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MacBook Pro with Retina display review (13-inch, 2015)
Nope, it's not the new MacBook. That review will need to wait until next month. What we have here is the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. For all intents and purposes, it's the same one we last tested in late 2013, except for one important thing: It swaps out the old trackpad in favor of a pressure-sensitive "Force Touch" pad that responds differently depending on how hard you bear down on it. (A hard-press on the skip button in QuickTime, for instance, will let you fast-forward at warp speed.) In addition, the new MBP brings all the spec upgrades you'd expect in a system refresh, including faster SSDs, fresh graphics and Intel's latest Core processors. At $1,299-plus, it's priced the same as before, and since the design and Retina display haven't changed, you're likely to enjoy it as much as you did the last-gen model. I can't promise you'll love the new touchpad, though.
iFixit explains how Apple's new MacBook haptic trackpad works
Apple's new range of MacBooks have something particularly new inside them: the Force Touch trackpad. No longer hinged like previous Apple laptops, the new touchpad houses a "Haptic Engine", outputting tactile feedback that will let you "feel" what's happening on-screen. iFixit's taken a closer look at how Apple did it, and while the trackpad is no longer hinged, there are now four spring mounts underneath. That haptic engine? A load of wires coiled around a magnetic core, which makes that all important vibrational feedback.
Apple will fix your older MacBook Pro's video problems for free
Did you snag a MacBook Pro before 2014 only to run into corrupted video, no video at all or spontaneous reboots? You won't have to shell out for a fix if you're out of warranty. After more than a year of reports, Apple is launching a repair program that will mend your laptop for free if its graphics are going haywire. You're covered so long as you bought a 15- or 17-inch MacBook Pro between early 2011 and the end of 2013, including the first two generations of Retina models. The program will be available as of February 20th if you're in the US or Canada, and a week later in the rest of the world. Only a "small percentage" of systems are affected, Apple says, but it won't hurt to check coverage even if everything is hunky dory.
Apple patent application hints at a Siri-like assistant for Macs
Siri might be making her way to a Mac near you. According to a patent application filed in February and released today, Apple's considering bringing the iPhone personal assistant to its desktop OS. The 92-page document details how you'll interact with Apple's "digital assistant," a term that occurs 574 times in the patent app (the name Siri never makes an appearance, however). According to the document, a desktop version could pair Siri's current actions with more complex functionality, such as file and system management. After calling on the assistant by using a specific gesture on the touchpad or clicking an icon in the dock, you could use it to send emails, find images or YouTube videos on the web, print documents or copy and "hold" multiple files. As TechCrunch notes, there's no reference to such an assistant in the Yosemite beta preview, so it'll probably be at least another year before Siri (or her better-equipped equivalent) arrives on the Mac.
Modbook will let you convert your Retina MacBook Pro to a tablet for $1,999
Modbook, the company behind those aftermarket Apple tablets, just launched a Kickstarter campaign for its latest product, the Modbook Pro X. After paying a pre-order price of $1,999 today, backers will be able to convert their own Retina MacBook Pros into a tablet beginning early next year. The conversion incorporates the laptop's original hardware, with components shifted from the lower half of the computer to just behind the 15.4-inch 2,880 x 1,800-pixel LCD.
Engadget Daily: EA Access, upgrading your dumb home on a budget and more!
Today, we review LG's Heart Rate Monitor earphones, learn how to upgrade your dumb home on a budget, check out Apple's new Retina Macbook Pros and learn about a new Xbox game-streaming service called EA Access. Read on for Engadget's news highlights from the last 24 hours.
Apple gives Retina MacBook Pros a speed boost ahead of Yosemite rollout
After rumors surfaced yesterday about an incoming MacBook Pro refresh, Apple's store went down earlier today, and now, hey presto! New MacBook Pros. The updated models haven't changed significantly, but look to be better equipped to handle the next version of OS X due in the fall, Yosemite. All 15-inch MacBook Pro Retinas now have 16GB of RAM standard instead of 8GB, and the priciest model has an optional 1TB PCIe-based SSD. The larger Retina models were also bumped by 200Mhz to the latest 4th Core-i7 CPUs, with the top-liner getting a Core i7-4980HQ which hits the magical 4.0GHz mark. Surprisingly, Apple has stuck with NVIDIA's GeForce GT-750M for its top model with discrete graphics rather than updating to the latest GeForce GT800M series. The upside, however, is that the price for that model has dropped by $100 to $2,499 (or £1,999 in the UK).
IRL: The Retina display MacBook Pro and Sony's SRS-BTX300 Bluetooth speaker
We've got a twofer this week, folks. As that lead shot up there suggests, we'll be revisiting the Retina display MacBook Pro -- the 13-inch version, to be exact. And then, past the break, we'll also give you a mini-review of Sony's SRS-BTX300 Bluetooth speaker.
Here's an all-in-one travel adapter for your MacBook charger
Road warriors who carry a MacBook may already have Apple's world travel adapter kit, or even Twelve South's PlugBug for that extra USB port; but both products require swapping plugs for different regions. Konnext's OneAdapter Twist, however, caters to the slightly lazier travelers: It's essentially a chunky all-in-one travel adapter that sits atop any MacBook charger, though it also works just fine by itself. To switch plugs, simply twist the ring in the middle until it clicks. There's also a 2.4A USB socket (PlugBug's is only 2.1A), and if you need more, you can slot an optional three-socket USB hub in between. The OneAdapter Twist won't be launching until June for around $29 to $39, but for now, we have a quick demo video of a prototype after the break.
Kanex Simple Dock is a perfect match for your MacBook
Kanex today introduced a new product that's sure to get the attention of MacBook Air and MacBook Pro owners who need a few more USB 3.0 ports and Gigabit Ethernet connectivity. The US$119 Kanex Simple Dock makes it easy to gain those ports and fast Ethernet with just a single USB 3.0 connection. The Simple Dock has a 2.1A charging port for your favorite iOS device, and iPhone owners will love the fact that there's a flat "table" on the top of the dock that's perfect for housing a plugged-in phone. Three USB 3.0 ports expand the capabilities of your MacBook, and there's no need to purchase Apple's $29 Ethernet adapter as the Simple Dock has Gigabit Ethernet built in. The entire structure of the Simple Dock is made of a zinc alloy that matches the shiny good looks of your MacBook, and cable-management channels on the bottom of the Simple Dock keep your cables from creating an unruly mess on your desktop. We'll have a full review of the Kanex Simple Dock in the near future; in the meantime, you can visit the Kanex Simple Dock web page for more information.
Apple is working on a fix for the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro's keyboard problems
If you've had issues with your shiny new 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro's keyboard and trackpad not working properly, Apple has your back. Cupertino has posted to its support forums that an update for the unresponsive inputs is en route, while also suggesting that closing the display for a full minute to reset the relevant hardware might be an interim solution. If that doesn't work, we'll let you know when the proper patch arrives.
Daily Roundup: Dell goes private, Kindle Matchbook, Retina MacBook Pro review and more!
You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
MacBook Pro with Retina display review (13-inch, 2013)
When Apple held its last big keynote, it unveiled some new iPads, just like we knew it would. But it also used the 80-minute news conference to refresh its Mac lineup, announcing a new Mac Pro desktop and some slimmed-down MacBook Pros, all running Apple's brand-new operating system, OS X 10.9 Mavericks. In particular, the MacBook Pros sort of flew under the radar that day, mostly because they look more or less like last year's models, just with slightly thinner chassis. There wasn't a lot to say -- at least not after a few minutes of hands-on time. That doesn't mean this isn't a meaningful upgrade. This time around, as you'd expect, Apple used Haswell processors, though it also went with Intel's brand-new Iris and Iris Pro chipsets, which haven't actually been used in that many notebooks yet. Meanwhile, Apple moved to PCI Express SSDs for much-improved transfer rates, and upgraded the wireless card to 802.11ac for faster streaming. Sounds like a simple sales pitch: They're thinner, lighter and speedier. And, in the case of the 13-inch model, it's cheaper too: The starting price is now $1,299, versus $1,699 a year ago. So does that mean the 13-inch Retina display MacBook Pro offers better value than it did then? More importantly, with a lower price, lighter design and a claimed 10 hours of battery life, is it starting to veer into MacBook Air territory?
iFixit tears apart Apple's new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro
It's only been a couple of days since Apple released its shiny new MacBook Pros and iFixit has already torn them apart, in more ways than one. Just like its older sibling, the new 13-inch Retina notebook didn't perform that well on the repairability scale, scoring a one out of 10 -- dropping one point from its predecessor's less than impressive two. That's largely down to the same restrictions as before: a glued battery that has been positioned to cover important screws, a Retina display that is fused inside a whole unit, soldered RAM and a non-standard SSD drive. Apple's also reduced the size of the battery, relying on Intel's Haswell processor and Mavericks' improved power management to boost battery life. The same fate befalls the 15-inch model, meaning it'll be almost impossible to upgrade either of Apple's latest notebooks when they start suffering from the effects of entropy.
Apple announces new Retina display MacBook Pros with Haswell processors and cheaper pricepoints
Apple today announced some great new enhancements to its MacBook Pro with Retina display lineup. What's more, the base price on both the 13- and 15-inch models have been reduced by US$200. Phil Schiller was on notebook duty, announcing first that Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display is now both lighter and thinner. Specifically, the new 13-inch model weighs just 3.46 pounds and is only 0.71 inch thin. As expected, the new notebook is powered by Intel's Haswell processor, resulting in improved battery life of up to nine hours. Driving the point home, Schiller noted that the new MacBook Pro has enough battery life to allow users to watch the entire Christopher Nolan Batman trilogy on just one charge. As for other enhancements, the notebook comes with faster 802.11ac WiFi, faster PCIe-based flash storage, Thunderbolt 2 support and, of course, OS X Mavericks. The base model comes with 4 GB RAM, 128 GB of storage and, best of all, starts shipping today for just $1,299. Apple also updated its 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. Along with a faster and more energy-efficient processor, it also features a GeForce GT 750M graphics card, faster WiFi, Thunderbolt 2 and PCIe-based flash storage. The base model ships with 8 GB RAM and a 256 GB of flash storage. It too starts shipping today and will set you back $1,999.
Apple unveils Haswell-based MacBook Pros with Retina display, starting at $1,299 (update: non-Retina 15-inch is gone)
If you've been waiting for the MacBook Pro with Retina display to get a big processor upgrade, today's your lucky day. Apple has just refreshed its high-end portable line with Intel's Haswell chips, delivering Iris graphics and battery life improvements much like those from the recent MacBook Air update. The 13-inch model manages nine hours of battery life, and the 15-inch unit can last for eight hours on a charge. Both computers carry faster PCI Express solid-state drives, Thunderbolt 2 ports and 802.11ac WiFi, while a higher-end 15-inch variant ships with dedicated GeForce GT 750M video. Either new Mac costs less than its predecessor, too. The 13-inch system starts at $1,299 for a model with a dual-core 2.4GHz Core i5, 4GB of RAM and a 128GB SSD; its 15-inch counterpart starts at $1,999 with a quad-core 2GHz Core i7, 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSD. Both laptops are available today. Update: Apple has quietly axed the non-Retina 15-inch model; you can still buy its 13-inch sibling (unchanged since its early 2013 update) at a lower $999 price.
Weekly Roundup: HTC One Max review, PS Vita review, Apple confirms iPad event and more!
You might say the week is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workweek, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Weekly Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past seven days -- all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.
Caturday: Multiple Macs need multiple cats
When you have a MacBook Pro, a MacBook Air and an iPad, you have to make sure that they're constantly in use to maximize your investment. For TUAW reader Belle, that was a simple thing to accomplish as she has a couple of gorgeous feline friends who seem to enjoy the company of their human and the Apple products. 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 Belle for sharing this photo with us.
Apple releases SMC Firmware Update battery fixes for MacBooks
Apple has released a slew of SMC Firmware Updates for all of its MacBook computers. The updates are for all MacBook models between mid-2012 and mid-2013, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and MacBook Pro with Retina display and fixes significant battery issues many users were experiencing. MacBook Pro's SMC Firmware Update 1.8 This update is recommended for MacBook Pro (mid 2012) models. This update addresses rare issues where the battery unexpectedly stops functioning or the system hangs when the battery charge reaches less than 1 percent. MacBook Pro Retina SMC Update 1.2 This update is recommended for 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (late 2012) models, and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display (mid 2012) models. This update addresses rare issues where the battery unexpectedly stops functioning or the system hangs when the battery charge reaches less than 1 percent. MacBook Air SMC Update 1.9 This update is recommended for MacBook Air (mid 2012 and mid 2013) models. This update addresses rare issues where the battery unexpectedly stops functioning, the system does not recognize the battery or the system hangs when the battery charge reaches less than 1 percent. All updates can be downloaded by running Software Update on the respective MacBooks.
Designed by m's CURB a brilliantly simple idea for cooling a laptop
Here's one of those accessory ideas that you wish you had thought of. Jon Liow of Designed by m was tired of hearing his laptop fan kicking in when he was working on something (not that it would ever happen with a MacBook Pro...), and tried a lot of different solutions. The CURB (pre-order price of US$12.99) is essentially a bumper that holds up the laptop in one of two positions and allows a recharging cable to sneak through as well. The idea is to raise your laptop just enough that air can flow all around it to keep things running cool. It's made of 100 percent food-grade silicone, in case you wish to use it as an eating utensil as well. I suppose you could cut a $1 foam pool noodle to shape to get the same effect, but it's just not as classy looking.