This week has been pretty good for technology updates in my little world. I’d like to highlight a few of these updates.
First, the new iPhone 3.0 software update came out Wednesday. The changes to the various programs are mainly fairly minor. Such minor items include the ability to not load remote images in Mail, Mail and Messages now go widescreen for easier typing and Stocks has been enhanced with a widescreen view. However, there are larger updates included that really make the update well worth installing. What would these be? How about global search (similar to QuickGold on jailbroken devices), cut-copy-paste and undo support across all apps with an intuitive interface that makes it very easy to select what you want to copy/paste across any app? Also, the entire phone seems faster and more responsive now more than ever before.
Along with this great update is the fact that it’s able to be jailbroken already on the current iPhone 3G. Friday I went through and jailbroke mine to have the best of everything. Coming soon is the unlock (Ultrasn0w).
The second tech update for the week is my new 15.4″ Macbook Pro. This is from the new line announced at last week’s Worldwide Developers Conference. It left Shanghai Monday and arrived at home very late in the day Friday. Unfortunately, late Wednesday I started to get sick and Thursday I was feeling very crappy (constant nose and throat issues along with pressure in head). So, I took Friday as a sick day from work (not knowing Macbook was coming as it was scheduled for delivery for the following Tuesday). There’s still some remnants of the sickness remaining, but the bulk is gone. Anyway, the Macbook Pro came from Fedex at about 4:04 (give or take a few seconds). At which point, I unboxed it (pics below) and then fired it up for the first time.
I’ve used some of the new Macbooks at work from various faculty purchases, but it’s different when it’s your own laptop. You notice more things with it. For instance, the volume is a lot better than the white Macbook. It has more depth to it and seems to be louder although not by that much. The Macbook Pros all are the aluminum unibody design which means that they take a solid piece of aluminum and laser-cut out the entire body which provides for a much sturdier, yet lighter industrial design. This can be felt when using the laptop as it is quite sturdy. The trackpad is new and has no visible button (the entire trackpad is in fact a button). It is also very silky – the finger just glides right across it very smoothly with no resistance. The backlit keyboard provides a great experience when using the Macbook at night or in low-light conditions. The backlight is completely adjustable via keyboard keys. The screen no longer has two small raised pieces which allow the screen to stay off the keyboard when closed. Now, there’s a thin ruberized gasket around the entire display which cusions the screen more.
While not fair because this new Macbook Pro is almost three years newer, the speed difference is very noticeable. Things just start with little or no lag. I’ve yet to try it out, but I can now choose between integrated and non-integrated graphics. This change does require a logout to take affect though, which I’d never seen documented or mentioned anywhere.
All in all, it’s been a pretty good week so far.
Gallery added after the break.
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