Apple to hold special 'Back to the Mac' event on October 20th
Apple will hold a special media event next Wednesday to reveal its latest offerings in the Mac space, which may include new MacBook Airs, a preview of Mac OS X 10.7, and an unveiling of iLife and iWork '11.
Set to kick-off at 10:00 am Pacific time on Wednesday, October 20th in the Town Hall on Apple's Cupertino Campus, the event doesn't come as a surprise. Just one week ago, AppleInsider hinted that such a gathering was in the cards when it outlined expectations for the Mac maker to overhaul its MacBook Air line, inventories of which dried up over the last several weeks.
MacBook Air
Persistent rumors out of the Far East have suggested Apple is gearing up to overhaul the MacBook Air line with a newly designed 11.6-inch display, creating a more aggressively priced notebook for students and the business traveler. Those reports claim that Apple plans to ship around a half-million units before the end of the 2010 calendar year. The current MacBook Air sports a larger 13.3-inch display.
Rumors of a MacBook Air with an 11.6-inch display first cropped up in July. It was said the redesigned hardware will be even slimmer and lighter, and will be powered by an Intel Core i-series ultra-low voltage processor.
There's also been a mixture of chatter regarding a much cheaper, thinner 11.6-inch Apple notebook that would weigh as little as 2.7 pounds due to the possibility of new carbon fiber unibody construction, though AppleInsider cannot confirm any of those reports with any degree of certainty, nor can it confirm somewhat related rumors that such a model would coincide with Apple's reported plans to adopt the latest microprocessors from AMD into some of its Mac models. Instead, those reports are highlighted here simply for the sake of completeness.
iLife and iWork
In addition to the introduction of a new MacBook Air, Apple's iLife suite of digital lifestyle applications and its iWork suite of productivity software are also due for a revamp. The last update to both offers came in January of 2009.
At least one recent discovery has suggested that a iLife '11 refresh will be written entirely in 64-bit code, will include a rewritten iWeb, and will drop the iDVD application. It has also been suggested that the software will be launched for iOS devices, like the iPhone and iPad.
Mac OS X 10.7
Meanwhile, a copy of Apple's official invitation for next week's event obtained by Engadget appears to show a lion peering out from behind the company's iconic logo.
This appears to suggest that Apple may provide the first preview of its next-generation Mac OS X 10.7 operating system given that all of its predecessors have been nicknamed after large felines.
Distributions of Mac OS X 10.7 have been making the rounds inside Apple under the internal code-name "Barolo" -- named after the prestigious Italian wines from the Piedmont region -- since early 2010, according to people familiar with the matter.
Those same people have said that Apple initially hoped to preview the software during this past June's Worldwide Developers Conference but was forced to relinquish those plans when it was forced to pull resources off the project temporarily to help finalize iOS 4.0 in time for the summer's iPhone 4 launch.
Other possibilities
Given that the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines remain the last two Mac product families -- with the exception of the MacBook Air -- not to receive an update in recent months, it's also possible that Apple will use next Wednesday to up the value proposition on those models through modest enhancements such as processor and graphics speed bumps. For example, both the 13-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro still lack Intel's latest generation of Core i3 microprocessors.
For more on Apple's expected product announcements, please see the following reports on the company's forthcoming plans:
Apple's MacBook Air supply dries up as rumors of new 11.6-inch model persist
Apple readying production of smaller, lighter 11.6-inch MacBook Airs
iPod touch with camera, 11.6-inch MacBook Air expected this year
Apple in advance discussions to adopt AMD chips
Book listing claims Apple's iLife '11 will be 64-bit, iOS compatible
64-bit iLife '11 said to arrive in August with a 'mystery' application
iLife '11 Family Pack from Apple, Parallels 6 both spotted early
Apple job listing hints at 'revolutionary' new Mac OS X 10.7 feature
Set to kick-off at 10:00 am Pacific time on Wednesday, October 20th in the Town Hall on Apple's Cupertino Campus, the event doesn't come as a surprise. Just one week ago, AppleInsider hinted that such a gathering was in the cards when it outlined expectations for the Mac maker to overhaul its MacBook Air line, inventories of which dried up over the last several weeks.
MacBook Air
Persistent rumors out of the Far East have suggested Apple is gearing up to overhaul the MacBook Air line with a newly designed 11.6-inch display, creating a more aggressively priced notebook for students and the business traveler. Those reports claim that Apple plans to ship around a half-million units before the end of the 2010 calendar year. The current MacBook Air sports a larger 13.3-inch display.
Rumors of a MacBook Air with an 11.6-inch display first cropped up in July. It was said the redesigned hardware will be even slimmer and lighter, and will be powered by an Intel Core i-series ultra-low voltage processor.
There's also been a mixture of chatter regarding a much cheaper, thinner 11.6-inch Apple notebook that would weigh as little as 2.7 pounds due to the possibility of new carbon fiber unibody construction, though AppleInsider cannot confirm any of those reports with any degree of certainty, nor can it confirm somewhat related rumors that such a model would coincide with Apple's reported plans to adopt the latest microprocessors from AMD into some of its Mac models. Instead, those reports are highlighted here simply for the sake of completeness.
iLife and iWork
In addition to the introduction of a new MacBook Air, Apple's iLife suite of digital lifestyle applications and its iWork suite of productivity software are also due for a revamp. The last update to both offers came in January of 2009.
At least one recent discovery has suggested that a iLife '11 refresh will be written entirely in 64-bit code, will include a rewritten iWeb, and will drop the iDVD application. It has also been suggested that the software will be launched for iOS devices, like the iPhone and iPad.
Mac OS X 10.7
Meanwhile, a copy of Apple's official invitation for next week's event obtained by Engadget appears to show a lion peering out from behind the company's iconic logo.
This appears to suggest that Apple may provide the first preview of its next-generation Mac OS X 10.7 operating system given that all of its predecessors have been nicknamed after large felines.
Distributions of Mac OS X 10.7 have been making the rounds inside Apple under the internal code-name "Barolo" -- named after the prestigious Italian wines from the Piedmont region -- since early 2010, according to people familiar with the matter.
Those same people have said that Apple initially hoped to preview the software during this past June's Worldwide Developers Conference but was forced to relinquish those plans when it was forced to pull resources off the project temporarily to help finalize iOS 4.0 in time for the summer's iPhone 4 launch.
Other possibilities
Given that the MacBook and MacBook Pro lines remain the last two Mac product families -- with the exception of the MacBook Air -- not to receive an update in recent months, it's also possible that Apple will use next Wednesday to up the value proposition on those models through modest enhancements such as processor and graphics speed bumps. For example, both the 13-inch MacBook and MacBook Pro still lack Intel's latest generation of Core i3 microprocessors.
For more on Apple's expected product announcements, please see the following reports on the company's forthcoming plans:
Apple's MacBook Air supply dries up as rumors of new 11.6-inch model persist
Apple readying production of smaller, lighter 11.6-inch MacBook Airs
iPod touch with camera, 11.6-inch MacBook Air expected this year
Apple in advance discussions to adopt AMD chips
Book listing claims Apple's iLife '11 will be 64-bit, iOS compatible
64-bit iLife '11 said to arrive in August with a 'mystery' application
iLife '11 Family Pack from Apple, Parallels 6 both spotted early
Apple job listing hints at 'revolutionary' new Mac OS X 10.7 feature
Comments
Me wants a Lion for my Mac.
And how the hell was this not leaked before Apple could announce it???
I have $1199 burning a hole in my pocket for a 13" MPB with an i5 processor...
As far as OSX Lion is concerned, I'd love to see resolution independence finally make it to the big time. (To be fair, I just got around to upgrading the last mini to 10.6 last weekend!
MAC OS X is a pain for concurrent, multiple monitors. I move my app to the secondary screen but the command menu is stuck on top of the first screen. Is there a fix for this?
This is by design and convention. There is only 1 menubar, just like in windows and linux there is only 1 taskbar. Those don't change monitors either.
Honestly, imo, the menubar should go all the way across. But I see why they chose not to (working with different sized monitors).
I have mixed feelings about this event. I hope it's just a preview and they aren't going to sweep OS X under the rug when it comes developer time again. I'm really looking forward to see what they may have after not really having a consumer update since 10.5. (10.6 was mostly under the hood changes). They should have some new interesting features. Dare I say it? A, newly designed Finder?
I'm hoping for some new Macbook Airs as well. If they are quick enough I might be selling my 2.33 core2duo mbp for one.
MAC OS X is a pain for concurrent, multiple monitors. I move my app to the secondary screen but the command menu is stuck on top of the first screen. Is there a fix for this?
You are absolutely right, I use three monitors and it's a pain in the neck!
Helloooo!
Me wants a Lion for my Mac.
Yep, 10.7 is Lion. Looks like we'll be getting an overview of 10.7. Yeah! Finally!
The MacBook Air, new iPads, and software updates to the AppleTV can take back seat.
This is by design and convention. There is only 1 menubar, just like in windows and linux there is only 1 taskbar. Those don't change monitors either.
Honestly, imo, the menubar should go all the way across. But I see why they chose not to (working with different sized monitors).
That really doesn't work with a 2x2 monitor orientation. One thing I've always liked about the Mac (even before switching) is that the menu exists on the top of the first monitor vs. a menu for each individual application window.
This is by design and convention. There is only 1 menubar, just like in windows and linux there is only 1 taskbar. Those don't change monitors either.
That is incorrect Windows serves your menus in your window, and not across the top of your screen.
Didn't iWork '09 come out in August of '08?
That is incorrect Windows serves your menus in your window, and not across the top of your screen.
I didn't say menubar for windows, I said taskbar.
The menubar in each window is a pain in the ass when you start having multiple windows in the same application on windows. This is why Apple chose to extract the menubar out of the window and merge it into a task bar of sorts. (apple menu, spotlight, current application, spaces, etc).
?a preview of Mac OS X 10.7, and an unveiling of iLife and iWork '11?
Great to finally get some substantive news about Mac OS X 10.7. Was iLife and iWork 11 actually mentioned in the press release, or is that just speculation?
That is incorrect Windows serves your menus in your window, and not across the top of your screen.
While what you say is true, it isn't what emig647 said. What he said was correct, and that is the taskbar doesn't span across multiple monitors. However, this is way off topic.
What I would like to know is what everyone wants from 10.7: Resolution Independence (Odds: 1:2); FaceTime integration (Odds: 3:1), or maybe even running your iPhone/iPad apps directly on the computer (Odds: 1:100)? What is your favorite?
That is incorrect Windows serves your menus in your window, and not across the top of your screen.
No (s)he's right, there is one taskbar, at the bottom of the screen.
Snow Leopard will be the first version of Apple OS that I've skipped since 7.4 and vanilla X.
I hope they figure out their graphics issues in Leo... Or how to write a driver... Or how to make a phone call to the people who write drivers.
Hey Steve, if your reading this... Drivers... We need drivers!!!
Mac OSX "LIGER"
That would make sense, just like all new mac products they are "magical"