Engadget http://www.engadget.com Engadget http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/www.engadget.com/media/feedlogo.gif Engadget http://www.engadget.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Opening the Book(Book) on Twelve South: between the covers of a Mac-exclusive accessory maker]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/touring-twelve-south-mac-accessory-maker-startup-story-interview/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/touring-twelve-south-mac-accessory-maker-startup-story-interview/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/23/touring-twelve-south-mac-accessory-maker-startup-story-interview/#comments bookbook prototype

The year is 2009. In history books, it'll widely be recognized as the year that most of America -- heck, the world -- would prefer to forget. Job after job was lost, bank after bank fell, and humanity as we knew it plunged into "the worst recession since the Great Depression." It's also the year that Palm attempted a comeback with webOS, and as it turns out, the year that yet another accessory company was born. While such an occurrence may be forgettable on a macro scale, economic researchers and lovers of technology alike have reason to take notice -- and, indeed, ask questions. So, that's exactly what I did.

Beyond growing a technology startup in a me-too field during the worst economy that I've personally been a part of, it's also not often that I find compelling consumer electronics companies far outside of New York City and San Francisco. Twelve South just so happens to be located in a nondescript nook in Mt. Pleasant, South Carolina -- just a beautiful trip over the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge from historic Charleston. Three years after its founding, the company now fittingly counts a dozen employees on its roster, and despite entering a market flooded with iAccessory after iAccessory, it has somehow managed to grab its own slice of an increasingly large niche. As with all good success stories, this particular outfit has plenty of twists, turns and run-ins with Lady Luck to tell about; for those interested in seeing how the "stay small" mantra is keeping Twelve South firmly focused on the future ahead, take a peek beyond the break.

Continue reading Opening the Book(Book) on Twelve South: between the covers of a Mac-exclusive accessory maker

Opening the Book(Book) on Twelve South: between the covers of a Mac-exclusive accessory maker originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 23 May 2012 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>12 south12Southaccessoriesaccessorybookarcbookbookcasecompanycompassdesignholderideviceindustryinterviewiphonemacmacbookmacbook casemacbook proMacbookCaseMacbookPromanufacturingmockuporganizationperipheralprototypeSCsleevesouth carolinaSouthCarolinastandstartuptwelve southTwelveSouthWed, 23 May 2012 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/editorial-thin-laptops-mainstream-ultrabook-battery-life-changes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/editorial-thin-laptops-mainstream-ultrabook-battery-life-changes/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/16/editorial-thin-laptops-mainstream-ultrabook-battery-life-changes/#comments all day laptop battery life

Bandwagons, trains and Tranes. Can't say that these three have a heck of a lot in common in most regards, but one thing's for sure: trying to stop this trio would be a Herculean task. And so it goes with laptops -- once upon a time, it was good enough to have something that resembled a portable tower, but these days, the ability to even see the chassis at all feels like a negative. I exaggerate, of course, but the proverbial race in the laptop world is hardly about price; it's about thinness. Intel's unstoppable quest to plaster the Ultrabook term as far and wide as possible has led to a change in the way consumers are viewing portable machines, and Apple's devilishly thin MacBook Air certainly played a role, too. What we're left with is a very curious priority list, and I'm wondering if too many OEMs have stopped to wonder if the "obvious" is indeed the "right."

I'll be the first to confess that I love the look of thin. Samsung's Series 9 and Acer's Aspire S5 might just be two of the sexiest machines to ever be built, and Dell's original Adamo was primarily of interest due to one thing: its jaw-droppingly thin frame. But there's some saying about putting form before function that seems to apply here, particularly when keying in on battery life. I've no doubt that the marketing and research teams for PC makers far and wide understand the realities of the market place, and perhaps the average consumer really doesn't need more than four to six hours of life on a single charge. Five years ago, squeezing that much life from machines under an inch thick would've required some sort of wizardry that exists only in a rarely visited corner of West Hollywood. But today, I'm a dreamer. And I'm dreaming of a laptop with "all day battery life" -- something that could be screamed from the rooftops, and honestly, something that could probably be accomplished tomorrow if our laptop options weren't on such a diet.

Continue reading Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life?

Editorial: Thin laptops are the new mainstream, but what about battery life? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>acerappleaspire s5AspireS5asusbatterybattery lifeBatteryLifeeditorialenvyenvy 14envy 14 spectreEnvy14Envy14Spectrehplaptopmacmacbookmacbook airMacbookAirnotebooksamsungseries 9Series9thin and lightthin-and-lightThinAndLightultrabookWed, 16 May 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Best Buy Mac discounts hint at clearing inventory, Ivy Bridge revamp coming soon?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/best-buy-mac-ivy-bridge/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/best-buy-mac-ivy-bridge/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/14/best-buy-mac-ivy-bridge/#comments Best Buy Macbook price slash hints at clearing inventory, Ivy Bridge revamp coming soon?

Cupertino is unsurprisingly tight-of-lip on when it plans to add Ivy Bridge to its desktop and laptop line, but we think that's not far off: we've even seen some benchmarks. Now, in a move that smacks of inventory clearing but could equally mean nothing, Best Buy has hacked between $20 and $200 from its Mac Mini, iMac, Mac Pro and MacBook Pro offerings. If you're into a bargain, then head down to your nearest big blue-and-yellow store -- and we'll let you know as soon as we see the yellow sticky-note.

Best Buy Mac discounts hint at clearing inventory, Ivy Bridge revamp coming soon? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 14 May 2012 07:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleApple StoreAppleStoreBenchmarksBest BuyBestBuyCore i5Core i7CoreI5CoreI7CupertinoDiscountiMacIvy BridgeIvy Bridge RefreshIvyBridgeIvyBridgeRefreshMacMac MiniMac ProMacBookMacBook AirMacBook ProMacbookAirMacbookProMacMiniMacProRefreshMon, 14 May 2012 07:15:00 EST<![CDATA[HP on laptop design similarities with Apple's: it's a struggle as we drive to simplicity]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/hp-apple-laptop-design-similarity/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/hp-apple-laptop-design-similarity/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/09/hp-apple-laptop-design-similarity/#comments HP on laptop design similarities with Apple's: it's a struggle as we drive to simplicity

HP's spent the afternoon here in Shanghai to share some details about its latest products and strategy, and to our delight, there was one session dedicated to "Style Meets Function," during which Vice President of Industrial Design Stacy Wolff talked about his design philosophy and design goals for the current market. Most notably, we learned that some of HP's latest laptop designs were based on the work of its research centers from 11 different cities, and the company isn't afraid of admitting that it used consultants for an outside perspective as well.

Despite Stacy's upbeat presentation and interesting stats (apparently these days men have a boring color preference, from first to fourth favorite: black, gray, blue and white), the inevitable question popped up: One lady expressed her concern that the brand-spanking-new Envy Spectre XT reminded her of the MacBook Air a lot, so she wondered if HP's ever worried that Apple might sue.

Stacy kept his initial reply pretty brief:

"I would go back to the TC1000 [Tablet PC] from about 10 years, and that's a tablet. I think if you look at the new Spectre XT, there are similarities in a way, not due to Apple but due to the way technologies developed. Apple may like to think that they own silver, but they don't. In no way did HP try to mimic Apple. In life there are a lot of similarities."

As always, we wanted more from the horse's mouth, so we grabbed hold of Stacy right after the session and had a little chat over this topic -- you can see the full and surprisingly candid interview after the break.

Gallery: HP on laptop design similarities with Apple's: it's a struggle as we drive to simplicity

Continue reading HP on laptop design similarities with Apple's: it's a struggle as we drive to simplicity

HP on laptop design similarities with Apple's: it's a struggle as we drive to simplicity originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 09 May 2012 09:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appledesignenvyenvy spectreEnvy Spectre XTEnvySpectreEnvySpectreXtfeaturedfeaturesGlobal Influencer SummitGlobal Influencer Summit 2012GlobalInfluencerSummitGlobalInfluencerSummit2012hpindustrial designIndustrialDesigninterviewlaptopmacbookmacbook airMacbookAirshanghaispectrespectre xtSpectreXtstacy wolffStacyWolffultrabookvice presidentVicePresidentWed, 09 May 2012 09:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: Apple isn't making a 'converged' laptop / tablet hybrid, but I still want one]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/07/editorial-apple-toaster-refrigerator-converged-tablet-laptop-hybrid/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/07/editorial-apple-toaster-refrigerator-converged-tablet-laptop-hybrid/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/07/editorial-apple-toaster-refrigerator-converged-tablet-laptop-hybrid/#comments ipad apple mac

Deflated. Disappointed. Let down. Unsurprised. All of those emotions ran through my being at one point or another following Apple CEO Tim Cook's comments regarding "converged" devices, but if anything, his denial has made me all the more hungry for this particular device. For months -- heck, maybe even years -- I've waited for Sir Jonathan Paul Ive and co. to finally nail the concept of a laptop / tablet hybrid. In many ways, Apple managed to get right on a smartphone in 2007 what I felt was wrong holding a BlackBerry. I still think the iPad's screen is about 2.7-inches too large for my own personal tastes, but the world at large has affirmed that it nailed that design, too. Oh, and the MacBook Air? C'mon -- we all know it's the thin-and-light you always wanted, and given that it'll run Windows with poise, it's arguably the sexiest Windows laptop currently on the market.

The point? Apple has waited for companies to flounder about with certain designs before, all while perfecting its own take for a future release. Windows-based tablets were flooding out in the early noughties, and believe it or not, Toshiba was already giving the tablet / laptop hybrid thing a whirl in 2003 with the Portege 3500. Apple waited over half a decade to usher in the iPad, and the rest -- as they say -- is history. The iPhone followed a similar path; companies came before it and did their best to produced pleasing, long-lasting, highly usable smartphones, but the iPhone completely changed the trajectory of everything that came after. Love it or hate it, it's hard to imagine a 2012 with Windows Phone in it had Apple not pinned Windows Mobile in a corner back in '07.

So, if Apple has shown an ability to thrive with designs that others have experimented with, why is the "converged" laptop / tablet a nonstarter?

Continue reading Editorial: Apple isn't making a 'converged' laptop / tablet hybrid, but I still want one

Editorial: Apple isn't making a 'converged' laptop / tablet hybrid, but I still want one originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 07 May 2012 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple ipadapple ipad 2AppleIpadAppleIpad2convergedconvergenceeditorialhybridiosipadipad 2Ipad2lionmacbookmacbook proMacbookPromountain lionMountainLionnetvertiblenew ipadNewIpados xOsXretina displayRetinaDisplayslatetabletMon, 07 May 2012 13:00:00 EST<![CDATA[OS X Mountain Lion Preview updated with Do Not Disturb feature]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/os-x-mountain-lion-preview-do-not-disturb/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/os-x-mountain-lion-preview-do-not-disturb/http://www.engadget.com/2012/05/02/os-x-mountain-lion-preview-do-not-disturb/#comments os-x-mountain-lion-preview-do-not-disturb

So, you're tapping your manifesto into a Macbook, but twitter, RSS and email alerts keep clamoring in your face. How to finish that latest screed with such distractions? In the "where has this been all my life?" category, a new update to OS X Mountain Lion Preview 3 has a Do Not Disturb option, which stonewalls all notifications and banners. The feature, which could be useful on plenty of other devices too, can be armed with a mouse click on the menu bar or a left swipe on a trackpad. Some other iOS-style tweaks debuted in Preview 3 include the Game Center, Notes, Airplay Mirroring and Reminders. Now, back to fomenting that revolution.

OS X Mountain Lion Preview updated with Do Not Disturb feature originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 02 May 2012 10:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alertalertsappleDo Not DisturbDoNotDisturbicloudmacmac osmac os xmac os x mountain lionMacbookMacOsMacOsXMacOsXMountainLionminipostmountain lionmountain lion previewmountain lion preview 3MountainLionMountainLionPreviewMountainLionPreview3notificationnotification centerNotificationCenternotificationsOS XOsXOSXMountainLiontwitterWed, 02 May 2012 10:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Cactus Ridge Thunderbolt controllers now shipping?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/cactus-ridge-thunderbolt-controllers-now-shipping/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/cactus-ridge-thunderbolt-controllers-now-shipping/http://www.engadget.com/2012/04/12/cactus-ridge-thunderbolt-controllers-now-shipping/#comments Cactus Ridge Thunderbolt controllers now shipping?It was way back in September that the leaves fell and revealed Intel's plans for the Cactus Ridge revision of Thunderbolt chips. Now, VR-Zone claims it's received confirmation that the second generation controllers are finally shipping. As already announced, there are two versions: the quad-channel dual DisplayPort DSL3510 edition, and the double channeled Eagle Ridge replacement model DSL3310. It would be careless to speculate about which OEMs might adopt, and in what models, but with Apple already flying the Thunderbolt flag, that's at least one name you can scratch off the list.

Cactus Ridge Thunderbolt controllers now shipping? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 12 Apr 2012 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>Applecactus ridgeCactusRidgeconnectivitydatadisplayportDSL3310DSL3510imacintelmacmacbookthunderboltThu, 12 Apr 2012 10:01:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's Sir Jonathan Ive: our competitors have 'completely the wrong goals']]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/13/apples-sir-jonathan-ive-our-competitors-have-completely-the-w/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/13/apples-sir-jonathan-ive-our-competitors-have-completely-the-w/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/13/apples-sir-jonathan-ive-our-competitors-have-completely-the-w/#comments
London's favorite only remaining evening free-sheet has snagged an interview with Apple design maven Sir Jonathan Ive. In the piece he talks about being thrilled and humbled by his recent Knighthood, the importance of his London upbringing and why Apple's competitors can't win. Pointing to a desire not to make "genuinely better" products, Cupertino's unnamed rivals instead are "interested in doing something different, or want to appear new," which he says is the wrong goal. The difference is that he and his team aren't tied to a price, a schedule or a marketing scheme -- which he believes "have scant regard for people who use the product." There's also a barbed reference to consumers being able to sense "great care in the design and when there is cynicism and greed" in products on the market. Head on down to the source link to read more, including his frustration with designers who "wag their tails in his face" -- who knew designers had tails, eh?

Apple's Sir Jonathan Ive: our competitors have 'completely the wrong goals' originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 13 Mar 2012 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleCompetitionCupertinoDesignDesignerDesignersEngineeringiMacIndustrial DesignIndustrialDesignInterviewiPadiPhoneiPodJony IveJonyIveMacBookSir Jonathan IveSirJonathanIveTue, 13 Mar 2012 15:52:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Can your machine run Mountain Lion?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/psa-can-your-machine-run-mountain-lion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/psa-can-your-machine-run-mountain-lion/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/17/psa-can-your-machine-run-mountain-lion/#comments Mountain LionAh, compatibility, she can be a cruel mistress, prone to leaving your favorite devices out in the cold and your wallet a few bills lighter. Apple's latest OS update, Mountain Lion, is no different. OS X 10.8 won't run on just any Mac, so, the question is, will it run on yours? Well, if you've got any machine from 2009 or newer the answer is yes. Older than that and things get a little bit shaky. iMacs are the most forgiving, with support starting on the mid-2007 models. Any Pro desktop from early 2008 on should be fine, while Xserves get cut off at early 2009 along with the Mac Mini. The original Air is already getting turned aside and you'll need a late 2008 model (or newer) for the update, while vanilla MacBooks are nearing total obsolescence as support starts with the aluminum models from 2008. Lastly, those of you rocking 15- or 17-inch MacBook Pros should be golden starting with late 2007 models. Oh, and any 13-inch Pro should be good to go.

PSA: Can your machine run Mountain Lion? originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 17 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applecompatibilityimacmac minimac os xmac promacbookmacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookProMacMiniMacOsXMacProMountain LionMountainLionoperating systemOperatingSystemosos xos x 10.8os x 10.8 mountain lionOsXOsX10.8OsX10.8MountainLionupdateupdatesupgradexserveFri, 17 Feb 2012 10:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple updates EFI firmware on 2010 Macs: offers Lion internet recovery, not much else]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/apple-updates-efi-firmware-on-2010-macs-offers-lion-internet-re/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/apple-updates-efi-firmware-on-2010-macs-offers-lion-internet-re/http://www.engadget.com/2012/02/08/apple-updates-efi-firmware-on-2010-macs-offers-lion-internet-re/#comments Apple updates EFI firmware on 2010 Macs: offers Lion internet recovery, not much elseStaring forlorn at that two-year-old MacBook, just sitting there in the corner? Well, there's good news; Apple's decided to furnish those 2010 models with a new EFI firmware update. Arriving on its MacBook Air (late 2010), iMac (mid 2010) and MacBook Pro (early 2010) models, it adds support for Lion's internet-based recovery feature -- something that's very useful for those optical drive-less MacBook Airs and Mac minis. The update also fixes a bug on Air models, where it would reset if the power button was pressed immediately after booting from deep sleep mode. You can consult your Mac's software updater for the new firmware -- it's out there now.

Apple updates EFI firmware on 2010 Macs: offers Lion internet recovery, not much else originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 08 Feb 2012 13:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleEFIEFI firmware updateEfiFirmwareUpdateimacinternet recoveryInternetRecoverylionmacmac minimacbookmacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookProMacMiniminipostupdateWed, 08 Feb 2012 13:49:00 EST<![CDATA[Forrester: Apple makes strides into enterprises, users iWork hard for the money]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/forrester-apple-makes-strides-into-businesses-users-iwork-hard/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/forrester-apple-makes-strides-into-businesses-users-iwork-hard/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/28/forrester-apple-makes-strides-into-businesses-users-iwork-hard/#comments Forrester: Apple makes strides into businesses, users iWork hard for the money

Forrester has announced the results of its latest survey, which encompassed 10,000 enterprise computer users, across 17 countries. It looked at the degree of Apple product adoption in businesses and support for them within IT services. There's plenty to chew on, but here's the big one; over a fifth of those surveyed uses an Apple product for work. This, however, includes workers using their personal devices for work tasks, with 11 percent using their iPhone, 9 percent their iPad and 8 percent working on their Macs. Half of the enterprises included in Forrester's survey plan to increase the number of Macs used by 52 percent, while nearly half of the firms are already issuing Apple PCs to employees, gaining even more traction within IT departments in the US and Western Europe. Unsurprisingly, given its premium pricing, those using Apple gear are more likely to be higher paid, while also (paradoxically) younger and in a senior rank. More specifically, 43 percent of those making over $150,000 a year use an iPhone, iPad or Mac. No cause or effect here, ladies and gents, but we'll be putting in our expense claim for a new set of business iPads very soon.

Forrester: Apple makes strides into enterprises, users iWork hard for the money originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>ApplebusinessenterpriseForresteriPadiPhoneITMacMacBookSat, 28 Jan 2012 09:31:00 EST<![CDATA[Henge Docks announces docking stations for MacBook Air, tidies up your desk layout]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/henge-docks-announces-docking-stations-for-macbook-air-tidies-u/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/henge-docks-announces-docking-stations-for-macbook-air-tidies-u/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/10/henge-docks-announces-docking-stations-for-macbook-air-tidies-u/#comments
We were thrilled when Henge Docks unveiled their docking solution for the MacBook fam. Now, those of us who've adopted the thinner sibling can snatch up the same vertical desktop peripheral, as the company has announced docks for both the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air. If you recall, the outfit's offerings come with fully integrated Mini Display and USB ports with no need for additional setup and a rubberized cradle to insure a perfect fit. You'll be able to pre-order both models starting today via the source link below for $55 and $60 respectively. But if you're in need of a little more convincing, check out all the details in the PR just past the break.

Continue reading Henge Docks announces docking stations for MacBook Air, tidies up your desk layout

Henge Docks announces docking stations for MacBook Air, tidies up your desk layout originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 10 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryapplecesces 2012Ces2012dockdocking stationDockingStationHenge DocksHengeDockslaptopmacbookmacbook airMacbookAirperipheralTue, 10 Jan 2012 11:00:00 EST<![CDATA[IRL: Logitech Y-R0026 Bluetooth keyboard, Apple MacBook and a Virgin America flight with the Series 5 Chromebook]]>http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/irl-logitech-y-r0026-bluetooth-keyboard-apple-macbook-and-a-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/irl-logitech-y-r0026-bluetooth-keyboard-apple-macbook-and-a-vi/http://www.engadget.com/2012/01/04/irl-logitech-y-r0026-bluetooth-keyboard-apple-macbook-and-a-vi/#commentsWelcome to IRL, an ongoing feature where we talk about the gadgets, apps and toys we're using in real life and take a second look at products that already got the formal review treatment.

In this, the last IRL until after we get back from CES, we've got a tale from Brian, who spent his Virgin America flight home to the west coast playing with his first Chromebook. Meanwhile, Andy defends the idea of spending $130 on a Bluetooth keyboard, and Mr. Christopher Trout explains why he's loathe to recycle his three year-old MacBook, even if it has devolved into a glorified media hub. Before we turn around and give you wall-to-wall coverage of all the new stuff, meet us past the break to spend a few minutes with some oldies-but-goodies.

Continue reading IRL: Logitech Y-R0026 Bluetooth keyboard, Apple MacBook and a Virgin America flight with the Series 5 Chromebook

IRL: Logitech Y-R0026 Bluetooth keyboard, Apple MacBook and a Virgin America flight with the Series 5 Chromebook originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 04 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>andy bowenAndyBowenAppleApple MacBookAppleMacbookBrian HeaterBrianHeaterChristopher TroutChristopherTroutChromebookChromebooksengadgetIRLIRLLogitechLogitech Y-R0026LogitechY-r0026macbookSamsungSamsung Chromebooksamsung chromebook series 5samsung series 5 chromebookSamsungChromebookSamsungChromebookSeries5SamsungSeries5Chromebookseries 5 chromebookSeries5ChromebookVirgin AmericaVirginAmericaWed, 04 Jan 2012 14:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple applies for 'digital handshake' patent powered by invisible ink]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/apple-applies-for-digital-handshake-patent-powered-by-invisibl/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/apple-applies-for-digital-handshake-patent-powered-by-invisibl/http://www.engadget.com/2011/12/02/apple-applies-for-digital-handshake-patent-powered-by-invisibl/#comments
Time for the usual disclaimer, since we're taking a journey into the murky world of Cupertino's patent applications -- it's just as likely we'll never see or hear of this tech again as it is to wind up in the next iPhone. While everyone else is betting on NFC, Apple wants to use next-generation cameras and invisible ink to negotiate digital handshakes. Snap a picture of a cash register with a barcode and your iDevice will generate a unique ID to pair up -- but in order to keep the technology secure, the codes would have to be painted on with "invisible" fluorescent coatings. When you're pairing two iPhones (for example) to share contacts, the key could be generated on one of the screens while the other took a picture of it. If this all seems too complex, boring and pointless now, just think: this could be how we log into Foursquare in a decade's time.

Apple applies for 'digital handshake' patent powered by invisible ink originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 02 Dec 2011 15:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleApple PatentApplePatentBluetoothDigital HandshakeDigitalHandshakeiPadiPhoneiPodMacBookNFCPairingPatentPatent ApplicationPatentApplicationPatentsSocial NetworkSocialNetworkTap to ShareTapToShareTouch to ShareTouchToShareFri, 02 Dec 2011 15:24:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple reaches settlement in MagSafe class action suit, dodges fireball]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/apple-reaches-settlement-in-magsafe-class-action-suit-dodges-fi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/apple-reaches-settlement-in-magsafe-class-action-suit-dodges-fi/http://www.engadget.com/2011/11/08/apple-reaches-settlement-in-magsafe-class-action-suit-dodges-fi/#comments
Apple's MagSafe has been veritable boon to the clumsy, saving MacBooks from accidental drops since 2006. The magnetic solution, however, hasn't been exactly great when keeping those same notebooks spark free. Those who weren't able to convince a Genius to part ways with a replacement gratis should know that Cupertino has just settled a class-action relating to the original's propensity to fray. Provided they fill out the necessary paperwork, those who paid for replacements out of pocket will be reimbursed $79 within the first year of the computer's purchase, decreasing to $50 and $35 respectively in the years that follow. Claims can be submitted up to three years after the original purchase, or until March 21, 2012 -- whichever occurs first. And to those of you rocking the pre-2008 "L" shaped redesign, might we recommend some flame retardant socks?

Apple reaches settlement in MagSafe class action suit, dodges fireball originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 08 Nov 2011 17:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple macbookapple macbook airapple macbook proAppleMacbookAppleMacbookAirAppleMacbookProclass actionclass action lawsuitClassActionClassActionLawsuitfirefiresfraylawsuitmacbookmacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookPromagsafepower adapterPowerAdapterreplacementsettlementTue, 08 Nov 2011 17:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Not so ultimate Ultrabook: MacBook Air KIRF features mini-HDMI port, 3.5 hour battery life]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/29/not-so-ultimate-ultrabook-macbook-air-kirf-features-mini-hdmi-p/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/29/not-so-ultimate-ultrabook-macbook-air-kirf-features-mini-hdmi-p/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/29/not-so-ultimate-ultrabook-macbook-air-kirf-features-mini-hdmi-p/#comments
Hey, who wiped the MacBook Air logo off? Nah, we're kidding -- it's a KIRF. Sure, Apple's svelte 13-incher may have a duo of USB ports and an SD card slot, but this rig adds in a 3-in-1 card reader and an odd, combo RJ45 / VGA jack (which we assume needs an adapter). For good measure, you'll also find a mini-HDMI output, although, with 3.5 hours of battery life it may prove problematic for getting through a 1080p movie marathon without nearby power. The alloy-encased lappy has a 1.86GHz Intel Atom N2800 CPU with a GMA3600 integrated GPU, 2GB of RAM, a 32GB SSD and a 13.3-inch LED display sporting a ho-hum resolution (for a 13-incher) of 1366 x 768, just like the 11-inch MacBook Air. Amazingly, this knock-off weighs merely .01 kilograms more than its real counterpart at 1.36 kgs (about three pounds), while being only 0.1 cm thicker. Giz-China expects this Ultrabook-wannabe by Shenzhen Technology Ltd to land on Chinese shelves sometime in November for about $471. Cue Apple's lawyers in 3... 2...

Not so ultimate Ultrabook: MacBook Air KIRF features mini-HDMI port, 3.5 hour battery life originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 29 Oct 2011 18:21:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleclonecopygiz-chinaintel atomintel atom n2800IntelAtomIntelAtomN2800keepin it real fakeKeepinItRealFakekirfkirf macbook airkirf mbaKirfMacbookAirKirfMbamacbookmacbook airmacbook air 13macbook air 13.3-inchmacbook air cloneMacbookAirMacbookAir13MacbookAir13.3-inchMacbookAirCloneshenzhen Technology LtdShenzhenTechnologyLtdultrabookSat, 29 Oct 2011 18:21:00 EST<![CDATA[Twelve South BassJump 2 USB Subwoofer now available, further bumps your Mac's thump (update)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/twelve-south-bassjump-2-usb-subwoofer-now-available-further-bum/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/twelve-south-bassjump-2-usb-subwoofer-now-available-further-bum/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/26/twelve-south-bassjump-2-usb-subwoofer-now-available-further-bum/#comments
At a glance, one could confuse Twelve South's BassJump 2 for a 2011 Mac Mini -- don't be fooled though, this USB subwoofer aims for sound that's anything but. Much like the original BassJump, this guy's aimed at aiding MacBook speakers by adding extra low end boost, and employing proprietary software to keep it in all in check. Improving on the original, however, the BassJump 2 pumps out eight extra decibels of volume and comes with "remastered software," notably featuring iMac and Thunderbolt Display support. If it piques your fancy, the BassJump 2 is now available for about $70 -- much like a pair of utilitarian Grado headphones (or similar), but we digress. Full press release past the break.

Update: For clarification, the BassJump 2 is physically identical the first. According to Twelve South, its updated software is the key new feature and can be downloaded for free if you already own a BassJump.

[Thanks, Brendan]

Continue reading Twelve South BassJump 2 USB Subwoofer now available, further bumps your Mac's thump (update)

Twelve South BassJump 2 USB Subwoofer now available, further bumps your Mac's thump (update) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 26 Oct 2011 03:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleaudiobassbass jumpbass jump 2BassJumpBassJump2MacmacbooksoundspeakerssubwooferThunderbolt DisplayThunderboltDisplaytwelve southTwelve South BassJump 2 USB SubwooferTwelveSouthTwelveSouthBassjump2UsbSubwooferusbusb subwooferUsbSubwooferWed, 26 Oct 2011 03:28:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple MacBook Pro (late 2011) line-up gets processor and graphics boost]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/apple-macbook-pro-line-up-gets-processor-and-graphics-boost/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/apple-macbook-pro-line-up-gets-processor-and-graphics-boost/http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/24/apple-macbook-pro-line-up-gets-processor-and-graphics-boost/#comments If you meander on down to the Apple store this morning, you'll spot some nice little spec bumps to the MacBook Pro range -- without any increase to the prices. For a start, you can now splash out on a faster AMD Radeon HD 6770M discrete GPU with your 15-inch or 17-inch lappie. Even better, there are some CPU improvements to be had: the 13-incher gets the option of a 2.8GHz Core i7 or a 2.4GHz Core i5 dual-core processor, instead of the previous entry-level 2.3GHz i5 (and it also gets its HDD notched up to a minimum 500GB, or max 750GB). The 15-incher now goes up to a quad-core 2.4GHz i7 -- the same speedy processor that comes in the updated 17-inch variant. Oh, the cost/benefit dilemmas.

Apple MacBook Pro (late 2011) line-up gets processor and graphics boost originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 06:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>AppleMacbookMacBook ProMacbookProMon, 24 Oct 2011 06:32:00 EST<![CDATA[mLogic mDock extends your MacBook ports, steals your Thunder(bolt)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/mlogic-mdock-blocks-select-macbook-ports-while-extending-others/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/mlogic-mdock-blocks-select-macbook-ports-while-extending-others/http://www.engadget.com/2011/09/10/mlogic-mdock-blocks-select-macbook-ports-while-extending-others/#comments
If you're trying to make a name for yourself in the incredibly crowded portable storage space, you can innovate and create something totally awesome, or you can do this. The mDock from mLogic is an external hard drive, port extender and port blocker all rolled into one pricey coffin-like chamber of fail. $219 will net you an eternal resting place for 500 gigs of data, while $299 ups the ante to an entire terabyte. Plus, with a pair of front-facing USB ports, you can add a third-party portable storage yokel for the less-than-princely sum of 50 bucks. If you haven't already gathered, the mDock is designed for mMacbook Pros, but there's also the iMac-mountable mBack (curiously not the iBack), designed with Apple's familiar desktop flavor in mind. That variant is slightly more affordable, with pricing ranging from $169 for 1TB to $349 for 3TB, but you'll forgo the dock-like USB hub and headphone jack. There's no word on when to expect these life-changing devices in stores, but it's never too early to dust off the mChair iChair and park yourself on 5th Ave.

Update: As pointed out by many in the comments most ports that are blocked by the mDock are replicated on the silver brick, including the Magsafe. The only restriction appears to be a lack of pass-through for Thunderbolt, but you do get a mini DisplayPort for hooking up external monitors. We've added one more pic after the break.

Continue reading mLogic mDock extends your MacBook ports, steals your Thunder(bolt)

mLogic mDock extends your MacBook ports, steals your Thunder(bolt) originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 10 Sep 2011 09:54:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appledockdockingdocking stationDockingStationhard driveHardDriveimacmacmacbookmacbook proMacbookProportable hard driveportable storagePortableHardDrivePortableStoragestorageusbusb docking stationusb hubUsbDockingStationUsbHubSat, 10 Sep 2011 09:54:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget's back to school guide 2011: laptops]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/26/engadgets-back-to-school-guide-2011-laptops/#commentsWelcome to Engadget's Back to School guide! We know that this time of year can be pretty annoying and stressful for everyone, so we're here to help out with the heartbreaking process of gadget buying for the school-aged crowd. Today we're getting down to the very important business of helping you sift through laptops, and you can always head to the Back to School hub to see the rest of the product guides as they're added throughout the month. Be sure to keep checking back -- at the end of the month we'll be giving away a ton of the gear featured in our guides -- and hit up the hub page right here!


Ah, laptops. Some of us received our first notebooks the summer before college if not later. But times have changed and we're sure for many of the kids reading this freshman year is just an excuse to upgrade from the clunkers that carried them through high school. Either way, this one's pretty much mandatory -- unless you're a serious gamer who insists on a desktop GPU for marathon sessions of CoD: Black Ops, you're going to need a laptop for pounding out last-minute term papers in the library, taking notes in class and posting incriminating photos on Facebook. The problem is, the market's overrun with laptops that purport to be just perfect for the back to school set. They can't all be worth your money, though, so we whittled the list down to a handful of choices for each budget -- and if you're lucky you'll get your very own HP Pavilion dm1z for the pretty price of, well, nothing. Simply leave a comment below to be entered to win, and check out our giveaway page for more details. So wipe off the glasses, grab your clicker, and get ready to jump past the break for a top-level overview of this year's picks for back to school.

Continue reading Engadget's back to school guide 2011: laptops

Engadget's back to school guide 2011: laptops originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 26 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>5830T5830TG-6402Acer Aspire TimelineXAcer Aspire TimelineX 5830TAcer TimelineXAcer TimelineX AS5830TG-6402AcerAspireTimelinexAcerAspireTimelinex5830tAcerTimelinexAcerTimelinexAs5830tg-6402AirAppleApple MacBook AirAppleMacbookAirAS5830TG-6402back to schoolback to school shoppingBackToSchoolbacktoschool2011BackToSchoolShoppingDellDell InspironDell Inspiron 14zDellInspironDellInspiron14zdm1dm1zEnvyenvy 14Envy14GatewayGateway ID47Gateway ID47502UGatewayId47GatewayId47502uHPHP EnvyHP Envy 14HP PavilionHP Pavilion dm1HP Pavilion dm1zHpEnvyHpEnvy14HpPavilionHpPavilionDm1HpPavilionDm1zID47ID47502UInspironInspiron 14zInspiron14zL750D-ST4N01laptoplaptopsMacBookMacBook Airmacbook air 2011MacbookAirMacbookAir2011Pavilion dm1Pavilion dm1zPavilionDm1PavilionDm1zSamsung Series 3Samsung Series 3 350U2B-A01SamsungSeries3SamsungSeries3350u2b-a01Satellite L750D-ST4N01SatelliteL750d-st4n01Series 3Series 3 350U2B-A01Series3Series3350u2b-a01shoppingSony VAIO S seriesSony VAIO SA seriesSonyVaioSaSeriesSonyVaioSSeriesstudentstudentsToshiba SatelliteToshiba Satellite L750D-ST4N01ToshibaSatelliteToshibaSatelliteL750d-st4n01VAIOVAIO SAVaioSaFri, 26 Aug 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple pico projector patent application makes shared workspaces fun again]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/apple-pico-projector-patent-application-makes-shared-workspaces/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/apple-pico-projector-patent-application-makes-shared-workspaces/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/11/apple-pico-projector-patent-application-makes-shared-workspaces/#comments Really, there's nothing new in Apple's patent flirtation with the world of projection, but the latest application does take things to a whole new level, with pico projectors connected to the iPhone, iPad and MacBook. Cupertino's "Projected Display Shared Workspaces" patent application details a utopian universe wherein tiny projectors are connected to Apple products, with communication links across devices that allow for the sharing of image data between projected displays in the aforementioned "shared workspaces." Oh, and included cameras let the user interact with the displays via gestures, Wii-style, which puts our old projector shadow puppet shows to shame.

Gallery: Apple pico projector patent app

Apple pico projector patent application makes shared workspaces fun again originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 11 Aug 2011 16:37:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleipadiphonemacbookpatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationpicopico projectorPicoProjectorprojectorThu, 11 Aug 2011 16:37:00 EST<![CDATA[Acer's Aspire 3951 leaks with MacBook Air-like specs, available in October?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/acers-aspire-3951-leaks-with-macbook-air-like-specs-available/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/acers-aspire-3951-leaks-with-macbook-air-like-specs-available/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/09/acers-aspire-3951-leaks-with-macbook-air-like-specs-available/#comments
It looks like Acer may be dropping down to the lightweight laptop division, now that images of its so-called Aspire 3951 have leaked out of Vietnam. An ostensible rival to the recently refreshed MacBook Air, the 13.3-inch 3951 reportedly boasts a similarly slim design, measuring 13mm thick and weighing less than 1.4 kilograms (about three pounds). According to Sohoa, the aluminum-cased device is powered by a second generation Intel Core processor, features an optional 160GB SSD, and offers more than six hours of battery life, along with Bluetooth 4.0 support. Much like the Air, this Aspire can purportedly boot up pretty fast, as well, rousing from sleep mode in just 1.7 seconds. It's rumored that Acer will release this new line in October within the curiously affordable price range between $770 and $960, but we'll have to wait and see whether that actually comes to fruition. In the meantime, you can check out an extra image of the Aspire 3951 below, or hit the source link for the full collection.

[Thanks, @tranquochuyvn]

Update: Oddly enough, it appears that we've caught a glimpse of this exact same laptop before, except it was portrayed by M.I.C. Gadget as a Thunderbolt MacBook Air leak. Perhaps the folks received some bad intel, be it intentional or not.

Continue reading Acer's Aspire 3951 leaks with MacBook Air-like specs, available in October?

Acer's Aspire 3951 leaks with MacBook Air-like specs, available in October? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 09 Aug 2011 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>13-inch160gbaceracer aspireAcerAspireairaspireaspire 3951Aspire3951battery lifeBatteryLifebluetoothbluetooth 4.0Bluetooth4.0bootingCPUimageintelintel coreIntel Core iIntelCoreIntelCoreIlaptopleakmacbookmacbook airMacbookAirprocessorrumorssdvietnamTue, 09 Aug 2011 07:29:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iCloud and iWork beta for iOS hands-on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/apple-icloud-and-iwork-beta-for-ios-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/apple-icloud-and-iwork-beta-for-ios-hands-on/http://www.engadget.com/2011/08/02/apple-icloud-and-iwork-beta-for-ios-hands-on/#comments We've had a few weeks to get accustomed to iOS 5 and Mac OS X Lion, but one headlining feature has been notably inaccessible since it was unveiled earlier this summer. During his WWDC keynote, Steve Jobs touted iCloud as a service that will sync many of your Apple devices, for free. Macs, iPhones, iPads, and even Windows computers can synchronize documents, contacts, calendar appointments, and other data. You'll also be able to back up your iOS devices remotely, use an Apple-hosted email account, and store your music in the cloud. Well, this week Apple finally lit up its cloud-based service for developers, letting some of us take a sneak peek at the new service.

Apple also announced pricing, confirming that you'll be able to add annual subscriptions with 10GB ($20), 20GB ($40), or 50GB ($100) of storage 'atop your free 5GB account. We took our five gig account for a spin, creating documents in Pages, spreadsheets in Numbers, and presentations in Keynote, then accessing them from the iCloud web interface to download Microsoft Office and PDF versions. We also tried our luck at iOS data syncing and the soon-to-be-controversial Photo Stream, so jump past the break for our full iCloud hands-on.

Gallery: Apple iCloud and iWork beta hands-on

Continue reading Apple iCloud and iWork beta for iOS hands-on

Apple iCloud and iWork beta for iOS hands-on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>.macappleapple icloudapple iosapple ios 5apple lionAppleIcloudAppleIosAppleIos5AppleLioncloudcloud computingcloud storageCloudComputingCloudStoragedot macdotmacfind my iphoneFindMyIphonehands-onicloudiosios 5Ios5ipadipad 2Ipad2iphoneiphone 4iphone trackingIphone4IphoneTrackingipodipod touchIpodTouchiworkkeynotelionmacmac osmac os lionmac os xmac os x lionmacbookmacbook proMacbookProMacOsMacOsLionMacOsXMacOsXLionmicrosoftmicrosoft officeMicrosoftOfficemobilemenumbersofficepagesphone trackingPhoneTrackingproductivitytrackingTue, 02 Aug 2011 17:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Editorial: Apple's officially over the optical drive, for better or worse]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/editorial-apples-officially-over-the-optical-drive-for-better/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/editorial-apples-officially-over-the-optical-drive-for-better/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/27/editorial-apples-officially-over-the-optical-drive-for-better/#comments I don't like it. Not one iota. But frankly, it doesn't much matter -- Apple's officially done with the optical drive, and there's no evidence more strikingly clear than the mid 2011 refresh of its Mac mini. Last year, that bantam box arrived with a $699 price tag, pep in its step and a personality that could charm even the most hardened desktop owner. This year, a $599 model showed up on my doorstep promising the same, but instead it delivered a noticeable drop in actual functionality. Pundits have argued that you could tether a USB SuperDrive to the new mini and save $20 in the process compared to last year's rig, but does relying on a cabled accessory go hand-in-hand with beauty and simplicity? No, and I've every reason to believe that Apple would agree.

Despite the obvious -- that consumers would buy a mini to reduce the sheer burden of operating a convoluted desktop setup -- Apple's gone and yanked what has become a staple in both Macs and PCs alike. For years, ODDs have been standard fare, spinning CDs, DVDs, HD-DVDs (however briefly) and Blu-ray Discs, not to mention a few other formats that didn't do much to deserve a mention. Compared to most everything else in the technology universe, the tried-and-true optical drive has managed to hang around well beyond what it's creator likely had in mind, but it's pretty obvious that 2011 is to the ODD what 1998 was to the floppy drive. At least in the mind of one Steven P. Jobs.

Continue reading Editorial: Apple's officially over the optical drive, for better or worse

Editorial: Apple's officially over the optical drive, for better or worse originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleblu-rayblu-ray discBlu-rayDisccddvddvd burnerdvd writerDvdBurnerDvdWritereditorialmac minimacbookmacbook airmacbook proMacbookAirMacbookProMacMinioddoptical driveOpticalDriveslot loadingslot-loadingSlotLoadingsuperdriveWed, 27 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[PSA: Apple using slower SSDs in some MacBook Air models (video)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/psa-apple-using-slower-ssds-in-some-macbook-air-models-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/psa-apple-using-slower-ssds-in-some-macbook-air-models-video/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/psa-apple-using-slower-ssds-in-some-macbook-air-models-video/#comments When you head to Apple's online store to configure your MacBook Air, you'll find options to increase processor speed or SSD capacity -- depending on the model you select, of course. There's no mention of flash drive speed, however, though it's now clear that not all SSDs are created equal at Apple -- not only when it comes to capacity, but also performance. Jonathan over at TLD discovered a fairly significant discrepancy when benchmarking both MacBook Air models over the weekend. The 128GB Samsung SSD in his 11-inch Air was able to achieve 246 MB/s write and 264 MB/s read speeds. When he switched to the 13-inch model, however, speeds dropped to 156 MB/s and 208 MB/s, respectively, using that notebook's 128GB Toshiba SSD. We compared speeds on two generations of 13-inch models, and confirmed Jonathan's findings. During our tests, the 256GB Samsung drive in our older model achieved 214 MB/s write and 251 MB/s read speeds, while the 128GB Toshiba drive in the new MacBook Air scored 184 MB/s and 203 MB/s during write and read tests, respectively. Overall, you're not likely to notice a significant difference during normal usage, though it's certainly an interesting find, nonetheless.

[Thanks, Larry]

Continue reading PSA: Apple using slower SSDs in some MacBook Air models (video)

PSA: Apple using slower SSDs in some MacBook Air models (video) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 13:17:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11-inch13-inchairapplecore i5core i7CoreI5CoreI7hard driveHardDrivelaptoplionmacbookmacbook airMacbookAirmid 2011Mid2011os xos x lionOsXOsXLionperformancesamsungsandy bridgeSandyBridgesolid state driveSolidStateDrivespeedssdstoragethin and lightThinAndLighttldtoshibaultraportablevideoMon, 25 Jul 2011 13:17:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook Air review (mid 2011)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/macbook-air-review-mid-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/macbook-air-review-mid-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/25/macbook-air-review-mid-2011/#comments There comes a time when that giant, corporate-issued laptop stops fitting into your lifestyle. When dragging around a Kensington roller case just won't do. When you start to hear the siren lilt of something thinner, lighter, and maybe a bit more alluring. For years the MacBook Air has been that svelte temptress hollering your name, but it's always been a bit too slow -- all show and no go. It didn't have the power and the longevity to make it a serious contender for your serious affections.

No more. With its latest refresh, Apple has taken what was once a manilla-clad curiosity and turned it into a legitimate machine, not just a sultry looker. Good thing, too, because the death of the plastic-clad MacBook means the Air is now Apple's entry-level portable. Weary traveler looking for a laptop that will lighten your load and, it must be said, your wallet too? This might just be it.

Gallery: MacBook Air Review

Continue reading MacBook Air review (mid 2011)

MacBook Air review (mid 2011) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 25 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11-inch13-inchairapplecore i5core i7CoreI5CoreI7engadget awardsengadget awards 2011EngadgetAwardsEngadgetAwards2011laptoplionmacbookmacbook airMacbookAirmid 2011Mid2011os xos x lionOsXOsXLionreviewsandy bridgeSandyBridgessdthin and lightThinAndLightultraportableMon, 25 Jul 2011 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Charlie Miller finds MacBook battery security hole, plans to fill with Caulkgun]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/charlie-miller-finds-macbook-battery-security-hole-plans-to-fil/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/charlie-miller-finds-macbook-battery-security-hole-plans-to-fil/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/charlie-miller-finds-macbook-battery-security-hole-plans-to-fil/#comments Those batteries have probably met a worse fate than the white MacBook line they came from. According to Forbes, Charlie Miller's managed to render seven of them useless after gaining total access to their micro-controllers' firmware via a security hole. Evidently, the Li-ion packs for the line of lappies -- including Airs and Pros -- are accessible with two passwords he dug up from an '09 software update. Chuck mentions that someone could "use them to do something really bad," including faulting charge-levels and thermal read-outs to possibly even making them explode. He also thinks hard-to-spot malware could be installed directly within the battery, repeatedly infecting a computer unless removed. Come August, he'll reportedly be detailing the vulnerability at the Black Hat security conference along with a fix he's dubbed Caulkgun, which only has the mild side-effect of locking-out updates by Apple. Worth being safe these days, though. Right? Full story in the links below.

Charlie Miller finds MacBook battery security hole, plans to fill with Caulkgun originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>applebatterybattery hackBatteryHackblack hatblack hat security conferenceBlackHatBlackHatSecurityConferencecaulkguncharlie millerCharlieMillerexploitfirmwarehacklaptopLithium Ionlithium ion batteriesLithiumIonLithiumIonBatteriesmacbookmacbook airmacbook batterymacbook proMacbookAirMacbookBatteryMacbookPromicro-controllersecuritysoftware updateSoftwareUpdateFri, 22 Jul 2011 23:59:00 EST<![CDATA[Engadget Podcast 249 - 07.22.2011]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/engadget-podcast-249-07-22-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/engadget-podcast-249-07-22-2011/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/22/engadget-podcast-249-07-22-2011/#comments Here at Engadget, and here on the Engadget Podcast in particular, we're all about customer service. OK, maybe not all about customer service, but on this episode we've dedicated twenty percent of our breath to answering your questions! If you happen to enjoy a bunch of Apple news too -- which we heard you do you -- then we're at about fifty percent on-track to serving you completely. If you like Apple news, having your questions answered, and a healthy dose of other up-to-the-minute information in the spacecraft, e-reader, and digital camera realms...well, let's just say we got this.

Host: Tim Stevens, Brian Heater
Guests: Dana Wollman
Producer: Trent Wolbe
Music: Paradise City


02:44 - Apple Mac OS X Lion available now in the App Store
06:00 - Apple refreshes MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt, and backlit keyboards
08:35 - Apple OS X Lion (10.7) review
17:32 - The MacBook drops from Apple's Store (update: confirmed)
22:37 - Apple updates Mac mini: Core i5 and i7, Thunderbolt, AMD Radeon HD, no SuperDrive
22:55 - Apple rolls out 27-inch Thunderbolt Display with FaceTime HD camera, built-in speakers
23:45 - Apple's Q3 earnings exceed estimates: $28.57 billion revenue, $7.31 billion profit, 20 million iPhones sold
25:13 - Apple outpaces Nokia in global smartphone shipments
28:00 - Nokia Q2 2011: 'clearly disappointing' results as challenges prove 'greater than expected'
32:35 - Motorola Droid 3 review
37:35 - Sony Alpha NEX-C3 review
42:55 - iRiver Story HD review
49:51 - Space Shuttle Atlantis touches down in Florida, won't be going back up again
50:44 - Google 'winding down' Labs, likely due to meddling older sister
51:40 - Listener questions




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Engadget Podcast 249 - 07.22.2011 originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 22 Jul 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>alpha nex-c3AlphaNex-c3appleapplestoreatlantisdroid3earningsgooglegoogle labsGoogleLabsiriveririver story hdIriverStoryHdlionmac minimacbookmacbookairMacMinimotorolanex-c3nokiaos xOsXpodcastpodcasthubpodcastsshuttlesonyspace shuttleSpaceShuttlethunderboltFri, 22 Jul 2011 17:30:00 ESTEngadget Podcast 249Tim Stevens, Brian Heater01:13:45podcasts<![CDATA[iFixit tears down new MacBook Air, beholds the miracle of backlighting]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/ifixit-tears-down-new-macbook-air-beholds-the-miracle-of-backli/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/ifixit-tears-down-new-macbook-air-beholds-the-miracle-of-backli/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/21/ifixit-tears-down-new-macbook-air-beholds-the-miracle-of-backli/#comments Warranties be damned, iFixit got its hands on the newly announced MacBook Air and immediately did its thing, digging into the super-thin laptop like a kid at Christmas. Not all that much to see from the outside of the device, save for that new Thunderbolt port and some shiny new keyboard backlighting. Things are a bit different inside, however, including an Intel Core i5 processor, a Bluetooth 4.0 chip, and a general lack of thermal paste. As for putting the thing back together again -- the Air scores a four out of ten for repairability, so maybe don't try this at home.

iFixit tears down new MacBook Air, beholds the miracle of backlighting originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 21 Jul 2011 18:36:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple macbookAppleMacbookbacklightbluetoothbluetooth 4.0Bluetooth4.0ifixitkeyboardmacbookmacbook airMacbookAirteardownThu, 21 Jul 2011 18:36:00 EST<![CDATA[Chromium OS running on a MacBook Air: somewhere, a mad scientist cackles in the night]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/chromium-os-running-on-a-macbook-air-somewhere-a-mad-scientist/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/chromium-os-running-on-a-macbook-air-somewhere-a-mad-scientist/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/chromium-os-running-on-a-macbook-air-somewhere-a-mad-scientist/#comments Does it hurt your brain to look at the picture above? That'd be Chromium OS -- running on a MacBook Air! Pretty much the definition of "worlds colliding," this feat is brought to you by Hexxeh, whose most recent mind-warping project put Chrome on an iPad. The platform-mixing maestro says in this case everything works except Bluetooth, owing to a lack of support. But hearty souls who seek to follow in his footsteps, take heed: there's no dual-boot option, and you will lose OS X -- so perhaps this is a job for your now outdated model. Click the source link for 14 easy steps to turning your svelte laptop into Frankenstein's monster, but sadly, there's no mention of where to buy that hopelessly cute Chrome pillow.

Update: Diligent researchers found the Chrome pillow. Peep it in the second source link. Thanks, Matthew.

Chromium OS running on a MacBook Air: somewhere, a mad scientist cackles in the night originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 11:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleAppleIpadchrome osChromeOschromium osChromiumOsgooglehackhackinghexxehlaptopmacbookmacbook airMacbookAiroperating systemOperatingSystemosportWed, 20 Jul 2011 11:01:00 EST<![CDATA[The MacBook drops from Apple's Store (update: confirmed)]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/the-macbook-drops-from-apples-store/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/the-macbook-drops-from-apples-store/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/the-macbook-drops-from-apples-store/#comments
What's wrong with this picture? Looks like Apple may have dropped one important product from its store during today's new product rush. It seems as if there may indeed be some meat to those recent rumors that the company is doing away with its white plastic piece of laptoppy goodness -- at the very least, the thing is nowhere to be seen in its current online lineup.

Update: We just received word from Apple that the MacBook has, in fact, been discontinued.

Update 2: While the notebook will be discontinued for individual consumers, Apple will continue to make it available to educational institutions.

The MacBook drops from Apple's Store (update: confirmed) originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 09:04:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple macbookAppleMacbookbreaking newslaptopmacmacbookWed, 20 Jul 2011 09:04:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple refreshes MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt, and backlit keyboards]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/dnp-stub-apple-refreshes-macbook-air-with-sandy-bridge-thunderb/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/dnp-stub-apple-refreshes-macbook-air-with-sandy-bridge-thunderb/http://www.engadget.com/2011/07/20/dnp-stub-apple-refreshes-macbook-air-with-sandy-bridge-thunderb/#comments They say Apple updates its products like clockwork, releasing something new at the same time in the same place every year. Not so with MacBook Airs anyway. The outfit's gone and freshened up its 13-inch and 11-inch ultraportables -- the second such update in nine months. Although the industrial design hasn't changed much since the last generation, both models step up to Sandy Bridge Core i5 and i7 processors, Thunderbolt ports, backlit keyboards, and, of course, OS X Lion.

The 11.6-inch flavor starts at $999 with 64GB of solid-state storage, 2GB of memory and a 1.6GHz Core i5 processor. The higher-end of the two configurations costs $1,199, with the extra two hundred dollars doubling your RAM and storage. The 13-inch Air, meanwhile, starts at $1,299, with a 128GB SSD, 4GB of RAM, and a 1.7GHz Core i5 CPU. Step up to the $1,599 model and you'll get a 256GB SSD instead. Regardless, you're looking at Intel HD 3000 graphics across the board, along with FaceTime webcams, two USB ports (plus an SD slot on the 13-inch version), 802.11n WiFi, and Bluetooth 4.0. The two differ when it comes to resolution and battery life: the 11-incher has a 1366 x 768 panel and is rated for up to five hours of battery life, whereas the 13-inch model has a 1440 x 900 screen and promises up to seven hours of juice. As for that 1.8GHz Core i7 CPU, it'll set you back an extra $100 on the 13-inch version, and $150 for the 11-inch version. Whichever size you choose, it's only an option for the higher-end configuration. Hit the source link to peep the specs and buy one, if you're so inclined.

Gallery: MacBook Air (mid-2011)

Continue reading Apple refreshes MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt, and backlit keyboards

Apple refreshes MacBook Air with Sandy Bridge, Thunderbolt, and backlit keyboards originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 20 Jul 2011 08:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>11-inch13-inchAirApplebacklit keyboardBacklitKeyboardbreaking newsCore i5Core i7CoreI5CoreI7laptoplaptopsLionMac OS XMac OS X LionMacBookMacBook AirMacBook Air 2011MacbookAirMacbookAir2011MacOsXMacOsXLionOS X LionOsXLionrefreshrefreshesSandy BridgeSandyBridgeThunderboltultraportableultraportablesWed, 20 Jul 2011 08:41:00 EST<![CDATA[MacBook in short supply, stirs rumors of imminent refresh, rebirth of white plastic?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/macbook-in-short-supply-stirs-rumors-of-imminent-refresh-rebir/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/macbook-in-short-supply-stirs-rumors-of-imminent-refresh-rebir/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/30/macbook-in-short-supply-stirs-rumors-of-imminent-refresh-rebir/#comments MacBook in short supply, stirs rumors of imminent refresh, rebirth of white plastic? We've already seen the MacBook Pro sporting new specs, and heard rumblings of a MacBook Air refresh coming soon, and now reports of dwindling supplies of Apple's great white hope have the internets abuzz over a possible MacBook upgrade. AppleInsider did a little digging earlier today, and found that major online retailers, including Amazon, and at least one brick and mortar store were either running low or completely out of the last of the MacBooks. A similar fate has befallen stock of the Mac mini, inviting speculation that both machines will likely pop up post-Lion. We suppose there's also a possibility that Apple's ready to send the old workhorse to the glue factory, but we'd prefer a happy ending.

MacBook in short supply, stirs rumors of imminent refresh, rebirth of white plastic? originally appeared on Engadget on Thu, 30 Jun 2011 06:51:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>2011applein stockInStocklaptopmacmac minimacbookMacMinimininotebookout of stockOutOfStockrefreshshort supplyShortSupplysupplythunderboltupdatewhite macbookWhiteMacbookThu, 30 Jun 2011 06:51:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple Thunderbolt cable, Promise RAIDs now available to get your 10Gbps interconnect on]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/apple-thunderbolt-cable-promise-raids-now-available-to-get-your/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/apple-thunderbolt-cable-promise-raids-now-available-to-get-your/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/28/apple-thunderbolt-cable-promise-raids-now-available-to-get-your/#comments Apple Thunderbolt Cable
Was it really four months ago that Intel and Apple took the curtains off of Thunderbolt I/O? The MacBook Pro and iMac lines have since been refreshed with the interconnect, but early adopters haven't had much more than a fancy port to stare at. Thankfully, Apple's $49 T-bolt cable is finally available as your ticket to the 10Gbps superhighway. Apparently, it quietly hit Apple's web store this morning along with some fresh Promise Pegasus RAID enclosures ($1k for 4TB up to $2K for 12TB) to support it. All of the peripherals appear to be in stock and ready to ship; so if you've been eagerly waiting to make use of that extra port, now's your chance.

Apple Thunderbolt cable, Promise RAIDs now available to get your 10Gbps interconnect on originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 28 Jun 2011 18:56:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple storeapple thunderboltAppleStoreAppleThunderboltcablecomputerhddimacintelintel light peakintel thunderboltIntelLightPeakIntelThunderboltlaptoplight peakLightPeakMacmacbookmacbook proMacbookPropegasuspromis pegasuspromisePromise Pegasuspromise raidPromisePegasusPromiseRaidraidraid hddRaidHddthunderboltthunderbolt ioThunderboltIoTue, 28 Jun 2011 18:56:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple iCloud to halt backups, MobileMe email, when storage limit is reached?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/apple-icloud-will-hault-backups-mobileme-email-when-storage-li/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/apple-icloud-will-hault-backups-mobileme-email-when-storage-li/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/21/apple-icloud-will-hault-backups-mobileme-email-when-storage-li/#comments Hey there, future iCloud power user, take a gander at the MobileMe email from MacRumors above -- that's what to expect when you approach the 5GB storage limit. Apparently, automatic backups and your MobileMe account's email traffic will pause until you delete some files or purchase more space via your iDevice or a computer -- for an undisclosed cost. That's one sliver of info which Apple's remaining tight-lipped about despite unveiling the mostly free cloud service weeks ago. Also worth noting, as TUAW points out, is that content purchased within the iTunes ecosystem won't impact your quota. Hey, those app downloads can sure make it easy to fill up a drive, ya know.

Apple iCloud to halt backups, MobileMe email, when storage limit is reached? originally appeared on Engadget on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 11:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>appleapple icloudAppleIcloudappscloudcloud servercloud storageCloudServerCloudStorageicloudimaciosipadiphoneipodipod touchIpodTouchitunesmac promacbookMacPromusicstoragestreamingstreaming musicStreamingMusicvideosTue, 21 Jun 2011 11:26:00 EST<![CDATA[Bird Electron EP-15V charges your MacBook Air from eight C-type batteries]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/bird-electron-ep-15v-charges-your-macbook-air-from-eight-c-type/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/bird-electron-ep-15v-charges-your-macbook-air-from-eight-c-type/http://www.engadget.com/2011/06/10/bird-electron-ep-15v-charges-your-macbook-air-from-eight-c-type/#comments Remember those thick C-type batteries you used to toss in your flashlights before the age of LEDs? Well, they're not likely to overtake the disposable battery market anytime soon, but they did just become slightly more useful to a very select number of Japanese MacBook Air owners. The EP-15V from Bird Electron will bridge eight of those C batts to create a 12-volt power source, giving your 11.6-inch MacBook Air a two-hour boost when used with standard alkaline batteries. The charger was released today in Japan, and will initially sell for ¥19,800 (about $250), not including batteries or the requisite MagSafe Airline Adapter (¥5,800, or about $75 in Japan). The EP-15V isn't likely to be the most practical option, considering its cost, size, weight (2.3 pounds, or just over 1 kilogram -- before you add batts), and the fact that you'll need access to an adapter and eight batteries, which you'll be tossing after just two hours of use. But if you find yourself in a remote village with a hearty C-type battery supply and no electricity or access to the sun, then you might just regret not picking one up.

Bird Electron EP-15V charges your MacBook Air from eight C-type batteries originally appeared on Engadget on Fri, 10 Jun 2011 05:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>accessoryappleapple macbookAppleMacbookbatteriesbatterybattery chargerBatteryChargerc batteryCBatterychargerchargingmacbookmacbook airmacbook air chargermacbook chargerMacbookAirMacbookAirChargerMacbookChargerportable chargerPortableChargerFri, 10 Jun 2011 05:02:00 EST<![CDATA[Dell XPS 15z review]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/dell-xps-15z-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/dell-xps-15z-review/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/23/dell-xps-15z-review/#comments For years, Dell's been teasing supermodel-thin laptops, each one flawed out of the gate: too pricey, too underpowered, and with underwhelming battery life. This time, Dell told us we'd get something different: a laptop without compromise. Recently, Round Rock killed off the Adamo and nixed the XPS 14, and then rumors started to spin -- a spiritual successor would be the slimmest 15.6-inch notebook we'd ever seen, be crafted from "special materials" and yet cost less than $1,000. Dell even stated that it would have an "innovative new form factor" of some sort.

The company neglected to mention it would look like a MacBook Pro.

This is the Dell XPS 15z, and we're sorry to say it's not a thin-and-light -- it's actually a few hairs thicker than a 15-inch MacBook Pro, wider, and at 5.54 pounds, it weighs practically the same. It is, however, constructed of aluminum and magnesium alloy and carries some pretty peppy silicon inside, and the base model really does ring up at $999. That's a pretty low price to garner comparisons to Apple's flagship, and yet here we are. Has Dell set a new bar for the notebook PC market? Find out after the break.

Gallery: Dell XPS 15z unboxing and hands-on

Continue reading Dell XPS 15z review

Dell XPS 15z review originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 23 May 2011 21:09:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>1080pAppleCore 2011Core i7-2620mCore2011CoreI7-2620mDellDell XPS 15zDellXps15zGeForce GT525GeForce GT525mGeforceGt525GeforceGt525mGT 525mGT525mlaptoplaptopsMacBookMacBook ProMacbookPronotebooknotebooksNVIDIANVIDIA OptimusNvidiaOptimusOptimusreviewreviewsvideoXPSXPS 15zXps15zMon, 23 May 2011 21:09:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple patent application reveals an LCD with switchable, privacy-protecting viewing angles]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/22/apple-patent-application-reveals-an-lcd-with-switchable-privacy/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/22/apple-patent-application-reveals-an-lcd-with-switchable-privacy/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/22/apple-patent-application-reveals-an-lcd-with-switchable-privacy/#comments Don't you hate it when the guy next to you on the subway is looking over your shoulder, watching you screw up in Fruit Ninja? Well, Apple could have predicted your discomfort -- back in November 2009, before the iPad was anything more than a unicorn, the company applied for a patent on an LCD display with adjustable viewing angles, explicitly designed to "shield the display away from unintended viewers." According to the filing, the display would include steering modules made of liquid crystal material, which aim the so-called scattering modules that sit on top of them. The top layer then redirects the light, making it possible to narrow down and alter the viewing angle. The patent specifically calls out cellphones and laptops, paving the way for discreet displays on MacBooks and iPhones, though the broad phrase "other portable electronic devices" leaves plenty of room for iPads and iPod Touches. No word, of course, on when or if Apple will secure this patent and if so, what devices might incorporate such screens. We may just be seeing this concept go public now, but it seems consumers could use this even more today than they did back in the fall of '09, when all they had to worry about was a stranger squinting at their 3GS' 3.5-inch screen.

Continue reading Apple patent application reveals an LCD with switchable, privacy-protecting viewing angles

Apple patent application reveals an LCD with switchable, privacy-protecting viewing angles originally appeared on Engadget on Sun, 22 May 2011 05:48:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>adjustableAppledisplayiPadiPhoneipod touchIpodTouchlaptopLCDmacbookpatentpatent applicationPatentApplicationprivacyprivatescreentabletUSPTOviewing angleViewingAngleSun, 22 May 2011 05:48:00 EST<![CDATA[Apple's MacBook Air duo to receive Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt upgrade in June or July?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/apples-macbook-air-duo-to-receive-sandy-bridge-and-thunderbolt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/apples-macbook-air-duo-to-receive-sandy-bridge-and-thunderbolt/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/18/apples-macbook-air-duo-to-receive-sandy-bridge-and-thunderbolt/#comments We've already seen Intel's Sandy Bridge processors and Thunderbolt reinvigorating the MacBook Pro line, so it's only logical for the MacBook Airs to eventually follow suit -- presumably they'll pick up Sandy Bridge's 17W mobile processors to match the current 10W and 17W Core 2 Duos. So when can we expect this to happen? Well, according to DigiTimes' sources within the supply chain, Apple may receive shipment of the refreshed Airs in late May ahead of a June or July launch -- this echoes earlier reports from Apple Insider and CNET that cited the same time frame. Additionally, DigiTimes says Quanta will continue to assemble Apple's ultra-portable laptops, with Simplo Technology and Dynapack supplying the battery packs. As always, we shall remain open-minded about such rumors, but you'll know the real deal as soon as we do within the next couple of months or so.

Apple's MacBook Air duo to receive Sandy Bridge and Thunderbolt upgrade in June or July? originally appeared on Engadget on Wed, 18 May 2011 02:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>airAppleApple InsiderAppleInsiderCNETDigitimesIntellaptopMacBookMacBook AirMacbookAirQuantarefreshrumorSandy BridgeSandyBridgeslimThunderboltThunderbolt IOThunderboltIoultraportableunibodyupdateupgradeWed, 18 May 2011 02:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How would you change Apple's Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Pro?]]>http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/how-would-you-change-apples-thunderbolt-equipped-macbook-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/how-would-you-change-apples-thunderbolt-equipped-macbook-pro/http://www.engadget.com/2011/05/14/how-would-you-change-apples-thunderbolt-equipped-macbook-pro/#comments Same 'ole, same 'ole? There's no doubt that Apple's newest MacBook Pro looks awfully similar to the models that have come before it, but the engineers in Cupertino still managed to shake a few things up on the early 2011 model. Aside from throwing an AMD GPU under the hood, pairing that with Intel's integrated HD 3000 chipset and implementing Sandy Bridge, there's also an entirely new I/O port: Thunderbolt. But was that really enough? For those of you who couldn't escape the upgrade bug, we're curious to know if you've been satisfied with the upgrade. If you had control of things, what would you change? Add a few more USB ports? Insist that native USB 3.0 support be added? Throw in a Blu-ray drive? Maybe add a couple of palm rest stickers? Toss your ideas out in comments below -- but let's keep it civil down there, cool?

How would you change Apple's Thunderbolt-equipped MacBook Pro? originally appeared on Engadget on Sat, 14 May 2011 22:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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