Technofile: So Steve Jobs has given his much previewed speech to Apple developers and no, there was no new video iPod or upgraded Nano announced. What he did say was that Apple is replacing its desktop computer, the G5 PowerMac with a new Intel-chip-based machine, writes Mike Butcher
The new Mac Pro is based on Intel's Xeon Core 2 Duo chips that run at speeds of up to 3GHz.
The desktop will hold up to a massive 2 terabytes of storage in four hard drives and a base configuration will come in at around €2,500. But the machines will have lots of configurations to suit all tastes.
For the rest of the Mac community, there was news of the new Mac operating system X "Leopard".
This will feature a number of new improvements including automatic backup of data (with a very nice "time machine" interface), better looking e-mail, clever iChat enhancements, and greater parental controls.
But this has not stopped the Apple rumour-mill. So Technofile is happy to play the game by reporting that a touchscreen-based variant of the iPod "may" be released in November. And you "may" see an Apple-made mobile phone early next year. Then again you "may" also give up bothering with these rumours . . .
n Speakers for portable devices and MP3 players are not usually that interesting. But with the MP3 player turning into today's at-home Hi-Fi, you'll want something more than earphones. If you want something that sounds good, looks good and won't nuke your wallet, you could try out the new Philips SBA1500 portable speaker system (pictured). It comes with an integrated amplifier, powerful speaker drivers and a "bass pipe" which is aimed at giving you a more realistic sound than the average portable speaker. And it all clips together into a portable package. The system will work with anything you can plug the standard 3.5mm plug into, with or without batteries.
Available later this month, they are priced around €37.
• Meanwhile, more chatter is emerging about Microsoft's "iPod-killer", Zune, but not much is complimentary. According to one rumour, early models may not play videos, despite having large screens and wireless capabilities. But I seriously doubt Microsoft could be as stupid to release a hobbled media player, just as Apple brings out updated products. Then again . . .
• Logitech is bringing out four new products designed for mobile use: Premium Notebook Headset, QuickCam for Notebooks Pro, QuickCam for Notebooks Deluxe and V450 Laser Cordless Mouse. The headset is for use with internet voicecall applications like Skype or music, while the web cams are for video conferencing. See Logitech.com for details.
• Technofile is all for turning humans into cyber-beings, and I'll be first in the queue for the mobile phone ear-implant when it comes out in 2015, but one thing about technology does worry me: someone photocopying my identity. So I wasn't too impressed to read that it's possible to clone the new biometric passports which are starting to appear.
The UK is among those bringing in passports that store fingerprints, facial scans and iris patterns on a built-in chip. But now Wired.com reports that a security firm has worked out how to copy the information to blank chips that can be used in fake passports. On second thoughts, I think I'll pass on the implant.
