11/02, 8:20am
Hacked netbooks out of Snow Leopard beta
Apple may have taken out support for Atom processors in its latest beta seed of Mac OS X 10.6.2, one user says. Those testing it claim Apple has changed support in a way that breaks compatibility with the small Intel chips, including their ability to enter sleep mode through an unofficial extension. If it reaches the final build, the move leaves those making "Hackintosh" systems with little choice either to stay with 10.6.1 or else to wait for an unofficial fix.
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10/30, 1:40pm
Tablet to preference movies, TV over books?
Video is likely to be the next big focus of a lot of Apple's digital content, reports RBC Capital's Mike Abramsky. The analyst recently spoke to three Apple executives, including CFO Peter Oppenheimer; the VP for iTunes and Internet services, Eddy Cue; and finally David Moody, the VP for worldwide Mac marketing. The executives note that video is seen as the next "exploding" opportunity after music, but that it is currently being hampered by several obstacles.
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10/28, 5:50pm
Apple trips may hint major hardware in 2010
Apple engineers are scaling up the number of trips to China to prepare for new products, a rumor indicates this evening. Visits to the Asian manufacturing base are reported by SAI as accelerating and may even include trips during the holidays. The exact nature of the trips isn't mentioned other than that at least one system integration engineer has been one of those making the trips.
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10/27, 8:35am
MSI reader due first half 2010
MSI is developing an e-book reader that would use NVIDIA's Tegra processor at its core, the company's chairman Joseph Hsu says today. Confirming an earlier rumor, the executive admits that a device with the fast graphics and ARM chip combo is in progress but has "some problems" that have pushed a formal unveiling back until sometime in the first half of 2010. Other details will likely only be supplied closer to the actual release.
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10/27, 8:05am
Apple pushing media deals for tablet
Apple has been actively recruiting media producers in Australia for its rumored upcoming tablet, a claim today maintains. The American company has supposedly been giving publishers of various forms some specifications to gauge their interest in developing content formatted and sold for the device. Little is actually mentioned about the tablet itself by the Sydney Morning Herald sources, though it's described again as larger than an iPhone but meant for the web, e-books and movies.
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10/26, 12:40pm
Study: Windows users want cheap Apple tablet
Apple's often-rumored tablet may need to come in well below the rumored $800 price if it hopes to attract Windows users, a study shows today. While Retrevo believes 68 percent of Mac users are willing to opt for the large multi-touch device if it costs over $600, only 36 percent of Windows users asked would agree to the same terms. The difference is similarly wide at $800 where 41 percent of Mac users would pay $800 or more while just 20 percent of Windows users would agree to the same terms.
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10/26, 8:25am
Apple slate seen as impending
Apple's plans to launch a tablet in coming months may have gained credence today through a pair of possible leaks. New York Times executive editor Bill Keller in a speech at Harvard's Nieman Journalism Lab last week included the "impending Apple slate" as one of the platforms he hopes to have carry the newspaper's content, alongside desktop, mobile web and iPhone apps. It's unclear if Keller has advance knowledge or is just acting on rumors, although it's been claimed that Apple is negotiating with publishers for content delivery through iTunes in advance of a tablet.
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10/21, 3:25pm
Developer hints at clandestine deal
A deal signed by a start-up company supports the notion that e-books will be a focus of Apple's forthcoming tablet, claims the Chicago Sun-Times's Andy Ihnatko. The columnist recently spoke with the CEO of LongBox, a business working on a digital storefront for selling the latest editions of comic books. Most comic books sold online come from older archives, limiting their appeal.
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10/09, 10:35pm
Barnes & Noble reader may ship Oct. 20
Barnes & Noble's first e-book reader should launch soon and could introduce a watershed feature for any reader, a contacts claim this evening. The bookstore supposedly has a "major event" scheduled for October 20th where it's likely to introduce the e-book reader it promised for the end of the year. The device is likely to be a grayscale reader but to use AT&T 3G for downloading books online.
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10/08, 5:35pm
Barnes & Noble reader would have virtual keys
(Updated with Android rumor) Barnes & Noble is developing its own high-end e-book reader to help boost its online store, a source close to its plans purportedly revealed this afternoon. Most features are unknown, but it would have a touchscreen and use an iPhone-like on-screen keyboard for searches and similar tasks. A wireless link is also seen by the Wall Street Journal as a key ingredient, though whether this would involve 3G or simply Wi-Fi isn't immediately evident.
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10/07, 7:30am
Apple may ship 300K tablets to start
Apple's often-rumored tablet could ship early next year in relatively modest numbers, a contact said today. Foxconn has reportedly been picked by Apple to make the device and, contrary to rumors of a June ship date, would ship it in early 2010. About 300,000 to 400,000 units would be part of the initial wave.
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10/05, 11:45am
Questions of practicality impede progress
Apple has been working on a rumored tablet computer since at least 2003, claims a group of the company's former workers. Although a final tablet may only be released in early 2010, 2003 is said to have seen the creation of a PowerPC-based prototype, one which would have been impractical for anyone to use. "It couldn't be built," says Joshua Strickland, a former Apple engineer. "The battery life wasn't long enough, the graphics performance was not enough to do anything and the components themselves cost more than $500."
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09/30, 9:05am
Apple rumored putting text on iTunes
A second and potentially more significant rumor today claims that Apple has been courting publications with the aim of putting text on iTunes for the sake of its upcoming tablet. The iPhone creator has reportedly talked to the New York Times, an unnamed magazine publisher (possibly Conde Nast or similar) and textbook publishers McGraw Hill and Oberlin Press to bring their content formatted for the iTunes Store.
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09/29, 7:30am
Ten Apple tablet details
Apple's heavily rumored media tablet has received added details today through a leak from a historically accurate source. The device is now thought to have a 10.7-inch screen -- up from the 9.7 most often suggested -- and to have versions both with a 3G modem as well as without. Resolution would logically increase, but it's now said the display may reach near 720p (1280x720) and would be large enough for comfortably reading books and magazines as well as larger websites and videos.
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09/28, 10:55pm
Tchao back after 15 year hiatus
Apple has rehired a former employee, Michael Tchao, to serve as the vice president of product marketing after a 15 year hiatus, according to the New York Times. Spokesman Steve Dowling confirmed that Tchao will report to Phil Schiller, the senior vice president of worldwide product marketing.
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09/28, 4:10pm
Additionally calls for $800 MacBook
Thomas Weisel analyst Doug Reid has raised his price target for Apple stock, shifting it from $180 to $210. The analyst cites "store checks" as an influence, indicating continued product demand; also important to the target are factors like higher anticipated IT sales, and China Unicom's iPhone deal. The latter is said to support beliefs that Apple could sell 24.9 million phones during FY2010.
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09/26, 7:00pm
Intel Light Peak made just for Apple
Intel's recently unveiled 10-gigabit Light Peak connection standard was actually created at Apple's specific request, according to a major leak. While pitched at IDF as an Intel-made design, the fiber optic connection is now said to have been the direct result of talks between Apple founder Steve Jobs and Intel chief Paul Otellini. Engadget claims that Apple wants a single, high-speed connection standard that would not only take the place of FireWire or USB but also the video and Ethernet signals.
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09/23, 11:10am
Product still unannounced by Apple
Over a fifth of the public may be interested in buying Apple's rumored tablet device, says RBC Capital Markets' Mike Abramsky. The analyst notes that in a recent survey of 3,100 people, 21 percent expressed interest in buying the tablet, despite the lack of an announcement by Apple, or even a detailed set of rumored features. The anticipation is considerably higher than the 9 percent measured for the iPhone in April 2007, says Abramsky.
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09/22, 8:15pm
Microsoft Courier tablet
Microsoft this evening preempted its arch-rival Apple in the tablet game with the Courier, its own self-developed tablet. The rough example discussed at the Gizmodo Gallery event is shaped like a book and has two 7-inch multi-touch displays that fold up when the system isn't in use. It would also support a stylus for handwriting and include a 3-megapixel camera on the back. While not yet certain for final production, Microsoft also suggests that the Courier might use inductive charging to power the device without having to plug it in.
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09/22, 12:15pm
Shifting priorities at Apple
The rumored Apple tablet device is now getting the maximum possible attention from CEO Steve Jobs, accounts say. Although the claim does not differ significantly from earlier reports, new information suggests that the executive considers the tablet to be extremely important, such that it is being deliberately held back from a holiday 2009 release. The goal is to have the most exciting launch possible, and so the tablet should instead become available in 2010, in keeping with some other rumors.
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09/21, 9:40am
Microsoft Pure, Turtle and tablet rumors
Microsoft's Pink project for its own, self-branded smartphones has gained credibility through a series of leaks in recent hours. Veteran observer Mary Jo Foley maintains the project is real and will provide a software overlay for Windows Mobile 7 with a strong focus on services, most likely involving the Zune Video Marketplace as well as a possible Zune Pass music subscription. One or more stand a chance of being previewed at CES in January, but the OS itself isn't due until the second half of 2010.
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09/16, 8:10am
ARM preps 2GHz Cortex A9
ARM this morning said it as developed a 2GHz, dual-core version of its Cortex-A9 architecture. The new design is intended to be built on a newer 40 nanometer (nm) manufacturing process and so achieves the added speed without consuming much if any extra power versus slower parts; ARM estimates just 0.25W per CPU. The design is pitched as ideal for particularly fast home devices that still need either to fit into tight spaces or to use little energy.
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09/15, 7:50am
Apple tablet part details appear
Apple's frequently rumored tablet received more details on Tuesday with an apparent leak of production plans. Taiwan's Economic News claims the touchscreen hardware is now slated for February and that companies will start shipping parts in December. The publication reiterates the presence of a near 10-inch touch display but now insists the tablet will be based on a custom processor (likely ARM-based) from recent acquisition PA Semi and will use HSDPA for its 3G access, likely putting it on AT&T's network.
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09/10, 11:20pm
M712X, M609X digital tablets
Genius has released the G-Pen M609X and M712X, two new additions to its line of digital tablets for graphic designers. The two devices build off the companies previously released M609 and M712 tablets, delivering a variety of new features including both a duel-mode, as well as plug-and-play capabilities. Both tablets come complete with a rolling pad for scrolling in four different directions, along with a cordless pen which can be used to write, draw, sketch or sign e-mails.
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08/25, 6:00pm
Quickscript goes beta
Axiotron has released the public beta version of Quickscript, a handwriting recognition application which can convert handwritten text and characters into digital type. The application recognizes 26 different languages including English, Korean, Japanese, and Arabic and can detect both printed and cursive writing. The program enables users to write in Microsoft Word, Microsoft Excel, Pages, TextEdit and other applications that accept text input.
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08/25, 2:40pm
White MacBook Rework Leak
Apple is in the midst of redesigning its plastic MacBook to cement its share at the lower end of the notebook spectrum, a source said today. An apparent contact for AppleInsider claims that the computer builder is planning a new version of the system that would be lighter and thinner. Redesigned internals would also be part of the plans, though it's uncertain what this would involve.
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08/24, 9:55pm
Jobs Devoted to Tablet
Apple chief Steve Jobs has spent "almost all" his time since his return to work developing the heavily rumored tablet device, according to sources close to the company. Those "people familiar with the matter" tell the WSJ that the executive is committing a level of attention to the project not seen since the original iPhone's development. The sheer control has reportedly been a shock to some workers, who during Jobs' roughly six-month medical leave had some relative freedom on projects.
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07/17, 11:30am
Nomad Storyboard System
Axiotron, in collaboration with Toon Boom, has announced the Nomad Storyboard System, a new hardware and software bundle that combines the Axiotron Modbook tablet with Toon Boom’s Storyboard Pro application. The Nomad Storyboard System provides storyboard developers with a portable tablet that runs Mac OS X and supports stylus input. The system, built from a modified MacBook, is powered by a 2.13GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics components, with 2GB of ram and a 160GB hard drive that can be upgraded to a maximum of 500GB.
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07/08, 3:00pm
Genius releases two pens
Genius has released two new additions to its line of digital tablets, the EasyPen 1405 and MousePen i608. Both tablets incorporate an electronic pen, enabling users to easily design digital artwork on a computer. The pens feature 1024-level pressure sensitivity and two buttons used to control shapes or line thickness while drawing or writing. The EasyPen i405 features a 4-inch by 5.5-inch pad, while 28 programmable Hot Keys can be used to control software and Internet functions.
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03/24, 10:55pm
Wacom unveils Intuos4
Wacom has released the Intuos4, the latest addition to the Intuos line of pen tablets. The company claims the device offers improved pressure sensitivity capable of recognizing 2048 individual levels, while the new tip sensor offers a near-zero starting pressure of one gram. The Grip Pen also features a pressure-sensitive eraser and two side switches that can be configured for commands such as double-click or right-click. An optional wide-body grip is also available.
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01/07, 4:25pm
First Look: ModBook Pro
Axiotron is putting the finishing touches on its second Mac notebook tablet conversion, MacNN got a first-hand look at one of the near-final prototypes. Based on the newest MacBook Pro, the ModBook Pro bears little resemblance to its Apple parent. Gone is Apple's new all-aluminum chassis, replaced by a black machined-aluminum case and a specially-designed glass screen with a slight matte finish. Under the hood, the Apple internals fit snugly in the study custom-made shell.
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12/17, 10:50pm
OWC Modbook upgrades
Other World Computing (OWC) has released new upgrade options for the Axiotron Modbook Mac-tablet. The available components include memory modules, hard drives and optical SuperDrives. Users can choose to have their orders outfitted with 6GB of RAM and single or dual hard-drive configurations, with capacities of up to 750GB when combining a 500GB HDD in the primary drive bay and 250GB HDD in the secondary bay. Customers can forgo the two-drive option and instead add a SuperDrive that features 8x DVD-R burn speeds and support for Dual-Layer discs.
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01/14, 10:20pm
OWC ships ModBook
Other World Computing (OWC) today announced that it is the exclusive distributor of the Axiotron Modbook, which began shipping to customers January 11th and announced its 320GB Mercury On-The-Go drive. The Modbook is the only tablet Mac solution based on the latest, higher performance MacBook base platform and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. The new Axiotron Modbook Tablet also features built-in GPS. The after-market hardware modification brings true pen input, a new 13.3-inch wide screen LCD and Global Positioning System in a "tough," satin chrome-plated magnesium top shell, while keeping all the powerful features of the MacBook base system. Leveraging the built-in Inkwell handwriting recognition in Mac OS X, OWC is shipping configurations up to 2.2GHz (and other MacBook standard items, including an integrated iSight camera, Bluetooth, 802.11n/g/b Wireless, and the CD/DVD combo or Superdrive).
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01/03, 10:45am
HP tx2000 and HDX
As promised, Hewlett-Packard today continued its string of CES announcements with both an upgrade to its home tablet PC and its flagship gaming notebook. The tx2000 is the first major update to the 12-inch convertible tablet from HP and now brings an active pen input that simplifies drawing with a stylus compared to the simpler, passive tx1000. It also boosts speed with a 2.3GHz Turion 64 X2. The system will be available as of next week at a base $1,299 price with a 120GB hard drive, DVD burner, and integrated graphics.
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01/02, 11:55am
Axiotron ships Modbook
Axiotron has begun shipping its Modbook tablet Mac, a modified MacBook with a built-in Wacom digitized pen-sensitive liquid crystal display. The only Mac-based tablet on the market won the Best of Show award at Macworld Expo 2007 after debuting at the event. The Modbook features a 2.0GHz or 2.2GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, Inkwell handwriting recognition software, a 24x DVD combo or 8x DVD SuperDrive, GPS support, and Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard. Modbooks start at $2,300 and include a 1-year warranty.
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12/20, 6:10pm
How to make OS X icons
In brief: We've published a review of the Wacom Bamboo series, there are 10 new ways to trick out your MacBook, a new tutorial explains how to make icons for Mac OS X, the Firefox 3 beta has debuted, and Apple ranks 11th in Web traffic for November ... We've posted a review of the the new Wacom Bamboo Series, which promises tablets for the masses, employing a textured surface to mimic the pen-and-paper feel for your stylus and to replace the mouse in everyday tasks such as handwriting text, drawing, and even general desktop navigation. The Bamboo branding challenged my initial skepticism, turning out to be somewhat apropos; the instrument’s origins reach back to the first bamboo and fur pens in China. Although its sleek look is less than organic, the Bamboo packs the same surprising functionality in a small footprint as it grass namesake.
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12/18, 1:30pm
Dell defends Latitude XT
Dell has taken the unusual step of defending the cost of its new Latitude XT tablet. In a post to Dell's official PR blog, the senior manager for the Commercial Products Team, Glenn Keels, says that the $2,500-plus pricetag for the computer may be extremely high next to similar systems from competitors, but that it is worth it for certain feature enhancements, as well as Dell's three-year warranty.
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