News Bits: New Apple OS X & Store, Longhorn Notebook Features, Acer Aspirations

Apple Unveils New Tiger OS X and Opens Bullring Store in England

Studies have shown that the average Apple user has a higher IQ than a PC user (I forget my source on that, it was reliable I'm sure though).  And while that may be the case, I still say they're all nuts.  Well anyway, as we all know Friday was a big day for Apple fans as OS X Tiger was released with a slew of new and cool features for the Apple OS platform.  Apple also used this day to open its second retail store in the U.K.  Last year Apple opened a store in London, yesterday Apple opened a store in Birmingham England's Bullring shopping center (centre to you Brits). Some Apple fanatics have dedicated a section of their website to pictures and video of this event : http://s119102804.websitehome.co.uk/gallery/6/6.html).  For a website dedicated to Apple store openings try this site: http://www.ifoapplestore.com/index.html. 

Birmingham England gets an Apple Store

Last year in London Apple ecentrics slept outside with their PowerBooks waiting for the Apple store opening

Parties were held at all the U.S. Apple stores yesterday at 6 p.m. as Apple OS X 10.4 Tiger was released

We'll have a few thoughts on some of the new features soon and some pictures from the Phoenix Arizona Apple store shin dig for the OS release, but for a very complete review of the OS visit arstechnica.com.

More: http://arstechnica.com/reviews/os/macosx-10.4.ars/3

Windows Longhorn Features for Notebooks Demonstrated

Last week at WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) a few new features regarding the upcoming Windows Longhorn OS were demonstrated.  Apparently notebook hardware manufacturers are going to be able to utilize a feature of the OS that will provide information for an LCD heads up display that can pull laptop status information even when the device is turned off, or at least in some type of low power state.  So for instance, your notebook could display its battery status and the number of emails that you have that are unread.  Here's a couple of pictures taken at this show in Seattle:

A prototype Asus notebook with an LCD display providing information on new emails and battery status

Another prototype heads up LCD display on a notebook showing battery status, weather and time

Notebook Shipments from China for Q1 2005 grows 40% Relative to Q1 2004

Impressive numbers were released on Friday for the number of notebooks shipped from China (aka, the land of notebook manufacturers).  9.508 million units were shipped from China in the first three months of the year.  That's exactly 39.7% more than were shipped in the first 3 months last year.  These numbers come from Taiwan's Market Intelligence Center (MIC).  MIC predicts that due to strong replacement demand expected worldwide this year, the total notebook shipments from Greater China (this includes China and Taiwan) should increase 38.1% for the second quarter of this year compared to last.  Here's a list of the top 9 notebook manufacturers in China based on 1st quarter shipment numbers:

1. Quanta
2. Compal
3. Wistron
4. Inventec
5. Asustek
6. Uniwill
7. Mitac
8. Arima
9. FIC

Some of those companies are likely not household names to most consumers (if any of them).  But remember, a lot of the notebooks you see sold around the world are made by these manufacturers and then rebranded by other companies as their own.  Asustek produces certain Apple notebooks for example.

More: http://www.digitimes.com/systems/a20050429PR200.html

Acer Aspires to be #5 in U.S. by End of 2005

Acer is the world's fifth-largest PC maker, but it is #8 in notebook sales in the U.S based on 1st quarter numbers for 2005 that were recently released.  Acer has stated that they Aspire (yes, pun highly intended for those that get it) to be #5 overall in U.S. with notebook sales by the end of the year.  The advance of Acer in the U.S. market is quite impressive given the fact they only re-entered it in 2003 after a long hiatus of not selling computers in this country whatsoever.

More: http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2005/04/30/2003252590

Gateway Loses Less Money Due to Strong Notebook Sales

The theme and formula for success with just about every computer manufacturer now is "sell more notebooks".  Gateway Computers, the #3 U.S. PC seller is counting on this formula too, and so far this year it's working.  Gateway recently bought out eMachines and is selling more notebooks in retail stores instead of through it's online site at www.Gateway.com.  Notebook computer sales for Gateway rose 30% in the first 3 months of this year compared to the first 3 months of 2004.  Unfortunately Gateway still lost $5 million for the 1st Quarter of 2005.  Now, compared to the loss of $172 million for 1st Quarter 2004 (ouch!), that's actually quite an improvement.

More: http://news.com.com/2100-1003_3-5689699.html