Apple This

Here’s something interesting. Even though it has yet to be released, Apple is recommending that users of the newly released Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5 and Compressor 4 update their systems to Mac OS X 10.6.8. So how am I supposed to upgrade to something that doesn’t technically exist yet?

In a recent support document released by Apple after the new Pro apps became available, Apple briefly mentioned that “Updating to Mac OS X v10.6.8 or later is strongly recommended when using Final Cut Pro X, Motion 5 or Compressor 4.” Update to Mac OS X v10.6.8 or later!? How can I go to a later version if the earlier one isn’t even available? Has Apple somehow discovered the secret to time travel or something?

This recommendation seems to indicate that the update to Mac OS X should be available very soon. In addition to OS X 10.6.8, Apple is also working on the initial public version of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion scheduled to become available next month. Apple seems to have high hopes for this as Apple has delayed the release of its new notebooks to wait for OS X 10.7.

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion will be available for a nominal $30 fee via the Mac App Store but the new 10.6.8 update for Mac OS X Snow Leopard will be a free update available via Software Update for all existing Snow Leopard users.

Apple is also reminding people that the new Pro Apps run Software Update in order to download and install the new QuickTime codecs for Pro Apps. This includes Apple Intermediate Codec, Apple PreRes, AVC-Intra, DVCPRO HD, HDV, XDCAM HD / EX / HD422, MPEG IMX and Uncompressed 4:2:2.

Source: Apple Insider – Apple recommends yet unreleased OS X 10.6.8 for Final Cut Pro X users

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Apple is holding back its latest refresh of its Mac notebook, citing that it is waiting on the new version of its operating system to be released in July before letting the new notebook loose on the public.

This bit of tasty information came from sources quoted by AppleInsider who said that the new MacBook Air models, which will be featuring Intel Sandy Bridge processors as well as the Thunderbolt expansion port, have been ready for quite some time but Apple does not want to release them with the old Mac OS X 10.6 operating system released back in 2009.

The MacRumors.com Buyer’s Guide, which tracks all the intervals by which Apple refreshes its hardware, is in support of this decision. The Buyer’s Guide shows that all the portable Mac products are reaching the end of their typical sales cycle. That is all products aside from the MacBook Pro which was updated earlier this year.

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is supposed to debut in July and is far more than your traditional operating system. It connects users to the iCloud, the new storage service from Apple. iCloud represents a big new direction for Apple, who sees it as a way of bringing together all the different desktop and mobile platforms.

Apple overcame the issue of hardware releases not syncing up with OS X release dates by bundling CPU Drop-in discs with the new Macs. The computers came with an older version of the OS preinstalled, while the disc contained the new OS and allowed you to manually upgrade your device.

However, Mac OS X 10.7 Lion will only be available for download through the Mac App Store which is installed on all Macs running the current Mac OS release. OS X Lion will not be available on  a DVD in any way which will make it unavailable through traditional retail chains.

It should, theoretically, still be possible for Apple to bundle a voucher code that would permit users to upgrade for free through the App Store. However, Apple is traditionally against registration keys like the ones found on Windows computers.

OS X retail releases have never used them and retail releases for the iWork productivity suite has dropped the need for registration keys completely. The Mac App Store also prevents the need to register your software by using digital rights management to tie the software to your computer.

So, if you are looking forward to the latest installment to either Mac OS X Lion, the new Mac notebook or both, you are going to have to wait a little while longer. But, hey, think of it this way, at least you get them both at the same time.

Source: PC World – Apple Delays MacBook Update, Waits for Lion

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Apple just recently built a temporary network of WiFi hotspots in order to provide full wireless coverage for WWDC 2011 and all its 5,200 attendees, and after doing so, the company decided to set up a graphic visualization of the network itself.

Shown off in the Moscone West conference hall, Apple’s display of their WiFi statistics showed everything like available bandwidth statistics, a heat map of active hotspots, an animated depiction of network performance over time and even ongoing stats of all of the visible WiFi networks.

This presentation of displays highlights the efforts of Apple’s network engineers. These engineers have installed more than a thousand wired Ethernet jacks in the building for WWDC so that all the developers in attendance were able to set up super fast connections suitable for downloading the 4GB new build of Mac OS X 10,7 Lion and new developer builds of iOS 5 and Xcode. Xcode is Apple’s integrated development environment for the company’s desktop and mobile platforms.

Unlike past WWDC events, Apple is exclusively distributing all of its new software builds to developers as digital downloads as opposed to an optical disk. This gives people a sneak peek at Apple’s announced plans to deliver Mac OS X Lion as well as Lion Server to customers as a digital download this fall exclusively via the Mac App Store.

Apple announced the Mac App Store last fall and jumped right into active production at the beginning of this year. Apple also noted that the Mac App Store has already become the number one source for Mac software and is largely making optical media a thing of the past in terms of distributing new programs.

WWDC is one of the biggest Apple events of the year and it shows, especially in terms of networking.

Source: Apple Insider – Apple shows off its networking savvy at WWDC

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The Apple iPad is the top-selling product in the tablet PC industry, but Apple couldn’t stop at just that. They now have the iPad 2 which is far more advanced than the original.

While the new iPad has a lot of cool new features, it still has a lot in common with the original. Both have a battery life which lasts for about 10 hours of video or 140 hours of audio. They both feature a multitouch display which allows the user to control the devices with the touch of a finger. The new iPad is basically the same as the old one, except lighter and faster. Even the pricing is similar, although the newer iPad is slightly more expensive.

The new iPad features a newer design which makes it 33% thinner and altogether 15% lighter than the original iPad. The new design makes it more portable than ever, as well as more comfortable to hold and use.

Possibly the greatest feature of the new iPad as opposed to the older one is that it is much faster. The iPad 2 features a dual-core Apple A5 chip, which makes the iPad 2 twice as fast as its predecessor. It also allows for up to nine times the graphics performance, which is perfect for consumers who enjoy playing games and watching videos.

And speaking of videos, the new iPad now features not one but TWO cameras. The iPad 2 has a camera on the front and back, compared to the old iPad which only had one camera on the front. The new camera was put in place to improve the overall experience of Facetime, an application developed by Apple in order for their consumers to make video calls. Now, whenever you use Facetime on an iPad, you can either use the camera on the front to show yourself or the camera on the back to show your surroundings. The camera on the back is also useful when you want to record or take a picture of something while looking at the screen.

The iPad 2 also features a Smart Cover, which is great in a multitude of ways. It is made specifically for the iPad and attaches to it with the use of magnets. When you open it, the iPad automatically comes to life. When you close it, the iPad goes to sleep. The cover also transforms into a stand for the iPad, which is useful when you want to watch movies or use Facetime. The Smart Cover comes in a variety of colors, so you can choose whichever best fits your personality.

The iPad 2 certainly has a lot more to offer, but if $500 and up is a little out of your price range, there is also the new iPhone 4 starting at $200 and as always, the iPod touch starting at $230. You may be settling for less, but both the iPhone 4 and iPod touch have many similarities to the iPad except in smaller packages.

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