The tech community has gone crazy over Apple's announcements at Macworld 2008 - the quintessential Mac conference of the year. The highlight is Steve Jobs' keynote address, which is always highly anticipated by tech aficionados. In the address, Mr. Jobs discusses the newest products and upgrades by Apple.
This year, of course, was no exception. However, the announcements are branching out to a larger and larger audience - they're not just for Apple geeks anymore. We'd like to give a highlight of the most significant announcements made at Macworld 2008.
MacBook Air - The World's Thinnest Notebook
To much fervor, the MacBook Air was announced - and it is the thinnest notebook computer in the world, according to Apple. It's so thin, Jobs removed the device from a standard office envelope - impressive. At its thickest point, it measures only .76 inches, and at its thinnest, only .16 inches. This delicate marvel weighs in at only 3 pounds. It is truly built to appeal to the mobile user who demands ease of use and flexibility - the full-size keyboard is backlit, and the trackpad utilizes the Multi-Touch feature that is also used in the iPhone. It comes in a number of different versions, some which utilize a standard 80 GB PATA drive, and others that use a 64 GB solid state drive. Apple hopes to revolutionize the notebook and ultra-portable market with the MacBook Air.
Time Capsule - An Automatic Backup Appliance
Second, the Time Capsule was announced. It's basically a wireless (802.11n) base station combined with a 500GB or 1TB hard drive (which will retail for an estimated $299 or $499, respectively.)
The unique thing about this hard drive is that it will work seamlessly with Time Machine, Apple's backup software that is included with OS X Leopard. The prospect of backing up everything on your computer - automatically and wirelessly - is compelling.
Updates for the iPhone and iPod Touch
First off, updates were announced for both the iPhone and iPod Touch.
The iPhone update was alredy speculated - and Apple delivered on many counts. The iPhone received significant improvements in the Maps application, adding "pins" and map location using a triangulation method. It's pretty accurate, and the "pin" feature allows you to set a specific location on the map wherever you like. You can now send SMS messages to multiple recipients, a feature that was highly requested, and it will support lyrics from songs, as well. The Home screen can be customized with different icons and multiple locations. One can also take "Web Clips," and link to any webpage directly from any Home screen on the iPhone.
In addition, iPod Touch owners can upgrade their product to access five new applications, including Mail, Maps, Stocks, and Notes. For new purchasers, the upgrade is included - for current owners, the upgrade witll be available for $20.
iTunes Movie Rentals and the Apple TV Take 2
To many, this is by far the most exciting and industry-shaping move by Apple - the announcement of iTunes Movie Rentals and the Apple TV "Take 2," which in many ways go hand-in-hand.
The iTunes Movie Rental system is coming, and an estimated 1,000 films from ever major movie studio will be available by February. You'll be able to watch the videos anywhere, from any device, and they can be watched as they download. The rentals will be available to watch for 30 days after downloaded - but once you start watching the movie, it's available for 24 hours. Standard titles will cost $2.99, new releases will cost $3.99, and certain videos will be available in HD which costs an extra $1.00.
To go along with this revolution, Apple has upgraded the Apple TV - and has dramatically expanded its usability. You'll be able to rent movies directly from the device. No computer is needed at all; the user can hook it up directly to a television! Another great announcement - the price has been dropped to $229! One can also access music, podcasts, and photos from Flickr and Picasa. This may revolutionize the movie rental business - other companies in the industry are already reacting.
All in all, Macworld 2008 announced some significant changes and upgrades to Apple's product line - some of which are slated to revolutionize the industry. The MacBook Air is one of the most significant advances in the ultraportable market. In addition, the iTunes Movie Rental service along with the "no computer necessary" Apple TV "Take 2," with which you can rent movies directly, could take the movie rental market by storm.
