Apple releases fixes for Bluetooth and MacBook Pro hard drives

Apple has just released two firmware updates, one fixing issues with Bluetooth and the the other fixing the MacBook Pro hard drive noise issue.

The first, Bluetooth Firmware Update 2.0.1, fixes bugs and improves compatibility with the Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard. It’s available for all Macs with Broadcom Bluetooth chipsets, which include all unibody MacBooks and MacBook Pros, MacBook Airs, and all other Macs introduced in 2009.

The other one, Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0, which has been promised by Apple for some time now, fixes the widely reported issue with hard drive noise. This issue only affects MacBook Pros with 7200 RPM hard drives introduced in June 2009 or later, so this update is only available for those Macs.

Both of these updates are available through Software Update, or they can also be downloaded on Apple’s support downloads page.

via TUAW

iMac – fastest seller

Beauty by the inch.

Photos, movies, games, videos, and applications with palettes. Anything you see on the 20- or 24-inch glossy widescreen display will be a pixel-perfect experience. iMac features a flat-panel LCD screen with 1680-by-1050 resolution (20-inch) or 1920-by-1200 resolution (24-inch), giving you vivid colors and breathtaking high-definition clarity. And there’s nothing quite like seeing your life’s events on the big screen, thanks to the new iLife ’09 built into every iMac

Greener than ever.

iMac is designed with the environment in mind. It’s created with highly recyclable glass and aluminum. It’s free of harmful toxins such as brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC). iMac is so energy efficient, it meets ENERGY STAR 5.0 requirements and has earned the EPEAT Gold rating.

Power duo.

The latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors run at speeds starting at 2.66GHz with options up to 3.06GHz. And they include 6MB of shared L2 cache. Translation: iMac runs your applications faster and more efficiently than ever before.

Fast, faster, or fastest?

Every new iMac includes high-performance NVIDIA graphics standard. Now games run smoother, photos load faster, and pro applications have even more power. The 20-inch iMac with the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor delivers up to 2.3x faster graphics performance.¹ The 24-inch iMac gives you even more graphics options. The NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor makes viewing web pages and searching through your iPhoto library smoother and more efficient. Or you can choose NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 discrete graphics to take 3D graphics up a notch. For 3D graphics-intensive games or pro applications like Aperture and Motion, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 and ATI Radeon HD 4850 processors deliver the fastest graphics performance yet.

Massive storage.
More memory standard.

iMac now has up to 4GB of 1066MHz DDR3 memory standard so you can run more applications simultaneously. And with a Serial ATA hard drive up to 1TB,² load up on photos, videos, music, and more. That’s a remarkable amount of storage for just about anything and everything.

Mac mini graphics 5x faster

Graphics up to five times faster.
The NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics processor comes to the new Mac mini, bringing you up to 5x faster graphics performance. You’ll notice the difference when you work with high-resolution photos and high-definition video. Advanced NVIDIA graphics bring pure power to the latest 3D games and graphics-intensive applications. So you can work easier and play harder.

15″ OLED Panel coming?

SmartHouse reports that LG is preparing to release a 15″ display panel based on OLED technology, with the first appearance of the panel to be in a “brand new Apple notebook” in June.

A senior executive at LG Display who has been closely involved in the development of display technology for Apple said “The early models will be double, if not triple, the price of an LCD panel however, over time they will fall”.

The new 15″ LG OLED display panel is tipped to be shown for the first time in a brand new Apple notebook in June and later in the year it will appear as a standalone TV/monitor.

Notably, Apple and LG recently signed a five-year agreement for display panels, signifying a strengthened relationship between the two companies.

SmartHouse has previously been a source for Apple rumors regarding both OLED display panels and tablet Macs

Reasons Behind Apple’s Strategic Shift Into Chip Design

The Wall Street Journal explores the reasons why Apple has been moving towards designing their own chips rather than using off-the-shelf components. This strategic shift was first revealed when Apple acquired chip-designing company P.A. Semi last April. That news has since been followed by a number of new hires from AMD as well as online job postings looking for individuals to test “Apple developed silicon.”

According to individuals “familiar with the matter”, Apple’s current chip plans include lower power designs to prolong battery life in the iPhone and iPod Touch as well as improved graphics circuitry for better gaming and HD video playback. In additional to whatever competitive advantage Apple might get with their own custom designed chips, another benefit would be the ability to maintain more secrecy over their products.

People familiar with Apple’s thinking say executives have expressed concern that some information shared with outside vendors could find its way into chips sold to Apple competitors

Jobs reportedly told P.A. Semi engineers that he specifically wanted to develope chips within Apple to prevent knowledge of them leaking out. Apple, of course, is well known for their secrecy. This secrecy has been harder to maintain in recent years due to the number of partners Apple must work with in launching a product. With the iPhone, we’ve seen rumors coming from both component suppliers as well as mobile carriers who need to be briefed about upcoming releases. 

The Wall Street Journal points out, however, that this trend is contrary to most big electronic firms who have moved towards outsourcing components in an effort to reduce costs. Apple is not expected to launch products based on these internally designed chips until next year at the earliest.