Report: Chrome for Mac Beta may appear in ‘early December’

More than a year after Google released its Web browser for Windows, a Mac version is still under development. But a beta version may see the light of day as early as next month.

iPhone to cost only $300-400 with contract?

 So if the iPhone only costs $300, are you going to get one?  There are new reports running around the web concerning a lower price point for Apple’s new iPhone, which is yet-t0-be-released, but is scheduled to appear for sale sometime in June.

The lower price, does however require a contract committment, which is no surprise.  This is the standard procedure for the major cellular companies, at least in the US.  If you agree to a term/ contract you can get a significant price reduction on your phone, and they typically offer one or more rebates to make the price of your new phone more attractive, as well.

I guess we will soon see if this move will be a profitable one for Apple, Inc and Cingular.

iPhone to cost only $300-400 with contract? – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Engadget Article

Patent: Wireless iPhone Charging Station?

Mac Rumors has posted that Apple apparently has a patent for a wireless charging station.  The images indicate that the new iPhone will be able to be charged in a dock in any orientation.  There are no visible contacts that can be seen, the whole process of charging is done by induction without straight connection with metal contacts.  These metal contacts on most devices can corrode and get damaged.

So this is yet another revolutionary part of the highly touted iPhone.

Mac Rumors: Patent: Wireless iPhone Charging Station?

iChat 4.0 Voicemail??

TUAW has posted some screenshots from an unreleased version of iChat.  The images indicate there will be a new feature built-in to the Apple iChat software.  Unfortunately there are not details but could it be possible that Voicemail will be coming standard with iChat 4.0??iChat 4.0 Voicemail – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Did Bill Gates’ Lies Cause Apple’s New TV Ads?

Mr Gates has so graciously added to the fodder the Mac community can use to taunt him with.  In a recent interview Gates was questioned on his new operating system, Windows Vista, as well his biggest rival Apple, Inc’s current operating system, Tiger, and the to-be -released version of Mac OS X, Leopard (10.5), which is due in late March.

He apparently got flustered in the interview and just fed up with it all and started spouting information wasn’t entirely accurate. Many are now speculating that these claims were part of what prompted the latest string of Apple ads, jabbing at the new version of Windows and its “features”.

Check it out here.

War Of Words: Bill Gates Attacks Apple, Macs.

Mac360 – Did Bill Gates’ Lies Cause Apple’s New TV Ads?

Apple – all-flash iPod models

Well its about darned time. Flash media has dropped dramatically in cost over the last couple of years. I honestly had expected this to be in existence already. But it would appear it has been cost prohibitive until now. My guess is that manufacturing reasons are mostly to blame, along with technical difficulties.

But at long last, large capacity flash based iPod’s are on the horizon. So are you going to get one?

AppleInsider | Apple may ax next-gen HDD iPod in favor of all-flash models

It’s Coming: Mac BU Announces Intent to Deliver Office 2008 for Mac: New version brings enhanced compatibility and Mac-first, Mac-only capabilities.

SAN FRANCISCO — Jan. 9, 2007 — Microsoft Corp.’s Macintosh Business Unit (Mac BU) today revealed at Macworld Conference & Expo 2007 the news Mac fans have been waiting to hear: A new version of Office for Mac is on its way. The Mac BU announced its intent to deliver the first Universal version of Office for Mac for PowerPC- and Intel-based Macs — Microsoft^® Office 2008 for Mac. Scheduled to be available in the second half of 2007, Office 2008 for Mac will allow Mac users to work smarter and more efficiently with new and enhanced tools that are simple, intuitive and easily discovered.

The new version of Microsoft Office for Mac could prove to be more revolutionary than anyone anticipates. It appears that Microsoft is beginning to understand and accept their Mac clients as viable customers. So much so, that Office 2008 supposedly will have new enhancements and functionality that Office 2007 won’t have.

New Mac-First, Mac-Only Features

Microsoft continues to deliver new Mac-first, Mac-only features aimed at providing customers with a unique, engaging and definitively Mac experience. Office 2008 for Mac will carry on the tradition of Mac BU’s productivity software, helping users get organized and work smarter through these features:

•	Publishing Layout View lets users create incredibly layout-rich documents such as newsletters, fliers and brochures by uncovering desktop publishing layout tools and providing text box entry.
•	Ledger Sheets enable anyone to use Excel to handle common financial management tasks. Home and small-business users can balance checkbooks, track accounts or manage investment portfolios more easily than ever.
•	My Day allows users to track priorities and stay on top of daily activities no matter what application they’re currently working in. My Day is a stand-alone application that doesn’t take up much screen space, offers at-a-glance schedule and task viewing without launching Entourage, and lets users color-code everything for visualizing daily priorities.

You can read more of the press release from Microsoft here.

If this turns out to be true, it begs the question as to the future of Apple’s iWork suite. There have been rumors regarding the future of iWork and new additions to the software suite. But it could be possible that Microsoft might kill it off.

What do you think? Does Microsoft have what it takes to outdo Apple? Is Office good enough and flashy enough to beat out the possible future of iWork?

Weigh in and we’ll all wait and see what Microsoft is holding in the wings come the second half of this year.

Office 2008: Goodbye iWork?

It’s Coming: Mac BU Announces Intent to Deliver Office 2008 for Mac: New version brings enhanced compatibility and Mac-first, Mac-only capabilities.

Screenshots of Office 2008

Running Mac OS X on Generic PCs with Parallels/VMWare?

A big move in Virtualization software that flies counter to the momentum of the big Apple, Inc.  But it also lines up with what many in the tech community would love to see happen.  Running Mac OS X on any PC.  The use of technologies such as Parallels and VMWare are able to make that possible.

So far they have had to add in blocks to keep it from working so far, since the Apple Intel shift.  They had to do this to say in nice with Apple.  But that tide may be about to change.

Take a look at these articles to see what’s going on.

Mac Rumors: Running Mac OS X on Generic PCs with Parallels/VMWare? [Update]

Parallels to turn it around, help Mac OS onto generic PC boxen

Apple Special Event on February 20?

Apple Recon is reporting that Apple is planning a special event for the last half of February.   There estimations indicate that we will finally get to see all the software many of us anticipated to come out of Macworld 2007.  Leopard, which will be announced will get a release date of late March, which has been expected for some time and is probable in light of the Spring release of Tiger being around the same time of the year.  iWork is also expected to get it’s ‘07 update as well.

We will just have to wait and see…

Apple Special Event on February 20 « Apple Recon

Screenshots: MS Office 2008 for Mac

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW) has come acrossed some screenshots from the little talked about Microsoft Office 2008 for Mac.  Yes it is going to be called 2008 because it will not be released until third quarter 2007.  The new system is rumored to include much of the system backbone that Microsoft Office 2007 for Windows will be using.  Of course the new Mac version, has a much better Graphical User Interface (GUI) than its Windows counterpart.

Now I do have to admit that the Windows version has certainly started to do some things right.  Outlook for one has finally been “beautified”.  It is still Windows, but it has come a very long way in it’s GUI and feature sets.   If you can get a chance to get your hands on it, I would reccommend trying it.

But for now, check out this screenshots for the Mac version.

The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Future Apple Notebooks likely to benefit from flash?

Future Apple Notebooks likely to benefit from flash? – The Unofficial Apple Weblog (TUAW)

Mac OS X 10.4.9 (8P2111) Seeded to Developers

The x.x.9 updates have been the last update made available to Mac users during any given life of Apple’s OS.  This can only be seen as a precursor to Leopard being released in the not too distant future.

Mac Rumors: Mac OS X 10.4.9 (8P2111) Seeded to Developers

Cingular patent may foreshadow Apple deal

MacNN | Cingular patent may foreshadow Apple deal

Apple to answer the Streets iPhone call on time

AppleInsider | Apple to answer the Streets iPhone call on time

Will Apple use the “Media Download” Patent?

Will Apple use the “Media Download” Patent? at The Apple Blog

Apple smart phone project rests on Mac OS X tie-ins

AppleInsider | Apple smart phone project rests on Mac OS X tie-ins

Would Apple Buy Parallels?

Would Apple Buy Parallels? at The Apple Blog

Mac Rumors: iPhone 4GB and 8GB, Coming in January?

http://www.tuaw.com/2006/12/03/iphone-details-confirmed-by-kevin-rose/

Mac Rumors: iPhone 4GB and 8GB, Coming in January?

Ultra-thin 12” MacBook Pro?

Mac Rumors: Ultra-thin 12” MacBook Pro?

Could Playing Movies On Your Mac Be Illegal?

Mac360 – Could Playing Movies On Your Mac Be Illegal?

Apples iTV may extend

AppleInsider | Apples iTV may extend “beyond streaming video”

Apple Tablet on the horizon?

Several rumors are beginning to stir amidst the Apple iPhone rumblings that Apple has developed a Tablet computer and are currently working out the details of manufacturing.  The two article’s linked below discuss this as well, mentioning that the device is probably going to be geared towards the Home and Education markets.

The devices have limited implementations and are not designed for the everyday user.  One use the writers mention is in the home environment to control audio, video, lighting, security, etc.  This implementation of a wireless all-in-one controller with a touchscreen and interactive interface gets my attention.

Home automation is something that intrigues me and something I am very interested in implementing once there is funding in my bank account to do so.  I am also going to be transferring all media (Video and Audio) to digital formats to use anytime without the need to retrieve a physical item.   And this plays right into it.

This will also be a big player in the education markets for both students and faculty members.  Having a unit that students can both write by hand and type on will make way for that market.  As well as give faculty members the ability to walk around with the tablet and interactive with their on-screen presentation and not be chained to a podium or desk.

I would have to assume that this product will have many integrations with Apple’s already announced but yet to-be-released iTV product.

These articles also make mention of docking like stations for additional screens and a keyboard/ mouse set for more ergonomic uses.

Smarthouse – Display Panels

Apple tablet coming soon?

AMD-based Apple laptop in the works?

MacNN has reported recently that AMD is working on a new chip that will be used in new Apple laptops.  This could prove to be a very intriguing move if Apple allows this.  It would mean more competition and probably cheaper Macs on the market.  It could then lead to the ability for a user to build their own computer.

Apple has had a long standing stance of not allowing “foreign” hardware into their platforms or making the architecture available to allow the masses to build their own computers.  This has been upheld in the name of quality and capatibility with the operating system.

Could this be a step in the direction of new changes for Apple?

MacNN | AMD-based Apple laptop in the works?

iPhone rumors still going strong

Several sources are still reporting on the rumored iPhone. Now it needs to be noted that Apple has not said a word or made a single announcement relating to an Apple branded cellular phone. All the hype and information on the web is pure conjecture and rumor. Which if Apple is truly working on this new product, then all this publicity is free and costing $0 in marketing.

A very amazing phenomenon that could prove to put Apple in a great position for this new market. Within the last several weeks there have been reports, and again nothing that could be considered solidy evidence, that Foxconn, the company that makes parts for the iPod received a contract from Apple for this new “iPhone” product. And Apple has already filed for and received, I think, a patent for the name “iPhone”.

So come MacWorld it would seem that many will be expecting an announcement from Apple about this, if they haven’t already done so.

This just goes to show the loyalty Mac users show to these products and software. When quality is created and maintained, a crowd is sure to follow.

DailyTech – Apple iPhone Confirmed at Foxconn

Foxconn to manufacture Apple’s iPhone – report

Mac Rumors: Hon Hai Receives iPhone Contract?

Apple adds an “N” to Wifi on Macs

With the newest upgrades to the Mac Portable line to contain Core 2 Duo processors, Apple is also slipping in new wifi technology under the hood. Apple is keeping a tight lip on this new enhancement of adding 802.11n wifi cards in their products. So far the “n” technology has not been truly adopted yet, and as such Apple is not making it known that they are jumping on the bandwagon early.