We are not sure if Apple has a netbook simmering this year, but if it looks anything like the above concept, they can be sure they have a winner in the mini-notebook segment too.  The above concept was designed by Adam Benton for MacFormat and looks like an iPhone that’s had one too many meals and runs iPhone OS 3.0.  The entire Home directory will be stored on a Apple cloud server and frequently used files are cached locally.  For charging, the netbook can be docked and also connected to a variety of devices using its USB and FireWire ports.  Integrated 3G connectivity to keep in sync with the Apple servers and Bluetooth A2DP audio profile round out its wireless options, and for those reticent about using the virtual keyboard, a hardware keyboard can also be paired via Bluetooth.

Sounds nice, right?  Let us wait and see if Apple has something that matches this concept or ups the ante a bit more.

We’re waiting for the WWDC 2009 since that’s where we’re going to see the new iPhone. But besides the new handset it’s rumored that another important Apple product is going to get an update. We don’t know what to expect since Apple has released the new MacBooks just a few months ago and it would be to early to release any important updates. We’re probably going to see built-in 3G, larger hard drives and faster processors. However new OLED screens would be quite welcome and they would represent quite an important update. What would you like Apple to install in your future MacBook?

via 9to5mac

There are no facts regarding Apple’s future netbook so we have plenty of room for more speculation. This time we have a great concept design called the Mac Folder. It’s slim, it’s original and it has support for multitouch like the iPhone or the iPod touch. That’s probably what most of us are waiting from an Apple netbook. The device in the picture is just a concept for now, but who knows really what the future will bring?

via Yanko Design

Apple has been sued by Taiwan based manufacturer Elan Microelectronics Corp. for reportedly infringing two of its patents for touchscreen technology. The lawsuit, filed in a US District Court here on Tuesday, accuses Apple of infringing on Elan patents in its iBook, PowerBook and MacBook portable computers, the iPhone smartphone and the iPod Touch digital music player.

“Each of these devices includes a touch-sensitive input device capable of detecting the simultaneous presence of two or more fingers or other capacitive objects using the structure and methods claimed in (Elan’s) 352 patent,” the complaint said.

Elan alleged that the iPhone and iPod Touch infringe on another patent held by the Taiwan company. The complaint claims the patent infringement is causing Elan “irreparable harm,” asks the court to put an end to it and demands unspecified damages from the Cupertino, California-based Apple.

According to The New York Times, Elan filed suit in 2006 against another US company, Synaptics, over one of the patents mentioned in the Apple lawsuit. It said Synaptics countersued and both actions were dismissed last year after the companies reached a cross-licensing agreement.

Do we really need biometric security for our gadgets? Apple seems to have an idea of how to implement it to its iPhone and MacBook. According to the concept patent here the biometric tool will be hidden within the touchscreen of the iPhone or the trackpad of the laptop. The sensor will detect fingerprints, vein patterns or the shape of the year. Therefore the process is totally invisible and it also should be totally secure. Other features might include face recognition and even DNA recognition.

It was only yesterday that we brought to your attention the fact that there’s a new rumor in town saying that a netbook is going to arrive later this year, despite Apple’s previous assurances that such a thing won’t happen.

And today the Dow Jones Newswire kind of confirmed the rumor. According to its sources, an Apple touchscreen netbook is supposed to be launched in the second half of the year. It will have a 10-inch display from Wintek and Quanta will make it. The interested parties failed to officially comment. Are we to understand from their silence that Apple is indeed launching the new device this year?

The Apple netbook has been denied by Steve Jobs and Co. more than once already as such a device didn’t fit with Apple’s view. We’ve had various rumors and leaked images too but Apple has never shown any interest in the netbook market.

That’s why this might be just another rumor. According to the Commercial Times and DigiTimes, Apple will release a netbook in Q3. Wintek is said to supply the thouch-panels while Quanta computer will assemble the netbook. What will it be called? iNetbook? MacBook Mini? We’ll believe it when we see it…

In perhaps what is the only polycarbonate model remaining among the various Apple MacBook and MacBook Pro laptops in the market today, the the $999 white MacBook 2GHz is perhaps entirely better than the other all-around system out int he market today.

The new 2GHz model is identical to its predecessor externally, with the same number of peripheral connections (a pair of USB 2.0 ports and a single FireWire 400 port) and the same mini-DVI port as before. Similarly it retains the same glossy, 1280-by-800-pixel display and the same 120GB Serial ATA hard drive. Like the previous version, it weighs in at 5 pounds.

Under the hood, however, the new model provides a few significant improvements. Most notable is the nVidia GeForce 9400M graphics subsystem, a major upgrade over the Intel GMA X3100 used previously. Like the X3100, the 9400M is an integrated graphics chip that shares its memory with main memory; but the 9400M uses 256MB of memory, versus the X3100’s 144MB.

The second big change is a doubling of system RAM: The entry-level MacBook now ships with 2GB of 667MHz DDR2 RAM. The latest white MacBook has a much faster front-side bus, too, at 1066MHz instead of the old 800MHz. Bucking the general trend, though, the new processor runs at 2GHz, whereas the previous version’s processor came in at 2.1GHz.

Though its slightly slower processor didn’t help its performance, this new white MacBook is a solid entry-level product. And if you need a Mac portable with FireWire, it’s your most affordable choice, since the cheapest MacBook Pro costs twice as much.