Apple iMac line gets $1,099 option
Apple updated its iMac array of all-in-one computers on Wednesday with a low-end model priced at $1,099. The new iMac features a 21.5-inch screen and a 1.4GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 processor -- the same speed as a MacBook Air laptop -- along with 8GB of memory and a 500GB hard drive. This latest edition is available now, Apple said. In the UK, the new 21-inch model costs £899. In Australia, it's AU$1,349. Previously, the low-end iMac price had been $1,299. That wad of cash now buys you the midrange iMac model, which features a 2.7GHz quad-core i5 processor. Apple announcementsApple breaks the annual Mac upgrade cycleMac OS X 10.10 Yosemite The iMac update follows Apple's Worldwide Developers Conference earlier this month, which didn't include any hardware announcements, unlike the previous year when a new MacBook Air was revealed with Intel's Haswell processor. Last year's WWDC also saw the coming of the radically redesigned Mac Pro, which still reminds us of Darth Vader's bin. At this year's WWDC, Apple did show off new desktop software, OS X 10.10 Yosemite. Set for release this autumn,Yosemite adds new cloud-focused features and also brings your MacBookor iMac closer together with your iPhone or iPad by connecting with the mobile iOS 8 software. You'll even be able to take calls on your computer. As is traditional, the online Apple Store had closed its doors earlier this morning for the California-based technology giant to update its listings. The design of the iMac all-in-one desktop computer has been the same since September 2012. And the last time the iMac got any kind of iMakeover was back in September 2013, which added the Haswell chip, Nvidia's graphics processors, and 802.11ac Wi-Fi. The current 27-inch model's screen boasts 2,560x1,440 resolution. Previous rumours suggested a Retina display for the iMac and perhaps a new processor. Intel's Broadwell chip, the successor to Haswell, made its debut in new devices at the Computex trade show this month. Meanwhile, the Mac Mini hasn't been updated since October 2012.
