Macworld Expo 2008: Steve Jobs’ Keynote Speech

Here’s my wrap-up on the keynote speech, which just ended:

1- Time Capsule, wireless backup utility. New Airport Extreme base station with an internal server-grade hard drive.

2- Free software upgrade for iPhone includes: location mapping, SMS multiple recipients, customizable home screen, bookmarks sent to home screen

3- $20 software upgrade for iPod Touch includes 5 new apps: Mail, Stocks, Weather, Notes, and Maps

4- iTunes Movie Rentals with every studio on board. Movies available 30 days after their DVD release. $2.99 each ($3.99 for new releases). Watch anywhere (Mac, PC, iPod, iPhone) within 30 days of purchase, but must finish within 24 hours

5- Apple TV Take 2. No computer needed. Rent HDTV movies and TV shows ($4.99 each), sync with iTunes, get photos from Flickr and .Mac. Free software upgrade for existing units. Price drop on new units to $229.

6- 20th Century Fox moving to Blu-Ray format, and will be offering free iTunes version on their DVDs

7- Introducing world’s thinest notebook computer: MacBook Air. So thin it fits inside a manila envelope.

• Weighs 3 pounds
• Aluminum case tapers from 0.16″ to 0.76″ thick
• Magnetic latch, 13.3″ widescreen instant-on LED backlit display
• iSight built in
• Full-size keyboard
• Multi-touch gesture support on the trackpad
• 80GB hard drive (1.8″ like in iPods), 64GB SSD optional
• 1.6 GHz standard, 1.8 GHz optional — Intel Core 2 Duo
• 802.11n Wi-Fi and Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR
• No CD-DVD drive, but can purchase SuperDrive separately for $99
• Remote Disc lets you “borrow” another machine’s optical drive to install software, etc
• 5-hour battery life
• 2GB memory standard
• Environmental highlights:
  • Aluminum case (good for recycling)
  • First fully mercury and lead free display
  • Circuit boards are BFR (brominated flame retardant) and PVC free
  • Retail packaging has 56% less volume than MacBook

Unit price: $1,799
Pre-orders start today

Guess who’ll have one on her desk in two weeks?

Thanks to MacWorld, Gizmodo and MacRumors for liveblogging. Wish I were there!

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