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MacBook Event Rumor Roundup

Florence Ion — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:55:05 -0500

It’s that time again—rumor time! The excitement for tomorrow’s media event has Apple Anticipators in a frenzy, especially with the internet initiating all sorts of crazy rumors like $800 MacBooks, Blu-Ray support, and even leaked pictures of the MacBook itself.

Kevin Rose proves he’s still got some influence in the industry by providing insider information on the new MacBooks and their capability for Blu-Ray. Rose claims his source isn’t as reliable as the last iPod/iTunes rumor rendezvous, but if he’s right he’ll be 2-for-2.

CNet UK asked Jason Calacanis to dish out a few rumors of his own. Calacanis hinted that Apple will release networked HDTVs that will allow you to stream directly from your computer and use your iPod Touch or iPhone as a remote, without an Apple TV box to mediate between devices.

Gizmodo posted Best Buy’s current inventory list for MacBooks. The print-out shows that prices on the new models remain the same as their predecessors, indicating that the chances of an $800 MacBook are slim. This conflicts with tales of the “Apple Brick”. There will be four additional price points; whether or not a sub-$1000 model is exists is still vague.

We do know that Apple will announce their new NVIDIA chipsets, which will replace Intel’s integrated graphics chip and make the new generation of MacBooks much more powerful, not to mention address previous concerns of sluggish performance on older models.

Check back tomorrow for MacLife.com's live blog of the event. In the meantime, drop your own rumormongering in the comments below and vote in our poll.

New MacBooks Could Solve Brick Riddle

David W. Martin — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 12:40:46 -0500

We've been covering the "Brick" rumors for several weeks now. An October 14 event has been a persistent part of those rumors. Now that Apple has confirmed the notebook event on, you guessed it, October 14, should we be holding our breath for a "Brick?"

Now that we know the event is real you can imagine that the rumors will probably kick into over drive. Boy did they!

MacRumors published spy shots of alleged MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks. The shots originated from Chinese language site, elesson and Taiwanese site, Apple.pro.

To confuse us even more, Apple.pro has posted the following out-of-focus video.

The new notebooks appear to adopt the same keyboard used in the MacBook Air and they all appear to be made from aluminum. There is a rumor that the 13" MacBook may arrive clad in all aluminum with a starting price point around $800.00 making it about $300 less than the current low end model that starts at $1,099. This might be the cost savings we anticipated would smash Windows' hold on the market. Other rumors speculate that the new MacBooks would arrive with beefier video cards to facilitate better gaming.

No one will know for sure if any of these rumors are true until October 14th. So, if you are like us, there are a few sleepless nights ahead while we wait to find out. Watch for Mac|Life's live coverage of the event next Tuesday starting at 10 am.

Apple Confirms October 14 Event

Roberto Baldwin — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 11:17:48 -0500

We just received our invitation to an Apple notebook event on October 14. The email entitled," The spotlight turns to notebooks," shows a floating MacBook just itching to be opened and computed on.

Speculation has been swirling that Apple would release a sub-$1000 and/or introduce it's new manufacturing process that allegedly involves carving the case from one piece of aluminum with lasers, water and, possibly, RDF rays.

Stick with MacLife.com as we bring you live updates from the event next Tuesday.

Brick -- Apple's Golden Ticket?

David W. Martin — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:56:08 -0500

Over the last few weeks we've searched the internet for clues that might solve the rumors surrounding the alleged new product release from Apple, code-named "Brick." Is it Apple's way of saving consumers money and smashing Windows? Or has Apple finally wised up and decided to expand upon it's "hobby" the Apple TV? Well, according to this weeks Internet rumblings, it's neither. But, it may be Apple's innovative new manufacturing system.

So again we ask - what exactly is "brick?" We still don't know for sure, and unless they're Steve jobs, no one else does either. Beyond our previous speculations, we've come across rumors of a teeny-tiny little MacBook mini, which we think is as unlikely as the Mac Multi-Touch notebook which we'd push you out of line for, if it was real. But all that seems to be day dreaming. Let's try for some reality.

9to5mac is claiming to have solved the "Brick" mystery. They think that "Brick" represents a new manufacturing process for creating aluminum MacBooks. According to 9to5mac, "The MacBook Brick is a block of high-quality, aircraft grade aluminum. It is the beginning. The beginning of what? It is the beginning of the new Apple manufacturing process to make MacBooks. It is totally revolutionary, a game changer. One of the biggest Apple innovations in a decade." So is this Apple's golden ticket?

Taking this into consideration, this would mean that Apple could stop using the current producers of notebooks in China or Taiwan. Apple could soon soon have full control over their own manufacturing process and maybe even their own plant. "The company has spent the last few years building an entirely new manufacturing process that uses lasers and jets of water to carve the MacBooks out of a brick of aluminum." according to 9to5mac. 9to5mac details the advantages of this process including:

- Carving out of aluminum eliminates the need to bend the metal and create weak spots or microfolds and rifts.
- There are no seams in the final product, so it is smooth.
- Screws aren’t needed to tie the products together.
- The shell is one piece of metal so it is super light, super strong and super cheap.
- You can be a whole lot more creative with the design if you don't have to machine it.

A trip down memory lane reveals that Steve Jobs once created, what CNN Money called "The Ultimate Computer Factory," to build Next workstations. The fully automated factory, according to the article, could run with as few as "100 workers. " Jobs was quoted as saying, "I'm as proud of the factory as I am of the computer." So it seems that Steve may once again prove his worth at Apple if he can pull off a modernized way to produce Apple products. A way of making them faster, better and above all cheaper! There is a little more about this on Seth Weintraub's blog at Computerworld.

All of this is a far cry from previous rumors we've heard about regarding "brick," but it could ring true because we still believe that whatever the "brick" is, it's going to be about saving money for Apple and eventually, us. An innovative new manufacturing process would fit the bill.

So will Steve Jobs, like Willy Wonka, have his own factory soon? If that happens, the "Brick" manufacturing process could be Apple's everlasting Gobstopper. We would like to think that Apple will soon be bringing revolutionary new MacBooks to the market that are lighter, easier to build, and most importantly, cheaper. Until the alleged October 14 event, we'll just add this new bit speculation to the wall of rumors.

Podcast #59: Steve Doesn't Heart CNN and The End of the SDK NDA

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 16:39:16 -0500

More ridiculous Steve Jobs health news, Apple finally frees developers from the chains of the SDK NDA and listeners share their fun "Brick" speculations.

An indie super-band is chosen for our weekly, "Keep or Delete." Each week we download and review the free iTunes song of the week and decide whether we're going to keep or delete the file. This week's artist:

Black Gold - Detroit

Don't forget, the Mac|Life staff would love to hear your thoughts, comments and ideas for the new podcast. Just leave a message on the Mac|Live question/comment line: (877) 404-1337, extension 622. Please limit the length of your messages to 1 minute max. We'll review these calls each week and feature our favorites, along with responses, on that week's podcast.

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

Podcast #58: Apple's Mystery Brick and The Free T-Shirts Flow Like Wine

Tue, 30 Sep 2008 22:26:44 -0500

We speculate on the mysterious Apple product, code-named "Brick." We offer a T-shirt to whoever has the craziest idea. Plus we remind everyone to check out our Which Mac Are You article for your next Mac purchasing plan.

A pseudo-violent 80's synth-inspired band is chosen for our weekly, "Keep or Delete." Each week we download and review the free iTunes song of the week and decide whether we're going to keep or delete the file. This week's artist:

The Tough Alliance - Neo Violence

To subscribe to the Mac|Live podcast series through an RSS feed, click here; if you want to subscribe through the iTunes Store, click here.

Another "Brick" in The Wall - Apple TV Rumor

David W. Martin — Tue, 30 Sep 2008 12:18:28 -0500

Last week we explored the rumors surrounding a new product release from Apple code-named "brick. " The speculation surrounding the heavy-weight secret product now points in the direction of the Apple TV. The Apple TV that Steve Jobs once stated was a "hobby" of Apple's, has not seen a significant updates in a long while. Granted, there have been software updates and an increase in on-board disk space, but other than that, the product has just been plodding along. Perhaps that is all about to change.

So what exactly is "brick?" No one really knows, although we have a few guesses that we wrote about last week. Although we still think highly of the save-you-money aspect of things, we'd be failing in our duty if we failed to bring to you the latest rumors regarding the Apple TV. Keeping in mind the we at Mac|Life consider the Apple TV to be more a "slab" of electronic goodness than a "brick" you would toss through Windows.

In a recent Apple Gazette post, Michael states, "Because of reports from retailers that the Apple TV’s advertising material was to be destroyed, a rumor has managed to seep its way through the Interwebs that the Apple TV is being replaced." He goes on to write, "It was further fueled by the fact that there is a webcast being presented to retailers on September 30th."

Taking this into consideration, and thinking carefully, one would think that this means that something could happen to the Apple TV, but does it really mean the whole product is about to be revamped? Doubtful. It could simply be another software update or a change in promotional materials, as Michael points out, "The reason for the destruction of the advertising material could be as simple as the fact that the licensing for the TVs and movies has expired - or that Apple wants new advertising material to reflect current movie releases, and the new fall television shows."

All of this is a far cry from previous rumors about Apple TV gaining the ability to play true HD TV, a DVD drive, DVR capabilities, Blue Ray or other hardware accessories. While Apple is usually pretty gung ho about adopting new technology, they still have not implemented Blue Ray drives into their computer line up. So why would they in the Apple TV? Our guess is that Apple is pushing for the electronic delivery methods a la iTunes. No more CDs or DVDs for you dear reader.

So is this the rumored "brick? " We don't think so, but add it to the wall of rumors surrounding the alleged October 14 event and all the Apple fanboys and fangirls having something more to talk about. Considering all the information we've seen so far, we feel comfortable in saying this is probably not the big news. It might be side news and the "brick" could still be about saving us money. And considering the current financial crisis, which has worsened as I write this, we can use all the savings we can get.

Apple's New Heavy Weight "Brick" Could Save You Money and Smash Windows

David W. Martin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:14:46 -0500

Apple fanboys and fangirls love rumors about forthcoming Apple products. One could almost consider that these rumors are another marketing ploy by Apple since the speculation and discussion gives Apple a ton of free exposure. Right now the focus of these rumors is October 14, 2008. Many are claiming that on that date, along with new MacBooks and/or MacBook Pros, Apple will be releasing another product coded-named "brick."

So what exactly is "brick?" No one really knows, although we have a few guesses that we'll mention shortly, but first let's look at the best of the rumors circulating around the web right now.

We think the best guess so far is the one at macenstein.com. Apple's "brick" target is Microsoft and Windows. After all, what better tool to break Windows than a "brick?" We believe Macenstein may have solved the riddle. The actually "brick" has nothing to do with a device - it's about changes in Apple products that will make them irresistible. What's that you say? For most of us that's already true, but what about the rest of the world?

Well remember Steve Jobs warned investors earlier this year that Apple was going to have some new killer products at very aggressive price points. Prices to low to believe. In fact, Jobs and Oppenheimer stated it would effect Apple's future earnings. Imagine an Apple notebook for under $500? Or iMacs for under $1000? Already aggressive sales of Apple notebooks and iMacs would probably go through the roof.

Another rumor suggests a wireless USB hub which isn't a very exciting idea if you ask us - another wireless USB hub. Yawn. 'nuff said? Of course Apple could come up with something innovative here, but I doubt this is going to be the big announcement. Maybe, just maybe, it will be a "brick" of connectivity. An Airport Extreme, Time Capsule and USB hub all-in-one big fat Apple device that makes "bricks" a beautiful product.

Our other favorite rumor is the complete Mac mini redesign. Most owners of the Mac mini love it. It's an inexpensive way of getting a second computer for a variety of uses, and if you've been paying attention, people have found a lot of uses for the smallest of all things Mac. Personally, I've used mine for testing, and I'm currently using it for my Leopard Server certification exams. The last refresh of the mini in 2007 was a good one, but now people are speculating about an Uber-mini, a tiny version of the Mac Pro. Now wouldn't that give the mini a good boost or what?

We have a few guesses of our own about the new product. Some of them are serious and some of them are outright silly - like a new Mac notebook that's so heavy it puts all the companies making laptop security cables out of business. It's not even luggable like those old transportables with the 5.25" floppy and 5" monochrome screens so no one even considers trying to steal it. Steal-toed shoes recommended.

Now seriously, we tend to agree with the first rumor. "Brick" will be about saving us money. And considering the current financial crisis, we can use all the savings we can get.