Apple updates Macbooks with Thunderbolt

SHINY TOY MAKER Apple has updated its Macbook Pro laptops with Thunderbolt I/O technology as well as next generation Intel processors.

The launch follows some recent speculation and the brief early morning closure of the Apple store, the latter event which is usually a very good indication of an incoming release.

True to form, once Apple had dropped its standard closed for now message, its website sprang back into life with the three updated models. The refreshed line of Macbook Pros now comes with Intel Sandy Bridge processors, dual or quad core depending on the model, and the aforementioned Thunderbolt, which is Apple's name for Intel's Light Peak technology.

"The new MacBook Pro brings next generation dual and quad Core processors, high performance graphics, Thunderbolt technology and FaceTime HD to the great design loved by our pro customers," said Philip Schiller, Apple's SVP of worldwide product marketing.

"Thunderbolt is a revolutionary new I/O technology that delivers an amazing 10 gigabits per second and can support every important I/O standard which is ideal for the new MacBook Pro."

The Macbooks are the first computers to bear the Thunderbolt or Light Peak I/O technology. Thunderpeak Lightbolt is supposed to be a successor to USB - it supports both that and Firewire - and Apple said that it will work with RAID arrays and Displayport as well as existing adapters for displays. Also added is a Facetime HD camera that will make all video calls much crisper, that is, scarier.

The Macbook Pro 13-inch model has Intel Core i5 and Core i7 dual-core processors running at up to 2.7GHz and Intel HD Graphics 3000, while its bigger brothers, the 15-inch and 17-inch MacBook Pro models have a choice of quad-core Intel Core i7 processors running at up to 2.3GHz, and AMD Radeon HD graphics processors with up to 1GB of video memory.

The UK store is still being updated, but we can tell you that pricing for the 13-inch model starts at £832.50, without VAT.

The new Macbook Pro laptops come with OS X Snow Leopard, but Apple has also announced the developer preview of Lion, its next OS X release.

Lion, it explained, includes a Launchpad feature for storing and accessing applications, as well as Mission Control, which is an 'innovative' view of everything running on your Mac. According to Apple's Schiller the new features were inspired by the Ipad.

"The iPad has inspired a new generation of innovative features in Lion," said Schiller. "Developers are going to love Mission Control and Launchpad, and can now start adding great new Lion features like full screen, gestures, Versions and Auto Save to their own apps."

Other features include a new version of Mail, which again was inspired by the Ipad, a conversation viewing mode, which groups messages together, autosave for documents and autorecover for apps, some encryption features and support for Microsoft Exchange 2010. µ