A23** is used on the M1 MBA and MBP that were released in 2020, so I think A26** could just signify that these are 2022 releases.
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Apple Files New Macs in Regulatory Database Ahead of Rumored Spring Event
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Agree. Drop “air” completely - save for AirPods I suppose.
iPad mini + iPad + iPad Pro
MacBook + MacBook Pro
Mac mini + iMac + Mac Pro
Seems easily digestible, distinguishable nomenclature. The name, alone, sets expectations of the device capabilities.
HobeSoundDarryl
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Perhaps the worthiness revolves around something to show that is tangibly different. There are abundant rumors of a brand new case, probably thinner, possibly some new colors, possibly 2-tone. Mini case has largely been the same for- what- about 10-12 years now?
Perhaps the worthiness revolves around profitability for Apple? Mini has generally been priced down at the low end- the "bargain" zone if there can be such a thing in Appleland. However, this is the higher end, higher spec Mini... and rumors going back many months have it getting PRO & MAX... which should come with PRO & MAX-type prices... which should mean Apple gets their premium too. Thus, there can be plenty of profit motivation to shine a bright light on this device... the first of the desktops to get M1 PRO & MAX power.
A little later, Apple can do it again with an iMac perhaps getting the rumored DUO and then again with Mac Pro Jr or whatever getting the rumored QUAD. Or perhaps either of those getting M2 PRO & MAX, DUO or QUAD?
So between a significantly new shell and latest & greatest "guts" (AND the profitability likely to come from pricing it accordingly), this Mini certainly can be rationalized that it should get a good slice of a "show & tell" event.
Besides, if iMac "bigger" is actually delayed, what else do they have to show at this event? There was a rumor a few days ago that implied it could be only a smaller iPhone and a new iPad. Nobody seems to buy an event for only those 2 things... especially when the PRO & MAX Mini was rumored hard to launch WITH the MBpros months ago. Conceptually, these have been ready since then. Perhaps the first deliveries will have a bit of storage dust on them where they've been sitting on a shelf since the Fall?
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Regarding
The translated article says the following.
So don’t get your hopes up too much about the March 8 event which doesn’t match MacOS 12.3 beta cycle.
The translated article says the following.
So don’t get your hopes up too much about the March 8 event which doesn’t match MacOS 12.3 beta cycle.
It's not a knock - the Mac Mini just isn't a show-stealer, even with a redesign. They just don't sell that many. If Apple had a monitor they could sell with it that might change things, but at the moment it continues to play second-fiddle to the iMac. That's not a knock either - the iMac is the reference Apple desktop computer.
I always thought that they sold more mini because they have a lower entry cost and that a lot of companies buy them to use as servers. They are attractive in that you can keep your monitors when you upgrade your computer but the iMac is a very neat and tidy package.
Always been my impression as well. Set the diehards aside and most consumers opt for the iMac, while a lot of businesses opt for the Mini. And the businesses would obviously be more interested in utility than looks.
“it would be strange to see MBA with M2, and then iMac with M1 Pro/Max in the same release.”
Not any stranger than the iPad Air having a14 and the Pro having a12Z.
M2 devices will definitely ship before the Mac Pro which is M1 based.
Those are entirely different situations.
The Mac lineup is a well publicized 2 year architecture transition. The iPad Air is scheduled refresh of an existing product.
Who says they can’t release an M2 before an M1? Everyone knows the Mac Pro is getting updated last and it’s going to be M1. It’s only a matter of which M2 Macs come out before that, not if.
It's not that Apple can't, it simply makes more sense for their silicon engineering efforts to focus on completing the transition before working on M2.
I understand wanting to take a stand on principle, and there may be some specific apps that you are waiting for, still it looks like around 68% of apps have been recompiled for AS.
If you do decide to take a more practical approach, There is very little downside to using Rosetta 2. Many apps using it are still faster than they are running on the previous Intel models. It has no impact on other AS software. Most apps still using Rosetta work just fine. The exceptions are apps that use Intel-based plugins. There the results are more hit-or-miss.
It is likely that the M2 will use the A15 cores from the iPhone 13 so it could launch before the next iPhone.
One cause is that Covid infections impacted production of basic machinery used in chip production and also directly in chip production. That is not just main CPU/SOC chips like the M1 but in many support chips like memory controllers, power supplies, i/o chips. There has been a chain reaction of delayed deliveries. It’s like in a freeway when a car slows down and cars behind it slow down more and soon you have a traffic backup. It takes a while for that congestion to work it’s way through the system.
Also, there was a big jump in demand for electronics when people started working and schooling from home.
If you search for “cause of chip shortage” you will find many articles with other specific causes.
You are spot on there for everything but the iPad line.
If you drop the iPad Air, there is a huge gap between the A12 $329 iPad with Touch ID and the M1 iPad starting at $799. You still need that middle tier product. (The iPad mini doesn’t count as it is a very different product with the smaller screen.) They could rename them to iPad SE, iPad, and iPad Pro but not sure that they will risk that much change to the lineup just for cleaner naming.
It's unlikely that Apple would accelerate any new AS SoC release before other products using M1 Pro/M1 Max are out the door.