Let’s hope that they don’t cripple this one by putting too few ports on it.
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Three Discontinued Apple Products Rumored to Make a Comeback
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I'm a big fan of music throughout the home. I currently have 3 Homepods (one died just after it went out of warranty) and two Homepod mini's. The sound from the mini's doesn't come close to the original. If they bring back the Homepod and it sounds at least as good as the original, I would add at least one more to my collection.
That would be the input device of choice for the G4 Cube when it returns.
Sonos' $4-500 speakers are either wireless or stereo, if apple releases another $350-400 mono wired HomePod it will do poorly. the original HomePod was competing with the Sonos one which is roughly $200
The 12” MB has always been our side. It’s called an iPad Air with magic keyboard case.
Two Apple decisions that made zero sense to me:
- not sticking an M1 into the 12" Macbook. It would have REALLY sold the superiority of the chip in this non-fan light notebook. Easily 8-9x as fast as the intel model with 2x the battery life. But no.
- not sticking an M1 Pro into the iMac. Why on earth can I only use a 24" huge computer with what is basically the iPad CPU?!
- not sticking an M1 into the 12" Macbook. It would have REALLY sold the superiority of the chip in this non-fan light notebook. Easily 8-9x as fast as the intel model with 2x the battery life. But no.
- not sticking an M1 Pro into the iMac. Why on earth can I only use a 24" huge computer with what is basically the iPad CPU?!
You have to hand it to Tim , he really can regurgitate the same old stuff but with a new slant , incorrigible rouge 😆
No doubt they’ll re-introduce the newton soon , the new iPhone / iPad hybrid available in several colours
No doubt they’ll re-introduce the newton soon , the new iPhone / iPad hybrid available in several colours
No, an IPad Air with a crippled IPad OS cannot replace macOS!
That is the big problem with IPads.
I'm writing this right now on an IPad Pro 11 with the Magic Keyboard.
I like it a lot, but it doesn't run Lightroom Classic, Photoshop, or any other software I'd like to use on the go in such a light and small device! I will trade it in for a new MacBook in a heartbeat.
The only thing the Macbook lacked to be very successful was a fast processor, these are now available.
Surely the iMac is a dying concept.
One great monitor, one great MacBook Pro or iPad Pro with stage manager and one Thunderbolt lead.
A truly portable home office.
One great monitor, one great MacBook Pro or iPad Pro with stage manager and one Thunderbolt lead.
A truly portable home office.
Only testing stage still. But yeah I expect them to announce it alongside the classical music app soon. If not thenI don’t understand what could be so difficult.
I hope so. The HomePod needs a lower price and redesign to be more useful, such as having an input and removable cord and maybe additional functionality such as acting as a wireless router.
The I'd love to see alongside a 12" MacBook Air a 14" MacBook Air to have a good ramp up to the Pro models, and they could use higher DPI displays so you can do proper scaling. Shouldn't be having to cheap out on that in 2023. It would be interesting to see the 12" thinner than the 14" (or current 13.6") proportionally so you have a really lightweight option, and even if it takes a hit to battery life, I bet the battery life would still be over 12 hours, lol. Anyone wonder if this 12" device is the rumored iPad/MacBook hybrid device that is all display?
There have been rumors about a new display between the Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR. Would love to see that in the new iMac Pro (or iMac Studio?), paired with an M3 Ultra (maybe a variant with a more powerful GPU?), up to 256GB RAM, configurable with at least two SSDs. Would love to see a 6K resolution with Pro Motion in such a machine, along with WiFi 6E, Face ID, and a Thunderbolt dock on the power connector so we can have a clean desktop and squirrel away connected devices under our desk or at least cable managed better along our desk. And dare they put some USB-C ports and the SD card slot on the front like the Mac Studio? The ultimate feature would be to have a hinge mechanism that with the click of a button can lay the display somewhat flat at an angle tilted towards you and go into touch mode for macOS with the ability to use the Apple Pencil on the display and a side-mounted magnetic Apple Pencil charging dock.
I think they could do an iMac Studio starting at $4,999 for a 6K Mini LED display (not as crazy bright as the Pro Display XDR), M3 Max 12-core CPU 32-core GPU, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD sometime in 2023.
I think it would go up to an M3 Ultra 24-core CPU, 64-core GPU, 256GB RAM, dual 8TB SSD for about an arm and a leg.
If it went up to a low-end version of the Mac Pro chip that would be amazing. Maybe they will call it the M3 Infinite? 48-core CPU, 128 core GPU. Not sure what they would do for RAM since the current Mac Pro goes up to 1.5TB. Doesn't that mean they would have to go higher than that? Kinda makes me think the M3 Infinite wouldn't just be a doubling of the M3 Ultra. They don't offer many RAM options for the M1/M2 chips. For the Pro and Max you get two, but interesting the M2 has three RAM options on the Air, so maybe they will expand this more over time? I feel like for the Mac Pro they would need at least 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1024GB. But on the high end would they go less than the current one? Or maybe have a fifth option of 2TB of RAM? But that seems like a lot of options for a low volume product if you're baking the RAM into the chip. Or would they dare make the RAM upgradeable on this device? On the one hand, it would be kinda weird to spend all that time designing this new system that is modular only to go back to an integrated solution. But on the other hand these chips work really well the way they are integrated. It's no wonder they've waited to do this one last!
The I'd love to see alongside a 12" MacBook Air a 14" MacBook Air to have a good ramp up to the Pro models, and they could use higher DPI displays so you can do proper scaling. Shouldn't be having to cheap out on that in 2023. It would be interesting to see the 12" thinner than the 14" (or current 13.6") proportionally so you have a really lightweight option, and even if it takes a hit to battery life, I bet the battery life would still be over 12 hours, lol. Anyone wonder if this 12" device is the rumored iPad/MacBook hybrid device that is all display?
There have been rumors about a new display between the Studio Display and the Pro Display XDR. Would love to see that in the new iMac Pro (or iMac Studio?), paired with an M3 Ultra (maybe a variant with a more powerful GPU?), up to 256GB RAM, configurable with at least two SSDs. Would love to see a 6K resolution with Pro Motion in such a machine, along with WiFi 6E, Face ID, and a Thunderbolt dock on the power connector so we can have a clean desktop and squirrel away connected devices under our desk or at least cable managed better along our desk. And dare they put some USB-C ports and the SD card slot on the front like the Mac Studio? The ultimate feature would be to have a hinge mechanism that with the click of a button can lay the display somewhat flat at an angle tilted towards you and go into touch mode for macOS with the ability to use the Apple Pencil on the display and a side-mounted magnetic Apple Pencil charging dock.
I think they could do an iMac Studio starting at $4,999 for a 6K Mini LED display (not as crazy bright as the Pro Display XDR), M3 Max 12-core CPU 32-core GPU, 64GB RAM, 1TB SSD sometime in 2023.
I think it would go up to an M3 Ultra 24-core CPU, 64-core GPU, 256GB RAM, dual 8TB SSD for about an arm and a leg.
If it went up to a low-end version of the Mac Pro chip that would be amazing. Maybe they will call it the M3 Infinite? 48-core CPU, 128 core GPU. Not sure what they would do for RAM since the current Mac Pro goes up to 1.5TB. Doesn't that mean they would have to go higher than that? Kinda makes me think the M3 Infinite wouldn't just be a doubling of the M3 Ultra. They don't offer many RAM options for the M1/M2 chips. For the Pro and Max you get two, but interesting the M2 has three RAM options on the Air, so maybe they will expand this more over time? I feel like for the Mac Pro they would need at least 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1024GB. But on the high end would they go less than the current one? Or maybe have a fifth option of 2TB of RAM? But that seems like a lot of options for a low volume product if you're baking the RAM into the chip. Or would they dare make the RAM upgradeable on this device? On the one hand, it would be kinda weird to spend all that time designing this new system that is modular only to go back to an integrated solution. But on the other hand these chips work really well the way they are integrated. It's no wonder they've waited to do this one last!
A 12'' MacBook wouldn't makes sense IMO. It's too small and lacks the power for any graphical work and we have iPdas for portability. As Apple tries to sell larger screens in a smaller footprint I think we would rather have a 17 inch laptop instead of a 12 or 11 inch one.
Form me the Home Pod is just too expensive for what it is: a wireless speaker. I would rather add 2-300$ to its price and buy a pair of nice stereo speakers to add to my audio system. For the casual background noise at home I already have cheap portable wireless speakers.
I think the Mac Studio replaced the iMac Pro. Apple even addressed user complaints about modularity on it launch. In this case modularity meant expandability (port wise) and the fact that users were stuck with its display - being an AIO -, not in the sense of it being upgradable internally. A lot of pleaple said that it was a powerful machine, but didn't like the fact that they were tied to that display. The iMac Pro was a temporary solution anyway until the Mac Pro came out.
Form me the Home Pod is just too expensive for what it is: a wireless speaker. I would rather add 2-300$ to its price and buy a pair of nice stereo speakers to add to my audio system. For the casual background noise at home I already have cheap portable wireless speakers.
I think the Mac Studio replaced the iMac Pro. Apple even addressed user complaints about modularity on it launch. In this case modularity meant expandability (port wise) and the fact that users were stuck with its display - being an AIO -, not in the sense of it being upgradable internally. A lot of pleaple said that it was a powerful machine, but didn't like the fact that they were tied to that display. The iMac Pro was a temporary solution anyway until the Mac Pro came out.
I thought it might be, but then I see a lot of people clamoring for am iMac Pro return.
Maybe it is the colorway and smaller screen? My only real issues with the iMac are that I loathe white bezels and the color options are not to my particular taste. I also feel like I would end up with less e-waste w/ a separate monitor that will likely outlast my computer internals through at least 2 replacement cycles.
I beg to differ, typing this from my 12" Macbook (2017 model, i5, 16 GB ram). I do picture editing in Pixelmator Pro on a daily basis on this little machine, no problem what so ever. Have been holding out on upgrading it since no Macbook launched since 2017 is portable enough...
But today... I mean an iPhone 13 Mini has faster CPU and GPU than most PC laptops. So thanks to Apple silicon a new 12" Macbook (or slightly bigger due to slimmer bezels) could fly.
12" MBA , the best designed laptop EVER. At 2 pounds weight, 10 hours of battery life it was the best for millions of casual users and students. Can't wait to get a new one with Apple M chip in it.
Heck even one with an M1 (made with a newer process like 3nm to lower power consumption even more) would get me... the M1 has been fine for my workflow (which is heavy Xcode/Android/Embedded/Web development, plus light design using Adobe CC tools)
"as being physically impossible"?It was cancelled a long time ago as being physically impossible. To create the kind of charging mat they wanted that could easily charge your Apple devices anywhere on the mat required coils all over it, and it would have drawn so much power and generate so much heat, it wouldn't have worked. The mat would've been a potential fire hazard with this design:
It's why AirPower became the Magsafe Duo mat. Instead of being a full mat, it's two separate mats: One for a iPhone or AirPods case, and one for an Apple Watch.
Hmmmmm, then this Zens unit on my desk that's worked amazingly for around 2 years must be imaginary (does up to 3 devices)... and from a company in the HTC Campus, Eindhoven, Netherlands!!
I've been waiting for the return of an 11" or 12" Macbook. The 12" Powerbook G4 was amazing for a portable and practical laptop. The 12" Retina Macbook was crippled by a lack of ports, temperamental keyboard, and underpowered CPU.
Thought: Make a 12" laptop out of polycarbonate, give it fun colours to match the current iMac, and call it the iBook!
(I'd also be happy if it was aluminum with fun colours or if it was called the Macbook Mini; just price it below the Macbook Air)
Thought: Make a 12" laptop out of polycarbonate, give it fun colours to match the current iMac, and call it the iBook!
(I'd also be happy if it was aluminum with fun colours or if it was called the Macbook Mini; just price it below the Macbook Air)
A 12" Macbook is the system that would get me to buy a new Mac. I cant use anything newer than Mojave for real work, but my 12" Macbook is just an internet / email / word processing system. The 12" 16:10 display is the *perfect* size for everyday carry seconday system.
Homepod can stay dead. Mac Pro would only be useful if they make it user serviceable.
Homepod can stay dead. Mac Pro would only be useful if they make it user serviceable.
Apple was already way behind and in fact bottom of the barrel when it comes to virtual assistants. Amazon has the best system in place for their smart speakers. You have "skills" you can add and people can make them for whatever they want. Apple has Siri, which is the most limited assistant. Then you add the premium price tag for a product that is not all that premium. I am sure the Home Pod sounds great, but I would say the majority of people can't tell the difference between Echo and Google devices when playing music. I have Echo's all over my house and they sound fantastic, and cost a fraction of what Apple charges.
The idea that Apple discontinued so they could focus on the mini is bogus in my mind, they are the same thing, just different speakers, so back end processing and Siri are the same on both. HomePod was a flop and Apple of course would not want to say so.