iMac rumored for next week; new iPhone SDK; Apple updates

[AppleInsider]

A recently accurate tech website claims that Apple's long-awaited iMac refresh will appear next week. Also, Apple's latest iPhone developer kit adds enhanced OpenGL 3D support, downloads have appeared for a Boot Camp update, and Common Criteria security tools are available.

Rumor sees iMac next week

The wait for refreshed iMacs could be over before the end of April, according to a rumor circulated Thursday by Geeksugar.

The female technology site refers to "Apple tipsters" who say the update is due next week and will most likely appear on Tuesday, as with most Apple updates. While short on details, the news outlet adds that the sources correctly identified this year's MacBook revision a day before it appeared and also says that processor speeds and hard drive upgrades are the primary candidates for improvement.

Apple is known to be developing a Penryn-based refresh of both the iMac and its Mac mini cousin for the spring, delivering the cooler-running and faster processors to systems that haven't been updated since August of 2007.

iPhone SDK update adds OpenGL ES emulation

Apple this week issued its fourth beta edition of the iPhone SDK for third-party developers.

The update is described by Apple as enabling OpenGL ES graphics to run directly from the iPhone Simulator software, saving developers the trouble of attaching a live iPhone or iPod touch to test software using the mobile 3D graphics standard.

No other major additions are reported as accompanying the release, which is free for registered iPhone developers.

Boot Camp Update 2.1

Apple on Thursday released three updates to Boot Camp, each of them targeted at improving support for different Microsoft operating systems.

Version 2.1 is available for users running Windows XP (215MB), Vista 32-bit (228MB), and Vista 64-bit (236MB). The update is required before Windows XP users can install Microsoft's Service Pack 3 update.

Users must run the update from their Boot Camp partitions.

Common Criteria Tools for 10.5

Also released this week are Apple's Common Criteria Tools for 10.5 (103KB).

The utility lets IT managers and other security-focused users assess whether a Mac OS X Leopard system meets minimum security requirements for use in certain data-sensitive conditions, such as US Federal Government offices or information security firms.

[ View this article at AppleInsider.com ]

[camroidv27]

Its about time Apple decided to update their Windows drivers!
I just hope they really did do full graphics updates and such... won't find out till I get home from work.

They should be updating their Windows drivers as often as their OS X updates. Quite sad that this is the first update since Leopard came out. I've been running other drivers for my MBP graphics so that I can correctly have my screen ratio displayed when not in a 16:9 app, among other things (like InputRemapper for my fans.)

[eAi]

I agree - I've been using hacked nvidia drivers for a while which has caused a few black screens on startup (which was marginally better than the random crashes I had with the Apple-provided drivers)...

Apple should make a policy of updating at least the graphics drivers every few months - new graphics drivers come out almost weekly improving the performance of games etc...

[dehgenog]

May 6 is the following Tuesday, is the 10th anniversary of the release of the iMac - wouldn't a product refresh make more sense on that date?

[amac4me]

Apple's strategy can be looked at this way:

update the portable line in Q2 (Jan - Mar), then update iMac line in Q3 (Apr - Jun). Note that Apple introduced the MacBook Air in Jan so in essence, it was a FULL portable refresh.

I think there's a good chance that the Mac mini will be updated on the same date. As was the case in August 2007.

[ifiredmyboss.com]

I want Blu Ray in my iMac.....

[cygnusrk727]

Originally Posted by dehgenog

May 6 is the following Tuesday, is the 10th anniversary of the release of the iMac - wouldn't a product refresh make more sense on that date?

They updated the iMac last August just after a tax free weekend in my state. Looks like the same thing will happen for the April tax free weekend in my state. Beginning to see a pattern to clear out old inventory.

[filburt]

Originally Posted by dehgenog

May 6 is the following Tuesday, is the 10th anniversary of the release of the iMac - wouldn't a product refresh make more sense on that date?

If the past is any indication, Steve Jobs isn't anniversary minded (25th anniversary Mac came before he took over). He might mention it during the keynote speech, but don't expect much beyond that.

[Delfoniq]

Originally Posted by AppleInsider

The update is required before Windows XP users can install Microsoft's Service Pack 3 update.

Rumor has it that Windows XP SP3 is finished, but not yet generally available.

The general public will have access to SP3 on April 29, when it will become available from Microsoft's Download Center and via Windows Update.

The complete package from the Download Center will reportedly be some 320 MB.

[Haggar]

Originally Posted by ifiredmyboss.com

I want Blu Ray in my iMac.....

How about an iMac that is actually serviceable like the first iMac G5 was?

[dehgenog]

Originally Posted by Haggar

How about an iMac that is actually serviceable like the first iMac G5 was?

The first iMac G5 was a rare glimpse at a possible future of serviceability that probably won't be revisited. If they're willing to manufacture computers that require suction cups to swap the hard drive (like the current iMac) - I would not ever expect any give from them in that respect.

[The Pie Man]

No mention of the GPU. Someone hold me.

[iDave]

Originally Posted by dehgenog

If they're willing to manufacture computers that require suction cups to swap the hard drive (like the current iMac) - I would not ever expect any give from them in that respect.

Apple did however make it much easier to replace HD and RAM in the MacBook, compared to the iBook. Apparently there is some sense there somewhere.

[Joe_the_dragon]

how about some thing go to go against the open mac? or the open pro mac?

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by ifiredmyboss.com

I want Blu Ray in my iMac.....

Agreed- but additionally a blu-ray burner. Isn't that what iMovieHD is all about? How else to transport out HD movies we've created? Give me a blu-ray as an option at the very least.
However. I want more than a refresh though. I want a completely new iMac that is not modeled on the iPhone's looks - an original. The current one is the least astheticially pleasing one in it's history as far as I'm concerned. It's like an iPhone/Dell PC look-a-like.
Bring computers back to Apple as the number one priority. Not electronics, per se as in Sony - as in the iPhone.
And I don't want to hear about the price factor. If Apple want us to spend $1,800 on a sub-par skinny notebook and/or $600 on a cellphone, those of us into computers and their applications should at the very least have an option to buy blu-ray drives as an option especially now that the format war is over.

[MacTel]

Originally Posted by ifiredmyboss.com

I want Blu Ray in my iMac.....

Yeah, Apple should offer that at least at the high end. I'd also like an LED flat panel in a thinner enclosure.

Would it hurt Apple to build an iMac in black or Product (RED) red?

With 2.5" or smaller drives available Apple should also offer as a BTO option software RAID 0 or RAID 1 with 2 disks.

[c64]

Originally Posted by ifiredmyboss.com

I want Blu Ray in my iMac.....

Your kidding rightThere using 8x dvd burner.You think there going to jump past 16x to a blu-ray.I'm buying an imac next thursday so I'm new to apple and even I know they don't make huge hard ware jumps.They might throw in a 16x burner,but we all know they don't break the speed barriers when it comes to burners and GPU's.Thats apple, they know they don't have to,there computers and ipods sell even though there components are overpriced and low level performance.its all about ease of use and cosmetics.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by c64

Your kidding rightThere using 8x dvd burner.You think there going to jump past 16x to a blu-ray.I'm buying an imac next thursday so I'm new to apple and even I know they don't make huge hard ware jumps.They might throw in a 16x burner,but we all know they don't break the speed barriers when it comes to burners and GPU's.Thats apple, they know they don't have to,there computers and ipods sell even though there components are overpriced and low level performance.its all about ease of use and cosmetics.

Dude blu-ray already exists in PCs- why not Macs? Hello!
And don't say Apple is overpriced- you will get a lot a s%=t for that here- trust me.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by dehgenog

May 6 is the following Tuesday, is the 10th anniversary of the release of the iMac - wouldn't a product refresh make more sense on that date?

No. Apple doesn't, and shouldn't, do it that way.

I used to get annoyed when they would wait for a show before releasing models already ready and waiting.

Waiting for an anniversary is just as bad. It makes no sense.

[johnqh]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Agreed- but additionally a blu-ray burner. Isn't that what iMovieHD is all about? How else to transport out HD movies we've created? Give me a blu-ray as an option at the very least.
However. I want more than a refresh though. I want a completely new iMac that is not modeled on the iPhone's looks - an original. The current one is the least astheticially pleasing one in it's history as far as I'm concerned. It's like an iPhone/Dell PC look-a-like.
Bring computers back to Apple as the number one priority. Not electronics, per se as in Sony - as in the iPhone.
And I don't want to hear about the price factor. If Apple want us to spend $1,800 on a sub-par skinny notebook and/or $600 on a cellphone, those of us into computers and their applications should at the very least have an option to buy blu-ray drives as an option especially now that the format war is over.

1. HD is extremely difficult to encode. How long does it take to encode a regular DVD these days on iMac? 2x real time? Think 4 to 8 times more. Basically, it will take you one whole day to encode a 2-hour BR.
2. DVD/HD DVD/BR contains a lot of navigation structures. Remember the early commercial DVD's in 1997 and all those compatibility problems with hardware DVD players? If there is one little mistake with any of those navigation structures, it may work on some players, then won't work in another.

So, it will follow the usualy pattern - first, the profesional software (BR support in DVD Studio Pro HD), and BR drive will become an option in Mac Pro first. I don't expect that to happen soon...maybe 2009 or 2010. Then, maybe 2 to 3 years from that, iDVD HD will support BR authoring and we will see the burner drive in iMac's.

[jasenj1]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Dude blu-ray already exists in PCs- why not Macs? Hello!
And don't say Apple is overpriced- you will get a lot a s%=t for that here- trust me.

It's still too soon for Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray is an expensive option for at least the next year. Apple definitely should make it available in the MacPros, but not the iMacs. Third parties provide external drives for those that need/want one.

- Jasen.

[c64]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Dude blu-ray already exists in PCs- why not Macs? Hello!
And don't say Apple is overpriced- you will get a lot a s%=t for that here- trust me.

You don't consider $500 for 4gb ddr2 memory pricey and i don't think its feasible to add a blu-ray player with imac pricing when blu-ray players are a little more expensive than a $30 dvd burner.Like I said I'm buying a Imac next thursday so I'm not bashing apple.I think that anybody knows anything about hardware has to admit that there hard ware is overpriced.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by jasenj1

It's still too soon for Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray is an expensive option for at least the next year. Apple definitely should make it available in the MacPros, but not the iMacs. Third parties provide external drives for those that need/want one.

- Jasen.

It's not an expensive option for the Mac Pro, at least.

Years ago, when I bought my Digital Audio Powermac, the 2x Pioneer DVD recorder that came in the machine at NO additional price over the equivalent machine just six months earlier, was selling for $1,000 as an internal drive by itself. My Mac cost $3,400 with it.

As internal BD recorders are selling for $600 today, I don't see the problem as being cost related.

Its a matter of philosophy. Apple doesn't want to include one. It's that simple.

They likely will include one once they decide they no longer have a choice. But, they really want downloads to be the market. And I think the want editing to be done for downloard, rather than for BD publication.

That's a foolish attitude, as those doing these projects will simply buy PC's to do it instead of Macs, and Apple's own software. Apple has no control over that area, though they would like to.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by c64

You don't consider $500 for 4gb ddr2 memory pricey and i don't think its feasible to add a blu-ray player with imac pricing when blu-ray players are a little more expensive than a $30 dvd burner.Like I said I'm buying a Imac next thursday so I'm not bashing apple.I think that anybody knows anything about hardware has to admit that there hard ware is overpriced.

An internal BD player sells for about $170. Not a "little more" than a DVD recorder.

[c64]

Originally Posted by melgross

An internal BD player sells for about $170. Not a "little more" than a DVD recorder.

UH,I was being sarcasticI didn't think I would have to put in a price of a blu-ray player,just thought it was common knowledge

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by jasenj1

It's still too soon for Blu-Ray. Blu-Ray is an expensive option for at least the next year. Apple definitely should make it available in the MacPros, but not the iMacs. Third parties provide external drives for those that need/want one.

- Jasen.

Too soon? It should be an option now. It already old and the format war is over.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by melgross

Its a matter of philosophy. Apple doesn't want to include one. It's that simple.

Sorry but that's just bad reasoning. The first iMac DVD SE sold like hot cakes. It would only sell more iMacs. Apple should simply have one as an option at the very least - it 's mid 2008 already!

[sennen]

Originally Posted by melgross

Its a matter of philosophy. Apple doesn't want to include one. It's that simple.

Originally Posted by teckstud

Sorry but that's just bad reasoning. The first iMac DVD SE sold like hot cakes. It would only sell more iMacs. Apple should simply have one as an option at the very least - it 's mid 2008 already!

whether bad or not, it's true.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by johnqh

1. HD is extremely difficult to encode. How long does it take to encode a regular DVD these days on iMac? 2x real time? Think 4 to 8 times more. Basically, it will take you one whole day to encode a 2-hour BR.

So then Apple should write code to encode it faster and make their computers more productive- not spend all their resources on cellphones.

[teckstud]

Originally Posted by sennen

whether bad or not, it's true.

How do you know what Apple wants or doesn't want.? Are you on it's board of directors?

[sennen]

Originally Posted by teckstud

How do you know what Apple wants or doesn't want.? Are you on it's board of directors?

i wish. neither is melgross, i think...

[melgross]

Originally Posted by teckstud

Sorry but that's just bad reasoning. The first iMac DVD SE sold like hot cakes. It would only sell more iMacs. Apple should simply have one as an option at the very least - it 's mid 2008 already!

It's not bad reasoning. It's pretty good reasoning.

If Apple wanted to put one in, they would have. They don't want to, so they haven't. I don't see how you can come up with another reason. Price isn't a good one. Apple could easily eat a profit like they did with their first DVD recorder, as I mentioned.

Supposedly, they are doing that with the SSD option for the Air now as well.

If all Apple cared about was the sales generated by using a BD player, or recorder, don't you think we would have had one before now?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by teckstud

How do you know what Apple wants or doesn't want.? Are you on it's board of directors?

You say my reasoning is bad.

But, your reasoning is bad, because, as we all have noticed, Apple DOESN'T have a machine with an optional, or an installed, BD drive. Therefore, your statements to the contrary, Apple doesn't want to put one into their machines at this time, at the very least.

That's pretty obvious.

You haven't given any real reason otherwise. Saying that it would sell more machines would be good—if Apple had one. But, they don't.

Since, I think most of us would agree that price isn't a major issue, especially for an option, where Apple has never shied from asking high prices, you have to give a good reason why Apple hasn't offered one.

You've only, in response to me, stated that first iMac DVD sold like hotcakes.

That supports MY contention that Apple doesn't want to put a BD drive in the machine. It in no way supports your contention, which is, what exactly?

[jawporta]

Is a Matte Screen Option to much to ask for?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by sennen

i wish. neither is melgross, i think...

Nope. My contacts at Apple are at a much lower level sadly enough.

You notice though, that while he questions our status at Apple for giving reasons why they have not included a drive, he also gives reasons, though I'm not sure what they are.

But, he's not on the Board of Directors either.

[melgross]

Originally Posted by jawporta

Is a Matte Screen Option to much to ask for?

While it may not be too much to ask for, it may be too much to expect.

[c64]

Originally Posted by melgross

If all Apple cared about was the sales generated by using a BD player, or recorder, don't you think we would have had one before now?

Dude,apple is not going to cut into there profit with a blu-ray player now.there going to wait until they drop in price and Blu-ray players aren't in the average pc yet,there in higher end pc's.Apple is not going to mess with the price of the imac .There not going to increase the imac price for a blu-ray and there not going to sacrifice there profit.Apple is in the best position they have ever been in.The release of windows ME,oopsI mean Vista has given a huge boost to Apple so there not going to rock the boat by increasing prices there just going to milk out the hard ware they have.The average person does not care about 10 to 20% performance increases.They just care about simple friendly computers.Take for example blu-ray,do you think the average person cares about blu-ray?Not until they drop below $100.

Also, a blu-ray burner goes for about $350(Which they would get for about 250 or so and you know thats not going to happen)and they don't make blu-ray payers that burn dvd's,so what kind of blu-ray drive would they upgrade to?

[melgross]

Originally Posted by c64

Dude,apple is not going to cut into there profit with a blu-ray player now.there going to wait until they drop in price and Blu-ray players aren't in the average pc yet,there in higher end pc's.Apple is not going to mess with the price of the imac .There not going to increase the imac price for a blu-ray and there not going to sacrifice there profit.Apple is in the best position they have ever been in.The release of windows ME,oopsI mean Vista has given a huge boost to Apple so there not going to rock the boat by increasing prices there just going to milk out the hard ware they have.The average person does not care about 10 to 20% performance increases.They just care about simple friendly computers.Take for example blu-ray,do you think the average person cares about blu-ray?Not until they drop below $100.

Dude, don't be simplistic. And this has nothing to do with Vista.

If you have read all that I wrote, you would see that Apple has done this before when they WANTED to get a new technology into their machines. They don't here, and thats why they're not. And they could very easily offer it as an upgrade, as I've also said, without cutting into their profits—IF they wanted to, which obviously, they don't.

I was also talking primarily about the Mac Pro, where the price isn't really an issue, especially for an upgrade.

[sennen]

Originally Posted by melgross

If you have read all that I wrote, you would see that Apple has done this before when they WANTED to get a new technology into their machines. They don't here, and thats why they're not. And they could very easily offer it as an upgrade, as I've also said, without cutting into their profits—IF they wanted to, which obviously, they don't.

I was also talking primarily about the Mac Pro, where the price isn't really an issue, especially for an upgrade.

all that you have written ties in with what i have heard. re: Mac Pro, why include B-R if they don't intend to support it in pro-apps?

http://www.gopetition.com/online/18632.html

[melgross]

Originally Posted by sennen

all that you have written ties in with what i have heard. re: Mac Pro, why include B-R if they don't intend to support it in pro-apps?

http://www.gopetition.com/online/18632.html

Yes. I agree totally.

It's what I'm hearing in the industry. There have been feelers out to Apple from some very prominent people, a few of whom I happen to know, and they're getting no response.

Apple can't move the industry over by themselves. People will just migrate over to where they can do the work they're contracted to do.

Movie companies, who are already unhappy withApple, will lead the move. They are demanding BD support now, and it's up to Apple to give it.

This is one of the times that Apple actually moves against its customers.