As noted by netkas.org and in our forums, the initial beta release of OS X 10.8.3 seeded to developers yesterday contains drivers supporting AMD's latest 7000-series graphics cards, including the high-end "Tahiti" options. The development has naturally sparked speculation that Apple is starting to build in support for graphics cards to be used in the all-new Mac Pro coming in 2013.
Testing has revealed that the low-end "Cape Verde" Radeon HD 7770 graphics cards will work under the first OS X 10.8.3 beta and that support is also likely for the high-end Tahiti cards, but forum user MacVidCards cautions that compatibility for certain cards has come and gone in the past, so users should wait until the public release of OS X 10.8.3 before getting their hopes up too much, and even then compatibility could disappear in the future.
This is not the first time that evidence of Tahiti support has shown up in OS X either, as other drivers surfaced nearly a year ago in OS X 10.7.3. Consequently, it is difficult to reach any conclusions regarding Apple's product plans based on the appearance of new drivers in OS X 10.8.3, but it certainly seems to be positive progress toward support of new hardware.
Apple has released an update to mid-2012 MacBook Pro models to fix an issue with some Thunderbolt cables. The 442KB update is available via Apple's support site and the Mac App Store.
About Thunderbolt Firmware Update v1.1 This update addresses an issue with MacBook Pro (mid 2012) and some Thunderbolt cables that may prevent bus-powered Thunderbolt devices from functioning properly.
Following Apple's announcement today that the new iMac models will go on sale this Friday, November 30 with immediate availability of 21.5-inch models and December availability of 27-inch models, Apple reseller Expercom has posted full configuration and pricing information for each of the models. While Apple has detailed the available customization options since last month, the company had not previously listed pricing information for the various options.
- Base 21.5-inch model: Only one internal customization is available on the $1299 base model, with a $200 charge to upgrade RAM from 8 GB to 16 GB. The RAM is not officially user-upgradable, so those interested in 16 GB of RAM may be interested in considering this option.
- High-end 21.5-inch model: In addition to the same RAM upgrade option available on the low-end model, the high-end model starting at $1499 also offers options for a processor bump from 2.9 GHz Core i5 to 3.1 GHz Core i7 ($200) and to upgrade the base 1 TB hard drive to a Fusion Drive ($250) that incorporates solid-state storage for faster performance.
- Base 27-inch model: The $1799 base model includes a 2.9 GHz Core i5 processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 660M graphics, with a number of RAM upgrade options ranging up to $600 for 32 GB of Apple-installed RAM, although Expercom offers its own RAM options for considerably lower pricing and users can upgrade the RAM on the 27-inch models at a later date. A number of storage options are also available, with the base 1 TB hard drive upgradeable to 3 TB for $150. Each of those hard drives can also be upgraded to Fusion Drives for an additional $250 premium, and Apple also offers a 768 GB all-flash drive as a $1300 upgrade.
- High-end 27-inch model: The $1999 model bumps the default processor to a 3.2 GHz Core i5 and the graphics to NVIDIA GeForce GTX 675MX with 1 GB of GDDR5, which can be upgraded to a 3.4 GHz Core i7 ($200) and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680MX with 2 GB of GDDR5 ($150). Storage and RAM upgrades are the same as on the base 27-inch model.
As Apple continues to work toward improving the new Maps service the company rolled out in iOS 6, Bloomberg reports that Apple has fired Richard Williamson, the manager directly responsible for the project.
Richard Williamson, who oversaw the mapping team, was fired by Senior Vice President Eddy Cue, said the people, who asked not to be named because the information wasn’t yet public. Cue, who took over last month as part of a management shakeup, is seeking advice from outside mapping-technology experts and prodding digital maps provider TomTom NV to fix landmark and navigation data it shares with Apple.
As part of a management shakeup at Apple announced last month, iOS chief Scott Forstall will be leaving the company next year and his responsibilities have been delegated to other executives. With Eddy Cue now overseeing Maps in addition to his iTunes Store, App Store, iCloud, iBookstore, iAd, and Siri responsibilities, Apple has brought on its "product resuscitator" to help fix the highly criticized service.
Cue is said to be taking a very hands-on approach with Maps, and with his firing of Williamson seems to be looking to build his own team to address the service's many issues.
Research firm Kantar Worldpanel shares its latest data on U.S. smartphone sales, calculating that a strong debut from the iPhone 5 has enabled Apple to retake the lead from Android in the race for the top platform. The report pegs Apple's share of the market during the August-October period at 48.1%, compared to 46.7% for Android.
Dominic Sunnebo, global consumer insight director at Kantar Worldpanel ComTech, comments: “The last time we saw iOS overtake Android in the US was when the iPhone 4S was released and Apple managed to retain its lead for three consecutive periods. This time we predict that Apple will beat its previous high of 49.3% and achieve its highest ever share of the US smartphone market within the next two periods.”
Apple has, however, found stiffer competition from Android internationally, with Android holding 60-80% share in most other markets tracked by Kantar Worldpanel. Notable areas of weakness for Apple include Brazil (0.4%) and Spain (4.0%), but the company continues to perform fairly well in countries such as the the United Kingdom (32.7%) and Australia (29.4%).
The firm's surveys of U.S. iPhone customers finds a healthy 60/40 balance between upgrade buyers and new users, suggesting that Apple is continuing to see loyal customers while also attracting new users with the iPhone 5. According to the report, 92% of current Apple users indicate that they will purchase an iPhone as their next phone.
Back in June, Apple announced that it was working with car manufacturers on a new "Eyes Free" mode for Siri that would integrate with voice command buttons found in an increasing number of car models to allow users to interact with Siri without needing to look at their devices' screens. As part of his iOS 6 presentation at the company's Worldwide Developers Conference, Scott Forstall displayed a slide showing that Apple was working with BMW, GM, Mercedes, Land Rover, Jaguar, Audi, Toyota, Chrysler, and Honda on the initiative.
GM reportedly confirmed soon after that it would be bringing Eyes Free Siri to the Chevrolet Spark and Sonic within the following 12 months, and the company today announced more details on that integration. The announcement notes that Siri will be included as part of the MyLink system on several Spark and Sonic models beginning in early 2013.
In the Spark and Sonic RS, owners can use Siri in Eyes Free mode to:
- Make voice-activated, hands-free calls to Contacts on their iPhone - Play songs in the iTunes library, and even switch music sources automatically from AM/FM/XM radio to iPod mode - Listen to, and compose and send an iMessage or text message to a phone number or anyone in saved Contacts - Access Calendar and add appointments - Minimize distraction even more by keeping the screen of the iPhone from lighting up, even when Siri answers simple questions such as game scores or the dates of national holidays - While in Eyes Free mode, Siri will not provide answers to complex questions that require displaying a web page.
Apple today announced that the new iMac will go on sale this Friday, November 30. The 21.5-inch model will see immediate availability through multiple distribution channels, while the 27-inch model will begin shipping in December.
The 21.5-inch iMac will be available through the Apple Online Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers. The 27-inch iMac will be available for order through the Apple Online Store and will begin shipping in December.
Apple resellers have been quoting receipt of shipments over the next few days, but official sales will not begin until Friday. Apple unveiled the redesigned iMac at its October 23 media event, announcing that the 21.5-inch models would ship in November with the 27-inch models following in December.
Belgium-iPhone.Lesoir.be claims that Apple will be delivering the new 21.5" iMac to Apple Premium Resellers in Belgium starting on Wednesday. Meanwhile, the 27" iMac model is still believed to be scheduled for December.
The site also believes that the new iMac would be available for online orders at approximately the same time.
Separately, we received an unconfirmed tip saying that the new iMacs would be ready to order tomorrow, Tuesday, November 27th. We're not sure if the time difference (6 hours behind U.S. Eastern) explains the conflicting time frames or if one (or both) are simply wrong. Neither sources has a track record, but both guesses are certainly realistic. Apple originally claimed that the 21.5" iMac would begin shipping in November.
Update: Purported email sent to resellers from a distributor:
Facebook today announced that it has added iTunes Store digital gift cards to its Facebook Gifts platform, making it easier for users to send iTunes credit to their networks of Facebook friends.
Starting today with Facebook Gifts, you can instantly gift your friends iTunes digital gifts and recommend albums, movies, games, apps, and more available on the iTunes Store.
Search for a specific song or album to recommend, or let your friend decide. iTunes digital gifts are available for $10, $15, $25, or $50.
AllThingsD notes that the partnership offers increased visibility for the iTunes Store and gives Facebook a part of what is currently estimated to be a $260 million business in iTunes Store gift cards for third-party retailers.
Per Apple’s last 10-K, the company generated $7.5 billion from the iTunes Store during fiscal year 2012. Industry sources say that more than $2 billion of that revenue comes directly from iTunes gift cards. Sources also tell us that existing retailers who sell iTunes gift cards (like Best Buy, Target and the like) usually keep around 13 percent of each gift-card dollar sold.
So that adds up to around, say, a $260 million-dollar market size for physical iTunes cards split among participating retailers, of which Facebook will now be an active participant. That pie is small compared to Facebook’s overall revenue ($3.71 billion in 2011), but another digital product with less overhead and high demand is definitely a win for Facebook’s Gifts department.
Apple and Facebook have had a bit of a rocky history, with the two companies having sparred over Apple's efforts to offer Facebook integration in its failed Ping social networking service for iTunes. The companies have, however, been working more closely together recently, with systemwide Facebook integration now included in iOS 6 and OS X Mountain Lion.
Fresh off its Thanksgiving holiday, Apple today seeded developers with the first test build of OS X 10.8.3.
The first beta of OS X 10.8.3 arrives as Build 12D32, and users are required to install the OS X Software Update Seed Configuration Utility in order to upgrade to the build.
Areas of focus for testing include AirPlay, AirPort, Game Center, and Graphics Drivers.
Patently Apple reports on European trademark registration data showing that Apple has acquired at least partial rights to the "Lightning" name used for its new iOS device dock connector from motorcycle manufacturer Harley-Davidson.
The transfer appears to have been required because of Harley-Davidson's ownership of the trademark under Class 28, which includes toys and games.
The explanation for this clash of covered items under Class 028 likely relates to what we pointed out in area # 3 noted above. There it states that there was a "partial transfer." Meaning that Harley-Davidson may have retained the ability to use certain aspects of the trademark relating to the motorcyle parts and so on. The specifics of the partial transfer weren't revealed.
Under Class 28, UPSTO points out that that "This Class includes, in particular: amusement and game apparatus adapted for use with an external display screen or monitor."
It is certainly not unusual for Apple to have to pursue trademark acquisition for its marketing terms, and it frequently seeks to use simple and/or common words that are in many cases already protected by other entities.
One notable recent case involved Apple's efforts to secure the "iPad" trademark in China, an effort that resulted in a $60 million settlement after the trademark's original owner claimed that Apple had originally purchased the mark from the wrong subsidiary. Apple had obtained the U.S. trademark rights for "iPad" from Fujitsu, while the company had previously reached a deal with Cisco for the "iPhone" name.
Less than a week after shipping estimates for new iPhone 5 orders through Apple's online stores dropped to two weeks, availability continues to improve with the company's stores for the Asia-Pacific region now quoting one-week estimates. Apple's online store distribution channels for other regions continue to show two-week estimates, but those should similarly drop to one week shortly.
Continued improvement of shipping estimates comes as the holiday shopping season kicks off and Apple works toward its goal of making the device available in at least 100 countries by the end of the year.
The Monday after Black Friday has been dubbed Cyber Monday to reflect a large number of online purchases that takes place on that day. As a result, many retailers continue or begin online sales on Monday. Here's a selection of Apple-relevant Cyber Monday sales.
- Zagg - Popular iPhone/iPad accessory maker is offering 20% off Keyboard Cases and 50% off "almost everything else", including their Invisible Shield protection.
- Hex3 - 25% off two of their products with coupon code "Monday25". First is Jaja ($89.99 -> $67.49), a pressure sensitive stylus for the iPad that allows for 1024 levels of pressure. Interestingly, it uses high frequency sound to communicate with the iPad. The other product on sale is the AppTag Laser Blaster ($59.99 -> $45.99) which is an augmented reality gun that you can clip your iPhone to.
- Belkin - Popular Mac and iOS accessory company. 30% off everything with coupon code "CYBER30". Until noon PST.
- Marware - 30% off sitewide with coupon code "CYBERMONDAY2012"
- Das Keyboard - Mechanical keyboard for the Mac. 20% off with coupon code "DASCHEER"
Both Apple and Samsung are continuing the patent battle in the courtroom with a second patent infringement lawsuit filed in August. This is a separate U.S. lawsuit from the $1 billion verdict that was awarded to Apple.
Due to the early stages of this lawsuit, both sides are trying to extend the scope of their case against the latest products from each company. Last week, Samsung sought to extend the infringement claims to include the iPad 4 and iPad mini. Days later, Apple also brought a motion to include several recent Samsung products, including the Galaxy S III, Galaxy Note II, Galaxy Tab 8.9 Wifi, Galaxy Tab 2 10.1, Rugby Pro and Samsung S III Mini.
Samsung had previously moved to add the iPhone 5 to the U.S. lawsuit shortly after its release. As noted by FOSS Patents, this latest Samsung/Apple lawsuit won't even go to trial until March 2014.
Telegraph reports that Black Eyed Peas star Will.i.am will be launching an iPhone accessory next week that promises to boost your iPhone's camera significantly.
The first product from his new consumer electronics and app venture i.am+ is an accessory that clips onto an iPhone and transforms the eight megapixel smartphone camera into a 14 megapixel camera, which it is claimed dramatically enhances the clarity and definition of your photographs. Speaking exclusively to The Daily Telegraph, he says: ‘We have our own sensor and a better flash. You dock you phone into our device and it turns you smartphone into a genius-phone. We take over the camera.’
Few details are offered, but it is described as interfacing to the iPhone through the dock-connector and has its own camera and flash hardware.
As Black Friday continues, there have been a few notable discounts on MacBook Pro and Air models during the day, including one discount as high as 20% on the 13" MacBook Pro.
Amazon's discounts, in particular, can be very volatile and can change quickly. See our full roundup of all other interesting discounts on Black Friday.
Technologizer's Harry McCracken has unearthed some photographs taken by Paul Terrell of the Byte Shop in Mountain View, California in 1976. At the time, the Byte Shop was one of the only computer stores in the world, and ended up being the first dealer for an upstart company called Apple Computer.
According to Terrell, Jobs and Wozniak came into his shop with the first version of the Apple-1 asking him to sell it to his customers. Here's an early photo of the circuit board hooked up to a keyboard and monitor.
They called their machine the Apple-1, and it was a bare board; any buyers would have to solder on the necessary chips themselves, then supply accoutrements such as a power supply, keyboard and display.
Terrell was intrigued, but told Jobs that what he really needed were fully-assembled computers. In fact, if Jobs could come back with an assembled version of the Apple-1, the Byte Shop would buy fifty of them. Jobs did, and the Byte Shop became the first Apple dealer (it eventually offered the Apple-1 in a wooden case with keyboard and power supply).
Terrell eventually paid $500 each for 50 Apple-1's, which history says sold for $666.66 each at retail. There are more pictures, and some additional backstory, at Technologizer.
Note: Black Friday sales continue through the weekend for most retailers. Apple's sales have ended. Most app and software sales below will last until Monday. We've updated our chart below as of Nov 26, 2:30AM Eastern.
Black Friday kicks off on the day after Thanksgiving and offers customers short term sales on many products. While Apple did participate, their discounts tended to be smaller than other 3rd party retailers.
Sales Tax
National retailers such as Apple and Best Buy charge local sales tax on all orders. So, the advantage of using other online-only retailers is not getting charged that sales tax at the time of order (though you are typically expected to report it later). Local sales taxes are automatically charged for the following retailers in the following states:
- Apple, Best Buy: All States - MacMall: California, Illinois, New York, Tennessee, Minnesota, Georgia, North Carolina, Wisconsin - Amazon: California, New York, Texas, Pennsylvania, Kansas, Kentucky, North Dakota, Washington
If you are in one of those states, it may make sense to look elsewhere or simply buy locally anyway if the savings are comparable.
Discounts on Apple Products
Apple offered their own modest discounts on specific Apple products. Here is a chart of the most competitive 3rd party Apple retailers:
iOS and Mac App discounts are ongoing and can be seen in real time at AppShopper.com. We'd previously compiled a large list of the more interesting ones:
- Long list of iOS and Mac Software discounts - MacUtility Bundle ($59.99) - Parallels Desktop 8, Snagit, VirusBarrier X6, MacOptimizer, Rubbertnet ($245 Value) - MacLegion Bundle - ($49.99)- TechTool Pro, Freeway Pro, djay, Capo, Fantastical, RipIt, iRip, Beamer, Copy Paste Pro, Code Collector Pro ($548.80 Value) - iStack Mac Bundle 2.0 ($49.99) - Camtasia 2, Circus Ponies NoteBook, CrossOver XI, FX Photo Studio Pro, LittleSnapper, Printopia, xTeam, MoneyBag, Habits, SyncMate Expert, Build iPhone & iPad Games Without Programming. - MacGameStore - Up to 80% Off on Mac games
- Fry's has 13" Retina MacBook Pro for $200 Off ($1699->$1499). (In Store Only now) - Das Keyboard (Mechanical Keyboard) 20% Off
Please note that prices may fluctuate during the day. Several of the vendors listed are affiliate partners with MacRumors and referred sales may benefit the site financially. Please send in any notable sales to tips@macrumors.com.
Apple has released an update to mid-2012 MacBook Pro models to fix an issue with some Thunderbolt cables. The 442KB update is available via 
As Apple continues to work toward improving the new Maps service the company rolled out in iOS 6, 
Black Friday kicks off on the day after Thanksgiving and offers customers short term sales on many products. While Apple 
