Retina Displays Also Coming to Next-Generation iMac?

[MacRumors]

As part of ABC News' roundup of the latest MacBook Pro rumors, Joanna Stern claims that not only the MacBook Pro family but also the iMac line is set to gain ultra high-resolution "Retina" displays.

The laptop will see the introduction of the "Mac Retina Display," which is said to have a very high resolution. ABC News has similarly heard from its own sources that both the next MacBook Pro and the iMac would be getting very, very high resolution displays. Apple refreshed its new iPad with a Retina Display in March.

The MacBook Pro has long been the focus of the Retina or HiDPI display rumors, but it seems natural that Apple would want to move all of its displays to the standard. What is unclear, however, is just how Apple will implement the increased resolution given that most Macs already approach Retina resolution at typical viewing distances.

Many have assumed that Apple will follow the model used in the iPhone and iPad, doubling the resolution in each dimension with a screen carrying four times the pixels of its predecessor. That specific suggestion has already been made in regards to a rumored 15-inch MacBook Pro with 2880x1800 display compared to the 1440x900 display in the current model.

But as screen sizes get even larger, quadrupling the number of pixels starts to bump up against the hardware capabilities of graphics chips and display interface standards. While a 17-inch MacBook Pro coming in at a Retina resolution of 3840x2400 might be possible, the more significant issues surface with the iMac, which is also gaining higher-resolution displays according to today's report.

The 21.5-inch iMac would see a pixel count in the range of the 17-inch MacBook Pro as its 1920x1080 resolution would be bumped to 3840x2160, but the 27-inch iMac would move from its current resolution of 2560x1440 to a monster Retina display at 5120x2880. The same panel could also be used in a revised Apple Thunderbolt Display should hardware be able to support the resolution.




Consequently, some have suggested that Apple would increase display resolution on its Mac lines by a smaller amount than seen on iOS devices, with current variation in pixel density among Mac models already introducing some flexibility in interface element sizes. But with most Mac models offering pixel densities in the range of 100-130 pixels per inch (ppi), moving to a somewhat higher density such as 160-170 ppi to qualify as a Retina display still imposes some difficulties for developers and users.

While user interface elements do vary in physical size depending on the machine they are displayed on, they are designed to be usable in the typical range of 100-130 ppi. Moving to something in the range of 160-170 ppi, for example, could result in user interface elements becoming too small for users to click on with ease unless applications are specifically updated with new elements designed for that pixel density range. Otherwise, elements could be scaled to approximate the physical size seen on lower-resolution displays, but this scaling would undoubtedly degrade image quality.

David Barnard has argued that Apple could still use the pixel doubling motif on larger Mac displays without necessarily having to quadruple the number of actual pixels if users would be willing to accept a smaller workspace than seen on current machines. In one example, Barnard describes how rather than moving the current 2560x1440 27-inch iMac all the way to 5120x2880, Apple could instead offer a display at 3840x2400 that would present itself with a Retina workspace of 1920x1200.

Apple could build a 3840 by 2400 pixel 27-inch screen that presented itself as a pixel doubled 1920 by 1200 pixel display. That's effectively an 84ppi screen @1X and 168ppi screen @2X. [...]

What you should notice is that the text and UI elements are physically smaller on the current 109ppi iMac than they'd be on the hypothetical 84/168ppi 27-inch iMac. This may be frustrating to some users, but I actually prefer my old 94ppi 24-inch Cinema Display to any of Apple's higher PPI displays. I like that the system default 12pt text is larger. The sacrifice is in the usable workspace, and that's a matter of taste.

So while Apple appears to face some challenges in bringing its Retina display concept to the Mac, the company seems to be committed to making the transition. It simply remains to be seen how the company will implement the move, as hardware rumors and hints within OS X Lion and Mountain Lion are certainly pointing toward Retina Mac displays sooner rather than later.

Article Link: Retina Displays Also Coming to Next-Generation iMac?

[Inakto]

Wow. If they make the whole Apple linup Retina they will be so ahead of the game :0
Apple out-spec'ing most pcs on the market... Who'd have thought

[AJH1993]

Dang. Detail on those displays would be really... really clear.

[PDFierro]

So much news for one day!

[Ryth]

OMG...sensory overload.

My lord....now all they need to talk about is the Mac Pro and we're set.

I wouldn't be surprised to see the whole line-up revealed at WWDC.

MacBook Pro
iMac
Mac Pro
Displays

The graphic card(s) for that 27" are going to have to be very very powerful.

Man...if these are true, I'm now torn between a MBPro and iMac.

[appleguy123]

Having a retina display while actually losing screen real estate seems a bit counterintuitive...

[Inakto]

Originally Posted by PDFierro

So much news for one day!

Originally Posted by GREEN4U

Wow so much news today!!!!!!!!

What? Its the first article today :P

[CmdrLaForge]

Retina iMac would be awesome. I might get one of those

[TMRaven]

If I'd have to pay a premium for that I'd be thinking to myself "why would I ever want a retina display for a screen that I sit on average 2-3 feet away from?"


That type of resolution for gaming would be nice, but forget about running it with whatever series of mobility gpus they're sticking in the imacs.

[Castiel]

'iMac' and 'Retina' look fantastic in the same sentence.

[Small White Car]

Usually I have a pretty good guess for what Apple is going to do, but I have to admit that in this case I really don't have a clue.

I'm very curious to see how this all ends up working out. The idea that they may take a different solution for the iMacs than for the laptops seems strange, but may be what has to happen.

[TennisandMusic]

Originally Posted by Inakto

Wow. If they make the whole Apple linup Retina they will be so ahead of the game :0
Apple out-spec'ing most pcs on the market... Who'd have thought

It's not really outspec'ing PCs. It's just the monitor, of which they are coming to PCs as well, next year. The OEMs have the capability to manufacture all these monitors, so it wouldn't be a surprise if Apple tried to get the jump on it.

Also, it would be a huge step backwards to make the 27" a doubled 1920x1080 monitor. You would have a very sharp image that had the same desk space as the current 21". Not good.

[CXsjr]

Oh dear, could be an expensive year ....

[theturn]

would the sources normally reveal more or less if the release was tomorrow?

i'm not holding my breath for tomorrow but i'll place an order no matter when it's released. Can't wait to fly x-plane in retina

[BryanL1972]

This will be my very first IMac,,I have been waiting so patiently since March!!! Almost pulled the trigger the other day and got current I7 3.4 IMac,,,I think it will be worth the wait ,,but besides my iPhones and iPads,,I have never wanted a computer so bad,,,hardly any rumors,,until now,,does Apple do this every year,,??? I got my money saved,,June ??

[gugy]

A new ACD retina would be fantastic. Maybe now I can retire my old 30". I love this display but I would take another with much higher resolution.
Just make sure there is a damn matte option.

[MacFather]

love Mac rumors, after months of iStories

[kiljoy616]

Originally Posted by Inakto

Wow. If they make the whole Apple linup Retina they will be so ahead of the game :0
Apple out-spec'ing most pcs on the market... Who'd have thought

All I can say is forget about any 1080p bull Apple TV if Apple finally brings out a TV its going to be 4K for sure and I am one who will be lining up to buy it, but what does that say about bluray movies on monitors like this?

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Originally Posted by TMRaven

If I'd have to pay a premium for that I'd be thinking to myself "why would I ever want a retina display for a screen that I sit on average 2-3 feet away from?"


That type of resolution for gaming would be nice, but forget about running it with whatever series of mobility gpus they're sticking in the imacs.

Even a ATI 6800 or 6900 hundred cards would have a hard time running something that high as there would be on the iMac with FPS unless Apple is coming up with some new idea of some monster cooling system for iMacs regular GPU will not be doing any real 3D gaming at that resolution.

But I would be all excited of seen 4K iTV for sure.

[thekev]

Originally Posted by GREEN4U

Wow so much news today!!!!!!!!

So much unsubstantiated crap for one day. I don't see it happening this year. Next year would actually be impressive.

[iMcLovin]

finally the rumors starts rolling about imacs. I have been waiting for this. I want a new iMac so badly.

[8CoreWhore]

Originally Posted by MacFather

love Mac rumors, after months of iStories

This is an iMac story.

[aaaaaaron]

it might just be me, but i don't see the point of having a retina display monitor. is apple trying to force the entire internet to double their graphics just to accommodate macs?

[katewes]

I'm not totally excited about these Retina screens - I held my retina-iPhone at the distance I usually view my Mac screen, and, at that distance, the extra definition is not that significantly different in terms of a viewing experience.

I do love the retina displays on the iPhone and iPad - and these make a big difference because we tend to hold these mobile devices closer when viewing.

When I had my pre-Retina iPod touch, I could easily see the pixelation of the fonts when reading, so, there, Retina makes a big difference. But on my MacBook Pro I cannot discern the pixelation at the normal distance at which I use the desktop and notebook computers.

Of course it would make some differences, and it would be nice to have, but it's not a big deal to me.

I would, however, demand non-reflective screens on the new iMacs. See the number of petitions at http://macmatte.wordpress.com imploring Apple for non-reflective, anti-glare, or matte screens. Anything so we don't have to battle with glare and reflection that are unavoidable in many, but of course not all environments.

[seriall]

Finally got updates on the imac!! and yet it is a little bit suprising to hear that retina also appear on imac. I don't quite believe this actually.
cause it make no sense to make a 27" inch monitor to a retina one. If this is so, all video quality will become very bad.

[Ryth]

Originally Posted by kiljoy616

All I can say is forget about any 1080p bull Apple TV if Apple finally brings out a TV its going to be 4K for sure and I am one who will be lining up to buy it, but what does that say about bluray movies on monitors like this?

----------



Even a ATI 6800 or 6900 hundred cards would have a hard time running something that high as there would be on the iMac with FPS unless Apple is coming up with some new idea of some monster cooling system for iMacs regular GPU will not be doing any real 3D gaming at that resolution.

But I would be all excited of seen 4K iTV for sure.

We might finally get the 'gaming iMac' ...because any monitor that is running that resolution is going to need a monster graphics card(s).