Click here to view the embedded video.

Now, if the hype over the Apple Tablet wasn’t making you go crazy yet, think about this. Diablo 3 and Starcraft 2 will be compatible with Mac OSX.

Ho. Lee. Shit.

While I would have to admit how pumped I am for Snow Leopard, at the same time I’m a little concerned. I use my Macbook Pro daily for work and I need it running in tip top order. I’ve already started doing some research concerning the compatibility of my favorite and most used Applications. It seems that Parallels should be in the clear but what about other programs? Apparently there are questions though regarding Photoshop CS3. Supposedly Adobe has tested it but there are some conflicting reports. Here’s hoping everything works but then of course that’s the problem with being an early adopter.

Source

So what are you waiting for? Head to your local Apple Store and get your pre-order on!

To get the update just open up the Perian preference pane and run check for updates or jump on over to Perian.org for a direct download.

So WWDC is in full swing, fancy new developer stuff sprouting from left, right and center. The keynote that kicked it all off is probably the most talked about event at WWDC and it delivered on many fronts debunking rumours and confirming suspicions. As with all Apple announcements the air of secrecy that Apple manages to protect makes forcasting what’s coming like playing bingo.

Hit the read link to see how we did this year.

So how did we do?

iPhone 3GS

Storage bump – 16Gb and 32Gb replacing the 8Gb and 16Gb - on the money with that one

More RAM
New processor (incremental speed bump most likely)
- Although exact details aren’t available the stated 2x faster average definitely comes from a faster processor and more RAM

3.2Mp camera (no zoom or flash just a straight drop-in sensor replacement)
- 0.2MP out, not bad, autofocus with tap-to-focus also bolted in there

Digital compass (magnetometer)
- Present and accounted for.

Video recording
- Check

All the trappings of the current 3.0 beta (MMS, Copy/Paste, Spotlight etc etc)
- Goes without saying plus some extras like Voice control

7.2Mbps HSPDA (rather than the limited to 3.6Mbps current chipset)
- S for speed baby, not just on the processor front

Change of back plate to a matte finish (hopefully less scratch prone)
- Sadly missing, nothing other than the addition of a S on the back has changed on the appearance front

Possibly:
802.11 N (rather than b/g)
- No additions just b/g (time to upgrade to a dual band router)

Front facing camera for video calling
- Absent, although I’ve never really considered mobile video calling viable because of the cost issues at least in the UK.

Budget iPhone (I wouldn’t put it past Apple to keep the current iPhone 3G like they have done the White Macbook as a ‘budget’ offering)
- Bingo! Right on the money with this one.

Predictions for WWDC, because WWDC is much bigger than the iPhone:

iPhone revision 3 announced for release in July
- 1/2 month out, didn’t realise they’d have their act together so soon.

iPhone 3.0 firmware made available for download from the keynote for original iPhone 3G owners
- 17th July, not what I was hoping for but it’s not that long to wait I guess.

Snow Leopard goes Gold
- Apple didn’t say but they committed to a September release and only $29 for the privileged (bargain if you ask me)

Snow Leopard shown off to the Apple faithful to be released July/August/September
- Just in with that one

Lots of talk about the new technology behind Snow Leopard including perhaps a road map to a new file system to replace the ageing HFS
- No talk of file systems but lots of new goodies in Snow Leopard including new GPU hookins and Grand Central Dispatch to name but a few.

MacBook and possibly MacBook Pro incremental refresh (processor, memory, HDD bumps)
- Got a bit more than I was expecting from this one. Definitely didn’t see the 13″ MacBook Pro coming, but pleased none the less because I miss the 12″ PowerBook from yester year

Talk of or presence of Steve Jobs returning (might be in the panel of Apple Execs up on the stage for the keynote)
- No mention of a Jobsian return but they haven’t said anything to indicate he won’t be back in July.

Overall I was quite saticefied with the WWDC keynote. From an iPhone prespective you could feel a little hard done by with no radical changes available, but a faster device with video/autofocus camera and a compass, I’m pretty stoked about an upgrade in 6 months. Mind you it also pleases me that it’s not so radically different that I can’t resist until I’m actually eligible for the upgrade. Is it a Pre and Android beater? Time will tell.

From a Snow Leopard perspective I’m even more impressed and excited than before WWDC. I definitely wasn’t expecting the upgrade to cost so little, puts Microsoft’s Windows pricing to shame! I’m looking at Snow Leopard as a building and consolidating upgrade that makes subtle changes to an already winning formula but with big performance upgrades. It’ll make my year old MacBook Pro all nice a new again and likely run a bit faster.

What are your thoughts on WWDC so far? Pleased? Cheesed off at AT&T for basically killing all the new goodies you could get on your iPhone 3G? Left wanting more from a new iPhone? Hit us up in the comments.

Bargain basement pricing for the next iteration of the Mac operating system.

Today Apple announced that Snow Leopard, the stripped down, consolidated update to OSX which builds apon the switch to Intel chips with new streamlined and optimised code and technology will be available for a credit-crunch busting $29.

Leveraging new accelerated technologies including a new version of QuickTime, full 64Bit integrated apps and the new Safari 4 browser along with some nice additions to the Dock and Expose. Snow Leopard looks to be a welcome upgrade to an already solid platform.

So here’s where I put it on the line and make my predictions for the iPhone (more like playing bingo with Apple involved but predictions none the less):

Definitely:

• Storage bump – 16Gb and 32Gb replacing the 8Gb and 16Gb
• More RAM
• New processor (incremental speed bump most likely)
• 3.2Mp camera (no zoom or flash just a straight drop-in sensor replacement)
• Digital compass (magnetometer)
• Video recording
• All the trappings of the current 3.0 beta (MMS, Copy/Paste, Spotlight etc etc)
• 7.2Mbps HSPDA (rather than the limited to 3.6Mbps current chipset)
• Change of back plate to a matte finish (hopefully less scratch prone)

Possibly:

• 802.11 N (rather than b/g)
• Front facing camera for video calling
• Budget iPhone (I wouldn’t put it past Apple to keep the current iPhone 3G like they have done the White Macbook as a ‘budget’ offering)

Predictions for WWDC, because WWDC is much bigger than the iPhone.

• iPhone revision 3 announced for release in July
• iPhone 3.0 firmware made available for download from the keynote for original iPhone 3G owners
• iPhone Push notification servers go live for the main stream
• New API/SDK talk for the iPhone 3.0 firmware/hardware (after all it is a developers conference)
• Snow Leopard goes Gold
• Snow Leopard shown off to the Apple faithful to be released July/August/September
• Lots of talk about the new technology behind Snow Leopard  including perhaps a road map to a new file system to replace the ageing HFS
• MacBook and possibly MacBook Pro incremental refresh (processor, memory, HDD bumps)
• Talk or presence of Steve Jobs returning (might be in the panel of Apple Execs up on the stage for the keynote)

Many people have been speculating about an Apple Tablet. One might be in the works but I doubt we’ll see it at WWDC, if they’re going to announce something like that it’ll be at a special event on their terms in. Apple learnt a valuable lesson from the iPhone 2.0, iPhone 3G, App Store and Mobile Me launch: Don’t overload yourself with everything all at once. Will there be a ‘One more thing’? Will Steve Jobs be the ‘One more thing’? All will be revealed come 1500 UTC!

So that’s it from me, you’ll have to wait till this afternoon to find out the juicy details, but rest assured if there’s anything tasty you’ll see it here on PixelatedGeek.

Isn’t it time you’ve changed your login screen wallpaper? Yes, it was pretty when you first booted up Leopard but now it’s old.  You need some new hotness on your desktop before you login or when you logout.  Well, a new simple app for your Mac is now available from Omid Pajuhideh at Loginox. As long as the picture you select is 2560 x 1600 and has a ratio 8/5, you can enjoy a different Login screen look. Try it out!