Jump to content

InsanelyMac

Manage articles
Show all categories
  • sHARD>>
    Want to know what a hub-bub the iPhone caused? Well everyone forgot about the sleeper hit of the expo, Axiotron's ModBook tablet. Sure, it doesn't have state-of-the-art technology on board, but people have been clamoring for a tablet Mac for ages.
     
    So what's it like? Expensive for one. It starts at the low, low price of $2,200, getting you a 1.83GHz Core 2 Duo, 512MB of RAM, a 60GB 5200 RPM hard drive, a combo drive, and all the features of a low-end MacBook. Of course, what's more important here are the tablet features. The ModBook packs a Wacom digitizer featuring 256 pressure levels below it's strengthened glass cover. It's compatable with Apple's Inkwell technology, offering the full set of tablet features. Along with the writing system comes a new LCD, offering improved contrast and wider viewing angles. Interestingly Axiotron also chose to pack a GPS module into the unit, enabling location tracking. It's all packaged in an attractive case, featuring the aluminum stylings of the MacBook Pro. Unfortunately it doesn't look like Axiotron was able to pack a keyboard into this thing, limiting it's potential as a convertable laptop.
     
    What's the catch? We've heard previous reports that the Mod in ModBook meant you'd have to do the work yourself, but interestingly the website makes no mention of this fact. The best information we got was from a product spec sheet: "Mod-kit for MacBooks: Convert your standard MacBook into a tablet computer". Sounds bleak.
     
    Our verdict? A fun toy, but the lack of keyboard and joy of a do-it-yourself project is going to stop all but the hardcore Mac user, if the price hasn't already.
     
    Pre-order or view the brochure [PDF]
  • sHARD>>

    802.11n Comes to Intel Macs

    By sHARD>>, in OSx86,

    Remember all those rumors of 802.11n WiFi in Intel Macs? Well, it's coming soon to all Core 2 Duo units. InsanelyMac user neckarb's sharp eyes found a small note on the new Airport Extreme's product page:
     

     
    What's that mean? It seems that all newer iMacs, MacBooks, MacBook Pros, and Mac Pros will be able to get in on the 802.11n goodness, for free.
     
    Product pages still note "Built-in 54 Mbps AirPort Extreme (802.11g)", so it seems the upgrade is not yet in the wild.
  • sHARD>>

    Macworld 2007: Roundup

    By sHARD>>, in OSx86,

    Here's what we've learned:
     
    iTV
    The iTV has now dropped its codename and is officially known as AppleTV. It sports a 40GB hard drive, 720p HD output, 802.11b/g/n wireless, connects to the iTunes store, can stream content from up to 5 computers, and sync content with another computer. It costs $299, can be preordered today, and will ship in February.
     
    Price: $299
    Shipping: February
    Buy it now: Apple store
    Product page: Apple TV
     
    iPhone & iPod
    Next up is the famed iPhone. This was coyly introduced as an iPod, iPhone, and "Internet Communicator"... all in one! Big widescreen, fully touch sensitive, multitouch, gestures, runs a version of OS X. It docks and syncs with iTunes, and can play movies, music, podcasts, TV shows, photos, contacts, and e-mail. It has a 3.5" high res screen, with 160 pixels per inch and is 11/16" thick, though it is a bit taller and wider than a standard cell phone. The screen is very impressive, though the interface looks vaguely Zune-like, in it's focus on a colorful wallpaper. It houses 4GB or 8GB of onboard flash memory. A nice 2 Megapixel camera is housed on the back of it, a standard iPod connector at the bottom, and an ambient light sensor to adjust brightness. The built-in speaker appears to function with music, not just the phone system. It also houses an acceleromoter to automatically turn on the display, and orientation detection to adjust the screen to portrait or landscape.
     
    It appears that Cingular is the only carrier to have the iPhone, and as it is GSM, it also takes SIM cards. It also takes advantage of the faster EDGE network, giving mobile broadband. Connectivity also includes WiFi and Bluetooth, allowing it to connect to home networks and pair with other devices. The onstage demos showed the device flying, looking very much like a full-scale laptop with its Core animation support. Yes, that means it supports Coverflow. Overall the interface is designed with the typical Apple ethos - everything is simple and attractive.
     
    "Visual" voicemail which let's you select which voicemails you wish to listen to, quick buttons to conference call, mute, speakerphone, etc. Along with standard SMS features (iChat style), the phone also supports e-mail, enhanced with a new form of predictive input. A minimalist version of Safari is used for web browsing, using the power of the WebKit engine for everything from Google Maps to Widgets (both demoed). Yes, it even has tabs. In order to offer cheaper and more reliable internet access, it automatically switches between the EDGE and WiFi connections. Free e-mail with Yahoo! uses a system similar to that on Blackberries (push IMAP). Back to Google Maps for a second - finally, a phone which uses the GPS features... it knows where you are.
     
    The interface is, in general, very OS X like. With the added joys of multitouch, photos can be resized with two fingers, web pages can zoom in and out, and more. And don't forget multi-tasking. Browse the web while making a call, shoot off some e-mails. Music auto-pauses when a call comes in much like the older iTunes software for phones. With all these features, battery life sits at a respectable 5 hours talk time, 16 with audio only.
     
    Price: 4GB: $499 (with 2 year contract)
    8GB: $599 (with 2 year contract)
    Shipping: US: June
    Europe: Quarter 4
    Asia: 2008
    Product page: iPhone
     
    Google & Yahoo
    What the heck? I remarked to fellow InsanelyMac user other that it would be fairly amusing if Google bought Apple... moments before Eric Schmidt walks on stage and they start talking about doing a "merge without merging". What's that translate to? It seems it's a "strong partnership". But then again, they've also announced heavy Yahoo integration with the iPhone.
     
    Apple Computer
    Is no more. Now it's just Apple, Inc.
     
    Airport Extreme
    Here's a little gem that managed to escape the keynote: the AirPort Extreme Base Station has launched and can be found at the Apple Store. It sports 802.11a/b/g/n, 3 LAN ports, a USB port for a printer or hard drive, and a new design resembling the Mac mini or Apple TV.
     
    Price: $179
    Shipping: February
    Buy it now: Apple store
     
    Pictures and Video
    Need a peek at the units? Check out MacRumors, Engadget, or Gizmodo.
    The 2007 Keynote can be found at Apple's 2007 Keynote Address page.
     
    Commentary
    Wow, so the iPhone is really here. It's... amazing, though a bit pricey. But with those features, it's hard to complain.
  • Swad
    MacWorld 2007 is here! That time of year when we check our bank account one last time, just in case there are some extra funds for that latest iLust OMGIMUSTHAVE piece of consumerism.
     
    Here at InsanelyMac, with much of our staff being the poor college students we are, being unable to attend this pilgrimage to MacHaven, we've established a tradition of doing the next best thing - posting live news and comments, and giving you a chance to give us your own play-by-play.
     
    So, check back here throughout the keynote for the latest news from around the web... and let us know what you think!
  • Alex Oughton
    It's that time of year again, and with the rumor mill spinning as fast as ever, SetteB.IT have posted an interesting set of behind-the-scenes photos from the setup for this year's Macworld.
     
    InsanelyMac as always will be steering clear of some of the more 'dubious' rumors doing the rounds this year, but look forward to a complete roundup of all of the facts after this year's keynote from Steve Jobs.
     
    Until then, let's all just salivate over this photo set...
  • kevin_4e
    If you find your e-mail inbox out of control, take control with Gmail+Growl. Gmail+Growl is a free universal notifier, keeping you up-to-date with each and every message you receive by using Growl notifications... Although you may have the QuickTime component, Perian, a better codec pack has now taken its place. The “Codec Pack for All the New Mac Users” may even help out some of the more experienced Mac OS X users with “the native intel builds for AC3 audio/XviD Video, DivX, and WMV” all included... Uh-Oh, looks like Steve Jobs may be in some trouble of his own. In 2001, Steve Jobs was supposedly “handed 7.5 million stock options without the required authorization.” More can be read at MSNBC’s story along with a few videos... The new year brought in a few new products from Apple, but not quite yet. At least we know hope Amazon’s iWork and iLife ads are soon to come... With the latest Parallels build just being released, look what Microsoft’s Internet Explorer can do to you...
     
    If you haven't managed to check out Shreedhan’s new blog, make sure to do so. Appleication is loaded with plenty of news and apps that should keep you busy... With MacWorld just around the corner, Steve Jobs will be presenting his own keynote Tuesday, January 9. While there won't be a live video feed, MacRumors promises to keep us well informed with “up-to-the second” news at their Live Event Coverage page (We'll also be culling news from all the sources along with a chance for you to comment live here on the forum)... And finally, all I can say about this video is that I hope you take better care of your Mac than
    ...
  • Swad

    OnMac joins InsanelyMac

    By Swad, in OSx86,

    Information is everything. From the beginning, our community here has been built on combining good information, friendly help, and fun discussion.
     
    In order to make more information available to even more people, I’m proud to announce that OnMac.net is joining the InsanelyMac network. OnMac is home to the first solution to run Windows on an Intel Mac (from those heady pre-Boot Camp days) and has been one of the premier resources during the Intel transition.
     
    The combined knowledge of InsanelyMac and OnMac can accomplish great things, and we’re excited to create a community that’s even more comprehensive than today. Integration of the websites will take place gradually over the next few months, and I know you’ll like what you see.
     
    Over the past year, InsanelyMac has grown to become the web’s best resource for everything relating to Intel Macs. The knowledge and experience of OnMac will make that resource stronger and better.
     
    Welcome OnMac!
  • sHARD>>

    The Cost of Progress

    By sHARD>>, in OSx86,

    While premiering a new site on our server (expect an announcement from Swad soon, sharp eyes may have already noticed), the transition got a little bumpy, and InsanelyMac got quite slow today. The good news is, we've spotted the issue and implemented a fix. Now, see if you can guess what's new!
  • Swad

    Apple Lang Syne

    By Swad, in OSx86,

    A new year prompts reflection, careful thought, and the annoying necessity of learning to write a "7" instead of the habitual "6."
     
    2006 brought a host of changes for Apple, so as we ring in the new year, it's natural to ask what 2007 holds. Cult of Mac, asking 2007 questions in a very 2006-ish world a few days ago, did a little reflection of their own. Some of their questions include:

    10. Is Apple ready to compete in two new fields (Home Theatre and Mobile Telephony)?
    8. Has the switch to Intel been successful from a third party software perspective?
    7. What should Apple credit for soaring Mac sales?
    0.5 Did Sean Connery really make a better James Bond than Pierce Brosnan?
     
    Ok. So I made that last one up. It's a good question nonetheless...
     
    What are your thoughts about Apple's upcoming year? Expecting something big?
×
×
  • Create New...