Appletell

Some owners of the new MacBook and MacBook Pros have discovered something strange when you try to play some iTunes video content to an external display. If that display is not HDCP compliant, then iTunes will return \an error saying that a connected display is not authorized to play protected movies.

While this may seem like a minor issue, consider if you plan on playing a purchased iTunes movie through a projector. Most projectors these days still feature a VGA input for connecting a computer. These users will now be unable to play content purchased from the iTunes Store.

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Apple has just released an update for the new MacBook and MacBook Pro that is supposed to fix the unrecognized clicks on the new glass trackpad. The issue has been publicly complained about quite a bit on Apple’s own discussion forums.

This firmware update addresses an issue where trackpad clicks may not be recognized on MacBook (Late 2008) and MacBook Pro (Late 2008) systems.

When installation is complete, the updater application will launch automatically. Follow the instructions in the updater application to complete the update process. (If Software Update requires a restart, the updater application will launch after you log in.)

I just installed and tested the update, and it appears to solve the clicking issues. I personally found my trackpad before the update to not recognize clicks occasionally, but with the update installed, the issue seems to have gone away.

• New MacBooks and MacBook Pros require HDCP for some iTunes videos
• Appletell review - Racer-X laptop case [updated]
• Appletell review - MacBook Pro

To look at the Racer-X laptop bag from WaterField, you wouldn’t think it would run upwards of $190. In fact, when I showed it to a colleague of mine, he said just that; “It’s not worth it.“ But he doesn’t speak for all of us. First, he’s a PC user, and that’s a different mindset than those of us protecting the more expensive Apple laptops. Second, he made the comment based solely on the outward appearance of the Racer-X. And whereas it is sharp looking, it’s mostly canvas, not leather. It’s not a hard case. It doesn’t offer a locking mechanism. So, what does the Racer-X feature to justify the premium cost? Quite a bit, actually. Quite a bit.

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Ranier Brockerhoff gives an extensive analysis of the guts of the new Macbook, the changes Apple made, and why they made them (or at least, the apparent benefits of the changes they made). His conclusion? It was a choice between the Firewire 400 port and another (unpowered) USB 2.0 port, and Apple figured that more people wanted the latter. In the Macbook Pro, the 800 port was included because not only can it handle legacy peripherals through an adapter, the form factor is planned for use in the next two Firewire iterations.

One of the common complaints (especially from me) was the lack of a Target Disk Mode, making disc migration a pain. Brockerhoff brings up an interesting point: the new Macbook makes it easier for technicians to access and replace the hard drive.

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When Apple announced the new MacBook Pro, the first thing I did was order it. Instead of ordering the base configuration, I opted for the higher end MacBook Pro with a 2.53GHz Core 2 Duo processor, 4GB of Ram and an upgraded 320GB 7200 rpm drive. I’m guessing that drive upgrade is the reason I received my notebook a week late. But no worries, I’m so happy it’s here that it doesn’t matter anymore. There is one last thing I have to do before I can start using my new notebook, and that of course, is the obligatory unboxing.

Videos after the break.

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Yesterday, Nvidia paid Gizmodo a visit to spill some more details about the recently released GeForce GPUs that are inside of Apple’s newest MacBooks. They specifically cleared up some of the information floating around about hardware limitations. It seems Apple is being a little conservative about what and how much the new MacBooks can actually handle.

When you first read of the MacBook Pro’s dual GPUs, you likely assumed they could be used simultaneously. This, currently, is not the case. You have to choose between the 9400M and the 9600M GT, which are separated by a user log out. According to Nvidia, this is not a limitation of their chips. The hardware is fully capable of running both GPUs at the same time and spitting out graphics like water from a fire hydrant.

And that’s not all…

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Stuff.tv has posted a video review of the new MacBook announced at Tuesday’s Apple Notebook Event, making me jealous not only of their ability to get their hands on one so quickly, but also of the fact that they get to talk about it with British accen.

The general gist of the review is that they’re pleased with the new graphics power, feel that the multi-touch trackpad takes some getting used to and comes across as a “gimmick,“ love the new design and case, and aren’t fond of the new prices. Apparently, the MacBook White actually saw a price increase in England, as opposed to being dropped $100 here in the U.S.

Video review after the break.

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Well, that’s a kick in the pants. Apple giveth, and Apple taketh away. At today’s MacBook event, Apple announced (amongst other things) that the new MacBooks are finally getting an honest-to-goodness graphics card: the NVIDIA GeForce 9400M. But did they really have to remove FireWire capabilities to make room for the card?

It’s true. Well, I mean, the two are probably mutually exclusive, but the new MacBooks will have no FireWire capabilities at all. Rather, you’re left with two USB 2.0 ports. And oddly, the $999 MacBook (now dubbed the MacBook White) doesn’t have the new GeForce 9400M, but retains the FireWire port.

Personally, I’ll take the Nvidia card over FireWire capabilities, but I’m still quite disappointed in the move to USB 2.0 only, as I now won’t be able to plug my Canon GL2 digital camcorder directly into a MacBook. It’ll be interesting to hear Apple’s explanation for this decision, because it’s most certainly going to cause quit a stir.

Update: Direct from Steve: Migration Assistant works over Ethernet.

• Apple releases update for unrecognized clicks on the new MacBook and MacBook Pro
• Appletell review - Racer-X laptop case [updated]
• New MacBooks and MacBook Pros require HDCP for some iTunes videos

It’s about 7:15 a.m. out here on the east coast, which puts us just under six hours away from Apple’s announcement of the new MacBooks. Never too early to get ready for some new MacBooks, though, right? Stick with us here at Appletell, as we’ll be providing ongoing coverage leading up to the event, and will offer a live blog of the announcements from this very spot.

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Can’t wait until Apple’s MacBook event later today? Do you need that news now? Same here. Especially when one of the rumors is that the MacBook will finally, finally, contain a by-God graphics card. But until Steve walks onstage, we’ll just have to content ourselves with what we already know…or think we know. Following the break are links to all the news/rumors that have surfaced within the past month regarding today’s event. And throughout the morning, be sure to check in on our Apple MacBook Event live blog for up to the minute news and announcement coverage.

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