Apple To Release Revamped Macbook Lineup In Q2

Apple To Release Revamped Macbook Lineup In Q2

Only yesterday we heard that Apple is probably going to release revamped MacPro by the end of this month. Today we’re hearing that the company might also revamp its Macbook line and release the new models in Q2, 2013. The new models are reportedly going to be released by the end of the second quarter. As always, the company itself has not commented on this, and if it is planning on refreshing the Macbook lineup, it’ll only announce when the time is right.

Digitimes is behind this rumor as well, it claims to have heard from sources in the upstream supply chain that demand for existing Macbook Pro has been below the company’s expectations as the high prices are supposedly keeping prospective customers at bay, which left the company still “digesting” its inventory in Q1. What this rumor means is that Apple is likely to announce new models of both the Macbook Pro and Macbook Air by the end of this quarter. Though it is advised that you keep the source’s track record in mind, they’ve not exactly been spot on most of the time.

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Fifth Generation iPad Production To Begin This Summer, Two Step Authentication Reportedly Coming To Microsoft Accounts,

Modbook Pro Brings Us The iPad We’ve Wanted All Along

Modbook Pro Brings Us The iPad Weve Wanted All Along

When the concept of the original iPad was being knocked around a number of years ago, many people hoped it would end up being a tablet with OSX installed on it. Ultimately, Apple used its iOS platform for its iPads, but that doesn’t mean you have to settle for a stripped-down tablet considering you can spend $3,500 to get the MacBook Pro in tablet form.

The Modbook Pro brings Mac OSX to tablet form as its sports a 13.3-inch screen and brings all of the internal specs a mid-2012 MacBook Pro has. The base model features an Intel Core i5 dual-core 2.5GHz CPU and 8GB of RAM, although it’s possible to upgrade to a i7 dual-core 2.9GHz CPU with double the RAM. (more…)

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Including The iPad, Report Claims Apple Owns 20.1% Of The PC Market, ITC rules that Apple did not violate Motorola’s patent, remands case back to judge,

Retina MacBook Pro Owner Files Lawsuit Against Apple Over Ghosting Display

Retina MacBook Pro Owner Files Lawsuit Against Apple Over Ghosting DisplayIt seems that the owner of a Retina MacBook Pro has filed a class-action lawsuit against Apple, alleging that Apple has not bothered to acknowledge, fix or warn users that Retina display made by LG are prone to “ghosting”. Beau Hodges complained that customers have no way of knowing what they have bought (in terms of whether they got an LG or Samsung display) and that Apple sales people do not disclose that there are “different levels of performance and quality”. There are videos where proof has been shown that LG display panels in the 15” Retina MacBook Pro are prone to ghosting, although it is speculated that LG panels were used only in the early versions of the MacBook Pro and were replaced by Samsung panels later on.

Hodges claims that Apple must have known about these issues “because it has spent a considerable amount of time testing the products during research and development, and has been inundated with complaints from customers.” We’re not sure what the result of this class-action lawsuit is going to be, but what do you guys think? Any Retina MacBook Pro owners out there experience similar issues with their displays as well?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: 2013 Retina MacBook Pro Has Fan Speed Issues, Apple Introduces $1,099 21.5″ iMac For Educational Institutions,

2013 Retina MacBook Pro Has Fan Speed Issues

2013 Retina MacBook Pro Has Fan Speed IssuesSo, you think that you are smug with the 2013 Retina MacBook Pro in your possession, while the rest of your mates are rocking on to a 2012 or older model? Well, not everything that is the latest is always the greatest, although that is the general rule of thumb most of the time, as the 2013 Retina MacBook Pro is said to have issues with its fan speed.

YouTube user Oyinko, as well as a bunch of other folks over at the official Apple support forums, did mention that the fan in the 2013 Retina MacBook Pro model will actually increase its speed to a potentially dangerous level, never mind that the MacBook Pro itself is not doing anything processor intensive, and hence, logically would not need that kind of cool air. According to Oyinko, the possible reason why the fan has gone all wonky would be the change of a Samsung SSD to that of a Sandisk SSD, where the new (and obviously foreign) Sandisk ends up creating a conflict in fan management. Short of an update from Apple to fix this issue, there does not seem to be any other method. Are you affected as well?

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Apple Introduces $1,099 21.5″ iMac For Educational Institutions, Baldur’s Gate: Enhanced Edition Arriving On Mac 22nd February,

Retina MacBook Pro benchmarks show minor improvements

Some new benchmarks from Geekbench show that the new MacBook Pros with Retina displays only show a 3-5% increase from its predecessors. The new MacBook Pros received an upgrade to their processors, and some received increased storage space. Because of the launch of its new MacBooks, Apple has lowered the prices on its previous models. The previous models may appeal to those of you who want a MacBook Pro with Retina display, but don’t necessarily need the extra 5% boost. You’ll save hundreds of dollars as well.

Retina MacBook Pro benchmarks show minor improvements 1

First up is the latest gen 13-inch MacBook Pros with Retina displays. The 13-inch Macbook Pro with an i7-3540M 3GHz dual-core processor shows a 328 point increase compared to the last generation i7 13-inch MacBook. The 13-inch Macbook Pro with an i5-3230M 2.6GHz dual-core processor shows a 205 point increase from its predecessor.

Retina MacBook Pro benchmarks show minor improvements

For the 15-inch MacBooks with Retina displays, the 15-inch MacBook with the i7-3840QM 2.8GHz quad-core processor shows a 523 point increase from the i7-3820QM model. The i7-3740QM 2.7GHz quad-core MacBook shows a 332 point increase from the i7-3720QM model, and the i7-3635QM 2.4GHz quad-core MacBook shows a 424 point increase from the previous i7-3615QM model.

The benchmarks only show a minor performance boost for each upgrade, however some of the upgraded versions also feature a boost in either storage space or RAM. The 13-inch i5-3230M has double the storage space compared to its predecessor, and the 15-inch i7-3840QM MacBook features a whopping 16GB of RAM. Depending on your needs, if you just want a MacBook Pro that works efficiently, the previous models will do just fine.

[via MacRumors]


Retina MacBook Pro benchmarks show minor improvements is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

Microsoft secretly increases the price of Mac Office

Microsoft recently increased the price of its Office Product for the Mac OS. Office for Mac Home and Students now costs $140, which is about a 17% increase from its original $120 price. Office for Mac Home and Business now costs $220, which is a 10% hike from its original $200 price-tag. Microsoft didn’t release a statement about why it increased the prices, but at the same time not a lot of people noticed.

Microsoft secretly increases the price of Mac Office

The increase in prices brings the Office for Mac OS software up to the same price-point as Office 2013 for Windows. Also with the price increase for Office for the Mac OS, it looks like Microsoft has also gotten rid of its multi-license products, which is probably a move that’s meant to drive consumers towards Microsoft’s Office 365 subscription service. For $99 a year, or for $9.99 a month, you can subscribe to Office 365 for families, and install Office on up to 5 devices. With the subscription, the user will be given the installation software for Office for Mac Home and Business. For Windows users, you get the installation files for Office 2013.

According to Computer World, the price change for the Mac OS software was most likely increased around January 29th, the same day Microsoft Office 2013 and Office 365 was launched. For Mac owners, if you still want to purchase Microsoft Office for the older price-point, many retailers, like Apple itself, are still selling Office for Mac 2011 at its original price.

Microsoft hiking up the prices of its Mac software, and also its elimination of multi-license software does bring the spotlight to open source projects, like Open Office or Libre Office, who offer programs with the same functions for free. So unless you specifically need the Microsoft Office software for your job or business, there are plenty of alternative, free software that can meet your needs.

[via Computer World]


Microsoft secretly increases the price of Mac Office is written by Brian Sin & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The Daily Roundup for 02.13.2013

DNP The Daily RoundUp

You might say the day is never really done in consumer technology news. Your workday, however, hopefully draws to a close at some point. This is the Daily Roundup on Engadget, a quick peek back at the top headlines for the past 24 hours — all handpicked by the editors here at the site. Click on through the break, and enjoy.

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MacBook Pro With Retina Display Prices Updated

MacBook Pro With Retina Display Prices UpdatedApple products are generally known to cost more than their Windows-powered counterparts, but over the years, you can say that the gap has been reduced significantly. Well, even better news for folks who are operating on a tight budget and yet want to pick up a new MacBook Pro with Retina display – Apple has decided to update its pricing by throwing in better processors at a more pocket-friendly sticker price. For starters, the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display will now start at $1,499 for 128GB of flash, and $1,699 for a new 2.6 GHz processor and 256GB of flash memory.

As for the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, it will now run on a faster 2.4 GHz quad-core processor, with the top-of-the-line 15-inch notebook boasting a new 2.7 GHz quad-core processor and 16GB of memory. Not only that, the 13-inch MacBook Air with 256GB of flash memory will also see its price slashed to a new low of $1,399. The new pricing has taken effect immediately via Apple’s online store as well as at retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers. I wonder how folks who purchased a new MacBook Pro with Retina display last week felt with the new prices. [Press Release]

By Ubergizmo. Related articles: Including The iPad, Report Claims Apple Owns 20.1% Of The PC Market, Apple Informs French Reseller Of New Mac Pro,

Apple cuts MacBook Pro Retina and Air prices, boosts specs

Apple has slashed the price of its MacBook Pro with Retina display notebooks, throwing in some updated specifications along the way. The tweaked 13-inch MBP with Retina now starts at $1,499, a $200 saving from the old price, while the newest 15-inch MBP with Retina gets a spec boost, and the 13-inch MacBook Air has also seen a price cut, down to $1,399 from $1,499 for the 256GB flash version.

retina_mbp13

As for the specification bump to the Retina-blessed MacBook Pro line-up, they see Intel’s latest processors slotted inside. The $1,699 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display kicks off with a 2.6GHz processor paired with 256GB of flash storage, for instance.

There are more changes for the 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display, with the entry-level model now getting a 2.4GHz quadcore processor instead of the 2.3GHz chip previously used. Its more expensive sibling now gets a 2.7GHz quadcore processor and 16GB of memory, up from the 2.6GHz and 8GB of RAM previously specified.

All of the new models are available to order from Apple’s online store, retail stores, and resellers from today, with customization options also available if you build-to-order online. More on the notebooks themselves in our 2012 reviews; you can find them in the timeline below.


Apple cuts MacBook Pro Retina and Air prices, boosts specs is written by Chris Davies & originally posted on SlashGear.
© 2005 – 2012, SlashGear. All right reserved.

The 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro Just Got $200 Cheaper

Apple just cut the price of the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display. You can now pick one up for $1,500—$200 less than the original starting price of $1,700. More »