I’ve been debating over the possibility of getting the new MacBook Air vs. a MacBook Pro. After doing some research by asking at the Apple Store guys (useless) and reading different articles, came to the conclusion that the new MBA is the best choice don’t want to get into a Mac vs. PC discussion at this moment

In a summary, here are the top 4 reasons (with help from Macworld):

1. Performance:

Macworld has now published a more thorough set of benchmarks, offering a somewhat more real-world assessment of overall performance using its Speedmark 6.5 benchmarking suite and examining all four standard configurations of the new MacBook Air. Among the most interesting observations made in the study is that the new 13-inch MacBook Air actually slightly outperforms the current-generation 13-inch MacBook Pro, a machine that offers a significantly faster 2.4 GHz Core 2 Duo processor as compared to the MacBook Air’s 1.86 GHz version. This comes despite the MacBook Air with its standard 2 GB of RAM being tested against the MacBook Pro with 4 GB of RAM.

2. Smaller Size:

Comparing the 11-inch 1.4GHz MacBook Air to the new 13-inch 1.86GHz MacBook Air, we see the 13-inch system was about 27 percent faster in overall Speedmark 6.5 performance. The new 13-inch MacBook Air was able to display a few frames per second more than the 11-inch MacBook Air in our Call of Duty and CineBench graphics tests, and was faster in Photoshop, HandBrake, CineBench CPU, and MathematicaMark. Duplicating a 1GB file took the same time on all four of the new flash-storage-equipped Airs: 13 seconds.

3. Battery Life:

Compared to their predecessors, the new MacBook Air models show improvement. Looping a movie at full-screen, full brightness and volume set at 1, the 11-inch MacBook Air’s battery ran out of power after 3 hours and 40 minutes. The new 13-inch MacBook Air lasted 4 hours and 25 minutes. The older 2009 2.13GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Air lasted 3 hours and 5 minutes. 30 DAYS IN STANDBY MODE…

4. Faster Flash Storage:

The flash storage helped the new MacBook Air models hold their own against the 13-inch 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro. The 13-inch 1.86GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Air earned a Speedmark score that’s just two points higher than the 13-inch 2.4GHz MacBook Pro. The 13-inch 2.4GHz MacBook Pro was 25 percent faster overall than the 11-inch 1.4GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Air.

What do you think? Send your comments through

2. No Camera
No words can describe or explain the lack of a “tiny” camera on this thing. Perhaps it is related to the multitasking issue? or it is because of the huge load to the new Arm processor? We will never know for sure

3. No Flash
No Hulu? What about those millions of websites with full flash elements? I’m pretty sure Apple was thinking on all of us – users – when decided to let this one out…yeah right!

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Rumors of a Mac Tablet have been circulating around the Apple blogosphere for the past few months. While speculation escalates about the opportunities for an “iTablet” in the consumer market, we can’t help but muse on its applicability to medical records.

There is a seemingly endless amount of medical applications that could be developed for a Mac Tablet. However, we think it would be the ultimate interface for electronic medical records (EMRs). Ease-of-use has been a primary barrier to EMR adoption, so Apple – known for intuitive design and usability – would be welcomed by physicians.

So here we ruminate on the possibility of a Mac Tablet and present ideas on its use with EMRs.

Source: CrunchGear

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Source: Software Advice

Of course this is all based on speculation from a source close to ValleyWag, which states that he’s been recruited by Apple and says the two are locked in talks over a potential sale.

The figure of $700 million comes after Twitter turned down $500 million plus shares from Facebook in the past, but apparently a source close to Twitter says Apple’s offer would be hard to turn down.

The question would obviously remain, no matter who buys the company, how would it make any money? Twitter still has to define a business model that would generate the significant income a 6 million user base and over 1,300 per cent growth should be bringing.

The only likely option would be for Apple to integrate the Twitter model into its iPhone / Mac services… although given the plethora of options available for both those models already, it’s hardly like it would be bringing a huge new fan base to those machines.

Too much cash

But on the other hand, given Apple has a reported $30 billion in cash these days, buying Twitter would be nothing more than small change for the company really, so in reality Jobs could just buy it in order to have Twitter stickers put all over Apple HQ’s walls.

This isn’t the only company Apple’s linked with at the moment, as it apparently also has videogame manufacturer EA in its sights according to rumours.

Given the amount of chat we’re hearing from sources about Apple’s sudden interest in using the iPhone as a gaming platform, this isn’t outside the realms of reality, especially as the likelihood is that games will soon be delivered in the same manner as iTunes provides music and TV shows at the moment.

Via ValleyWag, GameBizBlog and Techradar

Tags: Apple, Twitter, twapple

Rumors of Apple’s forthcoming netbook have been given another little piece of solidity by a Taiwanese touch panel manufacturer confirming it is supplying larger panels to Apple, with shipments set to start in the second half of the year.

The ‘Apple netbook’ rumors are starting to get as boring as the iPhone 3G / Nano / Flip / whatever rumblings that go on for ages, but it appears Apple is doing something with larger touchscreens, and a netbook seems the most likely.

Striking a deal

According to Commercial Times in China, the company has confirmed it has struck a deal with Apple, with Quanta Computer lined up to make the units themselves.

The rumors will have to be taken with a pinch of salt, before diving into a massive pile of the same substance, given that Tim Cook has previously stated: “We think the products are inferior”.

He also stated that the current netbooks have “cramped keyboards” and “small displays”, which might sound like Apple is not coming out with such a device.

But it could perhaps be taken as Apple gearing up for an assault on another market, and given its computing prowess you certainly wouldn’t bet against the Macbook mini taking on the incumbents and winning.

From Digitimes via Engadget

Source: Techradar.com

Tags: Applenetbook, touchscreen apple

As well as new Mac Pros, Apple has announced updates to its consumer desktop line, including a new iMac and an energy-efficient Mac mini with far better integrated graphics.

All the machines have faster Intel Core 2 Duo processors up to 3.06GHz and there’s twice the previous amount of memory for all iMacs. The memory is also DDR3 but the upgrade prices for more memory are extremely expensive as usual.

Apple claims the relaunched Mac mini is the world’s most energy efficient desktop, drawing less than 13 watts of power when idle.

The Mac mini now has the same powerful Nvidia GeForce 9400M integrated graphics as the new MacBook line. It’s available in two main models and combines a 2GHz Core 2 Duo chip with 4GB of memory and up to 320GB of storage.

Both also add-in dual display support with Mini DisplayPort or DVI connections.

What about the iMac?

The iMac line starts with the 20-inch model for £949 and features a 2.66GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB memory, a 320GB hard drive and the 9400M integrated graphics.

The top line 1,920×1,200 24-inch model starts at £1,199 and features a 3.06GHz chip and 4GB of memory. It can also be specified with a 640GB or 1TB hard drive. The iMac also has a Mini DisplayPort connector.

And, as well as the 9400M, other options include the GeForce GT 130 or ATI Radeon HD 4850. As you’d expect, all ship with iLife ’09 and Mac OS X Leopard.

Apple has also dropped the news that its AirPort Extreme 802.11n Wi-Fi Base Station and Time Capsule are now dual-band, with simultaneous 2.4GHz and 5GHz networks for HD streaming. Other manufacturers such as Netgear and Linksys already have these models on the market.

Source: Techradar.com

Tags: Apple, iMac, MacMini

According to apple, Safari 4 is over four times faster than Safari 3. One of the most interesting things around this new version, is its full support for Windows fans, including Windows XP and Vista skins in order to keep a “Windows-like” environment.

Some of the features include: Top Sites, Cover flow, Tabs On Top, Full History Search, Smart Address Field, Smart Search Field, Full Page Zoom, and more …

Download it here >>>

Tags: Safari4, Apple, Chrome, Google

I had the chance to test one of these babies. Paid $289 for a Dell mini 8.9″ at BestBuy (Canada).

Quick Review:

Pros:
- Aesthetics: These “little creatures” are unbelievable nice. The finish and details are top notch
- The screen is one of the best. I could say that they are at an Apple level. No dead pixels or defects whatsoever. The view angles are really good.
- The netbook is super quiet. You cannot even tell if it’s on.
- The ones I got came with XP. They were white (only top cover)
- Boot up was super fast
- Wireless, SD and USB slots work flawless.
- VGA and Ethernet ports
- Everything works under OSX from the beginning.
- All packaging was perfectly designed.
- It is “really” a mini Dell (mini laptop from dell)
- Traditional Trackpad (buttons at the bottom)

Cons:
- No Webcam (these is supposed to be standard now)
- 8Gb SSD is insufficient. If you want to install Windows 7 or OSX, you will need to spent some time figuring it out. IT is not as straight forward as it should be.
- No HDD led. Sometimes, you don’t know if it is doing something
- Battery tops 3 hours max (4 cells)
- Keyboard is not as good as HP or Asus.
- Some glare outdoors – bearable.

That pretty much sums it all. Hope it helps on your decision.

Detailed Specs from Dell:

Processors
- Intel®  AtomTM  Processor (1.6GHz, 512KB L2 Cache, 533MHz FSB)

Operating System
- Genuine Windows®  XP Home Edition SP3

Memory
- Up to 1GB 533MHz DDR2 SDRAM.

Chipset
- Intel®  945PM / GS Express Chipset

Graphics
- Intel®  Integrated Graphics Media Accelerator 950

LCD Display
- Glossy 8.9 inch LED display (1024X600)

Audio and Speakers
- One external speaker

Hard Drives
- Up to 16GB configured with a Solid State drive.

Optical Drives
- None

Ports
- USB 2.0 (3)
- Integrated 10/100 LAN (RJ45)
- 15-pin VGA video connector
- Audio jacks (1-line out, 1 mic-in)
- 4-in-1 Media Card Reader
- AC adapter connector

Power
- 4-cell 32WHr Li-Ion Battery

Camera
- Optional 0.3MP or 1.3MP webcams

Wireless
- 802.11g mini-card

Bluetooth Options:
- Bluetooth®  Internal (2.0) mini-card

Ports, Slots, Chassis
- USB 2.0 (3)
- Integrated 10/100 LAN (RJ45)
- 15-pin VGA video connector
- Audio jacks (1-line out, 1 Mic-in)
- 3-in-1 Media Card Reader
- AC adapter connector  Dimensions & Weight
- Width: 9.13″ (232mm)
- Height: 1.07″ (16.8mm) front / 1.25″ (31.7mm) back
- Depth: 6.77″ (172mm)
- Weight: Starting weight of 2.28 lbs. (1.035 kg)3(8.9″ display, 4 cell battery). Weights will vary depending on configurations and manufacturing variability.

Tags: DellMini, Adamo, netbook

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Tags: SnowLeopard, new OS X, Apple, Windows 7, OS X 10.6, 10.7

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