MacRumors Has Grown Into a Reputable Apple News Site and Should Stop Giving Time to Clearly Sketchy Rumors

[MuckrakerJG]

I may be screaming into the void here, but I just saw the article about the next MacBook Pro possibly having a notch. The writer of the article says right in the post that the rumor is from someone with no previous history of being right and openly calls the rumor sketchy or unlikely.

I know that the name of this website is Mac RUMORS, obviously. But MacRumors is also one of the most well-known Apple News sites out there today for Apple customers or fans. We keep coming back to this site and have formed our own little community here because this site has an excellent reputation earned over many years for reporting on the latest news regarding the company.

I don't know if MacRumors considers themselves to be bloggers or journalists or a little bit of both, but I feel like the reputation and content of this site has far surpassed the early days where it was basically just rumors. This is now a trusted news source that should be holding itself to higher journalistic standards, even if you don't view yourself as "journalists."

I don't understand why they waste their time and the MR community's time giving 500 words of print to a rumor that is clearly "sketchy"? Why do we keep getting articles every single time Jon Prosser tweets about anything at all or Digitimes or another site with a terrible track record pipes up with more unlikely scenarios?

Years ago, I remember there used to be a "Page 2" or something like that for more unlikely rumors. Maybe you should bring that back if you truly do want to publish every single rumor. Not every rumor is worthy of getting the extra attention and legs that publication on this site's front page will bring to it.

TLDR, I think MR owes it to their readers as a reputable news site to do a little bit more gatekeeping as far as which rumors make it to the top of the front page. Not every sketchy rumor deserves a story, especially if it's from someone with no track record or a history of being wrong and no real evidence to back up what they are claiming. MR is a reputable news site, not just a rumors site anymore, and should start acting like it.

 

[WildCowboy]

I mean, Rumors is our name, right? If all we reported was news, this would be a rather boring site.

We brushed off the notch rumor as well until we looked at the math on the display resolutions for the upcoming models. It's all too convenient that subtracting 74 pixels from both displays yields exactly a 16:10 aspect ratio for both screen sizes, so it seems very plausible that there's a horizontal strip that won't be considered part of the main display. Is that because of a notch, or something else? We'll see on Monday!

 

[KaliYoni]

I am OK with this site publishing rumors that are posted after an editorial review (such as the notch analysis above) and carry caveats about the source or the plausibility if deemed necessary. After all, that's what drew me here in the first place.

I'm not a big fan, though, of mere reposts of wild guesses, obvious clickbait, and "leaks" from unreliable people seeking to be influencers (especially Prosser).

 

[AngerDanger]

I really like the occasional sketchy rumor—they're infrequent enough and explicitly described as sketchy, so I don't think they harm MR's reputation.

 

[chown33]

I admit, I like some of the "alternative" renderings...

New MacBook Pro Could Have a Notch, Says Sketchy Last-Minute Rumor

I believe they are also including cameras for the new zoom meeting norm. Apple is way ahead of the curve.

forums.macrumors.com

 

[WildCowboy]

Prosser has certainly been wrong several times, but he has been right often enough that he shouldn't be ignored.

 

[MBAir2010]

I may be screaming into the void here, but I just saw the article about the next MacBook Pro possibly having a notch. The writer of the article says right in the post that the rumor is from someone with no previous history of being right and openly calls the rumor sketchy or unlikely.

Im reading the the next MacBook Air(s) will have a white bezel to compliment
the bright and faded aqua colors to match the new iMacs.
I did not read that "rumor" here, but other websites, even Macworld reported this quoting Kuo.
as an long MacBook users and admirer, I hope I can ignore absurb release and enjoy my life.

this will probably will happen,
but this seems to me this website will not publish random upcoming  products that are speculation
but rather more factual rumors, if this makes sense.

and we can chat about or linux and windows experience here as well!

 

[MuckrakerJG]

Understood. Wasn't really expecting you to go "My God, MuckrakerJG is right and we need to change the entire website now!" haha. Just mildly annoyed whenever I see one of the sketchier ones. I guess I'll just roll my eyes and move on next time instead of getting mad about it, lol. Carry on, MR!

And who knows, maybe there will be a notch on Monday and you guys can all come back here to laugh at me. Or more likely, continue rioting because OH MY GOD APPLE PLEASE DON'T DO THAT lol

 

[Juicy Box]

And who knows, maybe there will be a notch on Monday and you guys can all come back here to laugh at me.

You might be right:

MacBook Pro Display With Notch Shown in Alleged Photo Leak

Following a sketchy rumor that claimed the next MacBook Pro models could feature a notch at the top of the display, an alleged photo of a MacBook Pro with a notch was shared today by Weibo account AnyTurtle999, as spotted by Twitter account DuanRui. A close-up view of the alleged notch at...

forums.macrumors.com

 

[Madhatter32]

I do not think it is easy, or even possible, to distinguish a sketchy rumor from a non-sketchy rumor. Even the most prominent journalists, who are in theory required to confirm sources and information, are unable to do so. Perhaps a MR accuracy scorecard for each source should be provided with each report. That would help the reader to gauge whether credence is warranted -- just a thought.

 

[Juicy Box]

I do not think it is easy, or even possible, to distinguish a sketchy rumor from a non-sketchy rumor. Even the most prominent journalists, who are in theory required to confirm sources and information, are unable to do so. Perhaps a MR accuracy scorecard for each source should be provided with each report. That would help the reader to gauge whether credence is warranted -- just a thought.

Yup, and at least MR lets us know it is from a sketchy source.

ven the most prominent journalists, who are in theory required to confirm sources and information, are unable to do so.

It is sad to say, but this doesn't really seem to be happening anymore.

MR lets us know that it is sketchy, and when it comes down to it, MR is a tech news AND RUMOR website. I come to MR to find out rumors and speculation.

 

[Madhatter32]

Yup, and at least MR lets us know it is from a sketchy source.


It is sad to say, but this doesn't really seem to be happening anymore.

MR lets us know that it is sketchy, and when it comes down to it, MR is a tech news AND RUMOR website. I come to MR to find out rumors and speculation.

I agree. As long as I know it's only rumor I do not see the harm personally. With other so-called news sources, one can never be certain if it's speculation, opinion or fact. There is no such confusion at MR.

 

[44267547]

Prosser has certainly been wrong several times, but he has been right often enough that he shouldn't be ignored.

I’ve defended Prosser many times on this website, and the times that I have, I’ve been berated time over again, which I don’t care. He he’s been labeled a ‘mudslinger’, but so… is every other journalist/analyst/tech blogger/‘YoUTuBeR’…ect. [Ming Kuo is the only insider that gets a pass with me, even though he’s been wrong on many occasions, but we know he has direct inside information with supply chain.]

What I like about Prosser, is that he may use some re-circulated rumors that were already discussed from others who were ‘first’, but he usually adds something to that rumor that wasn’t re-hashed that has come to fruition.

Anyways, it’s the dynamic group of ‘insiders’ that make the website what it is to allow the reader to choose what the path of what they want to believe and discuss with others.

 

[Juicy Box]

And who knows, maybe there will be a notch on Monday and you guys can all come back here to laugh at me.

You might be right:

I don't know what is going to happen tomorrow, but there a chance that your thread may not age too well:

Apple Patent Offers Sketch of Possible Notch Implementation in New MacBook Pros

Following the last-minute rumor that Apple's upcoming new MacBook Pro models could feature a notch at the top of the display, much of the online discussion has involved concerns that such a notch would encroach on the active screen area, potentially eating into the macOS menu bar. MacRumors...

forums.macrumors.com

Regardless of what happens tomorrow, MR should keep reporting on rumors even if they are from sketchy sources, imo.

A sketchy source today might be the go-to source tomorrow.

 

[MuckrakerJG]

@vertical smile

Yup. Looks like I'm going to have egg on my face tomorrow afternoon. I'm fine with it though, especially if they figure out a way to include a "notch" without it actually looking like a notch. Like in that patent. But hell, I've been waiting for the new MacBook Pros (we've ALL been waiting) for so long that not even a notch or an embarrassing forum thread in my post history is going to kill my excitement now.

@WildCowboy

I appreciate your response and I'm totally ready to get laughed at on Monday, but can I just say +1 to the idea suggested above about adding a rumor scorecard for frequent sources? Don't have to put the actual scorecard image in every article, but maybe start a "Scorecard" page like how you have a Buying Guide page and then link to it every time Prosser or Kuo or whoever says something and you write another article. This way, you can continue being MacRUMORS as you noted and cover everything and anything you want, and all of the accuracy info will be right here on the site and left for the readers to judge as far as who we should trust. Heck, after the Series 7 debacle, even "trusted" sources like Gurman would have seen their almost 100 percent correct stat go down.

See you guys 1 p.m. EST Monday for my serving of crow, haha.

 

[Weaselboy]

Source Leaderboard - AppleTrack

Top Apple Sources in 2022 # Name Accuracy 1 🐟 Ross Young 92.9% 2 🏀 Mark Gurman 86.5% 3 📉 Trendforce 84.5% 4 🎧 52audio 83.3% 5 🕘 9to5Mac 82.8% 6 ❓ MacRumors 72.7% 7 🇨🇳 China Times 72.7% 8 👨‍💻 Ming-Chi Kuo 72.5% 9 🧻 Jon Prosser 69.1% 10 🍍 Max Weinbach 69% 11 […]

appletrack.com

@MuckrakerJG I've seen this ^ site that tracks rumor accuracy mentioned before in news threads. Sounds like what you mentioned.

 

[danysl]

Get off the high horse.

The site makes money off of clicks and ads.

That article had like a 1k+ comments, so clearly worth the attention of many readers.

You are imposing your view upon the community's.

 

[44267547]

Get off the high horse.

The site makes money off of clicks and ads.

That article had like a 1k+ comments, so clearly worth the attention of many readers.
You are imposing your view upon the community's.

Bolded:

There’s nothing wrong with somebody imposing their view, that really was the whole point of the thread, which everybody has been imposing their views -versus- what should be published or not. You commenting also puts you in the same situation, where you’re imposing your view of the OP’s thread.

To be a bit more technical, every rumor is a piece to a puzzle that may or may not fit. That’s the uniqueness to Macrumors.

 

[arn]

Understood. Wasn't really expecting you to go "My God, MuckrakerJG is right and we need to change the entire website now!" haha. Just mildly annoyed whenever I see one of the sketchier ones. I guess I'll just roll my eyes and move on next time instead of getting mad about it, lol. Carry on, MR!

And who knows, maybe there will be a notch on Monday and you guys can all come back here to laugh at me. Or more likely, continue rioting because OH MY GOD APPLE PLEASE DON'T DO THAT lol

 

[Juicy Box]

And who knows, maybe there will be a notch on Monday and you guys can all come back here to laugh at me.

I am not going to laugh at you, but will just point out my comment here:

Regardless of what happens tomorrow, MR should keep reporting on rumors even if they are from sketchy sources, imo.

A sketchy source today might be the go-to source tomorrow.

 

[arn]

I agree. I certainly understand the desire not to bring attention to pure crap. And sometimes the sketchy rumor will be way wrong.

But this rumor is one of those that falls in the sweet spot where it did seem crazy, and yet the 74 pixel thing make it entirely plausible. Those intersections of "wait, how else do you explain this" rumor are the most entertaining and exciting to discuss and speculate on.

 

[danysl]

Bolded:

There’s nothing wrong with somebody imposing their view, that really was the whole point of the thread, which everybody has been imposing their views -versus- what should be published or not. You commenting also puts you in the same situation, where you’re imposing your view of the OP’s thread.

To be a bit more technical, every rumor is a piece to a puzzle that may or may not fit. That’s the uniqueness to Macrumors.

So yeah...according to the OP it shouldn't have made the front page and it actually was spot on.

 

[AppleMacLoven]

And this is why I love this site!