Computers from WWDC 2012

2012 Macbook Pros.

   Apple has just issued their press release about their new Macbooks and you literally need a mortgage to buy one!

"The 15-inch MacBook Pro is available with a 2.3 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.3 GHz, 8GB of memory and 256GB of flash storage starting at $2,199 (US); and with a 2.6 GHz quad-core Intel Core i7 processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.6 GHz, 8GB of memory and 512GB of flash storage starting at $2,799 (US). Configure-to-order options include faster quad-core processors up to 2.7 GHz, up to 16GB of memory and flash storage up to 768GB."

   There will be Retina displays in these two models; it runs at a resolution of 2880 x 1800 and has a pixel density of 220PPI. There's also the rest of the ports you have come to expect from the Apple's recent devices.

The Macbook Airs.

   The new MacBook Airs are getting Ivy Bridge processors which are clocked up to the 2GHz dual-core i7s. They can come with up to 8GB of memory, and 60 percent faster graphics. There's 512GB of flash storage with 500MBps read speed, which is about an 100% speed increase over the current Airs.

   Additionally, Apple has included USB 3.0 on top of the USB 2.0 port. And for those of you who lack Skype you will now be able to FaceTime in 720p. The notebooks still have either 11-inch or a 13-inch screens.

   The 11-inch model will run you at least $999 with a 1.7GHz dual-core i5 processor, 4GB of RAM, Intel HD 4000 graphics, and 64GB SSD. The 13-inch begins at $1,199 with a 1.8GHz dual-core i5, 4GB of RAM, and 128GB SSD. And they’re both shipping right.... Now!

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What we want from WWDC.

   The picture below was snapped the other day at WWDC, Apple's event where they announce almost everything, except the iPad and iPhones, which launch in March and September/October respectively. This means that the launch of iOS6 is imminent and what better chance to pause, get some more opinions and see where we want this to go and see whether Apple is giving us what we want in regards to all of their devices.

   For this post I've enlisted the help of our resident iOS expert, Shri Shah. He really knows his stuff when it comes to all things Apple and this is what he wants to see come from WWDC.

iOS6.

• Live widgets and wallpapers! It'd be great to see it if icons could reflect what's going on inside the app. A great example would be the weather app; if it's raining change the icon to a rain cloud, if it's sunny you get a sun and a live temperature. Live wallpapers would be a nice addition and although they're available on other operating systems already, it'd be interesting to see Apple's take on the effects on the battery life.

• Apple Maps: This is something which has been widely rumoured in the lead up to today's event and it's about time Apple went head to head with Google and Nokia and created a feasible navigation solution.

• Facebook integration: We've already got Twitter so why not Facebook?! This is something that'd be especially useful in the camera app, so that we don't need to go into the Facebook app and then locate the images again.

• Siri: Siri needs to be on the iPad! And it's already an extremely advanced application so it'd be great to see it officially come out of Beta.

• Safari: The navigation bar on the browser needs to be changed to work like Chrome's; it would make a lot more sense to be able to search and type in the URL in the same space as a time saving measure.

• Notifications: Just more basic options in the notification centre, at the moment it's a bit convoluted. 

• Mobile payments: Google has launched Google Wallet, Barclays has their Paytags and Apple could do... Bluetooth payments instead of NFC. This would allow backwards compatibility with all previous iPhones and would give the service a real impetus given the huge number of iPhones already in the wild.

• Mail filters: It'd be hugely beneficial to allow numbers to be blocked and email addresses to be filtered straight from the device. 

   The huge drive from the changes to iOS, in my mind, would be the creation of a whole new level of customisability within the OS. But, to an extent where everything is still usable and simple but with the added freedom.

Macs:

• The Macbook Pro: Perhaps it's time for the Macbook Pro to become the Macbook. This is something which has been widely rumoured and would greatly simplify the naming structure.

• The Macbook Air: A 15" Macbook Air would be great to see; a well proportioned laptop but with the thinness and portability of the Air Range.

• For all Macs: Retina displays throughout all ranges!!! That'd be perfect especially if it is twinned with a bump to all of the latest processors and SSD's.

Apple TV's.

   In the last few days there's been quite a lot of activity around the Apple TV's, with a refresh being widely tipped. There has also been reports that the UK Apple TV's have been getting software updates over the last few weeks and so there may well be an App Store heading to the device. But any update and refresh would be an improvement over the device at the moment.

   If any or most of these changes actually hit we're in for an exciting week! Keep it locked to TheTechFella for all the latest news from San Francisco this week.

Thanks again Shri!

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08/06/2012

Samsung, Apple and Australia.

   Firstly, Samsung have complained to the Australian Government about how Apple has been using a certain number of their patents in their on going legal battles. The Australian patent commissioner has therefore been charge with informing the court about what Samsung alleges is IP that was granted “ultra vires”, or beyond the powers of the commissioner, which would make it void.

   The patents in question are;

• 2006330724 – Unlocking a device by performing gestures on an unlock image (Granted April 1, 2010)
• 2007283771 – Portable electronic device for photo management (Granted May 20, 2010)
• 2008201540 – List scrolling and document translation, scaling, and rotation on a touch-screen display (Granted February 11, 2010)
• 2009200366 – List scrolling and document translation, scaling, and rotation on a touch screen display (Granted July 23, 2009)

   It should be noted though that this is 4 patents from potentially hundreds which will be disputed in the coming months, so this is quite negligible in reality.

    The second piece of news is that Apple is set to be fined by Australia, the fines run to AU$2.25m ($2.2m) fine at the moment but the judge has asked for confidential iPad sales information and details of Apple's finances before he agrees to set that amount. The issue is going back to Apple misleading new iPad buyers over the tablet's 4G compatibility. Both Apple and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission have agreed on the fine and given Apple's bank balance a couple of million here is nothing really, just another lawsuit.

In other news:

• Nokia shares have shot up in Finland because of rumours of a takeover by Samsung. It's hard to see why Sammy would be even remotely interested in Nokia but that was the rumour and it certainly gave Nokia shares a little bump in the right direction.
• Apple have had rumbling that their TV SDK will be available at WWDC! That's a sign of what's coming, apps on your tv, that certainly is one department the Apple tv needs to catch up.
• Apple is also rumoured to be getting rid of the 17" Macbook Pro and indeed the rumours are that the 'Pro' bit will be dropped from their name in their next iteration.
• Nokia apparently only moved 2.2million Lumia's over Christmas, the IDC had reported. But that's Lumia 800's and they haven't got around to the numbers for Lumia 900's which seemed to do considerably better on launch, especially in the US, so we'll wait and see until we hear news from them before we make any damning judgements.

   Just an aside if you live in Europe the 'Euros' football tournament kicks off today. Good luck to Ukraine and Poland for a great tournament!

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