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With Apple’s recent release of the new iMacs it is only safe to assume the release of new MacBooks and MacBook Pros will soon follow. Some sources go so far as to say the new models have been seen floating around Cupertino.

The new MacBooks are said to be 13″ with the MacBook Pros at 15″ and 17″. They have a Aluminum-look to the casing much like the current Macbook Pros. This new look will bridge the long standing gap in appearance between the MacBooks and MacBook Pros. The current MacBooks only come in white and black while the MacBook Pros are an aluminum color. The new MacBooks and MacBook Pros are also rumored to be even more environmentally friendly than before with Apple taking it’s Green Initiative very seriously.

We’re interested to see what type of new features and speeds will be offered. They are rumored to be released before Christmas…. hint… hint.

The iPhone App titled PhoneSaber was a popular one while it lasted. The free App was going to make our list of favorites however Lucasfilm caught wind of the of the copywrite infringement and pulled it from iTunes since it was not created with George Lucas’ permission nor would he receive the benefits. Your little nerd hearts can pitter patter once more as Apple announced an official version will be released to the App Store soon.

The app will have a new name and a whole new look. The new version, Lightsaber Unleashed, will have a strong link to the new multi-platform title Star Wars ®: The Force Unleashed™, which is out soon. Lightsaber Unleashed will feature exciting characters from this new game as well as vastly improved graphics, sound effects and optional dueling music (which was a popular request).

The new Lightsaber Unleashed version will be a noted upgrade from the blurry graphics of the original PhoneSaber. Though we have a feeling those who still have PhoneSaber on their iPhones will not be deleting it anytime soon as a small part of Star Wars memorabilia. Download the free App to battle away and may the force be with you.

Apple announced the release of the new iPod today. Apple will no longer be producing the long skinny Nano, they are replacing it with one that is slightly larger and reminiscent of the first generation iPods. The new iPod takes just a quick shake to change the song, has a more rounded body structure, and changes from vertical to horizontal screens with just a tilt.

One of the new features I personally am interested in trying is the “musical Genius” it will take a song of your choice and build a playlist of other songs that flow together from your iTunes library. For example, if you are having a bad day and listening to a slow, deliberate song, it will pull all other songs from your library that are similar and make a play list for you. It will be interesting to see which songs are grouped together in even the most diverse music libraries. With 9 new colors the self expression begins at $149.

The best news though is the design of the new earbuds. The new headphones are equipped with a woofer and tweeter for excellent sound quality. The new softer looking buds come in 3 sizes so they actually fit in your ears instead of falling out every 5 minutes on a run. The catch…. for the headphones along $79.

With the release of iPhone Apps some of us are wondering how we survived without them? But of course Free is always the best price, so here are the Smartacus picks for 10 of the best FREE Apps.

1) Tap Tap Revenge- Along the lines of Guitar Hero and Dance Dance Revolution, this game has players tapping to the rhythm on the touch screen. This madly addictive game can be hard to get used to at first but keep practicing and challenge your friends. One of the great things about this game is the 2 player option.

2) Remote- Remote is an App created by Apple. With just an easy configuration you can set-up your iPhone to be a remote control for your computer’s iTunes. It’s a great tool for parties, play whatever songs you want without ever leaving the couch, or the conversation.

3) iPint- The fun part of this App is not really the game, sure it’s entertaining to guide a pint of beer down the bar narrowly missing the bowl of pretzels, but the rewarding part is after you win. A fresh iPhone virtual beer is poured into your iPhone. By tilting the iphone to the side your beer is poured out until it is all gone. You can finally enjoy a beer anywhere virtually.

4) Magic 8 Ball- For all the truly important questions in life, ask the Magic 8 Ball App. It’s just like grade school and just as reliable, “Magic 8 Ball, does Richard like me?” “My sources say “No.”"

5) Sol Free- It was a huge disappointment for a lot of people that the iPhone did not come with games like Solitaire, but the App store comes to the rescue. There are several different free versions of Solitaire but our favorite is Sol Free. It offers 5 different versions of Solitaire, saves your games until you clear them, has unlimited “undo”, and times games for just the amount of time you actually spend in the game.

6) Twitterific- For all you Twitter.com junkies out there this is the App for you. Update your status and check in on your friends to your hearts content. And who knows, it might even help you get out of prison in a foreign country!

7) Evernote- This integrated App will help you keep track of everything you need from your iPhone. You can make notes, save pictures, capture ideas and save them instantly to the web, your iPhone, and your Desktop. This is the perfect application for writers giving a medium for you write your perfect sentence down before it escapes your memory.

8.) Holy Bible- A complete copy of the Bible in every translation and several different languages is available free in the Apps store. Search for your favorite verse or read it through as a study tool, the light weight iPhone won’t have you missing the book. If religion is not really your thing there are many other free books available through the Apps store such as the complete works of Shakespeare.

9) More Cow Bell- Saturday Night Live cult classic sketch of Will Farrel playing the cow bell for Blue Oyster Cult, had Christopher Walken yelling for “More Cow Bell.” Now you can play the cow bell anytime you like thanks to this free App. In fact you can play “Don’t Fear the Reaper” from your iTunes, play along on the cow bell, and help cure Christopher Walken’s fever.

10) Restaurant Nutrition- This useful little App will have you thinking twice before ordering a milk shake from your favorite fast food place. It gives you the calorie content for about 25 different fast food places. If you decide it’s worth the calories to drive to McDonald’s it will even locate the closest one and give you directions on how to get there.

Hope you enjoy the Apps as much as we do and happy downloading!