Apple Tested Larger Battery and Gold Color Option on MacBook Pro, Lightning Port on MacBook

[MacRumors]

In a comprehensive new Bloomberg article diving into the slow refresh cycle of Apple's line of Mac computers, and how the company slowly "alienated Mac loyalists," a few interesting tidbits surfaced providing insight into what could have been for the Touch Bar MacBook Pro, as well as the 12-inch Retina MacBook.

In the MacBook Pro line launched this past October, Apple planned to introduce "higher capacity battery packs" that would have been terraced and shaped to the inside compartment of the computer, boosting battery life in the process. According to a person familiar with the creation of the MacBook, the battery failed a "key test," so instead of delaying the laptop and missing the holiday shopping season, "Apple decided to revert to an older design." This created a domino effect that went on to hit other Mac design teams whose engineers were taken to finish the MacBook Pro.

In the run-up to the MacBook Pro's planned debut this year, the new battery failed a key test, according to a person familiar with the situation. Rather than delay the launch and risk missing the crucial holiday shopping season, Apple decided to revert to an older design.

The change required roping in engineers from other teams to finish the job, meaning work on other Macs languished, the person said. The new laptop didn't represent a game-changing leap in battery performance, and a software bug misrepresented hours of power remaining. Apple has since removed the meter from the top right-hand corner of the screen.

Battery life has been a big complaint among many MacBook Pro users, with some claiming in early December to get as little as 3 to 6 hours of battery life on a single charge. Some users claimed to see better battery life after updating to macOS 10.12.2 last week, but Apple "repeatedly and emphatically" told Ars Technica there are no specific battery life improvements included in the update. The laptop's battery "appeared to be performing as intended," according to the company.

The MacBook Pro is rated for up to 10 hours of battery life for the 13-inch and 15-inch laptop, but the Bloomberg article didn't specify how much that may have been increased by if the larger battery would have made it into the MacBook Pro.

The article continued by saying that a few early prototypes of last year's 12-inch Retina MacBook were built with ports for the iPhone's Lightning cable, but the MacBook eventually launched with USB-C instead. A gold colorway for this year's MacBook Pro was even planned, but Apple designers eventually decided the color didn't work "on such a large product."

These test runs for iPhone-like features on the MacBook are "part of a broader shift toward making Macs more like iPhones." The critique rests on Apple's inability to see what its more creative and loyal users need desktop and laptop computers for, instead opting to bring features from its best-selling product -- the iPhone -- into the Mac line.

That's part of a broader shift toward making Macs more like iPhones. Apple prioritizes features, like thinness and minimal ports, that sell its iPhones and iPads, which generated about 75 percent of revenue this year. Those are contrary to professional needs, like maximum computing power. Early prototypes of the 12-inch MacBook used the iPhone's Lightning connector, although this was ditched for a more standard USB-C port. There was even a gold MacBook Pro planned, but this was shelved because the color didn't look good on such a large product.

The rest of the Bloomberg article is an interesting read, pointing towards the lack of a "singular vision" in Apple's design and engineering departments that leads to product delays and underwhelming reveals. In the end, dozens of Mac hardware managers and engineers are said to have left for different teams, or left Apple entirely, in the past 18 months. "Some were looking for a less all-consuming work environment, while others felt the future of Mac hardware was unclear in a world of iPhones and iPads."

Article Link: Apple Tested Larger Battery and Gold Color Option on MacBook Pro, Lightning Port on MacBook

 

[icanhazapple]

Total loss of focus, lack of leadership. You've got a supply chain guy running the helm, who has no idea how people actually use the product. Complete unwillingness to incorporate the tremendous volume of feedback pro users have provided. Stupidity at best, arrogance at worst.

Strange days have found Apple. Throw Tim Cook out, NOW.

 

[Michaelgtrusa]

Perhaps this will happen the the next update.

 

[lysingur]

"In the end, dozens of Mac hardware managers and engineers are said to have left for different teams, or left Apple entirely, in the past 18 months."

So it begins.

 

[Darryl.Jenks]

Ouch.

 

[kettle]

This new MBP is a Road Apple

 

[Nick11Mac]

Article echos many of the complaints heard here in recent weeks.

 

[Steve121178]

Apple doesn't really care about the Mac. If they cared none of this crap would be happening. Their focus is almost solely on the iPhone as that's what brings the money in. That's rather short-sighted.

 

[Rogifan]

The singular vision needs to come from the top and that is Tim Cook. I have a hard time believing Apple's designers and software engineers just woke up one day and said 'screw the Mac'. Direction comes from the top. And Apple's hardware design team now reports directly to Tim Cook. But let's wait and see if others in the know confirm this story. It could be coming from a few disgruntled employees with an axe to grind.

 

[mozumder]

The engineering that goes into these is incredible. Lots of subtle tradeoffs are involved that the average consumer has no idea about.

 

[merkinmuffley]

They could gold plate that turd and I still wouldn't buy one.

 

[tubeexperience]

How about making the body a little thicker so you can put in a bigger battery and some ports people actually use?

 

[truthertech]

This new MBP is a Road Apple

Yet, it continues to sell in record numbers. Huge demand. Curious why so many millions don't see as clearly as you do.

 

[and 1989 others]

Two years and we won't have stories like this because Apple will become the worlds biggest exclusive phone and tablet manufacturer.

The company is currently a complete mess internally.

 

[mr.bee]

Apple doesn't really care about the Mac. If they cared none of this crap would be happening. Their focus is almost solely on the iPhone as that's what brings the money in. That's rather short-sighted.

if they continue like this they will end up like Sony or Nokia (or Nintendo).

 

[RumorConsumer]

This is interesting. I wonder how big that other machine was that they were planning. Or whether it will come out at some point. That kind of design switch hardly seems like Apple. Nobody wants a Cro magnon Mac...

 

[pat500000]

Deaf con 5

 

[Moonjumper]

Computers reached a point where updates were not a gamechanger for most of the market, just at the point when smart phones were blossoming. But phones are now reaching that same plateau. Will Apple turn to a new area when that happens? Or remember their core market?

Computers still remain a large market, one that Apple were gaining a larger share in. Is the R&D such a burden that they cannot regain that momentum?

 

[vmachiel]

I don't agree with the "Cook has to go!" sentiment, but a bigger battery is exactly what people would have wanted. Design and marketing have ALL the power currently, and some (not all, but some) of it has to shift to things like engineering and usability.

 

[dannyyankou]

Lightning on the MB sounds good, but I think they made the right call. USB-C is the future, I wouldn't be surprised if iPhone use it soon.

 

[vmachiel]

Deaf con 5

That's the lowest level

 

[Canada420]

First, let me me say it was refreshing to see such a well written piece and well throughout topic for an article. Kudos to Mark Gruman at Bloomberg and also Mr. Broussard at MacRumours for the great eye and for the summation.

Like other users who have commented I also believe this approach shows a lack of effective and insightful leadership at the very top. Tim was the perfect choice to steady the ship and make the transition to a post Jobs Apple. aka the safe choice. He's done that. That was his strength, his purpose. The time has come to transition to the next person. A leader with a totally different approach, and energy, to lead Apple and layout the vision for the future.

 

[jonnysods]

I really want the latest hardware, but after watching my colleague use his 2016 mbp quite awkwardly because of the lack of ports, its got me requesting a 2015 for my hardware replacement. I need ports for my work and I don't want to have to plug piles of stuff in to make usb work.

 

[snowboarder]

What's really sad is that many professional companies like Black Magic or Autodesk
ported their flagship software to Mac. That took them a lot of time and effort.
And now there is basically no Macs to run it on...

 

[radiology]

Nothing surprising on this article. The disconnect between product features is mesmerizing. Dongles are unnecessary "work around". The fact that your latest phone released almost simultaneously with your latest laptop cannot connect with each other or use the same headphones is just a clear example of that.