macbook

Apple's WWDC news: New Macbook Pros, iOS 6, upgraded Siri

Apple's news at WWDC today skewed heavily toward its Mac line, with long-awaited updates to its MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, and MacBook Air lines, while also providing a first glimpse of the latest version of its iOS mobile operating system.

The event served as a reminder that while Apple's largest growth drivers are the iPhone and the iPad, its Mac line continues to be an important part of business. To better illustrate the point, Apple unveiled a next-generation MacBook Pro.

That said, the mobile end got its update with iOS 6, which includes 200 new updates, as well … Read more

MacBook Pro goes Retina: Here's what you get

Apple announced the 0.7-inch-thick "next-generation MacBook Pro" this morning. And its marquee feature is a Retina Display, making this the first MacBook to get one.

Resolution: The display boasts a staggering pixel density of 2,880 by 1,800. That's 220 pixels per inch and a total 5.18 million pixels. And that beats the 2048-by-1536 resolution on the third-generation iPad.

Apple's Phil Schiller said it's the world's highest-resolution notebook display. He's certainly right if he's talking about 15-inch laptops.

Screen: Higher contrast ratios, better viewing angles via IPS technology, and … Read more

Retina, really? Maybe on select MacBooks

Retina rumors never cease. And now, according to the latest speculation, those ultra-high-resolution displays will land on select new MacBooks.

A fresh report, based on data from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo with KGI, shows Retina-class displays coming on a 13-inch "MacBook" and 15-inch MacBook.

Those models could be announced at Apple's annual developers conference WWDC2012 next week.

Let's be clear. Retina displays coming to new MacBooks is not the moral certainty that it was for the third-generation iPad. Naysayers say that all of that extra resolution is not necessarily a good thing on a MacBook and a … Read more

'Leaked' spec label details revamped 15-inch MacBook Pro

More "leaked" information seems to support speculation that Apple will soon revamp its line of MacBook Pros.

A new spec sheet sent anonymously to 9to5Mac.com today -- the kind Apple puts on the packaging of its computers -- suggests we may soon see a revamped 15-inch model, in addition to a new 13-inch version teased earlier in the day. The MacBook Pro packaging label is similar to an alleged spec sheet for a 13-inch version that surfaced on Chinese Web site Weiphone. While 9to5Mac goes to great lengths to emphasize that the information is unconfirmed, the image … Read more

WaterField's CitySlicker MacBook Air case is slick, but the handle costs extra

WaterField Designs makes some swanky cases for laptops, tablets, e-readers, and even the PS Vita. The company's latest edition to its catalog is the CitySlicker, a compact carrying case for the MacBook Air and presumably smaller Windows ultrabooks.

Although I haven't gotten my hands on one, the nice thing about it seems to be that while it's slim, it does offer more storage than a laptop sleeve, with a few pockets on the inside and one on the outside for storing the Air's AC adapter and charging cable.

The downside is the price.… Read more

The 404 1,053: Where we'll never pay for that (podcast)

Would you pay $2 if you knew that every single one of your Facebook friends would be exposed to your status update? The social network may soon give an eBay-esque highlight ability to those with the most disposable income, and some users in New Zealand already have access. But what could be so important that you'd pay to spam your friends? Let us know in the comments.… Read more

2012 Ivy Bridge MacBooks, iMacs may soon reach consumers

The new 2012 Ivy Bridge Macs might be coming soon to a store near you, according to a couple of recent hints.

Details revealed yesterday by benchmarking site Geekbench point to a MacBookPro9,1. Powered by Intel's Ivy Bridge chip Core i7-3820QM quad-core running at 2.7GHz, the name and number would seem to indicate the successor to Apple's current 13-inch pro laptop.

However, MacRumors believes that since the i7-3820QM processor runs at 45 watts, it's more likely to surface in the beefier 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro units.

Another Geekbench benchmark page appears to tip off an upcoming new iMac. With the name and number iMac13,2, the new model would appear to indicate a 27-inch iMac. Powering the new iMac is Intel's Ivy Bridge Core i7-3770 quad-core chip clocking in at 3.4GHz.

How do we know this information is legit? … Read more

HP ultrabook prices sink, widening gap with MacBook Air

Best Buy has kicked Hewlett-Packard's Folio ultrabook down to a new low of $798. This is happening as HP announces new competitively priced ultrabooks and as rumors about a $799 MacBook Air swirl.

The HP Folio 13 (model 13-1035nr) is now priced at $797.77 at Best Buy. That includes a "Sandy Bridge" 1.6GHz Intel Core i5 processor; a 13.3-inch display, 4GB of memory, and a 128GB solid state drive. (More specs here.) … Read more

The 404 1,048: Where we can't believe how much it made (podcast)

$200 million. That's how much money "The Avengers" brought in this weekend. And who says the movie industry is in trouble? On today's show we welcome CNET editor Scott Stein to the show and discuss the disgusting amount of money Joss Whedon's Marvel mash-up accumulated. We'll compare it to the other top weekend grossing film of the past 30 years and then decide on whether or not "The Dark Knight Rises" will join the list.

Next we'll get into a discussion about the possibility of an $800 MacBook Air and whether or not Apple settled on the design of the iPad 3. Finally, it's an E3 2012 preview. Scott and I will be at the big show in Los Angeles next month and have some pretty bleak outlooks on what the world's biggest video game expo will bring.… Read more

The 404 1,034: Where Jeff takes an ice nap (podcast)

Jeff took a spill on the ice during a hockey game yesterday, but he manages to limp his way into the studio to help us out with today's rundown. We wouldn't be The 404 if we didn't cover the 2Pac holographic concert at Coachella last weekend, and even though it's technically just a clever optical illusion, we're excited about the upcoming 2.0Pac tour and the potential of resurrecting our own favorite performers from history.

Meanwhile, Ikea furniture designers in Sweden have come up with a new way to vertically integrate their furniture with another … Read more