MacRumors

As predicted, Apple launched new iMacs today featuring the latest Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors and new graphics cards.

"We took the world's best all-in-one and made it even better," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. "With the latest processors, high-performance graphics and signature aluminum and glass design, customers are going to love the latest iMac."

The new iMacs all feature dedicated graphics cards rather than relying on slower integrated graphics chips. A breakdown of the new models is provided here:

$1199 / 21.5" / 3.06GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 500GB / ATI Radeon HD 4670
$1499 / 21.5" / 3.20GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5670
$1699 27" / 3.20GHz Core i3 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5670
$1999 27" / 2.8GHz Quad-Core Core i5 / 4GB / 1TB / ATI Radeon HD 5750
+$200 27" / 2.93 GHz Quad-Core Core i7 BTO option

The iMacs were last updated in October 2009.

Cult of Mac reports that Apple has issued an official response to today's ruling by the Copyright Office of the U.S. Library of Congress to create an exception to the Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) permitting users to jailbreak their iPhones or other smartphone devices in order to install unauthorized applications. Little has changed with the new decision, according to Apple, as jailbroken iOS devices are still subject to having their warranties voided.

Apple's goal has always been to insure that our customers have a great experience with their iPhone and we know that jailbreaking can severely degrade the experience. As we've said before, the vast majority of customers do not jailbreak their iPhones as this can violate the warranty and can cause the iPhone to become unstable and not work reliably.

The apparent discrepancy comes from the fact that the Library of Congress decision today simply means that users can not be charged with violations of the DMCA for jailbreaking their iOS devices, a tactic Apple had never bothered to employ in attempting to squash the practice. Apple remains free, however, to discourage users by other means, including voiding product warranties due to violations of the terms and conditions all users must agree to before using their devices and software.

The Khronos Group today announced the release of the OpenGL 4.1 specification, delivering enhancements to the standards that drive high-performance graphics on Mac OS X.

Among the features included in the new release are enhanced compatibility with OpenGL ES 2.0 APIs that drive Apple's iOS devices and extensions that drive interoperability with the OpenCL standard promoted by Apple in Mac OS X Snow Leopard for more efficiently harnessing the power of multiple cores and processors for both CPUs and graphics processors. Among the key features in OpenGL 4.1:

- Full compatibility with OpenGL ES 2.0 APIs for easier porting between mobile and desktop platforms;
- The ability to query and load a binary for shader program objects to save re-compilation time;
- The capability to bind programs individually to programmable stages for programming flexibility;
- 64-bit floating-point component vertex shader inputs for higher geometric precision;
- Multiple viewports for a rendering surface for increased rendering flexibility.

In addition, a set of extensions has been released to ensure as much backwards compatibility as possible with OpenGL 4.1, allowing significant portions of the core feature enhancements to be applied to previous-generation graphics hardware. The full OpenGL 4.1 specification is now available for download.

MacRumors has received word that Apple is gearing up to begin seeding certain developers with builds of Mac OS X 10.6.5, the fifth maintenance release for Mac OS X Snow Leopard. While the release has undoubtedly been under development for some time, only now is it approaching a state where it is ready for testing by third-party developers. Through the testing program, Apple will gain feedback on areas where it has made changes as well as other areas requiring its attention, allowing the company to tweak things until it is satisfied enough to make a public release of the update.

The length of time any one update spends in developer testing is highly variable, and thus we do not yet have an estimation of when Mac OS X 10.6.5 might become available to the general public. We do believe, however, that the first developers to get their hands on the testing builds may see something later this week.

Mac OS X 10.6.4 was released in mid-June and brought fixes for a number of issues.

In announcing the return of his podcast talk show, the plugged-in John Gruber slyly hints, as he is wont to do, that Apple may be set to release a new 27-inch 16:9 widescreen display alongside updated Mac Pros and iMacs tomorrow.

We'll have much to talk about, what with the new Mac Pros (finally, right?), speed-bump iMacs, and the gorgeous new 16:9 27-inch Cinema Display that Apple might hypothetically release tomorrow.

The Mac Pro and iMac have been subjects of considerable discussion over the past few days as their availability has begun slipping in several of the company's distribution channels. A 27-inch LED Cinema Display is not a new rumor, however, as a report from March of this year pinpointed a release of just such a display along with revised Mac Pros "by June" of this year. While Apple did not meet the rumored release timeline, it appears that both products may be set to finally make their appearance along with minor bumps to the company's iMac line.

Update: In an update to his post, Gruber suggests in a "doubly-hypothetical" manner that Apple's "Magic Trackpad" that was approved by the U.S. Federal Communications Commission last week could also make an appearance tomorrow.

Reuters reports that AT&T is planning to roll out fixes for a software defect that has hampered upload speeds for iPhone 4 and other users in a number of markets over the next two to three weeks. Users began noticing the problem over the 4th of July weekend, and AT&T subsequently blamed the issue on a software problem with some of its network equipment made by Alcatel-Lucent.

The No. 2 U.S. mobile operator said on Monday it had begun rolling out an Alcatel-Lucent software patch that would restore uplink speeds for its high-speed data services that depend on so-called HSUPA technology.

"This patch will be deployed on a phased basis over the next two to three weeks," AT&T spokesman Mark Siegel said.

AT&T, the exclusive U.S. provider for iPhone, said the iPhone 4, the latest Apple device, was the only smartphone that runs on its HSUPA network.

Reports of the issue being fixed started appearing over this past weekend, but some users may have to wait several more weeks before they see upload speeds returning to normal.

The Associated Press briefly reports that the U.S. government has defined new rules that will permit users to "jailbreak" their iPhone and skirt Apple's App Store ecosystem to add unapproved third-party applications.

Owners of the iPhone will be able to break electronic locks on their devices in order to download applications that have not been approved by Apple. The government is making that legal under new rules announced Monday.

The decision to allow the practice commonly known as "jailbreaking" is one of a handful of new exemptions from a federal law that prohibits the circumvention of technical measures that control access to copyrighted works.

While it is not uncommon for users to jailbreak their devices, the practice is officially unsanctioned by Apple. The company maintains a support document outlining some of the issues users of jailbroken iOS devices may experience while also disclosing that Apple reserves the right to deny service for any such device due to the "unauthorized modification" being a violation of the license agreement. Under the new federal policies, it would appear that Apple is no longer permitted to deny service for such reasons under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, although the company could likely still argue that the device's Terms of Use allow it to deny service.

Update: The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has posted a press release announcing the government's policy changes that came at the request of the EFF and has posted the full document (PDF) issued by the Copyright Office of the U.S. Library of Congress.

On balance, the Register concludes that when one jailbreaks a smartphone in order to make the operating system on that phone interoperable with an independently created application that has not been approved by the maker of the smartphone or the maker of its operating system, the modifications that are made purely for the purpose of such interoperability are fair uses. Case law and Congressional enactments reflect a judgment that interoperability is favored. The Register also finds that designating a class of works that would permit jailbreaking for purposes of interoperability will not adversely affect the market for or value of the copyrighted works to the copyright owner.

Update 2: Some observers have pointed out the the Library of Congress ruling today also addresses the issue of mobile phone unlocking, which involves moving a device to another wireless carrier for which support is not generally offered. Today's ruling only states, however, that copyright concerns can not be used to prohibit unlocking of mobile phones under the Digital Millennium Copyright Act. Carriers are still free to prevent unlocking in many circumstances and can pursue cases against individuals by citing breach of contract under the carriers' Terms of Service.

AFP reports that Apple may be facing a minor fine in Taiwan after the company briefly offered erroneous pricing for several configurations of its Mac mini in that country late last week. The threat of fine comes after Apple quietly raised prices to their proper levels for the 200,000 orders placed at the incorrect prices without acknowledging how it plans to address the pricing mistake.

Apple would not say if it would deliver the products on the erroneous prices. And after an initial investigation, the city government's Law and Regulation Commission issued an ultimatum to the US computer company.

"The city government has tried to reach Apple since Friday afternoon but has not yet received any response from it over the more than 30 consumer complaints," Yeh Ching-yuan, chief of the commission, said in a statement.

"Apple has to respond to our order before the end of Tuesday or may face a fine of up to 300,000 Taiwan dollars (9,400 US) according to the consumers' protection law," he warned.

One of the mis-priced items was the company's new Mac mini with an upgrade to 8 GB of RAM, which was briefly priced at 19,999 Taiwan dollars, less than half that of the proper price and cheaper than the base model carrying 2 GB of RAM. A similar error saw the Mac mini server version with 8 GB of RAM priced lower than the same model with only 4 GB of RAM.

Erictric reports that Apple may be preparing to allow iPad customers to have their devices engraved with a message of their choosing, with the new option possibly set to launch for the holiday shopping season. The tip comes from an anonymous Apple employee, although it is unclear in what capacity the source works at the company.

"From what I understand, Apple's going to be offering customers the option to get their iPads engraved just before the Holidays roll around," noted the source in an email to me, which oddly enough began on the topic of Apple's recent move to distribute free bumpers and cases for iPhone 4 smartphone customers.

Our source cites that current high demand for the iPad has prevented Apple from offering tablet engraving, fearing slow-downs in production.

Pricing for the rumored iPad engraving is unknown, although it is presumed to be free based on the company's existing iPod engraving program.

Apple initially launched iPod engraving with the original 10 GB iPod in March 2002. Engraving was initially priced at $49, but was made free and extended across the company's expanding iPod line in subsequent years.

Erictric has not typically been a source of Apple rumors, so we have no track record to assess the veracity of its claim. Taken at face value, however, an iPad engraving program would seem to be a reasonable addition for Apple as supply constraints begin to ease.

Apple today issued a press release officially announcing the release of the iPhone 4 in 17 new countries for this Friday, July 30th. The news is not necessarily considered a surprise, as Apple CEO Steve Jobs announced the launches at the company's iPhone 4 press conference earlier this month.

Apple's iPhone 4 will be available in 17 more countries this Friday, July 30. iPhone 4 features FaceTime, which makes video calling as easy as one tap, Apple's new Retina display, the highest resolution display ever built into a phone, resulting in stunning text, images and video, and a beautiful all-new design of glass and stainless steel that is the thinnest smartphone in the world.

Beginning this Friday, customers can purchase iPhone 4 in Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Hong Kong, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Norway, New Zealand, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. iPhone 4 will be available for purchase through Apple's retail and online stores and Apple Authorized Resellers.

Apple had originally announced at the iPhone 4's introduction in early June that there would be 18 countries included in this round of launches, but Jobs disclosed earlier this month that the South Korean launch has been delayed due to things taking "just a little bit longer to get government approval there."

That claim came as something of a surprise to both carrier partner KT and government officials in that country, however, with a representative from the South Korean communications regulatory agency claiming that Apple hasn't even submitted the device for approval yet.

Mac4ever claims (via Macworld.co.uk) that Apple will finally update its popular iLife suite on August 7th, 2010. The new version will be dubbed iLife '11 and is said to include a number of new features:

- ILife '11 will be sold for $79
- Release Date of 08/07/2010
- All applications will be 64-bit
- Improvements in iPhoto faces & places
- Improving the integration of social networks
- IWeb will be totally renewed
- New application (mystery!)
- Disappearance of iDVD
- MobileMe gallery in beta (with faces & places)

While there had been some claims circulating last week about iLife '10, the iLife '11 name would be more consistent with Apple's past behavior. Apple introduced iLife '08 in August, 2007. August 7th, 2010, however, strangely falls on a Saturday.

The last major revision to iLife was iLife '09 which was announced at Macworld SF 2009.

Update: The date has been corrected to August 17th, which falls on a Tuesday.

As noted by AppleInsider, various models of Apple's iMac line are beginning to become "Unavailable" through Apple's in-store Reserve and Pick Up system, joining the company's Mac Pro line that saw similar shortages appear late last week.

The iMac shortages are not quite as pronounced as they are for the Mac Pro, however, with a quick check of a number of stores showing unavailability seemingly limited to the high-end 21.5-inch and 27-inch models. A significant number of stores also continue to show availability of all four iMac models at this time.

The news comes, however, after a report last week pointed to iMac shipments to third-party distributors beginning to run low, with the new observation now lending credence to the idea that iMac supplies are truly becoming constrained.

Like the Mac Pro, the iMac continues to show shipping estimates of "within 24 hours" across the board in Apple's online retail store, suggesting that the company is prioritizing that distribution channel for its remaining machines while letting other channels run dry in advance of new models.

The iMac was last updated in October with the introduction of new 16:9 widescreen 21.5-inch and 27-inch designs.

Based on several reports sent to us and posted in our forums, it appears that Apple has begun shipping out free bumpers to a number of iPhone 4 customers. At this time, however, the shipments appear to be limited to UK customers who ordered Apple bumpers, as opposed to third-party case options.

The shipments come despite initial quotes from Apple on the order of 3-5 weeks for bumper shipments.

Over the past few days, Apple has also been notifying customers who purchased bumpers via credit card prior to the initiation of the free case program that their accounts have been credited. Meanwhile, customers who previously purchased bumpers via cash, check, or gift card from Apple Retail Stores have until September 30th to return to the point of purchase for a refund, while customers who ordered online using Apple gift cards should automatically receive new gift cards for the purchase amount. Finally, any customer who purchased a bumper through an AT&T retail stores is required to fill out a rebate coupon (PDF) and mail it along with their sales receipt to Apple by September 30th for processing.

Update: Shipping notices for bumpers have begun spreading to a number of other countries, including the United States, with delivery times ranging out to early August, but still substantially quicker than initial quoted estimates.

After its iPhone 4 press conference last week, Apple posted a new smartphone antenna performance page on its site highlighting how several other smartphones experience similar decreases of signal bars to that of the iPhone 4. The page initially featured phones from Research in Motion, HTC, and Samsung, as well as the iPhone 3GS. Earlier this week, Apple added the Nokia N97 mini to the page after that company publicly responded to Apple's claims of antenna issues with other smartphones.

Not content to stop there, Apple has posted yet another smartphone signal attenuation video to its feature page and YouTube site, this time targeting Motorola's just-released Droid X. The video shows the Droid X dropping from three signal bars to zero when gripped in the hand in a manner similar to the "death grip" frequently cited as inducing the issue on the iPhone 4.

The featuring of the Droid X is significant, as the device has been seen as the latest strong competitor for the iPhone. The Android-based phone has seen strong initial sales, with Motorola and Verizon struggling to keep up with demand. Apple is no doubt targeting the Droid X as it seeks to bolster its claims that the vast majority of smartphones, including many of the most popular ones, suffer from the same issue as the iPhone 4.