Apple releases new Magic Trackpad, updated iMacs and Mac Pros

July 30, 2010

On Tuesday, Apple Inc. introduced a new, the , and refreshed its line of and  computers, as well as the.

The Magic Trackpad, a  for Macintosh computers, allows end users to use certain gestures to control on-screen actions. It supports gestures already seen on the and  trackpads, as well as the, , and , such as swiping, tap-to-click, and pinch-to-zoom. However, the Magic Trackpad also supports physical clicking and supports one- and two-button commands. The Magic Trackpad, which is retailed for US$69, connects wirelessly to a computer using technology and has a claimed four months of battery life. At 5.17 inches (13.13 centimetres) long and 5.12 inches (13 centimetres) wide, the glass and aluminium device is slightly larger than Apple's laptop trackpads.

In addition to the Magic Trackpad, Apple also began selling the US$29 Apple Battery Charger accessory, a charger pack with six usable in the Magic Trackpad,, and. Apple claims that the (NiMH) batteries can last up to ten years before they lose their ability to hold a charge. The Magic Trackpad uses two, and can be used with any Bluetooth-enabled Macintosh computer running 10.6.4.

Another major announcement that came on Tuesday was the first iMac update since last fall. The update included mostly internal upgrades, giving consumers a choice of newer Intel processors: the  and, and the  Core i5 and. In addition, the slot was expanded to allow support for the  (SDXC) format. The iMac is still available at 21.5-inch (54.61-centimetre) and 27-inch (68.58-centimetre) display options, but has upgraded as well. The screens use (IPS) technology, allowing for a greater viewing angle. The base model is still priced at US$1,199.

Apple's line of Mac Pro computers were also given a refresh on Tuesday. Consumers now have the option to purchase a Mac Pro with twelve processing cores, using two six-core Intel processors. Four-, six-, and eight-core options are still available. The update also includes the choice of adding up to four, 512, instead of conventional. The base model is priced at US$2,499 and will be sold starting in August.

Apple also released a new, 27-inch (68.58 centimetre) Cinema Display, a 60 percent increase in display area from the older 24-inch (60.96 centimetres) Cinema Display. The new monitor can reach a resolution of 2560-by-1440 pixels, or, and has a built-in microphone, webcam, speakers, , and , which changes the display's brightness based on external lighting levels. It is priced at US$999 but will not be available for purchase until September.