Apple's Brick: A Radical New Laptop?

When they're not hand-wringing over the recent drop in Apple's share price, Mac enthusiasts have been transfixed lately by the mystery product, code-named "brick," that's due for release later this month.

Some bloggers and pundits have suggested it might be a new iteration of Apple TV or an updated Mac Mini. But according to a report on 9to5Mac.com, "brick" refers not to what it is, but how it's made. The Web site, which cites an anonymous source, says the code name has to do with a manufacturing process for Apple's MacBook and MacBook Pro lines of laptops. Apple (AAPL) will build the notebook out of a single piece of carved-out aluminum—a brick.

Whatever it signifies, the new computer may be precisely what Apple Chief Financial Officer Peter Oppenheimer meant when he referred to a "new product transition that I can't talk about yet" during Apple's most recent earnings conference call in July. The transition is among the reasons Apple said it expects to make lower gross profit margins (BusinessWeek.com, 7/22/08) during the next several quarters.

But if the new product does prove to be a notebook made from a block of aluminum, how much pressure are Apple's margins likely to undergo? More to the point, would Apple's brick be a brick?

Savings on Materials and Labor

A radically different production method might well boost costs, at least at the outset. But there could also be savings from the change, says Kevin Keller, an analyst at market research firm iSuppli. "If you're working with one single unit of metal, you're reducing a lot of the materials costs and also a lot of labor time on assembly," he says.

Using a single piece of metal would also provide the opportunity for the kind of design flourishes that distinguish Apple and its chief executive, Steve Jobs. Screws might be minimized or eliminated entirely. Seams joining different pieces of metal would disappear. In short, these notebooks would be unlike anything else on the market in appearance and design.

Apple has been known to push the envelope on notebook design over the years. Its metallic MacBook Pros have inherited a distinctive look and feel that dates to 2001 when Apple launched its PowerBook G4 product line. Since then, there has always been a metal notebook, sometimes boasting a titanium shell, sometimes one of aluminum.

But coring out a block of aluminum, while fairly common in some products, such as types of wireless telecom gear, is a slow process, Keller says. "The issue for Apple, which would presumably be doing it millions of times, would be speed," he says. "It's very time-intensive." Presumably, Apple could bring innovation aimed at streamlining the manufacturing process, he adds.

Patent Filings

Apple declined to comment on its plans, but the company has made patent filings related to the design of notebook enclosures. In May 2007, it filed for a patent on a design for "enclosure parts that are structurally bonded together to form a singular composite structure.… That is particularly useful in portable computing devices such as laptop computers."

Another important factor in the success of these new laptops is where they would be made. 9to5Mac's informant suggests that Apple might bring final assembly of the product in-house. In a world where notebook PCs are made almost exclusively by third-party manufacturers because of labor costs, the thought of Apple getting back into the business of manufacturing notebooks would send shivers up the spine of any shareholder. "I'd be shocked if they started doing any of their own assembly," says Andy Hargreaves of Pacific Crest Securities in Portland, Ore. "That's the kind of drastic step that would hurt profits. I'm just not sure what the advantages would be."

Then there's the expense of setting up a factory, purchasing the equipment, securing the real estate, and hiring the labor. None of this could be done on the cheap, though Apple at last count had nearly $21 billion in cash and could easily absorb the expenditure. Apple owns a 305,000-square-foot manufacturing space in Cork, Ireland, that also houses a customer-support call center. It also owns an 805,000-square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Sacramento. Building and ramping up a factory is an enormous project that takes a lot of time and a considerable effort around logistics. Parts have to be shipped in, and finished products have to be shipped out.

Buying Real Estate

There's no evidence Apple has undertaken the construction of a new facility, though in recent years it has been purchasing real estate near its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., for a second corporate campus. On the off chance Apple wants to do some of its own manufacturing, the company would most likely be considering a site in China. "If they're doing this at all, there is no doubt in my mind that it would have to happen in Asia," Keller says.

Apple stock rose 1.07, to 98.14, on Oct. 6, though it has been hammered in recent months on concerns that the economic slowdown and financial market crisis gripping Wall Street will crimp demand for its products. Whatever form its brick takes, Apple will want to ensure that it can be manufactured as efficiently as possible—and hold plenty of appeal for consumers.

 

Business Week

Les nouveaux iPod débarqueront bien le 9 septembre !!!

1080p : le produit « mystère » ?

Robert Cringely de PBS a sa petite idée sur le futur fameux produit « mystère » qui agite la petite bulle Mac depuis que Peter Oppenheimer y a fait allusion.

Et désolé, il ne s’agirait ni d’une « iTablette », ni d’un MacBook touch, ni rien de tout cela, mais de l’intégration dans toute la gamme d’ordinateurs de la pomme d’une puce de décodage/encodage en h.264 1080p.

Cette puce conçue par NTT et NHK est désormais abordable, Apple pourrait l’obtenir en grande quantité pour 50$ la pièce.

Plus performante donc que le que le 720p (qu’on connaît par exemple sur l’Apple TV), cette puce permettrait à Apple de proposer des fichiers en très haute définition sur l’iTunes Store, pour peu qu’on ait acheté un ordinateur équipé - et qu’on dispose d’une bande passante plus que correcte !

Cela permettrait à Apple de prendre la tête du marché du 1080p, où la concurrence est encore peu présente. Reste maintenant à vendre cette technologie qui ne s’impose pas encore auprès du grand public...

Source - Contenu anglais

Download shared iTunes Library over internet with Mojo!

Share any song in your iTunes library and download any song from your friends' iTunes libraries over the internet with freeware application Mojo.More…

Rumeur De Lecteur Blu-ray Pour Apple

Selon la rumeur, les lecteurs Blu-ray devraient faire leur chemin vers la famille Apple MacBook Pro, car Apple serait en train de discuter activement avec Sony pour inclure ces lecteurs dans les prochains modèles. Eh bien, si cela se produit, assurez-vous que vous travaillez près d'une prise électrique, car les lecteurs Blu-ray sont connus pour leurs consommations d'énergie gargantuesques (à en juger par les modèles de la première génération d'ordinateurs portables).

Apple annonce demain...

Apple annoncera demain la disponibilité dans trois semaines des applications pour iPhone.

L'information nous vient d'un développeur de logiciels -dont nous conserverons l'anonymat- auteur de plusieurs applications pour les iPhones "jailbreakés". Apple devrait annoncer demain, 26 février, la disponibilité des applications "officielles" pour l'iPhone dans trois semaines sur l'iTunes Store. On devrait en savoir un peu plus sur le fameux SDK (Software Development Toolkit) qui permettra aux éditeurs de créer officiellement des applications pour l'iPhone, ainsi que sur le système de paiement et de téléchargement mis en place pour elles.
Pour distribuer officiellement ses applications reprogrammées, le développeur en question se déclare prêt "si nécessaire, à stopper la distribution des versions "jailbreakées" actuelles". Quant à savoir si Apple consentira à distribuer des logiciels pour iPhone qui existaient au préalable en version "pirates", il nous a déclaré être sûr que la Pomme "veut distribuer des logiciels de qualité qui plaisent aux utilisateurs et qui lui permettent de toucher une part des bénéficies". Fussent-ils pirates auparavant, tous les éditeurs sont bienvenus tant qu'ils consentent à partager !

 

 SVM Mac.fr

 

Top 100 Essential Mac Applications

I love my Mac and I have hundreds of applications installed on it. As a result I wanted to do a post on what I believe are the top 100 Mac applications that are essential to any user. I've picked a variety of applications that I could think of. I have tried to go for the cheaper free option, but quite a few you have to pay for. If you think I am missing an application leave a comment with a link to the app and why you should think it should be included, it doesn't have to be long, I just want your opinions. If you disagree with any leave a comment with your reasons.

http://www.mactricksandtips.com/2008/01/top-100-essential-mac-applications.html

MacBook Air : Apple confesse quelques problèmes

Alors que les premiers exemplaires du MacBook Air viennent d'être envoyés aux utilisateurs les plus assidus, Apple ne manque pas de souligne qu'il subsiste quelques problèmes à cet ordinateur portable.

Sur une note publiée sur le site de la firme à la Pomme, on constate, en effet, que l'utilisation d'un écran externe, ou même l'utilisation de périphériques Bluetooth risque de causer des interférences avec un réseau WiFi utilisant la plage des 2,4 GHz. La firme admet également qu'il est possible de rencontrer des problèmes de compatibilité entre le MacBook Air et des écouteurs audio, du fait de la petite taille de la trappe qui abrite le connecteur jack. Une information indique également que la version de Leopard - le système d'exploitation - fournie avec un MacBook Air ne fonctionnera pas sur un autre ordinateur Apple. En plus du prix de la machine, proche de 1700 euros, ces quelques lacunes risquent de décourager certains utilisateurs... Affaire à suivre !

MacBook Air recommendation: 10 reasons to wait

As the Macintosh guru in my group of friends and colleagues, the question on everyone's mind over the past week (other than "what happened to Apple's stock price!?") is "what do you think of the MacBook Air? - and should I buy one?" Rather than answer everyone separately, let me share my pre-1st hand knowledge/thoughts. Keep in mind, I've been called an Apple Fanboy enough times for me to think it might be true....

The MacBook Air is an amazing piece of machinery. It is ahead of its time on a lot of fronts. However, some details certainly are cause for concern.

1. The processor. Intel is late on their delivery of their ultra-low power 45nm laptop chips. Clearly, the MacBook Air is the exact computer that these types of chips belong in. So Apple and Intel spun it as going out of their way to do something special. That something special was jimmy-ing a 65nm chip onto a board that was made for a 45nm one. The 45 nm chips will be arriving by mid-year and will likely be put in rev 2 of the MacBook Air. They will use less power per CPU cycle and that five hour battery life could easily turn into six - and with the reduced power consumption, they might be able to crank the processor speed up to and beyond 2 Ghz or maybe even fit in some more wireless options..
2. Wireless. I am not talking about Wifi which the Air has in spades, I am talking about 3G/WiMAX here. It isn't built in. For the road warriors that this device is made for, having 3G Internet access is almost a prerequisite. Of course you can get a decidedly unsexy USB 3G "dongle", but Apple is going to eventually have to cave to pressure and start including these things in its products. Dell, HP and others have included this functionality for years! Apple could even partner with their iPhone buddies, AT&T on this and offer a seamless package. Or how about WiMAX with Intel? Intel is building WiMAX into its next round of CPUs. Again. Rev 2. More on the missing 3G here.
3. As much as I hate to say it about Apple - or any company - Rev 1 parts are glitchy - especially the first ones off of the assembly line. I pre-ordered/picked up one of the first MacBook Pros out of the factory a few years ago. Over the course of that first year, nearly every part on it had to be replaced (Motherboard, HD, battery, etc). It is almost a whole new machine after all of the part swaps. That doesn't mean Apple wasn't quick and happy to replace everything - and it is still a solid machine: I am typing on it now as a matter of fact. However, it was a pain to lose it for a few days at a time and my early impressions of it shot my confidence in its quality. These MacBook Airs are going to be going to the people who don't really have that much patience and desire to send it back to Apple for a few days while they swap defective parts - especially at the price premiums.
4. Option 1: 80GB Hard Drive. I've booted my MacBook Pro from an iPod before. It isn't fast - I wouldn't want to have to do this on a regular basis - especially on a brand new, expensive machine. Apple may have added a few tricks, but the bottom line is that the 80GB hard drive is still a 1.8 inch 4200 rpm iPod hard drive - which is not only significantly slower than 2.5 inch drives at 7200RPM but also more prone to damage from shock. (UPDATE: The 80GB hard drive model has been tested) Apparently there is not enough room in there for the 160GB iPod hard drive either - it isn't an option. That is tight! The next round of 1.8 inch drives will be faster, smaller and store more information. Me? I don't want to be using an iPod drive on my laptop - which leads to...
5. Option 2: That $1000 64GB SSD drive. It is the top of the line, fastest 1.8 inch form factor solid state drive out there. But this is an area that is growing by leaps and bounds. Soon there will be 128GB (or 96GB - there is a 48GB SSD drive afterall) sized drives available for this thing. By midyear or earlier they should be hitting the same price points at the current 64GB SSDs. Meanwhile the 64GB drives will cost about half of what they do now. Those price points seem a lot more digestible to me.
6. Docks. Right now there isn't much in the way of docking stations for this thing. With the exception of Kensington's USB dock not much comes close. This is definitely a problem in need of a solution. I'd like to see something that plugs into the MicroDVI port as well - and include a superdrive in a sexy package - these laptops aren't going to the aesthetically challenged.
7. Overall speed. The specs of the MacBook Air pretty much line up with a last generation (Rev B) Mac Mini or 1st generation Rev A MacBooks. Some specs are lower, some are higher. So you'd expect a similar experience from this machine. For the high-end target market to which this is obviously aimed, that speed may not sit well.
8. Expandability. Everyone has been talking about the lack of expandability of the MacBook Air - which overall I think is unfair, concessions had to be made. However, some things do stick out. RAM. It doesn't take up much space and I want as much as possible. Apple, make a 4 GB option! Street prices say this should be $300 more (Rev 2?) but Apple charges 2-5 times more than street costs. Realistically, pricing details this small won't matter to high end users. Battery. There have to be more options. I am sure someone will make a MagSafe adaptable external battery/crank/solar charger - but until then, once you use your 4-5 hours, you are SOL until an AC/DC outlet avails itself. Think ten hour overseas flights without power - believe me, they exist.
9. Size. "Thin! thin! thin!" If Apple had its way, that is all you'd hear about. Well that isn't the only dimension that matters. The truth is that this is hardly an utraportable. It has roughly the same footprint as a MacBook - with the same wasted space around the edges of the screen and keyboard. As such, it won't fit in a standard purse like a Sony TZ and won't open as comfortably on a tight airplane ride as a true ultra-portable. Think about it as a MacBook sliced in half. Perhaps Apple will offer a 14 inch screen in Rev 2 that actually goes to the edges of the device or shrink the footprint to the edges of the screen/keyboard. Here is the MacBook Air compared to a full sized MacBook Pro.
10. Price drops. As this is an Apple/early adopter device, the price will drop significantly for the next round. We saw this in the iPhone and we see it every time Apple astounds us with new products. It isn't just component costs - which will be significant - it's also the ramp up of production numbers which will bring prices way down. This could easily be late 2008 or 2009's MacBook.

Blog Computerworld

Premiers benchs d'un MacBook Air

On a tout entendu sur le MacBook Air, des éloges ou des critiques sur sa taille, sa forme, son seul connecteur USB... En revanche, ses performances sont restées au second plan, certainement parce que l'habitude veut qu'un ordinateur "ultra portable" soit pénalisé sur ce plan.
Gizmodo a pu comparer le modèle 1,6 GHz doté d'un disque dur de 80 Go avec un MacBook Pro 2,2 GHz (ancien modèle) et un MacBook 2 GHz (également ancien modèle).
Contre toute attente, le Macbook air est loin d'être ridicule et talonne le MacBook 2 GHz dans la plupart des tests. Il se permet même d'être le plus rapide des ordinateurs et de loin dans un test d'encodage MP3.
Il est ici très certainement aidé par son bus mémoire à 800 MHz (contre 667 pour les autres). On notera qu'il n'est pas non plus ridicule dans les processus faisant appel à son disque dur, certainement aidé dans ce cas par la mémoire cache de 8 Mo de ce dernier. En effet, Apple a choisi de lui rajouter le seul disque dur 1,8" ayant une cache de 8 Mo au lieu des 2 Mo habituels.
Il restera cependant pénalisé par son manque de connecteurs et la taille de son disque dur pour l'imaginer en machine principale de ceux qui n'ont pas de besoins particuliers de puissance, surtout en 3D.

 

Macbidouille.com