We knew Apple was going to refresh its MacBook Pro laptops and guess what today Apple silently updated its MacBook Pro family. So what’s new? The new MacBook Pro laptops offer new, faster Intel processors, Thunderbolt technology, and better graphics. But the best thing is that Apple has not increased prices. You get new features starting at only $1,199. There are two models in 13.3″ form factor: $1,199 with 2.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, 4GB 1333MHz, 500GB 5400-rpm, and Intel HD Graphics 3000; and $1,499 with 2.8GHz dual-core Intel Core i7, 4GB 1333MHz, 750GB 5400-rpm, and Intel HD Graphics 3000. There are two models in 15″ form factor: $1,799 with 2.2GHz quad-core Read more

When I wrote about Documents in the Cloud, one of my chief complaints was that the only way to upload and download files on my Mac was through the iCloud web interface. I made a casual mention in that post that while there is a setting in the iCloud System Preferences to sync Documents and Data, I admitted I didn’t know where they went to. A helpful reader posted that “on a Mac your iCloud data files are accessible at ~/Library/Mobile Documents.” I wondered if I could access the files directly on my Mac using that folder, and create files there, then have them sync to iCloud. The answer, blessedly, is yes. Here’s how. Make sure Documents and Data is checked in iCloud System Read more

In an attempt to settle the legal fight for patents between Samsung and Apple and to continue selling Galaxy Tab 10.1 in Australia, Samsung offered Apple a ‘comforting’ deal. According to the latest reports, the two companies emerged from a court hearing at the country’s Federal Court in Sydney on Friday, acknowledging that an offer had been made but  the details of the deal were not disclosed to the court. Apple lawyer Stephen Burley claims that Apple would benefit from Samsung’s proposal noting that “(Samsung’s) inconvenience would be diminished and we would be comforted” by the agreement. Even though Samsung is not likely to receive a definite solution or conclusion Read more

Apple and Samsung clashed in a second day of hearings in an Australian court Thursday (via Dow Jones Newswires). At issue are three patents that Apple holds and claims Samsung infringed upon with the design of its Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 tablet. Apple’s lawyers revealed during the proceedings that Steve Jobs attempted personally to avoid a legal battle between the two companies, and Samsung made a concession that could lead to hardware design compromises in the Australian market. Apple executive Richard Lutton (who was reported to be leaving Apple earlier this year) provided evidence that former Apple CEO Steve Jobs approached Samsung during summer 2010 in an attempt to avoid conflict Read more

Apple started patent war by suing major smartphone companies like Samsung and HTC. Later on they replied back by suing Apple. Now VIA is joining the patent war by suing Apple. Yes, you read it correct — VIA is indeed suing Apple. But the case is not related to software; VIA claims that Apple is infringing it’s microprocessor patents. Reportedly, VIA has filed a complaint with the United States International Trade Commission (ITC) and the US District Court of Delaware for patent infringement by Apple’s iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple TV product lines, and associated software. The patents at issue cover microprocessor functionality featured in Apple iPhone, iPad, iPod, and Apple TV Read more

Word on internet has it Apple is planning to update its MacBook Pro family with new models. If this piece of news is true then it’ll be the second in the year Apple will refresh MacBook Pro laptops. Back in February Apple introduced new MacBook Pro laptops with Thunderbolt technology, AMD Radeon graphics and Intel Sandy Bridge processors. The main reason for this upcoming update is that Intel’s next-generation Core i-Series mobile platform is not expected until the second quarter of 2012, so Apple is thinking of updating MacBook Pro laptops with faster processors. AppleInsider reports that the late-2011 MacBook Pro refresh will deliver marginal speed improvements compared to Read more