MacRumors

One user provides some of the first benchmarks from Apple's newest top end PowerMac - the dual 2.5GHz model. While Apple introduced the dual 2.5GHz PowerMac G5 in early June it is not due to ship until late July.

The following Cinebench benchmarks were run on a Dual 2.5GHz PowerMac with the new GeForce 6800 Ultra video card (connected to two 30" Apple LCDs) at WWDC.

For reference, Dual 2.0GHz PowerMac/Radeon 9600 Pro benchmarks from Xlr8yourmac's overview are provided in parenthesis.

CINEBENCH 2003 v1
****************************************************
Processor : PowerMac G5
MHz : 2500
Number of CPUs : 2
Operating System : OS X 10.3.4
Graphics Card : GF 6800 Ultra DDL
Resolution : 2560x1600
Color Depth : millions
****************************************************
Rendering (Single CPU): 356 CB-CPU (Dual 2.0 = 219)
Rendering (Multiple CPU): 633 CB-CPU (Dual 2.0 = 401)

Multiprocessor Speedup: 1.78 (Dual 2.0 = 1.83)

Shading (CINEMA 4D): 335 CB-GFX (Dual 2.0 = 266)
Shading (OpenGL Software Lighting) : 995 CB-GFX (Dual 2.0 = 661)
Shading (OpenGL Hardware Lighting) : 1794 CB-GFX (Dual 2.0 = 1168)

OpenGL Speedup: 5.36 (Dual 2.0 = 4.40)

Aside from a 25% increase in processor speed, the new machine also houses a faster front-side bus (1.25GHz vs 1.0GHz) and improved video card.

As shown on the Apple Store:

Apple has stopped taking orders for the current iMac as we begin the transition from the current iMac line to an all-new iMac line which will be announced and available in September.

We planned to have our next generation iMac ready by the time the inventory of current iMacs runs out in the next few weeks, but our planning was obviously less than perfect.

We apologize for any inconvenience to our customers.

Reliable rumors had previously reported that the next revision of the iMac would sport a G5... with other claims that the iMac would sport a vertical case redesign with wireless keyboard and mouse.

In a new promotion, Apple is giving away iPods, Powerbooks, and a 10,000 song iTMS gift certificate in recognition of it's approach to the 100 million song mark.

When the number of songs downloaded from Apples iTunes Music Store crosses 95 million, Apple will begin the countdown to 100 million songs by giving away 50 special 20GB iPodsone to the purchaser of each 100,000th song downloaded between 95 million and 100 million songs. In addition, the person who downloads the 100 millionth song will receive a 17-inch PowerBook, a 40GB iPod, a gift certificate for 10,000 iTunes songs to create the ultimate music library for the iPod and the opportunity to create a Celebrity Playlist to be published on the iTunes Music Store.

As of this posting, the store had sold 94,496,906 songs.

Real released RealPlayer 10 for Mac OS X today:

Available in beta, the newest RealPlayer from RealNetworks enables Mac OS X consumers to enjoy hundreds of hours of audio and video content in many of the major Internet media formats, including RealAudio, RealVideo, AAC, QuickTime and MPEG. Also included in the RealPlayer for Mac OS X beta are an integrated browser window, advanced video controls and graphic equalizer.

Free download is available at http://www.real.com/mac

David Hyatt updates his blog to provide some clarification on Apple's upcoming Dashboard Widgets.

I wanted to blog briefly to clear up what the widgets actually are written in. They are Web pages, plain and simple (with extra features thrown in for added measure). Apple's own web site says "build your own widgets using the JavaScript language", but that's sort of misleading. The widgets are HTML+CSS+JS. They are not some JS-only thing.

In other words, each widget is just a web page, and so you have the full power of WebKit behind each one... CSS2, DOM2, JS, HTML, XMLHttpRequest, Flash, Quicktime, Java, etc. I'll have a lot more to say later on, but I thought it important to clear that up right up front, since a lot of people were asking me about it in email and such.

Apple released a developer's preview of Rendezvous Networking for Windows 2000 & XP at wwdc 04.

This preview release includes full link-local support, allowing Windows machines to discover advertised HTTP and FTP servers using Internet Explorer. It also includes a printer setup wizard which allows Windows machines to print to Rendezvous networked printers, including USB shared printers connected to the AirPort Extreme and AirPort Express Base Stations. With the included Rendezvous SDK, Windows and Java developers can begin the process of adding Rendezvous service discovery to their applications

Also released was support for various POSIX platforms, including Linux, Solaris, and FreeBSD, as well as making it callable from Java. Prior to wwdc, Rendezvous support was only available in Mac OS X.

With Safari 2.0 coming with Tiger in 2005, Apple is still working on improvements in the current version of Safari. Safari 1.3 (v146) was seeded to developers today and offers several under the hood improvments.

Reports indicate primarily that speed has improved noticeably, with several CSS rendering fixes. The most notable improvement appears to be in Safari's Javascript engine.

One users' BenchJS score went from 113 seconds to 16.29 seconds from Safari 1.2.2 to 1.3 (screenshot). Meanwhile Firefox .9 scored 49.0 seconds on the same test/hardware config (1GHz PowerBook).

The $599 NVIDIA GeForce 6800 Ultra DDL card that Apple introduced on Monday represents a significantly improved graphics card now available to Mac users.

Previously, the best card available to Mac users was the ATI Radeon 9800 XT which adds $300 to the cost of a build-to-order PowerMac G5. The new GeForce 6800 adds another $150 to that cost, but delivers significant performance boosts.

Tom's Hardware provides a review of the PC version of the card. The card appears to represent a generational jump rather than an incremental upgrade:

NVIDIA has seemingly pulled out all stops in an attempt to deliver cutting edge graphics with its GeForce 6800 Ultra. After gamers for too long have had to be content with mere incremental improvements to graphics performance, NVIDIA new card delivers a performance jump not seen for a long time. The device is also solidly engineered as well as insanely fast.

Halo Benchmarks at Tom's Hardware show impressive improvements over the ATI Radeon 9800 XT.

The specially engineered Mac version of the card also provides support for Dual DVI connectors -- providing support for the new 30" Apple Display. In fact, it comes with two Dual DVI connectors, allowing users to drive two 30" Apple Displays.

Photos from WWDC (on Jon Shier's Blog) have been posted showing off the new Apple LCD Monitors.

The most impressive shots include the photos of a Dual 30" Displays that can be driven by the new GeForce 6800 Ultra. (Links removed due to traffic. 2 Images mirrored in comment thread. additional mirror)

Meanwhile MacShrine posted more screenshots from the Developer's Preview of Tiger.

Apple has quietly posted a quicktime video of today's WWDC 2004 Keynote Speech.

http://www.apple.com/quicktime/qtv/wwdc04/

Steve Jobs introduced new Apple Monitors and features of Tiger in this keynote. Notes from our live coverage are still available.

Apple introduced Dashboard today. Dashboard is an addition to Exposé which gives users quick access to mini-applications called Widgets.

Widgets are mini-applications written in JavaScript that are designed for fun as well as function. They keep you up to date with timely information from the Internet such as stock quotes or the latest view from your favorite Web cam. They can also provide quick, simple access to frequently-used applications such as a calculator, a playback controller for iTunes and a contact look-up for Address Book.

Apple adds a bit of flare to the widgets by taking advantage of the Core Image technology in Tiger to take advantage of some real time effects.

Two examples from the current implementation of Dashboard include:

Ripple Movie (312k) - When current widgets are launched, they appear with a water-ripple effect on the desktop.

Flipping Sticky (159k) - To change the color or font preferences of a sticky note, you simply click on the rotate button and the sticky flips around to offer preferences controls on the back.

Apple released new Displays today... ending a long wait.

The new screens sport a new adjustable aluminum case design as depicted by ThinkSecret's artist renditions. Meanwhile, last minute notes about pricing proved to be correct with the new designs coming in at the following prices:

30" - $3299.00
23" - $1999.00
20" - $1299.00

The new displays offer a single unified cable coming from the monitors which then split into DVI, USB 2.0, Firewire 400 and Power connectors.

Apple Store has the updated monitors for sale.

Today Apple introduced many new features that will be arriving in Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) in the first half of 2005. The multiple screenshots leaked on Friday turned out to be true... proving (again) that most individuals can not conclusively determine fakes vs real screenshots

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) is said to include over 150 new features. The most exciting include:

Spotlight

Find anything, anywhere on your computer in no time flat. More...

iChat AV

Video-conference with 3 other people. Audio conference with 10 other people. More...

Safari RSS

Browse RSS feeds and search through them in Safari

Dashboard

Open fast access widgets with a press of a button. More...

Automator

Automate manual, repetetive tasks with point and click simplicity. More...

More information is available on Apple's site.

Apple's 2004 WWDC Keynote is over.

Summary can be found with our live coverage notes.

Site will be updated shortly with new information and forums will reopen shortly. (Screenshots were real)

Apple Store is updated.

Without satellite feeds or quicktime streams, coverage for WWDC's keynote address is more difficult to obtain. MacRumors should have Keynote coverage, however.

Options for coverage include:

IRC

a) If you have your own IRC Client, point it to irc.tecknohost.com, #macrumors
b) Download the MacRumors IRC Client which connects you to the proper channel.
d) Web based client can be found at here

Please choose only one option.

Web Coverage

MacRumors will be providing web based coverage. https://www.macrumors.com will redirect to the proper pages as the time approaches.

The WWDC keynote starts at 1pm Eastern time.

As initially reported by ThinkSecret, it appears that WWDC will bring long awaited Display Updates.

It appears, however, that Appleinsider's pricing report is not accurate. Their report claimed a price drop for the new displays with prices ranging from $999 (20") to $2999 (30").

Instead, based on sources, it appears that the revised 20" and 23" displays will keep their current prices, and the 30" will be introduced at above $3000.

MacRumors should have coverage of the WWDC Keynote tomorrow which starts at 10AM Pacific.

WWDC kicks off tomorrow in San Francisco. Unfortunately, MacMinute confirms that there will be no Satellite Broadcast and will not be broadcast to Apple Stores.

Photos of Apple's WWDC Tiger banners, however, were posted in one blog entry. (blog taken down)

Meanwhile, the same source (GNAA) as the original Tiger screenshots provides the following additional details from Mac OS X 10.4:

1) Smart Folders in Finder - these virtual folders allow you save specific search criteria for files and present matching files. Similar to iTunes' Smart Playlists.

2) Mail.app - Smart folders, account specific signatures, and a connection doctor.

3) Search field in the top right of the Mac OS X menu bar which allows you to search files in Finder.

MacRumors will attempt to provide a feed if at all possible. If you will have access to the keynote and are willing to assist, please contact the webmaster.

Yesterday a number of screenshots (more screenshots, pipeline screenshot) purporting to be from a developer's release of Mac OS X 10.4 made their way onto the internet.

While sources have been unable to directly confirm the validity of the images posted, we have been able to get reliable confirmation that many of the concepts -- including the Safari RSS implementation as well as the Konfabulator-like widget plug in system -- should find their way into Mac OS X 10.4.

Mac OS X 10.4 (Tiger) will be previewed this next week at Apple's World Wide Developer's Conference.
Update: ThinkSecret reports that one reliable source confirms the screenshots are genuine.

Update 2: Images removed at request of Apple Legal.