Apple is holding another media event today, which for a change is focused on the Mac.  The event starts at 10AM Pacific time and according to the latest rumor (as I type this), Apple will again stream the event live.  What should we expect from Apple today?

• MacBook Air Update:  The MBA is long overdue for an update and some rumors event point to a MBA with a smaller screen to be added to the notebook lineup.
• iLife 11: The Apple Discussions forums leaked new forum categories for a number of iLife 11 applications.  Engadget has the story.
• OSX 10.7: Judging by the invitation the media received, it looks like the next cat in the OS X franchise is Lion.  The king of the jungle; is this the last version of OS X?

The above items are a near certainty.  Will Apple have anything else up their sleeve?  We’ll have to wait and see.  I usually visit Engadget for my Apple special event coverage.  Engadget is covering the event in liveblog fashion here.

One of the first accessories I purchased for both my Macbook and Macbook Pro is the Incase Neoprene Sleeve. I didn’t have a traditional laptop bag at the time, so I knew I needed some kind of protection when traveling with my laptop. The Neoprene Sleeve proved to be the perfect notebook accessory.

The Incase 13″ Neoprene Sleeve fits the Macbook like a glove. Just slide the Macbook into the sleeve and zip it up. Place the sleeve in your backpack and you’re ready to go.

The Incase 15″ Neoprene Sleeve fits the Macbook Pro well, but not as sleek a fit as the 13″ sleeve with the Macbook. There is a little room at the top of the case, most likely to also fit the 15″ Powerbook . Despite this, the MBP slides in and out of the sleeve with ease. The width is a good fit, it’s just the length that is a little longer than the Macbook Pro.

The sleeves retail for about $35 and come in a large variety of colors. Both sleeves are a great accessory if you own either a Macbook or Macbook Pro. According to Incase, the 13″ will also fit the Macbook Air. One tip if you buy one of these sleeves. Take a razor blade or pair of scissors and take out the tag on the inside of the sleeve. Some users have reported that the tag can scratch the laptop. I took both my tags out just to be sure. I would recommend these sleeves for anyone carrying their laptop inside a backpack or other none laptop bags. They are also great if you want to carry your laptop without any bag at all. Just slide your laptop in the sleeve and carry it like you would a Moleskine journal or other paper notebook.

Unless you were hiding in a secret underground lair, you probably know Apple released some new laptops and other goodies last week. Here is a quick recap of all the changes (all that I could find):

Macbook

• There are now two different designs for the Macbook and three different price points ($999, $1299, $1599). The white plastic design of before, and a brand new aluminum design
• The white Macbook remains unchanged, except for a new price of $999 (down from $1099)
• The new Macbook received a radical design change. Gone are the days when you could easily spot the difference between a Macbook and Macbook Pro
• The new Macbook has been updated with a new precision aluminum unibody look
• The new Macbook sports a GeForce 9400M video chipset; way more powerful than the previous Intel chipset
• The new $1299 Macbook now has a slower processor; 2.0GHz C2D instead of a 2.4GHz C2D processor available in the previous $1299 white Macbook
• The $1599 Macbook has a 2.4GHz processor and 250GB HDD
• The new Macbook is without Firewire ports
• The new Macbook is sporting a new video port; the Mini DisplayPort
• The new Macbook has a glass trackpad that acts as both the trackpad and trackpad button
• The new glass trackpad supports multi-touch gestures ala the Macbook Air
• You now have a 128GB SSD option on the new Macbook
• The new Macbook has the same keyboard as the Macbook Air
• The new Macbook has a backlit keyboard; but only on the $1599 model
• The new Macbook supports the 30″ Apple Cinema Display
• The new Macbook has an LED Screen
• The new Macbook is lighter, thinner, and slightly deeper
• The new Macbook is rated for 5hrs vs. 4.5hrs in the older white model
• The battery indicator is on the side of the case instead of on the battery itself in the new Macbook

Macbook Air

• The MBA sports a GeForce 9400M video chipset; way more powerful than the previous Intel chipset
• The MBA comes standard with a 120GB HDD and also has a 128GB SSD option
• The MBA is sporting a new video port; the Mini DisplayPort
• The MBA now supports the 30″ Apple Cinema Display
• Battery life is rated at 4.5hrs vs. 5 in previous documentation (ed: Could be change in the calculation methods)
• Not shipping until “Early November”

Macbook Pro

• All models have a 128GB SSD HDD option
• The 17″ MBP remains unchanged design wise
• The 17″ MBP and the $2499 15″ comes standard with 4GB RAM and a 320GB HDD; both increases
• The 17″ MBP now comes standard with a LED display (matte or glossy)
• The 17″ MBP has a standard resolution of 1920 x 1200 (previously was a BTO option)
• The 15″ MBP was updated with the new precision aluminum unibody look
• The 15″ MBP now contains two NVIDIA chipsets; the GeForce 9400M and 9600M GT
• On the 15″ MBP, the DVI port is gone. Now you have the mini DisplayPort
• On the 15″ MBP, the ports are now on one side
• All 15″ MBP are glossy screens. You cannot get a 15″ MBP with a matte screen
• On the 15″ MBP, gone are both the FireWire 400 and FireWire 800 ports. Now you have one FireWire 800 (backwards compatible with FW 400)
• The 15″ MBP has a glass trackpad that acts as both the trackpad and trackpad button
• The new glass trackpad supports multi-touch gestures ala the Macbook Air
• The $2499 MBP received a very slight speed bump, up to 2.53GHz from 2.5GHz
• The RAM and HDD are now vastly easier to replace in the 15″ MBP via a compartment on the bottom of the laptop
• The 15″ MBP has the same keyboard as the Macbook Air
• The new 15″ MBP is slightly thinner, yet heavier, wider, and deeper
• The battery indicator is on the side of the case instead of on the battery itself in the 15″ MBP
• The 15″ MBP now has a magnetic latch similar to the Macbook

Cinema Displays

• Introduced a 24″ LED display for $899
• Built in iSight, mic, speakers, and three USB ports
• The new display contains a MagSafe connector to charge your notebook
• The new display uses the new Mini DisplayPort
• No adapter available for DVI to Mini DisplayPort available
• The previous 20″, 23″, and 30″ displays are still available; unchanged
• Not currently available for sale; “Coming Soon”

Other

• Apple talked a lot about their new products and how environmentally friendly they are. You can read the Apple 2008 Environmental Update for more information.
• Apple is now the # 1 notebook seller in education

If you’re in the market for a Mac notebook, you might want to hold off for a few days. Multiple sources have confirmed a special event Apple has scheduled for 10AM Pacific time on October 14th. The tag line, “The spotlight turns to notebooks” accompanies the invitation to the event.

The rumors about an October 14th notebook event have been circulating for some time. Indications are the the Macbook and Macbook Pro are getting a redesign. While the Macbook Air hasn’t been often mentioned in this rumor, I would be surprised if the Air didn’t get at least a processor refresh.

In related news, the Inquisitr website is reporting that Apple will release an $800 notebook. This could be either a significant price drop for the Macbook or an entirely new device. This would be Apple’s first foray into the sub $1000 notebook category. Apple has one of the healthier margins in the computer industry, so it would be a little shocking if they were to hit this price point with the Macbook. I guess we’ll find out on Tuesday.

You read that correctly! Write a blog post and win a Macbook Air. I wish I had the budget to offer such a deal, but this contest is from Smashing Magazine. Prizes will be given to the best 10 articles submitted, where the best will receive the Macbook Air. The deadline for the guest author contest is August 5th, 2008. Among the article submission guidelines:

• Between 450-1200 characters
• It may be controversial and subjective, but it should not be boring
• It should have a valid HTML-markup
• It can be a discussion article or a top 10 list

Head on over to the post announcing the contest for more rules and other information. If you’re interested in web design or development, I highly suggest adding Smashing Magazine to your feed reader!

No doubt that you’ve seen the first Macbook Air ad. The manilla folder shows you just how thin the Macbook Air truly is. As with many Apple ads, music takes the center stage along with the product.

The Macbook Air ad features a catchy tune by Yael Naim called New Soul. The song, and her new CD (iTunes link), is currently available in iTunes. In addition to the Macbook Air ad, Yael has recently received some more press. USA Today recently did a short article on Yael that dives into her background in music, her new CD, and other tidbits.

Being a singer-songwrite fan, I’ve listened to a few of the other tracks from her CD and have enjoyed them. If you’re a fan of singer-songwriters you should definitely check her out. If you’ve discovered any good singer-songwriters lately, drop his/her name in the comments. I’m always on the lookout for some good music.

Are you dying to have a Macbook Air and just happen to have $40,000 to burn? If I’m speaking your language, then I’ve got the perfect Macbook Air for you. For just south of $40,000, Bling My Thing will sell you a new Macbook Air with 12,000 Swarovski crystals. The crystals are treated with a 24K gold coating and are shinier than normal Swarovski crystals. The “Golden Age”, as they are calling this special Macbook Air, takes a week to construct since each crystal is applied by hand. Only 20 are being made, and they go on sale March 18th.

Bling My Thing also offers pimped out crystal iPhones and iPods. No word on the Macbook Air specs. For $40,000 I sure hope you get the 1.8GHz, 64GB SSD Macbook Air.

[Via Huffington Post]

With the Macbook Air firmily in the clasp of all those who value weight and style, the reviews are starting to come in. While I’m not someone who would 1) Buy the Macbook Air, or 2) be able to get a review unit from Apple, I realize that some of you might want to know more about this sexy notebook. Are you looking to buy a Macbook Air but want to know what others think? If so, here is a roundup of some early adopters or journalist who have gotten their mits on the Air.

Walt Mossberg (WSJ Journalist): “Apple refused to make the most common compromise computer makers employ to create their littlest laptops”.

Edward Baig (USA Today Journalist): “Little things make a big impression.”

Steven Levy (Newsweek Journalist): “The Air shines most, of course, when it’s out in the open–on an airplane seatback tray, on a conference table, beside your latte in a Starbucks and on your lap when you’re sprawled on the sofa.”

David Heinemeier Hansson (from 37signals): “Dismissing it as merely a 3rd computer vanity accessory, as I’ve seen many do, is misguided and not based on actually using one for a longer period of time.”

Wil Shipley (from Delicious Monster): “Just as there should be three types of spaghetti sauce, you and I should not HAVE to agree on what we want in a machine.”

Jacqui Cheng (from Ars Technica): “One way to look at the MacBook Air is as the largest and most capable iPod in Apple’s line—think of it as an iPod touch Extreme with a built-in keyboard.”

Chris Ullrich (from TUAW): “To have this much screen and still have such a small footprint is a truly amazing feat of engineering.”

Choosing the right Apple notebook is an important decision for first time and seasoned Mac users. While there are only three notebooks to choose from, each product has its own strengths and drawbacks. I thought I would make it easier for you to choose the proper Apple notebook.

I’m compiled a detailed chart listing every possible option I could find or think of based on the current notebook offerings. If you see that I missed something, please lease a comment and I’ll update the chart. I present to you, the Apple Notebook Comparison Chart (pdf).

Update: I’ve updated the chart to reflect the recent Macbook and Macbook Pro updates.

OS X
-5 million copies of Leopard have been delivered. This is likely a combination of new Mac sales and Leopard boxed copies (no definitive word given).

Time Capsule
-Time Capsule is a companion product for Leopard’s Time Machine. Time Capsule is a combination Airport Extreme Base Station with a server grade hard drive. It’s a “backup appliance”.
-500GB and 1TB storage for $299 and $499 respectively.
-Backup multiple Macs to the same Time Capsule.
-No word on if this feature will be available for USB drives connected to the current Airport Extreme Base Stations.

iPhone
-4 million iPhone sold to date.
-It’s first quarter shipping it garnered 19% of the smart phone market share.
-1.1.3 iPhone software upgrade released: SMS to multiple people, current position locator in maps, customizable home screen, and more.

iPod Touch
-Mail, maps, stocks, notes, and weather coming to the Touch.
-The cost of those applications is $20 for current Touch owners and will be built in to new ones.

iTunes
-4 billion songs sold
-125 million TV shows sold
-7 million movies sold
-iTunes movie rentals coming by the end of February
-Studios renting movies on iTunes includes Fox, WB, Disney, Paramount, Universal, and Sony.
-24 hours to finishing watching rented movie once started; you have 30 days to watch movie from the time of download.
-You can transfer the movie to a PC, Mac, iPod, iPhone, AppleTV, nearly anywhere.
-Library titles are $2.99 and new releases are $3.99

AppleTV
-Computer no longer required for AppleTv
-Rent movies directly from AppleTV
-Rent movies in DVD quality or HD (with 5.1 sound)
-Flickr and .Mac photo support
-50 million Youtube videos now available for AppleTV
-Buy TV shows and music directly from AppleTV and have them sync back to your computer
-HD movie rentals are $1 more than the standard rentals.
-New UI
-Free software upgrade for existing AppleTV owners to support new features
-Price reduced to $229

Movie Media
-Working with Fox to include a digital copy of a purchased movie on current optical media (DVD, Blu-Ray) to allow instant transfer to iTunes.

Macbook Air
-Super thin notebook
-.76 – .16 inches thick; 3lbs
-Full size keyboard
-13.3″ widescreen LED backlit display
-Built in multi-touch gesture support ala iPhone
-80GB or 64GB SSD (upgrade option) hard drive
-2GB RAM standard
-Runs on a Intel Core 2 Duo chip that is 60% smaller than current chips
-Magsafe power adapter, 802.11n, Bluetooth 2.1 + EDR, USB 2.0 port, iSight, Micro-DVI, and headphone jack. No optical drive.
-$99 USB external optical drive
-Remote Disc feature allows you to connect to a local Mac/PC and share its optical drive
-5 hour battery life
-$1799
-Ships in two weeks; pre-order today.

So those are the highlights of the Macworld Keynote. I included nearly every remotely interesting detail about the Keynote, but not everything. Engadget liveblogged the event and you can see their post here. I kept waiting for the “one more thing” but there wasn’t one this year. My money is out for an AppleTV in a few weeks. Are you going to buy anything mentioned in the Keynote?