New Mac Pro With Ivy Bridge Processor And NVIDIA Kepler GPU Coming Soon

It’s been so long since Apple refreshed the Mac Pro that a number of reports have speculated the machine is set to be killed off. But it’s still available from the Apple store, and according to a new report, it’s going nowhere. In fact, it’ll soon to get a refresh that will introduce Intel’s Ivy Bridge processor and the new Kepler GPU from NVIDIA.
According to sources for M.I.C. Gadget, overheating issues that Apple previously had with the desktop have now been resolved thanks to Intel’s new Ivy Bridge chip which is set to make its debut in April:

Well, we have some good news, Intel will be moving to its Ivy Bridge platform in April, and this will solve heating issues. How does it do that? Well, with its 22nm (extremely efficient) manufacturing process, it is very efficient in operation in comparison to the previous Sandy Bridge. More importantly, the old transistor types are gone, and replaced by “tri-gate” transistors. According to our sources, those transistors are 30%+ more efficient with heat dissipation.

Thanks to Apple’s partnership with Intel, the company has already received engineering samples of the new processors, according to sources, which boast 8 cores and 20MB of cache.
Additionally, the Mac Pro’s GPU will also be updated to NVIDIA’s new Kepler platform which is due out around the same time. Apple is said to have been “burned” by the Mac Pro’s existing ATI graphics, which are prone to flickering, overheating, and other failures.

… our sources within the company indicate that they have chosen to have Nvidia lead the charge so to speak on the graphics front. This is good for all our compatriots who want to use the special graphics engine in Adobe products, as it supports Nvidia only, or for those who wish to do CUDA based programs as well, again only supported by Nvidia.

M.I.C. Gadget reports that we should see the new Mac Pro near the end of the third quarter, when Apple has “ironed out all the bugs with the newly released hardware.”

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What I know about the iPad 3

With Apple’s upcoming iPad 3 launch just a few weeks away, reports and rumors have been swirling. We exclusively reported some details on the tablet which The Wall Street Journal has basically confirmed, but here’s a round-up using what we know, what’s been rumored and reported, and what I’d wager the iPad 3 will feature when it launches early next month:

• A Retina Display is a near-certainty. This display will offer double the resolution of the iPad and iPad 2, bringing the resolution of the screen to a whopping 2048 x 1536 pixels. This is better than the resolution you get from a 1080p Blu-ray disc, and almost as large as Apple’s 27-inch iMac display. Imagine the clarity of an iPhone 4S display three times as big, and you’ll get an idea of what to expect with the iPad 3′s screen. Images will look beautiful and text will look as crisp as if it were a magazine that you’re reading.
• 4G LTE. The ability to use the iPad on 4G LTE networks would mark the first time Apple has manufactured a 4G device, and there’s a very solid chance that the new iPad will have 4G built-in. This will support AT&T and Verizon’s 4G LTE networks in the United States, and it’s possible it will support other 4G LTE deployments in other parts of the world depending on frequencies.
• Better cameras. I’d expect a 3.2-megapixel autofocus camera for the rear camera at the bare minimum with a 5-megapixel unit possible, and Apple will also include a front-facing camera that supports HD FaceTime chats.
• Wi-Fi and Cellular models. Apple will most likely offer two versions of the iPad just as the company does now — a Wi-Fi only and a Wi-Fi + cellular variant, though I’d wager that Apple will be able to combine the GSM and CDMA models into one, offering a truly global 4G + 3G + CDMA + GSM + Wi-Fi iPad 3.
• Apple A6 quad-core processor. While the rumor mill has been going back and forth about whether Apple will include the company’s first quad-core processor for iOS in the iPad 3, I have to say that I expect Apple to do so. Since Apple is on a yearly product cycle, I’d bet that a quad-core processor is featured, setting the stage for an A6 quad-core chip in the iPhone 5 (clocked slightly lower than the iPad’s chip) later this fall.
• A larger battery. It is expected that Apple is going to use a much larger battery in the iPad 3, but before you think that battery life is going to be increased by 50%, I’m assuming this is simply to compensate for a more power-hungry 4G LTE chip, faster processor and more powerful GPU to power that Retina Display. I expect comparable battery life to the iPad 2, though it’s certainly possible Apple could push it just a tad bit farther and make it better.
• The outside hardware of the iPad 3 will most likely be identical to the iPad 2. In fact, the only change that’s likely to occur is that the case will be less than 1 millimeter thicker, not something that’ll will barely be noticeable.
• iOS 5.1. This is a no-brainer, but iOS 5.1 will be introduced with the iPad 3 and be released for the iPhone and iPod touch as well.
• Siri for iPad. I’d wager heavily that the iPad 3 will at least feature Siri’s text dictation, though it’s certainly possible Apple will bring the full Siri experience to the iPad.

The world’s most beautiful display on a mobile device, the fastest wireless connection in the world, an industry-leading custom quad-core processor and battery life that’s unmatched by the competition — among many other upgrades. Sounds good to me.

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3 Grand Theft Auto games now available for Macs

Mac users who are fans of the Grand Theft Auto games now have a reason to celebrate. Valve has just announced that Grand Theft Auto 3, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas are now all available for Mac computers. Grand Theft Auto 3, the first GTA game that started the whole 3D, 3rd person view gameplay is now playable on the Apple operating system – you no longer need to turn to Windows, your PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360 to play this free-roaming, action-packed, adventure game.

The graphics on the games might be a little dated by now, but hey – at least you get to play them. All three games are on 20% discount from now through February 20th: GTA 3 and GTA: Vice City are only $7.49, while GTA: San Andreas is $11.24. Get them on Steam now.

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Apple Issues Firmware Updates To Bring Lion Internet Recovery To More 2010 Macs

Apple has issued a set of firmware updates for more of its Macs that were introduced during 2010. These updates bring Lion Internet recovery to the early 2010 MacBook Pro, the mid 2010 iMac, and the late 2010 MacBook Air.
You can download and install the updates now via Software Update on your Mac. Here are the release notes for each one:

MacBook Pro EFI Firmware Update 2.6 (3.18 MB):
This update enables Lion Recovery from an Internet connection on MacBook Pro (Early 2010) models.
iMac EFI Update 1.8 (3.02 MB):
This update enables Lion Recovery from an Internet connection on iMac (Mid 2010) models.
MacBook Air EFI Firmware Update 2.3 (2.98 MB):
This update enables Lion Recovery from an Internet connection on MacBook Air (Late 2010) models and addresses an issue where the system could restart if the power button is pressed immediately after waking from deep sleep.

Apple has been slowly introducing Lion Internet Recovery to older Macs following the new operating system’s debut last July. Back in October, the company issued a firmware update that added the feature to early 2011 iMacs, and just last month, it added support for the mid 2010 13-inch MacBook Pro.

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Turn Your iMac Into A One-Armed Productivity Monster With Twelve South’s HoverBar iPad Stand

Twelve South is known for making great products that don’t just look really cool, but they all serve higher functions without losing focus on maintaining simplicity. They’re one of the best Apple accessory makers on the planet, and their latest accessory is just another example of why the company is so successful. Meet the HoverBar. It’s an adjustable arm iPad stand that attaches to an iMac or Apple display allowing users to setup their iPad as a secondary touchscreen computer.

Simply connect the HoverBar to your iMac, snap your iPad 2 into the secure clip and you have quickly transformed your desk into a multi-screened workstation. While I think it looks a little bit funny to have a small screen iPad next to a 27″ iMac, having quick access to information on two screens will likely boost many users’ productivity. Another great use of the HoverBar would be to utilize the iPad stand in the kitchen. Users could browse for detectible new recipes on Pinterest with their iPad 2, and then quickly set off to making dishes in the kitchen by keeping an eye on their iPad 2 by attaching the HoverBar on any surface up to one inch thick.
Available now for $79.99, the HoverBar is made of black heavy gauge steel that adjusts to provide ideal viewing in any circumstance. Andrew Green, Creative Director of Twelve South said, “HoverBar was actually inspired by the multi-screen computers in the movie “Minority Report.’” Even though Tom Cruise didn’t have to actually touch any screens in “Minority Report,” the iPad 2 is the closest technology to the crazy stuff seen in the movie, and the HoverBar definitely takes the iPad 2′s versatility to the next level.

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Apple Were Considering ARM Processors For Macs

There have been rumors before that Apple may be switching their processors from Intel to ARM, and now we have some confirmation that Apple has at least considered the move.

The new comes from an intern, who is now an Apple employee, but was an intern at Apple back in 2010, where he worked for twelve weeks to get OS X working with ARM processors.



The details were revealed in Tristan Schaap’s Thesis, although it has only now been made available as it was under embargo due to the sensitive information it contained.

It is of course possible that Apple had never intended to use ARM processors in its future devices, as there have been rumors recently that Apple puts new employees on ‘decoy’ projects to determine trustworthiness.

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How to install beta Mac App Store apps and provisioning profiles

Get in on a Mac App Store beta but not sure how to install the beta app? There are several apps that have iPhone and/or iPad versions as well as Mac versions these days, and if you’re beta testing the iOS version, you might need to set up the Mac App Store version as well. No worries, as long as you gave them the proper hardware UUID for your Mac, getting the app set up easy to do. In fact, it’s just as easy, and very similar to, the process for installing iOS beta software on your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad.

Install the provisioning profile

1. Download the file to your Mac.
2. If the file came zipped, unzip it. (Yeah, obvious, but we try to be complete.)
3. Double click the .provisionprofile file
4. System Preferences will launch; click on Install
5. When prompted, enter your admin password
6. The provisioning file should then show up in your profiles

Install the binary

1. If you have an older version of the app already on your Mac, play it safe and trash it
2. Drag the beta app to your Application folder

That’s it. If you have any trouble — it’s a beta app, after all — check with the developer. You made need to trash some other, previously installed files, or do some other configuration first. When you do have it working, enjoy.
The Mac App Store isn’t the only way to distribute software on OS X, so many developers may never need to send UUID-locked beta builds. But if the Mac App Store is the only way the developer intends to distribute their software, this may well be the beta road they take.

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Volumify Easily Mutes Your Mac Startup Sound

If you are looking to turn off and mute the annoying Mac startup sound, a new application called Volumify has been launched on the Mac App Store. That allows you to easily disable the startup sound in OS X Lion, allowing you to reboot and turn on your Mac without letting everyone around you know.

The new Volumify application not only mutes your Mac startup sound, it can also be configured to act differently in various locations. For instance if you only want to your Mac startup sound turned off in lectures, its ease to configure.





Once back at home or in the office you can simply configure Volumify to turn the volume back to normal. Volumify developers Rolling On The Bed explain:

“Volumify is a very handy utility to automatically adjust your Mac’s volume according to your current location and to disable the startup sound. All you need to do is configure your locations in the app’s preferences. Volumify automatically detects your locations by available WiFi networks and adjusts your Mac’s volume accordingly.”

Volumify features include: Automatic volume adjustment based on your current location, Automatic detection of locations, Configure individual locations and determine the system volume for these locations, Customise each location’s radius to account for large buildings or sites, Turn off the Mac OS X startup sound.

Sure there are other ways to turn off and mute your Macs startup sounds, but Volumify makes the process so simply and for £1.99 is a bargain, to have easy control over that annoying Mac startup sound

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Apple Motion 5.0.2 Update Rolls Out, Adding Improved Speed And Responsiveness

Joining the new update rolled out by Apple today for their Final Cut Pro X video editingsoftware. Apple has also rolled out an update for its Motion 5.0.2 software. Motion 5 providesFinal Cut Pro X users with additional tools to tweak and customise video footage, and is available to purchase for $50.

Enabling users to create and edit motion graphics, titling for video production and film production, and 2D and 3D compositing for visual effects. The new update released today is around 1.05GB in size and improves speed and responsiveness of text editing.





When first released the new Motion 5 packages was updated with an interface had been redesigned specifically for Final Cut Pro editors, with a familiar look and feel. Making it easy to switch between the two applications. A new single-window layout puts all the tools you need at your fingertips, and redesigned icons make it easy to identify options at glance.

The new Motion 5 update also brings with it improved overall stability and performance tweaks and is available as a download via the Mac App Store software on Mac OS X Lion.

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Apple to offer employees a $500 discount on Macs, $250 off of an iPad

Apple CEO Tim Cook reportedly said during an Apple Town Hall meeting on Wednesday that Apple employees will receive a generous discount on Apple products in return for their hard work. Employees typically receive a 25% discount off of hardware, but they will soon be able to purchase a new Mac computer at a $500 discount or an iPad with a $250 discount, 9to5Mac reported. Employees must have worked with the company for a minimum of 30 days and can only take advantage of the deal once every three years, and they should be able to take advantage of the new deals beginning this June.

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Apple’s Mac App Store has topped 100 million downloads in under a year

Apple has today announced that over 100 million apps have been downloaded from the Mac App Store, less than a year after it opened.
While it’s hard to judge the success of the Mac App Store on that figure alone, it’s undoubtedly an impressive-looking stat for the store which launched on 6 January this year.
In today’s announcement, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing says that “With more than 100 million downloads in less than a year, the Mac App Store is the largest and fastest growing PC software store in the world.” It’s fair to say that there isn’t that much competition to benchmark it against as yet. While there have been a great number of mobile app stores released in the wake of Apple’s iOS store, desktop app stores are still relatively rare.
In the three and a half years since its launch, Apple says that the iOS app store has seen 18 billion downloads, at a current rate of 1 billion apps per month.
Compared to the iOS App Store, the Mac App Store’s download rate is minuscule. The iOS store topped 1 billion in just nine months. However, it’s perhaps not fair to directly compare desktop downloads with generally cheaper and more impulsive mobile downloads.

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Mac OS X 10.7.3 beta drivers point towards possible Mac Pro refresh

The Mac Pro is currently about 15 months old since its last refresh. Unlike its other Mac siblings, the iMac, MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, the Mac Pro has yet to see a refresh in 2011 and many are wondering if there is even a plan for a refresh, and thanks to Mac OS X 10.7.3 beta, there may be some evidence discovered that points to a possible Mac Pro refresh.

It seems that in the OS X 10.7.3 beta, traces of video drivers for an upcoming AMD graphics card was discovered. The code name”Tahiti” discovered in beta is actually referring to AMD’s upcoming 28nm desktop graphics card which are expected to arrive some time in January of 2012.

Why some are thinking that this driver could indeed be pointing a possible Mac Pro refresh is because the Mac Pro is currently the only Mac that uses desktop class graphics cards, while other Macs tend to lean towards mobile GPUs. This seems to be in line with Apple’s habit of introducing a new graphics card with every refresh, but unfortunately that’s pretty much all that we’ve got to go with.

Even if a refresh were in the works, considering that Apple has already missed the yearly refresh for the Mac Pro, we’ll have to wonder when will the next refresh take place if at all.

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