While not all the rumors leading up to the launch were true, many of the last minute leaks were accurate, and Apple still managed to sneak in a few surprises.
Apple launched the new MacBook Pros this morning after much anticipation. For the first time ever, Apple has included Quad Core CPUs into their notebooks. The 15" and 17" models offer Quad Core CPUs using the Intel 2.2GHz Quad Core 2720QM and 2.0GHz Quad Core 2630QM. While many applications may not take advantage of all 4 cores, these new Sandy Bridge processors include Intel's Turbo Boost 2.0, which should increase the speed of the remaining cores when the others are underutilized.
Intel Turbo Boost Technology 2.0 automatically allows processor cores to run faster than the base operating frequency if it's operating below power, current, and temperature specification limits.
The maximum Turbo clock speeds for the 2720QM and 2630QM are 3.2GHz and 2.9GHz respectively.
Apple has also introduced a hybrid Thunderbolt/mini Display port on the new MacBook Pros. This represents Intel's Light Peak technology which is said to offer high speed connections and is expected to replace the need for USB 3.0. We expect to hear more about it this afternoon at Intel's press conference. From Apple's PR:
"Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro."
If you've been following iPhone rumors over the last few years, you may remember reading reports that Apple flirted with the idea of introducing a super high-end "Ultra" model that would either replace its Pro Max device or sit above it in Apple's smartphone hirearchy. These reports appeared in the pre-launch iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 rumor cycles, but ultimately came to nothing. Now though, the...
Wednesday March 12, 2025 6:05 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
The upcoming iOS 18.4 update for the iPhone includes a smaller but meaningful improvement for Apple's in-car iPhone mirroring system CarPlay.
Specifically, CarPlay now shows a third row of icons, up from two rows previously. However, this change is only visible in vehicles with a larger center display. For example, a MacRumors Forums member noticed the change in a Toyota Tundra with a...
Tuesday March 11, 2025 3:26 am PDT by Tim Hardwick
Despite being released over two years ago, Apple's AirPods Pro 2 continue to dominate the wireless earbud market. However, with the AirPods Pro 3 expected to launch in 2025, anyone thinking of buying Apple's premium earbuds may be wondering if the next generation is worth holding out for.
Apart from their audio and noise-canceling performance, which are generally regarded as excellent for...
Saturday March 15, 2025 10:50 am PDT by Joe Rossignol
While the so-called "iPhone 17 Air" is not expected to launch until September, there are already plenty of rumors about the ultra-thin device.
Overall, the "iPhone 17 Air" sounds like a mixed bag. While the device is expected to have an impressively thin and light design, rumors indicate it will have some compromises compared to iPhone 17 Pro models, including only a single rear camera, a...
Apple today launched a new app called Surveyor, which is designed to allow users to collect data like images of street signs and roadside details to improve Apple Maps.
The app is not public facing and appears to be for use with companies that Apple partners with to assign mapping tasks. Downloading the app and opening it up directs users to "Open Partner App" to choose a task. Tapping on...
Apple is reassuring employees on the Siri team who may be feeling demotivated by the recent Siri delays and the bad press surrounding the company's decisions, reports Bloomberg.
In a Siri team meeting, Apple senior director Robby Walker acknowledged that employees might be feeling "angry, disappointed, burned out and embarrassed" following the Siri delay, but he praised the hard work of...
Apple is planning some of the "biggest iOS and macOS redesigns in its history," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman reiterated that iOS 19 will have a visionOS-like design with more transparent interfaces:The new interfaces will adopt the design principles introduced in visionOS, the software for Apple's Vision Pro headset. That includes greater...
Thursday March 13, 2025 4:02 pm PDT by Juli Clover
Apple made a major misstep with the way that it handled the delay of Apple Intelligence features for Siri, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said today. Announcing the delay through a press statement was a bad decision, and Apple should instead have gone through official channels.
Kuo referenced the well-known "Antennagate" PR crisis when the iPhone 4 launched in 2010, and the way that then Apple...
Apple is set to release iOS 18.4 in early April, bringing further refinements to Apple Intelligence features, a neat new capability to iPhone 15 Pro devices, new emoji, and more.
While not quite as packed with new features as Apple's preceding iOS 18 point releases, iOS 18.4 still introduces enhancements that aim to make your iPhone smarter and more intuitive. Below, we've listed 12 new...
I personally sell 15-20 macs a day now at my job. I do not believe I have met a SINGLE person who would want to do what it takes for a hackintosh. Not saying I wouldn't, I am looking into building a hackintosh. But Buddy, we are in the less than 1%.
It is Apple's product, they can make it however they want. You do realize that is how it has been from the beginning? They are a software and HARDWARE company. You want them to release glossy? matte? i7s, i5s, radeon 6990s, USB 3.0, Thunderbolt, in every option of all of their computers? What about including FW800 and 400, and I want them to use HUGE DVI PORTS, so their computers never get thinner, maybe we should use them forever actually? why not? Lets ALWAYS use 7200 drives, and get PC battery lifes of 3-5 hours, and lets throw in SSD drives, I mean come on, we could just slap in a little 60 gig right? Just as expensive as 250 gigs of HD, thats what people want right? Less hard drive space.
Think outside of your own realm of self absorption and I bet your distain for all things technology, not up to par with your standards, won't ride your pony through the river every 6 months.
That's funny. I thought I just said they were playing that game. :rolleyes:
I don't presume to speak for "most people" on here, but a lack of "tedious upgrades" is not even in my top 10 list of reasons to use OSX. In fact, it's not in the list at all. I already have one Hackintosh and most updates are the same as any other Mac through Software Update. Once I had to reload the audio driver. Once in awhile you update the program that provides the machine specific drivers. It's not exactly rocket science, dude.
I like/use OSX because it's free of malware and I like the interface better than Windows. I like it doesn't slow down as you add more software. I like the Unix underpinnings. I like not having a registry (for both speed and ease of installing and removing most software).
I don't like Apple telling me I cannot have a matte screen or that I don't need a card slot on a MBP or that they refuse to provide an access door so I can swap the battery if I need to (all about them providing a replacement for a fee, not "ease of use"). I don't like Apple using Mini-Display Port (my MBP has full size DVI which many monitors come with a cable for even) when very few monitors support it (means you have to keep track of adapters and probably purchase one or more adapters). I don't like them not offering BTO options for anything from 7200 PRM drives to SSD drives whenever they feel like not offering them (leaving me in a situation where I might have to void my warranty just to install something they don't want to sell on a particular model at a particular time while other companies offer any build option you might like (or let you build your own whereas Apple says you're not allowed). I also don't like Apple heading towards iOS features instead of keeping up with OpenGL, improving dual-display support, etc. (i.e. real features).
$130 is only upgrade pricing, you need an existing OS X license to be able to use that $130 copy of OS X you've bought.
So you can say that OS X costs $1000, basically the difference between a PC and an equivalent Mac.
Huh? Are you referring to Snow Leopard's price? Because...you don't need Leopard installed to install Snow Leopard, and last I checked Snow Leopard was $49. What am I missing here?
Okay so to everyone who's complaining about the new macbook pros.
I just ran geek-bench (just bought one as i've been waiting for months since i sold my old 15") and the "low end" 13 MacBook Pro for $1199 received a geek-bench score of 5850. Up significantly from last years MacBooks. Correct me if i'm wrong but didn't the 2010 17" MacBook pro receive a score of around 5200 overall. I know everyone doesn't need the new speed bump but DAMN this thing is smokin.
