Our Tech: Apple Time Capsule (500GB)

Welcome to the inaugural episode of our second series, 'Our Tech', contributed to by all members of the TB Tech editorial staff.

To accommodate our frequent in-depth reviews of the latest technology, we need reliable and always-on tech ourselves. As many of you will already know, we love admire Apple products for their reliability and good track record in our labs.

Wireless internet performance is a defining factor in our reviews of products equipped with a WiFi receiver, and for that, you need a new and practical WiFi router. Our older-style Netgear 802.11g arrangement was beginning to get fairly long in the tooth, so after seeing the Apple Time Capsule on video, and on apple.com/au, I decided that this would be a worthwhile investment.

But how did we get our hands on one so soon, you ask? A family member of mine takes frequent trips to the U.K., so I asked him to swing by Apple's flagship European store, on Regent Street in London. At 199 pounds (approx. A$430), it's not a cheap router, but it scores extra first-impression points for featuring the draft 802.11n wireless spec, a 500gb server-grade hard drive (1tb is also available) and likely Apple reliability.

Time Machine has been one of my favourite features of Mac OS X 10.5 'Leopard' - on a desktop iMac here at the office it works brilliantly. But it has been inconvenient for my MacBook Pro and I to be tethered to an external hard drive at least once a day, so Time Capsule's ability to perform wireless Time Machine backups is outstanding.

I'll write up a review, for the sake of it, in the next few weeks. Despite an overly-complicated, Australian Optus-hating setup, it appears to be a strong-performing wireless router.

Tom Baker is the editor-in-chief of TB Tech News+Blog and its sister blog, SmartMobile. He is an expert in mobile computing and a frequent writer for TB Tech.

5 Minutes With: the Multi-Touch MacBook Air

´Five Minutes With´ is a new series, edited by Tom Baker, and contributed to by the TB Tech team.
Sometimes it takes a while for us to be eligible to receive a particularly popular new product for review, so we´ll hit the stores and spend some time with a revolutionary new device.

This weekend it was the Apple MacBook Air - another Apple wonder or just another ultraportable?

The first thing you notice is the thinness. It is thin - I was somewhat skeptical at first as to how thin a notebook can actually be. It is like the new Apple keyboards; they sit flat on the floor. It is as if nothing is supporting the touchpad and keyboard of the Air - it is truly amazing.

Using it is very comfortable; the full-size keyboard is very easy on the fingers and the split design leaves only the MacBook Pro with the old-style Apple board. Of course, the keyboard is backlit, but we didn´t get a chance to see how accurate the ambient light sensor is.

The touchpad is far larger than the version on the MacBook or MacBook Pro; it accommodates Apple´s Multi-Touch control which makes zooming, rotating and panning a real pleasure.

The multi-touch really works. In iPhoto rotating images is amazing; you just take two fingers on the pad and turn them clockwise or anticlockwise. Zooming in documents and images works really well, as does skipping through slideshows with the new three-finger swipe.

Other than these new distractions, the Air is much of the same. Itś a well-built, light, thin and stylish Apple machine; there are obvious shortcomings - one USB port won´t satisy most users, no FireWire port is an annoyance, and anywhere out of the U.S. (where WiFi is bountiful) the lack of Ethernet is unacceptable.

However, I´m left without no doubt that the Air will appeal to thousands; if you are looking for an ultraportable with Mac usability and style, and you have a good wireless setup at home and at work, you won´t miss the missing features at all.

So then, our first impressions of the Apple MacBook Air are good. We will delve deeper into this model when we are able to secure a review machine sometime in the next few months.

Apple refreshes MacBook/MacBook Pro range

Although the majority of Apple-lovers were anticipating an exciting and comprehensive update of the two mainstream Mac notebooks, the MacBook and MacBook Pro, it´s only a processor, hard drive and graphics update this time.

All MacBooks (including Pros) were updated overnight with new, faster Intel Core 2 Duo 'Penryn' CPUs and bigger hard drives.

The MacBook can now be configured with processors ranging from 2.1 to 2.4 GHz and with hard drives ranging from 120 to 250 GB.

The 15" MacBook Pro can be built with a 2.4 or 2.5 GHz processor. The 2.4 GHz model is teamed to a 200gb drive whilst the 2.5 GHz variant uses a 250gb drive.

The 17" model now includes standard 2.5 GHz processor and can optionally be built with a Full-HD LED-backlit display.

All models come with 2gb of RAM standard except the baseline 2.1 GHz MacBook.

The Apple Remote, which was previously included on all notebooks from Apple is now an A$29 extra.

The MacBook now starts from A$1499 for the 2.1 GHz model while the MacBook Pro 15" 2.4 GHz starts at A$2699.

Read: Apple Store Australia

Revitalised Apple notebooks imminent?

The Apple rumour mill is constantly updated with more news of potential leaks of new Mac items, but this particular piece of news could certainly be true.

Both Best Buy and Future Shop in North America have new MacBook and MacBook Pro product codes on their computer systems; these entries hint at an early March release and a refresh for both models of computer.

Traditional Apple product cycles for this time of year hint at an update only for the Pro model, but this information would show a change in the current MacBook model´s lifespan.

[via Engadget]

Proposed iPod touch application would allow direct Starbucks ordering

Apple and Starbucks' love was shared at Apple's iPod event in late 2007 with Steve Jobs' announcement of special iPhone / iPod touch iTunes pages.

However, a mockup of a potential new, legal application that would allow direct coffee ordering from either touch device at all WiFi-enabled Starbucks coffeehouses would make somewhat difficult human interaction redundant.

The ability to type a note to the barista would also be easier than explaining your favourite maple syrup / cream combo.

Will we see this after Apple releases the long awaited iPhone / iPod touch software development kit? Maybe.

[via DVICE]

Apple iPhone 16GB; iPod touch 32GB official

In the recent past there has been rumours of a new 16GB iPhone - these have been confirmed this morning. What nobody has been talking about, or imagining, was an upgraded iPod touch, but this has also been outed by Apple in this all-round upgrade of touch-based multimedia devices from the Cupertino corporation.

The new 16GB iPhone for the US will be priced at US$499 (still on a 2-year contract with AT&T), while the 32GB iPod touch will be priced at A$629, A$129 more expensive than the 16GB iPod touch. The now 'small' 8GB model has been reduced to A$399.

Other than memory sizes, specs remain the same for these guys, but we could be seeing new firmware for all iPhones/iPod touches to support the new capacities.

[via Apple Store]

Updated MacBook Pros almost definitely in the works

This morning, MacRumors are reporting that they have hard evidence that updated Apple MacBook Pros are in the works.

A bit of background info - the current MacBook Pros are given the system identifier code MacBookPro3,1. However, an application called MiniBatteryLogger has revealed an entry for a new model - MacBookPro4,1.

The code MacBookPro4,1 has also been included in the latest development seeds of the imminent Mac OS X 10.5.2. Because of this, we can assume that updated 'Pros are coming soon, as 10.5.2 will be supported.

We may see such updates as a multi-touch trackpad and Intel's new Penryn mobile processor, but Apple, as usual, will keep all the details under wraps until they feel like unveiling the new product.

Head over to MacRumors to get the full details.

MacBook Air in US stores Tuesday, but already in stock

If you live in America, like the MacBook Air and have a spare A$2,499, then go ahead and rock up to your local, reputable Apple Store on Tuesday, as word on Engadget is that they're already in stock - yet not quite for sale.

Apparently, today (Monday) is the day that Apple Geniuses will receive their Air training... and the slivers themselves will be on sale to the public tomorrow. We can't confirm that they will actually be ready and waiting for the tens, or possibly hundreds of customers in each state, but we'll wait and see.

If they are in stock already, perhaps they're hidden as interoffice mail?

Read: Engadget [source]

Review: Apple iMac Core 2 Duo (Refurbished, 17", white)

From using the Apple Refurbished iMac from such tasks such as basic note-taking, to creating this review, the iMac has made both creative and business projects a breeze.

As computers become more and more expensive, there is a need for more inexpensive options, and one of the best turns out to be the refurbished iMac.

The refurbished iMac is a second hand, repolished, repaired (if needed) Apple Certified white Core 2 Duo model. This cheaper option performs the same as any other 2006-spec white Core 2 Duo model. This model has now been replaced by the thinner, aluminium/glass model, but is still a screamer performance-wise.

As being a Mac user I have always believed that they were superior of their PC rivals in almost every sense. In the desktop category the iMac aesthetically- and performance-based is in a different category. The matte 17" widescreen, which also encompasses the entire computer setup, is only 3.5cm thin. This is a huge difference over anything comparable using Windows; the closest would be the Dell XPS One, which still manages to be more boxy and conspicuous, where the iMac is streamlined and stylish.

The included Mac OS X ‘Leopard’ (10.5.1) operating system is really fantastic. It is reliable, secure, and beautiful. These will appeal to home users and families - especially because of its built-in parental control functions. The also included iLife package includes all the key applications you need to organise your digital life, like iPhoto (photo album), iMovie (for creating movies), iWeb (easy website creation), GarageBand (music track production) and iTunes (digital music manager).

The white Core 2 Duo imac comes in 17, 20 and 24 inch screens as well as with the choice of Combo Drive (CD reading and burning and DVD reading only) or SuperDrive (DVD and CD burning and reading). The 2.0GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor makes for incredible performance, especially with Leopard. The flawless white, glossy finish looks great in any room, from a kitchen to a bedroom.

Pricing for the refurbished iMac varies with timing and deals in the Apple Store, but generally prices start from A$1,449. This makes it affordable and easy for purchase by a student, and even better value from buyers looking in other price ranges. A 2.16GHz, Core 2 Duo 24" white iMac can be found today for just $1,879 - a fantastic price.

If a new family desktop is in need, I would highly recommend looking at this great piece of power from Apple.

Review by Alex Lennon (editing by Tom Baker)

Mac OS X Leopard Slideshow Feature

Recently discovered by the team here at TB Tech, Mac OS X includes new slideshow features. Just open the Desktop & Screensaver properties in System Preferences. Select an event from iPhoto or any other folder in the sidebar, then below the preview box, there is three items. The first being the standard picture slideshow, the second being a collage and the third a mosaic that takes the pixel data of all of you images then zooms out creating another image from all of your images.

Collage View

Mosaic View

The iPod nano, now available (again) in pink

After just unveiling LG's Valentine's plans, Apple's pulled out its rather handy iPod resprayer and gone wild with the third-generation nano, which is now available in pink.

This could be a February 14 special... it could be here to stay. We're willing to bet on the latter.

Specs are the same as any other 8GB nano, but here they are anyway:

• 8 gigabyte only
• 2,000 songs, or
  
• 7,000 photos, or
  
• 8 hours of video (or a combination)
• New, enhanced OS with Cover Flow

If you buy online, which is where all the stock is right now, you'll pay A$279 (US$199) with included laser engraving, if you want it.

Read: Apple Online Store - iPod nano family

MacBook Air unboxed @ Apple's Japan press event

The Flickr user 'akwada', a visitor to Apple's Japanese press event covering the new MacBook Air, had the opportunity to unbox one of these little beasts while there.

In his/her Flickr photostream, akwada's photos reveal an extremely minimal package for the Air, with no foam protector as seen in the MacBook and MacBook Pro boxes; there is only a tray just deep enough to fit the device.

Also in the packaging is a tab-based system which you pull to reveal the documentation, cables and DVDs.

Also featuring in the images is a depth comparison with Sony's VAIO SZ series, which in itself is (or was) quite a thin notebook in comparison to other offers out there.

Read: 'akwada's Flickr Photostream

If you like absolute volume power, you'll love Leopard

My associate Will Dawson found this over at MacUser: In Apple's latest OS X iteration, Leopard, you can actually increase and decrease the volume by tiny fractional increments.

The tip, originally posted over at Mac OS X Hints, goes like this: If the volume is too loud or too soft, but going up and down one notch like normal is too much, you can incrementally change the volume by a matter of 1/4 of a notch.

To do this, hold down Shift and Option and then use the respective volume key, and find your desired level.

However: This didn't work on a 3rd-party keyboard, so make sure to use an Apple keyboard or a Mac notebook with its built-in keyboard.

Read: Mac OS X Hints' discovery

Next-gen MacBook Pros to like multi-touch

AppleInsider, one of the hundreds of sites dedicated to sifting through the constant rumour-mill associated with the Cupertino-based corporation, has apparently 'learned' that Apple's next-gen MacBook Pros will gain the multi-touch trackpad ability of the recently-announced MacBook Air notebook.

Although this rumour is highly safe, as it wouldn't have been long anyway until Apple installed the latest 'thing' into its premium tier of notebooks, AppleInsider is offering that the 'Pros could be updated in the coming weeks.

Also posed in the article is the fact that Apple meant to release the updated MacBook Pros at, or around, the Macworld 2008 expo, but too much time needed to be allocated to the Air to make this possible.

The source also states that the new MacBook Pros would be the first Apple notebooks to feature Intel's new Penryn-based Intel Core 2 Duo processors, as well as featuring the oversize, multi-touch trackpad as featured on the new baby Mac notebook.

The new processors are slated to be clocked at around 2.5 to 2.6GHz, with 6mb of Level 2 cache.

An improved battery would also be likely, with one test published in the publication AnandTech seeing a 2.6GHz Penryn-based Pro lasting an extra 55 minutes over a similarly-configured 2.6GHz Meron-based system. That's an almost 16.5% increase.

Read: AppleInsider - "Next-gen Apple MacBook Pros to gain multi-touch trackpad"

Image courtesy of Apple.

Macbook Pro Heating Issues

I picked up a MacBook Pro several months ago considering the fact that my Toshiba M500 was awful.

After several months of owning it however I have discovered a certain issue with the CPU and battery with the heat they generate.

I recently had to pay a visit to the Chatswood Apple Store to get a new 85W MagSafe charger for my MacBook Pro because the CPU and battery got so hot they blew out the charger.

There have also been reports of if a MacBook Pro is used too much on your lap while it is hot, it has been known to give burns or even be a contributing factor to cancer, but I would'nt worry too much about that.

There are several good cooling solutions available out on the market for both Windows and Mac, but my personal favorite is the Targus Laptop Cooling System, it can be bought for AU $40.

Apple's iMac-like MacBook dock patent: a dream come true?

I myself as a MacBook Pro user - and with 2 of my associates at TB Tech also using portable Macs - often dream of a proper, Apple-designed dock solution for my notebook, to charge, and make use of desktop-like peripherals at home or in the office.

Apple laptop docks have been done, by third parties, but surely nothing could beat this patent from Apple - a dock for the MacBook that entails sliding the machine into the side of a device, shaped like a white Core 2 Duo iMac, and using that device like an iMac, as a desktop.

However, we need to remain wary that Apple often gets a little bit excited in its patents (read: Apple's thousand-camera-enabled display that let your display act as large iSight camera...).

Will plans for this device / similar devices for the MacBook Pro be announced at Macworld? Wait and see.