The Apple iPad launched by Steve Jobs in the foreground

With years of speculation mounting, the rumours and hype have finally proved true. Apple have just launched, the iPad.

Seen by The Creator himself as “the most important thing” he’s ever done. The iPad was launched to a frenzied reception in the Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco today.

The device which has been penned as the saviour of digital publishing, is much like a larger iPhone but has it’s own distinctive styling and has the following specs:

9.7″ IPS screen
1 GHz Apple A4 processor
16GB – 64BG Flash HD
0.5″ thin
1.5 pounds

However, were you like us a bit let down by the iPad launch? Were you expecting something else, here at The Processor we can’t really say we are inspired by the technology as it seems like a bigger, glorified iPhone/Pod. What could be interesting is Apple’s monopoly on the ‘iBook’ market. Something else like the music industry they can control!?

Let’s hear your opinions!!

Here is a little story that caught my eye the other week about Nvidia launching their new Reality Server. Which is, in short, a platform allowing high-quality realtime 3D graphics to be processed and interacted with remotely over the web.

Now a story about a server farm may usually drive normal person to remove their eyeballs from their sockets with boredom, however here at The Processor we could see the potential use for this bucket-load of supercomputers… the IP games provider, OnLive. With promises of users being able to manipulate, in real-time, complex 3D shading and rendering of detailed environments instantly, we think their recommended use for interior design is really not that great i.e. shit. We think the subtle rendering of zombies heads exploding and spraying blood all over the screen would be a much better use for this amazing technology.

Further proof that OnLive may not only be a dream, but more of a reality… server.

What can be seen as a move to kick-start sales in the Christmas period, Apple have today released updates to a few products lines.

First off pictured above is the new entry level MacBook, which shares the same unibody construction as it’s ‘Pro’ counterparts and is subject to quite a few under the hood changes too (including LED backlight, glass multi-touch trackpad, up to 7 hours battery and better graphics). Retailing for £799, it will no doubt be on all the rich kids lists this Christmas.

Secondly, and I would say more importantly is the redesign and re-Christening of Apple’s flagship peripheral, the Magic Mouse. On first impressions the mouse looks beautiful, it takes what most computer manufactures regard as an afterthought and puts it on a pedestal. It is a stunning device from the company that popularised the mouse in the first place. It made from the same glass used in the construction of the track pads in their MacBook range, and it is sensitive to the same gestures.

Despite the general consensus that Apple may develop a multi-touch tablet and perhaps do away with mice altogether, with this Magic Mouse they really look like they are not going to let this input go quietly.

Thirdly and fourthly they have released updates to the iMac range and the Mac Mini, in line with expectations, read more about them here.

I can’t really be arsed summing up anything even remotely witty to say about our second post on hi-tech Christianity in a week. So just check out the Glo Bible in this awesome video and imagine some really side-splitting comments.

The latest version of everyone’s favourite handbook of bad morals includes over 7500 encyclopaedia articles, 7700 pieces of artwork, 2400 high-res pics, 500+ virtual tours, almost 150 maps and three and a half hours of video all for just a hair under 60 quid. Tragically, devout Mac users will be unable to take advantage of the Glo as it’s currently Windows exclusive.

Meh, I’m sticking to the LOLCat version anyway.

I never thought I’d say this, but Nintendo has joined the global fight against terrorism. Or at least it will have if a new project funded by US Homeland Security ever sees the light of day.

The acronym-friendly Future Attribute Screening Technology scheme aims to bolster airport security by identifying would-be terrorists via heart rate, breathing, eye movement, body temperature and… fidgeting, which is where Nintendo comes in.

Researchers have constructed an improvised “fidget monitor” from a Wii balance board, altered to monitor shifting weight. CNN reports that studies are now under way to determine whether a certain level of fidget suggests a jumpy terrorist with an IED stuffed into an available orifice. Hmmmm, or it could suggest fear of flying, really needing a piss, too many pre-flight coffees or a seething, impotent rage at being de-jacketed, de-shoed, forced to discard that refreshing bottle of Evian and held up by yet another nonsensical, fear-mongering security precaution. Just saying likes.

Steve Jobs on the stage at the Apple Let's Rock Event

To be toally honest the only real story from last nights ‘Let’s Rock’ event staged by Apple in San Francisco, was that the almost Jesus-like Jobs took to the stage to introduce some product updates. Looking gaunt, and sounding hoarse, Steve Jobs received a standing ovation when he began his hour long presentation.

He then set about introducing iTunes 9, amongst which includes the following new features:

iTunes LP – Better cover art, photos, liner notes and lyrics. Essentially Apple’s attempt at redefining the LP format, in an attempt to persuade users to purchase entire albums.

App Management – allows you to sort out the apps on your iPhone/iPod Touch in a more intuitive way.

There are other less impressive additions, you can find out more here.

He also introduced a camera to the iPod Nano, which seems to be an attempt to target the Flip camera market. However it seems like the technical problems that rumour sites were reporting in the run up to the event were correct as the feature was lacking from the iPod Touch.

To sum up, the event was a dissappointment but not a surprise. Jobs attendance was reassuring but also showed just how much he has been through. It was a first for a man so keen to keep his private life separate from his work, to address his health head on. I just hope that by the new year he is fit enough to launch the anticipated Apple tablet with all the energy seen in previous product launches.

Courtesy of ifixit.

The specs are not too bad:

Weight: 1.25kg
Connectivity: WiFi and high-speed mobile broadband (as from the name 3G and HSDPA)
Processor: Intel Atom
Body: Aluminum (more than 2cm thick)
Battery life: 12 hrs
Screen: 10.1 in
OS: Windows (version not yet revealed)
Other: HD video out, assisted-GPS, front facing camera, blue-tooth and SD card reader

Good to see a tad more competition in this market, and it will be refreshing to see what a mobile phone maker can bring to these devices. Still awaiting more on price and contracts, will keep you eager beavers posted as and when.

Little viddy here

Chip sales are a good indicator of the overall health of the PC market because they are bought up for manufacturing before boxes hit the shelves. When compared to the first quarter of 2009, shipments of graphics chips rose 31% to 98.3 million units during the three months to July, the report said.

A compound annual growth rate of 8% until 2013 was also forecast, partly impelled by increasing demand for graphics software programs and the expansion of traditional market segments like CAD/CAM thanks to new design approaches in automotive, aerospace, and architectural design.

Speaking of which, AMD has announced it’s ATI FirePro V8750 3D workstation graphics accelerator which it says offers four times the processing power of its rivals. Keen gamers might want to note that it is unlikely to allow you to finally run Crysis on full spec because it was designed to “meet the extreme productivity needs of today’s CAD, Digital Content Creation (DCC) and oil and gas professionals”, rather than helping you blow up North Korean and alien baddies amid lush vegetation. It also costs around $3,000 for even the base configuration, though that may well not be enough to help the Cali-based firm avoid it’s 12th consecutive quarterly loss.