REVIEWED: THE ALL-NEW IPAD 2
CORE
magazine MAY 2011
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Contents
magazine Cover Story The all-new MacBook Pro
4.
+ including details of the revolutionary Thunderbolt port. What difference will it make for you.
6.
Smartphone Core iPhone 5 wishlist + We take a closer look at what rumoured ideas are likely to be included in this summers hottest release.
10.
Software MAC OS X vs. Windows 7
+ in the first of many comparisons, we take a closer look at start-up and shut down times for the two operating systems.
Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
REVIEWED Apple iPad 2
11. 8.
Apple Television Review: Apple TV
+ Re-designed to a small yet sleek black box, core magazine looks to see if good things really do come in small packages.
12. Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
2. Core Magazine MAY 2011
Feature Editors Comment
+ Core’s Editor Caedo Williams writes about the potential of Apple products in educating minds of the future.
Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
Image courtesy of Micromat.com
The MacBook Pro Just Got Better Also get a first look at the new Thunderbolt Port
Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
REVIEW Apple has released an updated version of their popular MacBook Pro range, which comprise of power, and a new high-speed port named Thunderbolt. Core Magazine takes a closer look at what the new model has to offer. For a more in depth review of the three sizes 13-inch, 15-inch and 17inch respectively check out next month’s edition of Core magazine. So what’s new…
Power
i7 technology, which gives a noticeable boost in power. The 15-inch and 17-inch models replace the mid range i5 processors with massive Quad-core I7 processors. One drawback to this however is the battery life, which has been reduced from 9-10 hours down to 7 hours. That being said, buyers of the new notebook wont mind in the slightest once they see how fast the new machine is. Memory remains the same at 4GB, which is more than enough for most users, however there is still the option of upgrading to 8GB.
Adam Crane, Apple Sales Rep, “the power in the machine brings the operating system to a new level of speed and ease of use.” The three sizes receive sub-
stantial boosts in processing power meaning using the already quick notebooks will seem even better. The 13-inch models get the best upgrade replacing Intel Dual-core processors with Dual-core 4. Core Magazine MAY 2011
Graphics Graphics get an upgrade as 13inch model switches to Intel HD Graphics 3000 while 15 and 17-inch models have the same graphics card while also incorporating AMD Radeon HD
6490M and 6750M respectively giving the potential to double and quadruple Graphics power.
Chassis The uni-body design remains the same, and as standard users get two USB 2.0 ports and three in the 17-inch model whilst having Gigabit Ethernet, Firewire 800, and the usual headphone and audio line in inputs. The key new feature to the Macbook pro family is the thunderbolt port looked at in closer detail on the next page. Incorporated under the chassis, the Hard-drive has received a nice boost across the ranger offering 320GB storage up to 750GB although the incorporation of Solid-state disks would have been preferred.
Camera The previous model incorporated a built-in iSight camera
go to gadget shows. For instance being able to send two HD videos to two 27” displays at the same time! Wow
Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
at 640-480 resolution. Owners and potential buyers of the new range will be pleased to know that Built-in Facetime HD camera at 1280-720 resolution has been incorporated into the new model meaning programs like photo booth become even better thanks to sharper images.
Thunderbolt Port We at Core magazine are exited and apprehensive at Apple’s latest brainchild. Thunderbolt boasts power that is claimed to be 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and 20 times faster than USB 2.0. With the recent release
of USB 3.0 it looks like there will be a battle for dominance. Thunderbolt seems primed to be in poll position as it is twice as fast as USB 3.0 giving it room for greater potential. The new technology developed under the code name of “Light Peak” in partnership with those geniuses at Intel has the potential to transfer 1.25 Gigabytes of data from one
Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
device to another. To put that into prospective Thunderbolt is bi-directional which means users can simulate those fancy screen displays, the kind that you dream of having when you
Once more Thunderbolt has the potential to replace all other inputs in the future as up to 7 devices can be run at the same time from the one socket. The question you know as is what devices are currently available and the answer is not many at the moment. As the technology is so new companies are now just starting to develop devices such as Hard Drives and it is rumoured Canon will release an SLR that supports the port. Steven Williams, a Cisco engineer said, “The port will allow me to multi-task large quantities of data easily making my job a lot easier.” The benefits seem to appeal
to an array of users so it will be interesting to see how successful the connection becomes. If it fulfils its potential it could be the port to end all others!
Design
Overall Rating
Performance
8/10
8.5/10
9/10
5. Core Magazine MAY 2011
iPhone 5 Wishlist Core’s must have’s for the new Smartphone
A
pple enthusiasts and phone lovers the world over have started to speculate about the features for the upcoming iPhone 5 due for release in the summer of 2011. Before reading on it is necessary to understand the following is guesswork. As with all Apple products until Steve Jobs has his presentation showcase the details are never for certain.
iPad 2, components will likely be transferred over to the new model. First and foremost will be a Dual-Core processor known as the A5 processor which will double the speed of the new iPhone if included. The iPhone 5 will also get a sizeable graphical boost as it moves to a dual-core GPU – which could see 1080p output from the new device on Apple TV and High-Def television sets.
Of course, since the iPhone 3G was followed by the 3GS it’s possible the new iPhone won’t be a complete new model so we may see an iPhone 4S (or iPhone 4GS) before an iPhone 5.
The uni-body design incorporated in the MacBook pro and ipad 2 may also be utilised in the new iPhone which will help to reduce the size of phone and improve the toughness of the device.
The first question people want answered is when they will be able to get their hands on a shiny new Iphone 5. Consumers will understand and appreciate the iphone has been released annually since its first release back in 2007. This year it is speculated the phone will be released anywhere between June and August.
The iPhone 4 took a big leap forward by including an LED flash-light and 5 mega-pixel camera. Camera enthusiasts will hope to see an improvement possibly increasing the picture quality up to 8-mega pixels which would make the iPhone a Full High-Definition camera phone.
Number one on Apple’s agenda should be a re-design of the phone which had huge criticism on its previous release after signal problems due to the antenna’s design which, when held in the left hand blocked phone signal.
Last but certainly not least is whether or not the new phone will include NFC Technology. NFC or Near Field Communication turning would turn the iPhone into a kind of credit/debit card. With the arrival of the technology in Google Nexus S, the time for NFC may have arrived for Apple devices.
With the recent release of the 6. Core Magazine MAY 2011
Core experts also expect the basics of the iPhone 5 specs to get a bump for instance more memory for multi-tasking, and more storage for users to upload more music, videos and applications to the device. For a more in depth preview check out Core Magazine August edition for a full review of the new iPhone before its release.
Next Issue...
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+ We take a closer look at some of Apple’s latest software packages.
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The All-New iPad 2 The world’s best selling tablet just got an upgrade
Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
Less in your hands and more power at your fingertips. Following up on last year’s ground-breaking tablet is the iPad 2. The new model a thinner and more powerful variant will look to keep apple at the top of its handheld competitors. At Core we want to know if the iPad 2 is worth an upgrade for those that took the plunge on the first generation and most importantly, is the device going to attract new owners? Here’s the place to find out…
lighter than the original but it’s still not lightweight, but considering the extra power of the new iPad and maintaining 10 hours of battery life, it’s understandable. Maintaining this Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
Hardware The iPad 2 is incredibly thin, at just 0.34-inches at the thickest point. The Tablet is slightly shorter than the previous model, but also less wide at just 7.3-inches in comparison to the iPad’s 7.47-inches. Weighing in at 1.33 pounds the new tablet is slightly 8. Core Magazine MAY 2011
x 768 pixels on the display the quality of picture remains the same as the original ipad which could have done with an improvement. The inclusion of a front facing VGA camera and HD camera on the back off the device is what many people waiting to buy a tablet wanted from the new ipad. Consumers however won’t be replacing their standalone camera’s anytime soon however as although the camera are descent for a play around, by no means are they top quality especially in comparison to the new Motorola Xoom.
Software battery life is quite remarkable as the new A5 processor has 1GHZ of power increasing the graphics performance by 9x. The face of the new pad is generally the same at 9.7-inch, and at a resolution of 1024
The iPad 2 accompanies the new iOS 4.3 software, which is only a minor update with a few benefits. Notably, Apple has boosted browser performance, adding comprehensive Airplay support, alongside software like Garage Band; iMovie for
the iPad; Facetime and Photo booth. As with most apple software the ipad 2 will see lots of updates but it would have been nice to see completely new software the tablet.
ous model, the official case wrapped around your iPad or hanged onto the device with unsightly hooks or straps. Apple have devised a method for attaching the cover with
most desired tablet on the market today. The original ipad was a beautiful machine and the ipad 2 is even sleeker and aesthetically pleasing. What is missing from the device is a USB port to make it easier for people to transfer music, video and documents to their device as seen on Acers new tablet. What buyers will love is that the price for the respective models remains the same as the previous ipad when it was first released.
Core Recommends
Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
Accessories The key accessory for the new iPad 2 and undoubtedly one of its biggest selling points is the smart cover. The little flaps are basically screen protectors with a set of smart magnets along the side. On the previ-
Design
well-placed magnets and it’s surprising when you first see it; the magnets just seem to know where to go something that we at Core truly love.
Overall With the inclusion of camera’s the ipad 2 is now safely the
Rating
Performance
10/10 9/10 7/10 9. Core Magazine MAY 2011
Apple Smart Covers RRP. £59
Mac OS X Leopard vs. Windows 7 The 1st Round In the first of a series of tests we pit the current Windows operating system against the existing Mac OS X Leopard. In this edition of Core we start with the boot up tests.
Ever found that your computer takes forever to load up especially when you’re in a rush to use it. New operating systems claim to not only save battery life but also be quicker and easier to use. Ever found that when you’ve finished using your computer it takes forever to shut down.
Here are the results:
Windows 7 claims to be 10 times faster than XP and twice as fast as Vista, their previous system. In the test sampled we use the same base MacBook air that retails for £999.
WINNER! Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
Times are: Mac OS X Boot = 30.1 Seconds Windows 7 Boot = 37.5 Seconds Mac OS X Sleep = 0.3 Seconds Mac OS X Wake = 1.6 Seconds Windows Sleep = 1.6 Seconds Windows Wake = 4.1 Seconds Mac OS X Shutdown = 1.6 Seconds Windows Shutdown = 5.7 Seconds
10. Core Magazine MAY 2011
The All-New Apple TV Core takes a closer look at what the small black box has to offer
REVIEW Apple have just released a new and improved media streamer. The first thing that sticks out is the price, at just £101 it seems too good to be true there must be a catch, maybe it just works with Apple notebooks and computers. The answer is you would be wrong all consumers need is a computer (Windows or Mac) and have content which is available in your own iTunes account. Let’s take a closer look…
Hardware Refined to be 80% smaller than previous versions the media streamer can fit nicely with the rest of your gadgets, made possible by not needing to include a noisy fan. Even better when it’s not busy streaming all your favourite content is uses less energy than a night light. The A4 Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
chip allows for a more than capable high-definition experience offering up very crisp images although (users will need to purchase a separate HDMI cable), a slight annoyance that we found. Even better for true cinema lovers the box has the ability to connect a 5.1 home cinema system to bring the cinema to your living room.
Remote Included in the pack is a stylish remote which is easy to use, although 11. Core Magazine MAY 2011
Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
it would have been nice to have a keyboard order to type in search panels although users with an iPad, iPod touch, and iPhones will be pleased to know that their remote app which is free from the app store allows users to remote control the device on their compatible apple products.
Software Access your photos, videos and music files all from your iTunes library on a relatively easy operating system. Even better with an iTunes account users have the ability to rent and buy HD films, music, photos and TV Programmes. Users can also have access to YouTube, MobileMe and Flickr allowing for hours of video access for free to registered users.
Overall Rating Apple TV is a must have for anyone who wants to have their iTunes library accessible on the big screen. Great for Movies, Music and surfing internet videos the package of the Apple TV and remote is a steal at just £101. What is missing however is the inclusion of full highdefinition which would really bring the cinema experience to livings rooms the world over. Not to take anything away from the new model as it is a genius piece of kit which is surprisingly user friendly in comparison to other media streamers on the market today. Image courtesy of Apple Sales Web
By Caedo Williams
Editors Comment Apple in Education vices such as iWork which includes programs such as Pages keynote and numbers inspires creativity when completing projects.
Think Different. Apple products are not just for domestic use. They have been found to be suitable tools in business and industrial environments, and now they have been recognised as industry leading educational aids. Apple emphasis three key products which are hardware, software and pro-apps. Hardware is defined as physical products such as MacBook Pro’s and the ipad. Software is defined for example as Microsoft Office 2011. Pro-apps are defined as Logic Studio and Final Cut Studio amongst others. The product groups combined form a realisation that using the latest technologies can help materialise a learning outcome, improving on current teaching strategies. Fraser Spears, head of computing at Cedars School, Greenock Scotland. The first person to do a one-to-one rollout of iPads in classrooms in Europe. It catches the attention of students as it appeals to them and therefore enhances productivity. The apps for the de12. Core Magazine MAY 2011
Adam Crane, Apple Product Professional at DSGI International states that, “It’s not about changing the way people learn, it’s about adapting and embracing the latest technologies. Students and Teachers can engage each other in ways like never before by relating to the modern technological era.” Educational Ins-titutions are also eligible to apply for status as Apple Authorised Training Centres in which they can teach and certify people wishing to become certified in various aspects of the Mac OSX or Pro Applications. This will benefit an organisation by developing new skill sets in Apple technologies whilst at the same time considerably boosting revenue through teaching Apple courses. The valuable ethos to remember is adapting the way students learn compared to conventional methods used over time, this in turn will inspire productivity, creativeness and develop a critical clear thinking practice in students. Using apps and software, of which there are a plethora to choose from, to let students organise their
own curriculum and learning patterns will instil responsibility and key life skills learnt at an age where absorbing these skills are invaluable. iTunesU is the most underused apple tool in education. It enables institutions to record, through various methods, a podcast of lectures, lessons or key information to students that are then available to download by students at home via iTunes onto any compatible device. Almost every student in the world uses iTunes, so why isn’t this service being utilised to its full potential, currently there are only approximately seven institutions in the UK that are using iTunesU. The possibilities are endless as free learning can be accessed from anywhere on the planet with an internet connection and iTunes. Coming back to a popular Apple slogan, “THINK DIFFERENT”. Core magazine’s ethos on Think Different would be for now why not put lectures for instance made more widely available for students. Podcasts are not specific to audio they could incorporate PowerPoint presentation via audio to enhance and engage learners in different subjects.