Praising the “superb colour-accurate displays” found on the new MacBook Pro computers, Rob Galbraith (robgalbraith.com) indicates that the revamped lineup “offers the best displays for photographers we’ve ever seen from Apple.” Singling out the 13-inch MacBook Pro, he adds it “could well be the more enticing option,” a great choice “for Mac-based photographers wanting to pay less and carry less.”

The largest library in the world, the Library of Congress has “millions of books, recordings, photographs, maps, and manuscripts in its collection.” And now you can enjoy part of that vast collection on iTunes U. Watch early films from Thomas Edison and Westinghouse. Hear the oral histories of African Americans who served as slaves. Enjoy lectures from researchers exploring the links between music and the brain.

For archaeologist Julie Schablitsky, the MacBook is a perfect storytelling tool. “The Mac is what I put my experiences and interpretations into,” she says. “It receives all of my thoughts, all of the stories that are given to me by the artifacts. I use it to turn those stories into visual representations that I can show people, the public, and academic colleagues. You can help people time travel with the Mac.”

When inspiration struck, indie rock group The 88 used iPhone to record their new single Love is the Thing reports Jefferson Graham (usatoday.com). “The band recorded directly into the iPhone’s built-in microphone,” Graham explains, using FourTrack from the App Store. “‘The great thing about this is that anyone can do it,’” says keyboardist Adam Merrin. “‘You don¹t need expensive recording equipment or instruments.’”

If you’d like to try something both delicious and healthy this holiday weekend, think about serving your guests Barbecue Glazed Alaska Salmon with Tomatillo Salsa Verde. That’s just one of the many tempting meals you can find in Whole Foods Market Recipes, a new, free app available on the App Store. The app, which requires iPhone OS 3.0, provides ingredients, directions, a store locator, and other handy features.

If you purchase and register a qualifying FileMaker 10 product between July 1 and September 18, you can get a free copy of the FileMaker Graphics Pack. The pack contains more than a 1,000 graphics you can use to give the databases you create using FileMaker 10 a polished, professional look. For more details, and to see sample images, visit the FileMaker site.

Ever forget your hotel room number? Then Steve Casimiro (adventure.nationalgeographic.com) wants to tell you about Room. It’s one of the iPhone travel apps Casimiro has come to rely on as he roams the world for National Geographic Adventure magazine. He’s also found apps that help him pack a better suitcase, phone home for less, find Wi-Fi hot spots, and lots more. Is your favorite travel app among his picks?

Its “fetching high-resolution screen and its portability make this an attractive notebook for professional designers,” reports Jonathan Rougeot (computershopper.com) of the new 17-inch MacBook Pro. In addition, Rougeot concludes, the new model’s “sleek design, impressive battery life, and reduced price will make this attractive even to less-demanding users who want a stylish laptop with a bit of muscle.”

How do the batteries in the new MacBook Pro laptops measure up? Walt Mossberg (ptech.allthingsd.com) wanted to know, so “using my own harsh battery test,” he assessed the performance of new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pro models. “The results,” he reports, ”were excellent. These two new Apple laptops scored among the highest battery lives between charges of any laptop I have ever tested.”

Love Jazz? So does Don Wolff, who brings us the “I Love Jazz!” program on Higher Education Channel Television. HEC-TV, “the leading producer of education, arts, and cultural” TV programming in St. Louis, produces award-winning programming that “makes you think.” And, in the case of “I Love Jazz!” encourages a greater appreciation of a uniquely American art form.