Apple WWDC 2006
In just a few hours, Apple’s World Wide Developer Conference (WWDC) in San Francisco will begin. Apple CEO, Steve Jobs is expected to demonstrate the next generation of Apple’s operating system, Mac OS X 10.5 (Leopard).
What else will be announced during the WWDC? A new iPod? A new Cinema Display? A new desktop computer? Will the MacBook Pro get a processor update (Intel Core 2 Duo)? Stay tuned for the latest update on WWDC 2006.
VMware, the virtualization software company, intends to show off it’s virtualization software for Intel Macs at the WWDC today. You can also pre-register to try the beta.
VMware for Mac
VMware will compete with Parallels Inc in virtualization software for Mac OS X. I hope VMware will release a free version of VMware under Mac OS X. The free version will allow people to run virtual machines but cannot create any new virtual machines. Hopefully it can also provide features that aren’t available in Parallels workstation such as support for FireWire, and the ability to install windows vista onto a virtual machine.
Update 1 - 1 Hour 30 minutes left to the keynote
There are several sites covering the WWDC keynote live. Here are some of them: Macrumors, MacNN, and Engadget. I have all of the sites opened even though most of them probably provide the same information.
Update 2 - 30 minutes left until the keynote
Apple Online Stores are down with the usual “We are busy updating the store for you and will be back within the hour” message. The online store always go down with the same message everytime Apple made product announcement.
Update 3 - Say Good bye to PowerMac Say Hello to Mac Pro
Just as predicted, Apple released a new desktop tower computer called Mac Pro. It will use the current design external case powered by The brand new Mac Pro will be based on Intel’s Xeon chips, also known as Woodcrest. These chips are 64-bits processors and every Mac Pro will have two of them.
Update 4 - New Xserve
New Xserve released with similar spec to Mac Pro. That completed the migration to Intel for Apple. All Apple’s computer are now using Intel processors.
Update 5 — Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard Preview
This is only a preview of Leopard and there are some other top secrets. 10 of the many new features in Leopard:
- Support for 64-bit applications top to bottom
- Time Machine: backup & recovery feature
- BootCamp included in Leopard
- Spaces — Virtual Desktop
- Spotlight improvement
- Core Animation
- Universal Acceess improvement
- Mail.app improvement: stationary, notes and to-dos
- DashBoard - Dashcode allowing developers to create widget easily - WebClip allowing users to create a live widget of a section of a web page
- iChat with tabs and many more improvements
Apple also updated the price of Cinema Display making it cheaper by about AUD $400. If you’ve been waiting to buy a cinema display then it’s time to buy now.