Gurman: 'Mac Studio' Mac Mini/Mac Pro Hybrid and New Display With A-Series Chip Are 'Ready to Go'

[8CoreWhore]

iOS onboard could connect the display to the iPad, run FaceID, the camera, HomeKit, a MBP wirelessly, and continue to have certain functions, when nothing is not connected to it.

 

[George Dawes]

Now this is interesting, hooked up to a 4K tv …

 

[Spock]

Or a monitor where you can just use Universal Control to use with a Macbook. Just set your Macbook on the side, and bam. No more hassles with docks. Total wireless dream setup.

That’s exactly what I was thinking, could be used with an iPad as well.

 

[travelsheep]

Typo in the text, it should not read "like a thick Mac mini", but instead "a thicc Mac mini".

 

[PortableHomepod]

That’s exactly what I was thinking, could be used with an iPad as well.

How would it work with an ipad? Universal control only works when there's a MacOS device involved. Then there' the ipad aspect ratio issue on external displays

 

[Alasdair_Scott]

Regarding the monitor - i think Mark Gurman cleverly worded his tweet regarding it being iOS powered because he’s a journalist and as such likes to create discussion/views around his posts.

My personal wish is for a monitor that I can plug into a power source and that has a video cable that I plug into my computer. Great if it offers wireless but for sheer reliability I like cables. Same as networking - WiFi is great but gimme Ethernet any day.

I’d really like a stand that lets me adjust the height of the monitor. Shipping a monitor where you cannot adjust the height is crazy.

 

[Spock]

How would it work with an ipad? Universal control only works when there's a MacOS device involved. Then there' the ipad aspect ratio issue on external displays

Just the wireless display aspect

 

[Boil]

Regarding the monitor - i think Mark Gurman cleverly worded his tweet regarding it being iOS powered because he’s a journalist and as such likes to create discussion/views around his posts.

My personal wish is for a monitor that I can plug into a power source and that has a video cable that I plug into my computer. Great if it offers wireless but for sheer reliability I like cables. Same as networking - WiFi is great but gimme Ethernet any day.

I’d really like a stand that lets me adjust the height of the monitor. Shipping a monitor where you cannot adjust the height is crazy.

[ProfFarnsworth] Good news...! [/ProfFarnsworth]

The new Mac Studio is also a 4" riser...!

;^p

 

[lazyrighteye]

It will be really interesting to see how these new products are priced.

Pretty sure they’ll be higher than most, myself included, will like.

Even so, I’m always excitied to see what Apple has up their sieves. Been a wild run all these years. And it’s still pretty damn fun. I love event eves…

 

[macsplusmacs]

about 12 more hours.

Excitement for Apple events?


Yes, please.

 

[grouch]

well - they did;
with the Trash Can (2013) - and it failed badly.

Which is sad because it's still a really good machine. Hopefully they learned a lot from that project.

 

[subjonas]

I’m thoroughly confused about what a monitor running iOS means. Not even ipadOS, which would be confusing enough. What, it runs iPhone apps? I agree with others, if it’s a specialized iOS like tvOS, for Airplay purposes, then it shouldn’t really be called iOS. Also assuming it’s connected to a Mac, I thought any monitor already has the ability to receive Airplay (or is that feature still on the way?). Same deal with Universal Control. If it’s not connected to a Mac, I don’t see Apple making a monitor for PC users. Just confusing.
I will definitely have to tune in tomorrow, if nothing else just to resolve this mystery.

Or maybe, and this is definitely wishful thinking, the monitor itself can run iPad OS independently, making it in effect a 27" non-portable iPad? Would be absolutely fantastic as a Cintiq replacement.

But Gurman said iOS, not ipadOS. If he said ipadOS, I’d be slightly less confused.

 

[verniesgarden]

I just wish these displays will be height adjustable. iMacs have terrible ergonomics and not having neck pain should not be a pro feature

Give it a second hinge at the bottom of the base so the monitor can lay flat and give it Apple Pencil support. That would be a killer tool

 

[ianrip]

I'm still rocking my Mac Mini late 2012 its super slow, but hooked up to my TV.
time for a refresh

 

[cpnotebook80]

My Mac Pro 5,1 funeral could happen sooner than later or perhaps move it to a hospice for now as it dies slowly here. Plus I need to upgrade.

 

[Boil]

I am curious if there are options on the 27" 5K Apple Studio Display...?

Base model (IPS/TrueTone/Retina)- $1499

Nano Glass - $499

Mini LED / ProMotion 120Hz - $999

 

[grouch]

My Mac Pro 5,1 funeral could happen sooner than later or perhaps move it to a hospice for now as it dies slowly here. Plus I need to upgrade.

Never!!

 

[lazyrighteye]

Would an A-Chip within the monitor help to drive a 5K+ display with 120 Hz with the current MacBook Pros? At the moment, the highest possible combination is 4K/120HZ (= 24" retina), above that you have to settle with 60Hz.

iOS running on the monitor sounds strange – at least if this is really meant in the sense of being able to work like a standalone gigantic iPad with apps etc. (and not only as "internal software" like with the HomePod for example.)

Wait - have we heard the “iOS on the display” mention before and I missed that? Regardless, it’s new to me and interesting. What potentials exist when your display is running an OS - in addition to your computer?

Could tomorrow debut some new hybrid OS scenario where iOS and macOS coexist in one symbiotic workflow - offering peek performance and further blurring the lines between OSes? It feels like a direction Apple has been working toward if not just an Apple-y thing to do (knowing it would be that type of polarizing evolution that would rankle the hardcore, get off my lawn base while exciting those looking for something fresh. No clue whether it’s technically possible or if users would want a hybrid OS. Just pre-event pondering. Tomorrow should be fun.

 

[Fomalhaut]

Mac Studio will replace the high-end 2018 Intel Mac mini, bridging the gap between the (new smaller design) Mn-series Mac mini and the full tower Mac Pro...

Mac Studio will go from a base single M1 Pro SoC model all the way up to a dual M1 Max SoC model:

• Base model - 8/14, 16/512, Gigabit Ethernet, $1499
• Fully loaded model - 20/64, 128/8T, 10Gb Ethernet, $6999

Four TB4/USB4 (USB-C) ports & two USB 3.1 Gen2 (USB-A) ports on the single SoC models...

Six TB4/USB4 (USB-C) ports & four USB 3.1 Gen2 (USB-A) ports on the dual SoC models...

Gigabit Ethernet standard, upgrade to 10Gb Ethernet is US$100...

SoC	CPU	P/E	GPU	RAM	SSD	Ethernet
M1 Pro	8-core	6P/2E	14-core	16GB/32GB	512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB	Gigabit/10Gb
M1 Pro	10-core	8P/2E	14-core	16GB/32GB	512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB	Gigabit/10Gb
M1 Pro	10-core	8P/2E	16-core	16GB/32GB	512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB	Gigabit/10Gb
M1 Max	10-core	8P/2E	24-core	32GB/64GB	512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB	Gigabit/10Gb
M1 Max	10-core	8P/2E	32-core	32GB/64GB	512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB	Gigabit/10Gb
Dual M1 Max	20-core	16P/4E	48-core	64GB/128GB	512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB	Gigabit/10Gb
Dual M1 Max	20-core	16P/4E	64-core	64GB/128GB	512GB/1TB/2TB/4TB/8TB	Gigabit/10Gb

I'm not convinced that we'll see a "dual M1 Max" in this machine, but there could well be a more powerful version of the M1 Max that was rumoured recently. My thinking is that the "M1 Max Duo" would be something to launch with the new Mac Pro rather than the "Mini Studio".

We'll see soon enough!

 

[StoneyG]

So, M1 machines have two Thunderbolt 3 ports (and two buses), and the M1 Pro/Max machines have three Thunderbolt 4 ports (and three buses)... I suppose a dual M1 Pro/Max Mac Studio should have six Thunderbolt 4 ports (and six buses)? That'd be nifty.

 

[Boil]

So, M1 machines have two Thunderbolt 3 ports (and two buses), and the M1 Pro/Max machines have three Thunderbolt 4 ports (and three buses)... I suppose a dual M1 Pro/Max Mac Studio should have six Thunderbolt 4 ports (and six buses)? That'd be nifty.

Dual M1 Max SoCs should support:
(6) TB4/USB4 ports
(4) USB 3.1 Gen2 ports
(2) 10Gb Ethernet ports

In theory dual SoCs should support dual HDMI 2.0 ports, but maybe Apple could use that bandwidth for a single HDMI 2.1 port...? I dunno how things work...

 

[Fomalhaut]

I agree, they WILL finish M1 before M2 comes out. HOWEVER, the Mac Pro might only come with M2 Max, etc. because it is "supposed" to launch in 2023. I personally don't believe this - I think the Mac Pro will launch at WWDC THIS YEAR.

Do you mean the Mac Pro or the M2 Pro/Max are supposed to launch in 2023?

Like you, I think the Mac Pro will be announced this year, and released at the end of the year, but it may well not have an M2 Pro/Max, but some other variant of the M1-series (with possible process improvements). When Apple Silicon was announced in June 2020, the roll out to all Apple products was going to take "about 2 years". That strongly implies within the calendar year 2022 (i.e. 2.5 years). Not releasing all products this year (or at the very least announcing them all will delivery expected in early 2023) would be a substantial failure on Apple's part in the eyes of their investors and customers.

 

[Fomalhaut]

1. Plug it in.
2. Watch Ted Lasso.
3. There is no step 3!

Maybe it will be like the computer in the film "Her"...where future computers have no keyboard or mouse and are driven by voice commands (with optional Scarlett Johansson module for $$$)

 

[Boil]

Like you, I think the Mac Pro will be announced this year, and released at the end of the year, but it may well not have an M2 Pro/Max, but some other variant of the M1-series (with possible process improvements). When Apple Silicon was announced in June 2020, the roll out to all Apple products was going to take "about 2 years". That strongly implies within the calendar year 2022 (i.e. 2.5 years). Not releasing all products this year (or at the very least announcing them all will delivery expected in early 2023) would be a substantial failure on Apple's part in the eyes of their investors and customers.

Things happen with a world-wide pandemic...!

As for more powerful variant SoC, M1 Ultra...?

• 15-core CPU (12P/3E)
• 48-core GPU
• 16-core Neural Engine
• 256GB LPDDR5X RAM
• 500GB/s UMA

 

[rm5]

Do you mean the Mac Pro or the M2 Pro/Max are supposed to launch in 2023?

Like you, I think the Mac Pro will be announced this year, and released at the end of the year, but it may well not have an M2 Pro/Max, but some other variant of the M1-series (with possible process improvements). When Apple Silicon was announced in June 2020, the roll out to all Apple products was going to take "about 2 years". That strongly implies within the calendar year 2022 (i.e. 2.5 years). Not releasing all products this year (or at the very least announcing them all will delivery expected in early 2023) would be a substantial failure on Apple's part in the eyes of their investors and customers.

I put "supposed to" in quotes because Ming-Chi Kuo seems to think that. I personally do NOT believe this - I think the AS Mac Pro will be announced at WWDC alongside M2.

Or, maybe M2 will be announced tomorrow, who knows. It's exactly 12 hours until the Apple event so we'll see then.