Apple launches ultra-thin notebook

APPLE has used the annual Macworld convention in San Francisco to lift the veil from its new Next Big Thing – the “world’s thinnest notebook” known as the MacBook Air.

And Apple chief executive Steve Jobs says the company has been able to produce the super slim-line packaging without trashing useability or performance.

The MacBook Air measures just 0.4cm (0.16-inches) at its thinnest point, while its maximum height of 1.9cm (0.76-inches) is less than the thinnest point on competing notebooks.

“We’ve built the world’s thinnest notebook – without sacrificing a full-size keyboard or a full-size 13-inch display,” Mr Jobs said.

“When you first see MacBook Air, it’s hard to believe it’s a high-performance notebook with a full-size keyboard and display. But it is.”

MacBook Air has a 13.3-inch LED-backlit widescreen display, a full-size and backlit keyboard, a built-in iSight video camera for video conferencing, and a spacious trackpad with multi-touch gesture support so users can pinch, rotate and swipe.

The machine is powered by a 1.6 GHz or 1.8 GHz Intel Core 2 Duo processor with 4MB L2 cache, and includes as standard features 2GB of memory, an 80GB hard drive, and the latest 802.11n Wi-Fi technology.

The MacBook Air is positioned to bridge the gap between Apple’s entry-level notebooks and its high performance machines. It is priced in the US from about US$1800, but will be released in Australia at the somewhat higher A$2,500.

The MacBook Air will be available in Australia through regular Apple resellers in February.

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Apple steers iTunes to movie rentals

APPLE hopes the spectacular success of its iTunes music business can be replicated in the online movie rental market, using MacWorld to announce distribution agreements with all of the major Hollywood studios.

Users in the US will be able to rent movies from US$2.99 (A$3.40) and watch them on Macs or PCs, Apple TV or even iPod and iPhone devices.

The service features rentals from 20th Century Fox, Disney Studios, Warner Bros., Paramount, Universal Studios, Sony Pictures, MGM, Lionsgate and New Line Cinema.

The iTunes Movie Rentals service requires a valid credit card with a billing address in the country of purchase. iTunes Movie Rentals are available in the US only and are US$2.99 for library titles and US$3.99 for new releases, and high definition versions are priced just one dollar more with library titles at US$3.99 and new releases at US$4.99.

Apple says it will offer more than 1,000 titles by the end of February.

The announcement has long been anticipated, but it still had an impact on the share price of rental competitors. Share in US rental giant Blockbuster plunged 17 per cent after Apple chief executive Steve Jobs outlined the plan in a speech to Macworld.

“iTunes Movie Rentals instantly brings great movies from all the major studios directly to your iPod, iPhone, TV or computer – without having to drive to the video store or wait for DVDs to arrive in the mail,” Mr Jobs said.

iTunes’ legendary ease of use, et cetera et cetera.

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