Everything Apple Didn't Announce at Today's Event

[dwaite]

No iPhone X SE

It is too bad, but the SE actually did stand for "Special Edition" after-all.

I think the SE is constrained by trying to get a 5.9" iPhone X into the smaller package, and meet people's expectation that it will be a cheaper device. It is a different engineering problem, and I suspect they are treating both as second or even third tier, relying on the high-sellers to do the heavy lifting of design and scaling up manufacturing.

But, let's say hypothetically that the existing FaceID camera sensor package is too large to fit in a smaller SE-style device. Or the Liquid Retina screens require too large of a driver (even with the XR, the lightning port moved down to accommodate interference with the display assembly).

They'd be working on getting a sensor package and/or screen tech that would fit their needs in the future, and be working for another SE release as part of that delivery (aka the XT or whatever release next September). They might even be targeting a release dependent on meeting the main iPhone production scale, or reduction in build price.

The point is, it's a special edition, and it will be released on its own (Seemingly Random) schedule.

 

[zuiram]

Apple products are as much about software as hardware. People seem to forget that.

You don’t want to pay up for premium, get a Chromebook with a spyware OS.

Except the IPP everything in the lineup is inferior to the competition in hardware, so I doubt anyone still here has forgotten about software.

Some of us just feel the OS shouldn’t be pushing the thousand dollar mark.

 

[quaresma]

The whole AirPower thing is a joke now.

 

[highvoltage12v]

After seeing the t2 chip in the Mac mini with soldered storage. I don't want to see the new Mac Pro because it's going to suck to see it with soldered storage. I don't like the way Apple is going with this. My data will forever be encapsulated in the machine/lack of upgrade in the future.

 

[crsh1976]

It's funny the rMB didn't get an Amber Lake chip update at the very least considering they slapped one in the new MBA, but what's even weirder is the messed up lineup of Macbooks now: the rMB with last year's chip, one lousy USB-C port and less power didn't get a price cut, it's more expensive than the new 13-inch MBA with better everything.

No new iMacs, but we don't have any new midrange GPUs out to put in them, the update can wait.

No news concerning the modular Mac Pro that's been promised for 2016 2017 2018 now 2019?

Considering they are still selling the 2013 trash can model at full price, I think there's a pissing contest going on at Apple to see how long they can keep this joke going.

Not impressed.

 

[Marx55]

Also missing is the brand new Apple Thunderbolt 3 display. Not only for Mac Pro, but also for Mac mini.

And wired keyboard and wired mouse. We are destroying planet Earth and nobody seems to care. Wireless charging is a waste of energy. Wired whatever is much better than wireless whenever possible for anything, including also keyboards and mice. Batteries are obnoxious to the environment, besides much less convenient (for instance, less responsive) and a pain to recharge routinely.

 

[9081094]

Years ago Apple had no problem refreshing the iMac at least once a year, sometimes multiple times in a year as needed to maintain current hardware. Same for the Mac Pro, MacBook, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and even the Mac mini (though a couple times the mini fell behind by six months to a year, which back then was enough for people to speculate it was being discontinued). But in recent years the Mac lineup has been severely neglected with inconsistent and infrequent refreshes. A Mac mini from 2014 being sold alongside a MacBook Air from 2015 being sold alongside a MacBook Pro from 2018.

I started watching this event expecting to see Apple finally working on improving the frequency and consistency of Mac refreshes and the Mac lineup. We would get iMacs with 8th generation hex-core CPUs, and a Mac mini with 8th generation CPUs at the same time. The MacBook would be discontinued to prevent confusion, non-Touch Bar MacBook Pro refreshed with 8th generation CPUs, and a new Retina MacBook Air introduced to replace the MacBook and embarrassingly-outdated 2015 hardware at the same time. The only severely-outdated product left would be the Mac Pro, set to get a refresh next year.

But after the event, the portable Mac lineup is instead more confusing now than it has ever been at any point during the last 20 years. Different processor generations, different screen sizes, Touch ID or no Touch ID or Touch ID + Touch Bar, and plenty of overlap with the intended audience of each model. As someone who is more knowledgeable when it comes to Macs, I still need a guide to sort through this. Just can't imagine what kind of decision a novice user would be faced with here, especially a novice user on a budget faced with the higher prices of the new MacBook Air almost going into MacBook Pro territory.

On the desktop side, the iMac is still using processors from a year and a half ago. I simply can't recommend it to anyone when even the Mac mini offers better CPU performance with 8th generation hex-core i5/i7, but still has its own compromises (poor GPU performance, and of course no 5K display). Apple has had a year to engineer a new iMac with adequate cooling for the 8th generation CPUs, and already had the iMac Pro to start with, so there's really no excuse for not having some kind of refresh ready for the iMac by now. And $799 is not an inexpensive computer, why does the new Mac mini come with a low-end i3 processor when Apple could've made the i5 standard and i7 the next model up?

Tim Cook can brag about the Mac adoption numbers all he wants, but I just don't see Apple's commitment to the Mac returning to where it once was. Yes, the Mac mini and MacBook Air both got much-needed refreshes, which I was happy to see. But the continuation of inconstant refreshes and confusing portable lineup show the Mac is still being mismanaged and neglected by modern Apple.

(Sorry for the long post. Just hope I managed to get the point across.)

No need to excuse at all. It's so true what you're telling. The only thing that seems to matter this present day at Apple is how to charge more with every release they make. Sure, the new iPads are nice and sure I'm happy with any progress being made. But the pace of innovation at Apple is going at a snail speed. Competitors have caught up with good resembles (copies) of Apple's design and in some ways even surpass them. Apple just could've made sure their whole line up would meet todays processors and specs with minimal effort and investments. But it choses not to do so. I'm not saying they don't make good hardware but I'm certainly getting more and more reluctant not to fall in Apple's überpriced walled ecotrap where there is no guarantee it will be updated or work with others anymore. Yesterday I watched the keynote for the first time using WebOS 4 on my LG TV instead of using Apple TV and the experience was the same. I've removed my AppleTV and am happy. I've removed one closed system in favor of an open system.

 

[BruceEBonus]

Resize. Refresh. Reprice. That is the Apple adage now. Despite being the richest company in the world they can’t redesign or renew. It’s amazing in this day and age that people don’t notice. Such is the pull of IOS people will still happily ignore all that to get the “premium” experience. And Apple know it.

 

[KPandian1]

... and, "Common Sense"!

 

[rmoliv]

Why dont you ask Apple directly about the AirPower? Isnt that what journalists do? Customers should have the right to know whats happened.

 

[dwaite]

It's funny the rMB didn't get an Amber Lake chip update at the very least considering they slapped one in the new MBA, but what's even weirder is the messed up lineup of Macbooks now: the rMB with last year's chip, one lousy USB-C port and less power didn't get a price cut, it's more expensive than the new 13-inch MBA with better everything.

It does have more base storage, is 25% smaller and 25% lighter. I suspect they will target the ultraportable markets with it.

No new iMacs, but we don't have any new midrange GPUs out to put in them, the update can wait.

A spec bump and a T2 would be nice. The T2 is being leveraged for hardware HEVC encoding among all the other things.

No news concerning the modular Mac Pro that's been promised for 2016 2017 2018 now 2019?

Just 2019, otherwise "Citation needed".

Considering they are still selling the 2013 trash can model at full price, I think there's a pissing contest going on at Apple to see how long they can keep this joke going.

Not impressed.

They dropped the price a year ago when they announced that they were coming out with a new model in 2019.

 

[charleswhalley]

I'm still kind of disappointed in the lack of update for the iMac. I wanted to buy that this year, hoping for an 9th gen i9 designed around all NVME.

Cook is only interested in profit. If he thinks updating an almost 5 year old product is acceptable - he needs to think again.

iMacs will come in the first quarter of 2019 after he's sold more outdated stuff over the Christmas period to poor unsuspecting punters. As for the MacPro.......

 

[vojislavsh]

They didn’t anounce Apple Car, Apple AR glasses, Apple game console, Apple bike, Apple smart lamp,...

 

[jjwilliams80]

I am waiting for this free streaming service Apple is offering to anyone that has a device.

 

[Stiss]

I find it sad that $1200 is considered 'budget' for a notebook, especially one thats made from scrap and low-end components.

Yep, pre keynote I was all in on a new budget computer. My 2013 11" Air is on the decline in a few ways and I was ready to replace it.

it seems that Apple are pushing people like me towards the iPad Pro.

 

[ct2k7]

No AirPods update makes me very sad...Bose, here I come.

Grabbed myself the Sony XM3.. compared to the QC 35 IIs, I like them.. a lot.

 

[iapplelove]

Are smart covers dead? That'd be a shame.

Nope. Didn’t go through the thread, but the are 79.99 and ship tomorrow.

3 colors.
[doublepost=1540979737][/doublepost]

Whew, I just bought a new iMac last week.

March 2019. Apple is running a business.

What’s gonna sell more around the holidays, an iMac or brand new state of the art iPads?

 

[Steve121178]

Shame MacBook 12 was not refreshed. Will it be this year?

I don't see the point of the 12" MacBook when the 13" Air beats it in every area, including price. I wouldn't be surprised if Apple discontinue it next year.

 

[crsh1976]

Just 2019, otherwise "Citation needed".

Apple never committed to a firm date, or year for that matter, but talks/mentions of a new Mac Pro have been occuring since early 2017.

Reminder : https://9to5mac.com/2017/04/04/appl...dular-mac-pros-next-year-with-apple-displays/

Saying it's "just 2019" because there are no contradicting statement is like saying I hate pink because I previously stated that blue is my favourite colour.

 

[skillwill]

Oh no how am I going to live without my AirPower!? I hope the people who are obsessively complaining about it aren't the same who would be going crazy if it was rushed and resulted in things not charging properly, major overheating, or, even worse, fires.

On another note, what's the point in this article? People need to remember this is a RUMORS site, you know MacRUMORS. Just because MacRumors reported that someone said such and such a product MIGHT be mentioned at an upcoming event doesn't mean it was ever going to be. The rumor sites make stuff up, then Apple gets the blame when it turns out it wasn't true.

 

[ET007]

I need an iPad mini because its size means it can go everywhere I go, and any moment I have a minute of free time, the display is just large enough to sketch and do some graphics or spreadsheet work on. An iPhone is too small, and the next size iPad Pro is too big to be tucked into a jacket pocket or back pants pocket. The mini is the right size, it’s just running on a what 4 year old chipset & is woefully lacking pencil support. To hear Apple describe it as the budget iPad indicates they don’t even understand its strengths any better than the people who mistakenly assume an iPhone is a capable replacement for it, or that it’s the most popular iPad because it’s cheap. There are already cheap iPads. We don’t need it to be cheap, we need it to be capable.

Give it newer chips, and pencil support, sell a trillion of them.

I was hoping for an updated iPad mini or mini pro too. Love the size. It is just very portable. I think they held back because it would cannibalize their other iPads.

 

[opeter]

I'm still kind of disappointed in the lack of update for the iMac. I wanted to buy that this year, hoping for an 9th gen i9 designed around all NVME.

Maybe they will EOL the whole iMac family (except the iMac Pro). Who knows ...

 

[Arctic Moose]

There is another real distinguishing feature between the MacBook and the Air, and that is that the MacBook lacks Thunderbolt 3, which is huge deal. Something needs to happen because the MacBook Air is looking like a much more appealing laptop, with longer battery life and more pixels (and a cord keeper!) for less and at roughly the same size and weight.

The whole laptop lineup is a mess with six distinct models to choose from, and no clear indication of which one is "best" for a particular situation, except perhaps the 15".

 

[markfc]

No need to excuse at all. It's so true what you're telling. The only thing that seems to matter this present day at Apple is how to charge more with every release they make. Sure, the new iPads are nice and sure I'm happy with any progress being made. But the pace of innovation at Apple is going at a snail speed. Competitors have caught up with good resembles (copies) of Apple's design and in some ways even surpass them. Apple just could've made sure their whole line up would meet todays processors and specs with minimal effort and investments. But it choses not to do so. I'm not saying they don't make good hardware but I'm certainly getting more and more reluctant not to fall in Apple's überpriced walled ecotrap where there is no guarantee it will be updated or work with others anymore. Yesterday I watched the keynote for the first time using WebOS 4 on my LG TV instead of using Apple TV and the experience was the same. I've removed my AppleTV and am happy. I've removed one closed system in favor of an open system.

I’ve just got an LG webos tv, how did you view the conference?

 

[Marzel]

It's obvious that without the AirPower ready there is no point updating the AirPods and their wireless charging case. We'll have to wait until next year for that.

It's also a shame that Apple didn't update the internals of the iMac. I hate the fact that Apple focuses at one product from each line at a time and basically leaves all others hanging. Of course, that maximises profits since it "forces" people to double or triple dip especially on Macs.