Category: Apple

iOS Users to Get WhatsApp Voice Calling in a Couple of Weeks, Says Founder

WhatsApp recently led a direct assault at telecom companies’ core business, voice calling. By introducing the voice calling feature, WhatsApp became a complete phone utility in itself. The feature is being rolled out gradually on Android and WhatsApp’s founder has announced that iOS users of the app will be bestowed with voice calling feature really soon.

WhatsApp’s co-founder, Brian Acton was speaking at Facebook’s F8 developers’ conference when he made the announcement. He said iOS users will be getting the voice calling update in a “couple weeks”.

There have already been a few unofficial efforts towards bringing the feature on iOS through jailbroken iPhones, but an official version is definitely better and secure.

As the date mentioned by the company is still vague, you can expect it to take a few weeks more. Facebook Messenger chief, David Marcus had said that WhatsApp had spent years creating and testing the voice calling feature before bringing it to Android phones. So maybe it’s better to wait a few weeks to get a fully functional voice calling feature instead of bug filled versions that may be available now.

It would also be interesting to see how the telecom companies respond to this as it’s a major threat to their core business. If past is an indication, they might steeply increase the price of data packs and may also try to take initiatives to break the internet. This is no ordinary feature, and we should anticipate a major legal battle soon between the old powers and the new innovative tech developers over the future course of communication technology.

March 26, 2015

Apple iPhone 5c Available for Rs. 22,990 on Amazon India

Amazon has slashed the price of Apple iPhone 5c by 31%, and it is now available for Rs. 22,990. The units are flying off the shelves at a rapid speed and the willing buyers have to hurry up as it is uncertain how many units are up for sale.

The company is offering the 8GB variant of the iPhone 5c on discount and is available in a five colour options. The device sports a 4-inch IPS LCD touchscreen display. The handset is powered by a 1.3GHz dual-core A6 processor bundled with 1GB of RAM. A primary camera of 8MP along with 1.2MP secondary shooter comes with the phone.

Screen Shot 2015-03-24 at 4.47.06 PM — Apple iPhone 5c (White, 8GB)

The device gets fuelled by a non-removable 1510mAh battery. The iOS 7 version of operating system comes pre-installed onto the device, which can be upgraded to iOS 8.2. Connectivity options include LTE, Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Have a quick look at the details below:

Specs	Apple iPhone 5c
Display	4-inch IPS LCD 326 ppi pixel density
Processor	1.3GHz dual-core A6
RAM	1GB
Internal Memory	8GB, not expandable
Camera	8MP rear, 1.2MP front
Battery	1510mAh
Operating System	iOS 7, upgradable to iOS 8.2
Price	Rs. 22,990

Here are the links to all five colours:

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March 24, 2015

Revamped Apple TV To Get An App Store And Siri

Apple is bringing back its focus on Apple TV which has been awaiting an update for a while. Apple is expected to introduce new revamped Apple TV at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). It will have an App Store and a will provide a Software Development Kit (SDK) to help developers populate it.

The reports are still speculatory and Apple hasn’t given any official confirmation yet but several experts are confident of the development. The device is expected to be powered by an A8 SoC along with enhanced storage facilities.

The updated Apple TV will feature SIRI and an App Store.

To make it easier to operate the new Apple TV comes with Siri’s voice assistance. Competing systems like Amazon Fire TV already introduced voice assistance on their devices, so it was about time Apple caught on.

Apple has already said that the Apple TV plays a major role in its HomeKit ecosystem. HomeKit is a framework in iOS 8 for communicating with and controlling connected accessories in a user’s home. It gives users the ability to control their garage doors, light bulb adapters, door locks, and other house hold items. Users would require Siri enabled Apple TV to control these devices. So you can expect Apple to bring more proactive upgrades for the Apple TV from now on considering how crucial it is for its future home automation business.

March 21, 2015
About 40 Percent of iPhone Users Willing to Buy Apple Watch: Reuters Poll

Apple devoted a huge amount of time and thought to bring out a smartwatch that can outshine all other gadgets in the wearables category. The Apple Watch is a distinctive piece and sports many features like digital crown and Force Touch that are not found in any other smartwatch. But is it really getting the traction expected by the company? International news agency, Reuters, did a survey to find out the demand for the Watch and discovered that around 40 percent of the American iPhone users are interested in buying the Apple Watch.

The poll includes adult iPhone owners of the US of age 18 years and above. The primary reason to consider iPhone users in the first place was that Apple Watch requires iPhone for most of its functions. So, iPhone users automatically come into the picture to be the initial buyers of the product.

The Reuters/Ipsos poll conducted a survey between March 9 and March 17 in which a total of 2,469 American adults of 18 years and above took part. It was found that 24 percent of the participants showed interest in Apple Watch, out of which 10 percent described themselves as very interested. Another survey of 788 iPhone users across the globe by the same firm speaks of 39 percent interested buyers, out of which 17 percent are ‘very interested’ in the product.

These numbers from the survey might not look uplifting at this moment for Apple, but considering the 100 million active users of iPhone in the US, and nearly half a billion in the whole world, the resultant buyers may turn out to be a huge number. According to Reuters, Analyst Walter Piecyk of BTIG marketing firm considers the survey inspiring, “The survey was “pretty encouraging” for a product that has not been seen in shops, even if it was unclear how much of the interest would translate into purchases.”

It is yet uncertain how many interested buyers will convert into purchasers, as the price of the smartwatch is the major roadblock. Its price ranges from $350 for a regular edition to $17000 for the 18-karat gold edition, which makes it the most expensive smartwatch yet.

March 19, 2015
Apple Watch Rumoured to be Coming to India in June

If rumours are to be believed, you might get a closer look at the Apple Watch sooner than you expected. During the massive ‘Spring Forward’ event, Apple had announced the arrival date of the Apple Watch, however only for a few lucky countries.

10th April onwards, in Australia, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, the UK and the US, Apple Watch will be available for preview, try-on by appointment at Apple’s retail stores, and available for pre-order through the Apple Online Store. Although, in the usual Apple style, the actual ‘on sale ‘date lands later on 24th April.

Unfortunately, India did not feature in the list of the first countries. But according to gizmodo.com, the potential sale of the Apple Watch in India might be a result of the country emerging as an important market for many brands.

The base model of the Apple Watch is estimated to start at a price of Rs. 35,000 (approx). The Apple Watch incorporates fitness tracking and health oriented capabilities along with the ability to integrate with iOS and other Apple Products.

The device will be coming in three variations – Apple Watch, Apple Watch Sport and the Apple Watch Edition. And will be compatible to use with the iPhone 5, 5S, 5C, 6 and 6 Plus.

To know more about this device, click here.

March 17, 2015
Apple ResearchKit Gets Massive Sign Ups But Also Faces Some Concerns

During the latest Apple ‘Spring Forward’ event, one new feature that was somewhat overshadowed by the launch of the Apple Watch was ResearchKit. With this new software platform, Apple would involve users and health professionals to gather medical data which can be used to study various diseases. Apple might have found a successful way to crowdsource medical data.

Once the user gives ResearchKit the required permissions, it sends the users health data to Apple. The company then shares the data with doctors and scientists. The information can include the user’s weight, blood pressure and activity levels, as well as data on conditions such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma and breast cancer. It lets iPhone users to become the source of information for massive research projects which would help advance medicine for the future.

At present, ResearchKit is only available on the iPhone, and it uses hardware resources like the accelerometer in the device to capture the user’s physical data. It will also let educational institutes and research facilities to create apps which can gather medical data securely.

Using various tests and apps on the iPhone, users can easily monitor their health and also contribute to medical research.

The potential of the software has enticed many, and there have been huge signups for the service. In an interview, Apple chief Tim Cook said that about 11,000 people had signed up for the study using their iPhones in just 24 hours. Conventionally, it would have taken five medical centres over a year to gather up that many subjects.

But amongst the many encouraging responses, there are also some professionals who are raising concerns related to the new platform. The first and foremost is the security and privacy of the medical data. There cannot be a more personal data than the medical information of the person. This platform will keep a track of the signed up users twenty-four seven, and they have to trust Apple with this sensitive information.

The current areas of Research.

Apart from the privacy issues, there are also concerns that the data wouldn’t be as varied as Apple hopes it will be. As most of the iPhone buyers are financially independent and have college degrees, the data might not be all inclusive. But considering that the Apple smartphone is now available in almost all markets across the earth, it will lead to a massive amount of information from varied population that is not limited by geographies. Also, as the data is being collected through the iPhone’s internal sensors, it would be difficult to falsify the results, and the researchers will have access to quality health information.

ResearchKit has a long way to go, but it sure looks promising. It is an experiment worth considering by the medical community. Apple though has to come clear on its privacy policy for the platform and introduce it in clear language and illustrations that would be easy for anyone to understand. It should also engage Android and other OS users to join the platform to give the researchers a broader range of subjects to choose from. The smartphone ecosystem has finally evolved from mere communication devices to tools for bringing real world change.

March 16, 2015
Apple Makes the iOS 8.3 Beta Software Open for Everyone

After unveiling the new MacBook and Apple Watch last week, Apple is paying attention to its software. It has released the beta version of iOS 8.3 for regular users. The Cupertino-based giant, for the first time, is inviting general public to test out the third beta of iOS 8.3 before officially releasing it officially.

The tech biggie has launched a webpage called Apple Beta Software Program. Users can sign in to test-drive the beta software and experience what Apple has more to offer. One can enrol their iPhones on the webpage and download the file software.

The software program page advises to back up the device, as the software is still in development mode. The new iOS 8.3 is expected to feature new emojis, easier logins for Google users, wireless CarPlay, and is likely to come with major bug fixes. It is highly possible that some applications may not run as directed as it’s not the final product.

Meanwhile, it is noticed that in spite of public release, only a few users have been able to try out the upcoming iOS. Apple hasn’t laid out the plan how it’s conducting the testing, but it is estimated that the users who took part in the ‘OS X Yosemite Beta Program’ will be able to give feedback to the iOS 8.3 program.

The official release of the new beta software for public use signifies that the iOS 8.3 has taken a step closer to the final public release, however we shouldn’t expect to arrive anytime soon since Apple released iOS 8.2 only a few days ago.

March 13, 2015
Apple Wins Patent for Flexible Sidewall Display That Can Replace Physical Buttons

Just when we thought Apple had revealed everything they built recently, an interesting piece of news surfaced that brought the tech giant back into the limelight. A patent has been granted to Apple Inc. by the USPTO that speaks of a device with a flexible sideway display.

The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office published a series of granted patents to Apple that highlights a flexible sidewall display equipped with a mobile device. The patents were originally filed back in 2013. This flexible side display could replace physical buttons with virtual buttons in future devices.

The patent says that the new flexible display may include one or more flexible layers, which may be mounted under a transparent screen cover of clear glass or plastic. There would be a touch-sensitive layer at the bottom of the flexible display for users to provide input, and also it will give users a clue of what the buttons are or what would be its functions.

The patent also notes that the flexible surface will be flat and can be placed anywhere on the front, rear, or sidewall surfaces. It is also said that the tech can replace the physical buttons or may act as a dummy structure. The functions of the virtual buttons will not be fixed, and their operations may be altered based on user input.

March 11, 2015
Thanks to Apple Watch, Swiss Watchmakers Headed Towards Troubled Times : Swatch Inventor

Apple’s has finally brought its long awaited Watch to the market, and there have been mixed responses to the new offering. Now the co-inventor of the Swatch watches says that the new device from Apple can cause serious troubles for Switzerland’s famed watch industry.

Swatch co-inventor Elmar Mock has said that the Apple Watch might put a lot of pressure on traditional watchmakers in Switzerland, and he anticipates an ice age for the industry soon. He said that anything in the range of $500-1000 should be a cause of concern for the industry.

Wristwatches are one of the many prominent offerings from Switzerland along with cheese, chocolate and, of course, the banking system for stashing huge funds. The watch making industry employs tens of thousands of workers and the smartwatch craze might affect their livelihood.

Mr. Mock said that the Swiss watch industry hasn’t been innovating enough to keep up with the new challenges from the tech industry. He cited the quartz crisis of 1970’s and 80’s when cheap watch offerings from Japan took over large market shares from Swiss watchmakers. He said that the Swiss industry has the technology to deliver competent product in the age of smartwatches, and they should take proactive efforts to tackle the assault from the tech industry. Elmar Mock warned that if corrective actions weren’t taken, the watch industry might face severe troubles in two to three years.

Smartwatches as a segment has a long way to go, and the most glaring deficiency of these devices is the battery life that mostly tends to last a day or two. It adds on as an extra device that regularly demands its moment on the charging plug while a regular watch runs for months or even years on a single battery. This is one of the major causes that discourages folks from buying these new devices. So the watchmakers should anticipate a comfortable run till the time the tech companies figure out the battery side of things.

March 11, 2015
Why Apple MacBook’s Force Touch is the Trackpad of the Future

Steve Jobs had a vision, years ago, that the mouse needed only one button, and it seems his vision is finally realised with the newest addition to its ecosystem, the Apple MacBook. One of the most nerdy aspects about the newly unveiled device is the fact that it comes with a Force Touch trackpad. Force Touch was first introduced months ago with the Apple Watch.

So, what exactly is ‘Force Touch’ technology?

Simply put, it is the mechanism which senses pressure. It is an entirely novel innovation that merges the previously released Multi-Touch with force sensors. That means besides sensing the multiple points of contact on your screen, the new feature can also gauge the amount of pressure put on each contact; detecting the subtle difference between the quantity of pressure imposed. This makes the technology infused devices smarter than any other smartphones and smartwatches in the world.

The current generation of MacBook’s use a ‘Diving Board’ design. The top part of the trackpad remains stable, any part of the lower end can be used to click or right click. The new Force Touch trackpad, gets four new sensors – allowing you to click using any part of the designated surface.

Through the sensors on the trackpad of the gadgets, it can judge a light tap and a deep press, bringing a broad range of contextual controls right to your fingertips. The actions can be categorised in three forms: Force click, Accelerator and Pressure-sensing drawing.

The Force click gives users access to different websites without switching to the other pages. It can bring up the Wikipedia by clicking a word, preview a file in the Finder, and create a new Calendar by applying a little push on the trackpad. You will be in control of adding new shortcuts to apps, such as bringing up the a map of the location just by force clicking the address.

The next is accelerator that accelerators the speed of a QuickTime movie. Press harder to fast-forward the shot quickly and if you wish to proceed gradually, steadily apply force on the trackpad. One can also zoom in Maps through the same tactic.

The next forte of Force Touch trackpad is pressure-sensing drawing. Draw a signature on the device just like a pen on paper. Put more pressure for a bold stroke and press lightly to get a thin line. This drawing can be used as an attachment for emails.

Apple has slipped the technology in Macbooks and the Apple Watch for now, but it has been learnt that the next iPhone is likely to come with the same feature.

March 11, 2015
Report : Next iPhone to Come in a Pink Colour Variant and Feature Force Touch

The Apple event on Monday saw the introduction of new Force Touch technology on the MacBook. The revolutionary tool is incorporated on the Apple Watch and the new 12-inch MacBook, that looks insanely sleek and light. The tech giant has plans to expand the responsive touch technology to the iPhone lineup and according to a recent report by the Wall Street Journal, users may see the new Force Touch in the next iPhone.

Force Touch uses tiny electrodes around the flexible Retina display to distinguish between a light tap and a deep press, and trigger instant access to a range of contextually specific controls. This new addition brings the possibility to spawn fresh applications to the device.

The news of Force Touch inclusion on the next-gen smartphone is not much a surprise as the company has followed the same approach for multi-touch display debuted in 2007. Post the launch of multi-touch technology on iPhone, MacBook joined the league to enclose the same mechanism.

The international publishing daily also mentioned the new colour option Apple may be offering with the next-gen iPhone. The report stated that users may choose a pink iPhone this time, but it is presently in testing mode.

Tentatively titled ‘iPhone 6s’ is anticipated to house the same features found in the other ‘s’ iterations. It will sport an upgraded 2GB RAM and will be shipped with an Apple SIM. With revamped features and improved tools, the next smartphone can establish as a milestone for Apple just like iPhone 6 and 6 Plus.

March 11, 2015
All the Important Announcements From Apple’s Mega Event in One Place

The ‘Spring Forward’ event held by Apple last evening was the exhibition of the finest innovations by the tech giant. The company disclosed some presumed devices along with other unpredictable technologies. The highlight of the show remained the Apple Watch, the most expensive smartwatch, and light weight 12-inch MacBook.

Here’s a compiled list of announcements made by the Cupertino-based company yesterday:

1. ResearchKit

ResearchKit is an open source software framework designed for medical and health research, helping doctors and scientists gather data more frequently and more accurately from participants using iPhone apps. It is made specifically for medical researchers.

ResearchKit and HealthKit work hand in hand. Simply put, the ResearchKit turns iPhones and HealthKit into power diagnostic tools. An mPower app is built that uses ResearchKit to detect the most core and fatal diseases like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, asthma, and breast cancer.

2. New 12-inch MacBook

The Apple event got gargantuan with the introduction of the new sleek and stylish MacBook. The 12-inch gadget comes with Retina display and weighs a mere 2 pounds. The laptop is thinner than MacBook Air at 13.1mm. Even if it’s slimmer and lighter, the build and internal quality of the machine is uncompromised. There is a full-sized keyboard redesigned to fit the smaller size.

Other than that, the new notebook features Force Touch trackpad that senses pressure, telling the difference between a light tap and a deep press. Also, it sports next-gen USB-C port, a third of the size of standard USB cable. It supports fast charging, quick data transfer and is all in a single connector.

The all-new MacBook comes in two variants. Both of them will be available from April 10. The one will bit lower specifications comes at Rs. 99,990 and is embedded with 1.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.4 GHz, bundled with 8GB of memory, 256GB of flash storage and Intel HD Graphics 5300. The higher version holding 1.2 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.6GHz, 8GB of memory, 512GB of flash storage, and Intel HD Graphics 5300 is priced at Rs. 119,900.

3. Next-Gen Reversible USB-C

The new MacBook comes with one single port. Which means that if you want to charge your laptop and transfer documents at the same time, you need to invest in an external attachment. USB-C was undoubtedly biggest announcements of the night. The next-gen USB Type C is slim and sturdy, and is one-third the size of a traditional USB port. Apple’s new MacBook is the first one to incorporate the smallest ever USB.

The revolutionary technology solves the purpose of having too many USB ports. The new connectivity standard gives you five ports in one – power, USB data transfer, DisplayPort, HDMI, and VGA capabilities. The reversible Type-C connector is roughly the same size as the existing Micro-USB connector at the bottom of your smartphone, but it’s reversible. Also, it facilitates faster charging and quick data transfer. While some may consider it tedious, Apple has taken a major step towards removing the excessive wires/cords in our lives.

4. MacBook Pro and Air Upgraded with faster processors

The tech biggie has updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with the fifth generation Intel Core processors, Intel Iris Graphics 6100, two times faster flash, and longer battery life. The upgraded 13-inch MacBook Pro features fifth generation Intel Core processors up to 3.1 GHz, Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.4 GHz, along with faster flash and better battery, as stated above. The new version ranges from Rs. 94,900 to 129,900.

On the other hand, the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air are upgraded with the fifth generation Intel Core processors, Intel HD Graphics 6000, Thunderbolt 2, and up to two times faster flash. The updated 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air now feature fifth generation Intel Core processors up to 2.2 GHz, Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.2 GHz, bundled with Thunderbolt 2. The 11-inch notebook comes at two price points depending on configuration, Rs. 65,900 and 79,900. However, the 13-inch MacBook is priced a little higher at Rs. 72,900 and 86,900.

5. Force Touch trackpad

Force Touch trackpad has brought a new dimension to the Mac interactivity. It is highly responsive and feels your touch more than ever. The new trackpad features built-in force sensors that monitor the amount of pressure released in each click. One can customize the feel of the trackpad by changing the amount of pressure.

Force Touch trackpad enables a new gesture called Force Click. A click followed by a deeper press for tasks like pulling up the definition of a word, quickly seeing a map or glancing at a preview of a file.iOS 8.2

6. iOS 8.2

Along with gadgets, Apple event saw the launch of a new software upgrade – iOS 8.2. The new operating system is out for its compatible Apple products like iPhone 5 and later, Apple Watch and more.

The upgraded version is more stable and comes with bug fixes. Mail, Music, and Maps have got a significant boost along with iTunes. Moreover, one can download third-party health apps to keep themselves fit.

7. Apple Watch

The main highlight of the show, Apple Watch, as beautiful as ever, is now officially the most expensive smartwatch ever. It’s a personalised device and comes with different watch faces. The Watch supports iOS 8.2 and comes with many pre-installed apps like Uber, Shazam, WeChat, Twitter, Apple Pay and health apps.

The built-in speaker and microphone on the Watch that lets you receive calls on the go. Apple Pay is embedded in the device that allows you to pay money through the Watch on wrist. The battery life of the wearable is decent at 18 hours. The Apple Watch comes in three variants – Sport, Regular and Gold Edition. It starts from $549 and goes as high as $1700. HBO Now Coming to Apple TV

8. HBO Now Coming to Apple TV

The company launched the new exclusive device Apple TV and announced the subscription service of HBO for the users. The service is restricted to Apple TV users as of now, but soon the company will extend it to iPhone and iPad. Subscribed viewers can watch the channel through web browsers and can access the entire library of original shows and feature films catalogue of HBO.

The service is coming next month and will cost $14.99 per month. For those who sign up for the Apple device in April will get it free for one month.

March 10, 2015
New iOS 8.2 Comes With a Pre-installed Apple Watch App That Cannot be Removed

Apple announced the new software upgrade in the Apple event yesterday and declared that the new software will be available for iPhones 5 and above. The upgraded version is revamped but if you have it installed on your iPhone, the first thing that might catch your attention is the non-removable Apple Watch app.

The application sits on the screen and if you click the Apple Watch icon, it will take you to the company’s website. According to Business Insider, it is an empty screen for now, but soon the tool will showcase the Apple Watch applications. Looks like, Apple is trying to advertise its first smartwatch to every user through iPhones.

Not only the promotional Apple Watch app comes with the iOS 8.2, there’s a number of apps you can’t remove once the latest operating system controls your device. The apps encompasses Passbook, Tips, Stocks, Weather, Calendar, Clock, FaceTime, Contacts, iBooks, Compass, Maps, Health, Newsstand, Photos, Camera, Notes, Messages, Voice Memos, the iTunes Store, and the App Store.

Besides few downsides, the new software has some advantages as well. The upgraded version is more stable and comes with bug fixes. Mail, Music, and Maps have got a major boost along with iTunes. Moreover, one can download third-party health apps to keep themselves fit.

In case you missed any announcement about the Apple Watch event, do check it here.

March 10, 2015
Major MacBook Pro, Air Announcements Which Got Overshadowed By The Apple Watch
At last night night’s event, Apple unveiled several new developments in its ever growing ecosystem. We’ve already discussed the amazing new MacBook and the Apple Watch in detail. But here’s something we missed out on.

Apple has updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display with the new Force Touch trackpad, fifth generation Intel Core processors and Intel Iris Graphics 6100. Apple also updated the 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air with fifth generation Intel Core processors, Intel HD Graphics 6000, and Thunderbolt 2.

The 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display features the Force Touch trackpad, which features built-in force sensors. The updated 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display also features fifth generation Intel Core processors up to 3.1 GHz, with Turbo Boost Speeds up to 3.4 GHz, integrated with Intel Iris Graphics 6100, and flash storage that is up to two times faster, with throughput up to 1.6GBps, says Apple. In addition, Apple claims the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina display now delivers up to 10 hours of battery life and up to 12 hours of iTunes movie playback.

The updated 11-inch and 13-inch MacBook Air now feature fifth generation Intel Core processors up to 2.2 GHz, with Turbo Boost speeds up to 3.2 Ghz, integrated Intel HD Graphics 6000, and Thunderbolt 2, delivering up to 20Gbps, which Apple says is twice the bandwidth of the previous generation. The 13- inch MacBook Air also features faster flash storage that is up to two times faster than the previous generation.

The updated MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are now available via select Apple authorised dealers across India. Have a below for pricing and models.

Mac Book Air
- 13 inch with 128 GB flash storage – Rs.72,900
- 13 inch with 256 GB flash storage- Rs.86,900
- 11 inch with 128 GB flash storage – Rs.65,900
- 11 inch with 256 GB flash storage – Rs.79,900
MacBook Pro
- 13 inch with 128 GB flash storage – Rs.94,900
- 13 inch with 256 GB flash storage- Rs.109,900
- 13 inch 2.9 Ghz with 512GB flash storage – Rs. 129,000
In addition, customers can also avail configure-to-order options. For more information head over to Apple’s official India page here.
March 10, 2015
New MacBook is the First Apple Device to be Powered By Intel Core M Chipsets

Apple’s new product lineup unveiled at the recent ‘Spring Forward’ event. As expected, the event was mostly dedicated to Apple’s new product family, the Apple Watch. Apart from the Watch, Apple also brought out the new powerful yet slimmer MacBook, which is powered by Intel’s fifth-generation Core M processor.

Intel Core M processor was previously called Broadwell-Y. It is a dual-core chip based on 14 Nm architecture. It has 1.3 billion transistors on its tiny surface. The Core M chipset was launched to reinvent the notebook and looks like Apple has taken a lead in that game with the new MacBook.

Core M is claimed to be one of the most energy efficient processors in the market. It requires 5 watts of power to perform its tasks. On the MacBook, it comes along with Intel HD Graphics 5300. The processor also helped to create a fanless device that would that you won’t be troubled by the never-ending buzz of the notebook’s fan ever again. The logic board is seated on top of an anisotropic graphite sheet, which helps disperse any heat that is generated out to the sides, thus removing the need for the fan.

Core M processor helped in creating miniaturized logic board and offer rest of the space to the battery.

This new processor also helped Apple to miniaturize the hardware components of the MacBook so that the maximum amount of space can be freed up for battery storage. The MacBook comes in two variants in India; one with a 1.1 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.4 GHz while the other is offered with 1.2 GHz dual-core Intel Core M processor with Turbo Boost speeds up to 2.6GHz.

With this launch, Apple has put in its contender in the Intel Core M powered device market. Brands like Lenovo, Dell, HP, Asus and others have already introduced their Core M offerings. Samsung had already gone ahead and launched their fanless notebook called Ativ Book 9 in the market. Now with the Apple MacBook coming into the arena, this space will see some intense competition.

March 10, 2015