Apple intro new 17-inch MacBook Pro, DRM free iiTunes, enhanced iPhoto

Phil Schiller at MacWorld, showed off some software updates, specifically, to the iWork and iLife software suites before premiering a new widescreen edition of the MacBook Pro.

The 17-inch MacBook Pro model weighing in at 6.6 pounds, promises 1920 x 1200 resolution, as well as a new battery technology that should extend its running life to about seven hours on a single charge. The 170–inch will come standard with a Core 2 Duo processor clocked at 2.66 GHz, 4 GB of DDR3, 320 GB hard drive, dual Nvidia GPUs -- one 9400M, and an extension 9600M GT with 512 MB of dedicated GDDR. Pricing for the new MacBook Pro will begin at $2,799.

Schiller also demonstrated new version of iPhoto shipping with the iLife suite for Macs will share functionality with Facebook and Flickr, enabling users to transfer photos directly.  A revised front-end for iPhoto is said to have functionality that looks more familiar to iTunes users.

Also extended to a new three-tier pricing scheme for iTunes tracks: Some songs will be offered for as low as 69