Over the past few weeks, there's been some speculation about a new 2011 line of iMac's being launched by Apple. That speculation can now come to an end as Apple has indeed launched a new range of iMacs.
Just like the previous generation, there are four different models to choose from with two of them having 21.5 inch screens and two of them having larger 27 inch screens. Each has a faster CPU which is now quad-core for every model. Each has 3x faster graphics power and includes a HD camera to be used with FaceTime. The new Thunderbolt port is also included in the 2011 refresh.
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Some reports today are indicating that the latest generation Apple iMac models will soon be experiencing some shortages. What this normally means is that Apple is planning on a refresh. The same happened with the iPad when the iPad 2 launched as well as the MacBook Pro back in February when the next gen model was being prepared for launch. It has also happened a number of times before.
So what can we expect from the new iMac range? What we hear is that Apple will likely keep the same design, same screen sizes and same keyboard etc... but will bump up the power of each model to include faster CPU's, larger storage and we also expect to see the ThunderBolt (first seen in the MacBook Pro refresh this year) port being included in the refresh.
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Toshiba is working on a new type of "smart" hard drive that can be programmed to either wipe data or secure it in the event of being plugged in to an unknown machine. The drives work with AES 256 encryption and when users move files on to the drive, they can specify if the files are to be kept secure, or if the drive is to be wiped if unauthorised access is detected.
The system works to the Opal specification that lists the standards that corporations work to and this is mostly where the new range of drives will be aimed at... corporations. If a drive happens to be stolen, then companies have more assurance that data will be either deleted or encrypted so that those trying to access the data cannot see it and in turn, it could prevent a data leak.
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Microsoft has released Service Pack 1 for Office for Mac 2011. The update is 246Mb in size and brings a number of security fixes and tweaks to the Mac version of Office.
The update is compatible with the following versions of the software:
Office 2011, Office 2011 Home and Business Edition, Word 2011, Excel 2011, PowerPoint 2011, Outlook 2011, Communicator 2011, Office for Mac Standard 2011 Edition, Microsoft Office for Mac Home & Student 2011, and Microsoft Office for Mac Academic 2011.
As well as the usual security updates, the service pack also makes a few changes to Outlook which now allows server-side rule support for Microsoft Exchange users. We also note that it doesn't support MobileMe which we believe is an Apple problem and not a Microsoft problem. Hopefully this will be patched up at a later date.
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Back on February 24 we saw the launch of the new Apple MacBook Pro line and along with that, the launch of the Thunderbolt port that allows for data to be transferred at high speed to connected devices. At the moment, the only way to use Thunderbolt technology is to buy a new MacBook Pro as well as a compatible Thunderbolt device, of which there are not actually that many (or any) about just yet.
This could all soon change though as Intel is now opening up. Thunderbolt and will be releasing development kits which will allow others to use the technology. The launch of the development kits would see the amount of products available quickly accelerate.
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by Heath on March 15, 2011
Adobe has announced in a security bulletin that Adobe Flash, Adobe Reader and Acrobat each contain a critical vulnerability which if exploited, could allow someone to gain control of your system.
The vulnerability exists in Adobe Flash Player 10.2.152.33 and earlier versions (10.2.154.18 for Chrome users) and effects this particular version running on Windows, Macintosh, Linux and Solaris. As well as effecting the desktop and laptops, those running Flash player on the Android OS (version 10.1.106.16 and earlier) there is also a problem with this version. [click to continue…]
In a short press release sent out yesterday, Microsoft [MSFT] confirmed that it had now sold 10 million Kinects since launch last year. Not only did it hit 10 million sales, it also took the title as quoted below:
Guinness World Records: Kinect for Xbox 360 is Fastest Selling Consumer Electronics Device
In a nod to the recent sales success of Kinect, Guinness World Records has officially named Kinect for Xbox 360 the fastest selling consumer electronics device
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iTunes 10.2.1 has become available for the Mac in the last few hours. This update comes very shortly after the 10.2 update. Following the link to the knowledge base article provides no details as to why this update has been released, so we assume that Apple found a couple of bugs in preparation for the iOS 4.3 update that is due on March 11 (perhaps earlier).
The only information provided shows that the 10.2.1 update prepares iTunes to sync with the iPhone, iPod touch and iPad when using iOS 4.3 although 10.2 also was released for this purpose. [click to continue…]
YouTube user TheRasteri decided to see what would happen if Windows 1.0 was installed and updated, one version at a time, all the way through to Windows 7. All major versions of the OS were included in the update process which means Windows ME was left out as you only had the option of Win 2K or Me but not both.
Windows 1.0 was first introduced in 1985 on November 20 and required that MS-DOS 5.0 be installed so that Windows could be installed within that. This is how the update procedure worked... DOS 5.0 and Windows 1.0. To check that all worked throughout the several upgrades, Doom 2 and Monkey Island were installed at the beginning and were tested throughout the install process. [click to continue…]
by James on February 25, 2011
Yesterday, the Thunderbolt connector was made official. The first device to get a Thunderbolt port is the 2011 MacBook Pro range. At that time, there were no official products that actually worked with the new connector other than being able to hook up to DVI due to compatibility.
We now see that a couple of new Thunderbolt ready devices have launched. One is from LaCie while the other is from Promise. [click to continue…]
by James on February 24, 2011
If you are enrolled in the Mac Developer Program then Apple just made available the Max OS X Lion developer preview for you.
The preview is available through the Mac App Store and gives developers a glimpse of what is to come. As explained in the press release, Lion... "takes some of the best ideas from iPad and brings them back to the Mac for the eighth major release of the world's most advanced operating system. Lion features Mission Control, an innovative new view of everything running on your Mac; Launchpad, a new home for all your Mac apps; full screen apps that use the entire Mac display; and new Multi-Touch gestures. Lion also includes the Mac App Store, the best place to discover, install and automatically update Mac apps." [click to continue…]
by James on February 24, 2011
Along with todays 2011 MacBook Pro announcements, Apple has also made FaceTime available at the Mac App Store.
The service is very similar, if not the same as you have already used on the iMac and other Mac computers in that you load it up, login with your Apple ID and password, and then make video calls to other FaceTime devices which includes the iPod touch and iPhone 4. [click to continue…]