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rumornabob: new imac and macbook to be released “in the next several weeks”

lambert v. — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 11:30:26 +0000

Research firm Wedge Partners recently claimed that Apple will unveil updates to the iMac and the MacBook within “the next several weeks” (like what, 64 weeks from now?) The MacBook redesign “is likely to be limited,” (perhaps it’ll just be renamed to macbook. or MaCbOoK) while the new iMac will have a “thinner, organic design, likely with smoothed or rounded edges.” No word on specs though.

Wedgie Wedge Partners also thinks that Apple will have another round of price cuts along with the release of the new Macs, as a response to the impending release of Windows 7, Microsoft’s well-received OS, this October. Apple does follow a fairly regular hardware update cycle, so I guess the first part of the rumor is no surprise, but price cuts? Want. Maybe Apple will release a 13″ Unibody MacBook with a removable battery for $1,000. Hah! I wish.

What would you like to see in the next Macbook & iMac? What the hell does “organic design” mean? And what exactly does a “research firm” do? So many questions.

[via Tech Trader Daily via MacRumors]

40gb ps3: sony’s great white hope

technabob — Tue, 09 Oct 2007 20:18:38 +0000

Sony’s PlayStation 3 console has certainly faced its share of challenges in the market. When it hit retailers last year, it cost as much as $600, and had virtually no original gaming content. Sure, it’s got a great Blu-ray disc player, and it looks slick, but without games, few people drank the Sony Kool-Aid. Sony’s latest hope in the console race is a new model that trims out some of the “fat” to get the price more in line with the competition.

The upcoming low-end PS3 sports a 40GB hard drive, and does away with all backwards compatibility with the PlayStation 2 library. Sony also killed the memory card slots, dropped down to just 2 USB ports, and removed support for SACD playback. Thankfully, Sony kept the built-in Wi-fi, which I was concerned would also be eliminated. Since I’m an owner of an original 60GB PS3, I know I’d miss the backwards compatibility. But then again, Sony already crippled this feature with the newer 80GB model, so it’s already pretty much gone as far as I’m concerned.

One big surprise is that the new console will be available in a ceramic white case design, as an alternative to the fingerprint-magnet gloss black of the original PS3 SKUs. (A shiny black model will still be available as well). Maybe Sony thought that since both the Xbox 360 and Wii come in white, that might be a luckier color than black.

The new models will ship day-and-date with the new DualShock 3 controller, which adds vibration feedback. Unfortunately, it looks like the new console won’t ship with the new stick, and instead will get a standard SIXAXIS model. How odd.

The 40GB PS3 will hit stores in Japan on November 11th (for the equivalent of $341 USD) and hopefully we’ll see them in the U.S. sometime soon.

[SCEJ via CrunchGear]

zune 2 price, release date, photos and specs

technabob — Wed, 03 Oct 2007 03:46:32 +0000

Earlier today, we broke the news that new Microsoft Zune media players had shown up on the FCC website for approval. In the last few hours, many more details about the new models have surfaced around the web.

For starters, there will be an 80GB hard drive model, similar to the original Zune models, but packing a larger 3.2-inch QVGA screen, and a slimmer case design. As revealed earlier, smaller 4GB and 8GB flash-based models are also on the way to go head-to-head with the iPod Nano. All three new models will hit stores in mid-November, with the 4GB retailing for $149, the 8GB for $199 and the 80GB for just $249.

Additional details which have surfaced include automatic sync-over-WiFi capability (Apple, are you listening?), and a DRM-free music store (surprise!) As an added bonus to Zune early adopters, the original model (now known as the “Zune 30″) will get a firmware update to match the features of the newer models.

[Official Microsoft Press Release]

[Zune-Online via Gizmodo]

new zune 2 flash-based players confirmed

technabob — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 17:05:59 +0000

By now those in the know are aware that Microsoft is just about set to release several new Zune media players. Thanks to some drawings over at the FCC website, I can confirm that there are definitely new models in the works.

The diagram I was able to dig up shows the label placement on both 4GB and 8GB flash-based player models aimed squarely at the iPod Nano. This drawing all but confirms the leaked photo that Engadget managed to get their hands on yesterday.

For those of you who care, there’s also a drawing of a matching Zune FM transmitter module/dock for use in your car.

Pricing and a release date aren’t confirmed yet, but many rumors are pointing to today or tomorrow. Keep your eye out on the Zune website for an announcement any day now.