Apple today launched new iPhone and iPod touch models which have double the memory of their predecessors. The 16 GB iPhone, which sells for $500, will not replace the 8 GB version, which remains $400. It is available through Apple.com and its retail stores, as well as AT&T's web site and its retail stores.
iPod touch
The new iPod touch with 32 GB of storage sells for $500, joining the 16 GB model for $400 and the 8 GB model for $300. It is available worldwide from the Apple stores and authorized resellers. Of course, these new models come with the latest software updates, which were introduced last month.
The timing for this announcement is somewhat unusual. Apple's CEO Steve Jobs generally likes to make a big deal out of important announcements like this one, but for some reason passed up last month's MacWorld conference as a venue to show off these updated models. Instead, the company simply posted a press release on its web site and began selling the new devices.
It's possible the timing of this announcement is related to the recent sharp drop in Apple's share price -- from $202 to $130 -- which many have credited on the dearth of compelling new products being introduced at MacWorld.
Although no one is going to complain about greater storage in the iPhone, today's update doesn't include the feature many people have been waiting for: support for 3G wireless networks.
Although AT&T's CEO promised that a 3G model will arrive this year, today's announcement makes it fairly obvious that this version isn't going to be released any time soon.
iTouch 32GB
MacBook Air
For a long time, Apple fans have been hoping for a slim and lightweight version of the MacBook to come along. Even the lightest MacBook was over 4.5 pounds (2kg).
It packs a punch as well, sporting a 1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, 2GB of memory, 80GB PATA hard disk drive, 13.3-inch glossy widescreen display, MacBook-style keyboard with backlighting, super-cool iPhone-like multi-touch trackpad, 802.11n Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 2.1+, and an awesome 5-hours battery life on Wi-Fi.
Sounds amazing! But surely it has its cons right?Sure enough, upon closer inspection you might ask, “Where did the optical drive go?” Apparently, Apple ditched the optical drive to make the thinness possible. Quite a pain if you are a frequent user of optical drives.But as always, Apple offers alternatives. First is the new Remote Disc feature, which is a software that you install on another Mac or PC on your home network, and it automatically shares that computer’s optical drive with your MacBook Air. The second alternative is to purchase the optional external SuperDrive at US$99.
Good things come in slim packages. And slim packages come with heavy price tags. A MacBook Air with the above mentioned specifications is currently priced at US$1,799 And there is a higher-end model which has a better 1.8GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a 64GB solid-state drive instead of the regular disk drive. We’ll probably see less of this model on the streets, as it has a heavy price tag of US$3,098.
Asus Eee PC
All those GHz and dual-core processors sound great, but but surfing the Internet, writing in Word watching films and listening to music are not tasks that require such power. Many are willing to renounce the extra performance in order to save money. Such people value small and portable PCs much more. This is the exact group ASUS Eee PC is targeting. You must have heard a lot about this PC already, since it attracted a lot of attention ever since it was first presented in Computex 2007. What shocked everyone was the specified price of only 200$. In the meantime, it turned out to be unreal, but the 300€ it costs now are also very, very attractive, as it is accessible to almost anyone.
the Eee is not your desktop replacement notebook. It was made to be a secondary, not main computer. You can easily carry it around, since it is very light, and if you have wireless access in your hometown, the usability and practicality of this tiny little guy increase by leaps and bounds. You don't have to be too imaginative to see the delight of web surfing, e-mailing or note taking wherever you are, watching a film during a pause at work etc. It all depends on your needs. Although it is not without flaws (small screen and bad touchpad), ASUS's Eee PC 701 presents a most interesting product, available to anyone at this price point.
Samsung Q1 Ultra UMPC
Samsung is one of the first major vendors to release Q1 UMPC device Running the latest Windows XP Tablet PC edition with Touchpack software it’s a slim and very portable device. However, as most first generation devices it is targeted mainly at early adopters. With about 3 hours operating time and 1.4 hours of external DVD playback time it is not the device that you carry and use everywhere. Especially if you load it with software and have to boot Windows every time you want to use it.
However Instant on Multimedia feature, which bypasses Windows for the playback of media files makes it an interesting competitor for other portable media players. If you don’t mind paying extra $500 for HD media player which doubles as a very portable PC, Samsung Q1 might be a very interesting choice.
Fujitsu LifeBooks P1610 to Get Tougher
Fujitsu Computer Systems Latest News about Fujitsu unveiled two new models in its notebook line that come with something special -- solid-state hard drives that make the computers more durable for work in the field, according to the company.
The two machines, the LifeBook P1610 and the LifeBook B6210 touchscreen, ultra-portable models are now available with either 16 GB or 32 GB drives that store data by using flash memory rather than traditional hard drive technology. These systems are also available with traditional hard disks, as well.
The LifeBooks are also what are known as "convertibles," meaning they can be used as tablet PCs or notebooks.
The allure of creating notebooks with flash memory -- already popular with handheld Get the Facts on BlackBerry Business Solutions devices such as smartphones and MP3 music players -- has taken off in recent months as the flash drive prices have dropped while storage capacity is on the rise.
OQO 02 the Smallest Windows Vista Computer
Bill Gates showcased the OQO 02 ultra-mobile PC in his keynote address at the Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas this week. Weighing a mere one pound and small enough to fit in a pocket, the model 02 is the world’s smallest Windows Vista capable computer, according to OQO.“The model 02 is up to four times faster and has a display more than six times brighter than its groundbreaking predecessor, the model 01+. Redesigned from the ground up, the model 02 features a new ergonomic backlit keyboard and capacitive TouchScrollers for easy input and navigation. The model 02 incorporates complete wireless connectivity – including EV-DO Wireless WAN, WiFi, and Bluetooth,” OQO published.
OQO model 02 is available with a 1.5GHz VIA’s recently released C7M ultra-mobile processor, 60GB hard drive and 1GB of RAM.
MacBooks 15.4-Inch
Apple is planning to introduce 15.4-inch MacBook laptop in the second quarter of 2007. The new model will fill the gap between the current Apple’s 13.3-inch MacBooks and the 15.4- and 17-inch MacBook Pros, DigiTimes reports according to industry sources in Taiwan.It is expected that the prices for the 15.4-inch widescreen MacBooks are likely to be more competitive than their 13.3-inch counterparts, due largely to the relatively lower cost of 15.4-inch LCD panels, and will therefore help push further sales of MacBooks.
The 13.3-inch MacBooks are available in US with prices ranging from $1,099-US$1,499.
DigiTimes also reported last year that the 15.4-inch MacBook laptops will start ship in May 2007.
