This is the back of the 24-inch LED Cinema Display. I thought showing the back would be appropriate to represent the 20-incher leaving the Apple Store...not as effective as I was hoping, it seems.
(Credit: Eric Franklin/CNET Networks)According to MacRumors and my own sleuthing on Apple's site, Apple has removed the 20-inch Cinema Display from its online store.
MacRumors speculates that Apple is gearing up for a refresh of its 20-inch Cinema Display in the form of a new LED-based 20-incher with a Mini DisplayPort connection like the 24-inch LED Cinema Display released last year.
No official word from Apple yet, of course, but here's hoping that if this is true, the company at least includes a DVI to Mini DisplayPort adapter with the 20-incher so more than just MacBook owners will get some use out of it.
MacRumors.com is reporting on a rumor that Apple will announce its new Cinema Displays at MacWorld San Francisco 2009, set to take place January 5 through 9.
It's been nearly four years since CNET reviewed Apple's 20-inch, 23-inch, and 30-inch Cinema Displays, all of which used normal lamp-based backlighting to illuminate the displays. The most exciting prospect for the new versions is that they are expected to use LED-based backlighting.
LED technology in displays is kind of the new hotness right now, with good reason. Lamp-based LCD solutions are never able to achieve true, deep blacks because there is always enough "bleed-through" of light that it lightens the blacks, making them technically dark grays. In an LED-based LCD, the backlight is made of an array of individual LEDs that can each be individually dimmed or turned off completely. If you're watching a scene from a movie, for example, where a portion of that scene is much darker than other parts, the LEDs for that dark section of the screen can turn off automatically, making that dark portion of the scene even darker and closer to true black. Another advantage is that LED backlights consume a lot less power, making them more energy efficient.
There are still some cons, however--the main one being price. The current 30-inch Apple Cinema Display can be found for as low as $1,639 online, but LED-based LCDs at 30 inches and even 24 inches are, at least at this point, much more cost prohibitive.
I hope this rumor pans out. I'm very excited about the idea of LED technology in displays, even if there are some kinks still to work out. If this does come to fruition, hopefully it's only because Apple has been able to get it to a reasonable price point.
(Credit:
Macrumors.com)
Are you somehow unhappy with the way the silver backing on your iPhone clashes with the black? Would you like to make it all black instead? This kit from Cellular Nationwide Network will let you achieve that look for under $50. According to a fellow on the MacRumors forums who took the plunge, it took him about 3 hours, in a process that required taking apart the iPhone's casing--a move that will void your warranty.
[via MacRumors iPhone blog]
(Credit:
Apple.com)
MacRumors has confirmed that the forthcoming version of iTunes will contain a built-in ringtone creation utility for songs purchased via the iTunes Music Store. Users will be able to right-click on purchased songs and select "Make into Ringtone," which will give them a small audio workspace to select the 30 seconds they want to use as a new ringtone. According to MacRumors, the use of this feature will cost $.99 per track--a fee which goes toward licensing the music for your mobile phone. That means the total fee for a ringtone is $1.98.
There's no confirmation of whether users will be able to use this feature on music ripped from CDs or other DRM-free tracks.
All things considered, this isn't a bad price for a ringtone. However, for many mobile phone users, iTunes has long been a fairly simple way to convert music tracks into mobile ringtones using its importing tool. It's been confirmed that the iPhone won't play your full music tracks as ringtones.
iTunes 7.3 will be required for both activation and sync of the iPhone. Apple is expected to release the updated software Friday morning.
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