Photo: Apple

How do you go from the brink of collapse, where all signs were pointing to your company going completely bankrupt, to turning fortune around and become one of the most valuable companies in the world? I have no idea, but Steve Jobs and the team of people who have been working at Apple over the last 13 years may have some answers. The house Steve and Steve built has just crossed a massive milestone, seeing Apple market cap exceed $300 billion. Seriously, there’s only one company in the world that is more valuable than Apple right now.

Spectacular growth

For those not in the know, market cap is the number of outstanding shares a company has, multiplied by the value of each share. Apple has rallied over the last three years, generating unbelievable revenue and profit off the back of meteoric iPhone sales. All of this culminated in the Cupertino giant overtaking Microsoft’s market value, to become the world’s most valuable technology company, second only to oil giant Exxon Mobil.

And while the gap between Apple market cap and Exxon‘s had decreased to $50 billion this past October, that gap has increased again to $73 billion off the back of the strong oil price.

iPad, iPhone, Macbooks

Apple’s meteoric growth is based on its dual position as a major software company, and the world’s most celebrated industrial design company, too. iTunes has propelled Apple to becoming the number one retailer of music in the world. But Apple’s strategy with iTunes was to use it as a delivery vehicle for its world-renowned iPod.

Apple growth has been built on this strategy, while expanding iTunes to applications and video content and adding the iPhone and iPad to the iPod on the hardware front. And all of this discounts the ever-popular Macbook and iMac range of computers, too. In 2011, it will be all eyes on Apple market cap and Apple growth, too, given how fast the company has risen to prominence.

Photo: Apple

At their special ‘Back to Mac’ event, Apple unveiled the new iLife suite. The company also took the opportunity to discuss how they applied their learnings from Mac OS X to the iPhone when that launched. The iPhone itself then influenced the iPad, with the iPad now influencing Mac OS X Lion, the new operating system unveiled. But all of that seems trivial next to the new hardware Apple unveiled. The new Macbook Air is that hardware, and while going into the event I didn’t care for it, Apple sure has my attention now.

13.3-inch and 11.6-inch

Apple unveiled two computers – a 13.3-inch LED backlit air with a 1440×900 display, as well as the long-rumoured 11.6-inch Macbook Air with a resolution of 1368×768. The defining feature is that the computers have no optical drives whatsoever, while storage is provided by SSD drives.

Why this is huge

The announcement of this computer is a particularly big deal because it could be a deathblow to the already ailing CD. Who uses them anymore? Well, hardly anybody. So we may as well kill them altogether, yes? Yes.

It’s also particularly huge because it places the new Macbook Air right in line with the current Macbook. Starting at $999 (£650) in the US for the 11.6-inch model and ranging to $1,599 (£1,040) for the top of the range 13.3-inch model, at the sacrifice of a tiny bit of processing power – still an Intel Core 2 Duo – with 2GB of memory out the box, we’re excited about this computer’s prospects. Keep your eyes peeled for our review, and if Photoshop doesn’t make it fall over, we may have a new crush.

Photo: Ed Yourdon / Flickr

I saw someone watch a feature film end-to-end on an iPhone on a plane recently. I thought it absolutely absurd just from a screen-sizing perspective alone, but it appears there are far more people who use their mobile phones for film viewing than I suspected. Soon followed a completely unscientific study into people’s media viewing habits – here are the questions asked and the path we were led down.

What matters most – screen size or convenience?

Like many readers of this site, we have various media playback devices. Smartphones, tablets, laptops, and the trusty old-school television. However, some of us have found we rarely turn on our television sets unless its to play video games – but prefer to just use whatever computer is handiest and most convenient to use.
This raised the first question: what matters more when watching content? Screen size or convenience? Am I an anomaly for foregoing a 42-inch viewing experience for a 13-inch experience on a Macbook, because the latter takes less effort?

What is your platform of choice?

Assuming that people prioritise convenience over screen size (yes, dangerous assumption, we know), which screen type gets the most love? For those who have a netbook, a tablet and a laptop, which strikes the right balance? The few people I asked said that while a netbook is far more convenient than a laptop, the screen size sacrificed is too much. Furthermore on the iPad – the de facto tablet for the next month or so – while it looks good, the boxed 4:3 sizing is also a sacrifice. And so, guess what came up trumps: the trusty laptop emerged as the media playback device of choice.

Why does the laptop get the vote of confidence?

Depending on the size of laptop you’re looking at, you can go from a decently sized 13-inch screen with a fair resolution, to full HD laptops at 17-inches or 19-inches! The sweet spot for us sits around the 15-inch 1080p range.

This decidedly unscientific study into how people consume media led us down a path all the way back to the laptop. What is your media playback device of choice and why?

Photo: Cool Bananas

We spend a lot of time investing in what goes into our laptops, both in terms of software and output, but very little time investing in what we keep our laptops in. There’s an ocean of laptops bags available on the market, but like Orwell taught us, ‘all laptop bags are equal, but some laptop bags are more equal than others’. Here’s a look at the more ‘equal’ cool laptop bags available on the market.

Cool Bananas BulletProof hardcover case

What is there to not love about this bag? Not only does the company have an awesome name – Cool Bananas for the win – and the bag have an awesome feature – it’s bulletproof (!) – the understated simplicity is what really wins us over. The designed-for-Macbook Cool Bananas BulletProof hardcover case is not only slick, it’s also very hardcore. Not that we recommend you actually try, you know, shoot the thing, but that has to add some street cred to even the nerdiest of guys.

My Documents: the sleeve

Photo: ThinkGeek

Okay, get this: so your laptop’s OS has a ‘my documents’ folder where you store, well, all your documents, right? But, as a result, surely your laptop is one giant electronic collection of your documents, right? So, it stands to reason that you should put your laptop in its own My Documents folder, right? Right! That super-geeky thinking is exactly what the guys at ThinkGeek did when they created the ‘My Documents’ sleeve for laptops up to 15-inches. It comes with the prerequisite pixilated mouse pointer and all. Seriously, we couldn’t make this stuff up even if we tried.

Crumpler wants to party

Photo: Crumpler

If you’re more a sling-bag person than a handheld bulletproof hardcover case or a super-geeky metaphorical-themed bag person, than Crumpler’s range of cool laptop bags has something ideal for you. In fact, the aptly named Crumpler Cheesy Disco for 15-inch laptops may be just what you’re looking for. What’s apt about the name Cheesy Disco, you ask? Well, we don’t know, other than the fact that Crumpler’s naming department knew the fun name could one day put the shoulder bag in a list featuring a bulletproof-freaking-bag. I say bravo to them – it worked.

Have you stumbled upon any uber-geeky, or uber-sexy, downright silly or traditionally cool laptop bags? Remember, you’re up against the Cool Bananas BulletProof bag here, so you need to bring it on. We’d love to hear from you, so leave a comment and let us know.

Photo: Apple

Following in the wake of the Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 Macbook Pro updates, the recently leaked entry-level Macbook update has turned out not to be just rumour. And, oddly enough, has snuck onto shelves without the usual red carpet Apple treatment.

Specs

Outside of any manufacturing enhancements Apple most likely made, the new Macbook has seen an update in two areas – the CPU and the GPU. It sees the 2.26GHz Intel Core 2 Duo bumped up to 2.4GHz Intel Core 2 Duo. With respect to graphical processing, the latest Macbook will have the same NVIDIA GeForce 320M GPU found in the current Macbook Pro lineup. Why is this a big deal? Primarily because the intelligently designed GPU can perform graphics processing when needed, yet saves battery life by running somewhat idle when not required.

These two updates places the entry level Macbook’s specs at 2.4 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, with 250GB storage and 2GB DDR3 RAM at a price of £849, which is around £30 more expensive than. For more of your hard-earned pounds, you can upgrade your Macbook to 4GB RAM with built-in storage space expandable up to 500GB.

Bizarre leak

What brought attention to what appears to be an intentionally stealthy release is how it was leaked a few days ago by Vietnamese publication, Tinhte. This is the same publication that found that second lost iPhone 4G and revealed the Dell Mini 5 would have a Snapdragon processor through a teardown.

Mac updates

With this entry-level Macbook update following the recent Macbook Pro update, Apple has updated two-thirds of its laptop lineup, with only the Macbook Air left out. The Macbook Pro 13-inch has specs similar to the updated Macbook, while the 15-inch and 17-inch Macbook Pro both got Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 composition.

Photo: Apple

Last year, the Apple laptops lineup was consolidated, with the company reducing its Macbook range to one laptop and adding a 13 inch variation to its Macbook Pro lineup. And this year, Apple refreshed its Macbook Pro lineup, dropping Intel’s Core Duo 2 processors for the 15-inch and 17-inch Pros in favour of the newer Intel Core i5 and Intel Core i7 processors.

Size matters

The 13-inch Macbook and Macbook Pro will stick with the Core Duo 2. The Macbook will run at 2.26GHz, whereas the Macbook Pro is available at 2.4GHz and 2.66GHz. In this respect, they will be notably slower than the 15-inch and the 17-inch Macbook Pros, considering those laptops are adopting the newer Core i5 and Core i7 processors.

The 15-inch Macbook Pro will be getting a processor update to the Intel Core i5, with speeds of 2.4GHz (520M) and 2.53GHz (540M) available. An Intel Core i7 variation running at 2.66GHz is available, too.

The 17-inch Macbook Pro, is available with the same 2.53GHz Intel Core i5 configurations seen in the 15-inch Macbook pro, and the 2.66GHz (620M) Intel Core i7 configuration as well.

Deliberate tiering

Photo: Apple

This move is contrary to Apple’s recent Mac strategy of converging the capability of their machines by creating a 13-inch Macbook Pro variation. Now the company has deliberately tiered the 15-inch and 17-inch laptops, meaning, in architecture at least, the 13-inch is more a half-step between the Macbook and the Pro than a full blown Macbook Pro.

The Standard

All the laptops have 4GB RAM, With 320GB hard drive capacity for the lower end and 500GB capacity for the step ups. The laptops start at $999 (around £780) for the 13-inch Macbook model and at $2,299 (almost £1,500) for the base 17-inch configuration.

Photo: Apple

Apple, the premium mobile devices company, has had unprecedented success since the return in 1998 of their iconic founder, Steve Jobs. Since then, the company has built a $100 billion organisation on the back of mobile music players, Smartphones and its Mac lineup of laptops. This post answers the question Apple posed in a recent marketing campaign: which Mac are you?

The iMac

Photo: Apple

The iMac is Apple’s all-in-one line of desktop computers with a twist – the desktop is in the desktop. That is to say, the desktop components are built into the monitor, so all you see is the monitor and the peripherals you use to connect with it – the mouse and keyboard. This innovative idea has lost its initial lustre, but the desktops have not. Starting at £950, the iMac range packs  computing power somewhere in the middle of the Macbook and Macbook Pro range, minus the premium paid for mobility.

The Macbook Air

Photo: Apple

The Macbook Air was once thought to be Apple’s answer to the netbook. Incredibly thin, light and sleek – it doesn’t even come with a built-in disc drive – the computer is more for the fashion conscious than for serious users. Insofar as amazing processing power is not a requirement and discs are a thing of the past, the Macbook Air is the perfect solution for one looking for a very portable computer that does not have the drawbacks of netbooks.

The Macbook

Photo: Apple

The Macbook is Apple’s ultimate consumer laptop. Priced at £700, this 13-inch computer has processing power in excess of most mid- to high-end laptops, as well as an elegant unibody finish. This Mac is aimed at college students as well as any consumer who wants to own a Mac that has respectable processing power but has no intention of running resource-heavy applications like Final Cut Pro and Adobe Photoshop.

The Macbook Pro

Photo: Apple

The Macbook Pro is Apple’s mobile solution for Pro users. Available in 13 inches, 15 inches and 17 inches, with processing speeds peaking at 3.06GHz delivered by Intel Duo Cores, and expandable ram of up to 8GB, these laptops are capable of running all the pro applications a mobile user would want. The price, however, peaks at an astonishing £2300, so it certainly is not for the laptop shopper on a budget.

The right tools for the job

Most consumers will pick up the Macbook or the iMac, since they are the most attractively priced with the most capability. The Macbook Air is a novelty for users who have a high fashion sense as well as require optimal mobility, whereas the Macbook Pro is the default laptop for those in graphics or audio-intensive industries. Choosing, as always, comes down to preference, budgets and need (or lack thereof) for mobility.

Apple is undoubtedly one of the leading manufactures of an array of world class laptops that are in great demand as well. The latest Apple MacBook (MC207B/A) is fitted with a number of features that offers superior performance for a number years to come. The laptop is available in a stylish white colour which gives it a sophisticated and royal look. It has a wide screen which offers crystal clear pictures that will take your breath away. The device has a sleek and portable design and can be easily carried without any hassle.

This laptop is a product of the very famous Apple MacBook series. The clock speed of the device is around 2260 MHz which is much more than several other laptops. It is also equipped with 1024 MB of RAM that ensures swift functionality and optimum performance. The hard disk memory is around 250 GB which enables you to store all sorts of audio, video and various other files as well. The Apple MacBook (MC207B/A) is also installed with a GeForce graphics card that enables you to play all sorts of PC games without any hassle. You can also run any high resolution software on it as well. Furthermore, the device is installed with Mac operating system which enhances the overall performance of the device.

The Apple MacBook (MC207B/A) is equipped with a webcam that enables you to video chat without any hassle. Always buy this laptop from an authorised dealer which offers warranty on the product. For best results you must consult the user manual provided with it.

Tags for this article: netbook, macbook, apple macbook

Steve Jobs’ Apple is one of the biggest companies that are engaged in manufacturing a wide range of laptops. The company uses some of the best technology and quality assured components that provides optimum results to the user. The laptop is fitted with some of the best features that provide high speed and long functional life. The laptop is very compact and is very easy to carry and transport. It also has a very clear display that provides breathtaking images.

The Apple Macbook Pro (MC026B/A) is the best laptop August 2009. The device is fitted with an Intel Core 2 Duo processor that provides amazing results. As far as Apple laptops go, the MC026B/A MacBook Pro is clearly one of the best. It possesses a clock speed of around 2,660 Mhz. It is fitted with 4,096 MB that provides superb speed to the processing of the device. The hard disk memory of the device is about 320 GB that enables you to store all the data. It is equipped with a 15 inch wide display that provides amazing picture quality. The resolution of the display is about WXGA+ (1440 x 900). The laptop is also fitted with an nVidia GeForce 9600M GT graphics card that enables you to play all types of PC games. It is installed with Apple MAC OS X 10.5 Leopard operating system.

The laptop is fitted with an inbuilt webcam that enable you to video chat. It also has a Kensington Lock Support that provides total security. The laptop is fitted with an amazing rechargeable battery that provides a long battery back up and a hassle free functional life.

Tags for this article: laptop, Laptops, apple

After the long wait the Apple MacBook Pro (MB990B/A) arrived in the market; craved out from a single block of aluminium that symbolises a true engineering achievement. The presence of the unibody aluminium enclosure provides the Apple MacBook Pro (MB990B/A) with superb durability and style. Apple’s designers and engineers worked thoroughly through every stage of product development to innovate this extremely durable, stylish and high performance machine for day-to-day business.

The Apple MacBook Pro has a breakthrough battery that lasts for up to seven hours on a single charge, and due to the presence advanced chemistry and Adaptive Charging, it can also withstand about three times more charge cycles than a conventional laptop battery before it needs to be replaced.

The Apple MacBook Pro offers is enhanced with LED-backlit widescreen display that offers 60% greater colour gamut for richer and more vibrant colours. The seamless glass enclosure makes this display strong and durable. Another quality of the Apple MacBook Pro (MB990B/A) is that the entire track pad is the button, so the user can click anywhere. Without a separate button, the spacious track pad provides plenty of room to move hands on the large, silky glass surface. The user can use two fingers to scroll up and down a page, pinch to zoom in and out, rotate an image with fingertips, swipe with three fingers to flip through photo libraries and swipe with four fingers to show desktop, view all open windows or switch applications. The NVIDIA GeForce 9400M brings amazing graphics performance to MacBook Pro, so the user can enjoy their favourite 3D games with fast, seamless game play. Graphics-intensive features in iPhoto and iMovie are smooth and responsive.

Let the Specifications of the Apple MacBook Pro (MB990B/A) speak out for its superiority that revolutionized the industry. The Specifications include:-

Processor: Intel Core 2 Duo – 2.26GHz – 3MB level 2 cache
Memory: 2GB 1066MHz DDR3 SDRAM
HD Capacity: 160GB SATA 5400 RPM
Display: 13.3″ widescreen display
Graphics Card: NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard
Optical Drive: 8x double-layer SuperDrive (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW)
Networking: AirPort Extreme (802.11 a/b/g/n), Gigabit Ethernet, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
Features: iSight Intergrated Web camera, Front Row, iLife, Mini DisplayPort output with support for DVI, Dual-Link DVI, and VGA video
Battery Life:Up to 7 hours of wireless productivity
Installed Software: Mac OS X v10.5 Leopard (includes Time Machine, Quick Look, Spaces, Spotlight, Dashboard, Mail, iChat, Safari, Address Book, QuickTime, iCal, DVD Player, Photo Booth, Front Row, Xcode Developer Tools) / iLife ‘09 (includes iPhoto, iMovie, GarageBand, iWeb, iDVD).