Apple to Release New MacBook Pro and Air as Early as October, AMD iMacs and 5K Display With LG Also in Works

[Sedulous]

Suitable modern CPU and dGPU chips for MBP are just now becoming available at roughly the same time, despite what you deem to be inexcusable.

Seriously, Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C at 40Gbps isn't "modern data port" enough for you?

The hand-wringing over the yet-unseen OLED strip is ridiculous. You guys really think Apple's going to go for a gimmick feature on its flagship laptop with no real-world benefit to the user experience? No.

Normally I would totally agree. But what with the goofy rumors about a curved screen iPhone, design decisions that went on to become the emaciated MacBook, and the sad state of the MacPro... I am understandably nervous about future products. There appears to be nobody who asks if the design/features are fit for purpose. Just because it can be engineered doesn't mean it makes every product better.

Likewise, the handwringing over the rumored OLED touch strip is justified. We know where it will be and we know what the technology can do. Touchscreen makes a lot of sense on a device with limited real estate. They do not belong on a desktop or full-on notebook that has a physical keyboard. A physical keyboard + mouse/touchpad are faster, more precise, and where your hands are. Whatever settings that might vary between programs are more easily adjusted ON-SCREEN than looking away from the screen, hunting around the strip for the icon/virtual button, moving hand off keyboard/mouse/touchpad to tap virtual key. Likewise, why use extra power to run another screen that is at best only periodically needed. It will be also viewed at an oblique angle so it will not be as clear as a key would have been. It screams of gimmick.
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USB-C is a modern data port though.

I didn't say it wasn't. What I did wish to suggest is why not update at least that much instead of letting entire product families languish for years?

 

[Nabber]

If rumors of a new 5k monitor are true, why? Shouldn't they wait for a suitable desktop to drive it? Or is it most common these days to use a laptop to "dock" with it? Sadly, I am still using my MacPro 1,1 (Sept 2006) with Apple's 2006 Apple Cinema HD Display. Been waiting for a reasonable UPGRADABLE option for my home office. We have a 5k iMac for our kids and my wife has a rMBP but I prefer to replace drives, graphics cards when needed for my home office. Not sure even a new Mac Pro will fit the bill.

 

[tampageek]

Since the new iTouch-it bar needs Sierra to work, my money is on simultaneous release. New OS=New Mac's.

Deeply disappointed in the flat keyboard. There have been some complaints about sticking and/or broken keys, as well as uncomfortable typing. If Apple wants to make the incredible shrinking computer they should keep it on the MacBook line and let the 'Pro' versions remain real computers.

If it had USB-C and at least 1 USB 3.0 legacy port I might be able to overlook the crappy flat keyboard. But I don't want to replace all my thumb drives and shouldn't have to buy a bag full of dongles for a 'Pro' machine.

The good news is - at least Apple has figured out that if they want to keep the eco-system concept alive they need to update more than phones.

 

[jwdsail]

Thinner is nice, but an OLED touch strip is a gimmick that will add cost without substance.

The next MBP should go back to being a pro-machine. That means, the latest Intel CPU (Kabby Lake), upgradable memory, upgradable storage (at least the ability to upgrade without ungluing components).

Perhaps the touch strip will be a BTO option? Do we dare hope?

I also hope for user-upgradable/serviceable ram/storage, but that ship seems to have sailed, sadly.

I think we'll be lucky if we see BTO options for 32GB ram, 2TB solid state storage, and somewhat current tech discrete graphics.

 

[myscrnnm]

That's because Tim thinks that all the kids need is an iPad.

Don't forget a different Apple Watch band for every week.

 

[jfrancis04]

Please tell me they aren't going to stick with incredibly dated screen on a new macbook air in the year 2016.

I don't even care if it qualifies as "retina" but it's an absolute shame if they ship it with the same screen. Macbook Air would be my go-to model if it had a better screen.

 

[Dave245]

Is there not a possibility that new Macs could be shown at the September event, but released in October/November time? They did that last year with the iPad Pro. Also I still think that Apple will show off more than the new iPhone and a new Aplle Watch, June and September events tend to last a while, if they are just going to show off new iPhones and a new Apple Watch, the event wouldn't last very long.

Tim Cook talks about updates
New Apple Watch shown
New iPhones shown (7 and 7 Plus)
iOS and Mac OS release dates revealed

It seems a little short compared to last Septembers event, which was also held at the Bill Graham civic.

 

[anthorumor]

Mac Mini 2.0 - Built like the Intel Skull Cannon NUC.
If Ives makes this so, then shut up and take my money!
But Apple doesnt seem to be making computers the public wants now.

 

[tmiw]

Thinking about it some more, the OLED bar could work out pretty well if implemented correctly. For one thing, Touch ID could easily go in the upper right where the Power button is now; a single-press in that area brings the machine out of sleep/turns it on and logs in at the same time. You could also just drag along the bar to increase/decrease volume and brightness instead of repeatedly pushing the function keys as with the older models.

On the other hand, I can see how it could be annoying if you use apps that rely on those keys being, well, actual function keys. But perhaps the same technology used in the trackpad to simulate clicks could help here?

 

[darknyt]

Hearing AMD for the GPU makes me happy. Apple has always done drivers better for AMD than Nvidia, and I'm looking forward to being able to upgrade my iMac to an AMD GPU equipped machine a bit after the new ones come out.

I hope they go AMD GPUs for the Macbook Pros as well, even though I'm not due to upgrade mine for a while yet.

Can someone please help me understand why we should be excited for AMD GPUs? The one in my current iMac sucks. I'm having a hard time understanding from a performance standpoint why we should want them? How are they better than a comparably priced Nvidia GPU? It seems like Apple is just sticking it out with them, reason be damned.

If the driver issue is as you describe then it's Apple's fault for not keeping up?

 

[techortreat]

I also hope it's the entire screen thats OLED rather than just an OLED strip of functions.

 

[Uni Grad]

I really think that "tweaked MacBook Air" will actually be the larger variant for the current rMB. They're both slanted designs, so I'm quite sure insiders are confusing the two.

I may just opt for this model, if the Dynamic Funtion Row is a disaster.

 

[Ty1eRRR]

What if all leaks and rumors that we have till now about BookPro, it is in fact gonna be new MacBook Air??
What if they upgrade only BookAir this year, and BookPro first in 2017 with KabyLake?? hmmmm?

 

[Michael CM1]

I'm most interested in the adoption of Touch ID on ALL Macs, at least all notebooks. It's so useful on my iPhone 6 and I hate that I got an iPad before they adopted it. When it becomes a security option on every piece of Apple hardware, it will provide a lot of incentive for every developer to include some use for it -- when applicable, of course.

Online purchases are still awfully susceptible to fraud, so I'd love to see many more with biometric security.

 

[jwdsail]

Hmmm...new MacBook Pro + 5K Thunderbolt Display or new 5K iMac and keep my 12-inch MacBook for portability? Perhaps the ultimate first world problem of 2016

Pros/Cons of Option 1: MacBook Pro + 5K Display
Pros

• Just one Mac to manage and worry about
• More powerful portable
• Display will last a long time

Cons

• Less powerful desktop
• Heavier portable
• Need to plug in a cord every time you sit down

Pros/Cons of Option 2: 5K iMac and keep my 12-inch MacBook
Pros

• No compromises, super powerful desktop
• Ultra-portable notebook

Cons

• Need to manage multiple Macs, using semi-unreliable services like Back to my Mac and iCloud to unify the file systems
• Less powerful portable

For option 2, perhaps put the 12"MB into target disk mode, and boot up the iMac from it? Use the iMac storage as secondary (external, to the 12"MB at least) storage? No managing multiple Macs then? (I'd wait until an updated MB included TB3 if I were considering this)

I'd go with MacBook Pro myself, but the 12"MB and iMac shouldn't be that much of a hassle to manage?
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Just what everyone wants, a pro machine that has stripped out connectivity, a gimmicky OLED touch panel (that nobody other than Apple is going to support), crappy keyboard... but it's thinner! I am really sorry to be so negative but after such an inexcusably long update drought, it looks like Apple is too focused on making gadgets. Seriously, "Pro" is serious. Pro should not be super thin and compromised. Drop in a suitable modern CPU and dGPU, user serviceable HD, RAM. Add modern data ports, HDMI, MagSafe.

Amen!

apple.com/feedback

 

[T'hain Esh Kelch]

At least the rumor about a 5K display means that the Mac Pro has to be updated.

I highly doubt Apple would release a display just for the Mac Mini.

 

[agustinbg]

Is there not a possibility that new Macs could be shown at the September event, but released in October/November time? They did that last year with the iPad Pro. Also I still think that Apple will show off more than the new iPhone and a new Aplle Watch, June and September events tend to last a while, if they are just going to show off new iPhones and a new Apple Watch, the event wouldn't last very long.

Tim Cook talks about updates
New Apple Watch shown
New iPhones shown (7 and 7 Plus)
iOS and Mac OS release dates revealed

It seems a little short compared to last Septembers event, which was also held at the Bill Graham civic.

A possibility is that Apple will use that event only to announce minor upgrades to the most up-to-date products (iMac 27'' for example). From a marketing point of view, it wouldn't take the focus away from the flagship product (the iPhone, obviously) and it would make Apple look like it's not forgetting about everything else (as it really looks like for us).

Unfortunately, Apple has disappointed us A LOT in regard to the mac line upgrades in the last 2-3 years; so maybe we're a little too optimistic that so many products will be updated even "as early as October".

 

[sofila]

Though I do wish Apple would figure out a way to add a customer accessible M.2 slot.

Good luck with that. No sarcasm intended but it seems so un-Apple.

 

[danckwerts]

I can't afford to buy a new Mac at the moment but it would be nice to have some assurance that Apple is committed to the Mac at all. It's done very little to update or innovate in the last few years.

 

[Mr. Dee]

This years upgrades are chock full of compromises and surprises.

 

[villicodelirant]

It's called the MacBook.
Frankly I don't know why Apple is cluttering up its laptop line. I hope they clarify at some point soon.

And I'm guessing Apple has all but abandoned the Mac mini.

I think there is room for a desktop replacement/workstation laptop, a business laptop and an ultraportable.
Compare Lenovo's X, T and P series or HP's Folio, Elitebook and ZBook series.

I'm not sure they have decided which one is which, though.

 

[Dave245]

A possibility is that Apple will use that event only to announce minor upgrades to the most up-to-date products (iMac 27'' for example). From a marketing point of view, it wouldn't take the focus away from the flagship product (the iPhone, obviously) and it would make Apple look like it's not forgetting about everything else (as it really looks like for us).

Unfortunately, Apple has disappointed us A LOT in regard to the mac line upgrades in the last 2-3 years; so maybe we're a little too optimistic that so many products will be updated even "as early as October".

Apple haven't held a October event for a few years now, so unless they are going back to doing that i don't know. It seemed like they had changed it around, because for the last couple of years there has been a March event, June and then September, which is then the last event Apple holds.
Maybe you are right tho, maybe they will update the iMac with minor refresh, maybe even the iPad Pro 12.9" adding true tone and a couple of other features. If they think it's worth it maybe they will hold an October event, with it being the first time they have held 4 events in one year (that i can remember).

I do see your point about not wanting to take the focus away from other products, such as the iPhone 7, maybe Apple will even announce a new set of wireless headphones/earphones to go alongside the iPhone 7 as a premium accessory? even tho it's tied to the iPhone 7, it's still another product they could announce and not take attention away from the new iPhone 7 and 7 Plus.

 

[inkswamp]

"Look at the flowers, iMac. Just keep looking at the flowers..."

God, I wish Apple would just let go of the iMac already. The all-in-one is such a dated concept at this point. A complete ground-up redesign of their consumer desktop offerings would be wonderful but I'm sure they found a way to make the new iMac paper-thin and have figured out how to remove more "unnecessary" features.

Going on a year now since my own iMac died... still haven't bought a new Mac. Still waiting for something worth buying.

 

[iPadCary]

*yawn* And in other news, I got a tip that tomorrow (now keep this under your hats!),
tomorrow it's gonna rain somewhere .... Sources familiar with common sense told me.

 

[rGiskard]

You guys really think Apple's going to go for a gimmick feature...with no real-world benefit to the user experience? No.

You mean like dropping all but a single port from the MacBook to force the user to choose between using USB peripherals and charging the laptop?

If the OLED strip is smooth and continuous without any physical distinction of the keys, or if it's not possible to feel the virtual keys and orient one's hand without activating them, then it's at a disadvantage to physical f-keys. Furthermore on an ostensibly a "pro" computer, F-key functions in different pro apps are naturally memorized with heavy usage so the user doesn't even need to look at them.

If I could sit down with Apple execs, I'd ask them two questions:

1. What problem does this solve?
2. Would any of you want the full keyboard on your work computer to be an OLED touch sensitive virtual keyboard? (looking at Ive) Imagine how thin such a laptop would be!