TouchSmarter: Touch Screen Gadgets

 The Android OS has been lurking in the shadows for some time, and even after the SDK was released, the project still seemed somewhat a mystery. The lurking will end as soon as T-Mobile starts shipping its new G1.

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Wisbar (on the left), and Winterface (on the right) both have new versions of their UI enhancement apps available this month. Vito is releasing Winterface with a new free weather plug-in, so I'll have to put my dusty, shabby ex-weather man hat on and review it. I've been a Wisbar fan since like waaay back in the day when just having something besides the ugly start menu to look at was cool (so we thought). I even have some WA skins of my own somewhere. God, what a lot of work that was...I digress!

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As expected Apple today announced a brand new MacBook Pro. The new MacBook and 15-inch MacBook Pro both have a precision unibody enclosure crafted from a single block of aluminum, resulting in thinner, more durable and incredibly beautiful designs.

In addition, every member of the new MacBook family includes state of the art NVIDIA graphics, brilliant instant-on LED-backlit displays and new large glass Multi-Touch trackpads that offer almost 40 percent more tracking area and support more Multi-Touch gestures. The entire new MacBook family meets stringent Energy Star 4.0, EPEAT Gold and RoHS environmental standards, and leads the industry in the elimination of toxic chemicals by containing no brominated flame retardants, using only PVC-free internal cables and components, and using energy efficient LED-backlit displays that are mercury-free and made with arsenic-free glass.

“Apple has invented a whole new way of building notebooks from a single block of aluminum. And, just as important, they are the industry’s greenest notebooks,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “The new MacBooks offer incredible features our users will love —like their stunning all-metal design, great 3D graphics and LED backlit displays—at prices up to $700 less than before.”
“Traditionally notebooks are made from multiple parts. With the new MacBook, we’ve replaced all of those parts with just one part—the unibody,” said Jonathan Ive, Apple’s senior vice president of Industrial Design. “The MacBook’s unibody enclosure is made from a single block of aluminum, making the new MacBook fundamentally thinner, stronger and more robust with a fit and finish that we’ve never even dreamed of before.”

The new MacBook line features the powerful new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M, a revolutionary new 3D integrated graphics processor that features 16 parallel processing cores and delivers up to five times the 3D graphics performance than the previous MacBook and MacBook Air.

The new MacBook, 15-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air include a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the new Apple LED Cinema Display featuring a 24-inch LED-backlit widescreen display.

Today Apple also updated MacBook Air and the 17-inch MacBook Pro. MacBook Air, measuring only 0.16-inches at its thinnest point, 0.76-inches at its maximum height and weighing just three pounds, now includes new NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics and a faster architecture to provide robust support for 3D games and enhanced performance. Starting at $1,799, MacBook Air is available with a 120GB 4200 rpm hard drive, a 50 percent increase from the previous generation, or a new 128GB solid state drive. The updated 17-inch MacBook Pro keeps its original aluminum design, and now comes standard with a high resolution 1920 x 1200 LED-backlit display and a larger 320GB hard drive or an optional 128GB solid state drive.

The new MacBook, 15-inch MacBook Pro and 17-inch MacBook Pro are now shipping and the new MacBook Air will be available in early November.

An updated 13-inch white MacBook featuring 2.1 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processors, a 120GB 5400 rpm hard drive and a slot-load 8X SuperDrive is now available for $999 (US).

The 2.0 GHz, 13-inch aluminum MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,299 (US), includes:

13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
2.0 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
1066 MHz front-side bus;
2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
160GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme® 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
built-in iSight video camera;
two USB 2.0 ports;
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
glass Multi-Touch trackpad; and
60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.4 GHz aluminum MacBook, for a suggested retail price of $1,599 (US), includes:

13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
1066 MHz front-side bus;
2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
250GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
built-in iSight video camera;
two USB 2.0 ports;
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and
60 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
Build-to-order options for the MacBook include the ability to upgrade to 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, a 250GB 5400 rpm, 320GB 5400 rpm hard drive, a 128GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare® Protection Plan.

The 2.4 GHz, 15-inch aluminum MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $1,999 (US), includes:

15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;
2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 3MB shared L2 cache;
1066 MHz front-side bus;
2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, expandable to 4GB;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 256MB GDDR3 video memory;
250GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
built-in iSight video camera;
two USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire® 800 port;
ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and
85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 2.53 GHz aluminum MacBook Pro, for a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:

15.4-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1440 x 900 glossy display;
2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
1066 MHz front-side bus;
4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
NVIDIA GeForce 9600M GT discrete graphics with 512MB GDDR3 video memory;
320GB serial ATA hard drive running at 5400 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
a slot-load 8X SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW) optical drive;
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
Gigabit Ethernet port;
built-in iSight video camera;
two USB 2.0 ports;
one FireWire 800 port;
ExpressCard/34 expansion card slot;
one audio line in and one audio line out port, each supporting both optical digital and analog;
glass Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and
85 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.
Build-to-order options for the MacBook Pro include a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor, the ability to upgrade to 4GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM, 250GB 7200 rpm, 320GB 5400 rpm or a 320GB 7200 rpm hard drive, a 128GB solid state drive, Mini DisplayPort to DVI Adapter, Mini DisplayPort to Dual-Link DVI Adapter (for 30-inch DVI display), Mini DisplayPort to VGA Adapter, Apple USB Modem, Apple Remote, Apple MagSafe Airline Adapter and the AppleCare Protection Plan.

The 1.6 GHz MacBook Air, for a suggested retail price of $1,799 (US), includes:

13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit high resolution 1280 x 800 glossy display;
1.6GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
1066 MHz front-side bus;
2GB 1066 MHz DDR3 SDRAM;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
120GB serial ATA hard drive running at 4200 rpm, with Sudden Motion Sensor;
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
built-in iSight video camera;
one USB 2.0 port;
one headphone port;
Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and
45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

The 1.86 GHz MacBook Air, for a suggested retail price of $2,499 (US), includes:

13.3-inch widescreen LED-backlit 1280 x 800 glossy display;
1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo with 6MB shared L2 cache;
1066 MHz front-side bus;
2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM;
NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics;
128GB solid state drive;
Mini DisplayPort for video output (adapters sold separately);
built-in AirPort Extreme 802.11n wireless networking and Bluetooth 2.1+EDR;
built-in iSight video camera;
one USB 2.0 port;
one headphone port;
Multi-Touch trackpad and illuminated keyboard; and
45 Watt MagSafe Power Adapter.

Apple’s media event where it will unveil brand new MacBook and MacBook Pro models is set to start imminently, World of Apple will update this post periodically with key information.

For live coverage see this post.

• Members of media getting seated, event starting soon!
• Steve Jobs intros Tim Cook who’s talking sales, Apple sold 2.5 million Macs last quarter
• Cook: Apple has “better computers” and “better software”, says “Leopard is far ahead of Vista”
• Jonathan Ive on stage talking about the new manufacturing process for notebooks. One piece of aluminium to build a lighter stronger enclosure.
• NVIDIA came to Apple to show off a new product, now the 9400M is in the new notebooks. Chipset and GPU on one die, 70% is GPU, 16 parallel graphics cores, 54 gigaflops.
• New trackpad in notebooks made of glass for “silky smooth” travel
• 39% larger tracking area, multi-touch gestures, entire trackpad is one button, multi-buttons via software
• Four finger gestures for app switching and Expose
• Introducing brand new MacBook Pro
• New MacBook Pro, LED-backlit, multi-touch glass trackpad, mini Display Port connector, backlit keyboard, magnetic latch
• Both the integrated NVIDIA 9400M in the MacBook as well as the GeForce 9600M GT
• Five hours of battery life on 9400M, four on the 9600M.
• Sot load optical drive, MagSafe, Ethernet, FireWire 800, two USBs, mini DisplayPort, ExpressCard 34, battery indicator on side.
• Mini DisplayPort going into all new products, slimmed down version of the fill-DVI connection, can still drive 30-inch display
• Hard drive easily replaceable
• SSD option available
• $1999, 15.4-inch LED backlit, 2.4GHz, 3MB L2 cache, 2GB DDR3 memory, two GPUs, 250GB HDD, SuperDrive
• $2499, 15.4-inch LED backlit, 2.53GHz, 6MB L2 cache, 4GB DDR3 memory, two GPUs, 320GB HDD, SuperDrive
• MacBook Air also getting revamp, mini Display Port, NVIDIA 9400M, 120GB HDD, 128GB SSD option
• MacBook Pros shipping today, MacBook Airs shipping in November
• Brand new 24-inch LED Cinema Display
• One cable with MagSafe to charge laptop, Display Port and USB.
• 24-inch display is $899, max resolution of 1920 x 1200, stereo speakers. Available in November.
• New MacBook, just like Pro yet smaller.
• Has NVIDIA 9400M integrated graphics, five hours of battery life
• $1299 13.3-inch MacBook, 2GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 160GB HDD, SuperDrive
• Optional 128GB SSD also available for MacBook
• $1599 13.3-inch MacBook, 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo, 2GB RAM, 250GB HDD, SuperDrive
• MacBooks shipping now, in stores tomorrow
• Holding Q&A session; Steve’s blood pressure is 110/70, saying no more on Jobs’ health

This week I have updates on two mobile services: KeyToss mobile portal, and the Slifter mobile shopping service. Plus, we have the news from HTC that the Touch HD won’t come to the U.S. — but that the HTC Fuze is supposedly coming from AT&T later this month.

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With Apple’s special event just nine hours away a huge flurry of last minute rumours and speculation have hit the internet.

MacBook Pro

Engadget has published an image (pictured left) from the same source that leaked an authentic image of the fourth generation iPod nano prior to its release last month.

The image shows a 15-inch MacBook Pro with a aluminium enclosure with the display framed by a black bezel, similar to the current generation iMac.

John Gruber over at Daring Fireball who originally pinpointed October 14 as the date the notebooks would arrive has also chimed in with some last minute information. Gruber notes that the new 15-inch MacBook Pro has no latch and also confirms the black border around the display.

Gruber goes onto talk about the trackpad which as noted in the image posted by Engadget appears to have no trackpad button.

The new trackpad is similar to the Air’s, in that it is bigger and supports additional multi-touch gestures. But unlike the Air’s, the MacBook Pro’s new trackpad is made of glass, and is a button itself. You just press and it clicks. This is not like the current software option where you can enable “Tap to Click” in the trackpad preferences, but instead a glass trackpad that acts as a physical button, with a click you can feel. Sounds odd, but I hear it’s very cool in practice.

Gruber also writes that due to the glass bezel around the display, there will be no matte display version available. Interestingly Gruber speculates that the 17-inch MacBook Pro may be in the process of being phased out, claiming that we’ll only see an announcement related to the 15-inch MacBook Pro today. He does note that the 17-inch MacBook Pro will remain on sale for the time being and will also receive a minor increase in specs today featuring a larger 320GB hard drive and bumping the RAM from 2GB to 4GB. AppleInsider disagrees to an extent reporting that although the 17-inch MacBook Pro is unlikely to surface today, one does “exist in the labs”.

AppleInsider is also offering added information about the new MacBook Pro, the rumour site writes that the new notebook will feature two NVIDIA graphics cards; an integrated GPU for normal use and a dedicated GPU (a NVIDIA 9400M GT) when more power is required.

The two chips will reportedly feature Hybrid SLI, a NVIDIA technology where by the integrated graphics chip would assist the dedicated chip when plugged into a power source while the dedicated chip would shut down when on battery power. For this reason AppleInsider’s source claims that Apple is “touting some ’sick’ battery claims”.

Finally the CPUs in the MacBook Pro is expected to stay the same at 2.4GHz and 2.53GHz.

MacBook

Much less information has appeared regarding the MacBook except that lower end Apple notebook will feature a NVIDIA 9400M, NVIDIAs alternative to Intel’s integrated graphics chips. This chip is reportedly considerably faster than the current offerings from Intel and is capable of driving a 3-inch display.

MacBook Air

Reports are emerging that the MacBook Air will also receive a minor increase in specifications, the new configurations which will be shipping by the end of the week will feature 120GB HDD and 128GB SSD, the Air will also receive the new NVIDIA 9400M integrated GPU.

New 24-inch Display

Several tipsters have noted to mulitple sites that Apple is also expected to unveil a new 24-inch display featuring DisplayPort and MagSafe power connectors. The display which is said to resemble the current generation iMac without the “chin”. It is expected that this new display will roll in at $899.

Mac Rumors adds that the display is expected to have LED backlighting.

DisplayPort

It is still very likely that the new MacBook and MacBook Pro will feature a mini-DVI connector, AppleInsider has noted on its blog section that Apple is manufacturing a DisplayPort to mini-DVI cable.

Pricing

• New 24-inch LED backlit display - $899.

MacBook Air

• MB543LL/A $1,799.00 (M96) - MacBook Air / 13-inch / 1.6GHz / 2GB RAM / NVIDIA 9400M / 120GB HDD
• MB940LL/A $2,499.00 (M96) - MacBook Air / 13-inch / 1.8GHz / 2GB RAM / NVIDIA 9400M / 128GB SSD

MacBook

• Current white MacBook 2.1GHz will remain in lineup at $999
• MB466LL/A $1,299.00 (M97) - MacBook / 13-inch / 2.0GHz / 2GB RAM / NIVIDA 9400M / 160GB HDD
• MB467LL/A $1,499.00 (M97) - MacBook / 13-inch / 2.4GHz / 2GB RAM / NIVIDA 9400M / 250GB HDD

MacBook Pro

• MB470LL/A $1,999.00 (M98) - MacBook Pro / 15-inch / 2.4GHz / 2GB RAM / NIVIDA 9400M GT (Dedicated)
• MB471LL/A $2,499.00 (M98) - MacBook Pro / 15-inch / 2.53GHz / 2GB RAM / NIVIDA 9400M GT (Dedicated)

From 6-9 of October Cityscape Dubai, the worlds largest real estate investment event took place in the United Arabic Emirates.
A 2×1,5 meter interactive multi-touch table with customized software that Natural User Interface (NUI) developed for Cityscape Abu Dhabi (May 2008) was also demonstrated in Dubai last week.

The case study for the project can be downloaded from the NUI website.

The Abu Dhabi project press release can be found at http://www.natural-ui.com/press_releases/080520.htm

There’s a new smartphone coming to town from HTC and it has a Fuze.

The wizards at HTC have been working on revamping their entire line of Microsoft Mobile devices based on their own TouchFlo technology. With the iPhone being the new standard for high tech handheld devices, most manufacturers have been scrambling to imitate the technical features of the iPhone. This is a welcome change for the smartphone industry which had not seen any real innovations for some time until Apple showed up.

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There are a number of theme sites that have literally thousands of free themes that you can download and use to customize the appearance of your Today screen. These include Pocket PC Themes.com for touch screen devices, and Smartphone Themes for Smartphones.

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The HTC Tilt from AT&T is an interesting device to be sure. It has all of the personality of a PC yet fits easily in your pocket. Since it runs Windows Mobile Professional, it has gained quite a following from hard core tweaker’s and user’s who love to tweak their phones to get the most out of them.

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