科技英语新闻:Apple upgrades iMac line with fast processor, data port

SAN FRANCISCO, May 3 (Xinhua) -- Apple Inc. announced on Tuesday that it has updated its iMac all-in-one desktop, adding Intel's next generation quad-core processors, Thunderbolt data ports and a new HD camera.

Starting at 1,199 U.S. dollars, the new iMac is up to 70 percent faster and its new graphics deliver up to three times the performance of the previous generation, Apple said in a statement.

The new iMac features quad-core Intel Core i5 processors with an upgrade option to Core i7 processors.

The 21.5-inch model has a single Thunderbolt port while the 27- inch has two, in addition to four USB 2.0 inputs and a FireWire 800 port.

Thunderbolt, which debuted with Apple's updated MacBook Pro notebooks in February, is also an Intel design bringing together high-speed data transfer and high-definition display onto a single cable. It can transfer a full-length HD movie in less than 30 seconds with a speed of 10 gigabits per second, which is twice the speed of USB 3.0, 12 times faster than FireWire 800 and up to 20 times faster than USB 2.0.

The new iMac also includes a built-in FaceTime HD camera, which supports high-definition video calls, Apple said.