14 DAY TRIAL // As expected, Apple's online store is down. The company's staff is undoubtedly updating the venue with goodies yet to be announced at the Macworld Expo today. So, here's what you should expect.
17-inch MacBook Pro
Last week, rumor had it that Apple's yet-incomplete family of “unibody” notebooks was finally going to include the 17-inch MacBook Pro. The powerful notebook is expected to feature the latest Intel Core 2 Duo processors available, and a new graphics architecture that allows users to switch between the integrated graphics processor (for better battery life) and the powerful, discrete graphics processor (for higher performance). The next-generation Mini DisplayPort is also likely to appear on the new notebook. The port will serve users looking to connect with the new Apple LED Cinema Display.
New iMacs
PC Perspective suggests that two new 20" iMacs equipped with NVIDIA chipsets, as well as a large 24" iMac slapped with a 9600 / 9800 GPU are on track for a Macworld 2009 unveiling. Moreover, as highly improbable as it may sound, the site's sources believe Apple is also rolling out a 28-inch model. To complement the large display, the company is expected to place an Intel Core i7 processor on top of the NVIDIA 9800M chipset, under the system's hood.
New Mac mini(s) Virtually everyone agrees that a revamped Mac mini is one of the imminent announcements to be made by Apple's Phil Schiller during the Macworld keynote. The low-end desktop computer allegedly has a built-in optical drive (just like the current model), along with some updated graphics, most likely powered by NVIDIA's 9400/9300M platform. Two ports are expected to be included with the device, one for use with Apple's old monitors, the other (the Mini DisplayPort) for use with the company's new Cinema displays. A new firewire 800 port is also rumored for the new-generation Mac mini. A case redesign and other impressions are in order as well, various sources claim. Apple may also release a sub-$500 version of the mini, in order to appease a restless community eager to use Mac OS X without having to resort to hacks.
New versions of iWork, iMovie
Hours ago, it was revealed that, for a small period of time, Apple’s Downloads section listed ‘iWork ‘09’ as available. Although not officially announced yet, iWork, along with iMovie and other apps in the iLife suite are rumored to get a facelift, as well as online functionality.
Snow Leopard
It is believed that Apple wants to introduce Snow Leopard before rival Microsoft launches its much anticipated Windows 7. At the time of the rumor, the Guardian had gained knowledge that Apple's keynote presentation was going to be held by Phil Schiller, which turned out to be true. As such, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing is expected to showcase the new OS at this year's edition of the Macworld Expo. Other sources claim Apple isn't releasing Mac OS X 10.6 before February, mostly because of OpenCL's recent ratification.
iPhone nano
In what is probably the least expected announcement of the Philnote, some believe Apple is prepping to unveil a stripped down version of the revolutionary iPhone. Case manufacturers have been dropping hints that the device is real, by listing the availability of protective cases for such a device, some even posting images of the products. Knock-offs shouldn't even make the subject of this discussion.
So, that's pretty much it. Anything else you'd like to see popping up in Apple's store when it's up again? Sound off in the comments!