MacBook

Combiform wants to change the way you view console gaming

Traditional console gaming never truly engages those participating in the game. Those playing the game on any given console, even a Wii, never actively work together or play a game in a given space away from the couch. Combiform looks to shatter conventional gaming with its new handheld-console system that even interacts with iPhone. The system, which is a unique patented technology, encourages multimodal interaction because it is not only a toy, but also a video game accessory with exciting possibilities...

Apple granted 36 patents covering Siri mic icon design, Lightning, widgets and more

Apple this morning has received patents covering more than three dozen different technologies, ranging from the obvious to the obscure. The company's patent filings as of late are even inspiring parody treatments like the Apple alphabet patent. Among today's grants are the filings describing ways to interface sports equipment with your iPhone, iPad or iPod, patents for Mac OS X dashboards and the MacBook keyboard and others seeking to protect icons and designs of popular software features.

Most people know of Apple's long-time association with Nike and the Nike+ app that records your running routine. Earlier this year, the Cupertino, California company filed a patent to go one step farther, interfacing your iPhone with a treadmill, or other workout machine at the local gym. Now it appears that patent was granted. But, wait, there's plenty more gadgets and gizmos Apple wants protected...

Apple picks new battery supplier, drops Samsung

Apple has chosen two China-based battery companies to supply the iPad and MacBook, says a Friday report. Amperex Technology Limited and Tianjin Lishen Battery would replace Samsung SDI, a subsidiary of the South Korean firm that is both Apple's chief rival and largest supplier. The report is just the latest indicating Samsung and Apple are reconsidering their close relationship.

As the two smartphone giants attempt to out-compete each other in the courtroom and store shelves, Samsung's role appears to be shifting from major supplier to important manufacturer...

Apple launches 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display

As expected, Apple here at San Jose's California Theatre shared some news regarding Mac notebooks. AS MacBooks continue to outgrow the PC industry sixth year in a row, they remain both the leading desktop and notebook in the United States. Not one to be standing still, the company just took the wraps off a 13-inch MacBook Pro with a whopping 2,600-by-1,600 pixel resolution, or four times the number of pixels...

The Lance Daypack helps you organize your mobile life while on the go

To begin, I will start with a disclaimer. I love backpacks, own five of them. Each of the packs has a specific purpose and I'm always on the lookout for another specific bag to fit an individual need. When approached to review the ECBC Lance B7103 daypack, I jumped at the opportunity because I was looking for a workhorse backpack for my electronic gadgets.

Catching a glimpse of the internal pocket system in the B7103, it was love at first sight, but it faded quickly. After spending a weekend on the road, some very excellent features of the bag made mobile life more organized, but some specific features seemed to be missing...

Apple to exclusively sell 9-pin dock connector adapter

Apple could cash in to the tune of $100 million soon after it unveils upcoming devices with the new 9-pin dock connector. The Cupertino, Calif. company intends to be initially the only game in town for Apple fans, exclusively selling the adapters at $10 a pop, reports say.

The company will also sell Apple-branded USB cables for $19 each. This is in line with the MagSafe to Magasafe 2 converter cable Apple sells for $9.99 and the iPhone Micro USB adapter for $11 and $13.

Next-gen MacBook could wirelessly charge 2013 iPhones, iPads

Chip giant Intel is working on a new technology for its 2013 Ultrabook portable platform that is said to incorporate wireless charging between notebooks and mobile devices, per a new report out of Asia based on sources from the upstream supply chain.

As MacBooks use Intel's chips, Apple could adopt this upcoming technology from Intel to enable wireless charging between future MacBooks and your iPhone, iPad or iPod touch...

Poll: which WWDC announcement are you most excited about?

Apple's boss Tim Cook is about to take the stage at San Francisco's Moscone West an hour from now to deliver Apple's mobile and desktop strategy for the next twelve months. You're probably on the edge of your seat as we are, wondering what will get announced and whether there will be an "one more thing" moment that will blow your pants off.

More importantly, all eyes are on Apple as the industry awaits to see how Cupertino responds to strong competition in the mobile space. So we just put together this little poll and are asking you, our readers, to pick one WWDC announcement that you're most excited for...

Apple Store goes down ahead of WWDC keynote

That's it folks, the Apple Store has just gone offline ahead of today's WWDC keynote, which begins in a little bit more than two hours. Are you feeling the excitement yet?

As the big event approaches, possible specs of Apple's new MacBooks have leaked, indicating that MacBook Airs will come with 4GB/8GB RAM flavors and a 512GB SSD option. SSD in these new Airs should use SATA3 and some of them are said to be based on Samsung’s crazy fast 830 series.

New MacBook Pro and Mac Pros are also in the cards and the AirPort Express base station is said to be due for an upgrade as well...

Turn your iPhone into a laptop with Clambook

With a dual-core processor, 512MB of RAM and Wi-Fi capabilities, the iPhone 4S is more of a portable computer than a cell phone. And the folks at Clamcase are looking to capitalize on that.

Introducing the Clambook, a MacBook Air look-a-like laptop shell that aims to turn your iPhone into a portable computer, complete with a 16:9 laptop display and a full-size keyboard...

Cook on toaster-refrigerator dilemma and why iPad and MacBook won’t converge

Apple reported its monster first-quarter earnings yesterday and CEO Tim Cook updated investors on a conference call with various tidbits.

He also addressed the upcoming Windows 8 operating system which was designed to scale easily from tablets to notebooks to desktop systems.

Even as the likes of Huawei allegedly jump on the Windows 8 bandwagon, Cook thinks the operating system won't succeed at uniting the two worlds.

Specifically, Cook likened Microsoft's strategy to a toaster-refrigerator convergence that would never work.

Fielding a question from Citigroup's Richard Gardner, Apple's boss said that yes, even though iPad and MacBook could converge, such a combination would never work because of the many tradeoffs customers would not be willing to put up with.

Plus, he said it would make little sense as the two products cater to different needs and consumers use them differently...