Hardware-Free WWDC Sets Stage for Busy Second Half of 2016

[keysofanxiety]

Or they are working on it and don't want to rush out a product line before it's finished. Patience is going to be a virtue here as frustrating as it is, id rather have a new Macbook Pro announced when ready than have one rushed out.

You're almost implying that everybody's pushing Apple for a radically designed MacBook Pro. Most people here would have been perfectly happy with just some silent hardware upgrades in the same shell. Newer GPUs and newer CPUs. Heck, maybe even DDR4 RAM, or BTO for 32GB RAM.

 

[Dreamer2go]

I get how in June 2012 WWDC, they unveiled the retina MacBook Pro. In 2013, the Mac Pro.
I think people should just chill and wait for a bit. I rather them perfecting it than showing a half baked product.

 

[guzhogi]

Wow, that company used to care about computers, now it seems like Mac is an absolute afterthought...
A "hobby" to put it in Cook terms.

Agreed. However, when you sell more iOS devices in the last 10 years than all your computers since the founding of the company 40+ years ago, you'd probably put computers on a back burner, too. Especially now that iPads will get Swift Playgrounds, before long, iPads will have a full xCode or other IDE, and Apple will need Macs even less.

However, that's still a few years off, so here's what I want in a new product line: all computers support USB-C/Thunderbolt. DisplayPort 1.4 will be a bonus. At least 2 USB-C ports on every computer. No more HDDs at all, no Fusion drives whatsoever. Go straight SSD. Possibly drop the MacBook Air line. Change MacBook Pros to 14" & 16" sizes. Lose the "baby bump" on the iMacs Eventually switch iOS devices from Lightning to USB-C. I know, it'll be a bitch for accessory developers. Give the iPad Mini the Pro treatment with Smart connector, pencil support. Ditch the rest of the non-Pro iPads. These will probably piss off a bunch of people, but would simplify the lineups.

 

[merkinmuffley]

I've lost interest in when the new Macbooks will appear. It's clear Cook does not believe these devices deliver a big enough margin to invest resources in getting them to market. Time to move on, there are lots of choices in portable computers these days.

 

[alexandero]

Whether it's ready or not? You want fins on it? Deep Blue? They could probably do that in a few days.

Apple could at last lower the price for hardware that's not been updated for more than a year. And yes: I currently need a new notebook, as my MBA battery now only lasts for 1-2 hours and some keys don't work from time to time. Not a single option (MBA 13", MBPr 13") currently feels like a good choice – considering the high price (especially outside of the US).

 

[djacopille]

In the weeks leading up to WWDC 2016, multiple reliable sources indicated the opening keynote would be a no-hardware affair. And as it turned out, the focus of the event was unsurprisingly on software, including iOS 10, macOS Sierra, tvOS 10, and watchOS 3. So, when can we expect new Apple hardware?

Many products were at some point rumored to have a possible connection with WWDC 2016, including the next-generation Apple Watch, MacBook Pro, and Thunderbolt Display. Those that have been following rumors consistently, however, will know that the most of the products are actually expected in the second half of 2016.

The following roundup serves as a refresher of rumors we have heard up until this point.

Macs

Apple last updated the 13-inch MacBook Pro in March 2015, followed by the 15-inch model in May 2015, with Force Touch trackpads, faster flash storage, longer battery life, and improved graphics. As our Mac Buyer's Guide indicates, that was around 400 days ago, leading many to believe that a refresh is overdue.

Prospective buyers were hopeful that Apple would surprise with a new MacBook Pro at WWDC 2016, despite the keynote being billed as a no-hardware affair, but the comapny delivered upon expectations and focused on software announcements only. So, when will the 2016 MacBook Pro be released?

Click here to read rest of article...

Article Link: Hardware-Free WWDC Sets Stage for Busy Second Half of 2016

 

[Zarniwoop]

Apple has sometimes updated their old laptop fleet at the end of July. To be ready for back to school season. Lets see when it'll happen this year.

 

[indychris]

Perhaps they've reached a point where they're finding it hard to create systems that are any more difficult to upgrade and mod, and that's slowed down their releases?

 

[flightopsguy]

We are in the same position as many here. Money sitting in the bank waiting to be spent on new laptops to replace our 2011 MBAs. Plus more money waiting to be spent on a quad core Mini to support video editing.

 

[keysofanxiety]

I think people should just chill and wait for a bit. I rather them perfecting it than showing a half baked product.

The product line is half-baked. For the sake of argument, let's disregard the age of the hardware still selling for the same price as when first introduced. Well, depending on which country you're in, it might be more expensive to buy now, as Apple have upped the pricing due to exchange rates.

There used to be a time where you could happily recommend 'just buy a Mac'. Now you have to recommend 'Oh, don't buy that one'. Spinning drives give a terrible user experience and frankly destroys the brand quality and loyalty. Absolutely no Mac in 2016 should have anything less than a Fusion drive.

The entry-level Mac Mini, once a capable and generously-priced machine to introduce people to the Apple ecosystem, is now a painfully sluggish, soldered, non-upgradable doorstop. You buy an iMac with a Retina display, and get a 5400RPM drive. As if to add insult to injury, you can't even use the new ones in Target Display Mode -- god forbid, as some people may buy the entry-level one so they can have a cheap 4K/5K monitor, rather than having to pay extra for something that performs vaguely acceptably for the price.

I would love for Tim Cook to work some poor Apple advisor's job for a week, and has to explain to somebody why their 2K machine from a self-congratulating, commited-to-quality company, is so darn sluggish. "Well, you paid a lot -- but you didn't pay enough."

It just makes me mad. How much money do you need before it's enough, and you start giving people a little value for their purchase?

 

[jonnysods]

400 days...

That's nuts.

 

[mac_only]

Some of these specs don't make sense. None the less, I'm glad Apple didn't refresh the Macbook Pro because of a 400 day cycle. Sometimes hardware availability dictates release times. With that being said, there are a lot of new technologies entering mass production that would make for a HUGE upgrade to the Macbook Pro in the coming months...

1. Kabylake (entering mass production). It would be lame for Apple to jump on Skylake at this point
2. Samsung NVMe SSD. This would offer a a lot more room to make battery larger or chasis smaller.
3. Bluetooth 5 hardware. Double the speed, 4x the range - enough said.
4. AMD Polaris Graphics Card - As article states.
5. 5G cellular data chipsets - wildcard.

 

[recoil80]

Apple has sometimes updated their old laptop fleet at the end of July. To be ready for return to school season. Lets see when it'll happen this year.

True.
But a completely redesign MacbookPro needs a nice presentation during a keynote.
We can expect some minor changes to the MBA maybe, like a new price, more ram or a faster cpu, but I'm afraid we'll have to wait until September for a brand new MBP

 

[keysofanxiety]

Perhaps they've reached a point where they're finding it hard to create systems that are any more difficult to upgrade and mod, and that's slowed down their releases?

Soldered display casing to make it even thinner. Warranty void if you try and open it.

 

[B4U]

Trash can design...
That made my day!

 

[forbegos34]

The product line is half-baked. For the sake of argument, let's disregard the age of the hardware still selling for the same price as when first introduced. Well, depending on which country you're in, it might be more expensive to buy now, as Apple have upped the pricing due to exchange rates.

There used to be a time where you could happily recommend 'just buy a Mac'. Now you have to recommend 'Oh, don't buy that one'. Spinning drives give a terrible user experience and frankly destroys the brand quality and loyalty. Absolutely no Mac in 2016 should have anything less than a Fusion drive.

The entry-level Mac Mini, once a capable and generously-priced machine to introduce people to the Apple ecosystem, is now a painfully sluggish, soldered, non-upgradable doorstop. You buy an iMac with a Retina display, and get a 5400RPM drive. As if to add insult to injury, you can't even use the new ones in Target Display Mode -- god forbid, as some people may buy the entry-level one so they can have a cheap 4K/5K monitor, rather than having to pay extra for something that performs vaguely acceptably for the price.

I would love for Tim Cook to work some poor Apple advisor's job for a week, and has to explain to somebody why their 2K machine from a self-congratulating, commited-to-quality company, is so darn sluggish. "Well, you paid a lot -- but you didn't pay enough."

It just makes me mad. How much money do you need before it's enough, and you start giving people a little value for their purchase?

If I could run MacOS on any machine natively like an Alienware for example that would be the best for these days. I can then have both a gaming Windows machine and a powerful "Mac". Why can't this be possible!!!!!!

 

[adib]

WWDC is a developer's conference. Hence announcements should only be stuff that's going to affect developers. Having software-only announcements is appropriate – unless they're announcing a new-category hardware that would be affecting developers.

Anyway there's plenty to love on the upcoming macOS from a developer's point of view.

So it's not that they're neglecting the mac. They're just making WWDC true to its name again.

 

[manu chao]

I really think it's time they do a serious hardware upgrade to the MacBook Pro, and fall into a consistent silent hardware upgrade cycle every 6-9 months.

Keep dreaming. Intel has (or had) a one-year cycle, Apple has not and will not go faster than that except for minor things like a price reduction or a .1 GHz speed-bump.

 

[jmgregory1]

The reason Apple doesn't do what every PC manufacturer does in chasing after the latest chips and updating their computers, on what seems like a monthly schedule, is that most changes and improvements in chips do not significantly enough improve a consumer's experience for it to make sense to upgrade. I would bet Apple has set improvements they need to achieve before green lighting updating their computers, major overhauls not withstanding.

I'm rocking an early 2013 rMBP (15" 2.7ghz, 16gb, 500gb ssd) and the only time I think a new and more powerful computer would be helpful is when I'm working on a highly complex spreadsheet and there is some lag in making changes, but it's not currently enough for me to go out and buy new.

 

[2010mini]

Wow, that company used to care about computers, now it seems like Mac is an absolute afterthought...
A "hobby" to put it in Cook terms.

Glassed Silver:mac

This is news to you? Steve Jobs removed "computers" from Apple's name for a reason. He himself spoke about a post PC era.

 

[RickInHouston]

Almost every comment is about upgrading an aging computer.

I just updated a Dell Adamo that came out in March 2009 with a Razer Blade Stealth 2016. It has all the bells and whistles. Type C connector, USB 3.1. All current. Runs really well.

Vast improvement over a 2009 computer? Man, it's faster and more modern, but not, "Oh, my gosh!"

You guys updating 2014, 2012 hardware - will you really see a killer difference. Not. Not at all. I don't buy it.

But then, again, I forget apple makes the hardware obsolete by not allow upgrades like Microsoft.

 

[Asianpork]

You're almost implying that everybody's pushing Apple for a radically designed MacBook Pro. Most people here would have been perfectly happy with just some silent hardware upgrades in the same shell. Newer GPUs and newer CPUs. Heck, maybe even DDR4 RAM, or BTO for 32GB RAM.

This X1000. MBP is already a beautiful laptop and plenty thin. My 2008 MBP is on it's last legs and I'm ready to buy the top spec MBP.

 

[hanser]

What the hell do I recommend to a college student looking to buy a Mac? Hard to recommend a 3 year old macbook pro...

I would recommed looking for refurbished bargains, investing the saved money in a version with better specs. 2 Years ago I helped my father chosing a macbook, and the savings from refurbished payed for 8GB RAM and 265 GB SSD versions (4GB and 128 GB being the baseline then). The machine runs as if bought yesterday.
[doublepost=1466086390][/doublepost]

Bring justice to the iPhone, Apple Watch & the entire Mac line-up whilst introducing stuff like the Thunderbolt display with one keynote left this entire year? Doubt it.

I am sure there will be a keynote in September for iPhone and one in October for the Macs. At least.

 

[Dave245]

You're almost implying that everybody's pushing Apple for a radically designed MacBook Pro. Most people here would have been perfectly happy with just some silent hardware upgrades in the same shell. Newer GPUs and newer CPUs. Heck, maybe even DDR4 RAM, or BTO for 32GB RAM.

While this may be true, how many people would then turn around and say "Apple are not innovating, they haven't redesigned the MacBook Pro in years"
Personally I think Apple can't win, they release a minor update, people say they can't innovate anymore, they redesign and wait longer and people complain that it's not out already.

Look at some of the reactions to WWDC, I think people are constantly expecting Apple to release brand new and "one more thing" products all the while and it ain't going to happen.

 

[McFreggle]

WatchOS 3 paves the way for a new Apple Watch without Force Touch.
Anyone noticed how they replaced nearly all Force Touch actions by swipe and push actions?

It seems to me they find that Force Touch is confusing on the watch. Removing Force Touch probably gives them room to add other, most wanted, features...

Enter Apple Watch 2.

 

[2010mini]

Got a Dell catalog in the mail last night showcasing their latest laptops. They look really nice! Right next to it, they say "Will make any MacBook Pro user jealous" and well, they are spot on. My 2013 MBPR is still just as fast as the current model?? This is crazy. Apple's software bugginess reminds me of Windows anyway, so I could save some money and switch to a Windows machine.

Oh, and the Dells are almost half the price! Add in a 5K Dell display and it's still cheaper. Wow, so sad Apple. I guess once management gets money and some fame, they have no drive to do better than "average".

check the build quality of that Dell compared to a MBP in about 2 years and you'll see why Apple's cost more.