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

[brvhrt]

So basically, Tim got wind of this article and sent a preemptive message to reassure employees.

I just can't believe Tim can't see that he is taking the company towards the precipice it was falling over when Steve came back to save it (too many SKUs for example).

I am of the belief that, amongst other things, the current executives are so close to retirement they are solely focused on keeping the share price up for the short term to benefit themselves.

 

[Chupa Chupa]

The only thing Apple is doing right, if you believe the marketing hype, is privacy. With just a little more effort Apple could wipe out the competition without much effort or cost.

I'm unsure Apple understands it's competition right now... to be able to wipe them out. They are letting Mac wither even though it's growth has been better than PCs the past few years. Amazon is crushing home automation via Alexa and the Echo devices. iPhones continue to sell OK, but not amazing, only because its hard to switch ecosystems when you have years of time and $ spend on it and also because Samsung is more inept than Apple when it comes to product testing. Apple has no 4K streaming devices, but does have the most expensive streaming boxes on the market. The iWork suite, Mac and iOS, is as infantile as ever, especially Pages. Apple Watch is a shadow of the hype that preceded it in 2014.

All of these areas Apple has the resources to be great but still rests on its laurels as it's sole goal seems to be to do just enough to make sure the the cash machine just not break down.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

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.

I will be surprised... much more profit in clinging to proprietary Lightning on iDevices than embracing USB3C. I agree with your apparent desire for it to replace Lightning (and agree that would be a good thing for consumer utility too) but I don't expect it. In fact, I expect Lightning 2 more than I expect USB3C.

 

[Rogifan]

If this story is to be believed they went with an older battery design because marketing (aka Phil Schiller) didn't want to miss the holiday shopping season. I doubt it was Apple designers or engineers that decided to skip an Intel generation. That's what bit Apple in the rear end and they're paying for it now.

 

[v0lume4]

Wow. So it isn't just MacRumors readers that feel this way.

 

[truthertech]

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.

I know it because I read it on the Internet.

That "complete mess" just recently became the most valuable company in the world. Set the record for most revenue ever. Just reached almost a quarter trillion, yes that's TRILLION, dollars in cash. Just reached almost 100% of the entire cell phone industry profits. Is setting records with its just released MacBooks. Is having the best quarter ever for the Apple Watch. Is selling the most popular consumer product this holiday season. Has people lining up to buy the new Airpods which are getting rave reviews across the board. Just reached almost 75% of the entire US market for Apple Pay. Services will become the equivalent of a Fortune 100 company this year, and their Services revenue just eclipsed ALL of Facebook's revenue this year. It's wireless sales now are the largest in the world and they own over 60% of the premium headphone market as of this year. Apple music went from zero to number 2 in the entire world this year at a rate that took Spotify many more years to reach. Yes a complete mess.

Elsewhere, I read that Elvis faked his death and is secretly running Apple Music.

 

[CharlesShaw]

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

Engineering, ingischmeering. Thank goodness this forum is mostly populated by above average consumers who know a thing or two about designing products that meet the needs of above average consumers! Let's make Apple great again by replacing the BOD and CEO with social media!

If only there were a way for consumers to have something like a vote regarding what products are successful. Hmmmm, I'll have to think on that and edit this later. /s

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

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

You can chase that "bigger battery" wish all the way to the point where you have a 10 pound slab. So, where do you draw the line?

Apple did put in FOUR ports people actually use: USB. And the industry will prove them right in about a year, mark my words...

 

[Ries]

I know it because I read it on the Internet.

That "complete mess" just recently became the most valuable company in the world. Set the record for most revenue ever. Just reached almost a quarter trillion, yes that's TRILLION, dollars in cash. Just reached almost 100% of the entire cell phone industry profits. Is setting records with its just released MacBooks. Is having the best quarter ever for the Apple Watch. Is selling the most popular consumer product this holiday season. Has people lining up to buy the new Airpods which are getting rave reviews across the board. Just reached almost 75% of the entire US market for Apple Pay. Services will become the equivalent of a Fortune 100 company this year, and their Services revenue just eclipsed ALL of Facebook's revenue this year. It's wireless sales now are the largest in the world and they own over 60% of the premium headphone market as of this year. Apple music went from zero to number 2 in the entire world this year at a rate that took Spotify many more years to reach. Yes a complete mess.

Elsewhere, I read that Elvis faked his death and is secretly running Apple Music.

They make money by cutting corners (MOR GLUE!) to make their products cheaper to produce and sell them for more. They nickel and dime people. Eventually people get fed up and when that happens the ball rolls downhill fast. Nokia and blackberry where once king of the hill too, then they ****ed up.

 

[cics]

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."

This is the result of a lack of focus coming from Apple's leadership team. And I don't take the "iOS is the future of computing" vision that Apple is trying to sell.
First, iOS on iPads, especially 12.9 iPad Pro, is a joke.
Second, it's clear that Tim Cook and the gang are purely profit driven. Apple is not product driven anymore, and the touch bar on MacBook is a clear example. It's just a gimmick to justify higher prices to increase Macs profitability.
It's so stupid, this isn't what consumers want. We just wanted a powerful, reliable and sleek machine - simple as is. But of course how can you justify an increase in price?

This whole situation is becoming ridiculous.

 

[WinstonRumfoord]

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.

Indeed. My Mac was probably the sole factor in me getting an iphone in the first place. Speaking only for myself, no mac = no iphone.

 

[MacsRuleOthersDrool]

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

My feeling is that you wouldn't buy anything that has an Apple logo on it.

 

[Ries]

You can chase that "bigger battery" wish all the way to the point where you have a 10 pound slab. So, where do you draw the line?

Apple did put in FOUR ports people actually use: USB. And the industry will prove them right in about a year, mark my words...

Four USB-C that they use for adapters. In a year, 80-90% of all USB connections will still be USB-A. Current devices and laptops/desktops won't stop existing just because Apple removed their connectors.

 

[truthertech]

I'm sure it has nothing to do with several years of built up demand. Also a lot tech orianted startup companies have a lot of capital to through around and buy employees new computers ever 2-3 years, regardless if the computer is actually worth the cost. It's seen as more of a company perk.

Yes, you can be sure that it has nothing to do with "several years of built up demand" since the Macbook Pro had been updated May 2015. Oops. That's what happens when you are so intent on trolling Apple that you have to try and attack every bit of good news. I know it's what you do, but if you concentrate on feeding on the rare bad news, you won't end up making silly comments.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

That "complete mess" just recently became the most valuable company in the world. Set the record for most revenue ever. Just reached almost a quarter trillion, yes that's TRILLION, dollars in cash. Just reached almost 100% of the entire cell phone industry profits. Is setting records with its just released MacBooks. Is having the best quarter ever for the Apple Watch. Is selling the most popular consumer product this holiday season. Has people lining up to buy the new Airpods which are getting rave reviews across the board. Just reached almost 75% of the entire US market for Apple Pay. Services will become the equivalent of a Fortune 100 company this year, and their Services revenue just eclipsed ALL of Facebook's revenue this year. It's wireless sales now are the largest in the world and they own over 60% of the premium headphone market as of this year. Apple music went from zero to number 2 in the entire world this year at a rate that took Spotify many more years to reach. Yes a complete mess.

The fundamental issue with the oft-used money counter is that we consumers aren't really whining about anything that that addresses. We want better consumer benefits. There's no big "win" in Apple's immense profitability for us consumers. In fact, hidden between the lines in all of that that you've just offered is how much extra is being squeezed out of us as consumer benefits seem to fade... or get ejected out to dongles (sold separately)... or to services (sold separately)... or to add-on hardware (sold separately).

It's terrific that Apple is filthy, filthy rich and getting richer for Apple executives and AAPL shareholders. But the collective whine is crying for more "wow!" delights in what is delivered to us consumers... which is not all the profits Apple is piling up. In a nutshell, the consumer crowd is whining to get more for all that money flowing into Apple that you've summarized there.

 

[gertruded]

They make money by cutting corners (MOR GLUE!) to make their products cheaper to produce and sell them for more. They nickel and dime people. Eventually people get fed up and when that happens the ball rolls downhill fast. Nokia and blackberry where once king of the hill too, then they ****ed up.

This!!!

 

[pat500000]

Wow. So it isn't just MacRumors readers that feel this way.

what do you mean?

 

[Black Magic]

I love Apple products but at times I question the vision and direction. Lately they have been falling short and consumers are noticing. I feel like the older products made in 2015 may be their best versions out right now.

iPhone 6S > iPhone 7
MacBook Pro 2015 > MacBook Pro Late 2016
iPad Air 2 > iPad Pros

 

[Rogifan]

You can chase that "bigger battery" wish all the way to the point where you have a 10 pound slab. So, where do you draw the line?

Apple did put in FOUR ports people actually use: USB. And the industry will prove them right in about a year, mark my words...

And according to this story they were working on a battery design that would have boosted battery life but couldn't get it ready in time for the holidays so management decided to ship an older design with smaller battery.

 

[dougjames84]

I have been a "proper" apple user daily for work and personal life since 2008. I enjoy using their products like iphone and macbook pro, even apple watch. However I really think apple are dropping the ball currently. Too many decisions are being implemented and making users suffer from "apple's way or no way". For example : If i want the lates macbook pro I must accept:

* USB C
*No SD card slot
*No illuminated apple logo (which many love)
*No start up sound
*when i lift the lid it turns on automatically always

It might sound silly but what if I dont want any of the above and would rather keep these things? What exactly am I getting for my money when they remove the classic design illuminated logo and USB and HDMI ports I use daily?

Different versions exist for a reason and I know you cannot please everyone. However removing the time information remaining was really a low point for apple. All these small things add up and make me feel like waiting to see whats around the future before or upgrading. Or even worse not upgrading and dare I say it - switching back to Thinkpad if they can provide for my needs better.

 

[cics]

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?

And what's funny is that Macs market share was growing, in a market that was declining. So stupid Apple.

I think they have their core market right in their mind now: affluent people who are willing to pay $1000 for a phone just because is "fashionable". The perfect ground for Angela Ahrendts and other executives coming from a fashion background.

This is what Apple is right now, all about design, fashion, lifestyle. If we exclude some minor cool tech (namely W1 chip and AirPods), everything else is so sad.

 

[satchmo]

You can chase that "bigger battery" wish all the way to the point where you have a 10 pound slab. So, where do you draw the line?

3mm.
Don't be silly, no one's asking for a 10lb. slab.
People are asking for the 10 hour battery as claimed, something achieved in the previous MBP which was...you guessed it...3mm thicker.

 

[HobeSoundDarryl]

Four USB-C that they use for adapters. In a year, 80-90% of all USB connections will still be USB-A. Current devices and laptops/desktops won't stop existing just because Apple removed their connectors.

Correct. How many years has Thunderbolt been on Macs? Where are all the Thunderbolt connectors on everything else? How many years has Lightning been on Apple's most important products? Where are all the Lightning connectors on everything else?

I do believe USB3C will eventually rule computing device connections but we're dreaming if we believe that that is impending. My gut guess: maybe in about 4-7 years and only if there isn't a USB4 or USB3E or something similar during that window of time.

 

[radiology]

I know it because I read it on the Internet.

That "complete mess" just recently became the most valuable company in the world. Set the record for most revenue ever. Just reached almost a quarter trillion, yes that's TRILLION, dollars in cash. Just reached almost 100% of the entire cell phone industry profits. Is setting records with its just released MacBooks. Is having the best quarter ever for the Apple Watch. Is selling the most popular consumer product this holiday season. Has people lining up to buy the new Airpods which are getting rave reviews across the board. Just reached almost 75% of the entire US market for Apple Pay. Services will become the equivalent of a Fortune 100 company this year, and their Services revenue just eclipsed ALL of Facebook's revenue this year. It's wireless sales now are the largest in the world and they own over 60% of the premium headphone market as of this year. Apple music went from zero to number 2 in the entire world this year at a rate that took Spotify many more years to reach. Yes a complete mess.

Elsewhere, I read that Elvis faked his death and is secretly running Apple Music.

You can't handle the TRUTH, TRUTHERTEC!

 

[Stella]

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

Link Please of where Apple have stated MBP 2016 are selling "record numbers".
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No more excuses for 2017.

There better be a refreshed/new Mac Pro.

At minimum Kaby Lake CPU and a price drop.