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MacBook Air SMC Firmware Update 1.2 - 623KB
This SMC firmware update adds compatibility for the latest service replacement batteries.
Photos from today’s WWDC 2009 keynote presentation where Apple executives Phil Schiller, Bertrand Serlet and Scott Forstall introduced and demonstrated multiple products.
Apple also refreshed the entire lineup of notebooks moving the 13-inch model into the MacBook Pro range and adding SD card slots to some models.
Apple today updated the aluminum unibody MacBook Pro line to include 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models featuring Apple’s innovative built-in battery for up to 40 percent longer battery life. Each MacBook Pro includes an LED-backlit display with greater color intensity, the innovative glass Multi-Touch trackpad, an illuminated keyboard, an SD card or ExpressCard slot, a FireWire 800 port and state of the art NVIDIA graphics. Starting at just $1,199, the MacBook Pro line is more affordable than ever, with some models up to $300 less than the previous generation. The industry’s greenest notebook lineup, every Mac notebook achieves EPEAT Gold status and meets Energy Star 5.0 requirements, setting a new standard for environmentally friendly notebook design.
“Across the line, all of our new MacBook Pro models now include Apple’s innovative built-in battery for up to seven hours of battery life, while staying just as thin and light as before,” said Philip Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing. “Starting at just $1,199, the aluminum unibody MacBook Pro is more affordable than ever and sets a new standard for environmentally friendly notebook design.”
The new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models include Apple’s innovative built-in notebook battery for up to seven hours of wireless productivity on a single charge without adding thickness, weight or cost, the built-in battery delivers up to 1,000 recharges before it reaches 80 percent of its original capacity.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro includes a seven hour built-in battery, an SD card slot, a FireWire 800 port, an illuminated keyboard and an improved LED-backlit display with 60 percent greater color gamut. Featuring the powerful NVIDIA GeForce 9400M integrated graphics processor, the 13-inch MacBook Pro is available in two models: one with a 2.26 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 2GB of RAM and a 160GB hard drive priced at $1,199, and another with a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo, 4GB of RAM and a 250GB hard drive priced at $1,499.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro now features a seven hour built-in battery, an SD card slot, an improved LED-backlit display with 60 percent greater color gamut and 4GB of RAM across the line at an entry price $300 less than before. The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is available in three models: a 2.53 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 250GB hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics for a new entry price of $1,699; a 2.66 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 320GB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics for $1,999; and a 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 500GB hard drive, and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics for $2,299.
The 17-inch MacBook Pro, which includes an eight hour built-in battery, an ExpressCard slot, a brilliant LED-backlit display, 4GB of RAM and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT graphics, has been updated to include a faster 2.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor and a larger 500GB hard drive for $2,499, which is $300 less than before.
All MacBook Pro notebooks can now have up to 8GB of RAM, up to a 500GB hard drive or up to a 256GB solid state drive. The 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models can also be upgraded to a 3.06 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor. All MacBook Pro systems include a next generation, industry-standard Mini DisplayPort to connect with the 24-inch Apple LED Cinema Display.
The MacBook Air is available in two models starting with the new entry price of $1,499 for a 1.86 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 120GB hard drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics, and a 2.13 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo system with a 128GB solid state drive and NVIDIA GeForce 9400M graphics for $1,799.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro, 15-inch MacBook Pro, 17-inch MacBook Pro and MacBook Air are now available through the Apple Store.
SiliconRumors reports that Apple could be planning to release a family of MacBook Air models with built-in 3G modems.
Sources also suggested to SiliconRumors that the new entry price point could be between $1300 to $1500 as well as the possibility of SSD (solid state disk) storage devices across the range as standard.
The addition of 3G modems has been rumoured in the past and would give the notebooks the ability to connect to celluar networks at high speeds.
AppleInsider reports that Apple is planning to introduce cheaper Macs, possibly as soon as this coming spring. According to AppleInsider the move comes as consumers switch to budget computers such as netbooks.
Details no where exactly the cheaper Macs will appear are not known but AppleInsider notes that Apple could reduce the price of the MacBook in the near future as part of revisions across the line.
While exact pricing is unclear or still undetermined at this time, the Mac maker earlier this month quietly flaunted its capacity to deliver a premium system at near recession pricing when it began offering educational institutions a 2GHz, 20-inch aluminum iMac for $899. Even when priced at a $100 to $150 markup for the consumer markets — as Apple is more than likely eager to preserve its margins — such an offering would make a material dent in the entry-level cost of owner or switching to a Mac.
Hardmac.com has posted a handful of short concise rumours. Despite not looking entirely confident in any of these rumours the site publishes them anyway.
Finally owners of Apple’s new Mini DisplayPort equipped Macs will be able to connect them to a TV or other HDMI device. Monoprice.com has posted a page for a Mini DisplayPort to HDMI adapter priced at $14.25 shipping on March 15th.
Monoprice is also offering two other adapters, a MiniDisplay Port to DVI and also VGA, these provide an alternative to Apple’s offering at a significantly decreased price.
Apple already sells Mini DisplayPort to VGA ($29) or DVI adapters ($29) but does not offer an adapter for HDMI devices.
Apple has today released a plethora of updates for all the “Late-2008″ notebooks that were released in October. The MacBook Pro, MacBook and MacBook Air all required two firmware updates.
An EFI (Extensible Firmware Interface) update is available, which is said to address system stability issues.
In addition an SMC (System Management Controller) update is available which addresses the “sensing and accuracy of the MagSafe Power Adapter indicator light, and the battery charge indicator lights.” Installation help and more support can be found on Apple’s support site.
MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.6 - 1.9 MB
MacBook Pro 15-inch SMC Firmware Update 1.2 - 559 KB
MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.3 - 1.8 MB
MacBook SMC Firmware Update 1.2 - 556 KB
MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 1.1 - 2.4 MB
MacBook Air SMC Firmware Update 1.1 - 556 KB
Ars Technica has pointed out that Apple is now offering a “no fee” license to anyone interested in developing products that use Mini DisplayPort.
Mini DisplayPort on the new MacBookThe availability of a license confirms that the port is propriety from Apple but should allow third-party developers to make adapters to allow notebooks with VGA and DVI connections to use the new 24-inch LED Cinema Display.
Apple has begun airing a television advert promoting its three new notebooks that are “not only the greenest notebook Apple ever produced, but the greenest family of notebooks.”
When we redesigned the new Macbook, our designers and engineers set a goal of making not only the greenest notebook Apple ever produced, but the greenest family of notebooks. So every new Macbook has been built using materials that are highly recyclable and free of many harmful substances present in other computers.
In the advert and on a new section of its website Apple touts that fact that its new MacBook Air, MacBook and MacBook Pro are free of harmful toxins, highly recyclable, very energy efficient and come in compact packaging.
