Apple Computer Inc yesterday introduced a slew of new products, including its first computers deploying Intel chips and iPod accessories, to woo local Apple lovers.
"The debut of our new iMac desktops and MacBook Pro notebooks, which use new Intel Core Duo microprocessors, was six months ahead of schedule," Kong Yuk-loong (
These products made their first appearance last month in the US at the Macworld Expo -- an annual event in which Apple shows off its latest products and initiatives.
The company said last June that it was abandoning the Power PC processor line from IBM Corp, which it had used for 14 years, and chips from major supplier Freescale Semiconductor Inc.
Starting from NT$46,900 (US$1,452), the new iMacs come in two models, one with a 17-inch display and 1.83 GHz dual processors and another with a 20-inch display and 2 GHz dual processors. They are said to deliver twice the performance of previous models.
The new models will be available next week.
Meanwhile, the MacBook Pro, which it is claimed has four times the performance of the PowerBook G4, will hit stores next month.
Weighing 2.09 kg, the 15-inch laptops feature 1.67 GHz or 1.83 GHz dual processors and start at NT$74,900.
In the last quarter alone, Apple shipped 1.25 million Macintosh computers globally, up from 1.05 million units a year ago.
It also sold 14 million iPods, nearly three times in the same period a year ago.
"Users can also look forward to iPod accessories, since there are now more than 2,000 such devices tailor-made for the digital music players," Kong added.
Among others, the company launched a device combining wired remote control with FM radio capability for iPods. It is set to be launched next month.
However, despite its aggressive product launches, Apple has been hindered by negative news regarding recent product problems.
The company is looking into reports that the new Intel-based iMacs are experiencing video problems which prevent the graphics from being viewed as intended. The video glitch is noticeable when users start the media software Front Row.
Moreover, a lawsuit was filed against Apple last week in the US demanding the company recall and replace allegedly defective iPod nano music players.
also see story:
Apple faces lawsuit over damaged iPod nano music players
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) halted shipments to a customer this month after its semiconductors were sent to China’s Huawei Technologies Co (華為), potentially breaching US sanctions, a government official said. The US slapped sanctions on Huawei in 2019, and expanded them the following year, over fears its technology could be used for Beijing’s espionage operations. The restrictions prevent TSMC from selling semiconductors to Huawei. However, TSMC discovered on Oct. 11 that chips made for a “specific customer” had ended up with the Chinese company, a Taiwanese official with knowledge of the incident said on the condition of anonymity. TSMC “immediately activated
US SANCTIONS: The Taiwan tech giant has ended all shipments to China-based Sophgo Technologies after one of their chips was discovered in a Huawei phone Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC, 台積電) suspended shipments to China-based chip designer Sophgo Technologies Ltd (算能科技) after a chip it made was found on a Huawei Technologies Co (華為) artificial intelligence (AI) processor, according to two people familiar with the matter. Sophgo had ordered chips from TSMC that matched the one found on Huawei’s Ascend 910B, the people said. Huawei is restricted from buying the technology to protect US national security. Reuters could not determine how the chip ended up on the Huawei product. Sophgo said in a statement on its Web site yesterday that it was in compliance with all laws
TECH TITANS: Nvidia briefly overtook Apple again on Friday after becoming the world’s largest company for a short period in June, as Microsoft fell to third place Nvidia Corp dethroned Apple Inc as the world’s most valuable company on Friday following a record-setting rally in the stock, powered by insatiable demand for its specialized artificial intelligence (AI) chips. Nvidia’s stock market value briefly touched US$3.53 trillion, slightly above Apple’s US$3.52 trillion, London Stock Exchange Group data showed. Nvidia ended the day up 0.8 percent, with a market value of US$3.47 trillion, while Apple’s shares rose 0.4 percent, valuing the iPhone maker at US$3.52 trillion. In June, Nvidia briefly became the world’s most valuable company before it was overtaken by Microsoft Corp and Apple. The tech trio’s market capitalizations have been
Shares of Starlux Airlines Co (星宇航空) surged more than 53 percent on its debut on the Taiwan stock exchange yesterday. Starlux shares closed up 53.75 percent at NT$30.75 from its initial public offering price of NT$20 after retreating in late trading from a 60 percent rise. China Airlines Ltd (CAL, 中華航空) rose 0.90 percent to close at NT$22.35, while EVA Airways Corp (長榮航空) gained 0.40 percent to close at NT$37.70. In Taiwan, a newly listed stock is allowed to go beyond the 10 percent maximum increase or decline in its first five trading sessions. At the listing ceremony, Starlux chairman Chang Kuo-wei (張國煒) said
RSS