In 2010 , Io ( Apple ’s peregrine operating scheme ) and iOS gadget ( iPhone , iPod touch , and iPad ) commanded the glare for much of the year . And for over nine months , Mac users saw the common computer update from Apple , but not much else . The compounding of the iOS succeeder and the stagnant Mac led some vocal tech analysts , pundits , and even Mac users to ponderwhether Apple gave a hoot about the Macanymore . Some even went so far as to declare the Mac dead .

To paraphrase literary iconMark Twain , the demise of the Macintosh was an hyperbole , considering what Apple has in the whole kit and boodle . On the last day of 2010 , let ’s take a look back at the previous 12 month , from a Mac perspective .

A sneak peek at Lion

In October , Appleannounced a forthcoming interlingual rendition of Mac OS X : Version 10.7 , code - named Lion , will have feature that are inspired by iOS . accord to Steve Jobs , you’re able to recall of Lion as , “ Mac atomic number 8 X fulfil the iPad . ”

In October 2010 , Lion was revealed to the public . It ’s schedule to ship in the summer of 2011.Lion will provide you to insert a full - CRT screen mode as you work in your apps , and if you use a trackpad , you could swipe to switch between open apps . Lion will also feature the Launchpad , a full - covert display of all your apps ( think of it as an iOS - like presentation of OS X ’s current /Applications pamphlet ) ; and Mission Control , which shows a position of open full - cover apps , the Dock , and the desktop .

Apple says that Lion will be useable in the summertime of 2011 . Pricing has not been released .

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In October 2010, Lion was revealed to the public. It’s scheduled to ship in the summer of 2011.

With the manifestation of Lion and how it apply finger gestures , a special accessory could possibly become mandatory for Mac users : theMagic Trackpad . relinquish in July , the Magic Trackpad is fundamentally the glass trackpad set up in Apple ’s laptops made into a ego - standing remark gadget . Such a machine can help bridge over the crack in the whole Apple user expereince between Mac OS X and iOS .

Mac App Store

Of all the Mac - related promulgation made in 2010 , the unexampled Mac App Store is the most significant . The Mac App Store will do work likewise to the iOS App Store , provide an well-to-do - to - access marketplace .

While software developers will be able to use the Mac App Store as a way to get their software in front of a large universe of Mac substance abuser , developer will have to write software according to the Mac App Store guidelines .   ( On a colligate line ,   Apple decided that its   Mac OS X Downloads internet site   will “ no longer extend apps ” and that developers should present software to the Mac App Store . )   There ’s also a concern that the Mac App Store would lead to the Mac becoming a shut system , like iOS .

The Mac App Store will change the mode users grease one’s palms computer software . We wo n’t have to hold back much longer to see the essence of the Mac App Store on the Mac market place . The Mac App Store will open up on January 6 , 2011 , in 90 countries .

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The Mac App Store will change the way users buy computer software.

Small laptop makes huge impression

The MacBook Air had become the leave machine in Apple ’s Mac card . Then in October 2010 , Apple introduced the11 - inch MacBook Air , and it instantly became Apple ’s newest darling . The smallest Mac portable Apple has ever created features a full - size keyboard , an impressive 1366 - by-768 - pixel display , and dart storage to help supply a dramatic performance boost over the previous 13 - in MacBook Air .

Most importantly , the MacBook Air give many longtime customers what they ’ve been waiting for : a true heir to the legendary 12 - inch PowerBook . Now , road warriors do n’t need to compromise with an iPad , or lug around excess weight and size with a MacBook or a 13 - inch MacBook Pro . The 11 - column inch MacBook Air is the ultraportable that ’s long been leave out from Apple ’s card .

The 11 - inch MacBook Air ( left ) revitalized Apple ’s ultraportable lineup .

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The 11-inch MacBook Air (left) revitalized Apple’s ultraportable lineup.

Apple also update the13 - inch MacBook Airwith a raw artwork central processor and twinkling computer memory . The flash memory helped the 13 - inch MacBook Air outperform the current 13 - inch 2.4GHz Core 2 Duo MacBook Pro in our psychometric test .

The MacBook and MacBook Pro lines saw striking changes before 2010 , so the change to those machine this class were simple refreshes . Appledidintroduce Intel ’s Core i5 and Core i7 processor to the MacBook Pro line in the 15- and 17 - column inch models — anticipate to see firm Core i5 and i7 C.P.U. in the MacBook line in 2011 . Perhaps we ’ll even see the 13 - inch MacBook Pro ’s Core 2 Duo processor replaced by a Core i5 .

Mac mini makeover

On the desktop , Apple ’s smallest machine , the Mac mini , was redesign with an atomic number 13 case that made the Mac mini even small than its predecessor . It also features a new plastic crosshatch that you may easily open to make retention upgrades . Apple also slim the number of Mac mini model available , offering only one received configuration mannequin .

The aluminum Mac mini is small than its forerunner . The iMac continues to offer the best bang for your sawhorse among Apple ’s Mac lineup . Apple ’s all - in - one data processor now has distinct ATI graphics chips , and the Core 2 Duo central processor were phased out in favor of Core i3 and Core i5 central processing unit in the stock configurations . Apple also added a flash - computer storage drive , build up - to - order ( BTO ) option that can helpboost the iMac ’s functioning .

The iMac ’s aluminum grammatical case figure was introduced in 2007 . Could it be due for a major change in 2011 ? Besides the iMac becoming thinner and lighter , the basic figure conception of the case works well , so it may not interchange much . The spectacular changes will probably be inside the case , where we could see the iMac take a pool stick from the MacBook Air — flash storage could supervene upon the punishing drive entirely , or else of being a BTO option . That is , if the cost of photoflash storage in larger capacity drop enough to make this executable .

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The aluminum Mac mini is smaller than its predecessor.

The Mac Pro was refreshen in August . In addition to four - core and eight - core models , Apple now offers a 12 - core Mac Pro . The Mac Pro continues to propose a combining of performance and expandability that ’s idealistic for demand users .

Mac software

iLife ’ 11 was lastly releasedin October , and it ’s well deserving the upgrade if you are an iMovie , GarageBand , or iPhoto user . iWeb and iDVD had no unexampled feature of speech , however .

To reply to rumors of Final Cut ’s demise , Apple released a statement saying that the company was dedicate to the product .

Speaking of no new features , 2010 rifle by without a major update for Final Cut Studio . fit in to reports , the Final Cut developing squad was reshuffle , but Apple declared that it is still dedicated to the professional picture - redaction software program retinue . What’sreally going on with Final Cutis anyone ’s guessing . Apple tends to make announcements for Final Cut around the time of theNational Association of Broadcasters Show , so April is the time to be on the alert .

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To respond to rumors of Final Cut’s demise, Apple released a statement saying that the company was dedicated to the product.

There are signs that Apple is still interested in its pro apps . Amajor update for Logic Pro and Logic Expresswas released in October . And in the spring of 2010 , Apple free Aperture 3 .

iWorkalso spent 2010 without a major update , though Apple did ship iWork for iPad . iWork has made its way through the rumor mill , however , with conjecture that iWork ’ 11 will be the marque software suite featured in the Mac App Store when it opens on January 6 , 2011 .

Jobs is alive and well

All this talk about the end of the Mac made us almost draw a blank that it was n’t long ago that Steve Jobs was facing his own mortality . In 2009 , Jobs took a leave of absence from Apple and had a liver graft , which left many doubt whether Jobs could continue as Apple ’s CEO .

Apple CEO Steve Jobs gave the keynote language at the WWDC 2010 in San Francisco .

But in 2010 , Jobs was back in full force . He appeared on phase giving keynote , though he now lets others execute the mysterious - diva into products . He checks his e - mails from the universal world , and replies in a terse style that ’s become a signature of the Apple CEO . He pass water public appearances to promote electronic organ donation . He ’s havingcoffee with other CEOs . And he even has clock time to take a jab or two at competitors and products that do n’t follow in The Apple Way .

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Apple CEO Steve Jobs gave the keynote speech at the WWDC 2010 in San Francisco.

job led Apple torecord gain and sales in 2010and the company seems poised and quick for the raw class .

iLife ’11

Apple MacBook Pro MC371LL/A Notebook

Apple MacBook Pro MC372LL/A Notebook

Apple MacBook Pro MC373LL/A Notebook

Apple MacBook Pro MC024LL/A Notebook

Apple MacBook Pro MC374LL/A Notebook

Apple MacBook Pro MC375LL/A Notebook

21.5-inch Core i3 iMac/3.06GHz

21.5-inch Core i3 iMac/3.2GHz

27-inch Core i3 iMac/3.2GHz

27-inch Core i5 iMac/2.8GHz (quad-core)

Final Cut Express 4

Final Cut Pro 7

Logic Express 9

Logic Studio

Mac Pro Xeon/2.4GHz (8 Core)

Mac Pro Xeon/2.66GHz (12 core)

Mac Pro Xeon/2.8GHz (4 Cores)

Mac mini (Mid 2010)

MacBook Air (Late 2010) family

Apple MacBook MC516LL/A Notebook

Magic Trackpad