The iMac is the first Apple computer with and Intel processor, as just announced by Steve Jobs at the Macworld expo, in San Francisco.
The new computer has a dual core processor, which according to Apple is 2 to 3 times faster than a normal G5 processor. Other specs of the iMac are similar to the existing version released in middle 2005.
A brave blogger has put forward what he says he has heard from someone in Apple about the MW announcements. According to him, the new Apple products are
* 15″ intel Macbook – order tomorrow, ships Feb (thinner, dual core)
* iPod FM receiver
* iWork/Life ’06
* New remote of some type
* Photocasting (iPhoto)
* OS X.4.4 w/new widgets
Even not being officially part of CES, Apple got a lot of attention by other companies presenting their new productos on the expo.
According to CNET News.com, this attention is comming mostly from competitors, such as Microsoft and Google, which are concerned with the increased marked conquered by Apple in the last years.
Microsoft, for example, announced a iTunes like software that will be available latter this year, in cooperation with MTV. The new service will be available with the new Windows Vista operating system.
Google, is also trying to get its share from Apple market, using the Google video website. The objective is to sell video for Internet customers, something that the iTunes video store has been done since last year.
Finally, there are also the companies that are offering accessories for the iPod other Apple products. These companies also represent an important part of the announcements that have been made during the CES expo. All this shows that Apple is now an important part of the consumer electronics world, even when it is not physically present.
Quicky: Jobs preparing for MWSF 06. Some people think that this is Hollywood. Please drive south a little more…
The MacWorld expo is only tomorrow, but today people are already very excited with the possibility that Apple you launch a new Intel-based computer.
Apple announced last year that 2006 would be the year of a shift to the Intel processors, after many years using the IBM/motorolla Power PC architechture. The move will be great not only for Intel, but for several consumers that want more compatitibility between the Mac and PC platforms.
The use of Intel processer in Apple’s computers may represent an easier task for software developers that need to port programs from the PC to Mac. For example, game development companies could benefit from this change.
Another great advantage will be for the Apple’s mobile line of computers. It has been difficult for Apple to incorporate the newest versions of the G5 processors into its laptop line, due to engineering issues (mainly power dissipation problems). With the Intel processors, Apple will be free to inovate again in the area of laptops.
The espectacular rise of Apple in the last years, due particularly to the iPods, has set many people angry. I have no doubts the company in Redmond is one of the more tormented by the success of Apple: both the rising share price as well as the rising market share.
It is no surprise, therefore, that their analysts are fast to preview that Apple’s stock is due to fall. With MS own stock stagnated at the same level since 2000, there is no reason for them to be happy with the iPod and Mac OS success.
The people that are saying that Apple’s market share will decrease are the same that said that Apple would die. Nonetheless, it continues to be one of the most successfull and inovative companies. Let us see what these analysts say after Apple’s new products are announced tomorrow.
In the waiting of the announcements, here follows a quicklist of the most predicted announcements at tomorrow’s Steve Jobs keynote at MacWorld Expo:
Intel PowerBook
iWork 06
iLife 06
Bluetooth remote control
AirPort Ultra
1GB iPod nano
Intel MacMini
Intel based iBook
A new version of Mac OS X (Leopard) – this is the least probable, but nobody knows!!!
Reference: Top 10 things Apple could announce at Macworld Expo
Steve Jobs is tomorrow giving his most waited keynote on the MacWorld expo. Several predictions have been made about the announcements during this year, including things like new laptop models using the Intel processor, a new version of the iPod nano that would take over the iPod shuffle, and improved versions of the Mac mini.
Well, we just need to wait now a little to see what Steve Jobs has under cover. It sure seems to be exciting, and the whole blogosphere is waiting for the announcements.
The last Consumer’s Electronic Show in Las Vegas featured a presentation by Microsoft’s founder Bill Gates, presenting features of the Windows Vista operating system, planned to debut on the end of this year.
The most remarkable feature of Window Vista for Apple Mac users is how similar it is to what we already have with Apple Mac OS X. Consider the following list of “new features”
* Widgets: the new version of Windows has little applications that are almost the same as a Mac OS widget. They have similar transparency and floating options.
* Task bar update: Mac OS X has a task bar that updates its content automatically.
* Search: The new windows will have a search facility similar to what Mac users have with spotlight. However, this is not new even to Win users: you just need to install Google desktop search.
* Image view and retouch software is incredibly similar to iPhoto, in its main view, in the way toolbar are layed, etc.
* Finally, the new music service announced with MTV is a copy of what iTunes is providing for more than three years.
Conclusion: by the end of the year, windows users will have a system that has features similar to Mac OS X Tiger. Of course, by that time the new version of Mac OS X (Leopard) will be arriving and what else will MS be able to copy?
Related posts:
New Windows Vista features are really new?
Bill Gates gave his talk on the Las Vegas Consummer Electronics Show to demonstrate the new features of the new version of MS’s operating system (dubbed Windows Vista). He looked pretty excited showing stuff that any Apple customer is able to do buy now…
This post of maclive shows a movie created by a user demonstrating the “new” features of Windows Vista in Mac OS X. It is pretty funny to see that Apple Mac OS X already has everything that Windows users are still dreaming of.