World of Apple

Despite the expectation that new MacBook Pro models were going to arrive towards the start of the month Apple has yet to release the rumoured machines. Today more evidence of the new MacBook Pros has been discovered.

ThesMac.gr has published a screenshot of memory modules listed for use in a “MacBook Pro 2010″. The listing unfortunately contains numerous errors, listing the RAM type as DDR3 running at 1333MHz, which would not be compatible with the expected processors.

On the other hand the part numbers are inline with expectations and the part has begun working its way to other retailers.

The discovery raises the probability of a MacBook Pro refresh in the near future.

French website Nowhere Else is reporting that Apple will release new MacBook Pro models tomorrow, a rumour that comes hot on the heels of a purported leak of a new MacBook Pro model on a benchmarking site.

Steve Hemmerstoffer for Nowhere Else writes that, “An anonymous source who works for Apple just tell me that the new MacBook Pro line will be launched tomorrow”.

A release tomorrow would coincide with the start of the first Apple-less Macworld Expo in San Francisco.

Over the weekend it was revealed that a GeekBench post could potentially refer to an unreleased MacBook Pro model, assuming it hasn’t been intentionally faked. The report posted on February 4, 2010 shows a MacBook Pro with a Core i7 M 620 clocked at 2.66GHz running an unreleased build of Mac OS X 10.6.2 scoring an impressive 5260.

Following yesterdays supposed slip-up by Intel in a marketing email the company has now confirmed that it was an error.

The email which was sent to members of Intel’s Retail Edge program stated that two MacBook Pros with Core i5 processors could be won. Intel now blames a marketing error for the incorrect promotional email.

Intel has apologized for the mistake and the confusion they have created with this slip, which it blamed on a lack of communication from their central marketing agency.

Intel has modified the artwork for the promotion, which was available in several countries, to reflect the “new” laptop model available for the drawing.

The MacBook Pro line of notebooks which currently features Core 2 Duo processors is expected to move up to Intel Core i5/i7 processors in the future but it is unknown when.

In an email sent to members of its Retail Edge program, Intel has seemingly revealed that Apple will release MacBook Pro models with Intel Core i5 processors in the near future.

Apple’s current line of MacBook Pro’s incorporate Intel Core 2 Duo processors but in the competition being run by Intel the company states that winners could win “one of 2 MacBook Pro laptops with the accelerated response of a new Intel Core i5 processor.”

Intel’s Retail Edge program aims to educate staff of retail stores about Intel products as well as pass on knowledge of contests and discounts.

Apple is rumoured to be hosting a special event on January 27th where the company is expected to announce its long-rumoured tablet computer. The company could also use the stage to announce refreshed notebooks.

AirPort Client Update 2009-00 – 13MB

This update is recommended for all Macintosh computers running Mac OS X Snow Leopard 10.6.2 and includes fixes for the following:

• Inability to turn AirPort on or off in some cases after upgrading from Mac OS X Leopard
• An occasional loss of network connection when using Wake on Demand
• Inability to create a computer-to-computer network, or share the Internet connection on some MacBook, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini computers

SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0 – 18.4MB

This update will eliminate the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on your Mac. This update works with the following EFI updates:

• iMac EFI Firmware Update 1.4
• Mac mini EFI Firmware Update 1.2
• MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.4
• MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.8 – 3.4MB

This update eliminates the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on MacBook Pro computers. When installation is complete, please run Software Update again, and install SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0.

MacBook EFI Firmware Update 1.4 – 3.1MB

This update eliminates the noise made by the optical disk drive during system startup and wake from sleep on MacBook computers. When installation is complete, please run Software Update again, and install SuperDrive Firmware Update 3.0

Applesfera points out a discovery that suggests that Apple could be preparing new MacBook Pro models. The discovery comes from the latest build of Mac OS X 10.6.2 seeded to developers last week.

Within the build are references to MacBook Pro models 6,1 and 6,2, the current MacBook Pros which were updated in June carry model numbers of 5,1 to 5,5.

It has been rumoured recently that Apple could use new Nahalem Core i7 processors in future MacBook Pros, possibly as early as late 2009 or early 2010.

Bluetooth Firmware Update 2.0.1 – 1.78MB

This update provides bug fixes and better compatibility with the Apple Wireless Mighty Mouse and Apple Wireless Keyboard.

It installs on all Macintosh systems with Bluetooth based on the Broadcom chipset.

Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0 – 3.71MB

MacBook Pro Hard Drive Firmware Update 2.0 reduces certain infrequent noises made by 7200-rpm drives.

These drives shipped with the June 2009 MacBook Pro.

AirPort Client Update for MacBook and MacBook Pro – 1.68MB

This update is recommended for some Intel-based Macintosh computers running Mac OS X v10.5.8 and addresses an issue with AirPort performance while running on battery power. It may only be installed on:

• MacBook (13-inch, Late 2007)
• MacBook (13-inch, Early 2008)
• MacBook (13-inch, Late
• MacBook Pro (15-inch, Early 2008)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Early 2008)
• MacBook Pro (17-inch, Late 2008)
  

Apple has once again begun offering an antiglare upgrade for 15-inch MacBook Pros for a cost of $50.

At the time of the last MacBook Pro refresh only the 17-inch model retained the option for an antiglare coating on the display leaving both the 13- and 15-inch models with just a glossy display.

The change which was made quietly today now brings the option of a matte coating to the 15-inch model but the 13-inch remains without.

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.7 – 3.35MB

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 1.7 addresses an issue reported by a small number of customers using drives based on the SATA 3Gbps specification with the June 2009 MacBook Pro. While this update allows drives to use transfer rates greater than 1.5Gbps, Apple has not qualified or offered these drives for Mac notebooks and their use is unsupported.

Further details are available in the related support document.