MacBlogz - One Stop Apple News » Cinema Displays

20″ Cinema Display Discontinued, Possible Updates Coming

Aviv — Thu, 19 Feb 2009 17:08:24 +0000

MacRumors points out that Apple has removed the 20″ Cinema Display from its online store, while at the same time notifying resellers that the product has been “end of life’d” and will no longer be available to order.

A quick check with various resellers proves the information correct.

While it may be possible that Apple has simply chosen to stop offering a 20″ model, it seems more likely that they are preparing to release a new LED-based 20″ Display with the new Mini DisplayPort introduced in October. Apple has said that all future products will contain the Mini DisplayPort connectors. Apple’s 30″ Display remains available in stores at this time.

Apple introduced a 24″ LED display at the October 14th, 2008 media/notebook event alongside a line of new unibody notebooks. first impressions of the unit were impressive, however, because of the new Mini DisplayPort connection, those who own Mac products without this connection cannot use Apple’s new LED display. This leaves a gap in consumers wanting or needing a new Apple display but not having the correct machine to fully support it without an adapter.

Interestingly, rumors about a possible entry into the “networked television” market have been swirling around. Mahalo.com founder Jason Calacanis claimed to have information about these Apple branded HDTV sets back in October. Additionally, a statement from overseas regarding a new deal with LG was heard, “LG Display has made a long-term agreement to supply a massive amount of LCD to Apple in the face of uneasy condition of foreign capital inflow amid the global economic downturn.” However, that’s all the information that was given.

An Apple “Desktop Media Event” in Early February?

Aviv — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 11:13:05 +0000

Digital Daily’s John Paczkowski kicks off speculation about what the industry may see from Apple in the coming weeks after Macworld ‘09. If new products are in fact planned, Apple may already have something lined up.

Given the announcements at Macworld ‘09, Apple left many wondering when a few products would get some attention. In particular, the Mac mini, long overdue Cinema Displays, Mac Pro, and a speedbumped iMac weren’t mentioned, but all are rumored to be coming “soon,” in one way or another.

“Clearly there’s quite a precedent for post-Macworld announcements, and in all likelihood this year will see a few as well. Certainly, an Apple desktop event later this month or in early February would be an elegant way for the company to dovetail the official release of iLife ’09 with some new desktop hardware, celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Macintosh and prove once and for all that it doesn’t need Macworld to publicize new product releases,” Paczkowski explains.

Apple has historically used late January and February as launch months for new products during their lifecycles, so it’s rather expected that we see something announced shortly. “Apple has on many occasions uncrated new products on the heels of Macworld,” Paczkowski explains. “In February of 2008, the company announced new iPhone & iPod touch models. In February of 2006 it debuted the Intel Mac mini and iPod Hi-Fi. In January 2005 it uncrated new PowerBooks and a month later, it announced a new iPod mini and an update to iPod photo.”

Apple to Pay $500 Million Advancement to LG for Flat Panel Displays

Aviv — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 11:12:36 +0000

In tough economic times, LG has managed to secure a high profile deal with Apple Inc, to supply the tech giant a “massive amount” of flat panel displays.

In a statement by the Korean based company, they explained, “LG Display has made a long-term agreement to supply a massive amount of LCD to Apple in the face of uneasy condition of foreign capital inflow amid the global economic downturn.” However no further details have been made available.

What this means for Apple remains relatively unclear. While it may be easy to assume that this automatically pertains to future Cinema Displays, that’s not the case. Back in November, Apple ended shipments of the 23″ Cinema Display to make way for the 24″ LED Display that was released the previous September.

Reports straight from LG explain that Apple’s contract calls for LCD displays, so it’s entirely possible that Apple may venture into other categories with these displays. In October, Mahalo founder Jason Calacanis claimed to have direct sources inside Apple that were telling him an HD television set was definitively in the works. Additionally, the country is in the midst of a switch to full digital television, seemingly blocking out analog signals. We’ve previously outlined why it would be as good a time as any for Apple to enter this market, if they ever do.

From the Associated Press: SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — LG Display Co. has reached a long-term deal with Apple Inc. to supply flat panels to the iconic maker of computers, music players and smart phones.

The contract between the two companies is for five years and calls for LG to receive an advance payment of $500 million sometime this month, the South Korean company said in a regulatory filing Monday.

Seoul-based LG Display and Apple, headquartered in Cupertino, California, planned to decide later on details such as the number of panels LG will provide, LG said.
LG Display declined to provide further details.

Shares in LG Display fell 0.8 percent to close at 23,550 won ($17.33).

The rest of Apple’s Cinema Display lineup remains untouched. Speculation about the Cinema Displays making an appearance at Macworld ‘09 was brief, but none of it came to fruition. If Apple ever does get into the HD television market, they will have to be incredibly careful with pricing. Too wide of a gap between Apple and its competitors wouldn’t bode well for moving units.

First Impressions of the 24-inch Cinema Displays Seem Bright

Dave — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 23:04:10 +0000

ArsTechnica has provided excellent first impression coverage of their newly acquired 24-inch Apple Cinema Display and thus far are pleased with its performance.

While the 24-inch Cinema Displays were announced this past October at the special MacBook event, units have only recently begun shipping. Ars reiterates that the new Cinema Displays only support machines which utilize Apple’s mini DisplayPort Connector, a feature that is said to come equipped on all future products. So, if you are in possession of an older Mac or PC that lacks this connector, you best start thinking about buying a new notebook or wait for Apple to release a proper adapter.

First impressions of the screen show similar characteristics to the current iMac facade, minus the Leno-esque chin. The display weighs in at 21lbs (9.5kg) a mere 4.4 lbs lighter than the iMac, showing that it is a bit on the hefty side.

The display comes equipped with a power cord that reaches from the back of the display to an outlet and has an additional cable that splits into 3, including the USB 2.0 and DisplayPort, and MagSafe adapters. The DisplayPort sends video into the display and integrated iSight, while the USB provides Audio for the built-in speakers and integrated USB hub. The MagSafe adapter is assumed to dispense up to 85W of power, enough power to charge a MacBook Pro. Similar to the iMac, the three USB ports connecting to the internal hub are situated on the back of the display.

Utilizing only these three plugs a user can operate the attached notebook in either a closed clamshell position or open to have an even larger screen area. Clint Ecker from Ars notes, “I’ve been using it in clamshell mode and sliding the MacBook Pro underneath the display, while typing on a Bluetooth Apple keyboard and using an RF Logitech Mouse (which is working fabulously so far). The main feature that appealed to me over owning both an iMac and a MacBook Pro is that I can share the screen when I’m at home, and effectively pull out a few cables and take my machine on the road with me.”

One intuitive feature is that OS X can instantly recognize when the monitor is hooked up, for example using the display’s iSight or USB audio while disabling it from the attached notebook. One last observation that was made shows the display to be just a bit brighter than the iMac screen. I must say that I am indeed envious of the folks over at ArsTechnica. Aside from being able to hold their own fingerprint counting competitions, they can now look in the mirror all day while they work!

Apple DisplayPort to Dual Link DVI Adapter Delayed Until Late December

Aviv — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 17:44:46 +0000

9to5Mac points out that if you’ve been waiting for Apple’s DisplayPort to Dual Link DVI Adapter, it has been delayed until late December.

When Apple released the new unibody Macbooks, they explained that the ports had to be reconfigured and introduced the Mini DisplayPort which had been integrated into the notebooks. Unfortunately, the new proprietary port requires a Dual Link DVI Adapter in order to power an external 30″ monitor. For customers that are waiting for this cable, delays have pushed back shipping for another 4-5 weeks, to late December.

9to5Mac: Not only has Apple charged me $100 to use my 30 inch screen with my Unibody MacBook, but the adapter is huge and takes a USB port for power. Oh, and there was a one month wait for these parts initially. Also, the way this technology works, I can’t use a regular DVI adapter on a 30 inch monitor. If I try, I get the same resolution as on my MacBook’s built-in display, not normal 1920×1200 resolution that the normal DVI supports. WTF.

OK, whatever. I am over it. It should come any day now right? Wrong! In a letter that could have been worded by the Grinch, Apple wrote to tell me and probably many others (below) that my Dual Link DVI Adapter wouldn’t be shipping until Dec 23. That is over two months past when the MacBooks were shipped! Great news, we’ll all be on Christmas vacation by then.

Apple Ends 23″ Cinema Display and Old Headphone Shipments

Aviv — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 18:06:21 +0000

MacRumors reports that Apple is finally ready to ship the new In-Ear Headphones, and 24″ LED Cinema Display that were announced at September’s Let’s Rock event.

According to sources, Apple has just today end-of-life’d the old Apple 23″ Cinema Display and old In-Ear headphones. This means that Apple will no longer be supplying these products to resellers. This is generally considered a sign that the new products will be shipping soon, MacRumors explains.

The information makes sense, and those waiting for their LED Displays may soon get rewarded. The in-ear headphones that Apple promised us in October however, are late. The Apple Store has them listed simply as “Coming Soon.”

Greenpeace Reviews Apple’s ‘Greener’ Approach to New Notebook Family

Dave — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 20:46:17 +0000

In response to Apple’s ongoing environmental efforts, Greenpeace has recently offered up a commendatory look at the new MacBook line, yet notes there may still be some room for improvement.

In recent statements concerning a “Greener Apple,” Steve Jobs has noted the new MacBook line to sport reduced toxics, less packaging, and better overall efficiency. Greenpeace has taken a comprehensive look at the new MacBook, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air and the LED cinema display’s specs. They have noted the results to be primarily favorable, indicating that the new notebooks feature internal cables and components that are free of PVC and BFRs.

Yet according to the article on the Greenpeace blog, the new MacBook’s sport toxic level reductions comparable to the Sony Vaio line on PVC and Lenovo Think Vision monitors, where they would have liked to have seen these toxins be reduced entirely. While these levels may not have been reduced across the board, Apple has been making strides to accomplish this in the near future.

“By far the most significant announcement that will resonate within the industry is fact that Apple is on course to be completely PVC and BFR free across in product range by end 2008. This will be a first for a computer maker and lays down the challenge to competitors such as HP, Dell, Lenovo, Acer and Toshiba,” Greenpeace explains. While all of the above mentioned companies have made pledges to remove such toxins in 2009, if Apple can manage to accomplish this ahead of schedule, the others should be able to follow suit.

“While Apple, and other top electronic companies, still face many challenges on the road to truly green electronics, it can only be a good thing to see a top CEO and high profile a public figure as Steve Jobs devoting significant time to environmental concerns at Apple.”

These are remarkably optimistic statements for the notoriously scrutinizing eyes of Greenpeace. Perhaps not until notebooks are made solely out of corn will they ever truly be satisfied.

[Greenpeace]

Apple Releases 24″ LED Cinema Display, Shipping November

Dave — Tue, 14 Oct 2008 18:28:31 +0000

Apple has officially announced the release of new 24″ LED-backlit Cinema Displays that are set to ship next month. The highly anticipated displays will boast a 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution as well as an array of new and welcomed features.

The new LED Cinema Display will be available in November through the Apple Store, Apple’s retail stores and Apple Authorized Resellers for a suggested retail price of $899 (US). The LED Cinema Display requires a MacBook, MacBook Air™ or MacBook Pro with the new Mini DisplayPort.

The 24-inch glossy, widescreen display with 1920 x 1200 pixel resolution uses LED-backlit technology to provide instant full-screen brightness and great power efficiency. Suspended by an aluminum stand with an adjustable hinge that makes tilting the display almost effortless, the new display includes a built-in iSight video camera, mic and speakers, making it ideal for video conferencing with iChat®,* listening to music or watching movies. The new display also includes three self-powered USB 2.0 ports so users can simply leave their printer, camera, iPhone™ 3G or iPod® dock connected when they take their MacBook with them. The sleek, thin display also includes a built-in universal MagSafe charger so users can conveniently leave their notebook’s MagSafe power adapter in their travel bag.

The new LED Cinema Display is the greenest Apple display ever, made with mercury-free LED technology, arsenic-free glass and highly recyclable materials. The LED Cinema Display meets stringent Energy Star 4.0 requirements and achieves EPEAT Gold status.** The new display contains no brominated flame retardants, all internal cables and components are PVC-free and its foam packaging has been reduced by 44 percent.

Part of the next-generation DisplayPort industry standard, the new Mini DisplayPort delivers a pure digital signal that can drive up to a 30-inch widescreen display. The Mini DisplayPort is ultra-compact at just 10 percent the size of a full DVI connector, perfect for the sleek design of the new MacBook family. Adapters are available for using the MacBook’s Mini DisplayPort with older generation VGA, DVI/HDMI and Dual-Link DVI displays.

Read – Apple Press Release

Apple iTube: Apple Is Working On HDTV Sets, Calacanis Claims

Aviv — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 22:41:49 +0000

Jason Calacanis, previously the co-founder of Weblogs Inc, GM of Netscape and current CEO of Mahalo, claims to have direct sources at Apple, who are telling him that Apple has been, and currently is working on gorgeous HDTV sets.

Nate Lanxon, who writes for Cnet.co.uk, got a chance to sit down with Calacanis for a few hours yesterday. The Mahalo CEO confirmed to Lanxon that Apple is indeed planning on entering the television market. “Love him or hate him, the bloke’s got contacts, and he confirmed to me that he knew first-hand that Apple was working on a networked television,” Lanxon explains. “These LCD HDTVs will be fully networked, with the ability to stream all your iTunes content from your Mac or PC. In fact, Calacanis told me they’ll function like a standard TV with an Apple TV box, only without the need for the box,” he continues.

The video above is simply a 3D rendering of what the Apple TV might look like.
Only this one has Firefox built in, not Safari interestingly enough.

A Digital Flat Panel LED TV would be a more than plausible venture that would undoubtedly stay in line with a new mysterious “product transition,” that Apple CFO Peter Oppenheimer had recently mentioned. And it would also quiet down Greenpeace. Building the Apple TV into a standalone TV set could give consumers an unparalleled device.

MacBlogz has previously explained that the transition to digital television is an extremely crucial opportunity for Apple to exploit and enter the television market. President and CEO of the National Association of Broadcasters, David Rehr, has described the digital transition as “the most significant advancement of television technology since color TV was introduced.” What better an opportunity for Apple to penetrate what is already an enormous market bursting at the seams with people in need of a Digital TV upgrade. Apple is already due for a Cinema Display refresh, and we’ve taken the liberty of outlining what we’d like to see. Recent rumors point to a MacWorld 2009 introduction for the new Displays. So don’t be surprised if Cupertino is cooking up an HDTV set right under our noses.

[Image] 2009 Apple Cinema Displays; What We’d Like to See

The MacBlogz Team — Wed, 06 Aug 2008 18:51:38 +0000

Earlier today we reported about a rumor that new Cinema Displays are set to be released at the upcoming MacWorld conference in San Francisco scheduled for January, 2009.

The below concept art represents some nice changes that Apple could make to bring the Cinema HD Displays up to speed. Aside from the obvious LED changes that would help Apple “go green,” some nice hardware changes are needed as well. A thinner bezel that would help with dual monitor setups, as well as the black “color grounding” strip surrounding the current iMac’s should be integrated. An iSight HD camera would also make sense seeing as how the iSight has been discontinued.

Click the image or this link for the full size version.

As mentioned in our previous article, it’s been over 4 years since this product has seen any attention. Both Apple’s creative professional market, as well as consumers would benefit immensely from a Cinema Display overhaul that would either close down the price gaps, or separate Apple’s offerings from their competitors. Something we can’t say about the current iteration of Cinema Displays.