News tagged ‘MacBook Pro’

Typically geniuses staying behind Genius bars use MacBook Pros to provide customers with help and support, facilitate repairs, look up customer information, and order new parts. But last week some Apple retail stores replaced MacBook Pros with iPads that can mirror functionality of the laptops.

These iPads will obviously make the Genius’ job easier and provide a much better experience for Apple’s customers that are looking for repairs and/or help from the Genius Bar. At least one reason for the iPad is that Apple’s tablet is portable so that geniuses can help customers anywhere in a store. So use of the iPads may transform Genius bar from a place in a store where you may receive quality help to the service that you can get anywhere in a store.

Using MacBook Pros, Apple has been limited to fitting only a few the computers at Genius Bars. The iPad allows Apple to serve more people at one time at Genius bar. Moreover, Apple has already developed a system called MobileGenius, which runs on iOS devices and provides the same services as MacBook Pros.

Digitimes is now reporting that Apple have ordered a small number of components for a 15-inch ultra-thin notebook that Apple is said to start shipping this month with mass shipments set for the beginning of March 2012.

Upstream suppliers of Apple have recently started shipping a small volume of components for a 15-inch ultra-thin notebook model from Apple in November and the device could be either MacBook Air or just a thinner MacBook Pro. The new MacBook is expected to appear as early as the second quarter of 2012, according to sources from the upstream supply chain.

It remains unclear whether the final version of the 15-inch laptop will be marketed as a MacBook Air or a MacBook Pro. Rumors related to the new Apple’s notebook have been circulating since July, when we reported that Apple was finishing up work on a new ultra-thin laptop, and at the end of October it was rumored that Apple was finishing a “test phase” and the new machine was nearing the production. The Mac maker is also rumored to be developing a 17-inch ultraportable MacBook, though such a machine was not mentioned in Tuesday's report.

Back in February, Appleinsider reported that according to people familiar with the matter, Apple appears poised to move its MacBook Pro lines more toward the MacBook Air next year. So it is likely that the new Apple’s notebook will feature a SSD rather than HDD, similar to current MacBook Air models, and would forego an optical drive.

Digitimes claims that Apple plans to completely overhaul its iPad, iMac, iPhone and MacBook Air lines in 2012, saying nothing about MacBook Pro, Mac mini, Mac Pro and iPod lines.

Apple plans to completely overhaul its product lineups, including iPad, iMac, iPhone and MacBook Air, in 2012 and is expected to finalize order volumes for key parts and components for the next-generation iPad in December, according to sources in the upstream supply chain.

The iPhone is most likely to be redesign. The iPhone 4S has the same design as the previous generation iPhone 4. So it is quite reasonable to suggest that the iPhone will receive a new design. As for iMac, its design hasn’t been changed for some years. And it’s unclear how drastically it would be changed. The iPad is expected to become thinner in 2012. Some analysts believe that Apple’s tablet could finally receive Retina display. Finally, the MacBook Air. The notebook will certainly receive new design next year. There are rumors about a 15" Air-like design. Moreover, the Air and Pro lines is expected to be merged into one, but the Air form factor will dominate the consumer market in the near future.

Macotakara reported that Apple is allegedly testing a new thin-and-light 15-inch MacBook to add it to its lineup in the near future. Apple now is finishing up a taste phase. According to Asian source, Apple already finished development of an LCD test component for the new laptop.

The next Apple’s notebook is believed to be a next-generation MacBook Pro without a built-in optical disc drive. That means that the new notebook will undergo significant changes in design in 2012. Moreover, earlier this year, there were some rumors about drastic redesign of the MacBook Pro line. Last week, ahead of the holiday buying season Apple quietly updated its MacBook Pro models, adding slightly faster Intel Sandy Bridge processors, as well as improved AMD Radeon graphics. The new MacBook Pro may boast about Intel's next-generation Ivy Bridge processors. Moreover, Intel has already begun production of new processors.

Yesterday Apple quietly released a minor update to its MacBook Pro line. Now upgraded laptops offer better processor, and in some cases graphics and/or storage options at the same price points as the previous models.

13-inch MacBook Pro:

• Processor options move to 2.4 GHz and 2.8 GHz options.
• Hard drive options offer increased capacity up tо  500 GB in the low-end configuration and 750 GB in the high-end configuration.

15-inch MacBook Pro:

• Standard processor options move to 2.2 GHz and 2.4 GHz options. The high-end custom processor option has now a 2.5 GHz speed.
• For discrete graphics, Apple now offers the AMD Radeon HD 6750M to the low-end configuration with 512 MB of memory and given the high-end configuration a Radeon HD 6770M with 1 GB of memory.
• Hard drive has been bumped to a 750 GB.

17-inch MacBook Pro:

• Processor speeds have been bumped to a 2.4 GHz base processor with a 2.5 GHz option.
• Graphics have been improved to the Radeon HD 6770M, also with 1 GB of memory.
• Hard drive has been bumped to a 750 GB.

9to5Mac suggests that Apple may launch the new MacBook Pros next week.

With supplies only becoming more constrained, and with shipments already touching down in select countries, we think a launch next week is likely (between Tuesday and Thursday). That is, of course, if there are no unforeseen circumstances.

The new laptops are likely to have the same prices as current MacBook Pros. The new machines are said to be only a minor update and would probably take advantage of new Sandy Bridge processors released by Intel late this year. The new processors include Quad Core i7 processors with speeds of 2.4GHz, 2.5GHz and 2.7GHz, as well as a Dual Core i7 at 2.8GHz models. The most expectable candidates among processors that might be used for upgrade are Core i7-2840M, Core i7-2760QM, Core i7-2860QM (the top three in the list below). Apple is unable to use Core i7-2960XM due to problems with heating and is unlikely to use the mobile Celeron processor.

As 9to5Mac reports, all current models of MacBook Pro line are constrained and new part numbers for models with 17, 15, and 13 inch screens sizes appeared in Apple’s inventory system. Last month it was reported that Apple planned to increase processor speeds across all current MacBook Pro models.

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As VR-Zone reports, last week Intel revealed that their upcoming Ivy Bridge processors will support display with resolution of 4096x4096 pixel and also they will be capable to process video data at this resolution.

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CNet notes that Intel’s Ivy Bridge processors will include improved graphics processing unit (GPU). According to Anandtech, Intel expects that graphics processing on next generation chips will be 60% faster than on Sandy Bridge processors that are currently shipped in Apple’s computers.

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MacRumors has heard that the MacBook Pro line will receive minor processor updates before the holiday shopping season.

According to people with proven insight into Apple’s future product plans, the late-2011 MacBook Pro refresh will deliver marginal speed bumps to the notebooks’ Core i-Series of Sandy Bridge processors but will otherwise introduce no material changes over the existing models. While precise timing for the update may change, those same people say the Mac maker currently anticipates an introduction of the refreshed line before the end of the month.

Moreover, Intel recently announced that its next-generation processor code-named Ivy Bridge will offer lower-power quad-core chips than the current generation of Sandy Bridge chips. As AnandTech notes, this development means that Apple could offer quad-core processors in its smallest 13" MacBook Pros. Now the 15" and 17" MacBook Pros are the only models that presently offer quad-core processors.

Apple is reportedly still exploring idea of integration of USB 3.0 into its future computers.  The USB 3.0 is up to 10 times faster than USB 2.

A lot of people have been disappointed over Apple's lack of interest in the USB 3.0 standard, but thanks to a little bird, VR-Zone has heard that the company is still looking at USB 3.0 as a potential feature to add on future products. As to when and how this might happen is not something we know, but from our understanding it'll happen before Intel integrates USB 3.0 support into its chipsets.

USB 3.0 was not built in the current line of Apple’s computers, due to lack of Intel support in their motherboards. Though, Intel will be provide support for both USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt in its 2012 platform known as 'Ivy Bridge', Apple may implement USB 3.0 before Intel’s adoption. But Apple is unlikely to update its iMac, Mac mini and MacBook Pro until the first half of 2012.

The career of one of America’s most innovative businessmen has been more than just a string of moments, but these 10 peeks at Steve Jobs’s formidable presence will remind you of why his resignation is such a momentous event.

1. Steve Jobs demos Apple Macintosh, 1984

Steve Jobs introduces the Macintosh to the world. Computing would never be the same.

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Over the weekend, there had been a lot of interest in a 3G-capable MacBook Pro that has an external antenna. The notebook appeared on eBay and its price reached $ 70,000. The seller describes the antenna as "quite tiny" and attributes some of the initial reactions to the bad angle. Most notably, it's actually attached to the MacBook Pro with magnets, and can come off.

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According to MacRumors, Apple’s 15-inch notebook featuring an ultra-thin design is undergoing final testing. It is unknown yet whether this 15-inch notebook will be presented as an extension of MacBook Air line or a model of a redesigned MacBook Pro line. Even though the device is reportedly undergoing final testing, its release date is kept in secret.

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