Apple's known for keeping secrets, though rumors about new MacBook SKUs soon to hit retail got out. Just a day after fellow blogger Tim Y. reported on a plausible product list hinting at the new models, the Cupertino-based company decided it was high time to make it official. The 2008 line of MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops have been introduced, with specifications updated for the current mobile generation.

For the techies out there who deal with a lot of data and switch back and forth between hard drives, this little gadget would go well with your equipment. The USB 2.0 SATA HDD Stage Rack is a dock for your HDD that does away with enclosures altogether.

The device is compatible with both PCs and Macs and is available for EUR 33 (US$ 47). The device is compatible with 2.5-inch HDDs and 3.5-inch HDDs and operates on a simple plug and play system, which is already a customary function in this day and age.

It would have been cool if they also added a portable multimedia player function like the early model from Onkyo or like Headplay's. Still, it's pretty useful nevertheless.

Samsung's ultra-sexy Monochrome Laser Printer, the ML -1630, was introduced to the market just about three weeks ago. And since the cool folks always want to hang out with each other, it comes as no surprise to find Apple taking Samsung's cool dude on board -- exclusively.

So what's in the ML-1630 that would make the Apple Store keep it all to its lonely self? Speed is one. Don't believe it? Try printing up to 17 pages per minute. And then there's the hi-speed USB 2.0 connectivity. Of course, it doesn't hurt to be compatible with your Mac, too, and houses a memory of 8MB. It's laser printer quality is also up to 1200 x 1600 dpi.

Sounds like a good partnership here, don't it? Anyhow, the world's slimmest monochrome laser printer can be had through the Apple Store at about US$ 200. Check it out via our Read link below.

Want to hook yourself up on a great deal for one of Apple's iPhone? No, there's nothing shady about this deal. You can now save as much as 21% off the 4GB and 8GB iPhones pricetag with the Apple Refurb Store slashing US$ 100 from their original prices.

Here are the details on both refurbished models just in case you're interested:

Refurbished iPhone, 4GB

• Multi-touch display with full QWERTY soft keyboard
• Safari web browser
• Email access
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Holds up to 1,000 songs
• Up to 8 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby time
• 2.0 megapixel camera
• 4.8 ounces
• 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inches
• Apple earphones with built-in microphone
• USB 2.0 cable

Refurbished iPhone, 8GB

• Multi-touch display with full QWERTY soft keyboard
• Safari web browser
• Email access
• Built-in Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
• Holds up to 2,000 songs
• Up to 8 hours of talk time and 250 hours of standby time
• 2.0 megapixel camera
• 4.8 ounces
• 4.5 x 2.4 x 0.46 inches
• Apple earphones with built-in microphone
• USB 2.0 cable

The 4GB and 8GB models are currently priced at $399.00 and $499.00 respectively. Definitely a sweet deal for those looking to get their hands on an iPhone. And to think, you didn't even have to listen to some lousy infomercial with the line: "but wait, there's more!"

  

The Apple Summer Mac product conference is already rolling hot with Steve Jobs manning the show. As expected, his keynote address is filled with surprising unveiling of new Apple projects and the "everybody saw this coming" types. Tab this one under the second category - as predicted and whispered around various boards the past few weeks, Apple is giving us brand new iMacs.

Sporting a retroish look, the sleek new iMacs are made of aluminum and glass. It comes in 20- and 24-inched versions, each equipped with the usual but impressive specs such as up to  2.4GHz Core 2 Extreme processor, up to 4GB of memory, ATI Radeon HD graphics card, up to 1TB of hard drive storage. 802.11n and Bluetooth 2.0 built-in. There's also the usual compliment of ports like USB 2.0, Firewire 400/800, a slot loading SuperDrive, iSight camera etc.

What's also worth noting is that the oft-rumored new keyboard for the iMacs turns out to be true, with Steve Jobs himself confirming it. Boasting of large spacing and flat keys, Apple seems to be aiming to give the iMac users the laptop feel while typing. iMac purists seem to be a bit skeptic with the move, but let's all wait and see what happens. The 20-inch iMac goes for US$ 1,199 each (add three hundred bucks more for a processor and graphics enhancements), while the 24-inch monster demands US$ 1,799 per unit.

With the Apple iPhone's release date (July 29) creeping closer and closer upon us, more details have been coming to light. Now the hype is bound to only become stronger with the release of the iPhone's specs. Steve Jobs and the rest of the guys at Apple better deliver on this product since a lot of people are expecting a lot from it.

Theories floating around the intarwebs regarding this product have been laid to rest with the release of its specs. It will have a sim tray for those who are worried about it. In addition, the battery life, while not that great is quite acceptable for a multimedia device. It's also going to be quad band and will have a storage capacity of either 4 GB or 8 GB.

Given that, the only thing we need to wait for is the price. We can't wait for its release to see if it really becomes the phone that most Apple fanatics want it to be. Be sure to check back here for more updates on the iPhone.

The full details await after the jump!

Parallels announced today that Parallels Desktop, its virtualization software for the Mac, has been updated. Parallels Desktop allows users running Intel-powered Apple Macs to run Windows, Linux or any other operating system at the same time as Mac OS X, without re-booting.

This new version of Parallels Desktop is anchored by a completely customizable new feature called Coherence. Coherence allows users to run Windows applications on their Macs like they were native applications.

When users switch to Coherence mode, the Windows desktop disappears, leaving Windows applications, such as Outlook and Internet Explorer, running directly on the Mac desktop and from the Mac application dock.

"When we introduced Parallels Desktop in April, we blurred the lines between the Mac and Windows worlds. With the introduction of Coherence, we completely blow that line away," said Benjamin Rudolph, Director of Communications, Parallels. "This is a game-changing technology that gives users the ability to choose the best application for the job at hand. We intend to expand the Coherence function to help computer users move to a truly operating system-agnostic desktop."

Parallels Desktop also includes a powerful new migration tool called Transporter that gives users the ability to move their entire existing PCs Â? including all of its settings, applications, files and profiles -- directly to a Parallels virtual machine running on their new Macs, without re-installing Windows. Perfect for users who are just switching from a Windows PC to a Mac.

You can grab a copy of Parallels Desktop on the Parallels website for US$ 79.99. A trial version is also available on the website. Kudos to ben for the heads up.

More features after the jump!

The Parallels website announced that Mac users can try the latest build of their Parallels Desktop software. Parallels Desktop for Mac Beta2 (Build 3094) is now available for download, and they are also offering a holiday special that you might want to check out.

A lot of features and enhancements are introduced in this beta, including USB 2.0 support, a full-feature virtual CD/DVD drive, and improved Coherence mode. It also provides better Boot Camp support, but it's important to note that Beta1 (build 3036) users must boot natively into Boot Camp and uninstall Parallels Tools for Boot Camp prior to running it in Beta2.

Beta2 also includes a bundled copy of Parallels Transporter Beta2. Please note that Beta1 users must upgrade their Transporter package on their Windows source machine before using Parallels Transporter in Beta2. You may end up with a system crash or experience possible loss of data if you fail to do so.

New users need to get a trial key to use the software, but if you're a current Parallels Desktop for Mac user, you can use your existing activation key to install this update.

Digital Multimedia Broadcast (DMB) is big in Korea, but that doesn't mean other countries should be left out in the cold when it comes to direct-to-home multimedia transmissions. Thanks to Elgato Systems' EyeTV Diversity DVB-T Stick, Mac users can join in the fun and with Dual Tuner to boot!

Sure, there's really nothing new with watching digital terrestrial television (DTT) on a Mac, but with EyeTV Diversity you get uninterrupted coverage even when you're stuck in areas with weak reception. And that's not the only thing that gets going for this product. It allows you to actually watch two channels simultaneously. Or if you're just not up for a TV marathon, you can watch one and record another directly to your Mac's hard drive. You can also have your own "director's cut" version of the show with the edit features. Sweet!

It's just quite unfortunate that this amazing USB 2.0 stick is only available in select countries where DTT or DVB-T is broadcast. No U.S. the last time we checked.

Ever since Jobs decided to set the digital entertainment world on fire with his declaration of the (still temporarily code-named) iTV, the curious have been asking, "Well, what exactly is the iTV?" We ourselves, among many others, have only been able to give snippets of information as they came. And we're just as curious as you guys are.

Enter Macworld. Even they don't have as close a look as they would have liked of the iTV, but being the Mac experts that they are, have decided to proceed with what Steve Jobs has said about the iTV, gathered stuff from the September 12 presentation, and gave this FAQ on the iTV. So to all who've been asking what exactly is the iTV, here are highlights of their extensive FAQ:

• What is iTV? We've once called it the Living Room Mac, based on the educated guess of a New York Times writer, because it IS a Living Room Mac. It combines the digital media convergence of the Mac's Front Row - which connects your digital TV to a Mac CPU and to the Internet beyond - with the wireless ease of AirPort. A lot easier than hooking up the Mac Mini to the TV. iTV will stream iTunes media running off a Mac or Windows PC and can be operated with the Apple Remote.

• The "temporarily-named" iTV? It can change. Call it Apple's iDevice-prefixing penchant. The thing is, Elgato's already making the eyeTV, a digital TV receiver. Even Apple has an "iTV" branded accessory out there with the Monster iTV link. Steve Jobs called it an internal code-name. It is a snappy, albeit temporary, code-name, though.

Want to know more? Read the full article after the jump!