Apple news roundup

Yeah, we know there was a lot going on in the Apple world today -- here's the low down.

Live coverage
Live from Apple's summer Mac product press conference
Apple's new iMac and keyboard: first hands-on

iMac (4th gen)
Apple's new iMac
Apple's new metallic keyboards: in wired and Bluetooth flavors
Apple calls multitouch Mac a "research project"
Apple's new iMac and keyboard: first hands-on
Apple's new wireless keyboard hits the FCC

Software
Apple introduces iLife '08
Apple debuts iWork '08
Apple updates .Mac
iPhones automatically updated with "Send to Web Gallery" feature

Other hardware
Apple refreshes Mac mini, now with Core 2 Duo
Apple tosses in gigabit Ethernet on refreshed AirPort Extreme
Apple offers PCI Express RAID Card in Mac Pro

[Marty @ Aug 8th 2007 12:21AM]

Please Engadget, Let's call this the iMac (3.5 gen). You have to agree with me, I mean yeah, it's thinner, better processors and crap, and black/aluminum, but to really call it a 4th gen, it has to be a substantial and revolutionary design - which is hardly what this is. The g3 (which is what I'm using right now) was so revolutionary and powerful. Then the new g4 came in to play, with it's LCD screen, it was awesome. Then the g5/Intel, with it's pure LCD screen and built in iSight was freakin awesome. I know Apple can and will do better than this iMac. I'm not complaining, so I don't want to hear Fanboys telling me that this is a great system (which it is), but I hope you can agree with me and let this iMac be known as the iMac gen 3.5, not quite revolutionary enough to be a 4th gen.

[Ireland @ Aug 8th 2007 1:05AM]

Do your research, the existing iMac is already the 4,1 model, and I'm not talking about the model that has been released today. What do you expect them to do, make the thing float in this air. It's the world's thinnest all-in-one desktop, and it's sexy, and I'm getting one - so there :P

[Marty @ Aug 8th 2007 1:15AM]

I'm not saying it's not a great computer, but the design doesn't set it self far enough from the previous. To be a pure gen, 4 iMac, I think it would have to be pretty much a Cinema Display with a computer built in. Pure aluminum, built in iSight, and no Jay Leno chin. (i hate the term Jay Leno chin too, but I don't know what else to call it). And trust me, gen. 5 is gonna be touch screen. Then I don't what's gonna follow that, maybe a pop-out 3D screen???

[Ireland @ Aug 8th 2007 5:08AM]

"And trust me, gen. 5 is gonna be touch screen."

Trust you? Do a little experiment Marty, touch the four corners of your screen for 5 minutes, if you last that long. Now imagine doing it for 8 hours. Get a clue people. If anything on a desktop is going to be touch-screen it's going to be a touch-screen keyboard that can display anything, and that will also be sold separately also. Touch-screen only make sense on flat surfaces or handheld devices like iPhones or tablets, not on vertical desktop displays.

[paloooz @ Aug 8th 2007 1:27PM]

I could see iMacs having touch screens for various uses ... drawing, etc ... but not as the main method of user input.

[Bruce @ Aug 8th 2007 12:21AM]

Who Cares! Give us what we REALLY want. Where's the dag gon touch screen Ipod. That shoulda came before the iPhone or any of that other jazz out there. And make it AFFORDABLE! Don't charge us 600 bucks for a damn 8GB iPod. That's high way robbery.

I'm a mac fan just as good as anyone, but damn! Release something better than revisions of the same thing. The iMac looks the same. It's just thinner and now has a black front face. The airport extreme... ZzzZZzZZ. The Mac Pro, unless your networking the Pentagon, you don't really need PCI Express. SHOW US SOMETHING NEW STEVO! Think different as your "Moto" states. Mah, what's the difference.... you never listen to anyone.

[Alex @ Aug 8th 2007 12:35AM]

ummmm............... where is the santa rosa macbook?

[Professor Tom @ Aug 8th 2007 1:41AM]

What is it going to take to get Apple to put Blu-rays in their b0x3n, especially the minis?

Asses.

[supermeerkat @ Aug 8th 2007 3:56AM]

Where are new iPods? I have about 300GBP burning a hole in my pocket, and I want a new iPod. Damn you Steve Jobs, dam you to hell!

[Darnell @ Aug 8th 2007 4:46AM]

lol at all the complaints. I thought the new iMacs were a great addition. It almost doesn't make sense to buy a laptop... If anything, I'd thought they'd have Leopard ready. I still don't think iPods will see a release until closer to Christmas.

[Miker @ Aug 8th 2007 4:57AM]

As a PC person I have absolutely no interest in the iMac. However in the spirit of PC and Apple harmony (which I feel there is far too little of in this world) in a kinda "hug a fanboy" way, may I wish all Mac lovers a very happy and exciting few weeks of glossy new hardware.

xxx

[Douglas Brace @ Aug 8th 2007 7:33AM]

Engadget, you are missing another software updated. While I don't have program, TUAW.com is reporting that Aperture received an update yesterday. The article is located at http://www.tuaw.com/2007/08/07/aperture-updated-to-1-5-4/.

[Alexander @ Aug 8th 2007 7:37AM]

I find it beyond absurd that Engadget makes 14 new posts for one story. That's borderline psychotic. Only with Apple products, of course.

[Evan @ Aug 8th 2007 8:05AM]

I find it beyond absurd that Apple makes 12 announcements in one press conference. That's borderline psychotic. Any other company would spread out those announcements, generating the same number of Engadget stories over the course course of a couple of months.

[Craig @ Aug 8th 2007 9:54AM]

well guess what, love 'em or hate 'em, apple does create the most exciting products... or at least the prettiest. who else could get away with selling a $600 desktop PC with a freakin' combo drive of all things? who else gets a story on CNN.com when they update a product? who else can command such a small percentage of the market share and such a large percentage of our collective attention?

also, rewind back to when the zune was released, and you may recall that every one was sick about hearing about that thing. probably the same for vista's release, too. and the separate announcement/hands-on posts are pretty standard.

btw, if it matters to you, i'm a pc user.

[Lydon @ Aug 8th 2007 10:34AM]

To all those complaining about the new Macs not being revolutionary in design...why fix something that's not broken?

[Bart @ Aug 8th 2007 1:20PM]

It's broken...check the graphics specs again.

[Wolfticket @ Aug 8th 2007 1:49PM]

Fix a handle to it, add a battery, glue the keyboard to it's chin: iMac Lugable Edition!

[Dane @ Aug 8th 2007 5:49PM]

So I just ordered a new imac. 2.8 core 2 Extreme, wireless keyboard & mouse. Any idea why it's estimated to be delivered Sept 8 and received Sept 16. That's a quite a bit longer wait that I would have originally thought.

[chris @ Aug 8th 2007 6:49PM]

I also noticed that the 17" macbooks have a 1920x1200 screen resolution option now. Or am I just behind the times?

[Sam @ Aug 9th 2007 12:15PM]

I yawn in your general direction

[Swanny @ Aug 28th 2007 9:57AM]

If anyone wants a free iPhone http://www.hotcellfish.com/freeiphone3.html if not that is cool to. i am supper stoked on the new gear.