Other informations we receive is that Apple is also preparing new desktop line-up set to be unveiled in MacWorld San Francisco 2009, along with iLife ’09 and iWork ’09. New features of iLife ’09 and iWork ’09 will rely heavily on the “Core” system of Mac OS X (Core Animations, Core Graphics, etc.). It is said the certain features are only available on Mac OS X Snow Leopard. Even though the date is set, Apple might choose to unveil the new iLife and iWork suite after MacWorld San Francisco 2009.
Apple: “Let’s Rock” – Apple TV with Digital Tuner?
An unsubstantiated information claimed that the new Apple TV would have some kind of Digital Tuner added. If Apple is having this feature added, they must have it going through FCC approval process.
Once again, this is completely unsbstantiated.
Made-Up Rumor: Apple to Announce Completely New Product on “Let’s Rock” Event
UPDATE: 2 pictures from September 07th, 2008 are added.
Here I am somewhere in the Bay Area not too far from Apple’s HQ (Cupertino) digging for something that technically doesn’t exist. After meeting with an imaginary Apple Employee, I was shown an imaginary product from Apple that might be making its debut at the “Let’s Rock” event on September 9th, 2008. The imaginary Apple Employee who does not resemble Phil Schiller at all, told me that the new product would be made available for retail as early as this Holiday Season, if not it would make its debut in MacWorld San Francisco 2009 (January 5-9, 2009).
A short trip (well, it’s not that short) to Yerba Buena Center for the Arts in San Francisco reveals some clue on what the “Let’s Rock” event is all about. Unfortunately, no products seems to be present at the venue today (Saturday). The imaginary Apple employee mentions that it is not all about the iPod, there’s something more. As a matter of fact, Apple’s creative team are currently brainstorming on a new catch phrase to replace the now classic “One More Thing” slogan. Allegedly, Steve Jobs would not do the “ultra-secret-encore” to introduce the new product if they can’t come up with the new catch phrase. All I can say is: “WOW!”
I have about 24 more hours to sneak around and find out more about Apple “Let’s Rock” event. I’ll be reporting more fake rumors (*wink* *wink*) about the event soon.
All in all I was having fun using the iPhone on the Lombard Street just like what Apple did.
UPDATED: 2008.09.06 20:04 Pacific Time
Apple Rumors, Lies, and More Lies
Here we are, closing in on the first half of August 2008. The Apple Universe once again is buzzing with tons of rumors, lies and more lies. Apparently we refuse to live and learn, and still we all hunger for Apple related rumors.
Let’s start with the first one, and it is Andy Ihnatko’s pipe dream. Since the introductions of the iPhone, Ihnatko has been wanting Apple to release some kind of tablet computer, about half the size of 13-inch MacBook and resembles what the iPhone screen. As always, a year and a half after MacWorld San Francisco 2006, the Internet is filled with the Apple Tablet rumors once again. Please, give it up for now. You are echoing the same thing over and over again. It’s not about “if” but “when” Apple would release the Multi-Touch Mac Tablet.
The second rumor is about the fabled “iPhone nano” that would magically sees the release date sometimes close to the end of 2008. Would Apple recycle the “nano” moniker for the iPhone? No. In addition to that, Apple’s number one priority in the iPhone universe is to improve iPhone software. Let’s be Frank, Joe, Mary, or Caroline; iPhone Software 2.0.1 is still buggy. Add stability and more functionality to the iPhone Software 2.x, then we’ll talk about the next generation iPhone sometimes in Spring/Summer 2009.
The third rumor is about the iPod. Since its first introductions in 2001, iPod has become the most recognized digital media player in the world. The best feature of the iPod is none other than the incredible click-wheel. It evolved from the mechanical scroll wheel, into the touchpad-based click-wheel. Unfortunately, the circular control somehow didn’t make it into the iPod touch (and the iPhone). The control on the iPod touch is horrible. The slider is hard to use especially for scrubbing through the media. Apple needs to get back to the “circular dial” for the iPod control, and it doesn’t have to be another click-wheel. The iPod touch also missing features from its predecessors, go figures what Apple needs to do to improve it. Maybe Apple will upgrade iPod touch to 128GB capacity. (It’s not gonna happen anytime soon.)
The fourth rumor is about the new mystery products Peter Oppenheimer hinted about during Apple’s earning call in July 2008. For what we don’t know Apple might be launching new line of toasters that also serves as digital media hub. Have your breakfast and listen to your favorite podcast at the same time. The rumors ranging from the Tablet Mac (again), Apple HDTV set, Apple DVR, Apple Car, Apple this and Apple that. No one outside Steve Jobs’ circle knows the complete roadmap of Apple’s new product.
As of now, there are a large number of Apple-centric sites reporting anything Apple, including the made-up informations. Then again, the readers are eager to know anything about Apple. It is a simple supply and demand principal. In addition to that, there are tons of “bloggers” utilizing the “C” and “V” keys echoing the news and rumors mindlessly.