After a few hours of update, the Apple Store reopened yesterday with some new features: first, the updated iMac computers, integrating the most recent Intel Core i3, Core i5 and Core i7 processors, and also dedicated graphic processors, including the ATI Radeon HD 5750 for the most expensive models. The hard disks go from 500 MB to 2 TB.

Also included in the update are the new Magic Trackpad, with a glass and aluminium design, bringing the same multitouch capability from the MacBook Pros to the iMacs.

The 27″ LED Cinema Displays were also added to the list of new products to be launched in August. The 27″ dislpay features the IPS (In-Plane switching) technology and a Mini Display Port connection with audio support. The resolution is up to 2560 x 1440 with 16 million colors, and 16:9 format, which means 60% more pixels than the 24″ model. Also integrated are the iSight webcam, the microphone and speakers.

The last addition to the Apple Store was the Mac Pro. The Mac Pro is now enhanced to offer the option of one or two processors, up to a 12-core computer if needed. Two models are being offered: one with the price of €2399 with a 2.8 GHz quad-core processor, 3GB RAM, ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics with 1GB of RAM. The second model is an 8-core that starts from €3399 and includes two quad-core processors with 2.4 GHz each, 6GB RAM and the same Radeon HD 5770 (with the option of changing into a HD 5870).

The Apple Store is temporarily offline while it’s being updated. That usually happens when Apple launches new products or models in the market.

Expected for today are the new 27″ LED Cinema Display, the new iMac and perhaps the new Mac Pro. If so, it’ll be a surprise-launch, as most part of those new products were scheduled to launch by the end of Summer or beginning of Autumn.

We’ll stay tuned.

The guys from iFixit have decided to verify the possibility of using the new iMac 27″ as an external monitor. During the test, they’ve found out that it’s only possible on computers that use the DisplayPort connection (even if it’s a miniDisplayPort). In all cases where the computer did not have that port but had to use an adapter, the external monitor didn’t work.

“The iMac will not act as a second (or primary) display using the Mini DisplayPort to DVI adapter that Apple sells”, said the guys from iFixit, “We tried it on a PS3 Slim, as well as a MacBook and MacBook Pro. It looks like we’ll have to wait for a special adapter from Apple or a third party.”

iThe DVI and HDMI have digital video which is electrically compatible and with serial video data formats that differ only on the physical connectors, while the DisplayPort has an entirely new format that uses a packet signaling format.

According to Appleinsider, the new iMac models are already been manufactured by the Taiwanese factories that supply Apple with their products. There were already rumors about the launch of the new all-in-one desktop generation, but unfortunately the hardware details are still unknown at this point.

Appleinsider says that the new iMacs should have a lower price and a “thinner” design, probably inspired by the LED-lit Cinema Displays. The rumor site also sustains another rumor that says that the new iMacs should have two new mysterious innovations, one that could be a Blu-Ray drive and another on the audio/video editing field.

The new models would be ready from next week, according to the rumor, or by the second half of October. Another proof of the upcoming launch would come from Apple’s behavior: the company is giving discounts, going from $100 to $200 on the current models for companies that buy computers in bulk or customers on the educational field.

A rumor that appeared on the SemiAccurate website says that in the next Mac computers to be produced in the next two years, no more nVIDIA chips will be found. The chips, according to the rumor reported on the website, wouldn’t guarantee the quality standard that Apple requires on their products.

In particular, there would be two reasons for this: first, the lawsuit from Intel against nVIDIA. According to Intel, nVIDIA was never authorized to design chipsets with an integrated memory controller, and that could prevent nVIDIA from manufacturing Nehalem -based chipsets, which are currently present on the Mac Pro line, and are expected to be launched on the portable lines as well. The second reason is the malfunctioning of a few graphic cards which hit a few number of MacBook Pro users, and that forced Apple to give a special extended warranty.

Of course, this isn’t good news for end-users, especially on the low-end range: the introduction of nVIDIA chipsets on the entry-level MacBooks and iMacs have brought these computers to rather decent video performances, especially when compared to the integrated Intel solution, which is still not compatible with some videogames. Also, nVIDIA was the first one to be prepared for the OpenCL, the technology integrated in Snow Leopard, that would divert part of the workload from the CPU to the GPU.

We think that if the rumors are true, it could be a big issue. We’re hoping they’re not.

The new hardware line was launched yesterday, and now we can finally present you with more features of each of the products that were part of the updated list, such as the iMacs.

The new iMac doesn’t show many changes from its previous models. The only change is on the connection panel, where the Firewire 400 port was replaced by a fourth USB port, and the new DisplayPort connector.

The four available versions are:

- 20″, C2D 2,66GHz, RAM 2Gb, HDD 320Gb, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M: €1099
- 24″, C2D 2,66GHz, RAM 4Gb, HDD 320Gb, NVIDIA GeForce 9400M: €1399
- 24″, C2D 2,93GHz, RAM 4Gb, HDD 640Gb, NVIDIA GeForce GT 120 (256Mb): €1699
- 24″, C2D 3,06GHz, RAM 4Gb, HDD 1Tb, NVIDIA GeForce GT 130 (512Mb): €2099

All the new iMacs have a Superdrive and the delivery is set to 24 hours.

After a few hours offline, the Apple Stores went back online with new desktop product offers. The iMac now have processors ranging from 2.66Ghz to 3.06Ghz, nVIDIA graphics and hard disks up to 1TB. The prices start at €1099.

The new Mac Pro have the Nehalem technology, Nvidia GeForce GT 120 and lower prices. As for the Mac Mini, it features a Core 2 Duo 2.0GHz processor, 5 USB ports, a FireWire 800 and Superdrive, with prices starting from €599.

We’ll stay tuned for more detailed information of each one of the products.

The iMacs are surely great candidates for a possible future update from Apple. One of the most expected changes, besides the design (although rumors say only a few adjustments will be made), is the graphic technology that will equip the next line of “all-in-one” computers from Apple.

In fact, many rumors have claimed that nVidia will be Apple’s first choice: in fact, nVidia might end up establishing itself as the only supplier for all Apple’s computers. MacRumors has posted an image that is apparently taken from promotional material about the iMacs that would confirm “high-performance NVIDIA graphics”. Besides, rumors also claim that the stock for the current models are almost empty, hence the launch of a new line would be happening soon.

Of course, we’re treating the news as a rumor until we get official confirmation.

From all the iMac models, the iMac 20″ seems to be the most balanced in all aspects. The system is in fact able to offer a good performance, also in video games for a not so exagerated price. Our opinion is that the superior iMac systems (beyond the one we tested) are only good for those that need a compact desktop system that also features a good workspace area.

If the iMac 20″ solutions are clearly aimed to home users, the 24″ models are easily adaptable to the needs of those that use many multimedia programs or video-editing thanks to the very large workspace that the monitor offers.

However, the extreme compact size results in little expandability. The only possibility for an update that a user can access to is the memory exchange. The rest of the hardware is, in fact, inaccessible.

The iMac’s strong point is, in fact, the ability of offering a complete yet flexible system, without the need of reaching extra-advanced performances in a reduced space without the need to compromise the visual experience.

Apple has equipped the iMac 20″ with an LCD panel featuring a 1680×1050 pixel resolution, with a contrast of 800:1. As we mentioned in previous posts, the panel is placed behind a plexiglass cover surrounded by a large black frame. In the upper part of the monitor, also, we can find the integrated iSight webcam. The integrated microphone is placed on the upper surface, while next to the webcam lens we can find a green led that indicates that the device is working properly.

The level of luminance on the iMac 20″ display can be divided into 17 different steps. From the lowest level, it reaches 110,777 cd/m2 that go up to 357,9 cd/m2 at the maximum level. The display is comfortably usable already at the lowest level, while the highest level can really be disturbing, especially when used for longer periods of time and with poor ambient lighting.