Apple Computer has unveiled its new iMac, featuring Mac OS X version 10.4.4 "Tiger," running on Intel's new Core Duo processor. The company says its new iMac is capable of delivering performance, up to twice that of its predecessors.

Each new Apple iMac incorporates Intel's Core Duo processors; Mac OS X version 10.4.4 "Tiger" including Safari, Mail, iCal, iChat AV, Front Row and Photo Booth; built-in iSight video camera; and Apple Front Row with Apple Remote.

Apple's Front Row and the Apple Remote allow consumers to enjoy content on their iMac; viz songs from the iTunes library, slide-shows from iPhoto, videos cum TV shows, Podcasts, iMovies, DVDs, etc., from across the room.

The built-in iSight video camera enables out-of-the-box video conferencing using Apple's iChat AV software, plus facilitates video Podcast / iMovie recording using iLife'06. iLife'06 is Apple's Gen-Next suite of digital lifestyle applications; featuring major new versions of iPhoto, iMovie HD, iDVD, GarageBand, and introducing iWeb - a new application which makes for easily creating and publishing websites. Thanks to Intel's dual-core processors, iSight is said to be able to deliver up to 4 times the resolution offered by previous models.

The new iMacs include features such as 8x SuperDrive with double-layer support; 512 MB of 667 MHz DDR2 SDRAM memory expandable to 2 GB; up to 500 GB HDD storage capacity; and ATI Radeon X1600 PCI Express-based graphics with 128 MB GDDR3 memory.

iMacs also feature built-in 10/100/1000 BASE-T Gigabit Ethernet for high-speed networking; built-in AirPort Extreme for fast 54 Mbps wireless networking; built-in Bluetooth 2.0+EDR (Enhanced Data Rate); 5 USB ports (three USB 2.0); 2 FireWire 400 ports; and mini-DVI video output to connect up to a 23-inch Apple Cinema HD Display.

Steve Jobs, CEO, Apple Computer, said, "The iMac has already been praised as 'the gold standard of desktop PCs,' so we hope customers really love the new iMac, which is up to twice as fast. With Mac OS X plus Intel's latest dual-core processor under the hood, the new iMac delivers performance that will knock our customers' socks off."

Apple's new iMac is available in 2 versions: the 17-inch 1.83 GHz iMac featuring a 17-inch wide-screen LCD display, 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, and 160 GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm; and the 20-inch 2.0 GHz iMac including a 20-inch wide-screen LCD display, 2.0 GHz Intel Core Duo processor, and 250GB Serial ATA hard drive running at 7200 rpm.

The 17-inch iMac is available for a suggested retail price of $1,299; while the 20-inch model is shipping for a suggested retail price of $1,699.