MacRumors

Late last week, environmental watchdog Greenpeace released their Guide to Greener Electronics (pdf) which rates how eco-friendly different tech companies are based on publicly available information. Apple scored 4th lowest, beating only Leveno, Motorola, and Acer. Among the top-scorers were Nokia and Dell.

For a company that claims to lead on product design, Apple scores badly on almost all criteria. The company fails to embrace the precautionary principle, withholds its full list of regulated substances and provides no timelines for eliminating toxic polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and no commitment to phasing out all uses of brominated flame retardants (BFRs). Apple performs poorly on product take back and recycling, with the exception of reporting on the amounts of its electronic waste recycled.

News.com has received a statement from Apple responding to the Greenpeace claims.

Apple has a strong environmental track record and has led the industry in restricting and banning toxic substances such as mercury, cadmium and hexavalent chromium, as well as many BFRs. We have also completely eliminated CRT monitors, which contain lead, from our product line.

Apple does note that their LCD monitors do contain small amounts of mercury, for which they are working to find a suitable alternative. Apple began an expanded computer recycling program in April 2006. Apple has had an iPod recycling program in the US since 2005.

Apple's annual shareholder meetings have seen frequent protests from environmental groups (2005, 2006).

Think Secret claims to have information on the rumored revision to the Mac Mini. According to the site, Apple will replace the existing Core Solo model with the existing 1.66 GHz Core Duo model, and add a 1.83 GHz Core Duo model, effectively eliminating all single-core CPUs from Apple's computer product line.

The new systems are said to be "ready for production." Think Secret believes the models will be introduced in a few weeks time with little fanfare, although not totally under the radar like the last Mac Mini update.

Yesterday, Microsoft inadvertently released the pricing of its upcoming OS called Vista on their Canadian website. The prices were picked up by the NeoWin blog and are also neatly layed out at Wikipedia.

Vista Home Premium will retail for $239, with upgrades available for $159. Additional licenses will be available for discounts as well. Vista Home Premium edition has evolved from XP Professional, Media Center, and Tablet product lines, and probably is also the edition which can most closely be compared to Mac OS X.

Many comparisons have been made between Vista and Mac OS X, and with many expecting Apple to continue its pricing tradition of $129 for Leopard (Mac OS 10.5), further comparisons can be made on price as well.

All prices in USD

Update: Amazon has Vista available for Pre-order at the above prices.

Apple has released a new iPod + iTunes Ad featuring Bob Dylan and promoting Dylan's new album Modern Times.

The ad can be found via Apple's website, and Modern Times is available for pre-order via the iTunes Music Store (link).

Apple has recently posted a number of ads including new Get a Mac Ads. The last new iPod ad was posted in May 2006 which used the usual silhouetted dancers.

As expected, several laptop manufacturers have released the first of the Core 2 Duo (Merom) based laptops today.

Dell, Toshiba, Samsung and Alienware announced laptop models which utilize the new Core 2 Duo processors.

Apple, however, has yet to announce a Merom/Core 2 Duo upgrade to their laptop line (MacBook and MacBook Pro), but several rumors suggest that these upgrades will come in September.

Historically, Apple's processor upgrades have been tied to Motorola/IBM's PowerPC upgrades which have generally been less frequent and less public than Intel's. With the switch to Intel, Apple may have to provide timely upgrades to remain competitive with Windows-based PC manufacturers.

Apple posted three new "Get a Mac" ads on their website. The new ads debuted during the 2006 Emmy's tonight on NBC.

The three new ads include:

Accident (magnetic power cord)
Angel/Devil (iPhoto book)
Trust Mac (Spyware)

Justin Long previously stated that almost 20 more ads will be airing.

eWeek reported that PC manufacturers are expected to announce availability of new Core 2 Duo (Merom) notebooks on Monday August 28th.

The Core 2 Duo for notebooks, otherwise known by the code name "Merom," offers buyers a performance upgradean increase of about 20 percent, according to Intelbut holds power consumption to nearly the same level as its predecessor, the Core Duo.

According to Intel, the Core 2 Duo processors fit into existing notebook systems with only a system software update required to work. The new chips are to range from 1.66GHz to 2.33GHz. Apple is expected to join in with Core 2 Duo based Macs as early as September, according to early reports.

The next major upgrade to Intel's notebook design isn't expected until early 2007 with a new notebook platform named "Santa Rosa". Santa Rosa will combine the Core 2 Duo processors with new supporting chips as well as Intel's AMT (Active Management Technology) and Robson technology. Robson uses flash memory to improve startup times and to cache frequently used applications. Previous rumors have placed Robson technology in future Mac notebooks.

Over the past month or so, there appears to have been an uptick in user dissatisfaction with Apple's handling of support incidents. While overall satisfaction is extremely hard to gauge due to the fact that typically only disgruntled users notify sites of issues and the uptick could also simply represent Apple's increased marketshare, it does come amongst reports of Apple firing its online forum moderator staff and an Indian support center that was shut down as quickly as it was opened. Similarly, many people felt that Apple was ill-prepared for yesterday's 1.8 million battery recall, as Apple's support site was quickly overloaded with requests and there was a lot of confusion as to what batteries were affected.

This all could, of course be coincidental. Of note, Apple has consistently been a market leader in surveys on customer support.

Carsguide.com.au reports that Pioneer spokesman Michael Broadhurst has claimed that Apple will be introducing a bluetooth iPod adapter that will allow music to be streamed to their new line of bluetooth-equipped car stereos (and presumably other bluetooth equipped devices supporting audio profiles as well).

This is not the first time a 3rd party manufacturer has claimed Apple is working on such capability, as a Motorola spokesman made similar claims in February 2005. However, with Apple expected to re-focus its attention on its consumer product line (including the iPod) in the coming month(s), resonable speculation would suggest that Apple may introduce the adapter with updated iPods (if the rumor pans out this time, that is).

One blog claims that bulk orders for the Mac mini are currently being denied until after Labor Day.

I needed to order another bunch to use as Mac mini servers (and to add to my great wall of Apple boxes) but I was told by the reseller (name withdrawn so they dont get in trouble) that they cant take big orders (again), but after Labor Day theyd be able to ship plenty of the new model.

The same blog reported a similar pattern prior to the last Mac Mini update in February. Meanwhile, Appleinsider claims to have independent confirmation of the delay in large orders of Mac Minis.

This timeframe supports earlier claims that Apple would be launching Core 2 Duo (Merom/Conroe) Macs as early in September. The new Core 2 Duo processors are drop-in replacements for existing Core Duo processors which power the Mac Mini, MacBook, iMac and MacBook Pro.

News.com is reporting that Apple has issued a recall for 1.8 million PowerBook G4 and iBook G4 Lithium Ion (Li-Ion) batteries that used technology from Sony. Batteries with the Sony technology (used in Apple, Dell, and Sony laptops, among others) have recently been catching fire, with Dell recently recalling 4.1 million batteries.

The recall effects a variety of machines manufactured from October 2003 and August 2006, but does not effect the MacBook or the MacBook Pro, as they contain different battery technology. Yesterday, Apple announced that it would be joining Dell and Lenovo in creating Li-Ion standards.

More information can be found on the battery recall's site.

Update: News.com had multiple errors in their original post. The number of recalled batteries is 1.8 million (not 1.3 million), and we have since corrected the battery recall site's link.

Affected models include:

12-inch iBook G4, Model #A1061, Serial #s: 3K429 through 3K611, 6C510 through 6C626
12-inch PowerBook G4, Model #A1079, Serial #s: ZZ411 through ZZ427, 3K428 through 3K611, 3K425 through 3K601
15-inch PowerBook G4, Model #A1078 and A1148, Serial Numbers: 6N530 through 6N551, 6N601

Update 2: Apple appears to have updated the battery model numbers listed on its site. The new models affected are as follows:

Businessweek provides speculation that iPod updates are looming in the next few months, and summarizes hints we have heard over the past few months.

CFO Peter Oppenheimer's during Apple's earnings conference responded to speculation about an iPod Phone with: "We don't think the phones that are available today make the best music players. We think the iPod is. But over time that's likely to change, and we aren't sitting around doing nothing"

This led some analysts to believe that Apple would release an iPod-phone very soon.

Indeed, Lions Gate Films CEO stated that Apple was planning on launching movie sales on iTunes by the end of this calendar year. The movie-component to iTunes has been rumored to be launched alongside a new video iPod.

Finally, Apple has not updated the iPod line in many months. The last major revision to the top-end iPod was October 2005.

Analysts generally agree: There's no way Apple is going to sit out the fall quarter. "Don't confuse silence with having nothing to say," says analyst Michael Gartenberg at Jupiter Research. "That has never been the case with Apple."

Apple and Creative have resolved their legal disputes which started on May 15th of this year when Creative and Apple sued each other claiming patent infringement. According to a joint-press release, Apple will pay Creative $100 million USD to settle all outstanding lawsuits.

"Creative is very fortunate to have been granted this early patent," said Steve Jobs, Apple's CEO. "This settlement resolves all of our differences with Creative, including the five lawsuits currently pending between the companies, and removes the uncertainty and distraction of prolonged litigation."

The $100 million settlement grants Apple a license to use Creative's patents in all of its products including the iPod. Also announced is that Creative is joining Apple's "Made for iPod" program, and will be introducing an array of iPod accessories later this year.

In the wake of Dell's recall of 4.1 million Lithium Ion batteries and multiple embarrassing incidents of both Dell and Apple laptops catching fire, AppleInsider is reporting that Apple, Dell, and Lenovo will be holding a summit next month to develop lithium ion (Li-Ion) standards. All 3 companies are members of the IPC OEM Critical Components Committee which create standards for various electronic devices.

"Without a doubt, standardization can and will address the issue of operation and safety called into question by the use of lithium ion batteries.," said John Grosso, chairman of the IPC OEM Critical Components Committee and director of supplier engineering and quality at Dell. "While the Committee had identified lithium ion batteries as the next product for standardization, we are going to accelerate our activities now."

Grosso said the IPC Committee will identify any current standards related to lithium ion batteries with the goal of standardizing design, performance and safety requirements for these batteries.

Apple has historically used Li-Ion batteries in its iBook and PowerBook laptops, but has opted for Lithium Polymer batteries (Li-Poly) in its MacBook and MacBook Pro computers. One of the apparent advantages of Li-Poly batteries is reduced combustability. Apple still uses Li-Ion batteries in its current model iPods however.

Synaptics has announced a concept phone based on new "ClearPad" technology.

ClearPad is a thin, high resolution capactitive touch screen that can be placed over any viewable surface. This allows for sensitive touch input over existing screen technology.

ClearPad is based on Synaptics' proprietary sensing technology, and will offer unique capabilities such as two finger input, proximity sensing, text entry and high resolution finger input that can dramatically improve and enhance the user experience with a touch screen.

The technology is expected to be available for manufacturers by the end of the year.

This is interesting to Apple users due to the number of rumors and patents surrounding a full-screen touch-control video iPod. Specifically, there has been discussion about Multi-touch sensitive displays, use of Gestures, touch interface patents, and the touch screen video iPod rumors. These rumors have spawned many concept designs depicting the unreleased iPod. Apple has an existing relationship with Synaptics who provided click wheels for Apple's iPods.
Meanwhile, iTunes Movie downloads are conveniently also expected by year's end.