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Engadget Daily: New iPad and Retina iMac reviews, the do's and don'ts of social media, and more!
Want to upgrade to an iPad Air 2 or iPad mini 3? Maybe you're just drooling over the new Retina iMac. We reviewed them all, so you're covered either way. But that's not all we have on deck -- read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours, including a discussion on video game violence, Google's new email app, and the do's and don'ts of social media.
iMac with Retina display review: best in class, but not everybody needs one
When Apple held one of its big keynotes last week, it was easy to think of it as "iPad day." Sure enough, the company announced some upgraded tablets, but it was a desktop, of all things, that stole the show. Though the new 27-inch iMac with Retina display has the same overall design as Apple's previous all-in-ones, it ushers in a 14.7-million-pixel 5K display with screen resolution of 5,120 x 2,880. That's seven times as many pixels as 1080p, and 67 percent more than you'll find even on a 4K panel. I'm not exaggerating when I say there's nothing like it. As it is, you'd be hard-pressed to find a 4K all-in-one, and meanwhile, here's this machine from Apple, with enough pixels to view a 4K video at full resolution, and still have room left onscreen for other stuff, like the Final Cut Pro dashboard. Needless to say, it's in a league -- and price class -- of its own. Starting at $2,499, it's more expensive than almost any other all-in-one on the market, even the supposedly high-end ones. As it turns out, though, if it's this kind of screen quality you're after, this might well be your only choice.
iFixit teardown of iMac with 5K Retina display reveals hardware similar to 2013 iMac
The repair and teardown experts at iFixit recently cracked open Apple's new 27-inch Retina iMac with Retina 5K display. The 2014 iMac model earned an iFixit Repairability Score of 5 out of 10, with 10 being the easiest to repair. While the 2014 iMac has a stunning new display, most internal components are similar to previous Apple Mac hardware. The SSD is the same drive that ships with Apple's late 2013 13-inch MacBook Pro, while the AirPort/Bluetooth card, logic board and other components are described as being "nearly exactly the same" to last year's 27-inch iMac. Though it earned a mediocre Repairability Score, iFIxit notes that most components are modular and relatively easy to replace or repair. Owners can upgrade the RAM via a rear access panel and replace the hard drive and CPU with adhesive removal. Not surprisingly, the hardest component to repair is the display panel from LG, which is no longer held in place by magnets and is designed with the glass and LCD fused together. The new 27-inch iMac is available with a starting price of US$2499 for a 3.5GHz quad-core Intel Core i5 processor, 8 GB RAM, and 1 TB Fusion Drive.
Caturday: Douglas is very possessive of his Apple products
You can't blame a cat for hogging all of the computer equipment in a house. After all, you probably pay more attention to the electronics than you do to your cat (or at least the cat will think so...), so he's going to try to do his best to grab all of it. That's what Larry Davidson's cat Douglas ("we call him Douglas because he has so much fur") apparently has in mind. Larry says that "Douglas always says 'it's all mine' as he walks on my iMac keyboard, but here he's being especially possessive with the iPad, iPod, printer, and scanner in addition." Frankly, I could see where Douglas could use a scanner to make copies of cat food coupons, print pictures from @EmrgencyKittens on the printer, and listen to the score of Cats on the iPod. And all of you Caturday regulars know that our feline friends use Macs and iPads with a passion. We'd love to see photos of your favorite feline soaking up the warmth of an Apple product, chasing a Magic Mouse, or just being a general nuisance while you're attempting to work on your Mac, iPad, or iPhone. Please let us know via our feedback page and please remember that your cat photo has to have some sort of connection to Apple or its products. For security reasons we can't accept inbound attachments, so you should host the photo (Dropbox, Flickr, iPhoto Journals, etc.) and send us the link. Many thanks to Larry Davidson and Douglas!
iFixit takes a peek inside Apple's new '5K' iMac
Sure, we were only just introduced to Apple's 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K Display, but the folks at iFixit are already tearing one apart. Inside they found a screen made by LG Display, and a setup similar to previous iMacs, including easily-accessed RAM slots for memory upgrades. Overall, the layout is almost exactly like last year's 27-inch iMac, plus that new display controller Apple bragged about and a slightly wider display data cable, enhanced to feed all those pixels. Repairing things might be tricky given its design, but you should check out the teardown for more details and a look at the carnage.
Apple aesthetics: A look at the iMac's design history
A new version of Apple's iMac desktop machine doesn't always come with a retooled exterior. As has become the norm with the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, a spec boost via new internals is the case more often that not. This week, in addition to packing in a load of updated components, the company outfitted the all-in-one option with a new high-res Retina display that should translate to some stellar views. With a product line that dates back to the late '90s, let's take a closer look at the iMac's notable design changes over the years.
Early hands-on review roundup of Apple's new 27-inch Retina iMac
Apple certainly has a talent for making people lust after products they previously didn't know they wanted; such is the case with Apple's new 27-inch Retina 5K iMac. Apple's latest and greatest iMac comes with a 5120 x 2880 pixel display, offering seven times as many pixels as a standard 1080p HDTV. Confidently, Apple calls the newest addition to the iMac family the "world's highest-resolution display." Apple's latest iMac also includes a number of display oriented technologies which results in a reduced reflectivity, better viewing angles, more vibrant imagery, and more accurate color representation. Following Apple's presentation yesterday, a number of media outlets were lucky enough to get their hands on the new 27-inch iMac with Retina 5K display, albeit in a non-testing environment. While more in-depth reviews are sure to come, the early hands-on reviews are extremely positive and encouraging. Here's a quick recap. Engadget writes: It almost goes without saying: The new iMac has a stunning display. It's exactly as sharp as you'd expect, even from way off to the side. Expert Reviews: While specs can give a rough impression of things, this is truly a screen that you need to look at in order to really understand just how much detail you get with it. Viewing photos on it, you suddenly appreciate the number of pixels and level of detail that a modern digital camera is capable of taking. You also realise that you've never seen the detail from your camera in this way before, with prints and existing displays simply not delivering. We were taken through a series of sample shots, and they looked astounding. Every tiny bit of fine detail in every image was there in front of us. It completely gave us a new way of looking at photos; this is a screen that every photographer is going to want to have. Gizmodo (yep, they're back at Apple events) writes: The Apple iMac with Retina display looks brilliant. I mean, of course it does: There are just too many freaking pixels here (and too much of Apple's reputation for excellence) for it to be anything but stellar... If you ask me, it's pretty jaw-dropping. The Verge writes: The big worry with a screen this good, and this high-res, is that it would cause performance problems. It's hard to say for sure in a demonstration, but based on what we've seen performance doesn't seem to be an issue. The iMac with Retina display comes with a 3.5GHz Intel Core i5 processor, 8GB of RAM, and a 1TB Fusion Drive, and it's upgradeable to a crazy degree - the model we saw was scrubbing seamlessly through dozens of clips of 4K video, moving through photos and edits with ease, and generally behaving like it wasn't also powering a 5K display. PC Pro writes: When we clapped eyes on it at the launch event in Berlin, we were fully prepared to be underwhelmed, but after being shown a series of high-resolution images and videos, we were more than pleasantly surprised. The level of detail bursting from every image was quite astonishing. Mashable writes: First of all, Apple told me they re-architected the pixels at an organic level and switched to an oxide thin-film transistor, which Apple says allows the pixels to charge faster and hold their charge longer. They also replaced what's known as the Timing Controller. When you have so many millions of pixels, they need to know when to fire and, I'm guessing, not to fire. The controller also has more bandwidth than previous ones to handle all the pixel communication traffic. Anandtech writes: Much more interesting is how Apple is driving it. Since no one has a 5K timing controller (TCON) yet, Apple went and built their own. This is the first time we're aware of Apple doing such a thing for a Mac, but it's likely they just haven't talked about it before. In any case, Apple was kind enough to confirm that they are driving the new iMac's display with a single TCON. More hands-on reviews can be read at Macworld, PC Mag, Slashgear, and TechCrunch.
Apple announces 27" iMac Retina 5K display
Along with new iPads, today Apple announced the next step it it's line of iMacs, the 27" iMac Retina 5K display. The Retina 5K features the most powerful high resolution screen Apple has ever produced with 5120 x 2880 pixels; thats 14.7 million pixels. It offers seven times more pixels than the standard 1080p HDTV, and 67% more than 4K cinema displays. All that pixel power is packed into a display that's just 5 mm thick, thanks to a custom made timing controller and advanced LED backlights. Photo alignment has been improved both on and off axis to give better contrast than ever before. Thanks to the included Thunderbolt 2 connector the machine can transfer up to 20Gbps. Its cost is almost more impressive than its technical specs. A standard 4K display costs on average $3,000. The iMac Retina 5K starts at $2,499. The base model comes with 8GB of memory, a 1TB fusion drive, a 3.5 GHz quad-core Intel Core i5, and AMD Radeon R9 M290X. The Intel Core can be upgraded to an i7, and the AMD Radeon R9 M290X is upgradable to a M295X. All of this is built into an environmentally friendly package, which has earned an Energy Star 6.1 rating. $2,499 is a lot for a computer, but considering the incredible advancements Apple has made with display technology you can bet professional photographers and video editors are already reaching for their credit cards. They won't have to wait long; you can order the iMac Retina 5K from Apple starting today.
Here's your first look at Apple's new 5K iMac with Retina display
We had a feeling Apple would announce a new iMac today, and indeed, the company didn't disappoint. Here in Cupertino, we just saw Tim Cook and co. unveil the 27-inch iMac with Retina display, which has basically the same slim design as the last version, except this time it packs a 5K, 5,120 x 2,880 display. And it's available today, starting at $2,499. I'd be lying if I said I got to spend much time with it -- the demo area here is extremely crowded -- but I did want to give you some early impressions. And you know, some hands-on photos, too. Have a gander at the gallery below, and keep your eyes peeled for a full review -- something tells us we'll be taking one of these bad boys for a spin very soon.
Apple reveals the 27-inch iMac with Retina Display starting at $2,499
A stable of new iPads wasn't all Apple had up its sleeve today. The folks in Cupertino have also been hard at work on a desktop update, and the iMac is the beneficiary. If you'll recall, Apple quietly trotted out a more affordable version of the machine back in June, but this fall's release packs a much bigger punch. With the latest model, the company's all-in-one option gets a boost in the screen department with the addition of a Retina panel. That 27-inch oxide TFT display is what Apple's calling "Retina 5K," touting a 5,120 x 2,880 resolution with 67 percent more pixels than 4K. The added real estate means that you'll be able to do things like edit 4K video in Final Cut Pro X while still having plenty of room for all the tools you'll need. Even with all of that new screen power, the new iMac is said to be 30 percent more energy efficient. The outer edge is also 5mm thick, keeping the trim frame all the way around.
Here's what to expect from Apple's October 16 event
Now that the dust from the launch of Apple's new iPhones has started to settle, it's time to wade into the fray one more time. It's been just about a year since the folks from Cupertino trotted out the iPad Air, and now it's going to show off its next-generation model -- along with a handful of other updated goodies -- at a big media event at its corporate headquarters on October 16. Before we descend into the depths of Apple's auditorium and liveblog our fingers off, though, let's just take a moment to suss out what Tim Cook and pals have in store for us.
Apple's next big event is on October 16th, new iPad and Macs likely
It's only been a month since the world's press descended on the Flint Center for the Performing Arts to see Tim Cook reveal a pair of new iPhones, and Apple's already calling everyone back again. Invites to an October 16th event at the company's Cupertino headquarters have just started making the rounds -- if rumor mill's ceaseless whispers hold true, we'll be getting a eyeful of a new iPad Air and some new Mac computers, along with a few software notes to round out the package.
Apple to reportedly unveil new iPads and Retina iMac on October 16
The Apple Watch may not be available until early 2015, but Apple is still gearing up for what promises to be a busy holiday shopping season. According to John Paczkowski of Re/Code, Apple is planning to hold a special media event on Thursday, October 16 where the company is expected to unveil new upgrades to its iPad lineup and, rumor has it, a 27-inch Retina iMac. If the rumor mill is to believed, the 21.5-inch iMac model will, unfortunately, not be graced with the retina treatment. It's also believed that Apple will finally add Touch ID functionality to the iPad. The event will reportedly be held in Apple's Town Hall Auditorium. While Apple hasn't yet sent out any invites or issued any type of official confirmation, Paczkowski in particular has an exemplary record when it comes to disclosing the dates for Apple media events. Not only did he nail the date for Apple's iPad Air unveiling last year, he also correctly anticipated the date Apple would introduce the Apple Watch and its new iPhone models.
Flickr Find: Minimal desk hides some clever engineering
At first glance, this minimal iMac setup from Philip Pryke looks ordinary, but it isn't until you glance behind the CNC plywood desk that some clever engineering comes to light. Fashioned into the desktop is a groove that fits the base of the iMac, holding it in place and allowing the computer to slide back and forth along the back of the desk. Did you know that TUAW has a Flickr pool? And that we encourage readers to submit their own Apple related images? Please join and share with our group as we'd love to see your photos.
Dog Days of Summer: Step away from the iMac and nobody gets hurt
Reader Lee Richards was taking care of a friend's Jack Russell Terrier a few years back, and as you can see from the photo above, the pup had no qualms about making sure that Lee was playing with him and not the iMac. Says Richards, "Here is a picture of Bono, my friend's Jack Russell when I was looking after him back in the days of Mountain Lion. As you can see, he doesn't like to be ignored." If you have a Dog Days nominee to share, let us know via our feedback page (and please remember that the photo has to have some sort of connection to Apple and its products -- don't just send us a photo of your canine buddy). For security reasons we can't accept inbound attachments, so you should host the photo (Dropbox, Flickr, iPhoto Journals, etc.) and send us the link. Thanks, Lee!
Apple reportedly releasing OS X Yosemite in October alongside 4K desktop and 12-inch Retina MacBook
Well, this is a timely rumor: Today is the day Apple opens up OS X Yosemite for public beta-testing, and now we're hearing the final version of the OS will come out in late October. The report comes from Mark Gurman at 9to5Mac, who has a strong track record when it comes to Apple rumors, and he claims that in addition to OS X, Apple will release a 12-inch Retina display MacBook, and either an iMac or a standalone monitor with a 4K screen. Obviously, Apple could do a 180 and release the same old computers with minor spec bumps, but if you ask us, everything Gurman is reporting seems plausible. First of all, Apple already promised it would release a final version of OS X sometime in the fall, and surely it plans to do that before the holiday shopping season starts up in November.
The iMac iPhone
This absolutely unofficial case is still officially awesome. Now all I can think about is an iPhone with a translucent plastic body, offered in a variety of colors. I want one. [Photo credit: Whity]
The one iMac feature cat lovers really want
A kitten-creating iMac. Want now, please.
Not the iMac store you were looking for
I'm not sure what this IMAC building in Denver, CO actually makes, but that doesn't really matter. I'm much happier just imagining that it's a strange Apple computer knockoff manufacturer. [Photo credit: Paul Sableman]
The loneliest iMac
I don't know the back story behind how or why this iMac is just chilling out on a random sidewalk with a set of golf clubs. Either it's being sent to the landfill with some outdated metal poles, or it's waiting for a friend to pick it up and take it the the country club. I'll choose to believe the latter. [Photo credit: Traci Lawson]
