Just an icon.

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The issues seem fairly widespread with Macbook Air owners explaining what is going wrong both in Apple’s Discussion Threads, as well as the MacRumors forums.

Image via flickr user landung2008

“I have recently noticed my 3 month old MacBook Air has 1/2″ to 1″ “play” or “slop” in the hinge. In other words, the screen will move 1/2″ to 1″ with little or no resistance. The hinge does not seem to have any adjustment or an easily fixed remedy,” one frustrated owner explains on the MacRumors forums. “…my apple air has a defect with the hinge. could apple please change your policy to accept hinge as warrant on apple air models,” another owner explains in Apple’s threads.

Both videos shown here address the issues, which Apple says are not covered under warranty. This makes for an unfortunate situation given Apple and CEO Steve Jobs’ level of pride when unveiling “the skinniest notebook in the world.” The level of attention to detail Apple claimed went into the notebook’s hardware design and manufacturing was staggering. They painted a picture of the Macbook Air as if it were chiseled by da Vinci himself. Now that the issue seems moderately spread, we’re curious to see how Apple responds, if at all.

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After meeting with Apple’s Chief Operating Officer, Tim Cook, who has taken over for Steve Jobs while on medical leave, Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer and marketing chief Phil Schiller, Toni Sacconaghi of Sanford C. Bernstein & Co maintains that the trio had revealed a some interesting news to look out for in the future.

According to a report over at ITworld, Tim Cook had alluded to the fact that Apple has “ideas” for a netbook as well as changes in iPhone pricing, and new handsets.

Sacconaghi went on to note that, “Tim Cook stated that since Steve Jobs announced his leave of absence, he was spending more time on new products, how Apple could take the iPhone into new markets and examining iPhone’s business model.”

The Sanford C. Bernstein & Co analyst is known to be the highest ranked computer analyst by Institutional Investor magazine and further added that, “Several interesting tidbits point to new iPhones, potentially with different pricing/price points this year.”

Apple fans have been clamoring for a netbook for some time now. The explosion of netbook sales over the last 12-16 months has really made the market seem like it’s here to stay, and not just fade away into the low-powered underworld. Apple COO Tim Cook has previously explained that, “We [Apple] are watching the space,” Cook explained. But currently Apple does not think that the hardware and software offerings in this space are something their customers would appreciate. “Smaller screens, cramped keyboard.” Furthering their stance, CEO Steve Jobs has remained adamant about the company’s offerings in this space.

There has recently been some speculation regarding AT&T’s rate plans, and that they are considering tiered pricing plans. However, the notion that these “considerations” would hold up the release of an upcoming iPhone is not so accurate. We have previously covered the future of AT&T’s cell network and how they are testing speeds up near 14 Mbps, which they hope to have ready by the third quarter in 2009. It makes much more sense that AT&T would wait on securing and stabilizing the future of its network before Apple releases another iteration of the iPhone, which could swamp AT&T’s 3G network even more.

Additionally, Sacconaghi believes that Apple shares will outperform the S&P 500 over the next 12 months, and expects new iMacs as early as next month, and new iPhone models in the summer.

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In late January, Apple had officially changed the status of the Macbook Pro to shipping, while making the delivery dates range anywhere between February 5th and February 12th. A few MacBlogz readers had mentioned that they received status updates from Apple which claimed their machines would be shipping soon. In addition MacRumors found a “Now Shipping” badge on Apple’s website.

The 17″ Macbook Pro on the left, and the 15″ on the right.

It is now being reported that Apple has sent out an email to most of its customers stating that shipments of the 17″ unibody Macbook Pro will be pushed back until around February 19th at the latest. “Wrapping up the new 17-inch MacBook Pro is taking a few days longer than we projected,” Apple explained in the email. “As a result, we will be unable to ship your 17-inch MacBook Pro until February 19, 2009.”

When Apple first announced the new 17″ unibody Macbook Pro, they claimed it would be shipping in late January. At Macworld ‘09, we were able to get hands on with the notebook and we can say. If you’re waiting for this machine, another two weeks won’t hurt that bad. It’s well worth it.

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Just two days after its release, the NVIDIA Graphics Update 2009 has been removed from both Apple’s website and software update system for seemingly unclear reasons. In addition to providing improved cursor movement, the update was also set to boost HD video playback on the new MacBook Pro’s running NVIDIA’s GeForce 9600M graphics cards as well Mac systems that use GeForce 7300 GT chips.

Apple discussion forums have been littered with cases of notebook graphic issues. AppleInsider notes that user, munchnstuf, reported issues in a Mac Pro thread, saying, “My new MacBook Pro display screen is blinking or flickering every few minutes now. I’ve only noticed it when I’ve switched to the integrated 9400M graphics processor. I don’t recall seeing any blinks when using the discrete 9600M GPU.” Others are under the impression that their troubles are stemming from a software issue adding, “My external display (lacie electron) goes black 4/5 times in hour, for 5sec each time, (then) go back to normal state… under bootcamp its PERFECT!!! No issue with the external display!!”

There are several YouTube videos that demonstrate some of the problems that users are experiencing.

You can clearly see the external display issues, as this user states, “This video captures the corruption on a 24″ external monitor powered by a late 08 macbook pro 2.53 using a Mini DP to DVI extension. The corruption occurred after shutting down OS X and booting, not restarting the machine or waking from sleep.”

This video reveals strenuous screen flickering that this user experiences when their external display awakes. As Apple has a tendency to remain secretive about software updates, the reason for the update’s removal remains unclear.

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The Imminent Netbook Boom

There is no denying the fact that the netbook market has seen a recent surge in popularity. In difficult economic times, it can be tough to allocate a higher budget for tech devices, that many would feel to be luxury items. So, in comes the netbook, boasting cheaper price tags and subdued power, providing many with a sound option more attuned to their needs. While there is undoubtedly a large population of people that require higher performance equipment, there may just be an even larger audience that doesn’t. ABI Research analysts forecast the shipment of 35 million netbooks in 2009, rising to an astonishing estimate of 139 million by 2013.

Practice director, Kevin Burden, assesses this evolution as, “PDA’s began our reliance on instant accessible data while traveling. When PDA functionality converged with cellular voice, smartphones became the new darling of mobile professional technology that many expected to evolve into the hub for all data and communication needs for travelling professionals. Today, with a better understanding for what a smartphone is, is not, and may never be, along with a reality check on the usefulness of UMPCs, the market remains open for new device types.”

Apple’s iPhone had more than just a hand in raising the bar of the smartphone market, so why do they still appear so hesitant to enter into the netbook market? As many are aware, Steve Jobs & Co. have maintained their disinterest in stepping foot in what they believe to be a bargain-bin market. Even as recently as last week, at Apple’s Q1 financial earnings call, COO Tim Cook expressed their views on the subject noting, “We are watching the space,” Cook explained. But currently Apple does not think that the hardware and software offerings in this space are something their customers would appreciate. “Smaller screens, cramped keyboard.”

Moreover, Steve Jobs has remained adamant about the Cupertino-based company’s stance on the matter, claiming the iPhone to be the device that they offer in this space. In performing any simple search of common netbook prices, one can determine that there are several, well equipped devices that fall into the $300-$500 range. This margin compared to Apple’s most inexpensive model MacBook remains quite high, where the price is more readily comparable to the iPhone itself. This would presumably lead to a conflicting product line that could become a problem should Apple begin work on a comparably priced netbook.

What Can Apple Do?

So how can Apple effectively enter into this space? After repeated assurance that the company has no interest in what they believe to be a niche market, it wouldn’t seem plausible to expect anything like this in the near future. Yet how much are they missing out on here? Even if ABI’s figure’s may be a bit bloated, there is still no reason to believe that the netbook market is necessarily “niche”. Burden further argues that despite the appearance of low-cost, power stingy x86 and ARM processors, which were the technical keys to netbooks, industry and consumer expectations need to further evolve in order to meet market acceptance. Burden states, “In recent years, the industry still expected the smartphones to be more than they turned out to be, and most recently, MIDs were thought to be the next big mobile devices segment, but an unclear usage model continues to confuse the market. So today, netbooks’ time has come, and ABI research expects them to enjoy very strong market growth.”

If Apple were to change their attitude that they simply cannot find a way to fit in this market, and instead attempt to revolutionize it as they did with the smartphone market, who knows where the possibilities could lie. And with over $25 billion in cash, there doesn’t seem to be much impeding the way of R&D. It is to the understanding of many that Apple has no interest in “tarnishing” the brand, by putting out junk, but just because the price points and capabilities of netbooks are lower, that does not make them junk. In fact they can be very useful to a large populous of people that would otherwise not have been turned on to Apple. Many could argue that selling the iPhone at Walmart would have a negative effect on the brand’s image, yet the company has chosen to pursue the partnership. Bottom line, Apple will probably not attempt to enter this market and instead opt to beef up their already existent touch devices, yet the netbook market is nothing to scoff at, and may just be an area that Apple needs to take a closer look at.

With netbook sales estimates such as these, Apple needs to lose their phobia of small keyboards and less adequate processing power to create a device that can lend itself to this demographic. Forget about the Intel Atom, it’s too slow, and forget about ARM Cortex. Isn’t this why they bought PA Semi?

The Actual Device

So maybe Apple could offer a netbook-like device that would sit perfectly in their product lineup after all. Imagine this: The device has NAND flash storage palettes slightly higher than the iPhone and iPod touch. If customers are looking for storage options higher than the iPhone, they will be pointed to the netbook. This device wouldn’t be married to the AT&T network, however if you own an iPhone, it’s an added perk and a SIM card slot would let you utilize your AT&T connection at any time. Take it another step further and make the iPhone a mouse that recognizes all of the swipe and touch gestures that users have become used to over the last few years.

Integrate a custom designed chip that isn’t as slow as the Intel Atom, and doesn’t need as much processing power as ARM. This way Apple would finally be making use of their P.A. Semi acquisition. The device could be priced anywhere between $399-$650. Obviously, the feature sets will vary with lower priced models housing less storage and slower processors. And the higher priced models having more options, superior features, processors and more memory. The iPhone and netbook don’t need to be clumped together. The two separate devices can be married and coexist in Apple’s ecosystem nicely by playing features off of each other. There is absolutely no reason why Apple can’t offer devices at this level, keep up their brand reputation with high-end devices and tap into the netbook boom that is happening right in front of their face. Even though the device wouldn’t be in place for extended periods of productivity, at a certain point, the masses determine the truth, and netbooks don’t seem too small for everyone.

Image credit: Flickr

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Contrary to some recent reports that Apple’s 17″ unibody Macbook Pro wouldn’t be shipping until March, the status for most configurations has been updated on Apple’s website. Alongside a pre-order button there now is a shipping time of 7- 10 business days, with most deliveries scheduled to take place between February 5th and February 12th.

Additionally, a reader over at AppleTell explains they have received the same shipping dates and delivery dates as our readers. While some units and special built-to-order custom configurations may take a bit more time to be built and shipped, it’s important to note that most of the configurations are shipping in early February, not late January as Apple initially promised.

Thanx to MacBlogz readers Marco, Sarah, Tony, and Trey for the heads up.

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Core upgrades (via MacRumors):
• Processor moved to 2.0 GHz Core 2 Duo with 1066 MHz frontside bus from 2.1 GHz Core 2 Duo with 866 MHz bus
• Standard RAM increased to 2 GB (two 1 GB sticks) from 1 GB (two 512 MB sticks)
• Graphics switched to NVIDIA 9400M with 256 MB of shared memory from Intel GMA X3100 with 144 MB of shared memory
• Bluetooth version updated to 2.1 from 2.0.
• 320 GB, 5400-rpm hard drive option added

Engadget speculates that this may be a final push on Apple’s part to make all of the company’s notebooks able to support OpenCL when Snow Leopard is finally released. As you can see from the image above, the notebooks will begin shipping in about 4 to 6 days.

9to5mac points out that the white Macbook, even with the new NVIDIA 9400M chipset, still uses a Mini DVI port (at least according to Apple’s current website). Also, the RAM has been upgraded to 2GB, however it is DDR2, not DDR3 like its unibody macbook cousins.

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Apple.pro states, “It is understood that Apple is producing more than the current MBA size MacBook Air (15-inch?),” which may seem a bit vague, given their questionable track record. Yet the site goes on to add further details about the alleged MBA’s big brother, noting “Core architecture will use the latest Intel processors from the current ultra-low voltage processor “Core 2″ modifications made to make a stunning ultra-portable suitable for the older poor eyesight.”

Given the somewhat shotty past performance of the site, it is difficult to determine the validity of these claims. Back in August, photos claiming to be early shots of the new MacBook wound up being a sham, while July photos of the new MacBook Pro ended up being rather legitimate.

While a 15-inch MacBook Air would be possible, would there be enough widespread demand to warrant this product? Apple notes that the current 13.3-inch MBA trails behind the MacBook, MacBook Pro, and iMac on the top sellers list, so it is hard to tell whether a 15-inch MacBook Air would jive with the rest of the notebook line as it stands now. The first question that comes to mind would be, “How expensive would it be?” In an age of modestly priced netbooks, it is hard to imagine that a well over $3,000 portable even be considered by many.

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Apple has already made it publicly known that applications duplicating original iPhone functionality will most likely not make it through the iPhone App Store approval process. Third party web browsers like Opera Mini and Mozilla Fennec have been given no shot at being distributed in the app store, let alone run on Apple’s iPhone.

Here’s a list of recently accepted browsers:
- Edge Browser (Free) – No loss of screen real estate to the address or navigation bars.
- Incognito ($1.99) – Now you can browse without leaving a history of any kind.
- WebMate:Tabbed Browser ($0.99) – Web Mate simplifies browsing by queuing up all the links you click on, then allowing you to view them one by one when you’re ready.
- Shaking Web ($1.99) – adds a sophisticated algorithm to compensate for small hand shaking to allow for easier reading.

First of all, the browsers that are being allowed aren’t as full fledged, or feature packed as Opera’s or Mozilla’s, but it may be a step in the right direction. Any loosening up of app store restrictions being done on Apple’s side is surely welcomed given it applies to real-world scenarios. Still, some fundamental SDK issues and restrictions arise when referring to such predominant browsers like Opera Mini and Fennec.

Updates: As expected, all of these browsers are based on Safari’s WebKit, so the predominant competing browsers still have no chance.

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