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iMac Pro Could Include Mobile Connectivity for 'Always On' Theft Protection

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Apr 12, 2001
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A new blog post over at Pike's Universum, a site known for digging deeper into Mac firmware files, claims to have found data relating to some form of mobile connectivity in the upcoming iMac Pro that could be used for "advanced theft protection" similar to Apple's Find my iPhone service.

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Even the cheapest iMac Pro costs $4999 and is thus far more expensive than any other iMac model that is now available, let alone the top of the line one with a price tag north of $15K, and it is so easy to walk away with a 27-inch computer, and that may be why Apple is going to introduce a new kind of "Find my iMac Pro" type of theft protection. One that phones home to report the exact GPS location. And there's no way of switching it off...
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The post goes on to suggest that the data could alternatively relate to a new feature in the iMac Pro that uses a SIM card to make phone calls. "Or perhaps the data that I found has to be a leftover from iOS for the iPhone," ends the post, qualifying the claims as speculation at this point.

No further details on the uncovered data in the iMac Pro firmware were forthcoming, but Pike's Universum has offered relevant information in the past. The site revealed some of the iMac Pro's tech specs back in April, two months prior to it being announced, including that it would have Xeon processors, ECC RAM, faster SSD storage, AMD graphics options, and Thunderbolt 3 ports, although some of the specific details were inaccurate.

Later, in June, the site claimed that files in a macOS High Sierra developer beta suggested the iMac Pro could be powered by Intel's next-generation server-grade Skylake-EX and Skylake-EP processors, which are based on a platform codenamed "Purley." The blog added that the new iMac Pro also appears to be coming with a Secure Enclave, suggesting it will have an ARM coprocessor like the MacBook Pro with Touch Bar for added security.

Over the weekend, several developers discovered data in Apple's BridgeOS code that suggests the upcoming iMac Pro will feature an A10 Fusion chip with 512 MB of RAM. While the full functionality of the A10 chip isn't yet known, the chip will enable support for "Hey Siri" functionality, potentially even when the iMac Pro is turned off.

Unveiled at WWDC in June, the iMac Pro is scheduled to launch next month, but Apple has not yet provided a specific launch date for the high-end desktop.

Article Link: iMac Pro Could Include Mobile Connectivity for 'Always On' Theft Protection
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2017/11/21/imac-pro-mobile-connectivity-theft-protection/
I don't think iMac theft is all that rampant. Seems a lot of work to go through for something that will be of little use to very very few.

I'm sure we're going to see a ton of articles guessing at random functions that may be possible with an A10 chip in the iMac Pro. "Might allow cellphone calls!", "Might allow you to checkin at your desk on Foursquare!", "Might allow running iOS apps!", "Might allow backup internet connection through LTE!"
 
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I have always wondered why this is missing from their MacBook lineup. Its one of the main selling points to an LTE iPad.
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OldSchoolMacGuy said:
I don't think iMac theft is all that rampant.

I'm sure we're going to see a ton of articles guessing at random functions that may be possible with an A10 chip in the iMac Pro.
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I'm thinking realtime native running of iOS apps for development purposes. Also lets them test the waters to see if they can get a licence to run X86 code on their custom SoCs.
 
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Sounds good but it is useless if sim card can be removed. Apple should find away to make it impossible for thieves to remove sim card or switch the device off, particularly on iPhone's (eSim maybe)
 
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OldSchoolMacGuy said:
I don't think iMac theft is all that rampant. Seems a lot of work to go through for something that will be of little use to very very few.

I'm sure we're going to see a ton of articles guessing at random functions that may be possible with an A10 chip in the iMac Pro. "Might allow cellphone calls!", "Might allow you to checkin at your desk on Foursquare!", "Might allow running iOS apps!", "Might allow backup internet connection through LTE!"
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yeah i agree here, worked in a building where a guy in th floor above for some reason had to lug his 27” imac to and from work? i never got a chance to ask him what he did but wow, it looked completely uncomfortable to have to do every morning, watched him use the crosswalk and lug it down the block. just awkward.
 
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They should add this to the iPhone and MacBook. Would be the best feature in years. I live in Brazil and its always a risk taking my phone anywhere.
 
Well, there's some cellular strings on macOS ARM firmware. Of course, maybe it’s something from iOS, or maybe it’s LTE really coming to the Mac. Who knows?
 

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Do you believe Apple will actually release a new Mac Pro one day or is this iMac Pro all to ever come out?
 
DTphonehome said:
They clearly said a new Mac Pro is in the works and will be out sometime in 2018. This is a stopgap.
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I hope you’re right about 2018. They haven’t confirmed the year so it could be 2019. Or 2020. It’s like 2012 all over again.

Off topic. So let’s get back to the wild speculation about a computer that none of us are going to purchase.
 
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WannaGoMac said:
Do you believe Apple will actually release a new Mac Pro one day or is this iMac Pro all to ever come out?
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I have the feeling that Apple will use the iMac Pro as a probe in order to check if it can silence the pro customers shouting (and, if affirmative, cancelling the promised "modular Mac Pro"). Obviously the current management doesn't enjoy releasing products that can last for a decade, so the "modular Mac Pro" is an undesired product to current management. OTOH, the iMac is cool for them: single component failure can be used for convincing the user buying a new machine; and the same applies when the user will want to update the hardware: new machine.

Somehow, I feel like the iMac Pro is like their last attempt before surrendering to the modular Mac Pro. Like if marketing said "the market didn't like the cylinder, they really want a modular Mac Pro", and then management replied "Ok, a modular Mac Pro, but first release the iMac Pro and we'll speak later, Ok?".

So, it's clear what's going to be my attitude regarding the iMac Pro. At least until they release the Mac Pro. No new Mac Pro, no love for the iMac Pro. As easy as that. Apple only learns that way nowadays.
 
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wow, I had no idea that this computer was THAT expensive. Not sure why anyone would ever buy one at that price, I am sure there must be far better options available
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Cool Pup said:
I feel like this price level of Mac should have Face ID for even more security and theft protection.
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for 15k this thing should make me breakfast in the morning
 
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newdeal said:
for 15k this thing should make me breakfast in the morning
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The same price can be expensive or reasonable depending on the form factor. 5K-15K is expensive and unreasonable for an AiO (expected lifetime less than 5 years), but it's reasonable and affordable if it's a modular Mac Pro (expected lifetime over 10 years).
 
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This is very unlikely, and it makes me suspicious of the A10 claim made earlier - maybe people are just misinterpreting the firmware...
 
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