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San Francisco - Apple CEO Steve Jobs has announced the introduction of movie rentals through its iTunes Store - first available in the US and later internationally.
Speaking at the annual Macworld Expo on Monday, Jobs said all the major film studios would be making their wares available on the service, with both standard-definition and high-definition versions of films on offer.
At the same time, Apple has updated the Apple TV product line with new software that will allow users to rent and buy content from the iTunes store without connecting the set-top box to a computer.
Jobs also released new software for the iPhone and the iPod Touch adding new functionality to both devices. The iPhone update is free, while iPod Touch users will be expected to cough up $20 for the privilege.
Apple also introduced a new back-up device for its computer users, the Time Capsule. Combining a wireless access point with either a 500 gigabyte or 1 terabyte (1 000 gigabyte) hard drive it is intended to allow notebook users to more easily back up their information.
World's thinnest laptop
Apple used the expo to launch its attack on the ultra-portable sector of the laptop market by introducing the world's thinnest laptop, the MacBook Air.
Taking potshots at the likes of Sony and other PC makers for crippling the performance of their offerings in order to cut weight, the Air runs a full Intel processor, albeit one shrunk down by Intel on Apple?s request.
The Air weighs in at 1.36kg - almost a full kilogram lighter than Apple's lightest offering at present, the MacBook.
However, Jobs placed most of his emphasis on how thin the device is. While the back of the notebook is around 1.9 cm thick, the front tapers down to a point where it is less than 5 mm giving the computer its ultra-thin look. In order to get this profile,
Apple has abandoned the optical drive and eliminated all the ports except one USB port, the power connector, a video-out port and the headphone jack. Despite the Air's low weight, it sports a 13-inch screen and a full-sized keyboard when most of its competitors have smaller screens and keyboards.
While the iPhone - unveiled at the 2007 conference - went on to dominate gadget news for the rest of the year, the unveiling of the Air will have little impact outside Apple?s core group of users.
- Fin24