Bambi’s Notes: What’s The Latest News At Macworld?

Recap of Bambi’s notes from the Macworld Keynote Presentation: New iLife ‘06, new iWork ‘06, new iWeb application in iLife.

New iMac with Intel chips. New laptop called MacBook Pro with Intel inside.

Steve Jobs also announced a new FM tuner accessory for the iPod. $50. The iPod screen (latest generation only) updates when the FM tuner connects.

Mac OS X 10.4.4 to be released today; includes a new Google Widget (among overe 1,500 Widgets available for Dashboard), fully compatible with Intel-based Macs.

iLife ‘06 introduced. New iPhoto now handles up to 250,000 photos, new interface, new books, does calendars, and more effects filters added.

iMovie ‘06 now opens multiple projects, has new audio tools, new video Podcasting feature, and does some effects and titles in real time (requires new Macs).

iDVD now does wide screen HD DVDs. Garageband has built-in Podcast, new Jam Packs of loops.

iLife ‘06 gets a new application called “iWeb"-- a web page builder which integrates to iLife applications and .Mac for one-click web publishing. New iLife is $79 and available today.

iWork ‘06 updated to handle charts, more image editing, tables that do calculations (like a spreadsheet), many new themes and templates. $79 and available today.

Both iLife and iWork are Universal Binaries and will run on Intel Macs.

New iMac with Intel chips announced. Dual core; two chips in one. Built in iSight camera. Same design as previous iMac but 2x to 3x faster. 17-inch and 20-inch display. Same price as previous models.

New Mac laptop called MacBook Pro. Dual core Intel chips. iSight. InfraRed. Fastest Mac laptop ever. 15.4-inch LCD. Ships in February starting at $1,999. Faster model at $2,499.

I’m betting that the iBook will be replaced by an Intel-based laptop called the “MacBook” in matching black and white iPod colors. Any takers?

What’s missing from Macworld? No Mac mini. No “media center”. No massive changes to iTunes Music Store except we found a graphic from the Pussycat Dolls that uses the term “Vingle.” That must be a video single.

Disappointed? Filled with glee? There’s much to like and plenty missing from this Macworld.

The progress releasing the Intel-based Macs is remarkable. The so-called “Media Center” is missing in action, though we may see something else later.

What say you? Impressed? Happy? Sad? Did you order already? 

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