Intel promotion points to the MacBook Pro Core i5

It's a good safe bet Apple will eventually incorporate Intel's latest processors into its MacBook lineup in 2010, though when that will happen is still unknown.

AppleInsider got its hands on an e-mail promotion sent to participants in the IREP (Intel Retail Edge Program) --a training program for Intel sales representatives--that hints something might be coming soon. The e-mail to participants includes this language: "January Prize Draw: Win a MacBook Pro. Pass this month's trainings for 2 chances to win one of 2 MacBook Pro laptops with the accelerated response of an Intel Core i5 processor."

Reached for comments, an Intel spokesman was said, "There was an error on

AppleInsider got its hands on an e-mail promotion sent to participants in the Intel Retail Edge Program and we are investigating."

It could have been a mistake in the language in the e-mail, or--and this seems more likely--the mistake could have been that it was sent out too early. MacBook Pros with Arrandale architecture, which includes the Core i5 processor, have been anticipated for some time, as my colleague Brooke Crothers wrote on Monday. Check out his post for more about what to expect if Apple does indeed add Intel's latest silicon to its notebook lineup.

After the jump is the full text of the Intel Retail Edge Program promotion e-mail.

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Mac Pro Core i7 Coming February 2010?

Mac Pros Intel Core i7

Apple's iPad may not be the only product launch come March, if a recent rumor about new Mac Pros is to be believed.

MacRumors is reporting that "multiple sources" have relayed to Hardmac this week news that the Mac Pro may be getting a serious speed bump "in a matter of weeks," courtesy of Intelss latest and greatest, the Core i7-980X and Core i7-970 six-core processors. The latest partnership between Apple and Intel is expected to (ahem) bear fruit as early as March.

"So, if Apple and Intel are still engaged in a tight partnership," the Hardmac report reads, "Apple might have the exclusivity of such CPU *as the Nehalem Xeon) for a couple of days or weeks. So, if you are waiting for a new Mac Pro to change your current model or purchase your first Mac Pro, then get ready after the second half of February, it should come within the next three weeks."

Of course, such news is hardly a revelation -- the last two revisions of the Mac Pro were also the first to market with their respective Intel chips, as Macrumors notes. Hardmac also speculates that the new hardware will be based on the Mac-edition Radeon HD 5870 graphics cards as well.

Rumors have swirled for months about a Mac Pro based upon Intel's Core i7 980X, also known as the “Gulftown” architecture. With a 32nm processor and a clock speed of 3.33GHz, the chip is the first dual-socket, six-core processor from Intel, and has been widely expected to make a splash on the market in March 2010.

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Apple iPad - Complete features list.

iPad features


Today, Steve Jobs has finally unveiled the Apple's iPad, let's quickly list down the complete list of features that makes the iPad one of the most advanced tablet / eBook reader on the of face of this earth. If you ask me, I was expecting more out of yesterday’s keynotes. Anyways, looks like Apple is going to come back with a bang when the launch the OS 4.0 for iPad, iPhone and iPod Touch.

• Height: 9.56 inches (242.8 mm)
• Width: 7.47 inches (189.7 mm)
• Depth: 0.5 inch (13.4 mm)
• Weight: 1.5 pounds (.68 kg) Wi-Fi model; 1.6 pounds (.73 kg) Wi-Fi + 3G model

You can also check Apple for more on this. Here is the link.

• 9.7-inch (diagonal) LED-backlit glossy widescreen Multi-Touch display with IPS technology
• 1024-by-768-pixel resolution at 132 pixels per inch (ppi)
• Fingerprint-resistant oleophobic coating
• Support for display of multiple languages and characters simultaneously
• Wi-Fi (802.11 a/b/g/n)
• Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR technology
• Wi-Fi + 3G model
• UMTS/HSDPA (850, 1900, 2100 MHz)
• GSM/EDGE (850, 900,1800, 1900 MHz)
• Digital compass
• Assisted GPS (Wi-Fi + 3G model)
• 16GB, 32GB or 64GB flashdrive
• 1GHz Apple A4 custom-designed, high-performance, low-power system-on-a-chip
• Accelerometer
• Ambient Light Sensor
• Frequency response: 20Hz to 20,000Hz
• Audio formats supported: AAC (16 to 320 Kbps), Protected AAC (from iTunes Store), MP3 (16 to 320 Kbps), MP3 VBR, Audible (formats 2, 3, and 4), AppleLossless, AIFF, and WAV
• User-configurable maximum volume limit
• Support for 1024 x 768 with Dock Connector to VGA adapter; 576p and 480p withApple Composite – A/V Cable, 576i and 480i with Apple Composite A/V Cable
• H.264 video up to 720p, 30 fps, Main Profile level 3.1 with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats; MPEG-4 video, up to 2.5 Mbps, 640 by 480 pixels, 30 frames per second, Simple Profile with AAC-LC audio up to 160 Kbps, 48kHz, stereo audio in .m4v, .mp4, and .mov file formats
• Viewable document types: .jpg, .tiff, .gif (images); .doc and .docx (Microsoft Word); .htm and .html (web pages); .key (Keynote); .numbers (Numbers); .pages (Pages); .pdf (Preview and Adobe Acrobat); .ppt and .pptx (Microsoft PowerPoint); .txt (text); .rtf (rich text format); .vcf (contact information); .xls and .xlsx (Microsoft Excel)
• Support for playback of closed-captioned content
• VoiceOver screen reader
• Full-screen zoom magnification
• White on black
• Mono audio
• Built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery
• Up to 10 hours of surfing the web on Wi-Fi, watching video, or listening to music
• Charging via power adapter or USB to computer system
• Dock connector
• 3.5-mm stereo headphone jack
• Built-in speakers
• Microphone
• SIM card tray (Wi-Fi + 3G model only)

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iPad Fact: No Multitasking, Notifications, TV Subscriptions, Camera or Textbooks

Apple's iPad Fact List

iPad is surely a winner, but despite the accessories, wi-fi and 3G options, there were quite a few things that we do not get. Hopefully OS 4.0 brings a few more rich features. TiPB (The iPhone Blog) has an interesting post of list of things that Apple might have missed. Check it out:

- Camera. Back, front-facing, or otherwise. There was no camera shown off and none visible. While this fits the "big apps iPod touch" metaphor, and allows Apple to do the typical "start limited, add functionality over time" strategy, we still wanted one now.

- Multitasking systems. Apple only showed one iPhone app or iPad app running at once. We've heard it’s running iPhone OS 3.2, and multi-tasking might be an iPhone (and iPad) OS 4.0 feature, but again, we wanted to see it now.

- Notifications. Did Apple show any form of notifications for email, apps, or otherwise? (Badges aside)? Again, we're hoping a better version is coming with 4.0.

- Textbooks. We saw the New York Times app, we saw iBooks for novels, but we didn’t see the much-talked-about textbooks… yet. (We’re guessing they’re coming soon though.)

- Verizon Provider. Only GSM/HSPA networking was announced. No CDMA, which would be required for Verizon to support the models shown off so far.

- TV Subscriptions. While print media is jumping all over themselves to get on the Apple's iPad, TV continues to show nothing approaching forward thinking. Not surprised, but hope that changes.

- Complex multitouch gestures. So far, the multi-touch gestures look like the ones on the iPhone, no swipe 3 fingers and twist in a circle to launch a document. Phew.

- Tethering. No word on whether the Wi-Fi only version of the iPad will tether to your existing iPhone (which would be nice), or if the 3G iPad will allow you to tether another device (we won’t hold our breath).

- HDMI out. Where’s our big fat video out cable so we don't need an Apple TV?

- Cloud. No mention of enhanced cloud-based services. Apple didn’t even mention MobileMe, never mind the rumored iTunes.com streaming media.

Apple's iPad

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Macbook Pro 2010: Arrandale Core i5 Processors?

Macbook Pro 2010 Rumors: A video blog about the rumored Arrandale processor from intel, core i5 with benchmarks vs. the old core 2 duo at the same clock speed.

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Microsoft CEO signs MacBook Pro - running Windows, of course

While Microsoft CEO Steve Ballmer visit to Trevecca Nazarene University in Nashville this week, He put his John Hancok on a Macbook Pro, and the event was captured on video.

While Ballmer meeting with a group of students, one of them asked the multi-billionaire: "Mr. Ballmer, would you sign my laptop?" The inquiry earned laughs from the group, as well as as the Microsoft executive. "It's got Windows on it," the student said, "I promise."

"Oh yeah," Ballmer said sarcastically, before taking the MacBook Pro and signing it with a marker. The autograph came with a note: "Need a new one?"

"It's all yours," Ballmer said as he handed the Apple machine back to the student.

Ballmer was in town for the Nashville Technology Council's annual meeting. The one-day visit from the Microsoft executive was part of a multi-city tour intended to promote the company as one that can solve problems for specific industries, the university said.

During his trip, Ballmer met with students from local colleges and universities, which is where he encountered the MacBook Pro. The full video of the event is embedded below:

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Might Apple sell iPhone 4G via Verizon?

This is a big news coming to all those unhappy AT&T customers who are on iPhone. Its rumored that along with Apple Tablet (aka iSlate) big launch at next weeks media event, Apple might also announce plans to sell iPhone 4G via Verizon starting June. Peter Misek, analyst of Canaccord Adams has shared this interesting bit of news and Tech Trader Daily has shared this interesting scoop:

In a research note, Misek thinks there will actually be “two more things,” in addition to the tablet announcement.

1. He expects the unveiling of iPhone OS 4.0.

2. He thinks the company will announce plans to sell the iPhone 4G via Verizon starting in June 2010.

According to Misek, Apple’s supply chain is already prepping for mass production of a new iPhone to ship late in the calendar second quarter, operating on the Verizon network on the CDMA network, but with support as well for the European GSM and HSPA standards. He says and updated 4G phone – he calls it the 4G S – with LTE support will follow in June 2011. Misek says he has no info on pricing for the new phone.

Misek adds that the new iPhone 4.0 OS will support OS-wide multi-touch gestures and multi-tasking, simplify navigation and may offer a new way to sync contacts and calendar apps; he says the OS update likely will be available only for 3G and 3G S phones.

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