Waiting for Skylake MBP thread

[tofagerl]

I'm not very familiar with Bluetooth. Can anyone explain how Bluetooth 5 would be a step up from Bluetooth 4.x for wireless headphones (if it even would be)?

In theory and on paper, it could have higher quality and you could walk farther away from the phone. In practice the second one is the only one you're likely to see change.
[doublepost=1465557496][/doublepost]

A few points on the latest OLED bar concept photos:
1. they have basically moved the menu bar to the keyboard - gimmick
2. the info they have on display is available on the screen - gimmick
3. this will no doubt eat in battery? - ?!?!

It may look cool, but other than teenagers and nerds, I can't see how anyone will really need it

Right, but you're overlooking one key element: when you touch the menubar with your finger you're just smudging the screen. With an OLED touchscreen you could interface directly with it.

 

[viper4011]

A few points on the latest OLED bar concept photos:
1. they have basically moved the menu bar to the keyboard - gimmick
2. the info they have on display is available on the screen - gimmick
3. this will no doubt eat in battery? - ?!?!

It may look cool, but other than teenagers and nerds, I can't see how anyone will really need it

OLED is supposed to be very low power in most situations, so I think the battery life loss will be negligible.

Yeah, moving the menu bar to that screen is a gimmick and a waste of potential. Having app specific controls there like the Spotify example will be nice.

This thing won't enable whole new experiences. It'll just make things nicer and easier. Especially for most people. When I switched to the Mac in 2009, I was surprised by how much keyboard shortcuts are used. Those are not "needed" but they speed up the use of the computer a whole lot. Ask some non-power users (aka most people) if they use keyboard shortcuts, and see if they don't just stare at you. This is for those people. And I'm sure we will use it and like it as well.

And before you say this machine is for the Pro market, I don't think that Pro == Power user.

Curious to hear what people think about that last statement.

 

[tofagerl]

A power user is a kind of a pro, I think...
A dev is a kind of pro...
Graphics editors, a/v editors... All different kinds of pro.

My definition of pro in this case: Able to do work on all kinds of machines, but WILL get a clear definite benefit from a faster and better machine. It doesn't matter if that benefit comes from a bigger screen, bigger GPU or a feeling of "I spent more, so I rock" as long as the benefit is real.

 

[croco_dile]

This thing won't enable whole new experiences. It'll just make things nicer and easier. Especially for most people. When I switched to the Mac in 2009, I was surprised by how much keyboard shortcuts are used.

I don't see very much shortcuts in the concept photos though, the OLED is just displaying stuff that could easily be displayed on the screen.... very gimmicky really
[doublepost=1465558369][/doublepost]And one more point, unless Apple introduces this to all keyboards across its product lines, e.g. Macbook, Macbook Air, Magic Keyboard etc, then this won't get much traction with developers.

I also can't see this going to the Magic Keyboard any time soon, given Apple hasn't even put backlit lighting in those.

 

[Brad9893]

In theory and on paper, it could have higher quality and you could walk farther away from the phone. In practice the second one is the only one you're likely to see change.
[doublepost=1465557496][/doublepost]
Right, but you're overlooking one key element: when you touch the menubar with your finger you're just smudging the screen. With an OLED touchscreen you could interface directly with it.

So with respect to audio quality, Bluetooth 5 won't be appreciably different from Bluetooth 4 then? Could they both play a 320kbps track, or does this mean that neither of them would be able to? I usually listen to Spotify Extreme and I would want to be able to get the same listening experience with wireless.
[doublepost=1465558548][/doublepost]With the OLED bar, I highly doubt that Apple would move the Menu Bar to it. It wouldn't even work. I mean, I know that I usually interact with the menu bar using the trackpad and cursor, and if they were to move it there that wouldn't be possible. So, it is definitely staying there IMO. It's just another Martin Hajek concept which wouldn't make any sense in real life.

 

[tofagerl]

I don't see very much shortcuts in the concept photos though, the OLED is just displaying stuff that could easily be displayed on the screen.... very gimmicky really
[doublepost=1465558369][/doublepost]And one more point, unless Apple introduces this to all keyboards across its product lines, e.g. Macbook, Macbook Air, Magic Keyboard etc, then this won't get much traction with developers.

I also can't see this going to the Magic Keyboard any time soon, given Apple hasn't even put backlit lighting in those.

Well, that's just one guy thinking. Imagine what happens when Apple release an API to thousands of people who can also think.

 

[2457248]

A few points on the latest OLED bar concept photos:
1. they have basically moved the menu bar to the keyboard - gimmick
2. the info they have on display is available on the screen - gimmick
3. this will no doubt eat in battery? - ?!?!
4. It may look cool, but other than teenagers and nerds, I can't see how anyone will really need it

1. mmh ok
2. true
3. enough with the story that everything eats battery...
4. given how many cried over the no glowing apple logo, i must say they've nailed it once again.

 

[Dr_Charles_Forbin]

How about discounts ? I checked already every online store for discounts... As a result, we won't see an announcement

Try B&H - they have some decent discounts - like almost $100 below edu pricing. I have the laptop I want in my cart - waiting to pull the trigger. Even with NYS sales tax - I'm only about $40 over apple pricing - and I'd drive to Delaware to pick that up w/o tax. I'm sorry - $185 is still $185.....

 

[argentum47]

So with respect to audio quality, Bluetooth 5 won't be appreciably different from Bluetooth 4 then? Could they both play a 320kbps track, or does this mean that neither of them would be able to? I usually listen to Spotify Extreme and I would want to be able to get the same listening experience with wireless.

Unless they do something about the audio codec, we won't be able to expect anything new in audio except perhaps less dropouts.

In theory, the claimed 4x speed should allow lossless redbook audio at short distances, and compressed versions of it (flac, etc). Whether they'll put in such a thing, we just don't know yet.

 

[Dr_Charles_Forbin]

Try B&H - they have some decent discounts - like almost $100 below edu pricing. I have the laptop I want in my cart - waiting to pull the trigger. Even with NYS sales tax - I'm only about $40 over apple pricing - and I'd drive to Delaware to pick that up w/o tax. I'm sorry - $185 is still $185.....

Damnit - I check my cart this morning - and the sale ended. SOB !!!!! I shoulda' pulled the trigger....

 

[Brad9893]

Unless they do something about the audio codec, we won't be able to expect anything new in audio except perhaps less dropouts.

In theory, the claimed 4x speed should allow lossless redbook audio at short distances, and compressed versions of it (flac, etc). Whether they'll put in such a thing, we just don't know yet.

I see. I was doing some research and it said that we have basically had the same audio quality since Bluetooth 2.1, and that the only thing successive versions improved on was connectivity and range. I guess the audio codec used goes back that far then?

 

[phloo]

Somebody mentioned if Siri is active in the OLED bar the function keys, etc. would be missing.
I remember that Apple registered a patent in 2011 where they use the electricity of the users finger to detect nearby motion.

So, if the bar is showing something else and you need to use the FN keys, it would be possible they use this technique.

Article: http://www.digitaltrends.com/apple/apple-files-patents-for-oled-and-touchscreen-hovering/

 

[uptownnyc]

YES.

We're in that small window of time where the mockups wind up being cooler than what Apple may ultimately reveal. Something we didn't know we wanted or needed is now potentially a disappointment when what's release falls short of the fictional takes on the implementation.

This looks cool. I hope Apple doesn't disappoint!

 

[bfid111]

Does anyone know if Mark Gurman was ever wrong with his speculations?

 

[uptownnyc]

Does anyone know if Mark Gurman was ever wrong with his speculations?

The tl;dr summary of 9to5 Mac’s 2013 track record:

• 73 rumor articles turned out to be true, and 30 of those were derived from their original sources
• 91 rumor articles turned out to be either partially or entirely inaccurate, or else completely unverifiable

That gives them an overall accuracy record of just under 45 percent. You’d do better by flipping a coin.

http://techland.time.com/2014/01/03/last-years-apple-rumors-mostly-bogus/

 

[cmChimera]

A few points on the latest OLED bar concept photos:
1. they have basically moved the menu bar to the keyboard - gimmick
2. the info they have on display is available on the screen - gimmick
3. this will no doubt eat in battery? - ?!?!

It may look cool, but other than teenagers and nerds, I can't see how anyone will really need it

It's a concept, not an announcement.

1. My menu bar does not have specific spotify controls nor does it have information on transmission downloads. Does yours? Also, my menu bar is not touchable. Is yours?
2. Have you considered the possibility of having information on it that is from non-active window? Or information that isn't on the screen? App developers could choose to do more than the concept.
3. Battery savings from Skylake, better screen technology, and/or space savings in the chassis should make it negligible if anything.

The tl;dr summary of 9to5 Mac’s 2013 track record:

• 73 rumor articles turned out to be true, and 30 of those were derived from their original sources
• 91 rumor articles turned out to be either partially or entirely inaccurate, or else completely unverifiable

That gives them an overall accuracy record of just under 45 percent. You’d do better by flipping a coin.

http://techland.time.com/2014/01/03/last-years-apple-rumors-mostly-bogus/

This isn't a really fair test, nor is it what he asked. He asked specifically if Mark Gurman's exclusive reporting was ever wrong.

Of course 9to5 posts rumors that don't come to fruition. They have to report on sketchy "deep blue" iphones and stuff.

 

[Cindori]

As someone who has owned many of the the flashy Logitech Gaming keyboards with LCD screens, I have to say that displaying information outside of the main screen is a very bad user experience and in most cases it was faster and more comfortable to look up the same information on the main screen with a click or two.

Also, if the point of the OLED bar is not to provide the function keys, but simple widgets like the concept above, one might question the need for having a top row at all.

 

[gadgetfreaky]

Base models show availabilty for Monday- is that just a normal weekend thing that they don't deliver Saturday or is it a sign of refresh?

 

[knassar]

Base models show availabilty for Monday- is that just a normal weekend thing that they don't deliver Saturday or is it a sign of refresh?

Are you in Europe? the limit for next-day delivery is 3PM local.
So if you are in Europe, monday is normal

 

[kremlin]

OLED is supposed to be very low power in most situations, so I think the battery life loss will be negligible.

Yeah, moving the menu bar to that screen is a gimmick and a waste of potential. Having app specific controls there like the Spotify example will be nice.

This thing won't enable whole new experiences. It'll just make things nicer and easier. Especially for most people. When I switched to the Mac in 2009, I was surprised by how much keyboard shortcuts are used. Those are not "needed" but they speed up the use of the computer a whole lot. Ask some non-power users (aka most people) if they use keyboard shortcuts, and see if they don't just stare at you. This is for those people. And I'm sure we will use it and like it as well.

And before you say this machine is for the Pro market, I don't think that Pro == Power user.

Curious to hear what people think about that last statement.

Did you move from Windows? I'm surprised because IMO keyboard shortcuts are one of the few things Windows has going for it. Besides some of the finder controls, I find Mac shortcuts to be way too clunky. Simply opening files is a great example. Enter vs. Cmd+O...

 

[radus]

hope dies last --- but I was probably right in buying an XPS 15 9550 i7

but nobody nows, may be they bring out a really fast MBPro with touchscreen at last for Windows compatibility, thunderbolt 3 with a beautiful thunderbolt 3 to thunderbolt adapter for our old disks, and an external graphics adapter to connect it via hdmi 2.0 to a monitor or tv-set, and the best thermal solution for the machine so we do not need noise cancelling head sets anymore in order to work

 

[viper4011]

Did you move from Windows? I'm surprised because IMO keyboard shortcuts are one of the few things Windows has going for it. Besides some of the finder controls, I find Mac shortcuts to be way too clunky. Simply opening files is a great example. Enter vs. Cmd+O...

Yeah from Windows. I was surprised by how many the Mac has, not necessarily that they are easier to get used to. Perhaps too many. For example I don't use Cmd+O, I use Cmd-down. And while the Mac uses all 4 modifier keys, Windows rarely uses Alt, and most Win-key shortcuts are fairly new and didn't exist back in the pre-7 days.

 

[Dydegu]

As someone who has owned many of the the flashy Logitech Gaming keyboards with LCD screens, I have to say that displaying information outside of the main screen is a very bad user experience and in most cases it was faster and more comfortable to look up the same information on the main screen with a click or two.

Also, if the point of the OLED bar is not to provide the function keys, but simple widgets like the concept above, one might question the need for having a top row at all.

I don't use the term horrendous very often, but that design is horrendous.

Displaying information on an Apple Watch outside of the main "screen" or device of the iPhone is a similar concept. Is it more robust to just pick up your phone? Yea, but it's all about convenience and quick access. In terms of the OLED bar, I'd assume it's about displaying content that won't disrupt what's going on in the main screen. I think there's more power in interacting with other apps, rather than having custom functions for the app that you're in, like Spotify for instance. Getting Twitter notifications would also be pretty cool.

 

[navaira]

As someone who has owned many of the the flashy Logitech Gaming keyboards with LCD screens, I have to say that displaying information outside of the main screen is a very bad user experience and in most cases it was faster and more comfortable to look up the same information on the main screen with a click or two.

Also, if the point of the OLED bar is not to provide the function keys, but simple widgets like the concept above, one might question the need for having a top row at all.

This looks like something from "Back To The Future", i.e. 1980s idea of what future will be like.

I have a problem imagining how that OLED bar is going to improve anybody's life but then I also had a problem imagining why anybody would want a phone without physical keyboard

 

[Uni Grad]

I know this has been mentioned before and dismissed. However, I think the Force Touch trackpad was a conscious decision, and not one in response to limitations posed by a thin form factor. I think this larger trackpad seen in the leaks is a sign for us to use the Apple pencil with it. Think about it. The Force Touch Trackpad does not move, it's a solid piece. So maybe Apple can add functionality that when then pencil is being used, all haptic feedback is disabled along with clicking abilities. That would be similar to WACOM. Its such a large surface that one can easily write or draw. And to those who say that this isn't worth it or will cannibalize the IPP, think again. Graphic artists would heavily benefit from one machine that does all. Also, the MBP will be priced higher than the IPP by a long shot.