Intel and Nokia to Join in Mobile Chip Marriage
Intel is hoping that a deal with cell phone maker Nokia that will create a new stable of mobile products with "Intel Inside." Intel is expected to announce a partnership in a press conference slated for 8:30 a.m. PDT Tuesday. The possibilities for both companies here are huge. Intel will be able to sell hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of new CPUs into a new mobile market, while Nokia gains access to technologies such as the Atom processor, which can spawn a new generation of devices.
The trick here is for both companies to make sure that this marriage delivers something new and unique. The world doesn't need another Nokia netbook with Intel inside. The world doesn't need another iPhone clone. But, what else can these companies shoot for? The biggest opportunity comes from reinventing mobile devices, not just rehashing what's already out on the market.
A new type of netbook does make some sense, something that is more than a netbook in capabilities, yet less in weight and size. The market may be hungry for a next generation netbook, at least according to NPD research. NPD recently found that 60 percent of netbook users are unhappy with their netbooks, citing slow performance and limited functionality as the culprit.
Perhaps Intel/Nokia could use that information to develop a netbook that performs better, offers more connectivity options and even offer Google's Android as the operating system.
This should be a no-brainer for Intel and Nokia; after all, the foundation is already in place to make that happen. Wireless carriers are already selling 3G enabled netbooks and Nokia is already in tight with the wireless carriers.
Another avenue for Intel/Nokia to explore is a device that merges hot technologies into a new form factor. For example, how about a mobile device that offers what Amazon's Kindle can do, while incorporating some iPhone features and running Windows Mobile, giving users access to thousands of Windows applications? Give that device a touch screen with handwriting recognition and access to wireless technologies, perhaps creating a replacement for a multitude of other devices! Sell that unit via wireless carriers and target the consumer and education markets and shake up the cell phone, Kindle, iPhone, and netbook markets all at once.
It all comes down to simple common sense. Intel and Nokia need to apply that common sense to create the devices that users need, not just rehash what is out on the market already. Both companies have the intellectual property and engineering know-how to change the portable device market, but are both brave enough to take the risk to create something new? Only time will tell if the pairing of Intel and Nokia will be just another business announcement that fades into oblivion or if it marks a new portable device era.
HP Introduces New Mini 5101 Business Netbook
Editor's Note: Due to incorrect information from HP, the Mini 5101's screen was wrongly described as OLED, rather than being backlit-LED. The story was corrected at 4:30 p.m. Pacific Time on June 24, 2009.
Seeking to cement its lead in the business-oriented netbook space, Hewlett-Packard Co. today announced an updated Mini netbook.
Starting at $449, the Mini 5101 will come with a brighter backlit-LED screen, a larger, spill-resistant keyboard and a better-resolution 2-megapixel Webcam.
The Mini 5101 will also have a slightly faster Intel Atom processor, a new security feature and a higher-quality metal case than the current Mini 2140 (full review here), according to Carol Hess-Nickels, director of marketing for business netbooks at HP. The Mini 5101 will use Intel's Atom N280, which runs at 1.66 GHz, instead of the 1.6 GHz N270 in the Mini 2140, released less than six months ago.
HP's Mini 5101 business netbook.
The 5101 will retain the Mini 2140's spiffy anodized aluminum case, but add a magnesium metal bottom, said Hess-Nickels.
The flat, open key layout will have a MacBook-like look-and-feel, and will be slightly larger, at 95% of full-laptop-keyboard-size, than the 2140's 92% size.
Generally considered the third-leading netbook vendor behind Acer Inc. and Asus Inc., HP is among a few vendors to explicitly target business buyers with its netbooks. The Mini 5101 will be HP's fourth business netbook in less than a year and a half. It released the Mini 2133 in early 2008, and followed that up with the much-improved Mini 2140. HP announced a lower-end business Mini netbook in May, the Mini 1101. The Mini 5101 will retain many of the same features as the 2140 when it arrives in late July: 2.6-pound weight, a choice of Windows Vista, XP Home or Professional, Suse Linux Enterprise 11 or FreeDOS operating systems (for users to install whatever flavor of Linux they choose); hard-disk or solid-state disk drives with 3D DriveGuard, HP's technology to protect data in case of drops; a 10.1 inch screen coming in either 1024x600 or 1366x768 resolutions; and a choice of fast-charging 4- or 6-cell Lithium-Ion batteries, the latter offering up to 8 hours of battery life, according to HP.
It won't come with the Broadcom "Crystal" HD video decoder that enables 720p or 1080p HD video that is available in the just-released $329 Mini 1101.
The Mini 5101 will retain many of the same features as the 2140 when it arrives in late July: 2.6-pound weight, a choice of Windows Vista, XP Home or Professional, Suse Linux Enterprise 11 or FreeDOS operating systems (for users to install whatever flavor of Linux they choose); hard-disk or solid-state disk drives with 3D DriveGuard, HP's technology to protect data in case of drops; a 10.1 inch screen coming in either 1024x600 or 1366x768 resolutions; and a choice of fast-charging 4- or 6-cell Lithium-Ion batteries, the latter offering up to 8 hours of battery life, according to HP.
It won't come with the Broadcom "Crystal" HD video decoder that enables 720p or 1080p HD video that is available in the just-released $329 Mini 1101.
But if HP sees customer interest in HD video, it could use Nvidia's Ion technology (explained here), as Lenovo Group Ltd. is doing.
"We have looked at Ion, an we continue to look at it every time we come out with a new product," Hess-Nickels said. "Right now, it didn't seem to be the right offering for our customers."
Asked about the popularity of Linux, Hess-Nickels said the overall percentage of customers choosing Linux on HP netbooks, including business and consumer models, was "probably less than 10%," though probably "higher, in the mid-teens" for business Mini models such as the 2133 or 2140.
Acer Bargain Laptops Include Blu-ray
Late last week, Sony dropped news of its "affordable" entertainment notebooks ($880 isn't too shabby for a notebook sporting a Blu-Ray drive, but still . . .). Of course, it didn't take Acer long to fire back with bargain deal of its own. Acer's new line of budget-friendly Aspires promise full-size performance, but in a netbook's price range. And a $749 all-purpose all-star that offers a Blu-ray drive.
But let's start with the The 15.6-inch Aspire AS5536 and 17.3-inch Aspire AS7735Z ($479 and $599, respectively). Both boast LED backlit technology, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and low-end graphics to give you a subtle multimedia kick.
Both notebooks here feature a nifty multi-gesture touchpad (which will let users scroll, zoom, and flip through photos and spreadsheets with just the flick of a finger) and "Acer Backup Manager," a one-touch way to back-up files and information. The Aspire AS7735Z also has a "PowerSave" key, which is a one-button way to activate advanced power saving settings.
So what does the $120 difference buy you between these two models (besides the larger screen)? The AS5536 packs AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-64 CPU, 3GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics and a 320GB hard drive. The AS7735Z trades a discrete GPU for lousy integrated performance and a 250GB hard drive, but opts for 4GB of RAM and an Intel Pentium T4200 Processor.
The Aspire AS5536 and Aspire AS7735Z also feature an 8X DVD double-layer drive. Other hardware includes a built-in Webcam and 250GB hard drive.
If you're looking for a step up in performance (and price), the 15.6-inch Acer Aspire AS5739G starts at $749.99 and offers users an Intel Core2 Duo T6500 processor and Nvidia's GeForce GT130M graphics card -- so you might actually be able to play games on this thing as well as HD movies. Touted as a "mobile multimedia powerhouse," the Aspire AS5739G also features built-in stereo speakers, a bass booster, a 5.1-channel output for surround sound (we'll believe it when we see/hear it), and a Blu-ray/DVD drive. Yep, they just went there -- and undercut Sony's announcement from last week. How will it perform in comparison? That's a question best left for the PC World Labs. Check back and we'll give you the full scoop once a review unit shows up.
The Aspire AS5536 and Aspire AS7736Z should be in stores now, and the Aspire AS5739G will be available at the end of June.
Acer Bargain Laptops Include Blu-ray
Late last week, Sony dropped news of its "affordable" entertainment notebooks ($880 isn't too shabby for a notebook sporting a Blu-Ray drive, but still . . .). Of course, it didn't take Acer long to fire back with bargain deal of its own. Acer's new line of budget-friendly Aspires promise full-size performance, but in a netbook's price range. And a $749 all-purpose all-star that offers a Blu-ray drive.
But let's start with the The 15.6-inch Aspire AS5536 and 17.3-inch Aspire AS7735Z ($479 and $599, respectively). Both boast LED backlit technology, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and low-end graphics to give you a subtle multimedia kick.
Both notebooks here feature a nifty multi-gesture touchpad (which will let users scroll, zoom, and flip through photos and spreadsheets with just the flick of a finger) and "Acer Backup Manager," a one-touch way to back-up files and information. The Aspire AS7735Z also has a "PowerSave" key, which is a one-button way to activate advanced power saving settings.
So what does the $120 difference buy you between these two models (besides the larger screen)? The AS5536 packs AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-64 CPU, 3GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics and a 320GB hard drive. The AS7735Z trades a discrete GPU for lousy integrated performance and a 250GB hard drive, but opts for 4GB of RAM and an Intel Pentium T4200 Processor.
The Aspire AS5536 and Aspire AS7735Z also feature an 8X DVD double-layer drive. Other hardware includes a built-in Webcam and 250GB hard drive.
If you're looking for a step up in performance (and price), the 15.6-inch Acer Aspire AS5739G starts at $749.99 and offers users an Intel Core2 Duo T6500 processor and Nvidia's GeForce GT130M graphics card -- so you might actually be able to play games on this thing as well as HD movies. Touted as a "mobile multimedia powerhouse," the Aspire AS5739G also features built-in stereo speakers, a bass booster, a 5.1-channel output for surround sound (we'll believe it when we see/hear it), and a Blu-ray/DVD drive. Yep, they just went there -- and undercut Sony's announcement from last week. How will it perform in comparison? That's a question best left for the PC World Labs. Check back and we'll give you the full scoop once a review unit shows up.
The Aspire AS5536 and Aspire AS7736Z should be in stores now, and the Aspire AS5739G will be available at the end of June.
Apple Finds Silver Lining in Verdict on Green Claims
Apple on Friday claimed victory in an environmental laptop tiff with Dell, which earlier complained that Apple was misleading buyers by calling its laptops "the world's greenest family of notebooks."
Dell had filed a complaint with the National Advertising Division (NAD) of the Council of Better Business Bureaus, saying Apple's use of the phrase was a "broad superiority claim" against all manufacturers' laptops. NAD investigated the advertised tagline and implied claims that Apple's laptops were "greener" than other brands.
After the investigation, NAD on Thursday said that consumers could be misled by Apple's claims, which were used in Internet and TV advertisements. NAD suggested that Apple change the green tagline in advertisements to "avoid overstatement," which otherwise could cause confusion among buyers, who might think MacBooks are superior to other laptops.
NAD evaluated Apple's MacBooks based on the Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) rating, a recognized standard that helps consumers compare PCs based on their environmental impact. NAD stated that Apple has high EPEAT ratings across its entire line of laptops, while no other manufacturer has "comparable high ratings for all of the notebooks it produces."
Apple "elected to only produce computer notebooks that meet the highest EPEAT ratings," NAD said in its Thursday ruling.
However, NAD found that certain laptop brands, such as Toshiba's Portege line, had a higher EPEAT rating than MacBooks.
Apple did not comment on whether it would make changes based on NAD's recommendations. However, a company spokeswoman said the recommendations confirm Apple's commitment to being green.
"The NAD's ruling is a clear victory for Apple. The case challenged our claim to the 'world's greenest family of notebooks,' and NAD has confirmed that MacBooks are in fact the world's greenest notebook computers when compared to other manufacturers' product lines as a whole," the spokeswoman said.
Dell did not respond to a request for comment.
Nonprofit environmental groups have backed Apple's efforts to reduce the environmental impact of its PCs. Greenpeace International in 2007 applauded Apple's commitment to phase out by 2008 the use on components and circuit boards of chemicals that could affect human health. Those chemicals included brominated fire retardants (BFRs) and polyvinyl chloride (PVC).
"That beats Dell and other computer manufacturers' pledge to phase them out by 2009," Greenpeace said at the time. Greenpeace also praised Apple's "green" advertising campaign that highlighted the reduced environmental impact of its PCs.
Apple also gained ground in Greenpeace's ranking of green electronics companies issued in March this year, while competitors including Dell, Hewlett-Packard and Lenovo lost points. The list grades top consumer electronics and IT companies based on their environmental efforts and recycling efforts, as well as the power consumption and chemical content in their products.
Apple was perhaps the earliest PC maker to commit itself to reducing the environmental impact of its products, said Sarah Westervelt, a spokeswoman for the Basel Action Network, an environmental nonprofit. But no matter how green they are, laptops from all manufacturers will continue to have toxins, she said. Some circuit boards may have traces of lead and other harmful toxins, while batteries have chemicals such as cadmium that could be dangerous to health.
Dell and Apple are involved in a pointless slinging match, because green is an ambiguous concept, said Michael Kanellos, senior analyst and editor-in-chief at analyst firm GreenTech Media. It is hard to measure the entire environmental impact of products, he said. For example, the environmental impact of a laptop could involve the amount of fuel used to ship laptops and related components.
But using generic metrics such as power consumption, the overall impact of the laptops on the environment is relatively small, Kanellos said. Computers use about 1 percent of the power consumed in homes, while lights consume 26 percent, Kanellos said, citing 2006 statistics from the Precourt Energy Efficiency Center at Stanford University. In offices, computers make up 4 percent of power consumption, compared with 25 percent for lights.
Nevertheless, Dell and Apple realize that efforts are needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and environmental impacts associated with laptops, Kanellos said. Dell is advertising "green" as a way to cut costs for the company and its customers, while Apple is using it as a "lifestyle" term to sell products like the iPhone and Mac computers.
Acer Bargain Laptops Include Blu-ray
Late last week, Sony dropped news of its "affordable" entertainment notebooks ($880 isn't too shabby for a notebook sporting a Blu-Ray drive, but still . . .). Of course, it didn't take Acer long to fire back with bargain deal of its own. Acer's new line of budget-friendly Aspires promise full-size performance, but in a netbook's price range. And a $749 all-purpose all-star that offers a Blu-ray drive.
But let's start with the The 15.6-inch Aspire AS5536 and 17.3-inch Aspire AS7735Z ($479 and $599, respectively). Both boast LED backlit technology, a 16:9 aspect ratio, and low-end graphics to give you a subtle multimedia kick.
Both notebooks here feature a nifty multi-gesture touchpad (which will let users scroll, zoom, and flip through photos and spreadsheets with just the flick of a finger) and "Acer Backup Manager," a one-touch way to back-up files and information. The Aspire AS7735Z also has a "PowerSave" key, which is a one-button way to activate advanced power saving settings.
So what does the $120 difference buy you between these two models (besides the larger screen)? The AS5536 packs AMD Athlon 64 X2 QL-64 CPU, 3GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD3200 graphics and a 320GB hard drive. The AS7735Z trades a discrete GPU for lousy integrated performance and a 250GB hard drive, but opts for 4GB of RAM and an Intel Pentium T4200 Processor.
The Aspire AS5536 and Aspire AS7735Z also feature an 8X DVD double-layer drive. Other hardware includes a built-in Webcam and 250GB hard drive.
If you're looking for a step up in performance (and price), the 15.6-inch Acer Aspire AS5739G starts at $749.99 and offers users an Intel Core2 Duo T6500 processor and Nvidia's GeForce GT130M graphics card -- so you might actually be able to play games on this thing as well as HD movies. Touted as a "mobile multimedia powerhouse," the Aspire AS5739G also features built-in stereo speakers, a bass booster, a 5.1-channel output for surround sound (we'll believe it when we see/hear it), and a Blu-ray/DVD drive. Yep, they just went there -- and undercut Sony's announcement from last week. How will it perform in comparison? That's a question best left for the PC World Labs. Check back and we'll give you the full scoop once a review unit shows up.
The Aspire AS5536 and Aspire AS7736Z should be in stores now, and the Aspire AS5739G will be available at the end of June.
Apple Updates MacBooks, MacBook Pros
Apple senior vice president of worldwide product marketing Phil Schiller wasted no time during the keynote of Apple's Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) on Monday morning, unveiling a new generation of MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops within minutes of taking the stage. (See PC World's live blog coverage of the WWDC keynote.)
Apple's aluminum unibody MacBook Pro line now includes 13-inch, 15-inch and 17-inch models. (PRNewsFoto/Apple)
The new 15-inch model sports processor speeds from 2.53GHz to 3.06GHz, at prices ranging from $1,699 - $2,299 depending on how it's configured. The MacBook Pro can handle up to 8GB RAM, and a 256GB Solid State Disk (SSD) is also an option. Nvidia graphics, both integrated and discrete, are included.
The new 15-inch MacBook Pro is based on the same "unibody" architecture that Apple has used on the last round of MacBook Pro designs -- a single slab of aluminum used to craft most of the body.
It features a built-in battery similar to Apple's 17-inch MacBook Pro, which provides up to seven hours of run time between charges, according to Schiller -- that's two hours longer than before, or 40 percent more charge. Like the lithium polymer battery found in the 17-inch model, the new 15-inch MacBook Pro's battery lasts up to 1,000 recharges before it needs replacing. Apple claims the battery design is more environmentally friendly as a result.
Schiller claims the 15-inch model has the "nicest display [Apple] has ever put in a notebook" with 60 percent better color gamut than before. What's more, the new 15-inch MacBook Pro replaces the ExpressCard slot found on older models with an SD card slot -- Schiller said this was done to better accommodate users who have digital cameras, many of which use SD media cards to store photos.
The 17-inch MacBook Pro model also gets a refresh; it now features a 2.8GHz processor, 500GB hard drive and keeps its ExpressCard slot, all for $2,499.
Both the new 15-inch and 17-inch models ship today.
Aluminum MacBook becomes MacBook Pro
The 13-inch MacBook has been improved, as well -- so much so that Apple is adding the "Pro" moniker to it.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro gets a lithium polymer battery similar to its 15-inch sibling, that lasts for up to seen hours. It also has the improved display, and it gains an SD card slot. The new 13-inch model can also accept up to 8GB of RAM, and can be outfitted with a 500GB hard disk drive or a 256GB SSD.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro also gets a FireWire 800 port, and a backlit keyboard standard. With prices starting at $1,199, it's less expensive than the MacBook model it replaces.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro comes in two models: 2.26GHz, 2GB RAM, 9400M graphics, 160GB hard drive, for $1,119; and a 2.53GHz, 4GB, 250GB hard drive model for $1,499. Both models also ship today.
MacBook Air also improved
Lest we forget, the MacBook Air also gets a refresh. The $1,499 model comes equipped with a 1.86GHz processor, 2GB RAM, and a 120GB hard drive. For $1,799 you get a 2.13GHz MacBook Air equipped with a 128GB SSD. Prices have come down -- that's $700 less than before.
Macworld will update this story with more details about the new MacBooks presently.
New iPhones, New MacBook Pros, Snow Leopard, and iPhone 3.0 Unveiled at WWDC
Today at Apple's World Wide Developers Conference in San Francisco, the Cupertino computer maker announced a host of new products before an audience of developers and media. Among other announcements, the company has updated its MacBook Pro product line, launched a new version of its Safari Web browser, offered a preview of its upcoming Snow Leopard operating system, and readied iPhone 3.0 for market.
New Notebooks
First up in its presentation, Apple showed off new MacBook Pro laptops, including a new version of the 15-inch MacBook Pro. With a longer-lasting battery (similar to that featured in the existing 17-inch model), the new machine will have a battery life of up to seven hours, two hours longer than its predecessor. It also features a nicer display, an SD card slot in place of the former Express Card slot, and support for up to 8GB of RAM. It will be available with processor speeds up to 3.06GHz abd 6MB L2 cache, making it the fastest notebook Apple has made to date.
The 17-inch MacBook Pro has also been refreshed with a 2.8GHz processor and a 500GB hard drive.
The 13-inch unibody aluminum MacBook has received a bump up in status, making it a MacBook Pro. Unlike its predecessors, it will now feature support for 8GB of RAM and 500GB of storage, with the option of a 256GB SSD drive.
Apple has dropped the prices of its notebook line as well. The 13-inch MacBook pro will range from $1,199 to $1,499, the 15-inch model will range from $1,699 to $2,299, and the 17-inch model will cost $2,499. All models begin shipping today.
Snow Leopard
The long-anticipated update to Apple's OS X Leopard operating system, dubbed Snow Leopard, made an appearance in the demo. Coming in September, Snow Leopard will run faster than the current operating system, and will include updates to all of its apps. Mail will run faster, as will Preview and other integrated apps.
Business users will be able to use Microsoft Exchange servers with Mail, iCal, and Address Book. In a demo of the new features, Apple Senior Vice President of Software Engineering Bertrand Serlet explained that the three built-in contact, scheduling, and e-mail apps will now feature Exchange configuration as a standard option. Users can simply enter their Exchange e-mail address and password, and Snow Leopard will automatically configure all three apps at once.
Snow Leopard will also include updates to Expose, Quicktime, and its underlying graphics technology, which will be based on the OpenCL standard.
Come September, Snow Leopard will sell for $129, with an upgrade for existing Leopard users available for $29.
Apple's Web browser, Safari, has also received a refresh, and ships today in version 4 for Leopard, Tiger, and Windows. Safari 4 includes better handling of browser plug-ins, which will allow the browser to continue functioning if a plug-in such as Flash crashes while viewing a page.
iPhone 3.0
The most talked-about bunch of updates Apple unveiled at WWDC came from its iPhone 3.0 software upgrade, which purportedly adds 100 new features to the iPhone. Critics have long stressed the need for cut, copy, and paste features across the iPhone OS, and those features are now built in. Also, all key apps in the iPhone now feature landscape mode to maximize screen width. And in the U.S., iPhones on the AT&T network will finally feature MMS support later this summer.
Search features have also been enhanced in iPhone 3.0 with the addition of Spotlight. This will enable users to search not only their contacts, but also calendar entries, notes, e-mail, and even apps on the device.
iTunes will now allow iPhone users to purchase or rent movies directly from the device, and Apple has added parental controls that will restrict the kinds of movies, shows, and apps that children can run on the phone or iPod touch.
For Mobile Me customers, Apple will offer a service called Find My iPhone, which will locate a lost or stolen device (if it's turned on).
As promised in a previous iPhone announcement, iPhone 3.0 includes push notification for instant messaging and other applications.
Perhaps the most exciting update for iPhone 3.0 is the addition of tethering capabilities. At last, users who are away from their Wi-Fi network will be able to use the iPhone's cellular broadband connections to connect their laptop to the Internet. This feature will work via USB or Bluetooth, and is supported by 22 carriers in 44 countries.Unfortunately, AT&T is not one of the carriers supporting this feature, which leaves U.S. iPhone customers wanting.
The iPhone 3.0 software is available to developers today, and ships to customers next Wednesday.
Along with the updates iPhone software, Apple is releasing new iPhone hardware. The iPhone 3GS will sell for $199 in a 16GB version and $299 in a 32GB version. The existing iPhone 3G will continue to be available at a price of $99. (All prices with a 2-year AT&T contract.)
The iPhone 3GS will be faster than the iPhone 3G, and will include video capture, voice control, built-in support for Nike+ accessories, hardware encryption for Exchange users, and improved battery life. The phone will be available on June 19.
Apple’s WWDC — Few Surprises, Few Innovations
Apple delivered a variety of hardware and software news today at the opening keynote for its Worldwide Developers Conference, but the company took its time building up to the big news: The new iPhone 3GS will be available in stores on June 19, and the current iPhone 3G will drop in price to $99 as of today. Unfortunately, I found the keynote offered empty calories: The lack of a significant hardware upgrade for the iPhone was especially underwhelming. (See the transcript of PC World's live blog report of the keynote)
The keynote -- the company's first marquee event since CEO Steve Jobs took a medical leave in early 2009 -- actually played out more like a MacWorld keynote than a WWDC keynote, from when the company announced products at the show. And since the start of the year, its product announcements have been minimal.
Smartphones for All
Apple's announcements today underscore the company's plans to expand its scope as a smartphone maker. NPD Group data puts Apple as the number two smartphone maker today, second to Research in Motion; surely, the company has its eyes set on that top spot.
"We want to reach even more customers," noted Vice President of Worldwide Product Marketing Phil Schiller, who led the presentation in Jobs's absence, during the keynote.
To achieve that end, Apple reduced the current 8GB iPhone 3G to $99, half the price it sold for when it was first introduced last year. "There really has never been a smartphone at this price," says Schiller. That price was long-rumored; now, it's confirmed.
Certainly, never a smartphone that's held wide appeal has carried that price tag. In our database, the iPhone's new price ties the Nokia E71x for the least expensive smartphone we've seen (street price, not including rebates). Though that phone has a reasonable degree of usability, it can't compare to the simplicity and sexy "It Phone" factor of the iPhone.
The new phone, the iPhone 3G S, will be go on sale nationwide and in select countries (including the France, Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom) on June 19. In keeping with previous trends, the phone's pricing tiers stay the same, only you get more memory for your money: 16GB for $199, and 32GB for $299.
You may need that extra space: Two of the big features for iPhone 3G S are the camera (upgraded to 3.0 megapixels), and the inclusion of video recording (finally) at 640 by 480 pixel resolution, 30 frames per second.
Modest Hardware Boost
The camera and the inclusion of hardware encryption -- a welcome feature for business environments -- are the only new features that clearly mark a hardware change, though. Even though Schiller said during the keynote that "everything inside" the phone had changed, when asked, Apple representatives declined to specify what hardware had actually changed, and instead pointed to the spec sheet on its Web site (an Apple spokesperson indicated that we could "infer" what had or hadn't changed based on those published specs). Winks and nods offline away from the glare of the WWDC spotlight indicate that the iPhone 3G S has a faster processor, and more memory, too, as compared with the original iPhone 3G.
As such, it's easy to point to most of the iPhone 3G S's improvements being in software and not hardware. Some, like the addition of white balance controls on the camera, are obvious. Others, like the inclusion of voice control, for example, are less so: Apple didn't indicate this feature would be available on earlier generation iPhones, but it also didn't say what specifically in the new hardware enables this feature.
Likewise, some of the performance enhancements could be attributed to the new iPhone OS 3.0, available for free download to any generation iPhone (and $10 download for any generation iPod Touch) on June 17. This is especially true if one were to assume that the new OS has the same kernel core as the forthcoming Snow Leopard operating system for Mac computers; Snow Leopard also features performance enhancements.
Apple does claim a speed boost from the iPhone 3G to iPhone 3G S. According to Apple's benchmarks, messaging will be more than twice as fast, loading Sim City 2.4x as fast, and loading the The New York Times' home page 2.9 times as fast. Battery life improvements point to factors other than the hardware, as well. (3G S talk time, sadly, remains the same as the 3G, but data over Wi-Fi, for example, can muster an additional three hours on the iPhone 3G S as compared with the iPhone 3G-and Wi-Fi battery improvements could be due to a new chipset, or to a new software stack for the existing chipset).
Apple: Standing Still, But Reaching Deep
It was surprising to see the iPhone 3G S's hardware be outwardly identical to its predecessor. At a time when competitors are making headlines with fresh designs, Apple instead appears to be marching in place. Recent rumors indicate this could be part of Apple's long-term strategy, a strategy that could prove a mistake over time.
The announced features in iPhone 3G S are a modest upgrade, not a must-have upgrade -- which in turn keeps users from considering a new handset purchase. Thus far, Apple has conditioned users to look forward to dramatic hardware improvements once a year. While the iPhone 3G remains a pleasing device, nearly as much as a year ago, that doesn't mean the hardware didn't have room to evolve. That Apple hasn't innovated and improved upon its existing hardware and design leaves room for others to ratchet up the competition. And, it also opens room for speculation that innovation may stall without Jobs at the helm.
Apple's new MacBook Pro notebooks don't help promote the company's position as an innovator. The company announced a refresh today of its 13.3-inch and 15-inch models, with lower prices, and more powerful components. Although it brought back FireWire 800 and introduced an SD Card slot, these models lacked the wow factor we've come to expect from Apple hardware.
Where Apple continues to hit it out of the park, though, is its App Store. As of April, more than 1 billion apps have been downloaded, and more than 50,000 are available for download. The competing App Store numbers remain modest and negligible by comparison.
The App Store juggernaut may well be the reason Apple feels it can rest easy for the moment, but Apple will have to tread carefully to keep the iPhone from becoming less an innovation and more a presumption and commodity among mainstream consumers.
Reassessing the Apple Tax
Macs are often criticized for the high price of their hardware. This so-called Apple tax is the premium that Apple computers usually cost over comparably equipped PCs. But since the company dropped prices on its laptop line yesterday, that difference is now smaller than ever.
Of course, Mac enthusiasts might even say the Apple tax never existed, since no MacBook Pro competitor has the aluminum unibody construction or multi-touch track pad that the MacBook Pro does.
In any case, I've been playing with the numbers, and I've noticed something interesting: When the newest 13-inch MacBook Pro is configured with similar features and put head to head with a Dell XPS 1330 (arguably Dell’s most similar computer), the two come within spitting distance in price.
The base price for the 13-inch MacBook Pro is $1199 while the Dell XPS M1330 starts at $749. Using each company’s online configuration tool, I created systems with the following attributes: 13.3-inch LED backlit screen, 4GB RAM, 320GB Hard disk, Nvidia GE Force 9400M Graphics Card, 802.11n networking, integrated webcam, backlit keyboard and Bluetooth. The MacBook comes with a 2.26 GHz Intel processor with a 1066 MHz frontside bus, versus 2.4 GHz and 800 MHz, respectively, for the Dell.
The Dell was configured with a 9-cell battery, which should at least approach the 7 hours Apple advertises for its integrated battery. Dell’s computer weighs in at just under 4 pounds with a 6-cell battery and with the 9-cell is likely to be pretty close to the MBP's 4.5 pounds. Both included a one-year warranty. Including Windows Vista Home Premium, the Dell came out to $1304 as compared to $1399 for the Apple. Apple tax: $95.
For those willing to put a premium on the featherweight computing experience, the new $1499 base price of the MacBook Air should give you a reason to take a fresh look. Also, it should cause Dell to break a sweat as the competing Adamo now starts at a full $500 more. In its $1799 configuration, the Air matches the 128GB Solid Stage Drive of the Adamo and bests its 1.2 GHz processor with one that clocks in at 2.13 GHz. Both come with 2GB of RAM and no optical drive. The Air weighs one full pound less than the Adamo at 3 lbs.
If you’ve been attracted to OS X and the Apple computer experience, but have been put off by high prices, Apple just extended an olive branch to you.
Michael Scalisi is an IT manager based in Alameda, California.