February 28, 2011
Apple intros updated MacBook Pros, dev preview of Mac OS X Lion
Ars Technica
Jacqui Cheng writes about Apple’s updated MacBook Pro line of notebooks.
“Starting from the bottom of the line, the 13″ MacBook Pro now comes with either a dual-core i5 or i7 processor up to 2.7GHz and Intel HD 3000 integrated graphics for $1,199. The 15″ and 17″ models got the majority of the upgrades, however-the 15″ base model now carries a 2.0GHz Quad i7 processor, 4GB of 1333MHz of RAM, a 500GB 5400rpm hard drive, and a 1440×900 display driven by an AMD Radeon HD 6490M for $1,799. The 17″ base model is similar, but the processor is a 2.2GHz Quad i7 and it has a 750GB 5400rpm hard drive, along with an AMD 6750M and a display resolution of 1920×1200 for $2,499. The 13″ and 15″ MacBook Pros also got an SD card slot upgrade: they now support SDXC cards up to 64GB (up from 32GB).”
Toshiba AC100 smartbook gets Android 2.2 upgrade
Engadget
Donald Melanson wries about Toshiba’s AC100 smartbook device.
“Smartbooks may not have exactly caught on as the next big platform, but one of the more notable examples out there is now at least a bit more of an interesting option than it was before. That would be Toshiba’s Android-based AC100, which has finally gotten the Froyo upgrade that was promised last fall.”
MSP Opportunity: Managed Telepresence Growing 19% Annually
MSPmentor
John Moore writes about the managed telepresence and videoconferencing market.
“ABI Research predicts that hosted and managed telepresence and videoconferencing services will reach $1.2 billion worldwide by 2016 – at an annual growth rate at 19 per cent. The market grew at a 25 per cent clip in 2010 to $512.5 million, according to the company. But that’s not all. Managed video services providers, as ABI Research describes companies participating in this space, include dedicated video services providers and large telcos that offer videoconferencing and telepresence.”