What to Expect at Apple's October 30th Event: New iPad Pros, Mac Mini, Low-Cost Retina Notebook and More

[Naimfan]

And yet, nothing compares to how small and capable an SD card is right now.
The real question is, and I don't see why this question upsets people, what did we gain by losing the SD slot?
If the answer is "nothing" then it's ridiculous to lose the SD slot.
. . .

Apple USED to be about saving the steps. Making things as polished as possible. This is the Apple of yonder year. Being polished isn't a source of pride anymore -- as noted by iOS 10 and 11 with 12 making up, mostly, for those mistakes.

(Emphasis added.)

Exactly correct. Now it is about thinner (and damn the consequences!), harder to use, and letting its customers serve as the beta testers for, it seems, just about everything. It is a LONG way from the company it used to be - it is now just another Walmart.

 

[nburwell]

I’m very interest in the updated iPad Pro models. However, I’m very confident I’ll be keeping my 10.5” IPP until next year at least.

I’m always a sucker for Apple events regardless.

 

[007p]

The alternative is to cut your losses and leave Apple behind. Depending on your needs, you can switch to Ubuntu Linux, which is an amazing desktop platform. And for those who have special software needs, well, there's always Windows -- and most macOS users have been running Windows all these years anyway as an additional platform, either in a virtual machine or as a secondary OS (also known as "running it in Boot Camp").

What it all comes down to is that a hell of a lot of macOS users never really could rely on macOS as their only platform anyway, or that there never was a real business case to pay the Apple tax for their mostly out-dated and over-priced hardware. Most Apple customers pay the premium either for the design or just to carry the brand name around with them. The time when there were killer applications that only existed for macOS is long gone -- and to add insult to injury, it was Apple themselves who killed most of those applications (Aperture, anyone?).

I agree on that, macOS is most definitely not my only OS. But until Xcode is available else where, there isn’t a lot I can do

I really don’t want to go android, and i’d hate not being able to develop for my own mobile devices.

 

[bobtem]

And how much can we expect on a yearly basis? Apple should just adopt an every-other-year product announcement/upgrade cycle, alternating iOS devices one year, and Mac OS devices the other. Do we really need “S” year iOS devices littering the landscape? Just wait until there is something useful to put out there.

 

[sir1963nz]

I would expect that the cases be welded together, just to annoy Louis Rossman.

 

[scubachap]

A number of programs would not run under the new OS or ran poorly / had issues under emulation. it's been a few years so I do not remember the exact ones but I do remember the hassle of coping with the switch. It certainly wasn'r a smooth one as the OP suggested.

I remember it as a complete mare to start with. Looked fancy but ran like a dog. (I can vaguely remember it not even allowing you to put files on the desktop.) We and everyone we knew went back to system 9 wherever possible. Wasn't always possible though. (Let's not even go there with QuarkXpress etc... )

It was only a couple of versions later that it really began to get better - Tiger was the first really good version in my experience .

 

[icerabbit]

I’m ready to upgrade as long as all of them - including the ipad - retain the 3.5 mm headphone jack, an dthere are no price hikes.

 

[notabadname]

The very, very, very green company doesn't care about it - or the extra expense everyone of their customer has to incur.

This is simply nonsense. Apple will buy back any of your reasonably old products, and accept any of your old computers or phones, and recycle them. What extra expense? They don't charge for the service. Their GiveBack program is as good or better than of the hardware makers. If they didn't care, they certainly wouldn't need to have the program.

 

[Icaras]

I was looking into the COLLECTION- SYMPHONY SERIES from Native Instuments before, I would love that, but after seeing a price tag (and 600GB data), I gave up. Also, does it work with Logic Pro X or do you need to use Native?

I compose minimal classical music (sounds quite bad in regular midi (that’s why I wanted Symphony Collection), chill out, trip hop, acid jazz ... but not professionally so I could not justify the expenses

If the new iPad would have USB-C the possibility to connect external would be right there. Shared with computer version of Logic Pro X, that would be a killer app.

Care to share some orchestral creations with us? I, for one, would like to hear some stuff you create.
[doublepost=1540686705][/doublepost]Expect talking and clapping hands

I was looking into the COLLECTION- SYMPHONY SERIES from Native Instuments before, I would love that, but after seeing a price tag (and 600GB data), I gave up. Also, does it work with Logic Pro X or do you need to use Native?

I compose minimal classical music (sounds quite bad in regular midi (that’s why I wanted Symphony Collection), chill out, trip hop, acid jazz ... but not professionally so I could not justify the expenses

If the new iPad would have USB-C the possibility to connect external would be right there. Shared with computer version of Logic Pro X, that would be a killer app.

Care to share some orchestral creations with us? I, for one, would like to hear some stuff you create.
[doublepost=1540686705][/doublepost]Expect talking and clapping hands

Sure. Check PM

 

[Falhófnir]

Video and articles states that an updated 12 inch MB would run with an Amber Lake, making it more powerful and the new MBA with a Whiskey Lake.

This makes no sense at all. Whiskey Lake is tue more powerful and superior processor compared to AmberLake. If there will be a new Air with incredible runtime, it will use AmberLake. If there will be a bumped 12 inch MB, it will use Whiskey Lake for more power. Your point would make the air more powerful while being cheaper than the 12 inch MB. Get your facts together pls.

Amber lake Y are the successors to the Kaby lake Y parts used in the 2017 MacBook; Whiskey Lake U are part of the 8th gen family covering the U series which have always been found in the MBA (including the current 5th gen chips). The air has always been more powerful, being actively cooled while the MB is passively cooled, and allowing the CPU/GPU to use 15W of power vs 5W in the MacBook. The fact the current MacBook is using 7th gen while the air is still on 5th gen has narrowed the gap a bit, but particularly in the graphics department (HD 6000 in the Air > HD615 in the MB) the Air is still overall a more powerful computer.

 

[Dorje Sylas]

I would expect that the cases be welded together, just to annoy Louis Rossman.

They won't be welded, too inelegant. Instead the components well be encased into a single extrusion solid block of carbon aerogel. To get at the components you will have to literately cut and scoop the aerogel away, breaking propriety hairline connection paths embedded in the gel. But we'll all have to applaud Apple for this because the Carbon will be sourced from Apple's one of a kind solar powered carbon sequestration facility. We are also to ignore that fact that the Macs burst into literal flames haphazardly, and are reminded to keep a package of gluten free marshmallows on hand to make s'mores.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I’m ready to upgrade as long as all of them - including the ipad - retain the 3.5 mm headphone jack, an dthere are no price hikes.

I expect the price to remain about the same, maybe a slight increase of around $50 for FaceID, maybe not.

Headphone jack is gone. The new model is too thin to stack the display and the jack, and the bezel is too narrow to house the jack without running into the display. No one wants a notch just to accommodate a headphone jack.

 

[GizmoDVD]

I’m ready to upgrade as long as all of them - including the ipad - retain the 3.5 mm headphone jack, an dthere are no price hikes.

So no and no.

 

[zuiram]

Removing the bezels from the iPad Pro isn't exactly a stellar idea, seeing as the rejection of stray touches is already a huge problem any time I'm drawing on it as if it were a mobile product (you know, those things you use where you happen to be, as opposed to doing things the right way in a perfect office according to a schedule and a plan). It would certainly benefit from an increase in screen real estate (I'd kill to fit a sheet of A4 in between the menus etc without losing what little grip the existing bezels afford, and would likely look into bigger if it were on offer).

Shame the headphone jack is going away, since that makes upgrading out of the question until something makes up for the removal (nothing rumoured so far is anywhere close). I realise dogma and style trump the usability factor on modern Apple products, and they're not going to listen to feedback, but then, that's what forums are for, right? Let the competition know they only need to get a handful of things right to take the lead now?

Getting the one with P3 and faster charging than the predecessor was worthwhile, mostly for the latter. It doesn't seem likely there will be another upgrade to the line.

Here's hoping I'm wrong, though, and that the wallet is right to be nervous.

 

[Val-kyrie]

According to the GeekBench Browser:

Amber Lake
Core m3-8100Y - SC: 3885, MC: 7264
Source
Core i5-8500Y - SC: 3909, MC: 8164
Source
Core i7-8500Y - SC: 4784, MC: 8714
Source

Whiskey Lake
Core i5-8265U - SC: 4525, MC: 15,316
Source
Core i7-8565U - SC: 4938, MC: 14,840
Source

I would encourage anyone to look at all the results, not just the ones that I have highlighted. I am not sure where anyone would actually claim that a dual-core 5w CPU would compete or be faster than a quad-core 15w CPU is beyond me.

Clearly, there is a disconnect somewhere. Hopefully, a revised 12” MacBook w/Amber Lake will acquit itself well as would a 15w quad-Core in a MacBook (Air) replacement. I am looking forward to seeing what both will offer users moving forward. Hopefully, we will have more concrete information very soon.

Amber lake Y are the successors to the Kaby lake Y parts used in the 2017 MacBook; Whiskey Lake U are part of the 8th gen family covering the U series which have always been found in the MBA (including the current 5th gen chips). The air has always been more powerful, being actively cooled while the MB is passively cooled, and allowing the CPU/GPU to use 15W of power vs 5W in the MacBook. The fact the current MacBook is using 7th gen while the air is still on 5th gen has narrowed the gap a bit, but particularly in the graphics department (HD 6000 in the Air > HD615 in the MB) the Air is still overall a more powerful computer.

I have never understood the rationale for the MB with Y-series processors. Most serious tech sites simply don't recommend them. Period. Even for casual users. IMO, the MB is so underpowered that is nothing more than an overpriced netbook. I really hope Apple retains a 12-14" form factor that uses 15W CPUs.

 

[Falhófnir]

I have never understood the rationale for the MB with Y-series processors. Most serious tech sites simply don't recommend them. Period. Even for casual users. IMO, the MB is so underpowered that is nothing more than an overpriced netbook. I really hope Apple retains a 12-14" form factor that uses 15W CPUs.

Yeah certainly now the U series have gone quad core it’s made the Y series a pretty difficult sell, particularly with the anemic GPU performance due to the ultra low TDP. When Microsoft came out with the 5th gen surface pro that had a core i5-7300U without a fan I thought intel might eventually just phase the Y series out as the U series became effectively ‘fan optional’ depending on if you wanted to max performance or build a fanless machine. Now with the 8th gen chips there’s some breathing room under the U series again, but when you consider while they’ve added the fan back on the surface pro 6, it still only kicks in under very heavy loads, and that the performance gap has become more of a performance gulf now you’re talking dual vs quad core I think the ultra harsh TDP restriction on the Y series chips makes them a very unattractive option.

 

[kironin]

fingers crossed on the Mac Air !!! I've always preferred the shape of the case! to the current Macbook.

 

[Jason Hensley]

I know it probably won’t happen, but my faith in Apple will be restored if the PowerMat and new AirPods are released!

 

[EdT]

I realize I’m very late to this party, but how long has it been since people have been really surprised by an announcement at official Apple event? What to expect? Look and listen to what experts have been saying for the past 6 months about iMacs, iPads and Mac Mini’s and you’ll already know most of it. This isn’t really Apple’s fault, it was a lot easier 10 years ago to keep things secret because there weren’t as many people covering everything that all of the technology manufacturers were doing. Now if a project takes longer than a year too many people know about it and someone with accurate information will talk.

 

[PickUrPoison]

Removing the bezels from the iPad Pro isn't exactly a stellar idea, seeing as the rejection of stray touches is already a huge problem any time I'm drawing on it as if it were a mobile product (you know, those things you use where you happen to be, as opposed to doing things the right way in a perfect office according to a schedule and a plan). It would certainly benefit from an increase in screen real estate (I'd kill to fit a sheet of A4 in between the menus etc without losing what little grip the existing bezels afford, and would likely look into bigger if it were on offer).

Shame the headphone jack is going away, since that makes upgrading out of the question until something makes up for the removal (nothing rumoured so far is anywhere close). I realise dogma and style trump the usability factor on modern Apple products, and they're not going to listen to feedback, but then, that's what forums are for, right? Let the competition know they only need to get a handful of things right to take the lead now?

Getting the one with P3 and faster charging than the predecessor was worthwhile, mostly for the latter. It doesn't seem likely there will be another upgrade to the line.

Here's hoping I'm wrong, though, and that the wallet is right to be nervous.

They really aren’t bezel-less, in fact the side bezels on the smaller model are actually growing. If the leaked dimensions are correct, both models will have approx 9mm bezels. Not coincidentally, the X/XS notch is about 9mm.

 

[citysnaps]

The very, very, very green company doesn't care about it - or the extra expense everyone of their customer has to incur.

Really? Or are you just making stuff up?

Take a minute and search out Apple’s programs.

 

[Apple2GS]

I expect about 85% of the time to be spend on the iPad, 10% on accessories and what's left on the Mac.

 

[Dicx]

Still hoping for an updated iPod.

 

[PickUrPoison]

I expect about 85% of the time to be spend on the iPad, 10% on accessories and what's left on the Mac.

The new form factor looks great, but it doesn’t take an hour and forty-five minutes to say that. I’ll guess the opposite, 15-20 minutes on iPad/Pencil.

 

[gavroche]

Was there anything preventing Apple from leaving it in, aside from greed and a desire to make it needlessly thinner?

No.

Was removing tape cassette drives due to greed? Was removing floppy drives (both 3.5” and 5.25”) due to greed? Was removing cd and dvd drives due to greed? Removing SD reader slots is greed?
Or could it just be that technology advances, and people’s needs change. As someone pointed out earlier in this thread, students rely much less on portable storage like SD cards. They use the cloud. Apple recognizes this, and eliminates things it thinks don’t need to be included any more. Every example I gave above resulted in people complaining. I used them all, and I remember the discussions.