MacBook Pro and OS X Mavericks

OS X Mavericks 

Apples latest desktop operating system for Mac features:

• Increased battery life and performance
• "Compressed Memory" system - 6 Gb of data in 4Gb of RAM
• Improved graphics management with an increase in video memory capacity
• 1.8x faster playback and better multi screen usage
• Apps - iBooks, iCloud, iCloud Keychain
• Notification
• Tags
• Multiple Display capability
• Interactive Notifications
• Price - FREE

Users with Mountain Lion or later OS can upgrade today (22 Oct 2013) How to upgrade to Mavericks

OS X Mavericks details webpage

MacBook Pro

13" MBP with Retina Display base model features:

• OS X Mavericks
• Up to 9 hours battery life
• 3.46 lb weight
• 0.71inches thick
• 4th Generation Haswell core chip
• Iris Pro Graphics
• 24 GHz dual core i5
• 13.3 inch diagonal display
• 4GB DRAM
• 128GB SSD
• Price - $1299.00
• Available - 22nd October 2013

15" MBP with Retina Display base model features:

• OS X Mavericks
• Up to 8 hours battery life
• 4.46 lb weight
• 0.71inches thick
• 4th Generation Crystalwell core chip
• Iris Pro Graphics
• 20 GHz quad core i7
• 15.4 inch diagonal display
• 8GB DRAM
• 156GB SSD
• Price - $1999.00
• Available - 22nd October 2013

But don't take our word for it do your own MacBook Pro Comparison

Both MacBook Pro models come loaded with Apps and programs you'd expect with a few new innovations like easy access to styles, fonts and effects. New Mac purchasers can get the latest version of iLife for free. Existing Mac users should visit Apple's website to find out if you are eligible to upgrade to newer versions of Pages, Numbers and Keynote for free.

iPad Air launched, so thin you won't believe your eyes

iPad Air - "The Power of lightness"

Apple having sold this month their 170 millionth iPad and as there are now some 475,000 iPad specific apps available, Apple's Phil Schiller today (22nd October 2013) presented, at the Yerba Bueba Center for the Arts in San Francisco, the latest offerings from Apple :

The thin (7.5mm) and lightweight (1lb) iPad Air featuring :

M7 motion processor
A7 Chip
5MP iSight Camera
HD front FaceTime camera
1080p HD Video
Dual microphone
MIMO support
Upto10 hours of battery life
Retina display
Reduced bezel size

Two models :

1)  Retina display 16GB Wi-Fi

     Price - $499.00

2) Retina display 16GB Wi-Fi + Cellular

    Price - $629.00

A screen and back cover will also be on sale for $69.00

Both will ship in Canada 1st November 2013.  

iPad Model comparison | Product details | iPad Air Video

The New iPad Mini 16GB Wi-Fi model featuring : 

7.9" screen
Retina display
A7 Chip
Screen only cover  - $39
Screen and back covers protector - $79.00Price - $399

Apple anticipate the iPad Mini launch for "later in November"

The original iPad Mini price is being reduced to $299

jOBS the movie release date announced

When we first heard that Ashton Kutcher's to play to role of Apple icon Steve Jobs the projected public release date for the movie, jOBS was late 2012.

Open Road Films Press Release announced the release date for the movie - jOBS will be 16th August 2013 nationwide.

IOS7 Announced

Apple's latest operating system IOS7 for iPad, iPhone and  iPod Touch announced



Available to Developers today and release to the public in the fall of 2013.

iPad Mini is to be released in Canada 2nd November 2012

Apple are schedule to release the iPad Mini in Canada 2nd November 2012.  Pre Order are being taken 26th October 2012.

Comparison Chart:

PRICES :

Wi-Fi             

$329 - 16 GB

$429 - 32 GB

$529 - 64 GB


Wi-Fi and Cellular
$459 - 16 GB
$559 - 32 GB
$659 - 64 GB

Full Specifications Mini iPad

Nest Learning Thermostat to be sold by Apple

Back in October the the AI, Nest Learning Thermostat caught our eye as an innovative product to watch.  A recent iLounge article states :

iLounge has learned that Apple will soon offer the Nest Learning Thermostat
for sale through the Apple Store

The product which was designed by Tony Fadell (creator of the iPod hardware) is already availavle at select Lowes stores in the US.  The unit learns your temperature preferences as you make adjustments.  The Auto-Away function, once activated, remembers, when you typically go to bed or leave your home, and turns cooling or heating settings down so you are not wasting energy.  Since your Energy History is a recording of all the actions you take Nest will adjust the temperature to a comfortable level ready for your arrival back home.

An energy report will show you how you are using energy and give you pointers on more efficient use.  The settings can also be accessed via a mobile phone app.

Each hour of saving you make is represented a a green leaf, over time users learn to make energy saving adjustments that earn them more leafs are represent real savings on their heating and cooling bills.

We are looking forward to the day when Nest gets Canadian approval.

Suggested US retail price : $249

Update: July 2012
Nest Thermostat available at Lowes Canada

Ashton Kutcher looking like Steve Jobs in the early years

Actor Ashton Kutcher was shown in photos on TMZ wearing classic, former CEO of Apple, Steve Jobs attire; black turtleneck, tennis shoes and blue jeans.

Jobs: Get Inspired, the movie has just begun filming and is expected to be released in the 4th quater of 2012. Producer, Mark Hulme focus will be on the time period 1971 - 2000 of Steve Jobs life and Apple's history.  As outlined in this recent interview with Mark Hulme.


Update 13 June 2013: jOBS movie release date announced

iOS 5.1.1 for iPhone, IPad, iPod Touch released

Apples newest iOS operating system for the iPhone, IPod Touch and iPad have just released the latest version 5.1.1.  

The update should correct the problems that users were experiencing when switching from a 2G to a 3G network and the annoying 'Unable to purchase' alert displaying even after a purchase had been made successfully.  


Improvements in reliability have also been made in respect of the HDR photo option, Air Play plus bookmarking and reading lists.


Apple iOS 5.1.1 update

Mac App Store exceeds 10,000 Apps

Since the launch of the Mac App Store on the 6th January 2011 the number of available Apps has steadily grown each month.  At inception the App Store had 1,000 Apps available for download today there are over 10,000.  The App store has 21 categories plus featured, new, staff favourite, top free and top paid. Apps are available for Mac, iPhone, iPad and iPod.

Visit the Apple App Store

Apple - 36 years and still going strong

Stumbled across this video on You Tube - The History of Apple in under 10 minutes. So get comfy and when you're ready click play.

The New iPad to be released in Canada 16th March 2012

The New iPad is to be released in Canada 16th March 2012 as well as the USA, UK, France, Germany, Japan and Switzerland. Apple introduced the New iPad 

at 1 pm EST today.

 

The New iPad features a 2048 x 1536 resolution Retina Display, HD 1080p video recording capability, IOS 5 and an A5X Chip.  Auto Focus, auto exposure on the   iSight 5 megapixel rear camera (front camera has FaceTime).  A microphone for speech to text capabilities - email, notes, send text or search the web.

Applications including Photos, Photo Booth, Newsstand, Notes, iMessage, plus Twitter integration are handled nicely by the  dual -core, quad-core graphics A5X chip. iCloud and photo beaming for keeping up to date and sharing content with others. 

Comparison Chart :

PRICES :

Wi-Fi  3G            

$499 - 16 GB

$599 - 32 GB

$699 - 64 GB


4G LTE
$629 - 16 GB
$729 - 32 GB
$829 - 64 GB

Pre-Orders being taken now

Watch the Video - the New iPad

The New IPad full specifications

Mountain Lion Release, by Apple, Expected In Stores June 2012

Today the developer preview of OS X® Mountain Lion operating system was released.  The Apple Press Release states that the upgrade will be available at the Apple Stores  June 2012.  Can't wait  -  download the developer preview version of OS X Mountain Lion today.  

Features:

• Messages App :  Send messages, videos or photos Mac to Mac or Mac to iOS
• Reminders :  List your lists
• Notes :  Create a note and pin it to the desktop
• Notification Center :  Alerts all in one place
• Share Sheets :  Share content with others straight from the toolbar
• Twitter Integration :  Tweet directly from applications
• Game Center :  Play online, solo or with friends
• Gatekeeper :  Three Levels of security, Developer ID validation

Image Credit:  Apple OS X Mountain Lion

Apple - Mountain Lion Press Release

Apple App Store 1 year old today

It is one year since Apple App Store was launched.

Steve Jobs would be pleased with the App Stores achievements.  On it's anniversary there are over  8,900 apps to choose from and a staggering 100 million plus downloads have been made (excludes Lion sales and App updates).

Visit the Apple App Store

Image Credit: Apple Inc

iOS 5.0.1 for iPhone, iPad, iPod released

Mobile operating system iOS 5.0.1 has been released.  Head to iTunes and click Update to install the update if the Update alert didn't pop up automatically on your Apple product.  The update is available to user models;

iPhone 3GS, iPhone 4, iPhone 4S
iPad, IPad 2
iPod, iPod touch 3rd and 4th generation)

iOS 5.0.1 has been designed to improve user experience and also rectify bugs in iOS 5.0.0  ie:

Fixes bugs that affected battery life,  Cloud functions (Documents)
Improved voice recognition for Australian users and Multitasking gestures for original iPad owners.

iOS 5  Software Update

Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder, dies

Steve Jobs, Apple Chairman of  the Board, died 5th October 2011 at age 56.
Steve was a co-founder of Apple* and Pixar Animation Studios**

Steve had struggled with pancreatic cancer for several years and his passing was not unexpected.  Steve Jobs resigned as CEO of Apple on the 24th August 2011.  It was only this week, on the 4th October, that new Apple CEO, Tim Cook gave his first presentation*.

Steve's lifetime achievements were many.  
If you have visited an Apple Store*, use an Apple product in your daily life, iPod, iPhone, iPad, Mac, iTunes, iWork or have enjoyed watching Pixar Studios award winning animated movies*.  

Then you, like us, have had your world reshaped by Steve's creative flair,  attention to detail and vision to ensure whatever project he was involved with was intuitive, pleasing to the eye and just worked.

We are greatly saddened by Steve Job's death and offer condolences to everyone. Despite Steve's corporate success his personal touch reached into our lives and we accepted him into our homes and hearts.  He energized and enriched our lives and we will miss him very much.

Steve Jobs didn't just make products he created desirable objects wrapped in a positive experience.

R.I.P.  Steven Paul Jobs

February 24, 1955 – October 5, 2011

STEVE JOBS - APPLE BIO
STEVE JOBS - REMEMBRANCE
Timeline of Apple Products
All About Steve Jobs.com
Steve Jobs Memorials
Pixar (History)
Apple's caring nature


*1976   ** 1986
*First two Apple Stores opened on 19th May 2001:
Tysons Corner Center, Tysons Corner, Virginia (AM) and Glendale Galleria, Glendale, Califormia (PM)
*Our top three;  Toy Story (1995),  Monsters Inc. (2001),  Cars.(2006)
*Tim introduced us to iPhone 4S, another innovative Apple product that will be available to Canadian and US consumers on the 14th October 2011.


Image Credit:   Jonathan Mak, a student at Hong Kong’s Polytechnic University School of Design.

iPhone 4S Presentation features

The iPhone 4S was presented today by Apple CEO Tim Cook.

New Features:

• A5 Chip - Dual Core chip, as used in the iPad
• iOS 5 with Twitter integration, notifications, messages, reminders
• Parental Controls
• New Antenna 
• HD Video Recording in 1080p
• Air Play and Air Print
• Improved Face Time
• New Optics - 8 megapixel sensor, 5 lens elements
• Siri - Personal assistant incorporating speech recognition software
• iCloud Service included

iOS 

iOS is the world’s most advanced operating system. Its easy-to-use interface, amazing features, and rock-solid stability are built into every iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. And it continues to get better with every iOS update.
Visit the iOS website

iPhone 4S Specs
Colours :  Black or White

Photo Credit::  Apple 

iPhone 4S US Prices :     16GB for $199   +++   32GB for $299   +++   64GB for $399
Canada - Unlocked iPhone 4S from $649

iPhone 4S Pre Order Date - 7th October 2011

iPhone 4S On Sale Date -  14th October 2011

Watch the iPhone 4S Video

Steve Jobs resigns as CEO of Apple

The day had to come when Steve Jobs would no longer act as CEO of Apple.  Today is that day according to the Apple Press Release.  Steve who held the CEO post for 14 years tendered his resignation as CEO of Apple today, he will, however, remain as Chairman of the Board.  


Tim Cook has been named the new CEO with immediate effect.

Resignation Announcement - Apple Press Release
Resignation Letter - Apple Press Release

Mac OS X Lion and iCloud to be introduced

At the Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple CEO Steve Jobs, announced that Mac OS X Lion IOS would be introduced this year and iCloud would be introduced next fall. It will be free for iOS 5 and OS X Lion users. iCloud will be replacing Mobile Me (July 2012) and have the ability for users to sync their Apple devices in respect of email, photos, audio, video and files via internet storage.

OS X Lion will be available in July, will retail for $29.99. It is only going to be available through the Apple App store as an upgrade for OS X Snow Leopard users. LIon will have over 250 new features including an extended range of Multi finger  swipe gestures, full screen Apps, auto save, resume, Mission Control and Launch Pad.

Tokyo Apple Store helps residents in Japan after Tohoku Earthquake

Came across this in Kevin Rose's blog It is part of an email he received following the devastating events of Friday 11th  March 2011, in Tokyo.

What a difference a positive attitude makes.  Apple's Role in Japan during the Tohoku Earthquake