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Apple unveiled a few new goodies for the Mac loving pro this morning. The products include a new Mac Pro line, with up to 12 processing cores, a 27-inch cinema display, and Magic Trackpad.

Mac Pro

The new Mac Pro desktop computers utilize the latest quad-core and 6-core Intel Xeon processors, all-new ATI graphics and the option for up to four 512GB solid state drives (SSD).

The quad-core and 6-core processors run at speeds up to 3.33 GHz. And where it matters most with those who deal with images, the Mac Pro now comes with the ATI Radeon HD 5770 graphics processor with 1GB of memory and customers can configure-to-order the even faster ATI Radeon HD 5870 with 1GB of memory. Mac Pro users can also order a 512GB SSD, with the ability to install up to four SSD drives in the computer’s internal drive bays. SSD drives are considered by some to be more attractive because they don’t have the moving parts that traditional hard drives use.

The Mac Pro also now features two Mini DisplayPorts and one dual-link DVI port. The additional Mini DisplayPort output allows users to connect two LED Cinema Displays without an additional graphics card or adapter and the dual-link DVI port supports legacy DVI-based displays up to a resolution of 2560 x 1600 pixels.

Every Mac Pro comes with Apple’s Magic Mouse with the option to order the new optional Magic Trackpad. It will ship with the Snow Leopard OS, and iLife suite of programs.

The new Mac Pro will be available in August.

The new quad-core Mac Pro, with an MSRP of $2,499, includes:

one 2.8 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3530 processor with 8MB of fully-shared L3 cache;
3GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 16GB;
ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately);
1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
18x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
four PCI Express 2.0 slots;
five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire 800 ports;
AirPort Extreme 802.11n;
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and
Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.

The new 8-core Mac Pro, with an MSRP of $3,499, includes:

two 2.4 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon E5620 processors with 12MB of fully-shared L3 cache per processor;
6GB of 1066 MHz DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory, expandable up to 32GB;
ATI Radeon HD 5770 with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
two Mini DisplayPorts and one DVI (dual-link) port (adapters sold separately);
1TB Serial ATA 3Gb/s hard drive running at 7200 rpm;
18x SuperDrive with double-layer support (DVD±R DL/DVD±RW/CD-RW);
four PCI Express 2.0 slots;
five USB 2.0 ports and four FireWire 800 ports;
AirPort Extreme 802.11n;
Bluetooth 2.1+EDR; and
Apple Keyboard with numerical keypad and Magic Mouse.

Configure-to-order options include:

one 3.2 GHz Quad-Core Intel Xeon W3565 processor for the quad-core Mac Pro;
one 3.33 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon W3680 processor for the quad-core Mac Pro;
two 2.66 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5650 processors (12-cores) for the 8-core Mac Pro;
two 2.93 GHz 6-core Intel Xeon X5670 processors (12-cores) for the 8-core Mac Pro;
two ATI Radeon HD 5770 cards with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
one ATI Radeon HD 5870 card with 1GB of GDDR5 memory;
up to 16GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory for the quad-core Mac Pro;
up to 32GB of DDR3 ECC SDRAM memory for the 8-core Mac Pro;
up to four 512GB solid state drives (SSD); or
up to four 1TB or 2TB Serial ATA hard drives running at 7200 rpm;
Mac Pro RAID card;
dual-channel or quad-channel 4Gb Fibre Channel card; and
up to two 18x SuperDrives with double-layer support.

27-inch LED Cinema Display

The new Apple 27-inch LED Cinema Display offers 2560 x 1440 resolution and 60% more screen real estate than the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. It has a built-in iSight video camera, microphone and speakers, powered USB 2.0 hub, and universal MagSafe connector. The display utilizes in-plane switching, a premium display technology to provide a brilliant image across a 178 degree viewing angle. Also new on the 27-inch display is an ambient light sensor which automatically adjusts the display brightness based on external lighting conditions and uses only as much energy as necessary to provide an optimum viewing experience. The LED Cinema Display requires a Mac with Mini DisplayPort connection.

Compatible with both Mac desktop computers and the MacBook family of laptops, the display is priced at $999. Apple will be shipping the new cinema display in September.

Magic Trackpad

The Magic Trackpad gives desktop users the ability to navigate through their computing the way Mac notebook users have done for years. The Magic Trackpad is wireless, and features a glass surface. It can be configured to support either single or two-button commands, and also supports tap-to-click as well as a physical click. The Trackpad features the same stylish look, angle and height of use as the Apple wireless keyboard, for seamless side-by-side ergonomic use. The Trackpad is powered by two AA batteries; and uses Bluetooth, so no wires will get in the way. It requires the use of OS X Snow Leopard, v.10.6.4 and the latest software update. The Magic Trackpad has a price of $69 and is available now.

— Diane Berkenfeld

Apple today introduced the 9.7-inch iPad, a “revolutionary” device for browsing the web, reading and sending email, enjoying photos, watching videos, listening to music, playing games, reading e-books and much more. The iPad features a responsive high-resolution Multi-Touch display lets users physically interact with applications and content. The iPad is just 0.5 inches thick and weighs just 1.5 pounds—thinner and lighter than any laptop or netbook. iPad includes 12 new apps designed especially for the iPad, and will run almost all of the over 140,000 apps in the App Store. The Wi-Fi model iPad will be available in late March, the 3G model will be available in April.

Vertical and Horizontal views of the new iPad.

“iPad is our most advanced technology in a magical and revolutionary device at an unbelievable price,” said Steve Jobs, Apple’s CEO. “iPad creates and defines an entirely new category of devices that will connect users with their apps and content in a much more intimate, intuitive and fun way than ever before.”

iPad features 12 next-generation Multi-Touch applications. Every app works in both portrait and landscape, automatically animating between views as the user rotates iPad. The Multi-Touch interface gives users the ability to use an almost full-size “soft” keyboard. Images can be imported, and organized as albums; audio can be played through iTunes; and movies, TV shows and YouTube videos can be viewed in High Def. Users can also read through the pages of an e-book downloaded from the new Apple iBookstore.

Launched with the iPad is the new Apple iBooks app for iPad, which includes Apple’s new iBookstore. The iBookstore will feature books from major and independent publishers.

Apple also introduced a new version of iWork for iPad, a desktop-class productivity suite designed specifically for Multi-Touch. With Pages, Keynote and Numbers users can create formatted documents, stunning presentations with animations and transitions, and spreadsheets with charts, functions and formulas. The three apps will be available separately through the App Store.

iPad syncs with iTunes just like the iPhone and iPod touch, using the standard Apple 30-pin to USB cable so users can sync all their contacts, photos, music, movies, TV shows, applications and more from a Mac or PC. All the apps and content downloaded on iPad from the App Store, iTunes Store and iBookstore will be automatically be synced to your iTunes library the next time the iPad is connected with the users’ computer.

The iPad features a stunning 9.7-inch, LED-backlit display, with an ultra-wide 178 degree viewing angle. The intelligent soft keyboard pioneered on iPhone takes advantage of iPad’s larger display to offer an almost full-size soft keyboard. iPad also connects to the new iPad Keyboard Dock with a full-size traditional keyboard.

iPad comes in two versions—one with Wi-Fi and the other with both Wi-Fi and 3G. iPad includes the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi, and the 3G versions support speeds up to 7.2 Mbps on HSDPA networks. Apple and AT&T announced breakthrough 3G pre-paid data plans for iPad with easy, on-device activation and management.

Other features: built-in storage uses flash media; built-in 25Whr rechargeable lithium-polymer battery that is rechargeable via USB or AC adapter; inputs/outputs include dock connector, headphone jack, built-in speakers and mic, and Sim Card tray (on the 3G model).

Optional accessories include the iPad Keyboard Dock, iPad Case, iPad Dock, iPad Camera Connection Kit and iPad USB Power Adapter.

iPad will be available in late March worldwide for a suggested retail price of $499 for the 16GB model, $599 for the 32GB model, $699 for the 64GB model. The Wi-Fi + 3G models of iPad will be available in April in the US and selected countries for a suggested retail price of $629 for the 16GB model, $729 for the 32GB model and $829 for the 64GB model. iPad will be sold in the US through the Apple Store (www.apple.com), Apple’s retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers.

— Diane Berkenfeld

Apple Introduces new Mac Pro, Cinema Display, Magic Trackpad

Mac Pro

27-inch LED Cinema Display

Magic Trackpad

Rumors lead way to product launch as Apple debuts iPad

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