Their most desirable time to release it would have been last week, to prep for the educational buying season (consumer off to college and the school administration evaluation cycle for the fall).
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Three Products We Might See at WWDC 2023
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They have very different design constraints. The Mac Pro has to scale power and heat capacity to whatever people want to shove inside that case, to the point where you really are supposed to have dedicated power per machine.
If you are talking about a non-modular Mac Pro - no. People don't know what they are talking about. If that was Apple's goal, they would have released it at the same time as the Studio - as a studio in a larger, mostly hollow case.
Apple tried a non-modular Mac Pro, and people compared it to a trash bin. The Mac Pro is meant to be a BTO system people can tune to their workflow needs. The Mac Studio is meant to be the "I just need twice the power and RAM" lunchbox.
Apple may have to wait until there is a silicon design that can support the modularity they want to ship, but in the meantime there's no marketing point in releasing a Mac Pro thats just a better Studio - they'll release it as the Mac Studio.
My speculation is that they didn't get the modularity they wanted out of the M2 design, so they are waiting for M3. If thats the case, and if M3 is based on single die 3nm process, we may be waiting a long while for yields to support larger pro/max/ultra chips.
My 2 cents: MacPro is overdue, so it should be at least announced at WWDC. Since M2 was just a stopgap chip, MacPro will show M3 Ultra/Extreme. M3 will be based upon A17 and 3nm with HW Raytracing. I am not worried about yields, 3nm seems to work pretty well. Additional space on the die will be used for RT & GPU. Although MacPro‘s options of heat dissipation allow higher CPU and GPU clocks, Apple will not overdo - performance per watt is their target.
SoC design will remain, so no dedicated GPU, i.e. no software architecture changes required.
No user upgradable RAM, however user upgradable SSDs. Several slots for IO and audio.
I don't see how Apple could realistically in any way expect an "iPhone moment" with something that has completely different use cases and doesn't really combine popular everyday devices or services into one groundbreaking product.
It's a niche device, at least for now. I don't expect many people to wear these on the metro. Maybe we'll spot some on long flights in business and first class, though.
It's a niche device, at least for now. I don't expect many people to wear these on the metro. Maybe we'll spot some on long flights in business and first class, though.
At the current rate, products seem to be going at least 18 months - and usually longer - between updates, so I wouldn't expect a new Studio anytime soon, nor would I write it off if it didn't appear at WWDC.
However, A M2 Max Studio would fix the current overlap between the M2 Pro Mini and M1 Max Studio. A Mx Ultra "Mac Pro" might, however, replace the Mx Ultra Studio, especially if it only had limited internal expansion.
There are a number of PCIe cards already supported on Apple Silicon that will work in a thunderbolt-to-PCIe dock (e.g. https://www.sonnettech.com/product/echo-express-se1-tb3/techspecs.html - there's a downloadable PDF of compatible cards). No GPUs, of course, but various specialist A/V interface cards, boring things like extra USB sockets and, of course, M.2 SSD adapters that could be used to add internal storage. Not very sexy, but potentially of enormous use to some people. So, yeah, there would be some purpose to a Mx Ultra machine with PCIe slots.
However, although Apple don't publish specs, the Mac Studio Ultra suggests that the M1 Ultra's I/O consists of 6 TB4 ports (at least 4 of which would be needed "as-is" on any Pro Mac) plus a couple of PCIe lanes to drive network interfaces etc. (which would be needed anyway) - so, lets assume that (a) individual TB4 ports could be re-configured as 4 lanes each of PCIe (feasible, but not a given) and (b) there are actually two unused TB4 ports in the Studio ultra (again, feasible - you'd expect the Ultra to double up on the Max - but not proven) that gives you 16 lanes of PCIe. That's enough for a few interface cards or a single GPU if it were supported. Again - useful, but not the same league as the 2019 Mac Pro.
So, I see the following alternatives for the "full size Apple Silicon Mac Pro rumour":
- Not happening - maybe people have seen internal development kit for testing new processors, or "disgused" Studio-like machines hidden in MP boxes. New MP == M2 Ultra Studio or maybe a rackmount version of the Studio. Or:
- The "M2 Ultra" is more than just 2 M2 Maxs fused together and has some tricks up its sleeve that weren't in - or weren't used - in the Studio Ultra (extra PCIe lanes, support for regular DDR5 RAM...). Trouble is, though, any Apple Silicon system that adds MP 7.1-like GPU support and DDR5 RAM throws away the advantages that come with integrated GPUs and unified RAM that help give ASi an edge over comparable x86 systems - and hitches Apple's wagon to the performance of AMD's latest GPUs (also available for PC). Also, it's in Apple's interest for developers to optimise for Apple Silicon GPUs/media/neural engines, as uses in the money-spinning MacBook Pro range - not for AMD . Or:
- These "compute modules" we've been hearing whispers about are M2 Ultra systems on MPX-like cards and the new Mac Pro can take several of them, using some sort of XGrid/NUMA-like (if not in detail) system for scalable computing.
You're right - if people start using their mouse with the wire connected there will come rains of blood, plagues of locusts and dogs playing poker. Apple should re-design the Magic Keyboard and Trackpad so that you have to turn them upside down to charge them, too. (Actually the cool thing is with the Magic KB and Trackpad is that they actually work as USB peripherals, so you can plug in a wire if you're having bluetooth interference problems...). Yes, there's a reason why the mouse is the way it is: they basically couldn't be bothered to completely re-design the previous AA-cell-powered version, so they just stuck the socket where the battery compartment was. No, it doesn't make the mouse unusable, but (as anybody who has used a third-party mouse that can be charged in-use will know) it could be better.
I can only imagine what Steve Jobs’ reaction to this would have been.
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Agree, but I think its worse than that - I'd suggest that most people (certainly the tech enthusiasts who are potential early adopters) know what VR/AR/MR/Copresence can do, have been reading about it in sci-fi since the 1920s, probably played VR games, may even have seen jaw-dropping demos using expensive and impractical equipment. We're just waiting on the sci-fi tech (smart contacts, holodecks, hard light emitters, 6th order projectors) - or at least something the size and weight of a pair of regular specs - that will make it practical to use for 8 hours a day. A $3000 pair of welding goggles with a hip-mounted battery pack that lasts a whole two hours (!!!) may be an improvement, but I don't think it is the breakthrough people have been waiting for... and that's not considering the issue of developing effective user interface paradigms, getting the rendering and motion tracking sufficiently smooth and lag free to avoid motion sickness and averting the general headache-inducing tendency of stereoscopic images to feed the brain contradictory depth cues.
At the most optimistic, the rumoured goggles would be the Lisa to a Mac that it still several years down the line.
But if you already have a wire between the battery and goggles, then why not put as much weight as possible in the belt bag (for now at least) to make the goggles as lightweight as possible?
Avid cards for ProTools, Blackmagic Design cards for video capture, RME and Lynx cards for pro audio for example.
It was definitely annoying, but wired headphones with the phone in your pocket (and wire under your shirt) was the best we could do for quite some time. Yeah it feels like a step backwards, but it's a small price imho.
Game-changing battery tech is around the corner; many are already out there in the real world proving themselves.
I would say those are curved iMacs. Its like they’re not even trying
Apple this week announced the official dates for the 34th annual Worldwide Developers Conference, with the annual WWDC keynote event set to take place on Monday, June 5. The keynote is where Apple unveils new versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS, and sometimes, we get hardware announcements.
Rumors this year suggest there are at least three new devices that are set to be unveiled in the middle of the year, and Apple could use WWDC to show them off.
15-inch MacBook Air
We've heard multiple rumors of a larger-screened 15.5-inch MacBook Air, which is supposed to launch by the summer. Set to be sold alongside a new version of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air, a 15-inch MacBook Air would give customers looking for a larger-screened lightweight machine an option that isn't the MacBook Pro.
The 15.5-inch MacBook Air will be just slightly bigger than the old 15.4-inch MacBook Pro, and it will be sized in between the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. We're expecting the 15.5-inch MacBook Air to look like a larger version of the 13.6-inch MacBook Air that was introduced last year, with no real notable design changes.
It's not entirely clear which chips the 15-inch MacBook Air will use because the timing is odd. It's late for Apple to use the M2 chips that first came out last year, but early for the debut of the M3. Kuo has said the new MacBook Air models will use M2 and M2 Pro chips, while 9to5Mac has said that it will use new M3 chips.
For more on the rumors about the 15-inch MacBook Air, we have a dedicated 15-inch MacBook Air guide.
Mac Pro
The Mac Pro is the last Mac that Apple needs to update to Apple silicon to eliminate all Intel chips. When the first Apple silicon chip was introduced in 2020, Apple said it would take a few years to complete the transition, and 2023 is the year that will happen.
We are expecting a new Mac Pro in 2023, with the machine set to feature the same general design as the existing Mac Pro. It will use the same stainless steel frame and aluminum housing with easy access to the interior components.
The Apple silicon Mac Pro is expected to use an "M2 Ultra" chip with up to a 24-core CPU and up to a 76-core GPU, with support for at least 192GB RAM.
Right now, Apple silicon chips are limiting in terms of upgrades, which could affect the Mac Pro. Apple silicon Macs do not have user-upgradeable RAM because the memory is tied to the motherboard, and the same goes for the GPU. The Mac Pro may not have a user upgradeable GPU or upgradeable RAM unless Apple makes some kind of unforeseen update to the way Apple silicon chips are built or implemented in the machine.
Rumors have suggested that the Mac Pro is coming in the first half of the year, and Apple has in the past used WWDC to unveil machines targeted at developers and designers, so there is a good possibility we'll see the Mac Pro revealed at Apple's event.
For more on what to expect from the Mac Pro, we have a Mac Pro guide.
Mac Studio
Apple introduced the Mac Studio in March 2022, and the machine is something of a Mac mini and Mac Pro hybrid. It uses M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips and is in theory due for a refresh, but the fate of the Mac Studio is unclear with a new Mac Pro on the horizon.
A refreshed version of the Mac Studio would use M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, the same chips rumored for the Mac Pro. It is not clear how Apple would differentiate the Mac Studio and Mac Pro if both were using the same chip technology, so there may not be an M2 series Mac Studio.
As of now, there are no rumors of a new Mac Studio, so it's not likely we'll see it at WWDC, but it's not impossible.
AR/VR Headset
Apple has pushed back the unveiling of its AR/VR "mixed" reality headset multiple times if rumors are to be believed, but we could finally see it shown off at the 2023 Worldwide Developers Conference. Back in February, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the device would get a WWDC introduction with shipping to come later in the year, but it's still not a sure thing.
Just this week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple had pushed back mass production on the headset, which could mean that it won't make an appearance at WWDC. According to Kuo, Apple "isn't very optimistic" about whether the headset will be able to create an "iPhone moment," causing uncertainty around whether the headset will be previewed at WWDC.
A delay in mass production does not necessarily mean a delay in the unveiling as rumors have always indicated that Apple's plan is to show off the headset well ahead of when it launches, but a mixed reality headset at WWDC is no longer a sure thing as Apple could wait until later in the year to introduce it.
In terms of rumors, the AR/VR headset sounds a lot like the first-generation Apple Watch. It's an expensive device with limited functionality and limited consumer appeal, which Apple will improve upon with subsequent releases.
The first version of the mixed reality headset is rumored to be priced at around $3,000, and Apple does not expect it to sell well. Employees have expressed concern about the limited usefulness of the device, and Apple doesn't seem to have a tentpole app to sell it with. Apple is focusing heavily on communication and avatar development, but whether this will interest consumers remains to be seen.
Rumors indicate the headset will have some high-end technology with 4K micro OLED displays and more than a dozen cameras for tracking everything from facial expressions to hand gestures, but there are major downsides as well, such as the need to wear an external battery pack to power the device.
A built-in battery was too heavy, so Apple has designed a hip-worn battery that will power the headset for approximately two hours before it needs to be recharged. Apple is said to have been aiming to create a comfortable, lightweight design with a sleek, curved visor with a mesh backing and an adjustable band.
Some Apple employees are reportedly concerned about the product and have questioned whether the device is a "solution in search of a problem" that isn't "driven by the same clarity" as other Apple products.
A full overview of everything we know about Apple's AR/VR headset can be found in our AR/VR headset roundup.
New Software
At WWDC, Apple will introduce iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Ventura 14, tvOS 17, and watchOS 10, plus if the headset is introduced, we could see the first version of xrOS, the software designed to run on the device.
Of these updates, iOS 17 always garners the most interest and it's generally the only software we hear about ahead of launch. iOS 17 is apparently aimed at adding some of the "most requested features" that users have been wanting, though there's no word on what these features might be.
There is no major "tentpole" addition like the Lock Screen overhaul in iOS 16, but it sounds like there could be some useful quality of life improvements. We do know that iOS 17 is expected to feature support for the AR/VR headset, major CarPlay updates, and support for sideloading apps in European countries.
More of what we've heard about iOS 17 can be found in our iOS 17 roundup.
WWDC Dates and Viewing Info
The Worldwide Developers Conference will start on Monday, June 5 and last through Friday, June 9. For non-developers, the keynote event on June 5 will be of the most interest.
The keynote event is likely to start at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and it will be broadcast live on Apple's website, on the Apple TV, and on YouTube. MacRumors will have full coverage of Apple's announcements both here on MacRumors.com and through our MacRumorsLive Twitter account.
Article Link: Three Products We Might See at WWDC 2023
It will happen on April 1st. Really.
[Edit] All joking aside about April fool's Day, Apple was founded on this day in 1976. From Wikipedia:
"Apple was founded as Apple Computer Company on April 1, 1976, by Steve Wozniak, Steve Jobs and Ronald Wayne to develop and sell Wozniak's Apple I personal computer."
I kinda hope they push out the mixed reality headset so we can just be done with the rumours for it…
Kuo and Gurman have lost all my trust in their reliability through this debacle.. I feel like they are responsible for this rollercoaster of a rumourmill, and these rumours are going into mainstream tech media and causing a backlash and a public impression based on what exactly?
Is it to play with Apple stock? As I know there has been speculation of before… Leak tons of bad rumours ahead of a big launch, stock takes a dive and then goes up tons after release…
Its a display tech that apple is lagging on, just release it…
Kuo and Gurman have lost all my trust in their reliability through this debacle.. I feel like they are responsible for this rollercoaster of a rumourmill, and these rumours are going into mainstream tech media and causing a backlash and a public impression based on what exactly?
Is it to play with Apple stock? As I know there has been speculation of before… Leak tons of bad rumours ahead of a big launch, stock takes a dive and then goes up tons after release…
Its a display tech that apple is lagging on, just release it…
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Reference this discussion
Mysterious New 'Compute Module' Found in Apple Beta Code
An all-new "compute module" device has been spotted in Apple beta code, hinting that new hardware may soon be on the way. The new...
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Whatever Apple has planned its supposed to occur in the near future as there was that other rumor that Apple was testing Mac Pro’s with MacOS 13.3 betas. Now that 13.4 beta 1 has shipped and this beta appears to refinements & bug fixes, literly it’s entirely possible they choose the best time to push out some more products just like the M2 pro Mac Mini and the M2 Pro/Max MPB’s early Jan when we totally didn’t expect them to do that. Obviously China and other locations your not hearing about factories impacted by pandemic issues any more.
It’s a display tech… MR glasses with spatial display of files and Ui has implications on the development of your platform as a whole...
It gives new direction for how to use a computer, what if it is 200% faster and more intuitive to do editing in Final Cut X through AR? Apple has no horse in this, and IF it is, then windows will leapfrog Apple…
What if a spatial Ui for organization is highly advantageous? After-all that is how the human brain is made to remember through evolution…
An Apple MR solution does not have to be "iPhone 2.0" out the gate, and if Apple thinks that and decide against release last minute… Then they have bigger problems… IF they decide agaisnt release at wwdc, then more likely it is because of a real reason and not “we have doubts this will be iPhone 2.0"
Yes, we are tired to hear about VR crap… I for sure am, but the tech is just tech… IF Apple does not release a solution on their platform, they are being kind of ignorant imho, especially considering third party VR support is lackluster on their platform.
It gives new direction for how to use a computer, what if it is 200% faster and more intuitive to do editing in Final Cut X through AR? Apple has no horse in this, and IF it is, then windows will leapfrog Apple…
What if a spatial Ui for organization is highly advantageous? After-all that is how the human brain is made to remember through evolution…
An Apple MR solution does not have to be "iPhone 2.0" out the gate, and if Apple thinks that and decide against release last minute… Then they have bigger problems… IF they decide agaisnt release at wwdc, then more likely it is because of a real reason and not “we have doubts this will be iPhone 2.0"
Yes, we are tired to hear about VR crap… I for sure am, but the tech is just tech… IF Apple does not release a solution on their platform, they are being kind of ignorant imho, especially considering third party VR support is lackluster on their platform.
Even if they come out with a new iteration, macOS 14 is unlikely to be feature-packed. If iOS 17 is a maintenance release, macOS will be too. This pattern has been consistent since Sierra—macOS exists to complement iOS and maintain feature parity between the two operating systems.
Frankly, it is difficult to envision Apple simultaneously developing realityOS while introducing major features in both macOS and iOS. Their software team is already stretched thin as it is.
It's highly probable that Apple will make drastic improvements to Siri however. They will have realized while developing realityOS that voice commands powered by ChatGPT-like AI make much more sense than hand gestures for an AR headset (or any headset to be worn publicly for that matter). Despite Cook's reticence and ineptitude when it comes to AI, it will be the main theme for 2023 and 2024.
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Yet the latest Mark Grumman rumors has gone to IOS 17 being a major update, concerning adding numerous features that community requested when using iOS 16.x and also the changes to App Store. MacOS 14 could be similar against repeated requests to improve upon certain limitations, along with metal3 more capable for applications, maybe even game ports.
- Adding feature requests/changing App Store doesn't necessarily equate to a major update. It depends on which feature request Apple decides to take on.
- You can keep dreaming about Apple doing something major in gaming. But it should be obvious by now that under Cook, that probability is close to nil.
- Not enough units on the market justify the cost of developing/porting AAA games for macOS/iOS.
- SoC design doesn't allow much expandability.
- Failure to aggressively leverage Apple TV as a game console.
Apple has all the foundational structure in place to make headways in gaming but refuses to do so. Most major gaming studios have already abandoned the iOS/macOS platform, most notably Blizzard. You can see a significant decline on Steam in the number of DLCs and sequels available on macOS, even when the original games were supported on the platform.
It would be interesting to see how Apple intends to market its AR headset when it's so anemic in the gaming department. A cute iOS game here and there just won't justify the almost comical price tag.
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You said they lost credibility but yet tech sites keep following them and reporting the stories, and people buy into the rumors, and if they don’t turn out to be true, then people get disappointed. The same cycle every year.
Studio’s fans are far too whiny for me. I want a Mac Pro for the louder but lower fan noise vs this very faint but so annoying whine even on idle. I have tried many studios and they all suffer from it. I gave up trying to get it replaced and am just dealing with it.
Metal 3 is already showing how Mac AutoCad could see increased performance. It’s more the graphics improvements effect a lot of what you use regularly with your Macs.
But against games coming using Metal3 a post from Homy listed a lot more in the works.
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So even the Max versions are noisy? Not just the Ultra?
That's weird to me because the M1 Max MacBook Pro is completely silent. Is the fan just on all the time then?