Hasta La Gadget!

We got an early teardown of the latest 21,5-inch iMac thanks Japanese site Kodawarisan, but now it’s had the full iFixit treatment. The overall verdict? Well iFixit weren’t overly enthused with some of the new design’s internal fixings, making a special reference to the use of glue to bind the LCD and glass to the rest of the frame, instead of magnets as found in previous models. Likewise, those two major components are now fused together meaning if you want to replace one, you’ll be replacing the other, too. This adhesive also contributes to the trickiness of general repair. Beyond the glue-based concerns, there’s the usual intense poring over of internal like the dual mics found at the rear, or the 2.5-inch HGST / Western Digital hard drive. Overall, though, the tone is a definite thumbs down when it comes to repairability, with the device getting just 3 out of 10 on it’s now famous meter. Prise open the source link for the full internal tour.

Filed under: Desktops, Apple

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Source: iFixit

This is more of a PSA than anything else: just like Apple said they’d be, the new iMacs are on sale today, with the 21.5-inch model available right away and the 27-inch version shipping in December. The smaller guy starts at $1,299, though there’s also a more tricked-out $1,499 version; the 27-incher starts at $1,799 and goes up to $1,999. Whichever the model, a few key design principles apply. For staters, both measure just 5mm thick at the edges, and neither has a built-in optical drive. Both promise a 15 to 20 percent performance boost fueled partly by Ivy Bridge, and partly by Apple’s new FusionDrive, which combines an HDD with a 128GB solid-state drive, with everything stored on the SSD by default until you run out of space. Finally, both promise 75 percent less screen glare, thanks to a manufacturing process that eliminates the gap between the LCD and the glass. (Apple and other OEMs already use a similar technique on smartphones; we’ve just never seen it done on a screen quite this large.)

So what separates the two, then, aside from screen size? Specs, mostly. And also, resolution. The 21-inch version has a 1,920 x 1,080 pixel count, while the 27-incher steps up to 2,560 x 1,440. (In other words, the same resolution as last year’s offerings.) While both pack quad-core Core i5 processors, the 21.5-inch model starts with a 2.7GHz clock speed, compared with 2.9GHz for the bigger guy. As you might have guessed, the graphics are slightly better on the larger version: NVIDIA’s GTX 660M is standard there, versus GT 640M on the 21-incher. Both offer 1TB of storage, but the smaller machine uses a 5,400RPM drive while the bigger one has a 7,200RPM disk. The 27-incher can also be configured with a 3TB drive or 768GB SSD. As for RAM, both come with eight gigs standard, but the 21.5-inch model goes up to 16GB, while the 27-inch version goes up to 32GB and has user-accessible memory slots.

As it happens, we have two new iMacs here in house (one in each size, natch) and you can expect a full review very soon. For now, though, we’ve got some unboxing shots and first impressions just past the break.

Continue reading New iMacs on sale now starting at $1,299, we unbox both of them

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Source: Apple

Kongregate has stepped out of its web browser boundaries by offering free-to-play downloadable desktop games alongside its existing catalog of browser-based titles. Only Super Monday Night Combat, Smashmuck Champions and Bomb Buddies are available for desktop play, but the outfit is set to beef up its selection in the following weeks. It’s not likely that this development will cause Steam to nervously eye its rearview mirror for a competitor on its coattails, but it’s interesting to see GameStop’s F2P game venture ever so slightly dip its toes into Valve’s territory. However, Gabe Newell’s platform may yet have some fiercer competition in the brick-and-mortar retailer’s Impulse storefront. Ready to stock up on the gratis Windows games? Hit the bordering source link to get started.

Continue reading Kongregate breaks free of the browser, serves up downloadable games

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Source: Kongregate

Cash-strapped businesses who just can’t keep winking at their bank managers are turning to their real-estate assets for a little extra bread. AMD, no stranger to the process, is pondering flogging and leasing back its 58-acre Texas campus for around $200 million. Perhaps it could shack up with Nokia and Sharp in a Starbucks branch until its current woes abate.

Filed under: Desktops, AMD

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Via: TechEye, Xbit

Source: Reuters

Apple’s announced that its updated 21.5-inch iMac range will be in stores and online on November 30th. The bigger 27-inch version will arrive later and start shipping next month. This year’s refresh manages to cram a 1TB Fusion Drive, quad-core Core i5 processor and NVIDIA graphics into that oh-so-slim redesigned chassis. The 21.5-inch version is available with a 2.7GHz processor and NVIDIA GeForce GT 640M, priced at $1,299. However, bump the processor up to the 2.9GHz variant and NVIDIA’s GeForce GT 650M and you can expect to pay $1,499. If you’re willing to wait for the 27-incher, build options start with a 2.9GHz processor and a GeForce GTX 660M at $1,799, moving up to $1,999 for the top-of-the-range 3.2GHz Core i5 model with GeForce GTX 675MX graphics. A shame it missed those Black Friday sales, though.

Continue reading Redesigned Apple iMacs available from November 30th, 27-inch model shipping next month

Filed under: Desktops, Apple

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Source: Apple