Tag Archives: WWDC 2012

Apple adopts new MagSafe 2 connector, offers an adapter for your old gear

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Apple adopts new MagSafe 2 connector, offers an adapter for your old gear

While Apple was busy unveiling a completely new MacBook Pro and a refreshed MacBook Air, it also introduced a new MagSafe 2 power connector. The new version is longer but slimmer than its counterpart, no doubt to make sure it fits in the MacBook Pro's skinnier confines, but also renders obsolete the connectors for your existing MagSafe adapter or Thunderbolt Display power connector. Not to fear if you absolutely need the connection, however: there's a new, $10 MagSafe to MagSafe 2 converter (seen above) that will keep your new laptop powered up. We're worried the adapter may crowd out wider USB devices, as you might have gathered from the above shot, but it's good to know that earlier peripherals will keep humming along.

Update: Check out our hands-on photos of the new connector versus the old!

Apple adopts new MagSafe 2 connector, offers an adapter for your old gear originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:57:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple rolls out updated Mac Pro lineup with faster processors, not much else

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They didn't warrant a mention during the big keynote, but those patiently waiting for an update to the desktop-bound Mac Pro weren't left behind by Apple today. The company has quietly updated the line on its website, bringing a rather modest spec bump to the familiar tower. That includes a single 3.2GHz quad-core Xeon processor on the base $2,499 model, which comes paired with 6GB of RAM and a 1TB hard drive, and a pair of 2.4GHz six-core processors on the higher-end model, which gets 12GB of RAM as standard and the same 1TB hard drive for $3,799. The $2,999 Mac Pro Server will give you a 3.2GHz quad-core Xeon with 8GB of RAM and a pair of 1TB hard drives. Notably lacking is the addition of Apple's otherwise standard Thunderbolt ports, or 802.11n WiFi connectivity. You can check out all the options available at the source link below.

Check out our full coverage of WWDC 2012 at our event hub!

Apple rolls out updated Mac Pro lineup with faster processors, not much else originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:39:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2012 MacBook Air vs. the 2011 model: what’s changed?

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DNP The new MacBook Air vs MacBook Air mid 2011 what's changed

No, we didn't get the Retina Macbook Air many of us may have been hoping for, but the Apple ultra-portable did get a significant Ivy Bridge boost, including a pair of USB 3.0 ports. There's also an option to double the flash storage capacity with a 512GB SSD, along with adding up to 8 gigs of 1600MHz DDR3L RAM and Apple's new MagSafe 2 connector on the 13-inch Air. Base model pricing remains the same for the 11-incher, at $999 for the bare-bones configuration, while the larger Air will be available starting at $1199 -- a $100 drop over its predecessor. All of the new Airs will ship beginning today, but that doesn't mean it's upgrade time for you. Click on past the break for our side-by-side comparison and a closer look at what's new.

Continue reading The 2012 MacBook Air vs. the 2011 model: what's changed?

The 2012 MacBook Air vs. the 2011 model: what's changed? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:30:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple axes 17-inch MacBook Pro, giant laptop owners weep

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Apple axes 17inch MacBook Pro, giant laptop owners weep

As we suspected when Apple updated traditional MacBook Pros, Apple has quietly dropped the 17-inch MacBook Pro. From here on out, it's either the 13- or 15-inch models if you want Apple's conventional form factor. The next-generation MacBook Pro is now your best option if you want more than a 1680 x 1050 resolution in a portable Mac, and there's no internal recourse for an ExpressCard slot if you lived on it. That said, we imagine Apple is counting on two pairs each of USB 3.0 and Thunderbolt on the new system to take care of ExpressCard's former duties. We'd add that it's also the end of an era: Apple was one of the first with a 17-inch widescreen laptop, and it's now one of the first to bow out.

Apple axes 17-inch MacBook Pro, giant laptop owners weep originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:24:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The 2012 MacBook Pros vs. the 2011 models: what’s changed?

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New MacBook Pros vs. MacBook Pros (late 2011): what's changed?

Since the epic rise of the MacBook Air, the MacBook Pro has become something of a dark horse in the Apple notebook family. Sure, it may not be Cupertino's thinnest, sexiest product, but it has the heavy-duty internals to handle intense graphics for artists and gamers alike. Apple just announced its updated 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros -- not to mention a new 15-inch model with a brilliant Retina display, and these new machines boast some pretty impressive upgrades. There's no shortage of spec changes to keep track of, so check out our comparison charts below to see what the new models bring to the table (hint: highlights include USB 3.0, Ivy Bridge and a thinner design for the new Retina model).

15-inch MacBook Pro (2011)
STUB New MacBook Pro vs MacBook Pro late 2011 What's changed		 15-inch MacBook Pro (2012)
STUB New MacBook Pro vs MacBook Pro late 2011 What's changed		 Retina display MacBook Pro (2012)
STUB New MacBook Pros vs MacBook Pros late 2011 What's changed
Dimensions 14.35 x 9.82 x 0.95 inches 14.35 x 9.82 x 0.95 inches 14.13 x 9.73 x 0.71 inches
Display Resolution 1440 x 900 1440 x 900 2880 x 1800
CPU Up to 2.4GHz quad-core Core i7 (Sandy Bridge) Up to 2.7GHz quad-core Core i7 (Ivy Bridge) Up to 2.7GHz quad-core Core i7 (Ivy Bridge)
Graphics Intel HD Graphics 3000 + AMD Radeon HD 6750M / AMD Radeon HD 6770M Intel HD Graphics 4000 / NVIDIA Kepler GeForce GT 650M with up to 1GB of memory Intel HD Graphics 4000 / NVIDIA Kepler GeForce GT 650M with up to 1GB of memory
Memory Up to 8GB Up to 8GB Up to 16GB
Storage Up to 750GB Up to 1TB or a 512GB SSD Up to a 768GB SSD
Ports Thunderbolt, FireWire 800, two USB 2.0, SD card slot, MagSafe power port, Kensington lock slot, audio line in, audio line out Two Thunderbolt, USB 3.0, FireWire 800, SD card slot, new MagSafe2 connector, Kensington lock slot, audio line in, audio line out Two Thunderbolt, HDMI, two USB 3.0, SD card slot, new MagSafe2 connector, Kensington lock slot, headphone port
Battery life 7 hours 7 hours 7 hours
Weight 5.6 pounds 5.6 pounds 4.46 pounds
Price $1,799 (2GHz Core i7, 500GB hard drive) / $2,199 (2.2GHz Core i7, 750GB hard drive) $1,799 (2.3GHz Core i7, 500GB hard drive / $2,199 (2.6GHz, 750GB hard drive) $2,199 (2.3GHz Core i7, 256GB SSD) / $2,799 (2.6GHz, 512GB SSD)

Continue reading The 2012 MacBook Pros vs. the 2011 models: what's changed?

The 2012 MacBook Pros vs. the 2011 models: what's changed? originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:09:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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WWDC 2012 keynote roundup

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STUB WWDC 2012 keynote roundup

If you didn't have the opportunity to follow along with us on our liveblog of the opening keynote at WWDC 2012, fear not -- we've put all the juicy deets together into one place. There was a lot to cover today: Retina displays on next-generation MacBook Pros, refreshes for the rest of the MacBook lineup, a full helping of new features coming in OS X Mountain Lion and iOS 6. Head on below to catch up on the latest news from the Moscone Center!

Also, don't forget to check out our full coverage of WWDC 2012 at our event hub!

Continue reading WWDC 2012 keynote roundup

WWDC 2012 keynote roundup originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:08:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple next-generation MacBook Pro (with Retina display) eyes-on at WWDC 2012

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Apple nextgeneration MacBook Pro with Retina display eyeson at WWDC 2012

Heh -- rumor didn't have this one! We just wrapped our eyes around Apple's new 15.4-inch "next-generation" MacBook Pro here at WWDC 2012, and while it was under lock and key, it doesn't take a touch to see that this thing is devilishly thin. For all intents and purposes, this is the 15-inch MacBook Air that many have been waiting for. Gone is the optical drive, and in are two USB 3.0 ports, two Thunderbolt sockets (side-by-side, instead of one on each edge), a full-size HDMI socket, a 3.5mm headphone port and an SD card slot. Oh, and a MagSafe 2 power connector. On one hand, it's great to see Apple finally embracing USB 3.0; on the other, it's obvious by the duo of Thunderbolt sockets that it'd prefer use those. Whatever the case, the new Pro is quite the looker, and we're guessing Apple won't have any issues moving too many of these beauts -- even at $2,199 (and up).

Unfortunately, there's no new Pro sitting around outside of a case, but you can enjoy a few glass-enclosed glamor shots in the gallery below.

Gallery: Apple next-generation MacBook Pro (with Retina display) eyes-on at WWDC 2012

Apple next-generation MacBook Pro (with Retina display) eyes-on at WWDC 2012 originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 15:06:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple announces Guided Access for iOS devices, offers expanded accessibility controls

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Apple announces Guided Access for iOS devices

We didn't get a ton of details on this one during the keynote, but Apple has announced a new Guided Access feature for iOS that promises to let folks limit what sort of input their devices are able to respond to. Some examples given by Apple are a parent of an autistic child who could disable on-screen controls so they don't accidentally exit an app, a teacher who could prevent students from exiting a test app, or museums who could keep folks locked in to their own display apps. That includes the ability to confine touch input to certain parts of the screen, in addition to disabling the home button or touch input altogether.

Gallery: Guided Access for iOS 6

Apple announces Guided Access for iOS devices, offers expanded accessibility controls originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:59:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple officially gives Google Maps the boot, launches own Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation (updated)

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Apple officially gives google maps the boot

It's been one the big questions hanging over WWDC -- will Apple actually toss Google to the side and launch it's own mapping service specifically for iOS? Well, it's not a question any more, but a cold hard fact. Apple's mapping solution is here, taking over where Google left off. The move is hardly shocking since Apple has already confirmed that it's been working on a traffic database and snatched up a number of mapping companies. Besides, it's not like Cupertino and Mountain View are the best of buds right now. Maps includes all of the features you've come to expect from the previous iOS solution, but with a number of enhancements. This all new mapping solution includes 100 million different business listings, Yelp integration and, biggest of all, turn-by-turn navigation. The app does use anonymously collected data to populate traffic information and any rerouting is brought to your attention with a pop-up notification.

The story isn't done yet, though. The maps are even rendered in full 3D, not unlike what Google announced last week. (And the news was delivered in a way that made it clear Apple think's they've one upped their former map app provider.) The whole demo -- flipping through business listings, flying around in 3D and navigating labyrinth-like city streets -- was performed on one of those shiny new iPads... you know, the ones that are getting Siri support soon. Which, if you haven't figured out yet, plays quite nicely with the new Maps app as we saw in the demo. Ask Siri to find a gas station on your route or how much longer you'll be on the road and the pleasantly robotic voice gets you the relevant info.

Update: Several of our readers scoured the fine print on Apple's freshly launched iOS 6 Maps page, and informed us that the Flyover and turn-by-turn features will only be available to folks with an iPhone 4S or iPad 2 or later. Guess that's just one more reason to upgrade, eh?

Check out our full coverage of WWDC 2012 at our event hub!

Gallery: iOS 6 Maps

Apple officially gives Google Maps the boot, launches own Maps app with turn-by-turn navigation (updated) originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:38:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Apple demos Passbook, a one-stop shop for tickets and boarding passes

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Apple demos Passbook, a onestop shop for tickets and boarding passes

From airline and train boarding passes to concert tickets, we've seen a variety of tix make their way into the digital realm at venues around the world. With today's announcement of Passbook, the hard copy credential may soon be a thing of the past. Speaking on stage at Apple's WWDC keynote, VP of iOS Software Scott Forstall demonstrated the feature with United boarding passes, Fandango movie tickets and a Starbucks gift card. While none of these examples are making their premiere debut, Passbook will certainly make the QR-code-based stubs more user-friendly, while also increasing awareness among folks who continue to opt for paper while doubting the usability and authenticity of a digital counterpart. Passbook is also location aware, bringing up a Starbucks card as you approach a shop, for example. You can also get updates related to your stored credentials, such as a gate change announcement with a pending United boarding pass. The feature will come bundled with iOS 6, set to launch this fall.

Check out our full coverage of WWDC 2012 at our event hub!

Gallery: iOS Passbook

Apple demos Passbook, a one-stop shop for tickets and boarding passes originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 11 Jun 2012 14:36:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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