Apple’s latest Snow Leopard update breaks compatibility with netbooks hacked to run the Mac operating system. But it’s unlikely that the move signifies the company’s future plans to clamp down on the “Hackintosh” community, observers say.

That’s because Apple’s Mac OS doesn’t support non-Apple products to begin with, so it would be misleading to say the latest update (10.6.2) “pulls” that support. In fact, Apple might not have even been aware that it was “breaking” support for hacked netbooks with this update at all.

“Apple doesn’t have any hardware that relies on the Atom processor, so making sure that OS X supports the CPU probably isn’t just low on the priority list; it’s probably not even in the same zip code as the priority list,” said Brad Linder, writer of Liliputing, a netbook enthusiast blog.

Still, Mac clones should be a touchy topic for Apple. For a brief period in the 1990s — when Steve Jobs was still exiled from Apple — Apple CEO Michael Spindler licensed the Mac operating system to several manufacturers. The move did not fare well for the company: Apple was near bankruptcy when Jobs retook the helm in 1997. One of the first items on Jobs’ agenda was to destroy the clone program, closing the gates to the Mac OS.

More recently, Apple has also been in a legal battle with Psystar, a startup selling computers hacked to run Mac OS X. But that legal pursuit is a move to protect Apple’s intellectual property against other companies that could threaten the Mac marketshare.

Thus, although the latest Snow Leopard update seems to disable “support” for netbooks, it’s likely Apple still doesn’t care enough to take action against consumers hacking away at their netbooks. A more simple, and probably true, explanation is likely that Apple is cleaning up Snow Leopard and optimizing code, said Michael Gartenberg, an Interpret technology analyst.

“People are always ascribing these nefarious Oliver Stone-like notions about Apple, but they’re often wrong,” Gartenberg said. “If Apple were really serious, there are a number of ways to make it impossible to run OS X on any system.”

Apple’s lack of a netbook offering doesn’t appear to affect the company. Last month, the company posted earnings results for its most profitable quarter ever. Apple also set a record for selling more Macs in a quarter than ever before, with 3.05 million units sold.

“The financial results show that Apple’s not feeling any hurt from not having a netbook,” said Jason Snell, editorial director of Macworld magazine. “It just keeps selling more laptops, and making more money on them.”

See Also:

• Hack of the Clones: Why Apple Can’t Stop the Copies
• Psystar Marches Forward With Beefy Mac Clone
• Genius Bar Clones and Other Crazy Apple Conspiracies

Photo: Charlie Sorrel/Wired.com

Web 2.0 cheerleader Michael Arrington’s inexpensive web tablet CrunchPad may be in mortal danger.

Higher-than-expected costs and repeated delays could mean the end of the project, says Silicon Alley Insider.

Arrington has said earlier the CrunchPad will be ready this year “for sure.” But the device has already missed a number of deadlines. It was last expected at the end of July or early August.

Arrington first wrote about the idea of a touchscreen tablet in June last year. He talked of a touchscreen device that would run Firefox and maybe Skype on top of a Linux kernel. The tablet would have low end hardware– a power button, a headphone jack, built in camera for video, speakers and a microphone. It would come with Wi-Fi, 512 MB of memory, 4 GB solid state hard drive and no keyboard. All this for a promised price tag of $200.

Since then, some industry watchers have suggested that the price of the CrunchPad may have doubled to at least $400 because of the cost of production.

If true, the CrunchPad risks alienating customers during a tough economic environment. But more importantly, its delay could push it against the widely-rumored Apple tablet scheduled for release early next year. Apple is reportedly working on a tablet PC that could be sold for around $700 to $800.

Through all this, the otherwise voluble Arrington has remained silent. He did not return Wired.com’s request for a comment.

Still the Crunchpad carries high expectations. The fact that no one outside Arrington’s inner circle has seen the device didn’t deter Popular Mechanics from naming it to its 10 most brilliant products of 2009 list.

See Also:

• CrunchPad Nears Production, Looks Awesome
• Web 2.0 Mogul Michael Arrington Creates New Web Tablet
• Rumor: $800 Apple Tablet Coming in October
• Magazine’s Product Of Year Doesn’t Actually Exist

The Adamo XPS is a daring slice of design and engineering. Quite frankly, it’s batshit insane.

I mean that in the best possible way.

It really is impossibly thin. I felt like I was holding a single sheet of aluminum that was contoured into the curved shape of a laptop. I set it down, gingerly, because I didn’t want to break it, since I didn’t know at the moment that it was $1800. My finger slid across the latch to disengage the heat-sensitive capacitive latch.

There was no visible sign my stroke was the lucky one, so I waited a second before prying the top half upward. It wasn’t entirely seamless—I had to hold the bottom half down as with a single finger as I pulled the display open and the keyboard slid forward, like a notebook out of a Pierce Brosnan-era James Bond era. The metal keys were cold. Which I kind of liked, actually.

When it’s in full bloom, the entire computer is propped up, resting on the front edge of the keyboard and outer edge of the display, so from the side it looks like an L that’s had its foot broken. It’s one reason I think the Adamo XPS is insane—there’s just nothing else like it, and that’s what I love about it, all practical issues aside. Like one I suspected initially, and confirmed when I had to balance it near the window—it’s going to be tricky to actually use in your lap. Do you let the overhang reset against your kneecaps? Or do you perform a balancing act, resting the slim edges on your legs, hoping you don’t lean one way or the other? The design’s not simply to show off your $1800 Ginsu blade by Dell, either—it’s for heat dissipation.

The 1366×768 LED display is sunken, so there’s a rim around it. That’s because the bottom folds up into the top, with a puffy lip, holding the webcam and mic, hanging over it. I worry slightly about the camera lens getting scratched, since it’s exposed whenever the Adamo XPS is closed.

I didn’t get to actually use the computer much, but it’s got essentially the same ultralight guts as the original Adamo, with the important distinction that it’s running Windows 7, so it should be a smoother ride in theory. The 20Whr battery, however, is only rated to deliver 2 hours and 36 minutes of battery life, so it’s going to be a very short ride. There’s a 40Whr battery available that doubles the life, but it murders the whole point of the Adamo XPS. It has 2 USB ports, DisplayPort video out (with an optional HDMI dongle) and a dongle for ethernet.

Really, it’s more a work of art and engineering than a functional computer, but honestly? That’s just fine, though, because it’s a pretty fantastic one.

DELL ANNOUNCES ADAMO XPS, A DAZZLING GIFT IDEA FOR STYLE-MINDED THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
· World’s Thinnest Laptop is 0.4-inch thin

· Adamo XPS Reinforces Dell’s Commitment to Craftsmanship and Design

· Advanced Head-Turning Design Offers Full Feature Set for On-The-Go Computing

ROUND ROCK, Texas, Nov 5, 2009 … Last spring Dell set the computing industry abuzz with the introduction of its Adamo brand, and along with it the world’s thinnest laptop PC. Today, the world meets a new champion of thin: The Dell™ Adamo XPS™, measuring 9.99mm or just four-tenths of an inch. Both laptops set new standards for craftsmanship, design and engineering excellence.

Adamo XPS is a stunning laptop whose design provides a unique experience. With the swipe of a finger, the keyboard appears from under the display as the system is open. The feature set challenged engineers to build the latest technology into a compact space, including:

· 4GB* DDR3 800 memory;

· Intel Core 2 Duo (1.4Ghz) ultra-low voltage processor;

· Thin 128GB SSD for faster, cooler, quieter and more durable storage than traditional hard drives;

· A 13.4-inch high-definition display.

The attention to detail is apparent in the black, jewelry box-like packaging that is as striking as the laptop itself. A tug on a cloth loop reveals the Adamo XPS and assorted accessories that accompany the system. The Adamo XPS was recently recognized as the hottest Windows 7 product by leading technology analyst Rob Enderle with Digital Trends.

Adamo, derived from the Latin word meaning “to fall in love,” is a flagship in a line of products created to disrupt the personal computing space with the combination of new design aesthetics, personalization choices and sought-after technologies.

The Adamo by Dell brand was launched last March with the first Adamo laptop, which combined high-performance technologies in a finely-machined aluminum case only .65-inch thick.

The pencil-thin Adamo XPS weighs just over 3 pounds** and measures 13.39 x 10.71 inches. Dell expects to begin taking orders and shipping the Adamo XPS with Microsoft® Windows® 7 pre-installed in time for the holidays. The Adamo XPS is priced starting at $1799. More information is available at www.adamobydell.com

[Dell]

In the video above, Apple’s senior vice president of industrial design Jonathan Ive offers a rare glimpse into his design process. He discusses the latest line of aluminum products; the iMac, the MacBook family, the iPhone and the iPod Nano each make appearances.

Watching the clip, you’ll understand why Apple seems obsessed with looks. Ive talks about gadget design like an artist would speak about his paintings. He’s one heck of a passionate guy.

See Also:

• Design According to Ive

Thursday is a big day for Windows users. Microsoft is finally making Windows 7 publicly available, and the number of pre-orders for the operating system on Amazon.com has already surpassed orders for Harry Potter in the U.K.

Not bad for an operating system that costs $120 and doesn’t even have any magic wands or dragons in it.

That’s a good indicator that a lot of people are upgrading, and we’re sure there will be even more that follow after consumers spread the word about the vast improvements in Windows 7 over its predecessors. Here’s a simple guideline of what you should know to ensure your upgrade process is smooth — from purchase to install.

1. You should get this upgrade
We’ve written about Windows 7’s strong points as well as its weaker points. On balance, we’re confident saying this is the best Microsoft operating system yet. If you’re running any earlier version of Windows, you’ll almost certainly want to upgrade — and you should feel no hesitation about buying new computers preloaded with Windows 7.

2. But you’ll have to pay for it
Apple offers an upgrade to its latest operating system, Snow Leopard, for $30 — and you can even take advantage of it if you don’t have the previous version, Leopard. Not so with Microsoft: You’ll need to pay $120 for the upgrade — or even more, depending on which version you get. (Unless you’re a smart shopper and can find a discounted price. See tips 6 and 7 below for details on which version to buy and how to find discounts.) As with previous versions of Windows, Microsoft has created a bewildering array of variations.

3. Double-check compatibility with your hardware
Paranoid about losing access to some of your third-party accessories and software after upgrading? You should be, at least a little bit. Microsoft claims Windows 7 will work smoothly with most third-party gadgets and software, but to be on the safe side, you should check out the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor. The tool automatically scans your system and provides a report of any potential issues, as well as steps to resolve them.

4. Scout for computers shipping with Windows 7
If you’ve been shopping for a new computer — but waiting for Windows 7 to come out first — there’s a Microsoft tool to help search for new computers that ship with Windows 7. It’s called PC Scout, and it searches for computers based on your preferences. As of this writing, the results don’t bring up Windows 7 systems (since Windows 7 isn’t officially released yet), but the website clarifies that all the computers listed in the database are eligible for a Windows 7 upgrade. That means if you purchase one of those computers today, all you have to pay is $10 for shipping, and you get the Windows 7 upgrade free. By the time Windows 7 ships, the PC Scout should be showing results for computers that include Windows 7.

Amazon customers shopping for Windows 7 computers: There’s a web page just for you. Amazon breaks down a list of netbooks, notebooks and desktops shipping with Windows 7, so definitely check those out.

5. Upgrading from XP? Back up your data, wipe and migrate
Windows XP users cannot do a straight upgrade; they’ll have to back up their files, format their hard drive and perform a clean install. After your fresh copy of Windows 7 is on your computer, Microsoft offers a tool called Easy Transfer to migrate your files.

(If you’re a Vista user, you’ll be able to upgrade without doing a clean install — though fresh installations are generally recommended for optimal performance anyway whenever you switch to a new operating system.)

6. Know what you want
Disregard the awful, intimidating Windows 7 upgrade chart when you’re picking a version to buy. Choosing the right version really isn’t as complicated as Microsoft has made it sound in the past. Consumers: The vast majority of you should go with Windows 7 Home Premium. Business users: Most of you will want to go with Windows 7 Professional. (There’s a Windows 7 Ultimate edition, but that’s aimed at a very niche audience of ultra geeks who want to do everything they could possibly imagine doing with their computers.) Again, if you want to be safe, use the Upgrade Advisor to check your hardware and software compatibility.

7. Look for limited-time discounts
If you’re buying Windows 7 while it’s brand new, you shouldn’t be paying the full price. Microsoft and its partners are holding a weeklong sale called “7 Days of Windows 7.” Companies offering Windows 7 discounts with Microsoft include Best Buy, Dell and Acer. You can sign up to hear about daily offers on Windows.com. Also, you can check discount-aggregation sites such as PriceGrabber.com or Froogle.com to find the cheapest Windows 7 deals.

See Also:

• 7 Good Reasons to Switch to Windows 7
• 7 Reasons to Avoid Windows 7
• First Look: Windows 7 Shapes Up as Microsoft’s Best OS Yet …