Oct 15
As was foretold by the ancients
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Jul 03
American redux: Apple, Motorola, Lenovo and the pulse of stateside manufacturing
Posted in: Today's Chili
Google introduced the Nexus Q close to a year ago. It was an intriguing device with a standout design, but its high asking price and limited functionality meant it wasn’t long before the Q was pulled from virtual shelves. A peculiar product and, perhaps, a cautionary tale, but the sphere was also interesting for another reason: it was manufactured in the USA. That credential is a rarity, and in the consumer technology business, almost an anomaly. It’s fast becoming a lot more common, however, with some big players setting up a stateside manufacturing presence. Awareness of the potential advantages of doing so can only increase, and serve to debunk the myth that future technology can’t be built on American soil.
After flirting with the idea, then committing to build a computer in the US, Apple chose its redesigned Mac Pro for assembly in the states. Lenovo has a PC production facility up and running in North Carolina, and Google-owned Motorola will be putting together its next flagship, the Moto X, in Texas. Time will tell whether other companies will follow suit, and to what extent, but if the arguments in favor of US manufacturing hold up, we could see the trend sustained in the long term, leading to many more gadgets bearing a US birthmark.
Jun 30
Switched On: Form in the USA
Posted in: Today's ChiliEach week Ross Rubin contributes Switched On, a column about consumer technology.
The Mac Pro might have been worthy of the “One More Thing” kinds of reveals that Steve Jobs used to do at Apple events. Despite being foreshadowed by Tim Cook as a product the company was going to make in the US, it was virtually carted in from left field at an event that focused broadly on new operating systems before a crowd of developers that could appreciate its power. That said, it will likely require OS X Mavericks, a thematically fitting release for a product that represents a new wave in Apple’s design.
Some have said that iOS 7 may be the company’s New Coke. The Mac Pro, though, is the new can. Its cylindrical form represents a new design for Apple, albeit one that jibes with the company’s affinity for simple, rounded, iconic shapes. Like the new AirPort Extreme, it has a significant vertical profile, but is a fraction of the size of its predecessor designed to accommodate multiple optical drives and hard drives.
Filed under: Apple
Jun 10
The Daily Roundup for 06.10.2013
Posted in: Today's Chili
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.
Jun 10
WWDC 2013 keynote roundup: OS X Mavericks, iOS 7, new Mac Pro, refreshed Airs and iTunes Radio
Posted in: Today's Chili
We know, oh boy do we know. With E3 and WWDC happening at the same time, it’s easy to get lost in all the news — we’ve got you covered for all the delicious Apple bites right here, though. Today the team from Cupertino delighted its keynote crowd with the official announcements of iOS 7, refreshed MacBook Airs and iTunes Radio. Even more exciting, however, was the sneak peak at the much-anticipated — and cylindrical — next-gen Mac Pro and the introduction of OS X Sea Lion Mavericks. Whether you’re just trying to recap all the announcements or find what you missed, our full roundup is up after the break.
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Portable Audio/Video, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Apple
Jun 10
Historically, Apple hasn’t been one to offer sneak peeks of anything. That changed today with the next-generation Mac Pro — likely a function of the fact that teasing such a machine couldn’t possibly weaken sales of a desktop that hasn’t been updated in a technological eternity. Waiting just outside of the concourse walls was one of the prototype cylinders, and it’s perhaps the sexiest workstation this world has ever seen. All we know for now is that it’ll make its debut “later this year,” boasting four USB sockets, six Thunderbolt 2 ports, a full-size HDMI connector, a 3.5mm headphone port and a pair of gigabit Ethernet ports. And yes, it’s almost certainly a fingerprint magnet. Have a gander at the eye candy below (plus a vid after the break), and our apologies for the clear case surrounding it. We attempted to remove it, and we’re now being forced to type this post with just a single hand.
Follow all of our WWDC 2013 coverage at our event hub.
Gallery: Next-generation Mac Pro at WWDC 2013
Myriam Joire contributed to this report.
Jun 10
Springsteen will be proud. Today, Apple has confirmed that the company’s new Mac Pro line of desktops will be assembled in the US before they arrive later this year. While we were promised it a fair while back, Tim Cook was certainly right when he said it would involve an existing line of devices — even if it arrives with a completely new look.
Follow all of our WWDC 2013 coverage at our event hub.
Jun 04
WWDC 2013: the rumor roundup
Posted in: Today's Chili
It’s that special time for Apple devotees: WWDC 2013 is next week, and that means a customary glimpse of where iOS and the Mac are going next. However, we’re getting everything but business as usual this year. The crew at 1 Infinite Loop has shaken up its software strategy, putting much of its emphasis on Jony Ive’s design chops and tighter collaboration between teams. Is Apple about to deliver major OS refreshes that some say are long overdue? And what about hints of new hardware introductions at the same time? We’ve gathered together some of the more notable rumors to help understand what Apple may introduce on June 10th — and what’s likely to remain wishful thinking.
Filed under: Cellphones, Desktops, Laptops, Tablets, Software, Mobile, Apple
Feb 19
EU Apple Online Stores list Mac Pro as unavailable prior to March 1st cutoff
Posted in: Today's Chili 
We already knew the current line of Mac Pros would be discontinued in Europe due to new regulatory standards come March 1st, but we didn’t think Apple would pull the plug on its tower desktop this early. According to 9to5Mac, several European Apple Online Stores now show its Mac Pros as “currently unavailable” a couple of weeks before the computers are to be sunsetted. We’re not sure if this is the case with machines in brick-and-mortar locales, but Europeans keen on the existing Mac Pro should get to their nearest reseller before it’s completely out of stock. Either that or you can choose to sit tight and wait for that impending Mac Pro refresh, whenever the folks in Cupertino get around to it.
Source: 9to5Mac, Apple Store (UK)
Jan 31
Apple halting Mac Pro sales in Europe on March 1st in the wake of new standards
Posted in: Today's Chili 
Apple has hinted that it will give Mac Pro aficionados some love with a professional Mac follow-up sometime this year. For Europeans, though, it might not come soon enough: the company has confirmed that it’s officially stopping sales of the current Mac Pro in European Union-affiliated countries as of March 1st. Why? Soon-to-be-implemented tougher standards require that companies shield their fans and electrical ports more thoroughly than we see in the existing system, Apple says. While there’s no immediate sign of a replacement, prospective customers who want the tower for projects won’t be completely left out — resellers will be free to sell what stock they have after the cutoff date. That might still be small consolation to European pros who need heavier iron for their tasks than an iMac.
Via: MacRumors
Source: Macworld UK
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