-What's up, AppleByters?
Brian Tong here and welcome to the show that gives you the warm fuzzies.
Ooh!
Did you feel that?
I know I did.
All right, it's all the good and bad inside the world of Apple and we're kicking things off with the all new iMacs.
Now, we have the scoop and our sources delivered, so let's take a look at these bad boys with our own Rich Brown.
-Hi.
I'm Rich Brown, Senior Editor for CNET.com.
Today, we're gonna take a look at Apple's brand new 27-inch iMac.
So, we have here the $1999 version of Apple's new iMac.
Now, you might notice that this system look basically the same as Apple's older iMacs and indeed, most of the changes are actually on the inside.
It comes with Intel's second generation Sandy Bridge Core CPU family.
It comes with AMD's Radeon 6000 Series graphics chips.
It also has support for FaceTime, which you may be familiar with from the iPhone.
It also has brand new Thunderbolt ports, which we'll get to in a minute.
So while the design of the iMac hasn't really changed too much, looking at the front of the system, you can still see one of its biggest advantages.
No other all-in-one in the market has a 27-inch display, much less a display that goes as high resolution as this model, and the only change to the ports in this system are the 2 Thunderbolt ports down here.
Now, Thunderbolt is designed to eventually replace USB and FireWire and the very sort of messed up ports that you get in the back of your system.
With 2 Thunderbolt ports, it can actually support 2 extra monitors.
Now, you actually have a couple of Mini DisplayPort cables here and that's compatible with Thunderbolt.
So, when we connect these, the iMac will detect the other 2 monitors automatically and span the screen across to give you a nice giant workspace.
So, once you have the screen all connected, you just open up System Preferences and set the screens up in the order you'd like them to flow.
Now, with the new Radeon HD 6000 Series Graphics Card, the system actually is a pretty decent gaming box.
The only problem is, as always, the Mac gaming library is limited.
So, it likely depends on your interest.
If you want a great-looking PC that's fast, the iMac is probably your best bet.
If you're looking for a more home-oriented system that can get the kids involved with the touchscreen, play some Blu-rays,
or maybe even integrate with other home media devices, a Windows all-in-one is probably your better bet.
For all of that though, this iMac is one of the best systems on the market for professionals and we definitely recommend it for anybody looking for a great-looking system with a gigantic screen and fast performance.
So, I'm Rich Brown.
This is Apple's new 27-inch iMac.
-Now, that was a refresh worth waiting for especially the triple screen action.
Now, a couple of things to mention, previous iMacs have a mode called Target Display Mode which allowed you to connect other devices like a PS3 or Xbox 360 to the iMac and use it as a monitor.
The new Thunderbolt-equipped
iMacs require a source sending video to have a Thunderbolt port to do so, which would only include current Macbook Pros and other iMacs, so that's a bummer for you console gamers.
Now, Apple is also giving you the option when you order online to replace the Magic Mouse with a Magic Trackpad instead, and I know they want us to be all touchy feely, but exclusively using a trackpad with a desktop, I'm just not feeling it.
Now, sticking with the desktops and the Mac OS,
AppleInsider is reporting that Apple will release the Mac OS X Lion upgrade through the Mac App Store.
They've been doing this with all the latest developer builds of Lion.
Apple's slimming down the products like the Macbook Air by removing the optical drive and they've been limiting shelf space in the retail stores as well by removing software to sell higher-profit hardware.
Now, I'm a big fan of this idea moving towards digital distribution, but I still like having an OS disc handy, too.
What can I say?
I like physical goods.
Now, on the latest build of Lion, it looks like it will also be bringing in iOS-like
uninstall process for Mac Store Apps to make deleting apps easy as apple pie, and that's not really a funny joke.
Okay.
Now, while you wait for Lion, iOS 4.3.3 was recently released and you wanna get this update if you haven't already.
It fixes those Apple bugs and will no longer backup your location log to iTunes.
It will reduce the size of your log to 7 days on your mobile iDevice and it deletes the entire log when you turn off location services.
iOS 4.3.3 is also being nicknamed "bug spray".
Now, also if you're wondering when the iPhone 5 is really being released, an AT&T customer care rep has told a Mac Rumors reader, who then told Mac Rumors that, "Apple has informed us that they do not plan to release the iPhone in the June to July timeframe, though there will be a newer version in the future".
Now, I know you're probably thinking, I might as well say, "I am your father's brother's nephew's cousin's former roommate." But, if
the iPhone 5 was coming in June, you'd also hear about Apple retail and carrier stores blacking out employee vacation time, and we're not.
Also, if you wanna talk about even a bigger reach, RCR Wireless claims multiple sources are telling them that Apple is planning 3D technology in the next generation iPad 3.
RCR says that Foxconn, the Taiwanese manufacturer that builds lots of Apple's toys, has already spilled the 3D iPad beans.
Now, this is very early rumor stuff.
I don't believe it but
do you guys really want a 3D iPad?
And how would you even use it?
Let us know and we'll read some of your e-mails next week.
All right, let's take a break to check out our iPhone app of the week.
This week is an app that I couldn't resist showing you all.
It's called "Paint for Cats" and it's $1.99.
It's an iPad app that has this rainbow mouse running around so your cat can paw around with it and become an iPad Picasso.
Now, don't tell me your cat is creative.
Seriously, my 2-year-old nephew
can draw better than that.
But more importantly, you know why there isn't a "Paint for Dogs" app?
That's because dogs can actually paint.
Ooh, me, ouch!
All right, onto the Quick Byte.
Dispelling all the rumors, CNET decided to actually measure the white iPhone against the black iPhone, and from the models we tested, the results show there is a difference.
But it was only a fraction of a millimeter and it would have no effect on using it with third-party cases
and accessories.
Now, Time Incorporated has also reached a deal with Apple on iPad subscriptions that will now allow subscribers of its physical magazines to access the iPad versions through its app for magazines like Sports Illustrated, TIME, and Fortune.
And check out this mock up for an iOS notifications concept.
We know Apple is actively revamping it in iOS 5, but we don't have a clue to what it will look like.
But if they need some help, they should take some notes from these guys and maybe, you know, borrow a few ideas who created this killer video concept.
So, maybe Apple can squeeze a few of these things in before WWWDC in June.
All right, that's gonna do it for this week's show.
Send us your e-mails to theapplebyte@cnet.com.
We'll throw a few into the next show.
I'm Brian Tong.
Thanks for watching and we'll see you next week for another byte of the Apple.
