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Hardware-Free WWDC Sets Stage for Busy Second Half of 2016
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Well, computer makers have to do that if they want to maintain the sales levels they enjoyed in the good old days, when this year's processor was substantially faster than last year's.
The danger is that Apple will lose interest in the Mac because it is no longer a growth area.
The outdated-ness of the rMBP range may be exaggerated, but in the past it would have been Apple first out of the gate with Thunderbolt 3/USB-C driving change in the wider industry. Its ludicrous that the Mac Pro has never seen a CPU or GPU spec bump since launch - a fairly specialist Pro machine like that, which demands changes in, e.g. how a business organises their storage or what specialist peripherals they buy - really needs a "roadmap" to give users some long-term confidence.
That said, some of this may still be Intel's "fault" - the various models in the last two generations of chips have dribbled out so slowly that everybody has been talking about the next generation before all of the current chips are shipping. I'm not clear when the low-power + Iris Pro graphics chips that Apple needs for the 15" rMBP actually became available (I think its the one used in this which has only recently hit the streets - and presumably Intel get first dibs). Even the top-end rMBP with discrete graphics makes use of the Iris Pro to save power by only firing up the discrete GPU when needed.
It so happens that I'm a "tech advisor" for my family and many of my friends. I can't even count how many people over the years, directly or indirectly, because of my recommendations have switched to Macs, iPhones, iPads. Over the past ~year I have firmly stopped recommending anything from Apple. And now I think I'll start to advise to stay away. Truly hate the shameless ripping off and general dishonesty. Apple in my eyes has turned into a greasy used car salesmen, trying to sell you years old crap for the highest possible price.
It's funny how they predict when the MBPs will release. Might as well say, sometime between June and January 2016. 
The days when people would justified for over-paying for the Macbook Pro because it had "the latest and greatest" hardware are long gone. It may have been true paying $3,000+ for a Macbook Pro some 4-5 years ago, but definitely not anymore. Apple has become too arrogant with their pricing.
I would say that Apple has truly slowed down their normal hardware update cycle. I remember in the past, even as an afterthought of WWDC, Apple will always update their stuff 5-6 months after initial release. Having the macbook pro 15" still on haswell is an embarassment and truly trying to trick consumers.
HOWEVER, people who think apple was always on the forefront of silicon technology is straight delusional. Apple has an extremely mixed record on this, even during the Steve Jobs' era.
HOWEVER, people who think apple was always on the forefront of silicon technology is straight delusional. Apple has an extremely mixed record on this, even during the Steve Jobs' era.
I think you need to quantify that line of reasoning, because either you're full of crap, or smoking something really good...
My best guess is you now push your family and friends into the junk world of Windows and Android, in which case, they should be smart and stop listening to your advice, because all you're doing is making their digital lives more convoluted, less secure, and generally more stressful.
Please, get your facts right: hardware has been announced at WWDC in prior years, just not every year.
For example,
2012 - announced new models of the MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro including one with Retina Display.
2013, Mac Pro was announced, as well as Macbook Pro and Airports.
I think Apple wanted to use the same keyboard for the new Macbook Pro redesign as the Macbook. But with the feedback very loud that it was bad, Apple is having to adjust it and that takes more time. I like the Macbook keyboard but don't hate the current Macbook Pro keyboard.
And yet the core of WWDC is SOFTWARE, which is what Apple has now gone back to... Hardware announcements are now separate events. Get YOUR facts right.
Shall I remind you of your quote:
"This is not, and never has been, an event to launch hardware!"
The keywords here are "never has been", which implies "there have never been hardware launches at the WWDC".
Which is, historically, incorrect: Contrary to your claim, of "never has been an event to launch hardware", WWDC in fact, has seen hardware launches..
Wouldn't it be unlikely that Apple puts out redesigned macbook pro's during the back to school promotion? I thought they usually wait until after the promo to come out with new stuff so as not to give discounts on the new tech. The promo ends Sept 5, much later than these rumors imply.
Asking because I'm one of those going back to school, but it starts in the end of July!!!
Asking because I'm one of those going back to school, but it starts in the end of July!!!
Perhaps you are unfamiliar with certain industries, then. As 3d renderers are advancing to either rely on GPU or both CPU and GPU simultaneously, those speed gains are massive. For some of the renderers for the users of Cinema 4d, the acceleration is significant. I'm talking about renders that took 40 minutes now taking 3.
That does transform one's ability to get work done... if you do what these people do.
When two major rending engine developers, Otoy and Chaos group, have flat out said that mac users are going to be left out because of Apple's abandonment of Open CL, it's a big deal (and pretty clear) to some. These are very, very talented people. They are smart enough to be inventing this tech... and some of them even got the the point of trying to create what Apple did not provide, then finally gave up and told their users about it.
Probably, but hopefully the recent 40% Mac sales decreases got their attention. Apple might be able attribute some of the decrease to general PC market shrinkage but they also know their Mac customer base isn't upgrading in many cases because Apple has fewer compelling Macs.
Wow, from the authority. It is like having an Apple Bible. Jobs Chapter 7 verse 9 "It is Jobs, and we are in the post PC era, thus we shalt removed "computers" from the name Apple as I have spoke of it."
Apple no longer care about computers. They have proved that, to the point where it is not economically viable to buy a new Mac. They are not just out of date, they are years out of date and intentionally handicapped.
Their phone business is much the same, they took the decision to hold back, not innovate and now instead hope to make money by forcing people to upgrade by providing hardware of such poor quality it hardly lasts a year. It is not economically viable to buy an over priced iPhone these days.
Their phone business is much the same, they took the decision to hold back, not innovate and now instead hope to make money by forcing people to upgrade by providing hardware of such poor quality it hardly lasts a year. It is not economically viable to buy an over priced iPhone these days.
Apple doesn't allow it but I heard of people doing this. I heard there are problems with software updates but not sure if that is still an issue. It would be nice to have a choice: Powerful Mac specs for less that you build based on technology available today or get something nice and fancy looking from Apple with older specs, or just wait for Apple to release a Mac that you want.
I'm a developer. I would like some new hardware. If you've managed to drag yourself through the keynote you would notice that Tim Cook emphasized how the WWDC was about giving the best tools to the developers. Well, one of my tools is my computer. Perhaps the most important.
I guess if you count "busy" as "minor tweaks to existing hardware," then I guess the statement is accurate.
I bet the biggest update for this year's "new" iPads are 3D touch, because it makes sense looking at iOS 10. 3D touch was introduced on the iPhone last year. Other than that, I only see a processor improvement--But of course Apple will blow up the presentation and pretend they've re-imagined all of the guts inside the device.
The leaks on the iPhone aren't very promising either.
Hopefully Apple will come back down to earth and improve the Macs to the point where they're extremely powerful devices from the base-model up instead of lackluster on the inside. A Mac should have a reputation of being a fast, simple computer... Lately my Mac Mini has been laggy and will randomly freeze when I try to perform a task.
I bet the biggest update for this year's "new" iPads are 3D touch, because it makes sense looking at iOS 10. 3D touch was introduced on the iPhone last year. Other than that, I only see a processor improvement--But of course Apple will blow up the presentation and pretend they've re-imagined all of the guts inside the device.
The leaks on the iPhone aren't very promising either.
Hopefully Apple will come back down to earth and improve the Macs to the point where they're extremely powerful devices from the base-model up instead of lackluster on the inside. A Mac should have a reputation of being a fast, simple computer... Lately my Mac Mini has been laggy and will randomly freeze when I try to perform a task.
I am not easy on apple lately but you're vastly exaggerating.
It depends on how you use your iPhone. I use my iPhone6S+ a lot, and my iPad Pro changed my lifestyle. I do homework, work, writing, studies, messaging etc. with just these two tools (and a TI-84 soon to be TI-Nspire). That's all I need. No paper, and even no physical books (although I keep buying them because I am a book nerd), and nothing else.
It's one thing to play around with it. It's quite another to use a hackintosh professionally. I wouldn't.
How would you respond if they release bt 4.1 and broad well chip for 4000 dollars?
YEs, Apple has been dropping the ball on Macs. Yes, I know that's not where they make a killing $$$ but still for a computer company they way they completely don't seem to give importance to their computer line is plain sad.
Unfortunately I am stuck because I absolutely hate dealing with Microsoft/PCs.
As a graphic professional, I wish I could jump to the competition to send Apple a message. That said I can't so, right now just watch it in sadness.
I need a MBP, MacPro and stand alone displays and their current offering are too outdate for the prices they are charging.
If I had 5 minutes to tell Tim Cook something, I would rant about their lack respect to the Mac hardware.
Unfortunately I am stuck because I absolutely hate dealing with Microsoft/PCs.
As a graphic professional, I wish I could jump to the competition to send Apple a message. That said I can't so, right now just watch it in sadness.
I need a MBP, MacPro and stand alone displays and their current offering are too outdate for the prices they are charging.
If I had 5 minutes to tell Tim Cook something, I would rant about their lack respect to the Mac hardware.