The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.tuaw.com/media/feedlogo.gifThe Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)http://www.tuaw.comen-usCopyright 2009 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Rumors swirling around new iMacshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/29/rumors-swirling-around-new-imacs/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/29/rumors-swirling-around-new-imacs/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/29/rumors-swirling-around-new-imacs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It seems that an upgraded iMac is a shoe-in at Macworld Expo in January. It's a consumer show, and the iMac is Apple's consumer desktop. Plus, it hasn't received a significant change in a while, so it's due. Now that the winter holidays are just about over, the Expo rumors have begun to circulate.

AppleInsider has posted a few iMac rumors. First is mention of a new "...magnesium-aluminum alloy chassis," as well as a "cooling module." That's all the details there are, folks, so your guess is as good as ours if the current fan system will be replaced. We all know Steve and Jon Ive like quiet machines.

The more solid rumor is about the new 65W, low-power, quad-core desktop chips Apple is expecting from Intel. Along with Acer, HP and Dell, Apple has decided to make use of these chips, according to DigiTimes, though their target machine has not been identified. DigiTimes claims that these chips are suited to small form factor and all-in-one PCs.

Rumors swirling around new iMacs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rumors swirling around new iMacs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 29 Dec 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>imacintelmacworldmacworld expomacworld09MacworldExpomwsfrumorsDave CaoloMon, 29 Dec 2008 13:00:00 ESTSo you just got an iMac -- now what?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-imac-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-imac-now-what/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/25/so-you-just-got-an-imac-now-what/#commentsFiled under: ,

All day on December 25, TUAW presents "Now What?" We've got first steps and recommendations for all the Apple gifts you (hopefully!) found under the tree today. Happy holidays!

It was probably the biggest box under the tree (unless you really splurged on the anniversary edition of the Radio Flyer wagon); now that you've got your new, speedy iMac unpacked and plugged in, what's next?

USB + Input

Despite a full set of three USB ports on the back of the iMac, you're inevitably going to need more ports up front at some point. A hub that makes a fashion-forward statement -- or a retro one -- will be a nice add-on for your machine. If you're going to be importing loads of holiday pictures from your new digicam to your iMac, a standalone SD card reader will be faster than using the camera's tethered upload.

If you're feeling restricted by the included wired Mighty Mouse, you could spring for the wireless Bluetooth version... but believe it or not, Microsoft makes a snazzy Mac-friendly wireless mouse too.

Storage

If you've already got a Time MachineCapsule or other outboard storage, you're all set to begin backing up your new iMac; otherwise, a drive for backup should be first on your post-Christmas shopping list. Western Digital's MyBook Studio Edition matches your iMac's aluminum finish and provides quad-interface storage for backups and more. If you forgo the Firewire, you can find USB-only 1TB drives for around $100US -- no excuse not to get the storage you need. Of course, if you need lots of storage, there is another way.

Continue reading So you just got an iMac -- now what?

So you just got an iMac -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)So you just got an iMac -- now what? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 25 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>FeaturesguideholidayimacMichael RoseThu, 25 Dec 2008 14:00:00 ESTNew iMacs and Mac minis to use NVIDIA chips?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/19/new-imacs-and-mac-minis-to-use-nvidia-chips/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/19/new-imacs-and-mac-minis-to-use-nvidia-chips/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/19/new-imacs-and-mac-minis-to-use-nvidia-chips/#commentsFiled under: , ,

AppleInsider is reporting that the speculated refresh for the iMac and Mac minis lines might include NVIDIA graphics chips. This information was discovered while an InsanelyMac forum poster found some extension files included with the new MacBooks/MacBook Pros. The exentions were named, "iMac9,1" and "Macmini3,1."

Currently shipping iMacs and Mac minis have the model numbers of "iMac 8,1" and "Macmini2,1," respectively. The kernel extension .plist file is part of the SMC (System Management Controller) and ACPI (Advanced Configuration and Power Interface), and made reference to "CFG_MCP79."

The MCP79 is a graphcis chipset offered by NVIDIA that is found on the current line MacBook, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air. For more information, you can read the forum posting at InsanelyMac.

[via AppleInsider]

New iMacs and Mac minis to use NVIDIA chips? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)New iMacs and Mac minis to use NVIDIA chips? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 19 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>Graphics CardGraphicsCardiMacMac MiniMacBookMacBook AirMacBook ProMacbookAirMacbookProMacMiniMCP79NVIDIACory BohonFri, 19 Dec 2008 14:30:00 ESTNovember sales data: Mac desktops down, laptops stronghttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/november-sales-data-mac-desktops-down-laptops-strong/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/november-sales-data-mac-desktops-down-laptops-strong/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/16/november-sales-data-mac-desktops-down-laptops-strong/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

The NPD data for November retail sales have arrived, and the news is not that cheery: year-over-year Mac sales were flat last month, while Windows PC sales grew 7 percent over 2007's total. Desktops on both platforms got hammered, with 20% drops across both platforms -- Windows machines down 15% and Mac desktop sales down a dramatic 38%. Some of this may be attributable to the long-idle Mac mini (soon to be refreshed, we hear), static feature set of the iMac, and reduced purchasing of Mac Pros and iMacs by education and corporate customers, but consumer buying is clearly down for the desktop.

The tables are turned on the portable side: year over year, Mac laptop sales grew 22 percent for November vs. a Windows increase of 15%. This is good news for Apple's refreshed portables as customers do seem to be taking to the unibody models. It's not clear from the report whether the blossoming netbook category, which includes a sizable chunk of machines shipped with a flavor of Linux, counts entirely as Windows laptop sales or if it's chopped up by the shipping OS -- I'll try to find out. Update: NPD tells me that the Linux netbooks were included in the Windows sales number, but those configurations didn't make a material difference to retail sales.

Did your microeconomic purchasing plans for year's end get derailed by the macroeconomic circumstances? Let us know below.

November sales data: Mac desktops down, laptops strong originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)November sales data: Mac desktops down, laptops strong originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>dropgrimimacnovembersalesMichael RoseTue, 16 Dec 2008 14:30:00 ESTApple t-shirt quilt available on eBayhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/13/apple-t-shirt-quilt-available-on-ebay/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/13/apple-t-shirt-quilt-available-on-ebay/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/13/apple-t-shirt-quilt-available-on-ebay/#commentsFiled under: , , , , , ,


I don't know how comfy a quilt made out of t-shirts would be, but maybe the fact that they're all Apple t-shirts will help. That's exactly what this quilt is made out of -- it's up over on eBay right now, and while the price is only around $36 at the time of this writing, it's probably gone up since then. There are about 20 t-shirts in the quilt total, and they look like they range from the late '90s (there's a bondi blue iMac on there, I believe) up to the Tiger release (at least those are all the ones I recognize). And they do seem like official store t-shirts, which means whoever made the quilt probably is or knows an Apple employee.

If you can get over the fact that someone probably once wore your quilt, it might be a nice Apple-themed bedspread to grab. I've been looking for a good quilt lately, and while this is a little too patched together for my interests, maybe Apple is missing something here. What would an Ive-designed quilt end up looking like?

Apple t-shirt quilt available on eBay originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple t-shirt quilt available on eBay originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 13 Dec 2008 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleapple-storeapple-storesgeniushandmadeimacquiltretailstorestigertshirtsMike SchrammSat, 13 Dec 2008 14:30:00 ESTOpenCL 1.0 ratified; is Snow Leopard now ready for launch?http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/10/opencl-1-0-ratified-is-snow-leopard-now-ready-for-launch/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/10/opencl-1-0-ratified-is-snow-leopard-now-ready-for-launch/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/12/10/opencl-1-0-ratified-is-snow-leopard-now-ready-for-launch/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,


There's been quiet anticipation for the last 6 months for OpenCL (Open Computing Language), which is an Application Programming Interface standard allowing developers to take advantage of the power of Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) in parallel with multi-core processors. The result? Applications become much faster and responsive.

Apple announced in June that support for OpenCL would be built into Snow Leopard (Mac OS X 10.6). The Khronos Group, an industry consortium that creates open-standard, royalty-free APIs, put OpenCL on the fast track as a result, and announced yesterday that OpenCL 1.0 has been ratified by all of the consortium members.

Now that OpenCL has been officially blessed by the members of the consortium, could Snow Leopard be close behind? There has been speculation that the latest iteration of Mac OS X could be released as soon as Macworld Expo 2009 in early January. Snow Leopard, along with an announcement of quad-core iMacs, could throw a little fire into what is becoming an increasing chilly Expo. TUAW is attending Macworld Expo 2009 in force this year, so stay tuned for the latest news about Snow Leopard.

OpenCL 1.0 ratified; is Snow Leopard now ready for launch? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)OpenCL 1.0 ratified; is Snow Leopard now ready for launch? originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 10 Dec 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>gpuimacmacworld expo 2009MacworldExpo2009openclquad-coresnow leopardSnowLeopardSteven SandeWed, 10 Dec 2008 14:00:00 ESTRumor: Quad-core iMacshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/19/rumor-quad-core-imacs/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/19/rumor-quad-core-imacs/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/11/19/rumor-quad-core-imacs/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

It's not even December, yet Macworld rumors are starting to fly. Digital Times is reporting that Apple is among the vendors ready to use Intel's new 65W low-power desktop CPUs, specifically designed for all-in-one computers. The lower heat output makes these great little chips for the iMac.

Additionally, these chips would come with a faster bus, and even run a bit cheaper than the dual core chips Apple is currently using - the 2.33GHz, 2.66GHz and 2.83GHz chips cost $245, $320 and $369, respectively, according to Digital Times.

The iMac has been the star of many Macworld keynote speeches, and we expect the same this year. See you in January!

[Via Electronista]

Rumor: Quad-core iMacs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Rumor: Quad-core iMacs originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>imacintelmacworldrumorDave CaoloWed, 19 Nov 2008 14:00:00 ESTHappy Birthday, iMachttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/15/happy-birthday-imac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/15/happy-birthday-imac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/08/15/happy-birthday-imac/#commentsFiled under: , ,


Yes, it's time once again to say "Happy Birthday" to our old friend, iMac. Hard to believe the iMac has been around for 10 years today. Apple transitioned the "consumer device," as Steve called it at its introduction, into something more of an icon of computer design. Above is a commercial for the iMac G3 which shipped in Lime, Grape, Blueberry, Tangerine, and Strawberry and featured the song "She's a Rainbow" by the Rolling Stones.

The specs for the original iMac were nothing to laugh about then, but it's certainly laughable now. The G3 iMac sported a 15" CRT monitor (resolution of 1024x768), 4 GB hard drive, 233 MHz PPC G3 (750), 32 MB of RAM (expandable up to 128, whoa!), 56 Kbps modem, 24x tray-loading CD-ROM drive, Mac OS 8.1 (or 8.5 on later models). This monster weighed in at 40 pounds!

The original design followed the iMac until 2003, when Apple retired the design for the "goose-neck" iMac G4 (although as Evan reminds us in the comments, the 'gumdrop' form factor lived on in the education-market model eMac). In 2004, Apple created the iconic design of the iMac G5, which is the same major design style they use for the iMac today.

On an iPhone/iPod touch? Click here to see the video.

Happy Birthday, iMac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Happy Birthday, iMac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Fri, 15 Aug 2008 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>1998ApplehistoryiMacintroductionCory BohonFri, 15 Aug 2008 08:00:00 ESTSlimKey 2 keyboard stand adds USB hubhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/02/slimkey-2-keyboard-stand-adds-usb-hub/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/02/slimkey-2-keyboard-stand-adds-usb-hub/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/07/02/slimkey-2-keyboard-stand-adds-usb-hub/#commentsFiled under: ,

Macessity, makers of the LowKey stand we covered a while back, has released version 2 of their SlimKey keyboard stand adding a USB hub on the right side. Basically the SlimKey is a steel shelf designed to hide Apple's slim keyboards under your iMac or LCD monitor so as to conserve desk space when you're not typing. The newest version incorporates a 4-port powered USB 2.0 hub on the right rear for a mouse and other USB peripherals. Personally, I find this design rather more aesthetically pleasing than the LowKey which puts the USB hub in front.

The SlimKey V2 is available for pre-order $64.99 and will be shipping on July 21. They also still have the SlimKey version 1 without the USB hub for $39.99.

SlimKey 2 keyboard stand adds USB hub originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)SlimKey 2 keyboard stand adds USB hub originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Wed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>keyboardMacessitySlimKeyMat LuWed, 02 Jul 2008 13:00:00 ESTViva Las iMacs!http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/31/viva-las-imacs/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/31/viva-las-imacs/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/31/viva-las-imacs/#commentsFiled under: , ,

What happens in Vegas will be visible to your iChat buddies when the $2.9 billion Fontainebleau resort opens in Sin City next fall.

VegasTrippers.com reports that the Fontainebleau has partnered with Apple to install an iMac in every one of the 3,889 rooms and suites. To quote the fancy brochure available on the Fontainebleau website:

"Fontainebleau guests experience a new sensory landscape through an innovative relationship with Apple. The program includes intuitive and simple options for booking and pre-planning stays online and interactive programming throughout the resort. An iMac in every guest room inspires guests to share memories and encourages personal expression."

There's no word on whether a fabulous Vegas version of iPhoto will give you the ability to airbrush out that strange woman or man you're with, or if there is a new Apple-designed peripheral for removing tattoos that mysteriously showed up on your body overnight.

[Via VegasTripping.com]

Thankew, Jordan, thankew vurry much for the tip. Elvis is leaving the building now.

Viva Las iMacs! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 31 May 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Viva Las iMacs! originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Sat, 31 May 2008 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hotelimaclas vegasLasVegastweet-thisvegasSteven SandeSat, 31 May 2008 18:00:00 ESTPC Magazine likes the new iMachttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/pc-magazine-likes-the-new-imac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/pc-magazine-likes-the-new-imac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/pc-magazine-likes-the-new-imac/#commentsFiled under:

PC Magazine has been reviewing Mac for awhile now, but it still strikes me as rather novel when they recommend a Mac. That's just what they did for Apple's latest iMac. PC Mag doesn't find anything too groundbreaking on this new model, but the speed improvements are welcome.

But why mess with success? The current design of the iMac is serving it well, and similar computers from other companies still haven't caught up with the iMac in terms of looks.

However, not everything is rosy in iMac land. PC Mag disses the Mighty Mouse (I usually toss the included Mighty Mouse aside myself), and would like to see an integrated media card reader.

PC Magazine likes the new iMac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 May 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)PC Magazine likes the new iMac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 May 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>imacpc-magScott McNultyTue, 06 May 2008 21:00:00 ESTThe philosophy of iMachttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/the-philosophy-of-imac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/the-philosophy-of-imac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/the-philosophy-of-imac/#commentsFiled under: ,

Let me tell you something about my mindset. When I bought an iPhone, one of my first thoughts was: "How do I hook up a bluetooth keyboard to this thing?" It's that kind of thinking that has always stood between me and the iMac. Because in this world, there are two kinds of people[1]: the iMac people and the tower people.

iMac people love the all-in-one package that their system brings. It's hard to look at an iMac and not think that it's smiling at you. The iMac delivers the entire computing experience in a single friendly unit. Customization? They do it at the store. Buyers decide what kind of memory and hard drive space they want. And then they buy it. And they're done.

Tower people don't think that way. Memory, drives, peripherals -- these are all things that ebb and flow throughout the lifetime of the unit. More USB ports? Throw in a card. Widescreen monitors just went on sale? Buy one and eBay the current screen.

Coming from an tower perspective, the iMac has always puzzled me. It makes people happy without ever needing to be disassembled and reassembled. Sure, there are hobbyists who do exactly that but they are usually tower people playing with iMac-shaped toys. Most iMac users I know are perfectly happy to use their Apple system for the entire lifetime of that unit -- often a very long lifetime indeed -- and never crack it open and mod it. Ever.

Astonishing.

So here I am raising a glass to the iMac on its birthday and to all the iMac users whose lives have been enriched by this little puzzling unit. May your systems be reliable and long-lived. And may you continue to enjoy your all-in-one system. Cheers!

[1] That is, other than the people who divide people into two kinds of people and the people who don't.

The philosophy of iMac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)The philosophy of iMac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 May 2008 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>iMac anniversaryImacAnniversaryErica SadunTue, 06 May 2008 13:30:00 ESTiMac turns 10http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/imac-turns-10/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/imac-turns-10/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/05/06/imac-turns-10/#commentsFiled under: , ,

It was ten years ago today that Steve Jobs mounted the Flint Center auditorium near Apple's campus and revealed the product that would save Apple, and become the best selling computer of all time: the iMac. It is hard to believe that this cute little guy is ten years old, but it is true.

The original iMac came stocked with a 233MHz G3, 32MB of SDRAM (though you could bump it up to a whopping 128MB), a 4 gig harddrive, 2 USB ports, a CD-ROM drive (not a CD burner, Apple was late to that party), and an IrDA port. These specs might not make your heart skip a beat nowadays, but the iMac is the product that started Apple's amazing turn around. It was the first mainstream computer to break with the past and offer only USB ports, no legacy connectors here. And it is worth noting that the iMac can also be attributed as the killer of the floppy disk.

I recall the howls from the tech community about the iMac's lack of a floppy drive. 'People love their floppies!' 'This is nothing more than an expensive toy!' All charges leveled against the iMac, but the decision actually helped create a market for USB accessories as most people bought their iMac and a USB floppy drive (I know I did. I used that floppy drive twice: once to make sure it worked, and another time to copy a file).

The iMac wasn't available for purchase until August of 1998 (for the base price of $1299), but today is a date that should be circled in Bondi Blue for any true Mac fan.

Check out our gallery of screenshots that show Apple's website the day after the iMac announcement. All screenshots was taken using the Wayback Machine.

Gallery: iMac 1998



Thanks, Shane, for reminding us of the date!

iMac turns 10 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 May 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iMac turns 10 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 06 May 2008 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>appleimacScott McNultyTue, 06 May 2008 13:00:00 ESTApple posts new iMac Developer Notehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/29/apple-posts-new-imac-developer-note/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/29/apple-posts-new-imac-developer-note/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/29/apple-posts-new-imac-developer-note/#commentsFiled under: , ,

You all know that Apple revved their popular all in one computer, the iMac (have you heard of it?) the other day. Keeping with tradition, Apple has also released an updated developer note for the bumped iMac.

There are no startling revelations in the document, but it is worth a read for people looking to create some iMac add-ons (someone out there must be thinking of doing something along those lines).

Apple posts new iMac Developer Note originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Apple posts new iMac Developer Note originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 19:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>imacScott McNultyTue, 29 Apr 2008 19:00:00 ESTEngadget benchmarks the new iMachttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/29/engadget-benchmarks-the-new-imac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/29/engadget-benchmarks-the-new-imac/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/29/engadget-benchmarks-the-new-imac/#commentsFiled under: ,



Our friends over at Engadget got their hands on one of the newly released iMacs (the 3.06GHz model, to be exact) and they have put it through its paces. Using XBench, and running Leopard, they compare the new iMac to a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, MacBook, and a previous gen iMac. The new iMac bests the rest of the competition in almost all categories. Check out the post for the full results, and scope out the unboxing pictures while you're at it.

Engadget benchmarks the new iMac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Engadget benchmarks the new iMac originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>benchmarkimacScott McNultyTue, 29 Apr 2008 16:30:00 ESTiMac ATI Radeon HD Graphics Firmware Update 1.0.1http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/28/imac-ati-radeon-hd-graphics-firmware-update-1-0-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/28/imac-ati-radeon-hd-graphics-firmware-update-1-0-1/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/28/imac-ati-radeon-hd-graphics-firmware-update-1-0-1/#commentsFiled under: ,

Apple just released an update for iMacs sporting either a ATI Radeon HD 2600 Pro or a ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT graphics card. According to Apple, the update will "improve system stability" by installing a firmware upgrade on the graphics cards. This does affect the newly released iMacs.

After this update is installed, you should see ROM version: 113-B2250L-259. You can download the update by opening Software Update (Apple menu > Software Update) on the affected system, or by downloading the installer package directly from Apple.

Apple also notes: To complete the firmware update process, please follow the instructions in the updater application (/Applications/Utilities/iMac ATI Radeon HD Graphics Firmware Update.app). The updater will launch automatically when the Installer closes.

iMac ATI Radeon HD Graphics Firmware Update 1.0.1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)iMac ATI Radeon HD Graphics Firmware Update 1.0.1 originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 22:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>ATIfirmwaregraphics cardGraphicsCardiMacupdateCory BohonMon, 28 Apr 2008 22:30:00 ESTSpeedier iMacs availablehttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/28/speedier-imacs-available/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/28/speedier-imacs-available/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/04/28/speedier-imacs-available/#commentsFiled under: ,

The online Apple Store was down for a time today, and returned with speedier iMacs.

The two 20" models are at 2.4GHz and 2.6GHz, respectively. The former features 1GB memory, 250GB hard drive, 8x double-layer SuperDrive and a ATI Radeon HD 2400 XT with 128MB memory, while the later bumps the standard memory to 2GB, the drive to 320GB and the video card to a ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory (priced at $1199US and $1499US). You can also get a 750GB hard drive as an option on the higher-end 20" model (the entry-level maxes out with a 500GB BTO drive).

Here's where it actually gets interesting. The top-of-the-line 24" model features a 3.06GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB memory standard, a 500GB hard drive, an 8x double-layer SuperDrive and a NVIDIA GeForce 8800 GS with 512MB memory.

RAM maxes out at 4GB on that machine, and additional hard drive options (for both 24" models) are 750GB and 1TB. The starting price is $2199US.

Its slightly less brawny sibling offers a 2.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB memory standard, 320GB hard drive (500/750/1TB options), 8x double-layer SuperDrive and an ATI Radeon HD 2600 PRO with 256MB memory for $1799US. All models include both a FireWire 400 and 800 port standard and 3 USB ports.

If you've been holding off on buying an iMac, now is the time to flip the switch.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

Speedier iMacs available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)Speedier iMacs available originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 28 Apr 2008 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hardwareimacDave CaoloMon, 28 Apr 2008 09:00:00 ESTIn-room iMacs added to hotel amenitieshttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/25/in-room-imacs-added-to-hotel-amenities/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/25/in-room-imacs-added-to-hotel-amenities/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/25/in-room-imacs-added-to-hotel-amenities/#commentsFiled under: ,

Mac lovers traveling to the UK may be able to leave their computers at home -- as long as they stay at a City Inn hotel.

Guests will find a shiny iMac in each room, with full access to the internet, iLife and Office apps. Plus, the hotel will let you use the iMac as a TV, internet radio and media player (DVDs and CDs).

"But will the hotel keep a history of what I do with that machine?" you ask. The answer is "No." They use Faronics Deep Freeze software to restore each machine to its factory settings every 24 hours, so you're safe (that also means you shouldn't save the article you're writing on the iMac's hard drive).

This isn't the first time we've seen hotels offer Apple products to guests. In 2004, several W hotels gave away iMacs, iPods and music on "iTunes Days," and just last year Pod Hotels offered an iPod dock in each room.

[Via Macenstein]

In-room iMacs added to hotel amenities originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)In-room iMacs added to hotel amenities originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 25 Feb 2008 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>hotelilifeimacipodofficeDave CaoloMon, 25 Feb 2008 15:30:00 EST10.5.2 makes your WoW go fasterhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/11/10-5-2-makes-your-wow-go-faster-publish-after-8-30pm-please/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/11/10-5-2-makes-your-wow-go-faster-publish-after-8-30pm-please/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/11/10-5-2-makes-your-wow-go-faster-publish-after-8-30pm-please/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

Our good friends over at WoW Insider (disclaimer: I'm a lead over there) have unlocked one of the first secrets about 10.5.2 (which dropped today in Software Update): it'll make World of Warcraft play faster.

After hearing that the patch made reader Jason's Mac play faster, WoW Insider's Adam Holisky saw his FPS jump from 30 to 50 on his first-gen Intel iMac (he also has 2gb of RAM, and installed the graphics update with 10.5.2). The picture on the upper right was a test under 10.5.1, and on the lower right was after the update.

Pretty slick. I'd imagine that this would probably affect most 3D games (although who knows how EA's games will work on the Mac at any given moment). The only note that might document this in the update itself is just a "general stability" fix for "third-party applications,' but if you see your 3D go faster after 10.5.2 let us know. Azeroth has never looked so good.

10.5.2 makes your WoW go faster originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)10.5.2 makes your WoW go faster originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>10.5.2eagraphicsimacmacsystem-updatetestingworld-of-warcraftwow-insiderMike SchrammMon, 11 Feb 2008 21:00:00 ESTThe biggest Apple USB mouse in the worldhttp://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/07/the-biggest-apple-usb-mouse-in-the-world/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/07/the-biggest-apple-usb-mouse-in-the-world/http://www.tuaw.com/2008/02/07/the-biggest-apple-usb-mouse-in-the-world/#commentsFiled under: , , ,


TUAW reader Kim, who runs the Danish blog Kinablog,dk, sent us this piece he wrote about what he calls the world's biggest Apple USB mouse (a.k.a. the iMac mouse, a.k.a. the hockey puck). It's actually a building in China that houses the National Centre for the Performing Arts, with room for 6,500 people in three halls inside 2,000 square meters, designed by Paul Adreu. And he's right-- it bears a striking (though not quite exact) resemblance to the round little early iMac peripheral. Considering that construction started on the building in 2001, and the mouse was released before that, it's a little less of a stretch (though still a stretch) to think that one inspired the other.

But Kim is thinking even bigger-- not only does he dare us to imagine the sound of a click on a mouse that big, but he asks what an iMac that size would look like. Stop bending my mind like that, man! Apple is going thinner, not bigger.

The biggest Apple USB mouse in the world originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)The biggest Apple USB mouse in the world originally appeared on The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) on Thu, 07 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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]]>applechinahockey-puckimacmousenational-centre-for-the-performing-artsthinnerusbMike SchrammThu, 07 Feb 2008 15:00:00 EST