Apple gives Tim Cook 51 percent salary increase

Apple CEO Tim Cook received compensation totaling $4.17 million in 2012, down 98.9 percent on last year—although his 2011 compensation of $378 million consisted mostly of a one-off stock grant, worth $376.2 million at the time.

The year in Mac

Some people have feared that Apple’s focus on mobile devices would leave the Mac gathering dust in a dark corner of 1 Infinite Loop, but 2012 has demonstrated that Apple’s longest-running product line isn’t out of steam yet. With some impressive product refreshes, a brand-new operating system for the second time in as many years, and the promise of more innovation to come, there has never been a better time to be a Mac user.

The Forgotten eMate 300 -- 15 years later

Fifteen years ago, Apple released its first and only touchscreen laptop (so far), the often forgotten eMate 300. This translucent clamshell portable, which ran Apple’s Newton PDA operating system, represented a bold experiment in educational computing and a drastic departure from Apple’s traditional hardware design.

Apple can benefit from lukewarm Windows 8 reception

A recent survey of 45,000 PCWorld readers found that a majority prefers Apple laptops. While that’s just one perspective from one audience, it represents a trend that Microsoft and Windows PC OEMs should be concerned about.

Apple, Microsoft spar over fees for SkyDrive iOS app

Apple and Microsoft are embroiled in a fight over the SkyDrive app for iPhones and iPads, a skirmish that has left users caught in the middle.

Apple releases iOS 6.0.2 with Wi-Fi fix

Apple on Tuesday released iOS 6.0.2, an update aimed at fixing a Wi-Fi bug afflicting some devices.

Apple sells 2 million iPhones in China, amid Wall Street worries about demand

Apple reported Monday that it had sold a “record” 2 million units of the new iPhone 5 during its first three days of sales in China—a report that emerged as Wall Street analysts downgraded the Apple’s stock because of perceived softness in demand for the new phone.

Apple releases Wi-Fi, EFI updates for 2012 Macs

Apple on Monday posted updates to the Wi-Fi and EFI firmware for almost all of the Macs it released in 2012.

Find My iPhone update brings direction support

If you’ve ever misplaced your phone, you know all too well the feeling of panic that experience can induce. Apple’s Find My iPhone app makes it easy to track down your wayward iOS device or Mac; with the latest update the company’s made it even simpler to get back to your computer, tablet, or smartphone.

The unlikely persistence of AppleScript

Apple acquired NeXT at the end of 1996, with the plan of using that company’sOpenStep operating system as the foundation for the future of Mac OS. The first plan for that OS was called Rhapsody, and the basic idea was that it was OpenStep with a Mac-like appearance.

Report: Google set to release iOS Maps app

To the delight of iPhone users everywhere, Google plans to release a standalone iOS Maps app late on Wednesday, according to All Things D.  Rumors and hints of a Google-based replacement maps app have been circulating since Apple Maps made its debut with the launch of iOS 6 in September, but this is the first we’ve heard of the app potentially making it to the App Store.

Thin is in with new 21.5-inch iMacs but user upgrades, SuperDrive are out

Apple updated the new 21.5-inch iMac with Intel Ivy Bridge processors, a RAM boost, and new Nvidia GeForce graphics processors. But the two most significant changes to the new iMac are its thinner design—which introduces compromises you’ll need to make—and the option to upgrade to Apple’s Fusion Drive technology.

A U.S. Apple factory may be robot city

Apple's planned investment of $100 million next year in a U.S. manufacturing facility is relatively small, but still important. Apple has the money, talent and resources to build a highly automated factory that turns out products that are potentially cost competitive with those it now makes in China.

Apple updates Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for iOS

Apple on Tuesday released updated versions of its suite of iWork apps for iOS. Pages, Keynote, and Numbers for iOS were each updated to version 1.7 to makes it easier to collaborate and share items with iWork for Mac and Microsoft Office. Apple has a complete list of all features compatible between Microsoft Office and iWork for iOS

Mac of the Future: the CPU

Imagine a 13-inch Macbook Air with a retina-class display that weighs a few ounces less than the current model. Or maybe it weighs the same, but you can use it all day without plugging into wall power.

iPhone 5 edges toward supply-demand balance

iPhone 5 supplies continued to improve this week as Apple reduced the wait time for delivery to “2 weeks” on its online store.

The unusual world of Mac prototypes

If you’ve been a Mac fan for more than a few years, chances are you’ve seen or even used Apple’s most famous computer models. What you don’t often see are the machines that Apple kept to itself—the prototypes that never reached the market.

The unexplored history of translucent Apple design

The arrival of the iMac in 1998 signaled more than a renaissance for Apple; it sparked a widespread industrial design revolution. Apple’s teardrop-shaped machine gained a large part of its appeal from its translucent Bondi blue plastic housing, which dramatically set the iMac apart from a sea of beige-boxed PCs.

Apple to kill Messages beta for OS X Lion next month

Apple has told Mac owners running OS X Lion that the beta of Messages, its replacement for both the older iChat instant messaging service and SMS (short message service) texting, will expire Dec. 14.

Google sandboxes Flash in Chrome for OS X

Google this week announced it had shipped a stronger Flash Player sandbox for the OS X version of Chrome, making good on an August promise to ship a Mac browser better able to ward off exploits of the Adobe software.

Design, supply component issues may be hurting iPhone 5 production

Stringent iPhone 5 production specifications established by Apple and supply issues with new components like the Lightning port and larger screen could be responsible for Foxconn’s delays of the handset, analysts said on Wednesday.

iOS version of Microsoft Office reportedly set for 2013 release

The long wait for an iOS compatible version of Microsoft Office may be coming to an end. Reports on the Internet contend that Microsoft’s office productivity suite will be available for the mobile platform next year.

Apple not likely to ditch Intel chips for Macs in near future

There’s a certain sense to recent rumors that Apple may trade the Intel chips in its Macs for the company’s own processors. Apple is, after all, the poster child of a company that wants to control its own destiny: It makes its own hardware and software, and is a proponent of the “walled garden” ecosystem exemplified by its iTunes Store and App Store. Even more recently, Apple has taken deeper control of its processor design; the iPhone 5’s A6 chip uses Apple’s own custom ARM-based design, rather than taking a standard ARM core and just dropping it in, as the company has with past iOS devices.

OS X Snow Leopard shows signs of becoming Apple's XP

One in four Macs now run OS X Mountain Lion, Apple's newest operating system, data released last week showed.

But there are signs that OS X Snow Leopard, an edition shipped in August 2009, may be the Mac's equivalent of Microsoft's Windows XP, an OS that stubbornly refuses to go away.

New Mac mini offers an attractive bang for the buck

Last year’s Mac mini brought a number of drastic changes for the compact desktop computer: Core i5 processors that replaced the aging Core 2 Duo CPUs, Thunderbolt ports, and the discontinuation of a built-in SuperDrive. The new Mac mini may not be quite as revolutionary as the 2011 models, but its updates are still significant.

Apple and the incredible vanishing CD drive

When Apple announced new Macs last week, one thing that was notably absent from the new models presented was an optical drive.

Apple delays next iTunes release until November

Another year, another missed deadline. In 2011, Apple missed its October launch date for iTunes Match; this year, Apple’s missing an October launch for the next version of iTunes.

Core i5 or Core i7—does your computer need the extra juice?

Apple unleashed a pile of Mac hardware on its users on Tuesday using Intel's newest Ivy Bridge processors which are available for shipping now, while substantially redesigned iMacs begin shipping in November and December. If you like to upgrade when things are new, now is the time to strike.

The new iPads: What you need to know

Between Apple’s presentation at its Tuesday press event, the press releases and spec sheets that followed, and our all-too-brief hands-on session, we’ve been able to get a pretty good first impression of the new iPad mini and, to a lesser extent, the fourth-generation iPad. So while we wait for our review units to arrive, here’s what we know so far.

Apple unveils iPad mini and fourth-generation iPad

On Tuesday, just six months after unveiling the third-generation iPad, Apple unveiled the long-rumored iPad mini along with a fourth-generation of the standard model. Despite the 100 million iPads Apple sold in just 2.5 years, Apple CEO Tim Cook said, “we’re not taking our foot off the gas.”

Apple updates Mac mini with faster processors and storage

While Apple introduced major upgrades to its iMac and MacBook Pro lines at Tuesday’s media event, the company also refreshed the Mac mini, offering faster processors and storage options.

Apple slims down iMac in latest update

At Tuesday’s Apple Special Event, the company introduced a redesigned iMac that Apple senior vice president Phil Schiller called, “the most beautiful Mac we have ever made.”

Apple brings Retina display to the 13-inch MacBook Pro

Apple’s high-resolution Retina display now comes in another portable configuration, as the company unveiled a 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display on Tuesday that complements the 15-inch model introduced over the summer.

Buyer's Guide

This page provides a product summary for each Apple model. The intent is to provide our best recommendations regarding current product cycles, and to provide a summary of currently available rumors for each model.

This page is based on rumors and speculation and we provide no guarantee to its accuracy.

Apple has 'a little more to show' at Oct. 23 media event

The calendar may be running out, but Apple’s going to get in some more product announcements before the end of the year. On Tuesday, the company announced that it would be holding a media event in San Jose’s California Theatre next Tuesday, October 23 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific.

The five weirdest Macs of all time

In its 36 years in business, Apple has produced hundreds of computer models in a dizzying array of sizes, styles, and capabilities. All along the way, fans and critics alike have lauded Apple for its unique and distinctive design sense—even in the awkward years before Steve Jobs rejoined the company, believe it or not.

However, if a company produces hundreds of computer models, chances are that a few might come out looking a little too distinctive, little too unique, or little tooweird. Here are the five weirdest Macs ever released by Apple.

Latest version of Firefox withdrawn

Less than a day after Mozilla released Firefox version 16 to the public, the browser had to be pulled from the Web over security concerns.

"Mozilla is aware of a security vulnerability in the current release version of Firefox," Michael Coates, Mozilla's director of security assurance, explained in a blog. "We are actively working on a fix and plan to ship updates [Thursday]. Firefox version 15 is unaffected."

Microsoft terms talk of Office on iPad 'inaccurate'

Microsoft on Wednesday disavowed comments made by its Czech subsidiary that the company will roll out iOS and Android apps of its Office suite early next year.

“The information shared by our Czech subsidiary is not accurate. We do not have anything further to share at this time,” a company spokesman said in an email Wednesday.

A year after Steve Jobs's death: As we should have expected, it's the same Apple

Much has been made of how Apple would survive in a post-Steve Jobs world. And in the year since the former CEO passed away at age 56 after a long illness, new Apple boss Tim Cook has been repeatedly subjected to comparisons to his predecessor. The comparisons are not usually flattering: “Steve Jobs would never have allowed that” has become such a constant cry in some corners of the tech press, it’s turned into something of a cliche.

Worse, though, that line of thinking betrays a lack of insight into the way that Apple—and, frankly, Steve Jobs—has acted. For all of the iconic Apple co-founder’s achievements—and there were many, many of those—his most lasting accomplishment may be how he prepared Apple to thrive long after he had left the company.

The five key decisions Apple must make

Having a new CEO take the reins from an iconic co-founder has not seemed to cause much turbulence for Apple. In fact, the company is stronger than at any point in its history. In its most recent fiscal quarter, the company sold more iPads than in any three-month period in its history; it also tallied June-quarter records for Mac and iPad sales and saw quarterly revenue rise 22 percent from the previous year to $35 billion. More to the point, Apple is now the most valuable company in the world in terms of market capitalization.

Apple CEO Tim Cook: We're 'extremely sorry' for iOS 6 Maps frustration

Apple CEO Tim Cook on Friday posted a public letter in the fashion of his predecessor, addressing the ongoing hullaballoo surrounding the company’s Maps app in iOS 6.

iPhone 5 takes next step in smartphone evolution

It's been a little more than five years since Apple released the original iPhone. During that time the world has changed. People now expect fast, reliable Internet connections and bright touchscreens on devices they can fit in their pockets.

Apple releases iOS 6

iOS 6 is upon us. Apple on Wednesday, as promised, released the new version of the operating system that powers the iPad, iPhone, and iPod touch.

Mountain Lion: What you need to know

Now that Mountain Lion is here, we can answer pretty much all your questions about the latest version of Mac OS X 10.8.

Apple unveiled some new Mountain Lion features during June’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

Availability

When will Mountain Lion be available?

It’s available now in the Mac App Store.

How much will it cost?

You’ll be able to pick up a copy of Mountain Lion for just $20. By way of comparison, Lion cost $30.

How will I get my hands on Mountain Lion?

The same way you got a hold of Lion—via the Mac App Store. Apple seems pretty happy with its online distribution method, with more than 26 million copies of Lion sold in the last year. When it’s time to pick up Mountain Lion, you’ll queue up in front of your computer rather than a physical store. Like Lion, Apple will let you pay for and download one copy of Mountain Lion that you can install to multiple Macs—a welcome feature for multi-Mac households.

Apple to ship Mountain Lion on Wednesday

Apple CEO Tim Cook said the company would ship Mountain Lion, the latest version of its OS X operating system, starting Wednesday.

The announcement came in Tuesday's announcement of third quarter financial results, five months after it was first announced to tech journalists.

The new operating system—version 10.8 of OS X—costs $20, down from $30 for its predecessor, Lion, and can be purchased and downloaded directly from the Mac App Store. Like Lion, Apple is allowing buyers to pay for and download one copy of Mountain Lion that you can install to multiple Macs—a welcome feature for multi-Mac households.

Apple reminds users of coming iWork.com shutdown

Attention all you users of iWork.com, Apple would like to remind you that the service’s days are numbered. As of July 31, Apple will turn off iWork.com for good, and any documents you have stored there will be deconstructed into their component electrons.

For those users who have ignored Apple’s previous warnings, there’s still time to rescue your documents. Apple suggests you log in to the service and download all your documents to your computer.

Phishing websites reach all-time high

The number of phishing websites detected reached an all-time high earlier this year, a sign that making fake websites spoofing real ones is still a lucrative trade for cybercriminals.

Apple offers MobileMe customers last chance to rescue data 'for a limited time'

You were warned. Back in June 2011, Apple announced that MobileMe would close its virtual doorscome June 30, 2012. And indeed, this past weekend, MobileMe followed eWorld, Pippin, and the Newton into that great Infinite Loop in the sky.

MacBook Pro 15-inch and 13-inch non-Retina models occupy the consumer space

With all the exhilaration surrounding the debut of Apple's pioneering Retina MacBook Pros, it's easy to overlook that the company also upgraded the rest of its pro laptop lineup. In addition to the Retina MacBook Pro—the justifiable new standard against which Apple's other laptops (indeed all laptops) will now be judged—the company has also updated a pair of 13-inch and a pair of 15-inch non-Retina MacBook Pros. These new “regular” models offer a speed boost over their late-2011 predecessorsthanks to brand new processors and video components, and feature updated technology, including USB 3.

By the numbers: Microsoft's Surface vs. Apple's iPad

While there is much more to both Microsoft’s new Surface tablet computer and Apple’s iPad than pure specifications, the physical and technological differences between the two devices are likely to play a part in which device tablet PC buyers might ultimately favour.

Rare working Apple 1 computer sells for record $374,500

A 36-year-old Apple-1 personal computer, one of just six thought to be in working condition, sold for a record $374,500 at a New York auction Friday.

Two new Thunderbolt cables join parade of Apple releases

Apple is releasing two new Thunderbolt cables to accessorize the updated Macs the company unveiled at the keynote for this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference.

MacBook Air gets new processors, adds USB 3.0

Apple introduced new Macbook Air models at Monday morning’s WWDC keynote.

The new Airs—which come in 11-inch and 13-inch models—run on Intel’s third-generation Core processor (Ivy Bridge) family: a Core i5 chip in the standard configurations, with a Core i7 processor available as a build-to-order option. The updated laptops ship with 4GB of memory, but you can expand that to 8GB.

MagSafe 2 featured in Apple's latest laptops

It’s been more than six years since Apple first introduced MagSafe, the magnetically-attaching power connectors used by all of the company’s laptops. Well, almost all.

Mac Pro quietly gets first update since 2010

Mac users yearning for a new Mac Pro finally have their wish—Apple on Monday quietly released an update to the tower Mac, nearly two years after its last update. And the prices of the new Mac Pros have not changed from the previous models.

Apple unveils iOS 6

Apple on Monday took the wraps off iOS 6, the next version of the operating system that powers the iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Senior vice president for iOS software Scott Forstall told the developers and press in attendance that iOS 6 includes 200 new features, including Siri enhancements and Facebook updates.

The updated mobile operating system is slated to arrive this fall.

Apple unveils next generation MacBook Pro with Retina display; updates other MacBook models

Along with updating the existing MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, Apple has reinvented the MacBook Pro with a Retina display, as announced at Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference keynote on Monday.

New iPad complicates life for HTML 5 developers

Apple’s new iPad, already a hit with consumers with its high-resolution display, is nonetheless underwhelming some HTML 5 developers. The tablet’s iOS 5.1 operating system complicates HTML 5 data storage, offers no expanded HTML 5 support, and the tablet’s Web performance is at best only at par with iPad 2.

Security experts: 600,000-plus estimate of Mac botnet likely on target

Security experts today could not confirm claims by a little-known Russian antivirus company that more than 600,000 Macs have been infected with a zero-day-exploiting Trojan, but they said the number was within reason.

What you need to know about the Flashback trojan

On April 4, Russian antivirus vendor Dr. Web published strong evidence that more than 500,000 Macs have been infected by the latest variant of the Flashback trojan. As Mikko Hypponen, Chief Researcher at F-Secure pointed out via Twitter, if there are roughly 45 million Macs out there, Flashback would now have infected more than 1 percent of them, making Flashback roughly as common for Mac as Conficker was for Windows. Flashback appears to be the most widespread Mac malware we’ve seen since the days when viruses were spread on infected floppy disks; it could be the single most significant malware infection to ever hit the Mac community.

Free Flashback Checker finds out if your Mac is infected

Still not sure whether you’re infected with that Flashback malware that’s been making headlines? A new free app from a Mac programmer can you help you verify whether your Mac’s caught the bug.

Analyst: 600,000 Macs infected with Trojan horse

A Mac Trojan horse spotted by security analysts since last year has infected more than 600,000 Apple computers, says Dr. Web, a Russian antivirus vendor. Apple only patched the vulnerability this week, around a month after hackers began spreading the BackDoor.Flashback.39 Trojan horse, with most infected Macs located in the United States and Canada.

More than 56 percent of the infected computers are in the U.S., almost 20 percent in Canada, and almost 13 percent in the U.K. Other European countries, as well as Japan and Australia, reportedly have infection rates of below 1 percent.

Yahoo laying off 2000 workers to save $375 million

After weeks of rumors of a pending reorganization, Yahoo announced this morning that the company is laying off about 2000 workers.

Expert: Mac users more vulnerable than Windows users

In the face of new threats aimed at OS X, a security expert said that Mac users may be even more vulnerable than Windows users who are more likely to be running up-to-date anti-virus programs. Graham Cluley of Sophos says that many Mac users are missing a “valuable safety net.”

Mac users should make sure that they have some form of protection, Cluley said. However, keeping your computer safe from cybercriminals isn’t just a case of having anti-virus programs installed. It’s about making sensible choices as well.

Hitachi releases first enterprise-class 4TB hard drive

Hitachi's former disk-drive division today announced what it said it the first enterprise-class 4TB hard disk drive. The drive has a greater areal density that offers 33 percent more capacity in the same 3.5-inch form factor at 24 percent lower watts-per-gigabyte than its predecessor.

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies (HGST), now owned by Western Digital, introduced the new Ultrastar 7K4000 line, which uses the new 512e Advanced Format.

New Trojan variant can install without password

Flashback, a Mac Trojan horse that’s been in the public eye since it was uncovered by security firm Intego last year, has a new trick up its sleeve: It can now infect your computer from little more than a visit to a website.

Originally, Flashback masqueraded as an installer for Adobe’s Flash Player—hence the name—but the malware has changed tacks at last once since then, instead pretending to be a Mac software update or a Java updater.

Foxconn's overtime reduction will not affect product prices, analysts say

Low labor costs and a growing reliance on automation will ensure Apple supplier Foxconn’s newly announced efforts to reduce overtime for its employees and hire extra workers has no effect on product prices, according to analysts.

By July 2013, Foxconn will restrict workers’ overtime to 36 hours a month, bringing it down from the allowed 80 hours per month, according to an audit released by the Fair Labor Association on Thursday. Foxconn, which manufactures Apple’s iPad and iPhone, made the changes following growing criticism of working conditions at the company’s factories in China.

Retrospect's long and twisted road

1984 was the beginning for both the Mac and Dantz Development, the vendor responsible for the backup program Retrospect. The Mac is obviously still with us, but it might surprise many Mac vets to know that Retrospect is, too. A new version of the software was recently released by a new company, Retrospect, Inc., that was started specifically to develop and market that software. The story of Apple’s ups and downs over the past couple of decades are well known, but Retrospect’s long and twisted tale is not.

Facebook warns employers not to ask job applicants for log-in credentials

Facebook on Friday warned employers about trying to gain inappropriate access to Facebook accounts to check out private information about potential employees, citing possible legal liability.

In recent months, Facebook has seen a “distressing increase” of reports about employers trying to access user accounts in the U.S., Erin Egan, Facebook’s chief privacy officer, said in a post. “The most alarming of these practices is the reported incidences of employers asking prospective or actual employees to reveal their passwords.”

Get digital copies of your Mac manuals

I rarely need to check my Mac’s manual—I can usually find what info I need by searching the Web. But when I want to find out something directly from Apple and I can’t find what I’m looking for on Apple’s website, I’ll check my Mac’s manual.

Adobe launches Photoshop CS6 as a free public beta

For the first time in seven years, Adobe has released a beta version of its flagship image editor in advance of a formal product release. Photoshop CS6 beta is now available as a free download from Adobe Labs in English and Japanese. The commercial release will follow fairly soon—sometime within the first half of this year.

Mac Pro users clamor for hardware upgrade

Ardent users are clamoring for quick upgrades to Apple’s Mac Pro, while an unstable hardware timetable for the high-end desktop has raised concerns about the company’s commitment to professional users.

The Mac Pro was last upgraded in July 2010, when Apple announced models with up to 12 processing cores based on Intel’s Xeon server chips. Mac Pro users now want the models upgraded to Intel’s recently announced Xeon E5-2600 chips to keep up with the increased horsepower required for tasks like video editing.

Apple’s popularity has surged in the last few years with iconic consumer products like the iPad and iPhone, and shipments of Mac computers are also growing. But Mac Pro desktops, which are largely aimed at creative professionals, are quickly becoming obsolete. Some users have moved over to iMacs with the latest Intel Core processors, which in some cases outperforms Mac Pros.

Review: The third-generation iPad

The iPad has been a remarkable success story. Apple sold 15 million of the original model in the first nine months of the product’s existence, a number that blew away even the most optimistic prognostications. With last year’s introduction of the iPad 2, things kept accelerating. In a little less than two years, Apple has sold roughly 60 million iPads, dominating the market it created.

Safari 5.1.4 update patches slew of security vulnerabilities

Apple updated Safari to version 5.1.4 on Monday, patching 83 vulnerabilities and boosting JavaScript performance on OS X Lion.

The patch count was a record for Safari 5, which Apple released in June 2010, three months before launching OS X Snow Leopard.

Apple to shut down iWork.com

Apple on Friday announced that the iWork.com public beta will close its virtual doors on July 31.

Dropbox's URL shortener abused by spammers

Spammers are abusing a Dropbox feature that lets users share a shortened link, directing people to websites selling questionable pharmaceuticals, according to security vendor Symantec.

Cure for an incomplete iOS update

Reader Jared Murray attempts to work the old “a friend of mine has a problem and…” gambit in regard to a “friend’s” uncooperative iPhone. He writes:

I have an iPhone and I installed the latest version of iOS 5 this morning. I did it, however, without plugging it into a power outlet. I did not realize this was a bad idea, but now my phone won’t turn on unless I plug it into my computer (it has an icon prompting me to do so). The problem is that in a few days I won’t have access to my computer for a week. With all that said, do you know of any way that I could get around that and get my phone to turn on without my computer?

Here’s what likely happened: Your iPhone probably wasn’t fully charged and, during the update, its battery ran out of juice. When it did, you wound up with an incomplete install—one that left your iPhone in this confused state. This is why it’s always a good idea to jack your iOS device into power when performing an OS update.

iPhoto for iOS arrives on the App Store

Apple’s mobile suite of iLife apps is now complete. On Wednesday, the company rolled out iPhoto for iOS, which joins mobile versions of GarageBand and iMovie in the App Store.

Apple unveils iPad, updated iOS apps

Apple on Wednesday unveiled a new iPad, the third edition of its wildly successful multitouch tablet. The new tablet sports a Retina display, a vastly improved camera, the new A5X processor, the high-speed mobile broadband technology LTE, and voice dictation support. Rather than give the iPad a new name like iPad 3 or iPad HD, Apple appears to be calling the new iPad simply “iPad” or the third-generation iPad.

Apple unveils new Apple TV with 1080p support, updated UI

Apple unveiled a new Apple TV model on Wednesday, with support for 1080p video and a new user interface, at a special event in San Francisco.

Intel's new Xeon chips and the future of the Mac Pro

Intel on Tuesday announced the availability of its new Xeon E5processors for servers and workstations. That announcement was accompanied by unveilings by Dell, HP, and IBM of E5-equipped servers.

While the news of new Xeons powering other companies' servers may not spark your interest, keep in mind that Apple's Mac Pro also run on that Intel processor. So does that mean an update to the Mac Pro—which has remained unchanged since August 2010—is in the works?

Adobe issues out-of-band updates for Flash

Adobe issued patches on Monday for two critical vulnerabilities in its Flash player found by employees of Google’s Security Team.

The company issued the fixes outside of its normal patching schedule, which is the second Tuesday of the month in line with Microsoft’s monthly patch release.

Eyes on the next Apple TV

When Apple calls a press event it’s always fun to speculate about what wonders the company intends to unleash. Next week’s March 7 event is no different. The smart (and obvious) money is on the iPad 3. But much as I’m intrigued by the idea of a new iPad with possibly better performance, a higher resolution screen, and improved camera, that’s not the only potential product that piques my interest. In the Department of Other Shoes, I’m also intrigued by the idea of Apple dropping a new Apple TV.

Creative Suite 6 or Creative Cloud: Which one is best for you?

Adobe has its head in the cloud and it wants you to, as well. That's because Adobe sees the cloud as the future—its primary delivery system for software, services, social networking, community, and ultimately, increased value to its customers.

The buzz around Creative Cloud, which began last fall, has gained momentum as its designated launch time approaches—within the first half, and before the summer of 2012, at a date yet to be announced. Meantime, Adobe has also confirmed that a new upgrade of its massive Creative Suite will also be released at the same time.

Thai floods catapult Seagate into hard drive market lead

Monsoonal flooding in Thailand last year helped Seagate Technology recapture the worldwide lead in hard disk drive shipments in the last quarter of 2011, according to a new report from IHS iSuppli.

Seagate passed former market leader Western Digital, which suffered heavy losses in the devastating Thailand floods last year. Seagate claimed 38 percent of HDD market share, compared with Western Digital’s 23 percent, according to the iSuppli report released today.

Apple sets media event for 10 a.m. PT March 7

You may want to sit down, because we’re going to talk about the iPad—and sitting is really the most comfortable way to use it, isn’t it? Apple on Tuesday invited members of the media to a special event on March 7 at 10 a.m. Pacific.

Apple's email services push up to German border, but no further

Apple has been forced to turn off its iCloud and MobileMe push email services for users in Germany to comply with an injunction in a patent lawsuit brought by Motorola Mobility.

Toshiba and SanDisk shrink 128gbit memory chips

Toshiba said Thursday it has shrunk the size of its 128gbit NAND flash memory chips, in the race to bring more and tinier storage to products like USB storage and memory cards.

Intego finds new, insidious strain of Mac Flashback Trojan horse

Intego announced on Thursday that it has discovered more strains of the Flashback Trojan horse. The company says that “many Mac users have been infected by this malware,” especially the latest variant, Flashback.G.

OS X Mountain Lion: A big cat for business?

Apple surprised the tech world last week by unveiling a developer preview of OS X Mountain Lion, the next generation of its desktop operating system set to ship this summer—just a year after OS X 10.7 Lion arrived.

Based on the information Apple has released so far, Mountain Lion will continue in the footsteps of its predecessor and bring more features from iOS to the desktop as well as strengthen ties to Apple’s iCloud service. (iOS powers Apple’s iPhone and iPad.) That makes Mountain Lion something of a mixed bag for enterprise environments: it has some features that are very useful for business users, while others—like its near-total integration with Apple’s personal cloud service—will likely raise red flags in the minds of CIOs and IT professionals.