Apple Macbook Pro

Apple is likely to unveil a freshly updated edition of its MacBook Pro range of laptops during the WWDC this year, according to TechRadar.

While there are scant details about the precise plans that Apple has for its high end notebooks, it seems likely that these models will be thinner than their predecessors, while also packing in more power.

An ultra high resolution Retina Display is also thought to be an option on the 15 inch iteration of the MacBook Pro, with Apple choosing to integrate USB 3.0 ports, to sweeten the deal.

The new devices are unlikely to come close to matching the MacBook Air, or the Intel range of Ultrabook laptops, when it comes to thinness, but any kind of reduction in depth will be welcomed by fans.

Apple is getting ready to release the latest version of its OS X operating system in the middle of the year, which would coincide nicely with the arrival of new laptops. The promise of a Retina display would also show that there is a growing convergence between Apple’s laptops and its mobile devices like the iPad, the latter of which are becoming the testing ground for the latest technology.

iPad 4G

When the new iPad launched earlier this year, it was touted as being capable of delivering 4G network performance, which would go above and beyond what was capable with previous 3G generations of the tablet.

However, the tech giant has now been forced to rename the top end iPad 3 as capable of offering Wi-Fi and cellular networking, which notably drops the 4G tag.

This move has been prompted by a raft of complaints from those who believe that Apple has been selling its tablet to consumers under a false premise.

Apple stores across the world, including in the UK, will no longer put the two letters of 4G anywhere near a new iPad, which is perhaps particularly sensible in Britain, where there is no 4G LTE coverage in the first place.

It has taken Apple some time to comply with assurances it gave to the Advertising Standards Agency in the UK, over the extrication of any 4G marketing, because this could clearly put consumers at risk of being fooled into thinking that their new tablet was faster than anything else around.

This also highlights the need for the speedy rollout of 4G network technology across the country, because the UK is still lagging behind others in this area.

HP_EliteBookFolio

The current crop of high end Ultrabook laptops are sleek, slender machines that are great for web browsing and media playback. However, HP is attempting to inject a little more practicality into the market, with its EliteBook Folio model.

While the EliteBook Folio is not set to hit stores until the autumn, it promises to be an intriguing introduction to the market.

A 14 inch display, super slender 1.9cm chassis and the subtle Beats Audio branding, suggests that this will be superficially similar to the growing number of Ultrabook models available at the moment.

However, it will be available with a separate battery pack which boosts its portability and also adds to the amount of inputs which are available, making it quite a useful docking station.

In the meantime, the integrated Trusted Platform Module (TPM), will allow it to offer enterprise-grade data encryption and easy integration into existing business networks.

Given that the EliteBook Folio is still in development, it is anticipated that it will arrive with a spanking new Intel Core iSeries processor when it hits later in 2012. For business users who want an eminently classic laptop, this could well become the device of choice.

The arrival of App Centre is significant for a number of reasons, most pertinently because it will be able to offer third party developers the chance to actually charge people to use their software.

App Centre will not only be available from a standard web browser but will also be coming to the mobile iterations of Facebook, for Android and iOS in the short term and perhaps for other platforms further down the line.

While it is still in its early phases, the App Centre will be relatively fully featured, allowing users to see which apps are the most popular, as well as getting a personalised list of programs that they might like based on their previous usage.

Charging users for apps could be a brand new way for Facebook to extrapolate money from its users, since the service has previously relied almost entirely on advertising to generate revenue. Quite how much of an impact the service will have in the long term remains to be seen.

The M6 could be a very interesting addition to the market because it seems to be aping the look and feel of an Ultrabook device, with a slim, stylish chassis crafted from metal and a premium grade finish throughout.

However, TechRadar reports that the M6 is unlikely to achieve full Ultrabook status, because it will not use a solid state hard drive, instead sticking for the more traditional type of storage, with all the platters and moving parts intact.

HP’s partnership with Beats Audio will mean that the M6 has some excellent speakers, for a laptop. Meanwhile, the company has confirmed that processors from both AMD and Intel will be available under the bonnet.

The M6 could be a compelling choice for anyone who wants to get an Ultrabook experience without shelling out the extra cash for the privilege. It should be out at some point next month, with a preliminary price tag of under £600.

Apple MacBook Air

Reports suggest that Apple could be making its MacBook Air laptop range a little cheaper, with the addition of a more budget-oriented option, rumoured to be scheduled for later in 2012.

Sources quoted by DigiTimes, imply that the updated model will be made available at around £729, which is £120 less than the current entry level option in this super-slim range of laptops.

This move is perhaps unsurprising, given that chip manufacturer Intel and various partner companies have been pushing out the Ultrabook laptops to compete directly with the MacBook Air, often at more competitive price points.

Intel is hoping that the typical price of an Ultrabook will eventually settle at the equivalent of £431, which is still significantly lower than Apple’s alleged asking price for the MacBook Air.

Of course, Apple is always known to price its products above its competitors, relying on the prestige that this generates to foster sales. This tactic has worked well so far and it should be no different if Apple does cut the cost of owning a MacBook Air in the fourth quarter of 2012.

The Ultrabook market will get some help of its own before the end of the year, as the arrival of Windows 8 will renew interest in these laptops.

Touch the future with Windows 8

In a slightly odd move, it looks like Microsoft has decided to remove native support for the playback of DVD movies from Windows 8, its upcoming operating system that will be appearing on laptops and desktop computers before the end of the year.

In a blog post about the software, it was explained that Windows 8 users will either have to turn to a third party media player when the platform arrives, or alternatively, splash out for the edition of the OS which includes Media Centre.

Microsoft’s reasoning is that Windows 8 will be all about online media, with streaming and digital file playback pushed to the foreground.

While this may be seen as a slightly silly move, given that millions of people still use DVDs and have vast collections of discs, it will not be much of a practical problem.

When you buy a new laptop or PC, it will typically come preinstalled with some form of third party media player to augment the basic Windows software, so popping in a DVD will still be a legitimate way to entertain yourself.

This move does suggest that the world really is being altered by the proliferation of streaming sites and a move away from physical storage.

Solar Keyboard for iPad

One of the main problems with the iPad range is that you cannot really keep up with traditional laptops or desktop computers when it comes to typing, because touchscreen interfaces are still sluggish, compared with physical keyboards.

However, a new accessory from Logitech hopes to address this issue in an eco-friendly manner that is also highly functional.

The Solar Keyboard Folio is the product in question, offering compatibility with both the third generation iPad and the preceding iPad 2.

It is actually a full case for the tablet, folding away neatly to protect your device when it is not in use, while also acting as a stand, so that you can type comfortably on a flat surface, with the iPad’s screen angled conveniently.

The environmentally conscious nature of the Solar Keyboard Folio is of course found in its integrated solar panel technology.

There is a built in battery which is recharged when you are in a well lit area or outside, with this being used to power the Bluetooth connectivity, which allows the keyboard to synchronise with the iPad.

Even if the lights go out, Logitech claims that you can get up to 1,000 hours of use from a fully charged battery.

Sony VAIO T13

It looks like fans of the Ultrabook range will have one more choice on their hands when Sony releases its VAIO T13 later in the year.

The T13 did make a brief appearance at the Consumer Electronics Show back in January, but now it is fully developed and approaching the time at which it will be put on sale across the world.

All Ultrabooks are intended to be slim, stylish and powerful, which are three features that can definitely be attributed to the T13.

Inside, you will find a Core i3 chip from Intel, the company that kick started the Ultrabook campaign in the first place, along with 4GB of RAM and integrated graphics.

A 13.3 inch display with a native resolution of 1366×768 will feature on the T13, as will a webcam, Bluetooth connectivity, an HDMI output and plenty of USB inputs.

To make sure that this VAIO is in keeping with the svelte chassis necessary for it to class as an Ultrabook, Sony has kitted it out with a SSD for storage. This energy efficient component will also allow the laptop to keep going for up to nine hours on a single charge, which will be convenient for those who are always on the move.

The Pirate Bay

Swedish file sharing hub, The Pirate Bay, will now be kept off the web browsers of millions of British users after the High Court ruled that internet service providers (ISPs) should block access to the site altogether.

The BBC reports that major ISPs, including Virgin Media and TalkTalk, will be obligated to ban The Pirate Bay altogether, which means that people looking to download movies, games, music and other digital files illegally, will have to look elsewhere.

The site is in the top 100 in the world in terms of visitor numbers, with millions of people actually registered for an account with the service, which lets people share copyrighted material, as well as legitimate open license data, for free.

At the time of writing, only Virgin Media has issued a statement in the wake of the ruling, pointing out that while it will follow the letter of the law and block the site, it would rather not manage its users’ connections in such a blunt manner.

Instead Virgin Media would prefer to point users to legal services like Spotify, which allow the same level of convenience and scalability as online pirating, but with copyright owners being recognised and reimbursed for their work.