Apple Releases Firmware to Activate PowerNap on 2011 MacBook Airs

One of the new features found in OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion is PowerNap. PowerNap was introduced at WWDC 2012 and allows your Mac to continue to perform tasks such as receiving email and updating software even when it's sleeping. 

Apple lists the full capabilities in this Knowledge Base document. Capabilities include getting new Mail, syncing Calendar, Contact and Reminder changes, and more. When plugged into power, your Mac can download software updates and make backups with Time Capsule. 

Apple only supports PowerNap on 2011 MacBook Airs and beyond as well as the 2012 Retina MacBook Pro. The capability should move over to more of Apple's laptops as Apple makes a full transition to SSD. Built-in flash storage is listed as one of the requirements of the technology. Apple just released a firmware update that enables this functionality in the 2011 MacBook Airs, while support for the Retina MacBook Pro is said to be "coming soon".

[Source: MacRumors]

Ten things you might not know about Mountain Lion

I've written about developer Saied Ghaffari and his company It's About Time before; well, they have another new Mac app that's pretty amazing, and the great thing is that TUAW readers can get a free sample of the app right here, right now.  The new app is called Hello Tips, Tricks & Secrets (US$1.99) and it's full of OS X tips that you might not know -- including a bunch of new tips especially for OS X Mountain Lion.  Saied made ten tips available in the sample web app that I've embedded below, but there are over a hundred tips in the Mac app, all presented in an easy-to-understand video format. Give the example below a try (click the Next button to start cycling through the tips), and then consider buying the app. It's a great way to learn some tips that you can show off to your friends and relatives, and they'll end up thinking you're an amazing Mac whiz!

[Source: Tuaw]

OS X Mountain Lion Launching Tomorrow, July 25

In Apple's earnings press release issued just moments ago, Apple CEO Tim Cook officially announced that OS X Mountain Lion will indeed be launching tomorrow, July 25.

“We’re thrilled with record sales of 17 million iPads in the June quarter,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve also just updated the entire MacBook line, will release Mountain Lion tomorrow and will be launching iOS 6 this Fall. We are also really looking forward to the amazing new products we’ve got in the pipeline.”

OS X Mountain Lion will be priced at $19.99 and will be available via the Mac App Store. 

Apple followed a similar tactic last year, announcing at the start of its July earnings conference call that OS X Lion would launch the following day.

[Source: MacRumors]

Apple Reports Results for Q3 2012: $8.8 Billion Profit on $35 Billion in Revenue

Apple today announced financial results for the second calendar quarter and third fiscal quarter of 2012. For the quarter, Apple posted revenue of $35.0 billion and net quarterly profit of $8.8 billion, or $9.32 per diluted share, compared to revenue of $28.57 billion and net quarterly profit of $7.31 billion, or $7.79 per diluted share, in the year-ago quarter.

This will be considered a big "miss" for Apple, as it is dramatically weaker than what analysts were expecting. The company did beat its own guidance, however. Last quarter, Apple said it would make $34 billion in revenue and earnings of $8.67 per share.

Gross margin was 42.8 percent, compared to 41.7 percent in the year-ago quarter, and international sales accounted for 62 percent of the quarter's revenue. Apple's quarterly profit and revenue were both company records for the June quarter. Apple also declared a new quarterly dividend of $2.65 per share payable on August 16 to shareholders as of the close of trading on August 13.

Quarterly iPhone unit sales reached 26.0 million, up 28 percent from the year-ago quarter, and the company sold 17.0 million iPads, up 84 percent year-over-year. Apple sold 4.0 million Macintosh computers, a unit increase of 2 percent over the year-ago quarter. The company also sold 6.8 million iPods, representing a 10 percent unit decline year-over-year.

“We’re thrilled with record sales of 17 million iPads in the June quarter,” said Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO. “We’ve also just updated the entire MacBook line, will release Mountain Lion tomorrow and will be launching iOS 6 this Fall. We are also really looking forward to the amazing new products we’ve got in the pipeline.”

Apple's guidance for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2012 includes expected revenue of $34 billion and earnings per diluted share of $7.65.

Apple will provide live streaming of its Q3 2012 financial results conference call at 2:00 PM Pacific, and MacRumors will update this story with coverage of the conference call highlights.

[Source: MacRumors]

Apple to Update iPod Touch with 4-Inch Display, A5 Chip, Buffed Aluminum Rear Shell?

In line with a fresh report from KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claiming that Apple will be updating the iPod touch later this year with an "all-new" design using the same in-cell touch display technology rumored to be used in the next iPhone, Japanese blogMacotakara reports that Apple will also be moving the iPod touch to a 4-inch display from the current 3.5-inch display. Apple is otherwise said to be basing the iPod touch's internals on the iPhone 4S, although the case will include a "buffed aluminum" rear shell rather than the glass back of the iPhone 4S or the mirrored stainless steel of the current iPod touch.

According to asian source, new iPod touch (5th generation) will have 4 inch LCD which is the same size with coming iPhone 5.

CPU or other spec is considered to be same with iPhone 4S, and has different back-case design, which will be not mirror polished but buffed alminum one. And it seems to be prepared black and white color model.

The report's source also indicates that there is an additional hole in the lower portion of the rear shell, separate from the camera found on the current model. It is, however, currently unknown what the function of the hole will be.

[Source: MacRumors]

Apple's New Barcelona Retail Store Opens July 28

Apple today announced that its new Passeig de Gràcia retail store in Barcelona, Spain will officially open this Saturday, July 28 at 10:00 AM.

The store has gained some notice for Apple's use of mosaics in the store's logo and construction barriers honoring the style of Catalan architect Antoni Gaudí, with the mosaics being made up of pieces of icons from Apple's iOS apps.

[Source: MacRumors]

Another Report that the Next iPhone is Already in Production in China

Digitimes seemingly confirms a previous report that the next generation iPhone has already started production in China.

Pegatron has begun production of a new version of the Apple iPhone at its factory in Shanghai, eastern China, according to industry sources in Taiwan.

The newspaper cites "industry sources" for the knowledge.

Earlier this month, Japanese blog Macotakara first reported that the next generation iPhone had already gone into production. These reports do somewhat conflict with a BGR report that the next generation iPhone is still in an engineering verification test. BGR believes that the new iPhone will carry 1GB of RAM as well as both LTE and NFC support. Regardless, it seems there are ongoing signs that the next iPhone is approaching. 

The next generation iPhone will likely launch in the September or October -- approximately one year after the launch of the iPhone 4S.

[Source: MacRumors]

Qantas will equip some planes with iPads later this year

Australian airline Qantas has followed the lead of some other airlines in cutting traditional in-flight entertainment systems in favor of tablets. Starting in the fourth quarter of 2012, selected Boeing 767 planes will include an iPad in every seat. Unlike other airlines, which generally choose to pre-load content, Qantus will give customers streaming access to 200 hours of audio and television, using an in-flight wireless system it's been testing since early this year. Qantas says that one plane is already fitted with the iPads, and The Canberra Times reports it will be expanded mostly on domestic east coast flights and flights to Perth.

As with Scoot and Alitalia, Qantas is likely making the change in part for a very practical reason: fuel savings. Removing bulky entertainment systems can significantly cut the weight of an aircraft, making it more efficient. For now, most of these companies are phasing in tablets gradually, but it's becoming less unusual to see them adopted.

[Source: TheVerge]

Retina MacBook Pro Shipping Speeds Up

Just a little over a week since shipping estimates for new Retina MacBook Pro orders through Apple's online store saw their first improvement from 3-4 weeks to 2-3 weeks, timeframes have again been reduced. As with the previous improvement, the change has first appeared in Apple's Asia-Pacific markets, which have seen shipping estimates drop to 1-2 weeks.

Shipping estimates in Apple's other main distribution regions of the Americas and Europe/Middle East/Africa are holding steady at 2-3 weeks for the time being, but they will almost certainly see similar drops to the 1-2 week timeframe in the very near future.

Shipping estimates for the Retina MacBook Pro peaked at 3-4 weeks roughly 36 hours after the models were unveiled at last month's Worldwide Developers Conference, with estimates remaining at that level until last week's drop to 2-3 weeks. Availability at other online and brick-and-mortar retailers is also improving, in many cases beating Apple's online store estimates for stock models, but the company's online store is the primary source for customized orders. 

Update: Estimates in Apple's online stores in the Americas have also moved to 1-2 weeks.

Note: The speed of delivery remains at 2-3 weeks in the UK & others parts of Europe.

[Source: MacRumors]

Retina Macbook Pro Shipping Faster!

Since the launch of the Macbook Pro with retina display, early customers have been experiencing long waits for their deliveries. According to MacRumors…

"For the first time since its launch just over one month ago, Apple's Retina MacBook Pro has begun to see improvements in shipping estimates for new orders placed through the company's online store. The improvement has appeared first in Apple's Asia-Pacific markets, which have seen estimates move from 3-4 weeks to 2-3 weeks." 

13-inch Retina MacBook Pro Incoming

When the 15-inch retina display MacBook Pro was revealed, we all looked on in amazement. This new super high res beast from Apple was amazing. What followed was an influx of rumours and questions about when the rest of the range (including the iMac) would get the retina love.

It seems that we could be seeing a 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro as early as October 2012, according to KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo who recently revised his prediction from August to October.

In a recent article from DigiTimes, it seems that many big players are denying the rumours.

Rumors are that several notebook brand vendors have delayed or decreased their shipments with Apple also being named as having postponed mass shipments of a planned 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display; however, sources from upstream suppliers of Apple have refuted the rumors saying their supply status is stable.

Of course, Apple is as tight-lipped as ever. Personally, I think that the 13-inch Retina will definitely happen during 2012, as it is a natural progression. It is also very likely that these super high resolution displays will also appear in the MacBook Air at some stage and maybe even the iMac during 2013.

A Trip Down (Apple) Memory Lane

Back in the day when Geekanoids was born, my primary focus was on all things Apple. In fact, the name I was better known by back then was 'davomrmac' due to my involvement with the Apple Discussions forum. My day-to-day work was that of a graphic designer and supporting the Mac & PC systems around me. I was the 'gadget man' that people turned to for advice.

My very first written review was the Tempo iPod Sports Wrap from Griffin in August 2006, follow by my first YouTube video, the Disko Case which can be seen below.

From quite an early stage I need to say a big thank you to Apple, they saw what I was trying to achieve and supported me with review products and even early access to some of their store openings. Both the Geekanoids 2nd Gen iPod Nano and 3rd Gen iPod Nano (see video below, no laughing please) were loaned to me by Apple. I remember jumping for joy when that first Nano was delivered. Getting recognition for the big 'A' was awesome. Of course it was a shame that the Nanos had to be returned after the loan period, but this is how the business works. It was the start of a great relationship that was followed by Apple TV's, laptops, software & numerous other devices. I felt very honoured and still do to this day.

Over the years of covering Apple product launches, some of my most memorable news moments are the Store Openings. These are really cool events, not product focussed at all, simply focussing on like-minded people celebrating a new beginning for a new store & staff. I have met many awesome people at the openings too, including some that I keep in touch with to this day. 
The photo to the left is from the Apple Store Bental Centre, which opened back on Saturday 17th February 2007. I was given the privilege of being allowed in the store before it opened to the public, to take up a prime position to take photos. It was so exciting seeing the first customer walking down the aisle. You can read all about it here.

Since attending & covering many of these events, I have thoroughly enjoyed all the new launches, including of course the iPhone & iPad excitement. To this day… I still get excited when something new is announced. There is nothing quite like opening a new Apple product & producing a video to share with everyone. I owe a big thank you to all my viewers, without whom the Geekanoids Channel would not exist. I also owe an epically big thank you to Apple for not only making great products, but also for believeing in Geekanoids.