The countdown is on and it’s just a handful of hours until Apple’s iPhone OS 3.0 preview event, which we’ll be liveblogging at http://live.slashgear.com We know Apple will be demonstrating some of the upcoming features we can expect from iPhone OS 3.0 – hopefully including MMS and copy-&-paste support – but there’s also talk of a “one last thing” that could blow the recent Mac and iPod shuffle updates out of the water: a Mac Tablet.
We were big fans of the Axiotron Modbook when we tested the MacBook-touchscreen slate conversion back in February last year, and it looks like it’ll be getting even better with the addition of Synergy Touch. A combination of capacitive and active digitizer touch, Synergy uses Touch International’s projected capacitive technology to take advantage of both finger and stylus control.
Video overview after the cut
Apple have begun distributing the latest build of OS X, version 10.5.7 9J27, to testers, just a week after the previous build (9J22) was seeded. According to the change list, multiple bugs and glitches were identified in 9J22, and quickly addressed by Apple for 9J27, suggesting that the company is ramping up OS X development in an attempt to launch the software sooner rather than later.
The new Mac mini is all well and good, but anybody hoping for gobfuls of extra capacity will come away disappointed. Apple’s entry-level mini gets 120GB of storage, and it costs $175 to take that up the official 320GB maximum. Happily iFixit decided to step in and take matters into their own hands, with a nine-page pictorial guide to fitting your Mac mini with 1TB of storage.
You could be forgiven for not noticing, but Apple have introduced a new QWERTY keyboard along with its refreshed iMac range. The new ‘board resembles the wireless Apple keyboard, in that it lacks a numeric keypad, but is still wired like the old ‘board.
Apple have announced a new version of the Mac mini, and as expected it includes refreshed NVIDIA graphics and a faster Intel Core 2 Duo processor. Two basic mini models are available, both with an 8x SuperDrive, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics and 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo; a 2.26Ghz CPU is an option.
Apple have announced an updated iMac desktop PC, with Intel Core 2 Duo processors up to 3.06GHz, either 20-inch or 24-inch LCD displays, and up to 8GB of RAM. The new iMac can be fitted with up to 1TB of storage, and has integrated AirPort Extreme WiFi n, Bluetooth 2.1+EDR and Mini DisplayPort.
With the rumors surrounding the iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini, the fact that Apple have just taken their online store down to update it seems to be pointing at only one thing: new toys on the horizon. There’s no telling exactly what might be fresh and shiny when the store returns, but we have a fair idea of what it could be.
According to the latest rumors, Apple is planning an event on March 24th which will see the company announce the latest iMac, Mac Pro and Mac mini product ranges. Although Apple has not publicly acknowledged the date, nor invited any press, two sites are reporting leaked information that apparently confirms at least new iMac announcements.
The leaked Mac mini image last week prompted mixed feedback, with some screaming “Photoshop!” and others content to assume another of Cupertino’s wares had slipped through the net of secrecy. Now a video of the same device has emerged, showing the full device and its complement of ports.
Watch the full video after the cut
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