There's a lot of activity going on at Apple these days. By Thanksgiving, there'll be a new line of refreshed Apple notebooks that will come with Intel's Core 2 Duo microprocessors (instead of Apple's own Core Duo), running at speeds of up to 2.33GHz dual-core. Apple has actually slowed down Core Duo MacBook Pro professional notebooks production in lieu of revised and custom-configured models.

Apple has reportedly completed the revisions to its entire notebook product family, including the new 15- and 17-inch professional MacBook Pros, as well as new 13-inch consumer MacBooks last month.

The Mac maker's move was probably inspired by the sales figures of the MacBook. Compared to the MacBook Pro, the demand for the MacBook was far higher on a 2 to 1 ratio. Obviously, the demand for MacBooks has inspired Apple to keep on dishing out new and better versions of it, including the new 13-inch MacBooks. There's still no word, however, whether these 13-inch MacBooks will come equipped with Intel's Core 2 Duo chips or not.

New technology makes its way into our hands so fast that sometimes even the company selling it doesn't have time to update its final published specs. At least that's the way it appears with the new Core 2 Duo iMac. A few users have reported some unexpected details when running Vista on their Core 2 Duo.

What looks wrong here? Namely a network card that supports 802.11n in addition to the advertised b/g standards. A reader identified the card to be a Broadcom card which "works across all 802.11a, 802.11b, 802.11g and draft-802.11n solutions. Intensi-fi is Broadcom's implementation of the 802.11n draft specification and the industry's first draft-802.11n solutions. Intensi-fi technology delivers superior performance and robust wireless connectivity throughout a home or office, enabling next-generation Wi-Fi devices to support voice, video and data applications. Intensi-fi chipsets are also designed to be compatible with existing 802.11a/b/g products."

So why the advertised limitation in Mac OS X? One suggestion was that 802.11n is not supported yet, possibly requiring Vista's latest drivers to unlock 802.11n mode in the Broadcom network card. While this is merely speculation, it's a fact that companies update and replace internal stock hardware with "equal or better" components at time due to availability and cost. So we guess that the moral of this story is to not be surprised if your Core 2 Duo (or other devices) magically start accepting new formats.

If operating systems are your thing, it's time to start getting excited as Apple beta testers have themselves claimed that Mac OS X 10.4.8 is bug-free and very much ready for release. For those of you that aren't keeping track, the Mac OS X 10.4.8 Update will be the  eighth maintenance release issued to users of the operating system named 'Tiger' since its launch in April 2005. It has been said that Apple has addressed issues with Image RAW, ImageIO, ColorSync, Xsan, Xsan File Manager, CoreImage and web images in the latest update for both traditional and Intel-based Macs.

According to reports across the internet, the Mac OS X 10.4.8 will also introduce improvements to AFP, DVD Player, Graphics and Graphics applications, iCal, iPhoto, Mail, Microsoft Word & OpenType fonts, Modem usage, Networking, Printing, Safari and USB, as well as stability and performance updates. This latest release is also likely to include support for new lines of Core 2 Duo-based MacBook and MacBook Pro notebooks that are due for release in November.

If we were all filthy rich and had magic bottomless wallets, we'd all be buying PC with the priciest, most ridiculously high-end CPUs. Such is not the case for most of us though. Performance must always be weighed against budgetary constraints. Also, the CPU isn't the only variable in the equation. We have to consider graphics cards, memory, storage... It's almost enough to drive people insane.

To help prevent an outbreak of foaming-at-the-mouth madness, ExtremeTech's David Case decided to take a look at the CPU side of the equation. Case compared 5 Intel Core 2 Duo processors (E6300, E6400, E6600, E6700, and Core 2 Extreme X6800) and 5 AMD X2 AM2 processors (3800+, 4200+, 4600+, 5000+, and FX-62) based on each processor's performance in 5 different tests, including media content creation and PC gaming. In the tests, the processors vary but everything else stays the same.

Final verdict? Let's hear it from the reviewer himself: "It's clear that Intel's Core 2 Duo lineup offers superior performance across the product line when compared with AMD's Athlon 64 X2. In some applications, even a lower-cost Core 2 Duo can outperform some of the higher-end Athlon 64 X2s."

In other applications though, it's not so clear. For a lot of users, adequate performance is good enough, especially when we factor in the prices. Says Case, "AMD's Athlon 64 X2 3800+ certainly offers great value, at under $160, and even the 4200+ can be found for under $200. However, the overall "sweet spot" seems to be the two midrange Intel CPUsÂ?the Core 2 Duo E6400 and E6600. The E6600 offers a higher clock rate and larger L2 cache, while the E6400 can be found for well under $250."

As for the the Intel Core 2 Extreme X6800, Case concludes that it "is simply in a class by itself. If you're willing to blow over $800 for a processor, then going a couple hundred bucks more doesn't seem quite so extreme."

Read the full review by clicking on the 'read' link below.

The September 12 Paris Expo and that San Francisco event is right around the corner, and people are still guessing what new trick Steve Jobs has up his sleeve (Apple's hot new products are usually released or announced in events like this). People thought it would have been the upgunned Core 2 Duo iMacs, but they were released early. They're also placing their bets on Apple's new iTunes movie lineup, but word is that there's something else, something bigger about to be unwrapped.

A New York Times writer has one theory: a living room Mac.

Want to know more? Click "Full Article" to satisfy your curiosity.

Question: What's the difference between a Mac and a PC? Answer: Where do we begin?... That's how Apple's major print campaign to promote the new Mac OS X, all the iApplications we've grown to love on our Macs, and the Mac hardware lineup begins. Apple's been keeping the lid toght on the new Leopard, even as Microsoft rolled out its Vista for the world to see. Now, a 14-page insert in some major publications - like, for example, Entertainment Weekly's September 8 issue - marks what could be the formal and public launch of the OS X ad campaign.

A picture's worth a thousand words - and, thanks to the generosity of a MacDailyNews reader, we have 14 of them - although a video's worth (uh, say at least 24 picture frames a second times 1,000 words =) 24,000 words a second, and we had a couple of videos, albeit they're the "unconfirmed/not officially acknowledged" ones. It's nice to see Apple finally opening up on OS X - even if it's only 14 pictures worth. It's only the start. And we'll be watching out for more.

Now go see scans of all the pages of the ad insert after the jump!

  

According to sources, Apple are going to take advantage of their media event on September 12th to introduce two new iPods and a new iMac. The new iPods includes the second-generation of the popular mini MP3 player that goes by the name of the iPod Nano and its bigger brother, the updated fifth-generation iPod. Apparently, additional members of the media will be invited to attend the September 12th event during this week.

Th event will be big, as Apple has gone through lots of trouble to get worldwide media attention. The event will be held near Apple's Cupterino, Calif. headquarters and will be carried by a private satellite feed to a central London location for members of the European press. The items revealed on the day are expected to be on show at the Apple Expo Paris - which also kicks off on September 12.

The new nano will sport increased capacities and be available in multiple colors with a metal finish. The upgraded iPod, meanwhile, is expected to sport increased capacities at the same price points. As far as the iMac goes, expect to see faster Core 2 Duo processors inside and the addition of a new, high-end 23-inch model which we are interested in. Stay tuned to QJ on September 12th for updates.

The widespread availability of Intel Corp's new desktop processors in the past several weeks is not enough to make Apple introduce new line of iMac computers. We know now why as they confirm previous rumors to sidestep Core 2 Duo and use Merom, the mobile variant of chips, for the MacBook instead.

This month will not be over before they come up with the announcement regarding the next-gen models, including a 23-inch new member of the iMac family. This upgrade will be the third Apple ha made within the last 12 months.

In a related matter, this is not the first time Core 2 Duo was ignored by Apple. The recently unveiled Mac Pro high-end desktops went with Intel's higher-performance Xeon server processor, contrary to earlier reports. Then everybody thought Core 2 Duo will then be going to the iMac line, but here we are, Merom taking the spot.

Merom is said to be capable of up to 2.33GHZ speed, offering a 40 percent increase compared to the previous Core Duo CPU.

Nosy little spies within the walls of Apple have been at their wits' end in trying to figure out what exactly this company has been up to, particularly if the said company will be releasing a new line of products this fall.

Apple is said to be preparing massive air-freight shipments with unconfirmed contents from the Far East this week, and these shipments are expected to reach US shores by maybe the 5th of September. Could it just be a coincidence that the timeframe of these shipments fits nicely with the date when Apple is believed to be ready to start rolling out its first Core 2 Duo-based Macbook Pro notebooks?

Then there's also the fact that the end-of-life notice of the entire iPod Nano line is on September 16th, which is also the same day that Apple's "Free iPod nano" back-to-school promotion is set to expire. This timeframe also coincides with previous rumors regarding the availability of Apple's next-gen iPod Nano. More coincidence?

These are all general speculations at the moment, and until we either get direct word from Apple officials, or we get to find out what's in those boxes they just shipped, there's still no telling as to what kind of strange fruit will really fall from this tree and hit us on the head.

WWDC is a conference for Apple developers that gives the company a chance to show them some love while disseminating important information about the next-gen hardware on Apple's launch horizon. There is no live stream coming from the event floor, so minute to minute coverage (complete with pictures) is all there is until Apple makes the footage available after the event.

Mannymix03, a member of our forums, has been kind enough to make up to the minute posts about the event to keep us all informed about the latest happenings at WWDC 2006. So far, so much information has come out of the event that it would be impossible to detail it all here. I will do my best to give you a brief rundown of the important finds that have been discovered thus far.
 
In his usual style, Steve Jobs kicks off the conference with his enthusiastic rundown of what Apple has in store for us in the near future. He began with his usual optimism by quoting record sales figures and mentioning the unprecedented level of penetration that the company is experiencing in the OS market.

After stroking the developers egos by detailing how much of their work Apple sold the previous year, Jobs goes on to discuss the move to utilize Intel chips and the upcoming move into the next generation of Intel chips known as Core 2 Duo. While all the information about new chips and the smart architecture of the new Mac Pro kept folks interested, the news that kept many on the edge of their seats was about Apple's upcoming OS.

After giving Microsoft some of the spotlight by highlighting the ways the Redmond-based giant has appropriated technology from Apple in the past, the details about the OS (Leopard) were released. Along with 64 bit compatibility at the UNIX layer, meaning you can run both 32 and 64 bit applications smoothly and without the aid of emulation, there was mention of a built in backup feature for the OS called Time machine that backs up "everything" in real time. This new feature is not as cut and dry as it seems however. Apparently, with Time machine you get a robust backup system that is capable of full system restores as well as an ala carte system that allows you to bring back just the files that you need.

When integrated with the Finder disk searcher, we are one step closer to having all of our information stored in a searchable database that is backed up in real time. So now you can search for, and find, a file even if you have already erased it! Wonderful! Even I couldn't lose data if I had a set up like this! One of the things that I found a bit surprising was the fact that every copy of the new OS will ship with Time Machine, Bootcamp, Photobooth and Front Row and Spaces. Each one of these modules provides functionality, like a virtual desktop (Spaces), photo editing and sharing (Photobooth), music, video and other media (Front Row), that is not included with other operating systems like Vista.

Spotlight, Core Animation and Universal Access are additional applications in the works at Apple. Spotlight allows you to search the drives of all of the Macs in your home from any one of them. Core Animation is a powerful program that allows you to deconstruct media into its various parts (video, music,ect) and manipulate it into a new creation. Universal Access is designed to allow all people, whether blind, or otherwise disabled, to use their new Mac with ease. With all the new software being developed and hardware changes galore happening at Apple, you'd think that they would be the ones with all the delays and shoddy releases instead of Microsoft!

Mail, Dashboard and iCal have also been updated and changed! Stationary, Notes and To Do's to mail have been integrated into the new email system that will come with the new OS. Dashboard has over 2500 widgets and with Dashcode users can easily create their own customized widgets. With Web Clip and Dashcode you can turn any part of a website into a widget that will update every day keeping you in the know with your favorites on the web. Then there's iChat and iPhoto, which are integrated and will offer multiple logins, invisibility, animated buddy icons, video recording and tabbed chats.

This is near information overload here so I suggest that you digest this as quickly as you can then can come back and get some more! The conference is more than three days long so you can be certain that Jobs and Co. will continue to hit us with surprises well into this week!

Finally, for those with short attention spans, here is a brief list of the key innovations that were revealed this morning:

• 64-bit
• Core animation
• Universal access
• Enhanced parental controls (who cares about that?)
• iCal
• The complete package
• mail
• Spotlight
• Dashboard
• Web Clip and Dashcode
• Announcing Xcode 3 at the afternoon session
• Spaces
• Time Machine
  

Keep an eye out for updates to follow. For those who got their appetites whet and are looking for ways to satisfy their "Apple" craving, check out the video of the conference's Keynote Address delivered by Apple top honcho, Steve Jobs.