The newest release of Microsoft's flagship product Windows is to be launched on Thursday.
There are a great many changes to the operating system, which has already been described by one analyst as "a polishing release of Windows Vista".
Here, BBC News takes a quick run through the most noticeable changes.
Fresh start
From the very start, then: installation. Windows 7 is designed to be a markedly less bulky and resource-intensive OS, so the installation should be comparatively quick, and there's a particularly lightweight version for netbooks.
The difficulties that plagued upgrades from XP to Vista are gone, because the architecture of Windows 7 rests on the changes made in Vista. Equally, however, that will make upgrading from XP difficult.
If you are aiming to upgrade directly from Windows XP to Windows 7, be aware that Microsoft doesn't recommend it. Not only is it likely to take significantly longer, the directory structure is different between the two and many applications may not work if not run after a "fresh" installation.
Win 7 screenshot (Microsoft)
The release offers many new personalisation options like desktops
If installing Windows 7 on an older machine, it's probably best to check with the Windows 7 Upgrade Advisor program to see whether your machine is compatible or if you are likely to see the improvements in speed that the OS can in principle offer.
For the most part, software that runs on Vista will run on Windows 7; many big-name software vendors of programs that don't upgrade easily have free upgrades available on the web.
Microsoft promises that its Windows Easy Transfer will smooth the process of moving your files from an older machine to your new Windows 7 computer.
However, be aware that many simple programs for handling things like instant messaging are missing from Windows 7 on install; instead, the idea is that users will begin to use the cloud-based services that form Windows Live.
First look
With Windows 7 installed, the first thing to note is that it doesn't look - or, on startup, sound - all that different from Vista.
One quickly noticeable difference is that the desktop widgets, or Gadgets, can now be placed wherever you like on the desktop.
The taskbar along the bottom of the screen has had a few new features added to it: hover over the Internet Explorer bar, for example, and up pop small previews of all the open Explorer windows, even if they're running live video at the time.
Win 7 screenshot (Microsoft)
Thumbnail previews of open windows
Hover over the previews, and just that window will pop up in full size, with all other windows minimised.
Continuing in the theme of simplifying your workspace, the stylistic "Aero" features first shown off in Vista have been explored, leading to new features.
Too many windows open? Grab the bar at the top of a window, give it a shake with the mouse, and all other windows minimise. Repeat the process to re-maximise the other windows.
Aero Peek isn't really a feature per se - a little patch of the right of the taskbar performs the function of the prior "show desktop" icon - but it simply makes the windows transparent, leaving behind their outlines.
Some of these features will be familiar to Apple users and have been available in similar forms in various Mac operating systems.
Networking opportunity
Microsoft has added a few new bells and whistles for home networking, as well. Each computer that is running Windows 7 on a network can dictate what kinds of files will be shared - documents, videos, or music - and which will remain private.
Win 7 screenshot (Microsoft)
The release allows detailed control of files shared on a home network
Also, there is new functionality in the "Play To" menu for media: users can play a multimedia out to other computers in the network or even an XBox.
Microsoft has also refined the search function that was wholly revamped for Vista. As before, it searches across all hard drives, and keeps a running tally so that results are displayed more or less instantly, as you type - reminiscent of Apple Mac's search.
In Windows 7, the search results are broken down into sub-lists by type, such as documents, multimedia, programs, and so on.
Users can also create "libraries" of certain types of files - not unlike Mac OS's "smart folders": a sort of virtual directory that contains for instance all of your image files, regardless of the folders where they actually reside.
Lastly, Windows incorporates some familiar tricks having to do with "multitouch" functions, either on a mousepad or a touchscreen device, should you have one.
However, these multi-touch features work with all applications.
Holding one finger down on an icon while tapping with another functions like a right-click and two fingers can be used to zoom in and out of images or webpages, or rotate them.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Crash pilot 'flew 5ft above taxi'
An RAF helicopter pilot swore as he flew his aircraft just 5ft above a taxi before a fatal crash in North Yorkshire, an inquest has heard.
Pilot Dave Sale was heard to say "let's scare the shit out of this taxi", two hours before the Puma crashed near Catterick Garrison on 8 August 2007.
The inquest also heard that the Johnny Cash hit Ring Of Fire was being played over the cockpit speaker.
Flt Lt Sale, 28, and two other people on board died as a result of the crash.
Co-pilot Flt Lt Robert Hamilton, who survived but was left paraplegic, admitted at the inquest the manoeuvre close to the taxi had been "unprofessional".
Coroner Geoff Fell described the taxi incident as the "most compelling piece of evidence" of the inquest.
Flt Lt Sale, from Norton on Teesside, and Sgt Phillip Burfoot, 27, from Cardiff, were killed in the accident.
Both airmen served with 33 Squadron based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
Pte Sean Tait, 17, from Glasgow, died two days later in hospital.
The inquest in Harrogate heard how a taxi driver stopped in the road as the helicopter flew low overhead.
Helicopter wreckage
The Puma came from an RAF base in Oxfordshire
Mr Fell said: "He stopped the car. He was eyeballing the pilot and described the helicopter 5ft above his car."
The coroner played extracts of the last two hours of the cockpit voice recording of the doomed aircraft.
Flt Lt Hamilton, who was the non-handling pilot when the Puma crashed, described the crew's behaviour as "unprofessional".
The Puma crashed while taking part in low-level manoeuvres with a total of 12 military personnel on board.
Flt Lt Hamilton described how he enjoyed fish and chips with his crew members before having a cigarette and phoning his girlfriend shortly before the final flight of the day took off.
'Agricultural flying'
He phoned his future wife to say: "It was the best day's flying I'd had."
He told the inquest: "I was given the chance - at 25 years old with a couple of friends on a helicopter - of learning to fly and doing some live trooping without having an instructor looking over me. A bit more freedom really."
He admitted he was not as experienced a pilot as his good friend Flt Lt Sale, who was at the controls of the Puma when it crashed at 2050 GMT.
Flt Lt Hamilton described some of his own flying as "agricultural" rather than smooth, but described his friend as a confident and self-assured pilot, but not domineering in the cockpit."
The inquest continues.
Pilot Dave Sale was heard to say "let's scare the shit out of this taxi", two hours before the Puma crashed near Catterick Garrison on 8 August 2007.
The inquest also heard that the Johnny Cash hit Ring Of Fire was being played over the cockpit speaker.
Flt Lt Sale, 28, and two other people on board died as a result of the crash.
Co-pilot Flt Lt Robert Hamilton, who survived but was left paraplegic, admitted at the inquest the manoeuvre close to the taxi had been "unprofessional".
Coroner Geoff Fell described the taxi incident as the "most compelling piece of evidence" of the inquest.
Flt Lt Sale, from Norton on Teesside, and Sgt Phillip Burfoot, 27, from Cardiff, were killed in the accident.
Both airmen served with 33 Squadron based at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
Pte Sean Tait, 17, from Glasgow, died two days later in hospital.
The inquest in Harrogate heard how a taxi driver stopped in the road as the helicopter flew low overhead.
Helicopter wreckage
The Puma came from an RAF base in Oxfordshire
Mr Fell said: "He stopped the car. He was eyeballing the pilot and described the helicopter 5ft above his car."
The coroner played extracts of the last two hours of the cockpit voice recording of the doomed aircraft.
Flt Lt Hamilton, who was the non-handling pilot when the Puma crashed, described the crew's behaviour as "unprofessional".
The Puma crashed while taking part in low-level manoeuvres with a total of 12 military personnel on board.
Flt Lt Hamilton described how he enjoyed fish and chips with his crew members before having a cigarette and phoning his girlfriend shortly before the final flight of the day took off.
'Agricultural flying'
He phoned his future wife to say: "It was the best day's flying I'd had."
He told the inquest: "I was given the chance - at 25 years old with a couple of friends on a helicopter - of learning to fly and doing some live trooping without having an instructor looking over me. A bit more freedom really."
He admitted he was not as experienced a pilot as his good friend Flt Lt Sale, who was at the controls of the Puma when it crashed at 2050 GMT.
Flt Lt Hamilton described some of his own flying as "agricultural" rather than smooth, but described his friend as a confident and self-assured pilot, but not domineering in the cockpit."
The inquest continues.
Wheelchair user, 92, arrested for smuggling coke
MADRID, Spain (CNN) -- A 92-year-old woman with cocaine strapped to her body flew all the way from Brazil to Spain before police arrested her, in a wheelchair, at Madrid's airport.
A Civil Guard spokeswoman says the 92-year old was apprehended at Madrid's Barajas Airport.
A Civil Guard spokeswoman says the 92-year old was apprehended at Madrid's Barajas Airport.
They found 4.3 kilos, or nearly 9.5 pounds, of cocaine packets strapped to her legs and torso, and also arrested a 44-year-old female companion, who tried to escape on another plane, a Civil Guard spokeswoman told CNN Tuesday.
The two women, both from Uruguay, were arrested Friday after arriving in Madrid on a flight from Sao Paolo, Brazil. But officials did not release details about the case until this week, after a judge had arraigned the two on drug trafficking charges. The judge ordered the younger woman to prison but sent the 92-year-old to a senior citizens' home in Madrid.
Due to her advanced age, "it's practically impossible" that she would be tried or face jail time, said the Civil Guard spokeswoman, who by custom is not identified. Police did not identify the two women.
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Civil Guards became suspicious when the younger woman repeatedly told the older woman -- who had asked for an airport wheelchair in Madrid to traverse the terminal -- that if they rushed, they would make their connecting flight to Spain's Canary Islands.
The Civil Guards, who run customs controls at the airport, stopped the woman in the wheelchair.
The younger woman immediately fled, first trying to make the connecting flight, which by then had closed its doors, and then attempting to leave the airport terminal for the street.
But she was stuck in the "satellite," or second building, of Terminal 4, which is connected to the main building and the street by an underground train. Police caught up with her before she left the satellite terminal.
The two would-be smugglers probably expected a cash payment and return flight tickets to Brazil from their drug trafficking contacts, the Civil Guard spokeswoman said
A Civil Guard spokeswoman says the 92-year old was apprehended at Madrid's Barajas Airport.
A Civil Guard spokeswoman says the 92-year old was apprehended at Madrid's Barajas Airport.
They found 4.3 kilos, or nearly 9.5 pounds, of cocaine packets strapped to her legs and torso, and also arrested a 44-year-old female companion, who tried to escape on another plane, a Civil Guard spokeswoman told CNN Tuesday.
The two women, both from Uruguay, were arrested Friday after arriving in Madrid on a flight from Sao Paolo, Brazil. But officials did not release details about the case until this week, after a judge had arraigned the two on drug trafficking charges. The judge ordered the younger woman to prison but sent the 92-year-old to a senior citizens' home in Madrid.
Due to her advanced age, "it's practically impossible" that she would be tried or face jail time, said the Civil Guard spokeswoman, who by custom is not identified. Police did not identify the two women.
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* Spanish police seize oil tanker cocaine haul
* 90 percent of U.S. bills carry traces of cocaine
* Study: Cocaine vaccine could help addicts
Civil Guards became suspicious when the younger woman repeatedly told the older woman -- who had asked for an airport wheelchair in Madrid to traverse the terminal -- that if they rushed, they would make their connecting flight to Spain's Canary Islands.
The Civil Guards, who run customs controls at the airport, stopped the woman in the wheelchair.
The younger woman immediately fled, first trying to make the connecting flight, which by then had closed its doors, and then attempting to leave the airport terminal for the street.
But she was stuck in the "satellite," or second building, of Terminal 4, which is connected to the main building and the street by an underground train. Police caught up with her before she left the satellite terminal.
The two would-be smugglers probably expected a cash payment and return flight tickets to Brazil from their drug trafficking contacts, the Civil Guard spokeswoman said
Investigation reveals final hours of McNair, girlfriend
(CNN) -- The girlfriend of former NFL quarterback Steve McNair had grown frustrated with their relationship and was struggling with financial difficulties in the days before she killed him and herself in July.
Steve McNair, former NFL quarterback, was a married father of four when he was killed last summer.
Steve McNair, former NFL quarterback, was a married father of four when he was killed last summer.
Details of their relationship were revealed in a case summary released by Nashville police Monday.
McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, were found fatally shot in a condominium in downtown Nashville on July 4. Police have since ruled their deaths a murder-suicide.
"My life is just s--- and I should end it," Kazemi said the night before the couple were found dead, according to Sonya New, her shift manager at a Dave & Busters restaurant. New also said Kazemi was not her usual self and seemed down.
Though McNair was a married father of four, he was seeing Kazemi and at least one other woman, Leah Ignagni, according to Nashville police. McNair had spent the night at Ignagni's apartment on July 2, two nights before he was killed, Ignagni told police.
On the morning of July 4, Kazemi texted McNair, saying she was stressed and needed money to pay bills.
"Baby I might have a break down im so stressed," Kazemi said in one text message. "baby i might need to go to the hospital. baby whats wrong w(ith) me i can hardly breath(e)."
Chris Wall, who provided security for McNair and his family, told police he knew about McNair's relationship with Kazemi. McNair was tired of her calling when he was with his family, Wall said.
Kazemi continued to text McNair throughout the day, asking for money and when she could see him next.
"baby what are u doing," Kazemi asked.
"At the pool with the kids. I got the guy transferring the money," McNair replied.
At 4:04 p.m. on July 3, Kazemi said, "baby I have to be w(ith) u 2nite. I dnt care where." The messages continued for more than eight hours before McNair said he was on his way to the condo. He had told Kazemi earlier that he wouldn't leave the house "til the kids fall asleep."
McNair and Kazemi exchanged a final series of messages early July 4, when he asked her to leave the front door to the condo open for him.
A final message, sent at 1:14 a.m., simply said, "its open."
About 12 hours later, a friend of McNair's found their bodies
Steve McNair, former NFL quarterback, was a married father of four when he was killed last summer.
Steve McNair, former NFL quarterback, was a married father of four when he was killed last summer.
Details of their relationship were revealed in a case summary released by Nashville police Monday.
McNair, 36, and Sahel Kazemi, 20, were found fatally shot in a condominium in downtown Nashville on July 4. Police have since ruled their deaths a murder-suicide.
"My life is just s--- and I should end it," Kazemi said the night before the couple were found dead, according to Sonya New, her shift manager at a Dave & Busters restaurant. New also said Kazemi was not her usual self and seemed down.
Though McNair was a married father of four, he was seeing Kazemi and at least one other woman, Leah Ignagni, according to Nashville police. McNair had spent the night at Ignagni's apartment on July 2, two nights before he was killed, Ignagni told police.
On the morning of July 4, Kazemi texted McNair, saying she was stressed and needed money to pay bills.
"Baby I might have a break down im so stressed," Kazemi said in one text message. "baby i might need to go to the hospital. baby whats wrong w(ith) me i can hardly breath(e)."
Chris Wall, who provided security for McNair and his family, told police he knew about McNair's relationship with Kazemi. McNair was tired of her calling when he was with his family, Wall said.
Kazemi continued to text McNair throughout the day, asking for money and when she could see him next.
"baby what are u doing," Kazemi asked.
"At the pool with the kids. I got the guy transferring the money," McNair replied.
At 4:04 p.m. on July 3, Kazemi said, "baby I have to be w(ith) u 2nite. I dnt care where." The messages continued for more than eight hours before McNair said he was on his way to the condo. He had told Kazemi earlier that he wouldn't leave the house "til the kids fall asleep."
McNair and Kazemi exchanged a final series of messages early July 4, when he asked her to leave the front door to the condo open for him.
A final message, sent at 1:14 a.m., simply said, "its open."
About 12 hours later, a friend of McNair's found their bodies
Congress passes Guantanamo bill
he US Senate has voted to continue to allow Guantanamo inmates to be tried on US soil, removing a hurdle as the Obama administration seeks to close the camp.
The measure, which was passed by the House last week, permits Guantanamo detainees to be brought to the US only in order to face trial in US courts.
Those cleared cannot remain in the US. The bill - passed 79-19 by the Senate - largely mirrors existing restrictions.
It will now go to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.
Mr Obama has set a 22 January 2010 deadline for closing the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba, where more than 220 inmates are still held.
While some will be tried on US soil, others could be sent to abroad or face military tribunals.
Republican concerns
The legislation passed by Congress removes one of the many legal, diplomatic and political hurdles in the path of the administration as it seeks to close the camp.
Under its terms, Congress must be provided with a detailed assessment of the security risk involved before a detainee can be brought to the US.
The administration must also give notice of any transfer.
Those cleared cannot be released onto US soil.
Some Republicans have objected to plans to hold Guantanamo detainees in US prisons, arguing that they do not deserve the protections afforded under US law.
The measure, which was passed by the House last week, permits Guantanamo detainees to be brought to the US only in order to face trial in US courts.
Those cleared cannot remain in the US. The bill - passed 79-19 by the Senate - largely mirrors existing restrictions.
It will now go to President Barack Obama to be signed into law.
Mr Obama has set a 22 January 2010 deadline for closing the Guantanamo Bay camp in Cuba, where more than 220 inmates are still held.
While some will be tried on US soil, others could be sent to abroad or face military tribunals.
Republican concerns
The legislation passed by Congress removes one of the many legal, diplomatic and political hurdles in the path of the administration as it seeks to close the camp.
Under its terms, Congress must be provided with a detailed assessment of the security risk involved before a detainee can be brought to the US.
The administration must also give notice of any transfer.
Those cleared cannot be released onto US soil.
Some Republicans have objected to plans to hold Guantanamo detainees in US prisons, arguing that they do not deserve the protections afforded under US law.
Man breaks 15 laws in 11 minutes
A driver has confounded Swiss police by committing 15 traffic violations in just over 10 minutes, officials say.
The 47-year-old initially raced past an unmarked police car in heavy rain at 160 km/h (100mph) before weaving close to other cars and the road's kerb.
The serial offender clocked up further offences for speeding, driving on the hard shoulder, running a set of red lights and failing to stop for police.
When finally pulled over by St Gallen police, he failed a drugs test.
The unnamed driver, who lives near Zurich, faces a lengthy driving ban and a possible jail sentence when he appears before a Swiss court.
"I can't remember a case this serious," a police spokeswoman told the BBC of Sunday's infringement spree. "It's remarkable."
The 47-year-old initially raced past an unmarked police car in heavy rain at 160 km/h (100mph) before weaving close to other cars and the road's kerb.
The serial offender clocked up further offences for speeding, driving on the hard shoulder, running a set of red lights and failing to stop for police.
When finally pulled over by St Gallen police, he failed a drugs test.
The unnamed driver, who lives near Zurich, faces a lengthy driving ban and a possible jail sentence when he appears before a Swiss court.
"I can't remember a case this serious," a police spokeswoman told the BBC of Sunday's infringement spree. "It's remarkable."
Apple redesigns iMac, MacBook and reveals Magic Mouse
(CNET) -- Apple revamped its desktop and laptop lines Tuesday, dramatically redesigning the iMac all-in-one and MacBook laptop, and also adding a few updates to its Mac Mini line of small-scale desktops. It also introduced a handful of updated peripherals, with a multitouch mouse bringing the most thorough changes.
Apple has made a wireless mouse and keyboard the default options, and both have received redesigns.
Apple has made a wireless mouse and keyboard the default options, and both have received redesigns.
New iMacs
The biggest news Tuesday will be the new iMacs, which move from aluminum and polycarbon design to aluminum and edge-to-edge glass, mirroring the look of Apple's line of MacBook Pro laptops. The new iMac will come in 21.5 (1,920x1,080) and 27-inch (2,560x1,440) models, each with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Starting price for the 21.5-inch model is $1,199, with the 27-incher beginning at $1,699. Apple will also offer step-up models for each screen size, coming in at $1,499 for the beefier 21.5-inch model, and $1,999 for the higher-end 27-inch iMac.
As for specs, Apple has mostly opted for raw speed over adding more processing cores. All but the $1,999 iMac come with Intel Core 2 Duo chips, but the CPU speed in the lowest model now starts at 3.06GHz. That used to be the fastest chip available in Apple's previous highest-end iMac.
The one exception is the $1,999 iMac, which starts with Intel's most recent quad-core chip, the core i5 at 2.66GHz, and upgrade options for that model go all the way to the even faster Core i7 at 2.8GHz.
Other new iMac features are relatively straightforward for the systems themselves. There's no Blu-ray option, as was rumored, but you do get an SD Card slot on all new iMacs.
The 27-inch version also lets you use its mini-Display Port input as a video input (via a dongle from Belkin), which means you can use the larger iMac as a second monitor. The GeForce 9400M remains the standard graphics chip, with upgrades available to Radeon HD 4670 and Radeon HD 4870 chips. Storage options go as high as 2TB on the 27-inchers.
Don't Miss
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13-inch Unibody Polycarbonate
MacBook Apple has also revamped its best-selling laptop, the 13-inch MacBook. The new version retains the white polycarbonate look, as well as the $999 price.
With every other laptop in Apple's current lineup using the "Pro" moniker, the single non-Pro MacBook was starting to look a bit dated. While many industry watchers expected Apple to lower prices on the white polycarbonate version, the company has given the system an upscale makeover, keeping the price the same.
Like the aluminum MacBook Pro models, the MacBook now has a unibody chassis, although in this case, it's still made of polycarbonate. A separate bottom panel has a matte non-slip feel, as opposed to the glossy white upper body. The unibody construction means the battery is no longer removable--also like the current Pro lineup.
We got a chance to get our hands on one of the new MacBooks this morning. While still recognizably a MacBook, the new version has more gently rounded edges on the lid, making it look slightly thinner from a side angle.
The touch pad is the same large glass multitouch version found on the MacBook Pros, and is dominated by the wrist rest. Also like the Pro versions, the 13.3-inch display is now LED backlit, which is better for both power consumption and environmental concerns.
Internal components, including the Nvidia GeForce 9400, are either the same, or very similar to, current models. Some features found in the 13-inch MacBook Pro that you won't find in this new MacBook include the SD card slot and backlit keyboard.
While consumers have long called for lower entry prices for Mac laptops, Apple has always been reluctant to stray into the lower-margin sub-$1,000 market. With this new upscale version of the MacBook, Apple is giving a slight recessionary nod to buyers, without having to dive into the Netbook price wars.
The new Magic Mouse and wireless keyboard
You'll also find new peripherals in the box with a new iMac. Apple has made a wireless mouse and keyboard the default options, and both have received redesigns.
The keyboard now has an all aluminum body, but the new mouse, dubbed the Magic Mouse, is far more interesting. The sleek, touch capacitive design behaves similarly to the track pad on Apple's laptops.
Of course the standard two-button usage model works as you'd expect, but you can also simply drag your finger down the middle of the mouse to scroll up and down. It also supports accelerated scrolling, like the iPhone, along with a few gestures for lateral and 360-degree movement, depending on the application. A new aluminum body Apple Remote is also available as a $16 extra
New Mac Mini Finally, Apple gave a nod to the Mac Mini. The core design remains the same for the most part, with a few minor tweaks to its CPU, memory, and hard-drive capacity.
Prices remain the same at $599 and $799. Far more interesting is the new server iteration of the Mac Mini. This model starts at $999, and instead of a DVD burner, you get the Snow Leopard version of OS X Server, along with two 500GB hard drives.
All of these new products are available today, except for the Core i5-based iMac, which goes on sale in November. We'll also be posting hands-on slideshows and videos of the new MacBook and the new 27-inch iMac shortly, so stay tuned
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CNET, CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. Used by permission.
All About Apple Inc.
Apple has made a wireless mouse and keyboard the default options, and both have received redesigns.
Apple has made a wireless mouse and keyboard the default options, and both have received redesigns.
New iMacs
The biggest news Tuesday will be the new iMacs, which move from aluminum and polycarbon design to aluminum and edge-to-edge glass, mirroring the look of Apple's line of MacBook Pro laptops. The new iMac will come in 21.5 (1,920x1,080) and 27-inch (2,560x1,440) models, each with a 16:9 aspect ratio.
Starting price for the 21.5-inch model is $1,199, with the 27-incher beginning at $1,699. Apple will also offer step-up models for each screen size, coming in at $1,499 for the beefier 21.5-inch model, and $1,999 for the higher-end 27-inch iMac.
As for specs, Apple has mostly opted for raw speed over adding more processing cores. All but the $1,999 iMac come with Intel Core 2 Duo chips, but the CPU speed in the lowest model now starts at 3.06GHz. That used to be the fastest chip available in Apple's previous highest-end iMac.
The one exception is the $1,999 iMac, which starts with Intel's most recent quad-core chip, the core i5 at 2.66GHz, and upgrade options for that model go all the way to the even faster Core i7 at 2.8GHz.
Other new iMac features are relatively straightforward for the systems themselves. There's no Blu-ray option, as was rumored, but you do get an SD Card slot on all new iMacs.
The 27-inch version also lets you use its mini-Display Port input as a video input (via a dongle from Belkin), which means you can use the larger iMac as a second monitor. The GeForce 9400M remains the standard graphics chip, with upgrades available to Radeon HD 4670 and Radeon HD 4870 chips. Storage options go as high as 2TB on the 27-inchers.
Don't Miss
* Latest CNET News videos
* CNET News image galleries
* More technology news from CNET
13-inch Unibody Polycarbonate
MacBook Apple has also revamped its best-selling laptop, the 13-inch MacBook. The new version retains the white polycarbonate look, as well as the $999 price.
With every other laptop in Apple's current lineup using the "Pro" moniker, the single non-Pro MacBook was starting to look a bit dated. While many industry watchers expected Apple to lower prices on the white polycarbonate version, the company has given the system an upscale makeover, keeping the price the same.
Like the aluminum MacBook Pro models, the MacBook now has a unibody chassis, although in this case, it's still made of polycarbonate. A separate bottom panel has a matte non-slip feel, as opposed to the glossy white upper body. The unibody construction means the battery is no longer removable--also like the current Pro lineup.
We got a chance to get our hands on one of the new MacBooks this morning. While still recognizably a MacBook, the new version has more gently rounded edges on the lid, making it look slightly thinner from a side angle.
The touch pad is the same large glass multitouch version found on the MacBook Pros, and is dominated by the wrist rest. Also like the Pro versions, the 13.3-inch display is now LED backlit, which is better for both power consumption and environmental concerns.
Internal components, including the Nvidia GeForce 9400, are either the same, or very similar to, current models. Some features found in the 13-inch MacBook Pro that you won't find in this new MacBook include the SD card slot and backlit keyboard.
While consumers have long called for lower entry prices for Mac laptops, Apple has always been reluctant to stray into the lower-margin sub-$1,000 market. With this new upscale version of the MacBook, Apple is giving a slight recessionary nod to buyers, without having to dive into the Netbook price wars.
The new Magic Mouse and wireless keyboard
You'll also find new peripherals in the box with a new iMac. Apple has made a wireless mouse and keyboard the default options, and both have received redesigns.
The keyboard now has an all aluminum body, but the new mouse, dubbed the Magic Mouse, is far more interesting. The sleek, touch capacitive design behaves similarly to the track pad on Apple's laptops.
Of course the standard two-button usage model works as you'd expect, but you can also simply drag your finger down the middle of the mouse to scroll up and down. It also supports accelerated scrolling, like the iPhone, along with a few gestures for lateral and 360-degree movement, depending on the application. A new aluminum body Apple Remote is also available as a $16 extra
New Mac Mini Finally, Apple gave a nod to the Mac Mini. The core design remains the same for the most part, with a few minor tweaks to its CPU, memory, and hard-drive capacity.
Prices remain the same at $599 and $799. Far more interesting is the new server iteration of the Mac Mini. This model starts at $999, and instead of a DVD burner, you get the Snow Leopard version of OS X Server, along with two 500GB hard drives.
All of these new products are available today, except for the Core i5-based iMac, which goes on sale in November. We'll also be posting hands-on slideshows and videos of the new MacBook and the new 27-inch iMac shortly, so stay tuned
© 2009 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. CNET, CNET.com and the CNET logo are registered trademarks of CBS Interactive Inc. Used by permission.
All About Apple Inc.
Village 'witches' beaten in India
Five women were paraded naked, beaten and forced to eat human excrement by villagers after being branded as witches in India's Jharkhand state.
Local police said the victims were Muslim widows who had been labelled as witches by a local cleric.
The incident occurred on Sunday in a remote village in Deoghar district.
Correspondents say the abuse of women who are branded as witches is common, but rare footage of the incident has caused outrage across India.
Police went to Pattharghatia village after being informed about the incident by a group of villagers.
'Possessed'
They have lodged a case against 11 villagers, including six women. Four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The victims were taken to a playground where hundreds had assembled to watch
Murari Lal Meena
Deputy police inspector general
Armed police have since been deployed to the area.
"On Sunday morning the victims were taken to a playground where hundreds had assembled to watch the ghastly incident," deputy inspector general of police Murari Lal Meena told the BBC.
"No one in the mob came forward to rescue the victims as they were being stripped and beaten up," he said.
The victims are now under police protection.
Police say that people in Pattharghatia believe that certain women in their village are possessed by a "holy spirit" that can identify those who practise witchcraft.
"These women recently identified five women from the same village as being witches who practised witchcraft and brought miseries to the area," a police official said.
Soon, an unruly mob broke into their huts, dragged them out and started beating them up.
Footage of the incident has been aired on television channels in India prompting outrage.
Hundreds of people, mostly women, have been killed in India because their neighbours thought they were witches.
Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind some of these attacks, but there are occasions when people - especially widows - are targeted for their land and property.
Local police said the victims were Muslim widows who had been labelled as witches by a local cleric.
The incident occurred on Sunday in a remote village in Deoghar district.
Correspondents say the abuse of women who are branded as witches is common, but rare footage of the incident has caused outrage across India.
Police went to Pattharghatia village after being informed about the incident by a group of villagers.
'Possessed'
They have lodged a case against 11 villagers, including six women. Four people have been arrested in connection with the incident.
The victims were taken to a playground where hundreds had assembled to watch
Murari Lal Meena
Deputy police inspector general
Armed police have since been deployed to the area.
"On Sunday morning the victims were taken to a playground where hundreds had assembled to watch the ghastly incident," deputy inspector general of police Murari Lal Meena told the BBC.
"No one in the mob came forward to rescue the victims as they were being stripped and beaten up," he said.
The victims are now under police protection.
Police say that people in Pattharghatia believe that certain women in their village are possessed by a "holy spirit" that can identify those who practise witchcraft.
"These women recently identified five women from the same village as being witches who practised witchcraft and brought miseries to the area," a police official said.
Soon, an unruly mob broke into their huts, dragged them out and started beating them up.
Footage of the incident has been aired on television channels in India prompting outrage.
Hundreds of people, mostly women, have been killed in India because their neighbours thought they were witches.
Experts say superstitious beliefs are behind some of these attacks, but there are occasions when people - especially widows - are targeted for their land and property.
Afghanistan's run-off poll hailed
World leaders have welcomed the acceptance by Afghanistan's President Hamid Karzai of the decision to hold a run-off presidential election.
US President Barack Obama described the second round, due on 7 November, as a "constructive" step forward.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also welcomed the "statesmanlike" move.
It came a day after a UN-backed panel said it had clear evidence of fraud in August's first round, lowering Mr Karzai's vote share below 50%.
Mr Karzai - who will compete against his closest rival, Abdullah Abdullah - told a news conference that it was "the time to move forward to stability and national unity".
Mr Abdullah, speaking to the BBC, said the move would "help democracy in this country and strengthen the faith of the people in the democratic process".
'Huge challenge'
Since the disputed first round of polling, there has been intensive Western lobbying of Afghanistan's leaders to resolve the weeks of political paralysis.
ANALYSIS
Martin Patience
Martin Patience, BBC News, Kabul
The Afghan leader thought - and perhaps still believes - that an election victory had been stolen from him because of "foreign meddling."
Now that a run-off has been scheduled, there will be questions raised as to whether it can be successfully organised to be held in two weeks time.
There will also be concerns over the security situation - and there's no guarantee that there won't be a repeat of the fraud, which seriously marred the first round of voting.
Afghan poll - an uncertain future
The White House - debating a request for 40,000 more US troops to be sent to Afghanistan - warned at the weekend that no more soldiers would be deployed until a political resolution was reached.
Mr Obama welcomed news of the run-off, saying: "It is now vital that all elements of Afghan society continue to come together to advance democracy, peace and justice."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commended President Karzai "for the leadership he has displayed".
But he warned of the "huge challenge in conducting a second election".
"We will try to ensure that all Afghan people should be able to express their own will freely without intimidation or threat," he said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: "President Karzai's statement shows to all that he is a statesman who can decide on what is essential, in the higher interests of his country and of the unity of the Afghan people."
'Strengthen our resolve'
Initial election results suggested Mr Karzai, the incumbent, had received 55% of the vote, and ex-Foreign Minister Mr Abdullah 28%.
KARZAI V ABDULLAH
Hamid Karzai:
First popularly elected president of Afghanistan
Opposed Soviet occupation in 1980s
Critics say he has done little to rein in corruption
Abdullah Abdullah:
Tajik-Pashtun, doctor by profession
Senior Northern Alliance leader during Taliban rule
Removed from Karzai's cabinet in 2006
UN chief on Afghan poll
Profile: Hamid Karzai
Profile: Abdullah Abdullah
But on Monday the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) ordered that ballots from 210 polling stations be discounted.
This meant Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below the 50% threshold for outright victory, indicating a second round was needed.
Mr Karzai gave his reaction to the run-off at a news conference on Tuesday, alongside UN envoy Kai Eide and US Senator John Kerry.
"I call upon our nation to change this into an opportunity to strengthen our resolve and determination, to move our country forward and to participate in the new round of elections," he said.
Mr Abdullah told the BBC he had telephoned Mr Karzai to thank him for his remarks.
"He talked about national unity and also he stressed on the need for going to the second round which is exactly what I want to do - so that was a courtesy call, a word of thanks," he said.
Mr Abdullah added: "I know that there are challenges with it; the security situation, and the winter is coming...
Abdullah: 'It was an achievement'
"But I think the fact that the process is moving now forward rather than being stuck, that in itself I consider it a step forward and we have to face the challenges."
The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says there will be no guarantee that any new vote will be free of the fraud that dogged the first round.
But for now the political deadlock appears to have been broken, for a couple of weeks at least, our correspondent says.
Mr Kerry said a second round of voting was a great opportunity and a turning point, praising Mr Karzai for the "genuine leadership in the decision he has made".
Meanwhile, correspondents say it is possible that President Karzai and his challenger may reach an agreement to form a national unity government, meaning that a run off may not be required.
US President Barack Obama described the second round, due on 7 November, as a "constructive" step forward.
British Prime Minister Gordon Brown also welcomed the "statesmanlike" move.
It came a day after a UN-backed panel said it had clear evidence of fraud in August's first round, lowering Mr Karzai's vote share below 50%.
Mr Karzai - who will compete against his closest rival, Abdullah Abdullah - told a news conference that it was "the time to move forward to stability and national unity".
Mr Abdullah, speaking to the BBC, said the move would "help democracy in this country and strengthen the faith of the people in the democratic process".
'Huge challenge'
Since the disputed first round of polling, there has been intensive Western lobbying of Afghanistan's leaders to resolve the weeks of political paralysis.
ANALYSIS
Martin Patience
Martin Patience, BBC News, Kabul
The Afghan leader thought - and perhaps still believes - that an election victory had been stolen from him because of "foreign meddling."
Now that a run-off has been scheduled, there will be questions raised as to whether it can be successfully organised to be held in two weeks time.
There will also be concerns over the security situation - and there's no guarantee that there won't be a repeat of the fraud, which seriously marred the first round of voting.
Afghan poll - an uncertain future
The White House - debating a request for 40,000 more US troops to be sent to Afghanistan - warned at the weekend that no more soldiers would be deployed until a political resolution was reached.
Mr Obama welcomed news of the run-off, saying: "It is now vital that all elements of Afghan society continue to come together to advance democracy, peace and justice."
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon commended President Karzai "for the leadership he has displayed".
But he warned of the "huge challenge in conducting a second election".
"We will try to ensure that all Afghan people should be able to express their own will freely without intimidation or threat," he said.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy said: "President Karzai's statement shows to all that he is a statesman who can decide on what is essential, in the higher interests of his country and of the unity of the Afghan people."
'Strengthen our resolve'
Initial election results suggested Mr Karzai, the incumbent, had received 55% of the vote, and ex-Foreign Minister Mr Abdullah 28%.
KARZAI V ABDULLAH
Hamid Karzai:
First popularly elected president of Afghanistan
Opposed Soviet occupation in 1980s
Critics say he has done little to rein in corruption
Abdullah Abdullah:
Tajik-Pashtun, doctor by profession
Senior Northern Alliance leader during Taliban rule
Removed from Karzai's cabinet in 2006
UN chief on Afghan poll
Profile: Hamid Karzai
Profile: Abdullah Abdullah
But on Monday the UN-backed Electoral Complaints Commission (ECC) ordered that ballots from 210 polling stations be discounted.
This meant Mr Karzai's total was reduced to below the 50% threshold for outright victory, indicating a second round was needed.
Mr Karzai gave his reaction to the run-off at a news conference on Tuesday, alongside UN envoy Kai Eide and US Senator John Kerry.
"I call upon our nation to change this into an opportunity to strengthen our resolve and determination, to move our country forward and to participate in the new round of elections," he said.
Mr Abdullah told the BBC he had telephoned Mr Karzai to thank him for his remarks.
"He talked about national unity and also he stressed on the need for going to the second round which is exactly what I want to do - so that was a courtesy call, a word of thanks," he said.
Mr Abdullah added: "I know that there are challenges with it; the security situation, and the winter is coming...
Abdullah: 'It was an achievement'
"But I think the fact that the process is moving now forward rather than being stuck, that in itself I consider it a step forward and we have to face the challenges."
The BBC's Martin Patience in Kabul says there will be no guarantee that any new vote will be free of the fraud that dogged the first round.
But for now the political deadlock appears to have been broken, for a couple of weeks at least, our correspondent says.
Mr Kerry said a second round of voting was a great opportunity and a turning point, praising Mr Karzai for the "genuine leadership in the decision he has made".
Meanwhile, correspondents say it is possible that President Karzai and his challenger may reach an agreement to form a national unity government, meaning that a run off may not be required.
Murder charge dropped against teen in Chicago beating
CHICAGO, Illinois (CNN) -- A 17-year-old said Tuesday he is "blessed" that prosecutors dropped a murder charge against him in the beating death last month of a Chicago honors student.
Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death September 24. His death was captured on video.
Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death September 24. His death was captured on video.
"I'm just happy to be out," Eugene Bailey said, a day after authorities announced they were dismissing the charge against him in the September 24 death of Derrion Albert.
Police said Albert, a 16-year-old honors student, was an innocent bystander who ended up in the middle of a street fight between two factions of students from Christian Fenger Academy High School. His beating death was captured on video, which shows him being hit by a person wielding a piece of a railroad tie.
Bailey said he considered Albert a "good friend" and approached police offering to help in their investigation. When police told him he appeared on the video, he said, he told them, "No, that can't be me."
Authorities searched his mother's home and found he did not own clothing and shoes like that seen on the participant thought to be him, he said.
"I'm just blessed to have my freedom," he said, adding that what happened to Albert "shouldn't happen to anyone."
Cook County prosecutors issued a statement Monday saying, "While the charge against Bailey was brought in good faith based on witness accounts and identifications, additional information has developed during the ongoing investigation that warranted dismissal of the murder charge against Bailey at this time."
Don't Miss
* Cabinet officials, Chicagoans discuss teen violence
* Activist praises Albert's "different attitude"
"I was kind of overwhelmed," said Bailey's mother, Ava Greyer. "They wouldn't listen to me."
She said she received an eviction notice after her son's arrest, but has since received a letter of apology. She said she didn't think that was right, however: "You are innocent until proven guilty."
"I didn't raise no murderer," she said. "He didn't murder nobody."
"We all talk about what is what out here and point fingers at one another. ... These kids need something to do," Greyer said. "It's not gang-related. They get out of school -- once they're in school it's cool. Once they get out of school, the school says 'Forget 'em.' That's wrong. Get them some after-schooling programs, some recreation centers 20 hours a week."
She said, "That was sad, that was wrong what happened to Derrion. I wish that upon no one. But at the same time, we need to sweep around our doorsteps and see what we can do as a community to keep this from happening to somebody else's child."
Prosecutors said that when school let out on September 24, Albert was on his way to a bus stop when two groups of students converged on the street and began fighting. Albert was approached by two members of one faction and struck in the head with a long piece of a wooden railroad tie, and then punched in the face, Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County prosecutors, has said.
After being knocked out for a brief period, Albert regained consciousness and tried to move from the fight, but was then attacked by members of the opposing faction, Simonton said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Albert's death remains under investigation, prosecutors said Monday.
Three other individuals still face murder charges: Silvanus Shannon, 19, Eric Carson, 16, and Eugene Riley, 18. All three appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Monday, but their cases were continued to Friday.
Albert's death prompted President Obama, a former Chicago resident and Illinois senator, to send Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder to Chicago earlier this month. The two met with the city's mayor and community leaders to discuss possible remedies for violent youth crime. Albert's death was not an isolated incident: More than 30 youths suffered violent deaths in Chicago last year.
"We shouldn't have to worry about walking down the streets," Bailey said. "We all live amongst each other."
Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death September 24. His death was captured on video.
Derrion Albert, 16, was beaten to death September 24. His death was captured on video.
"I'm just happy to be out," Eugene Bailey said, a day after authorities announced they were dismissing the charge against him in the September 24 death of Derrion Albert.
Police said Albert, a 16-year-old honors student, was an innocent bystander who ended up in the middle of a street fight between two factions of students from Christian Fenger Academy High School. His beating death was captured on video, which shows him being hit by a person wielding a piece of a railroad tie.
Bailey said he considered Albert a "good friend" and approached police offering to help in their investigation. When police told him he appeared on the video, he said, he told them, "No, that can't be me."
Authorities searched his mother's home and found he did not own clothing and shoes like that seen on the participant thought to be him, he said.
"I'm just blessed to have my freedom," he said, adding that what happened to Albert "shouldn't happen to anyone."
Cook County prosecutors issued a statement Monday saying, "While the charge against Bailey was brought in good faith based on witness accounts and identifications, additional information has developed during the ongoing investigation that warranted dismissal of the murder charge against Bailey at this time."
Don't Miss
* Cabinet officials, Chicagoans discuss teen violence
* Activist praises Albert's "different attitude"
"I was kind of overwhelmed," said Bailey's mother, Ava Greyer. "They wouldn't listen to me."
She said she received an eviction notice after her son's arrest, but has since received a letter of apology. She said she didn't think that was right, however: "You are innocent until proven guilty."
"I didn't raise no murderer," she said. "He didn't murder nobody."
"We all talk about what is what out here and point fingers at one another. ... These kids need something to do," Greyer said. "It's not gang-related. They get out of school -- once they're in school it's cool. Once they get out of school, the school says 'Forget 'em.' That's wrong. Get them some after-schooling programs, some recreation centers 20 hours a week."
She said, "That was sad, that was wrong what happened to Derrion. I wish that upon no one. But at the same time, we need to sweep around our doorsteps and see what we can do as a community to keep this from happening to somebody else's child."
Prosecutors said that when school let out on September 24, Albert was on his way to a bus stop when two groups of students converged on the street and began fighting. Albert was approached by two members of one faction and struck in the head with a long piece of a wooden railroad tie, and then punched in the face, Tandra Simonton, spokeswoman for the Cook County prosecutors, has said.
After being knocked out for a brief period, Albert regained consciousness and tried to move from the fight, but was then attacked by members of the opposing faction, Simonton said. He was pronounced dead at a hospital.
Albert's death remains under investigation, prosecutors said Monday.
Three other individuals still face murder charges: Silvanus Shannon, 19, Eric Carson, 16, and Eugene Riley, 18. All three appeared in court for a preliminary hearing Monday, but their cases were continued to Friday.
Albert's death prompted President Obama, a former Chicago resident and Illinois senator, to send Education Secretary Arne Duncan and Attorney General Eric Holder to Chicago earlier this month. The two met with the city's mayor and community leaders to discuss possible remedies for violent youth crime. Albert's death was not an isolated incident: More than 30 youths suffered violent deaths in Chicago last year.
"We shouldn't have to worry about walking down the streets," Bailey said. "We all live amongst each other."
Vatican welcomes Anglicans into Catholic church
ROME, Italy (CNN) -- The Vatican said Tuesday it has worked out a way for groups of Anglicans who are dissatisfied with their faith to join the Catholic Church.
The Vatican says more Anglicans have expressed an interest in joining the Catholic Church.
The Vatican says more Anglicans have expressed an interest in joining the Catholic Church.
The process will allow groups of Anglicans, including bishops and married priests, to join the Catholic Church some 450 years after King Henry VIII broke from Rome and created the Church of England, forerunner of the Anglican Communion.
The number of Anglicans wishing to join the Catholic Church has increased in recent years as the Anglican church has welcomed the ordination of women and openly gay clergy and blessed homosexual partnerships, said Cardinal William Joseph Levada, the head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Their talks with the Vatican recently began speeding up, Vatican officials said, leading to Tuesday's announcement.
"The Catholic Church is responding to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion," Levada said.
Levada said "hundreds" of Anglicans around the world have expressed their desire to join the Catholic Church. Among them are 50 Anglican bishops, said Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
The Anglicans will be able to retain their Anglican rites while recognizing the pope as their leader, Vatican officials said. The British monarch is the titular head of the Anglican church.
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* Vatican 'regrets' female bishops decision
While married Anglican priests may be ordained as Catholic priests, the same does not apply to married Anglican bishops, Levada said.
"We've been praying for this unity for 40 years and we've not anticipated it happening now," Di Noia said. "The Holy Spirit is at work here."
The Church of England said the move ends a "period of uncertainty" for Anglican groups who wanted more unity with the Catholic Church.
Both groups have a "substantial overlap in faith, doctrine and spirituality" and will continue to hold official dialogues, the archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster said in a joint statement.
"Those Anglicans who have approached the Holy See have made clear their desire for full, visible unity in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church," Levada said. "At the same time, they have told us of the importance of their Anglican traditions of spirituality and worship for their faith journey."
Preserving Anglican traditions, such as mass rites, adds to the diversity of the Catholic Church, he said.
"The unity of the church does not require a uniformity that ignores cultural diversity, as the history of Christianity shows," he said. "Moreover, the many diverse traditions present in the Catholic Church today are all rooted in the principle articulated by St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians: 'There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
The Vatican says more Anglicans have expressed an interest in joining the Catholic Church.
The Vatican says more Anglicans have expressed an interest in joining the Catholic Church.
The process will allow groups of Anglicans, including bishops and married priests, to join the Catholic Church some 450 years after King Henry VIII broke from Rome and created the Church of England, forerunner of the Anglican Communion.
The number of Anglicans wishing to join the Catholic Church has increased in recent years as the Anglican church has welcomed the ordination of women and openly gay clergy and blessed homosexual partnerships, said Cardinal William Joseph Levada, the head of the Vatican's Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Their talks with the Vatican recently began speeding up, Vatican officials said, leading to Tuesday's announcement.
"The Catholic Church is responding to the many requests that have been submitted to the Holy See from groups of Anglican clergy and faithful in different parts of the world who wish to enter into full visible communion," Levada said.
Levada said "hundreds" of Anglicans around the world have expressed their desire to join the Catholic Church. Among them are 50 Anglican bishops, said Archbishop Joseph Augustine Di Noia of the Congregation for Divine Worship.
The Anglicans will be able to retain their Anglican rites while recognizing the pope as their leader, Vatican officials said. The British monarch is the titular head of the Anglican church.
Don't Miss
* 'Father Damien' among new Vatican saints
* Scientist re-creates Turin Shroud to show it's fake
* Vatican 'regrets' female bishops decision
While married Anglican priests may be ordained as Catholic priests, the same does not apply to married Anglican bishops, Levada said.
"We've been praying for this unity for 40 years and we've not anticipated it happening now," Di Noia said. "The Holy Spirit is at work here."
The Church of England said the move ends a "period of uncertainty" for Anglican groups who wanted more unity with the Catholic Church.
Both groups have a "substantial overlap in faith, doctrine and spirituality" and will continue to hold official dialogues, the archbishops of Canterbury and Westminster said in a joint statement.
"Those Anglicans who have approached the Holy See have made clear their desire for full, visible unity in the one, holy, catholic and apostolic church," Levada said. "At the same time, they have told us of the importance of their Anglican traditions of spirituality and worship for their faith journey."
Preserving Anglican traditions, such as mass rites, adds to the diversity of the Catholic Church, he said.
"The unity of the church does not require a uniformity that ignores cultural diversity, as the history of Christianity shows," he said. "Moreover, the many diverse traditions present in the Catholic Church today are all rooted in the principle articulated by St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians: 'There is one Lord, one faith, one baptism."
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