New Thunderbolt Apple Display

Blueberries, corn on the cob, fresh produce of all types… you gotta love summertime! We have our annual board of directors meeting this Sunday and I think we will be sipping some cold beverages as we gather to talk about the future.

Thanks for reading this issue of Kibbles & Bytes!

Your Kibbles & Bytes Team,
_Don, Kali & Ben_

Alongside the release of Mac OS X 10.7 Lion, Apple has debuted the next generation MacBook Airs, bringing an array of state-of-the-art features to the world’s thinnest line of notebook Macs.

Among the top billed features of the new machines are Intel ‘Sandy Bridge’ processors offering up to twice the performance of the previous generation, the inclusion of Apple’s revolutionary Thunderbolt I/O technology and the addition of backlit keyboards. The newly announced machines are optimized for OS X Lion and ship with the brand new operating system pre-installed.

Retaining the 11- and 13-inch form factors of the previous generation, the newly announced models deliver the same extreme portability, instant-on flash capabilities and remarkable battery life–up to seven hours–of their predecessors. With both models only 0.68-inches at their thickest point and weighing in at under three pounds, the MacBook Air benefits from fantastic portability, durability and now substantially faster performance.

Perhaps the most exceptional feature of the latest MacBook Air is the shift to ‘Sandy Bridge’ platform Intel processors. Apple claims the new machines offer up to twice the performance of the previous generation, and that the new line of processors work in harmony with updated graphics and faster 1333 MHz memory to provide users with the power needed to edit photos and video, play games and make FaceTime calls with ease.

Thunderbolt–quickly becoming a standard feature on all Macs–delivers unprecedented speed and versatility to the MacBook Air. Using a single cable, users can chain Thunderbolt accessories and drives including the all-new Thunderbolt equipped LED Cinema Display. While Thunderbolt shows tremendous promise, it is still in its infancy. Users who prefer, or need, to use legacy connections such as FireWire and Gigabit Ethernet can easily adapt Thunderbolt with accessories as they’re released.

The new line of MacBook Airs also restores backlit keyboards across all models. A popular element of the original Air, the feature was removed when the redesigned models launched last fall. The reinstated luminescent boards include the auto adjusting ambient light sensor featured in other Macs such as the most recent line of MacBook Pro. The new MacBook Airs are also appointed with brilliant LED backlit displays and glass Multi-Touch trackpads.

Designed with OS X Lion in mind, new MacBook Airs ship with the just released OS. With over 250 revolutionary new features, Air users can bring the operating system to life with robust Multi-Touch support, streamline workflows with Launchpad and Mission Control and work with confidence as Resume, Auto Save and Versions collaborate to save progress in the background.

The new generation MacBook Airs are available now in the following stock configurations:

“*11-inch : 64GB*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78733/macbook-air-11in-1-6ghz-i5-2gb-64gb/at_kb – $999.99

* 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
* 2GB memory
* 64GB flash storage
* Intel HD Graphics 3000

“*11-inch : 128GB*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78734/macbook-air-11in-1-6ghz-i5-4gb-128gb/at_kb – $1,199.99

* 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
* 4GB memory
* 128GB flash storage
* Intel HD Graphics 3000

“*13-inch : 128GB*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78735/macbook-air-13in-1-7ghz-i5-4gb-128gb/at_kb – $1,299.99

* 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
* 4GB memory
* 128GB flash storage
* Intel HD Graphics 3000

“*13-inch : 256GB*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78736/macbook-air-13in-1-7ghz-i5-4gb-256gb/at_kb – $1,599.99

* 1.7GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor
* 4GB memory
* 256GB flash storage
* Intel HD Graphics 3000

Apple announced brand new Mac minis on Wednesday, with notable changes.

Intel’s Sandy Bridge processors have been added to Apple’s new line of Mac minis in the form of Intel Core i5s. Now, what is “Sandy Bridge,” you ask? Specifically, that’s the name of the processor that is the successor to the Nehalem processor. Sandy Bridge processors are touted to be “up to 2x faster” per Apple’s claims.

The new Mac minis sport faster graphics (with a discrete AMD Radeon HD graphics processor) and also include support for Thunderbolt connectivity. The Thunderbolt port gives access for the new Apple Thunderbolt Display and also supports Mini DisplayPort peripherals. Mac mini features an HDMI and built-in SDXC card slot.

What’s more (or should I say, “what’s less”) is that these new models have eliminated optical drives, taking a cue from the MacBook Air line. A separate SuperDrive is available for purchase (see below, actually!).

My favorite part so far? NO MORE POWER BRICK. Mac mini now has a built-in power brick, so all you see is a single cord.

Standard configurations:

“*2.3GHz Intel Core i5, 500 GB hard drive, 2GB RAM*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78730/mac-mini-2-3ghz-i5-2gb-500gb/at_kb – $599.99
“*2.5GHz Intel Core i5, 500 GB hard drive, 4GB RAM*”:http://www.smalldog.com/product/78731/mac-mini-2-5ghz-i5-4gb-500gb/at_kb – $799.99

Server configuration:

* 2.0GHz, dual 500GB hard drives, 4GB RAM: *$999.99*

All models come with Lion (OS 10.7) pre-installed.

We will be listing these and CTO options shortly. More updates as we get them!

On Wednesday, Apple released the highly anticipated Mac OS X 10.7 Lion via the Mac App Store. The eighth major release of OS X, Lion marks the first version of the world’s most advanced operating system available exclusively through the Mac App Store. Bypassing the traditional CD/DVD format of past releases, Mac OS X Lion is a significant step forward both in terms of its new features and in how operating systems are acquired and installed.

Introducing over 250 new features, Lion is an enticing upgrade–especially given its very affordable $29.99 price point. The scale of Wednesday’s release is in line with the shift from Mac OS X 10.4 Tiger to Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard in the fall of 2007. While Mac OS X 10.6 Snow Leopard acted as a bridge between Leopard and Lion, it was more of a refinement of the features already introduced in 10.5. Given this, Mac users have been waiting patiently for nearly four years for an upgrade of Lion’s scale, and thankfully it doesn’t disappoint.

Lion includes many groundbreaking new features including: enhanced Multi-Touch gestures, support for full screen apps, Mission Control, Launchpad, the Mac App Store and a completely redesigned version of Mail. As mentioned during keynotes and media events throughout its development, many of these new features are directly inspired by, or even copies of, features of Apple’s iOS mobile operating system. Due to this amalgamation, Lion has been toted as a synthesis of the best aspects of Mac OS X and iOS.

Almost as amazing as its new features is the way Lion is acquired and installed. No longer is a trip to the store to purchase a boxed version of the OS required. Users running Mac OS X 10.6.8 with compatible Intel Macs can download Lion from the convenience of their homes and offices through the Mac App Store. What many are already referring to as the simplest install of OS X ever, Lion can be installed and configured with just a few clicks. Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Product Marketing contributed the following on Lion’s release and the ease of its install:

bq. “Lion is the best version of OS X yet, and we’re thrilled that users around the world can download it starting today. Lion makes upgrading a Mac easier than ever before; just launch the Mac App Store, buy Lion with your iTunes account, and the download and install process will begin automatically.”

Supplementing the aforementioned features, Lion includes a series of refinements which look to radically change the way OS X is experienced and used. Among these Resume, Auto Save and Versions effectively eliminate the need to save files as they automatically preserve your Mac’s state prior to a restart or shutdown, continuously save your documents in the background and even keep a running history your of files as you work. Lion also introduces AirDrop, which revolutionizes file transfers to nearby Macs, making Sneakernet flash drive exchanges a thing of the past.

Mac OS X 10.7 Lion is now available on the Mac App Store, and retails for $29.99. To ensure your Mac is compatible and ready to upgrade, click “*here.*”:http://blog.smalldog.com/article/get-ready-for-lion/

To purchase Lion, click “*here.*”:http://click.linksynergy.com/fs-bin/stat?id=19XpSnZWhPI&offerid=146261&type=3&subid=0&tmpid=1826&RD_PARM1=http%3A%2F%2Fitunes.apple.com%2Fus%2Fapp%2Fos-x-lion%2Fid444303913%3Fmt%3D12%2526uo%253D6%2526partnerId%253D30 (opens the Mac App Store)

*System Requirements:*
* Intel-based Mac with a Core 2 Duo, i3, 15, i7 or Xeon processor
* Mac OS X 10.6.8 Snow Leopard
* 2GB of RAM
* 4GB available hard drive space

Tired of trying to keep up with an increasingly digital world? Do computer screens give you eye fatigue? Hate things that start with a lowercase “i”?

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Exclusively for Kibbles & Bytes readers, get your hands on the MEpad Paper Notepad for 10% off + free shipping: $8.99 for your very own analog iPad!

“Click here for your own MEpad.”:

_Dear Friends,_

Heat wave! The dog days of summer are here. Even though most of the country is sweltering in the heat, here in the Green Mountains, the days are sunny and warm and the breeze on Prickly Mountain keeps the mosquitos (mostly) at bay and the nights cool.

My blueberry bushes are loaded with tasty berries and we are working hard to beat the Blue Jays to them. I used to cover them with nets, but since the bushes are so loaded, I figure I can share some this year with the loud birds in my yard.

Apple released incredible financial results, a new operating system and some awesome new hardware, including new MacBook Airs. I can’t wait to get my new souped up MacBook Air with a Thunderbolt display. Apple also discontinued the venerable white MacBook and all of their boxed software, too, marking a paradigm shift for software sales. Ben and Kali will run down the new releases from Apple and I’ll talk about another great quarter for Apple later in Kibbles & Bytes.

I am sad to announce that Ben Bonaccio will be leaving Small Dog Electronics and Kibbles & Bytes. I am happy to learn that he found a great new job that is much closer to home–he trades an hour long drive for a five minute bike ride. We wish Ben the very best in his new position.

I am also very pleased to announce that Stephanie Reich will be joining the Marketing Department and will be a regular contributor to Kibbles & Bytes. Stephanie has been working part time with Small Dog for some time and we are very fortunate to have convinced her to join us full time!