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Yeah economy of scale, they keep the 16gb modules for the next base iPhone that no one wants so they can charge you 200 on top for the next model up 😂😂
 
When the rumors suggested it had iOS before the event I assumed it was basically function as a touchless iPad so that someone who docks their laptop could run iOS suite apps and do some work or access files without connecting their computer-but use a mouse and keyboard. That would be a nice value proposition but I suppose they don’t want to cannibalize iMac sales.
 
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You know what, given that it's effectively an iPhone with a large screen, can Apple pop a sim slot in the side, then I could, you know, impress my friends and neighbours with my large screen smart phablet.

Take! That! Android! Phablets.

Perhaps I've completely missed the point here. Yeah. Probably.
 


Apple's Studio Display contains 64GB of onboard storage, but only 2GB are actually used by the display, a developer has discovered.

Mac-Studio-Display-Feature-Pink.jpg

As highlighted by developer "Khaos Tian" on Twitter, the Studio Display only uses 2GB of its 64GB of internal NAND storage. Some free space is likely needed for firmware updates, but the 62GB of unused space is seemingly otherwise useless at the current time. Apple has not confirmed the quantity of the Studio Display's internal storage in its technical specifications.


studio-display-onboard-storage-64gb.jpg


Image via @KhaosT


The discovery may be unsurprising given that the Studio Display contains an A13 Bionic chip. The A13 Bionic was introduced with the iPhone 11 lineup in 2019, before being offered in the second-generation iPhone SE and the ninth-generation iPad. None of these devices have ever been available in any storage configurations below 64GB, which may suggest that smaller quantities of NAND storage are incompatible with the A13's storage controller.

Economies of scale may also be responsible, with production costs for pairing the A13 with a smaller amount of storage potentially costing more than the same 64GB system currently used in the iPhone 11 that is still on sale and the ninth-generation iPad.

The finding means that, overall, the Studio Display contains the exact same 2.65GHz A13 Bionic chip, 12MP Ultra Wide front-facing camera setup with Center Stage, and 64GB base configuration of storage as the ninth-generation iPad. It is also now clear that the Studio Display has better specifications than the second-generation Apple TV 4K, which sports an A12 Bionic chip and a base storage configuration of just 32GB.

Last week, it emerged that the Studio Display runs the full version of iOS 15.4, with the exact same build used by the iPhone and iPad, meaning that updates to the display's functionality will come as part of iOS updates.

Article Link: Apple Studio Display Contains 64GB of Storage, But Only 2GB Used

7BDED4FE-C369-44C1-B6B5-D042559B06D3.gif
 
There would be a lag. This is intended as a primary display.
In my setup with m1 12.9“ the lag is minimal to non-existent depending on my wifi-status in daily business.
It might be to much for sensitiv tasks, but definitely not for office.
Put a wireless charger in the base and you have a whole new world of possibilities.
 
This isn't surprising considering that Apple already seems to base some Apple TV models on iPads:
  • Apple TV HD (AppleTV5,3) has the same processor as iPad mini 4 (iPad5,1), the A8; notably, both are supported with the latest versions of iOS and tvOS
  • Apple TV 4K 2nd generation (AppleTV11,1) has the same processor as iPad mini 5 (iPad11,1), the A12
Given this, the Studio Display is most likely a low-cost iPad grafted onto a 27" screen (hence, 64GB storage and Center Stage), running customized software for its intended use. It also makes sense to use the A13 chip here because they probably have a surplus of them now that the iPhone SE 2 is no longer being produced. Perhaps this display is really a proving ground for larger-screened iPad Pros or (as I mentioned in an earlier thread) a prelude to Apple Pencil support on future Mac displays.
 
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When I plug my iPad Pro into the Studio Displays Thunderbolt port, it powers the iPad and videos can run in full screen mode on the Studio Display with the iPad screen locked (or in "clamshell" mode with it closed over the magic keyboard). With its great built-in speakers, I have discovered this is like I also have a good 27" 5k television (but no HDR). Maybe they could slap tvOS on there and have a special mode for that. This display does not have a power button, like the Apple TV. Edit: well, it also lacks bluetooth and wifi built in, as far as we know. Would need a dongle I suppose to make this work.
 
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They did the whole work and included the majority of an iPad and leaf out this stupidly simple opportunity.
Kind of sucks
It’s more likely that Apple wanted to keep development costs down. They are using the logic board of an outgoing iPhone model, Thunderbolt 3 instead of 4, and using a slightly updated version of a 5 year old LG panel.

Another possibility is that this started out as an M1 or M1 Pro iMac but Apple decided to go in a different direction with the Mac Studio.
 
It’s getting to where it’s almost impossible to hide just how arbitrary Apple’s limits are when imposed upon hardware by software. This thing could’ve been an Apple TV (without the need for a display).
Most high-end displays need some sort of processor for image and audio processing/scaling/rate conversion, onscreen menus, etc. irrespective of what obvious "smart" features they may have.

Apple needed a processor to run the display - Apple make A13 processors so why would they buy something from Samsung or Broadcomm..? They have a suitable OS kernel to run on it (that's not the same as full iOS) and 64GB flash is probably the minimum that it's economical to include (and, again, they buy Flash by the bucketload for iPhones).

If they were going to add Apple TV functionality, they'd have to add networking and bluetooth, for a start.
 
It’s getting to where it’s almost impossible to hide just how arbitrary Apple’s limits are when imposed upon hardware by software. This thing could’ve been an Apple TV (without the need for a display).

This thing seems stupidly over-engineered and then intentionally crippled. Or maybe this isn’t engineering. Maybe it’s laziness/convenience and price gouging, because they have all these over-featured parts to use instead of something focused, less complicated, and less expensive.
I think the argument is that using these existing A13 parts, with existing supply chain, is cheaper than engineering any new parts, no matter the complexity of the chips used. So what if they’re leaving additional processing power on the table?

In the end I don’t give a damn what chipset is in my monitor, as long as it works as a monitor. And the studio display is a nice monitor.
 
It’s getting to where it’s almost impossible to hide just how arbitrary Apple’s limits are when imposed upon hardware by software. This thing could’ve been an Apple TV (without the need for a display).

This thing seems stupidly over-engineered and then intentionally crippled. Or maybe this isn’t engineering. Maybe it’s laziness/convenience and price gouging, because they have all these over-featured parts to use instead of something focused, less complicated, and less expensive.
So you're saying Apple just added 64GB of storage to make the Studio Display more expensive? 🤔
 
It’s more likely that Apple wanted to keep development costs down. They are using the logic board of an outgoing iPhone model, Thunderbolt 3 instead of 4, and using a slightly updated version of a 5 year old LG panel.

Another possibility is that this started out as an M1 or M1 Pro iMac but Apple decided to go in a different direction with the Mac Studio.
Hmm.
Since the 9th gen iPad uses the a13 too, it’s absolutely realistic to think the studio display is based on this one, since the formfactor is closer to an iPad.
The iPhone boards are a bit more densely packed and therefore pricier to produce.
Nonetheless, a13 can/cannot handle TB3, at least it has a co-chip to handle TB.

Yeah, am pretty upset about the panel. Looks exactly like you said: upcycled panel with the slightest of upgrade.
 
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When I plug my iPad Pro into the Studio Displays Thunderbolt port, it powers the iPad and videos can run in full screen mode on the Studio Display with the iPad screen locked (or in "clamshell" mode with it closed over the magic keyboard). With its great built-in speakers, I have discovered this is like I also have a good 27" 5k television (but no HDR). Maybe they could slap tvOS on there and have a special mode for that. This display does not have a power button, like the Apple TV. Edit: well, it also lacks bluetooth and wifi built in, as far as we know. Would need a dongle I suppose to make this work.
That's actually an interesting idea. I have wondered why Apple hasn't yet automatically included ATV in their "expensive" monitors. I mean Samsung sells a smart monitor for a little over $300. I mean, really, for $1500 is that too much to ask?
 
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