Weekly news Round-up: Sat 15th August | The BEST Apple Hardware and Software Reviews

Latest News:Weekly news Round-up: Sat 15th August

Written By Editor August 15th, 2009

In the news this week, will the rumored Apple device see the light of day as soon as September the 7th? Eric Schmidt leaves Apple board of Directors, Snow Leopard could be close, photos of a new iPod touch get leaked and anti-glare screens are back!

Macrumors have been considering the possibility that Apple may be releasing a tablet-like device as soon as September, possibly even at a mystery Apple Keynote event starting the 7th of September! However a more recent post suggests it could be coming early 2010.The device is rumored to have a 10 inch multi-touch screen, and appears to be designed to look like a large iPhone according to one insider who told Gizmodo he had held prototype’s of the device. The source also suggested that the device could be used to serve as a “secondary screen/touchpad for iMacs and MacBooks”. The tablet should sit in the $700-$900 price bracket, and is rumored to be available in 2 versions, one with a webcam, and branded as “Educational”.
Eric Schmidt has decided to leave the Apple Board of Directors, citing “increasing areas of competition between Apple and Google” as the reason for leaving. The board may meet this Tuesday to discuss replacements, with Tim Cook looking a possible favorite.
Snow Leopard is close! Ars technica reports latest builds seeded to developers are essentially the final build, and that we could see snow leopard on the shelves before the end of August!
The iPhone 3GS achieves a staggering 99% satisfaction rate with customers. After a survey of 200 customers, RBC/IQ ChangeWave have rounded up some interesting results. They can be found here at appleinsider. Surprisingly, only 16% of the respondents chose the new 3.2MP video camera as their favourite feature with 45% stating that the touch screen interface is the best thing about the new iPhone. Apple beat Palm, with only 45% of PRE customers stating they were very satisfied with the device, as opposed to Apple’s 82%.
Anti-glare / matte screens are back! Apple have re-introduced matte screens, currently only for the 15 inch Macbook Pro, as an option! Matte scress cost $50 extra as opposed to the standard, glossy variety.
Finally, Gizmodo are carrying pictures of what is claimed to be the new iPod touch. The prototype now has a camera, though the actual device in the pictures looks pretty scratched. One of the leaked pics is probably a Photoshop, according to Engadget, who think the camera is cut right off the back of an iPhone.