At Apple's first Steve Jobs-less Macworld keynote in more than a decade (and the last Macworld for Apple), Apple marketing chief Philip Schiller introduced a 17-inch Macbook Pro, a new version of iWork software, and new capabilities in the iTunes store. Highlights:
The 17-inch Macbook Pro is touted as the world's thinnest 17-inch laptop, has a 1920 x 1200 screen, and Apple claims its batteries will last 60% longer than the current 17-inch MacBook Pro, running for 7-8 hours on a charge. Look for this 6.6-pound MacBook to ship in late January. Read more about it here.
Apple also rolled out its software productivity suites iLife '09 and iWork '09. Notable features are face recognition sorting in iPhoto '09, fancy-schmancy chart graphics in spreadsheet software Numbers '09, and image stabilization in iMovie '09, which was demonstrated by Apple's Randy Ubillos, creator of pro editing apps Adobe Premiere and Final Cut Pro.
The company also announced changes to iTunes and its associated iTunes Store, pricing songs in three tiers, $0.99 , $0.69, and $1.29, and expanded its library of digital rights management (DRM)-free songs 8 million out of the store's total 10 million songs. Apple will also now let iPhone users buy songs via the 3G wireless network, rather than the current Wi-Fi-only purchasing requirement.
Via Apple
