This could be linked to another rumor, indicating that Appel could use NVidia GeForce cards in its forthcoming Macs. We can imagine that Apple has been looking for the GPU able to power 2D at Retina HD resolution level, without necessary killing battery lifetime on MBP. It could very well be that TSMC is also making this move in order to push forward in its seduction dance to attract Apple, thinking it could get teh market for Ax chips production, and become a new partner for Apple.

A notice to all of our users and supporters

We began the Perian project over 6 years ago. We wanted to simplify viewing your content. Our team has attained that goal and with that in mind, Perian will be retired soon. Our stewardship has been a blast but it's time for all of us to move on.

From the beginning we kept Perian simple. Our preferences were minimal, updating was easy, and we gradually grew the product to add in extras like subtitles and different formats. We've contributed a lot. Today, Perian stands as complete as it ever will be under our stewardship.

There are some projects that we never got to. As an example, we would have liked an official, flexible, and well-documented import API to speed up MKV. We hit a brick wall there. Still, we reached a great stopping point and Perian's installed userbase proves how valuable this tool became to so many people.

Starting 90 days after the final Perian release, we will no longer provide support. We'll wrap up our loose ends, pack up our bags, and move on to new and exciting projects.

Here's what our roadmap looks like:

• We will soon release the final version of Perian, including all the fixes we've worked on since the last release. It may -- or may not -- work on 10.8.
• We will post the source code to either Google Code or Github.

Let's thank them for their great job and we are looking forward to hearing from their new projects.. 

Originally identified on the Score M model, a smartphone dedicated to north america markets, the security vulnerability consist of a command that can be called with a password (identical in all models), giving roo right access to the hacker... in other words, your mobile phone is his mobile phone.

The vulnerability haas bow been identified in a second ZTE smartphone; aka ZTE Skate, distributed in Europe under different names: Orange Monte Carlo, SFR Staraddict...

While ZTE acknowledged the problem and promised to work on a solution, there is no date provided to fix this vulnerability. Let's hope that it comes fast as one would not want to imagine the damage if a hacker manage to distribute an application making use of this security hole.

A small reminder for owners of jailbreaked iPhone, it also opens a security hole, as it gives access to a root user with a defined password ("alpine"), so remember to change this password, especially if you install an OpenSSH package for remote access.

Goals and expectation are huge, as the OLED is expected to quickly replace all LCD-based technologies. If the R&D would cost a lot, the production itself could quickly come down to a rather low cost (most components are already available and cheap, OLED can be printed on different supports, etc.)

While the competition was trying to catch up on the Ultrabook, Apple launched the iPad, demonstrating that the concept of tablet was viable is properly thought and designed; as couple years before Microsoft failed to create a market for such device. There again, Appel created a new segment, and competitors try to follow. Then Apple, moved to the Alu enclosure for all its products, making it possible to provide rigid, light, recyclable and durable products. Then came the Retina HD display on iPhone first, then on iPad, and we can now, following yesterday news and dissection of Mountain Lion code, easily imagine that such display will find their ways in the forthcoming MacBook Pro and iMac. Considering popularity of Apple, it is very likely that the company did not have much difficulties to find a partner among companies producing TV/computer display.

Such display, associated with the last evolution of MAc OS X could again create a gap between Mac models and competitors. So, even if the next generation MBP will drop the optical drive, Ethernet and the FireWire, there will be enough companies to offer Thunderbolt adaptors to be able to make the bridge towards an entire wireless world (not that I personally support it). The 802.11 ac is in theory faster than Gigabit Ethernet (1.3 Gbit/s vs. 1 Gbit/s). We will of course never reach 100 MB/s with the 802.11 ac hotspot on the routine basis, but rather 50-60 MB/s, pending you are too far away from a compatible wireless station.

1. Loewe owns a huge patent portfolio for signal treatment and information transfer, terminal management, as well as display technology, filters, analogic and digital flaw treatments, encoding, 3D recording, HD processing, low power sleeping mode, etc. 
2. Part of those patents have claims extending their application to telecommunication services, auto, etc. 
3. They have the know-how related to those patents,
4. They have a strong affinity for Apple products, philosophy and history
5. They even have patent on game controller, such as : - http://www.freepatentsonline.com/4210329.html

All patents are recorded to the following name: Loewe Opta.
http://worldwide.espacenet.com/searchResults?page=3&PA=LOEWE+OPTA&DB=EPODOC&locale=fr_FR&ST=advanced&compact=false
So, this is not really surprising if Appel wants to enter the TV business that it starts talking to Loewe.
With such deal Apple would put its hands on a nice patent portfolio, and enter the market with some support and strength to better compete with giants in the field. 

Indeed, to avoid paying royalties, it might be cheaper to acquire the company owning them, as Google did it by acquiring Motorola Mobility. But we should also keep in mind that teh Google TV was a failure, so being strong and famous does not mean you will be successful all the time. 

In the last build, you can find hints of forthcoming Macs equipped with Retina D displays. Look at the file /System/LIbrary/Displays/Overrides/DisplayVendorID-610/DisplayProductID-a00e and a00f.
They define additional parameters for some monitors when they are not provided or available from the monitor itself. 
We can see comments on new resolution such as:

3840x2400 internal 16x10 1920x1200

which can be translated as "this is the definition in 3840x2400 for an internal monitor display featuring a resolution of 1920x1200", and they are plenty of such description
There are also standard definition for monitor:

  internal panel low-resolution modes (game compatibility)

So probably at least 2 modes: "low-res" and "hi-res".

another hint of forthcoming Retina display....And as there are 2 files, we can conclude that there will be at least 2 Macs with such resolutions:

This is indeed really compelling, as there is no graphic cards able to support 3D games at such extreme resolution and a 1920x1200 will most likely be the default "high-res". However, it remains to be seen if such Retina display will be installed only on iMAc, or if power consumption will be satisfying enough to have MBP equipped with such display. 

If you look at the price list, the entry level will cost 900 USD while the end-end model will be charged... 3,500 USD. Clearly, Apple has plenty of choice to FINALLY update the Mac Pro models.

Of course, Intel is already working on the nest step, 14 nm, and expect to be ready in 2013, as it is already in development. Beyond 2015, Intel is already foreseeing, 10, 7 and even 5 nm engraving:

In fact, Intel would initiate works on an engraving process about 10 years before it enters full production mode. With such communication, it becomes more and more obvious that Intel has a huge technology advantage with its competitors, beyond the engraving process itself. In the coming years, if AMD and other founders do not react efficiently, it will become more and more difficult to catch up with Intel... Maybe, it is already too late?

The prototype that the source has seen was not offering any Ethernet or FireWire ports. Instead it had 2-3 USB 3.0, as well as 2 Thunderbolt ports. REgarding display, Apple would offer, at least in option, Retina HD display.

As usual with each product update, Apple will make happy and unhappy Mac users. dropping FireWire, slower than USB 3.0, will automatically push all Firewire peripherals to the bin, or required users to upgrade to the corresponding USB 3.0 devices or even more expensive, thunderbolt version. For Ethernet, this is a more discussing option, as wired internet connection are still the default system in corporate where wireless is not available for infrastructure or security reasons. Of course, Apple could come up, or third-parties, with docking stations or external display, offering FireWire and Ethernet, through the Thunderbolt port.

Adobe has released Adobe Photoshop CS6 (paid upgrade), which addresses these vulnerabilities. We are in the process of resolving these vulnerabilities in Adobe Photoshop CS5.x, and will update this Security Bulletin once the patch is available. Users may monitor the latest information on the Adobe Product Security Incident Response Team blog athttp://blogs.adobe.com/psirt or by subscribing to the RSS feed at http://blogs.adobe.com/psirt/atom.xml.

Despite their size factor, such SSD do not have to feel ashamed when compared to their 2.5" brothers, despite the maximal storage space: 128 GB. Performance are on the high-end thanks to a SandForce controller and fast Flash memory chips: 560 MB/s in reading and 530 MB/s in writing mode. The number of IOPS is 91,000.
Let's expect that such announcement will push Apple to refresh its MacBook Air models, and why not adopt such mSATA SSD, as the current units are comparatively slow and more expensive.

To be adopted, customers will need not only 802.11 ac routers or hotspots, but also computers with the compatible chips. So far, there are no computers compatible beside few exceptions.
Couple of month ago, rumors were indicating that Apple wanted to quickly adopt this new wireless format. So, as Apple did not released the new Ivy Bridge MacBook Pro, we might enjoy 802.11 ac soon in MBP. OF course, Apple will also have to update its Airport products.

As shown on the Australian Apple Store, the original text: "WiFi+4G" has been changed to "Wi-Fi+Cellular". In other other countries where there is no 4G networks deployed yet, and just being deployed, Apple did not change specifications yet.  

With 1,000 employees in 50 different countries, teh company has been facing a difficult year in 2011, but 2012 seems to be better. Apple could have offered 87.2 million Euro to acquire Loewe, and the offer could be accepted in the coming hours. A decision should be taken before May, 18th.

It is a bit surprising to see Apple acquiring such company. In the past, Apple has been acquiring companies for their associated patent portfolio and software/technologies. Here despite great design, Loewe does not produce its display (mostly from Sharp), and its Airplay products are excellent but not hte only ones on hte market. So, Apple might want to acquire the distribution network a,d strengthen its access to distribution channels for rits forthcoming iTV. We mioght have to wait for the rumored iTV to better understand the reason behind such acquisition.

Dropbox just launched its "dropquest", an enigma-based game, rather difficult, inspired by the MIT. The winner will be granted 100 GB storage space for lifetime, second and third, will get 20 and 1 GB respectively. If you want to give it a try: 

https://www.dropbox.com/dropquest2012/

PS: if you find the first enigma easy, wait a bit, as the following ones are more difficult.

IT seems that it follows in Europe the same trend already seen in USA. Of course, this is also driven by the fact that customers choice might now be more oriented towards tablets, then notebooks. The longer than usual delay in Apple catalog for launching new desktop and notebook models can also strongly contribute to this attrition of sales. Let's hope that this is only a temporary effect.

The company launched this new model in Shanghai during a press conference, including their design guru: Stacy Wolff.

At one point, a journalist asked if HP was not getting a bit too much inspired by the Apple MacBook Air and would not be fearing potential legal problems. The answer came in two waves. The first one, strongly denying that HP would copy Apple. Teh second claiming that there were as many similarities than differences, such as Magnesium enclosure instead of Alu, audio from Dr BEat instead of Harman, etc. For the design, it is apparently technical specifications linked to components that can explain such similar shape...

This is of course not he first Ultrabook to have a design and a look very similar to the Apple MAcBook Air, and Apple will most likely not initiate any legal actions. Somehow it is also the proof that this was the best possible design if everybody is trying to imitate it...

It is now Seagate to announced a very similar product, based on the same interface. It will unveil today during the SCSI conference taking place in California. The goal is always the same: ensure that this interface can offer 600 MB/s transfer speed, as none of the plate-based HD are able to reach such figures.

So, both Seagate and Hitachi are targeting the Pro user market to capitalize on this technology.

With "iCloud not enough, try Skydrive" Microsoft is promoting its online storage solution for users willing to share files and documents with its Office suite. In addition, the company shows that skyDrive is compatible with much more devices than iCloud.
We knew that the competition around the "cloud storage" will take place, but we were not expecting it to take place so fast, and not necessarily to have Microsoft launching hostilities against Apple as its first target... or maybe because too many windows users are having an iPhone and got corrupted then by the iCloud, leading to the purchase of a Mac as the next step...

For the MacBook Air, 17 W TDP models will be selected by Apple (U=ultra low voltage). In this category, the Core i7-3667U is rather impressive with its 2 GHz default frequency but able to jump to 3.2 GHz in Turbo mode. Of course, it has a price: 346 USD. This can also explain why it is difficult to reduce massively the price of Ultrabook based on ultra low voltage CPU from Intel, the cheapest one: 225 USD.

The IZGO technology, standing for Indium gallium zinc oxide, allows Sharp to produce transistors where silicone has been replace by this alloy. As a consequence, transistors offers much higher performance levels, so one can reduce the size for the same efficiency.
If you consider a 9.7" display, in 2048x1536, there are 9.5 million transistors interfering with backlighting, and that's why Apple had to double the number of LED to compensate, impacting at the end the lifetime of the battery. With a IZGO display, with smaller transistors, Appel could have kept its original LED backlighting system, and we could have gain extra hours of use of our favorite tablets.

Most users are indeed considering that when intensively used, the battery does not last that long, and we know that it has trouble to reload while being used for games. All those points refer to power consumption, and LED backlighting is hte main reason. So we can expect the iPad 4 to have a IZGO display and a 4 core CPU (most likely also dropped because it would not allow enough battery hours with the enhanced LED backlighting).

Of course, if you see the update coming up, we advise you to install it as soon as possible since hackers are now attacking Mac users that still too often wrongly feel invulnerable to any kind of attack.

This update contains improvements and bug fixes, including:

• Improves reliability of using HDR option for photos taken using the Lock Screen shortcut
• Addresses bugs that could prevent the new iPad from switching between 2G and 3G networks
• Fixes bugs that affected AirPlay video playback in some circumstances
• Improved reliability for syncing Safari bookmarks and Reading List
• Fixes an issue where 'Unable to purchase' alert could be displayed after successful purchase

For information on the security content of this update, please visit this website:

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1222

According to Digitimes Apple might be thinking to follow the same strategy with the MacBook Air. The company could launch for Q3 a entry-level MacBook Air model aggressively priced at 799 USD, most likely to compete with cheaper (but often less power and more "cheap" design and construction Ultrabook). 

As Apple never sacrifice quality for price except for previosu generation products, it is a bit unclear what would be this entry-level MBA. 

It highly depends on the next generation MacBook Air to be released in June. If they come with larger SSD, then the entry-level model will offer only 64 GB storage space. It might also well be that Apple will wait for Q3 to get enough Core i3 chips, less powerful but also cheaper, than the ultra low voltage i5 version .
It is quite clear that such model could become a hit for students, right on time for the back to school season; but it could also compete with the iPad...