MacFocus Magazine » Hardware

Apple hates losing small gadgets and that’s good for you

Josh Holat — Mon, 02 Jun 2008 05:00:32 +0000

A recent Apple patent describes a system for finding lost gadgets using Bluetooth. This would work by using Bluetooth to find the lost gadget and then having the gadget emit a high pitch noise to notify the user where it is. However, more than just this, the patent also introduces a small device that could be placed on other things, such as keychains, that could also emit the noise. This would make almost everything virtually impossible to lose.

If that wasn’t enough, there’s more! Apple also implies that the iPhone or any other device could use an interface to display the direction in which the device lies. Welcome to the days where you no longer have to worry about losing that small little Bluetooth headset people, Apple may one day save us again! There are virtually endless uses for something like this and it could easily be expanded to other devices with maybe a simply chip someday. What do you think of all this? Do you like the idea of not being able to lose your small little gadgets anymore? I sure do!

Image and information from AppleInsider

Intel confirms, then denies, Atom powered iPhone?

Truman Kain — Mon, 19 May 2008 05:00:07 +0000

Last week, at Munich’s BMW World, Intel Germany CEO Hannes Schwaderer revealed that Apple would in fact be using Intel’s Atom processor in an upcoming iPhone. This particular iPhone would be bigger than the current model, but not because of the Atom processor, because of a bigger screen. Now though, only days later, Intel is denying Schwaderer’s statement, saying instead that he was talking about devices “that the Atom might power in the future.” So, what could this all mean? It COULD mean that Intel really did screw up, and Schwaderer really didn’t mean what he said. OR, it could mean that Apple’s trying to keep things on the down-low (which is almost always the case with most Mac Rumors.) I personally think that a 3G iPhone will be introduced on June 9th, and the next iPhone after that will incorporate the Atom processor. With the newfound power (and a bigger screen), this future model may even be able to run intense applications like Photoshop. That’s right: Photoshop on your iPhone. What do you think?
Source: MacRumors

Apple Updates the iMac

Jordan Drake — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 17:19:41 +0000

Apple kicked off the week with an early Monday morning iMac product update. This refresh has not been entirely un-anticipated, with websites like Gizmodo predicting upgrades for this week. The new iMacs have upgraded processors and hard drives, with the addition of the NVIDIA 8800 GS to the higher end model, but have remained mostly in the same price brackets. Take a look at the chart below to see the upgrades.

Source: Apple - MacTracker - Gizmodo

Psystar Sends a Message

Matt Pippen — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:01:50 +0000

If you’ve been following Mac news you’re no stranger to the ability to run OS X on non-Apple computers with a bit of hacking. Psystar has made this simple and available to all with the introduction of their “Open Computer.” The idea is to make a computer that runs OS X with faster components and a lower price. However, there is much more to Open Computer then a non-Apple computer running OS X.

Psystar, intentionally or unintentionally, is sending a very bold message to Apple - “We want more affordable Macs.” There are many in the Mac community that will see that sentence and think, “It’s worth it to pay thousands for my high quality MacBook Pro.” Those people forget that not everyone can afford a $2,000 dollar computer, no matter how amazing it may be.

The Open Computer is bringing a voice to those who want a Mac as their computer but simply can’t afford one. Apple for so long has kept the prices of its computers and other certain products fairly inflated above the commonly perceived price level. It is very obvious from Psystar’s description of the Open Computer that this is in their marketing (see quote).

When comparing base configurations, the Mac Mini costs 150% of the price of the OpenMac while offering poorer performance, smaller storage space, and RAM. Not only that but the Mac Mini doesn’t have the option for an nVidia GeForce 8600 video card like the OpenMac does so playing games on it is a lost cause.

The market share of Apple would grow at an even quicker rate if they would simply wake up to some of these obstacles to computer buyers.

Apple, the first major carrier of the message has spoken. Will you listen?

Source [MacRumors]