books

Apple Byte: Has Apple lost some of its magic?

Apple's iPad Mini event was received by onlookers with mixed reviews, so has the company lost its edge? We'll break down everything Apple didn't tell you at the iPad Mini keynote presentation.

There were plenty of exciting hardware releases, including all-new iMacs, Mac Minis, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display, but it was the updated, fourth-generation iPad that caused the most controversy. Just seven months after the "new iPad," we're getting another? I'm throwing out the Bad Apple.

Did Apple reignite your passion for technology with its latest keynote address? Or … Read more

Apple launches ad for 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro

Want to get a better look at all of the gorgeous angles of Apple's new 13.3-inch Retina MacBook Pro? A new Apple "Colors" ad does just that.

With "for the pro in all of us" as the tagline for the ad, it appeared during ABC's "Modern Family," as well as other shows earlier.

In the ad, Apple does a 90-degree pan and seems keen on showing the display from all angles to underscore the wide viewing-angle attributes of its IPS tech.

As a quick refresher, the just-announced 13.3-inch MBP has … Read more

Enable scrolling in iBooks 3.0

iBooks users can now scroll through a book, instead of having to turn through it page-by-page. To get the new scrolling feature, make sure you're running the latest version of the app, iBooks 3.0, available in the App Store right now.

Once you have updated the app, open a book and then tap on the font icon at the top. Then tap on Themes and select Scroll. When you go back to the book, you'll be able to scroll up and down just as you would when using mobile Safari, or reading an e-mail. For me, the … Read more

iBooks 3 rolls out with iCloud support and vertical scrolling

Users of Apple's iBooks can now turn to some helpful new features.

Available from the App Store, iBooks 3.0 now taps into iCloud. So your bookshelves can display any books stored on Apple's cloud along with books saved locally.

You can now opt to scroll vertically through your books instead of turning each page horizontally. Simply tap on the Fonts icon, click on Themes, and choose the Scroll theme. You can then swipe the screen to move up and down page by page, an option I found quicker and easier than the default horizontal book layout.

You … Read more

Is Apple trying to bury Microsoft under a product avalanche?

Can Microsoft crawl out from under the stack of Apple products announced today?

I don't think I'm the only one stunned by the crush of new Apple products. What, a fourth-generation iPad already? New Mac Minis? Then the new iMacs on top of the 13-inch Retina MacBook Pro?

Apple seemed to throw everything but the kitchen sink out there today. But that's only because the rest of the kitchen sink -- the new iPhone and iPod -- was already out there.

Maybe Apple just felt it was time to do a mega-upload of new products. Or maybe, … Read more

Apple news roundup: iPad Mini, new Macs

Tuesday's CNET Update has the breakdown of Apple's new hardware:

Apple shook up the tablet world (again) by revealing the iPad Mini at its press conference Tuesday. Apple also announced a new full-sized iPad and upgrades to its Mac computers. Today's Update video sums up all the new toys, but you can find more details on each product in the links below:

- iPad Mini: Starts at $330 for a 16GB Wi-Fi version, arrives Nov. 2. Preorder Friday. (4G version starts at $460, arrives Nov. 16)

- Fourth-generation iPad: Starts at $500 for 16GB Wi-Fi version, arrives … Read more

Apple iBooks gets continuous scrolling, 400M downloads

See CNET's full coverage of Apple's iPad Mini event

Apple CEO Tim Cook said 400 million books have been downloaded through its iBookStore.

The iBook program also got several new features, including continuous scrolling, which eliminates pages and the need to swipe to advance.

iBook also integrates with iCloud, allowing readers to stop on one device and pick up on another device. Readers can also share a passage via e-mail or Twitter.

Cook also talked up the iPad's use in the education world. Apple will make available iBooks Author, which allows publishers to do things like create … Read more

MacBook Pro 13 with Retina, Mac Mini specs leak online

Some last-minute leaks are making the rounds ahead of Apple's event today, and these involve the expected updates to the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro 13 with Retina.

9 To 5 Mac is reporting that Apple's refreshed Mac Mini models will have upgraded RAM options, as well as updated processors and storage capacity.

Here's the rundown of configurations, according to the site:

2.5 GHz dual-core, 4GB RAM, 500GB Hard drive 2.3 GHz quad-core, 4GB RAM, 1TB Hard drive Server: 2.3 GHz quad-core 4GB of RAM, 2TB Hard drive

The site also had some details … Read more

Apple to expand iBookstore to 18 new countries

Apple's iBookstore is going live in 18 new countries, according to AppleInsider and other tech blog sites.

Citing information from an Australia-based iBooks label, AppleInsider said that the countries in line for iBookstore are Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, and Venezuela. Those 18 would bring the total number of iBookstore-supported countries to 50.

The expansion of iBookstore comes on the same day that Apple is expected to unveil the iPad Mini. The company also is reportedly aiming to push the education angle with its new tablet, … Read more