What to Expect From Apple in 2017: iPhone 8, 10-Inch iPad Pro, Refreshed iMacs, and More

[WiesiBisi]

I think the next MacBooks and iPads will have no port at all. Instead there will be an incredible fast wireless network, called firebird, wich connects to a docking station. You can buy that station for just few hundred dollars. The iPad will be fully waterproof and there will be a swim case, so that you can use the iPad in your bath tube. That case is equipped with an iWater-camera. So you can make selfies, while laying in your bath tube. Tim will proudly say that, for the first time, the posing factor of the iPad is greater than its working factor. He also announces that the company will move its focus from customer value to shareholder value.

 

[steveOooo]

I basically want a £900 dell xps workstation running intel i7, x4 3.5" drives (2x8tb as a raid) and a single graphics card - running Mac OS X / fcpx.

Will apple build that? A basic box to chuck under the desk using non workstation Xeon processors (overkill for me) oh and it's actually quite a bit smaller than a 2010 MacPro) will they f;#%k

I just wanna GEEK OUT on a new computer, so sad that DELL, ms, Lenova and hp have made me lust for proper computers

 

[plexdk]

I basically want a £900 dell xps workstation running intel i7, x4 3.5" drives (2x8tb as a raid) and a single graphics card - running Mac OS X / fcpx.

Will apple build that? A basic box to chuck under the desk using non workstation Xeon processors (overkill for me) oh and it's actually quite a bit smaller than a 2010 MacPro) will they f;#%k

I just wanna GEEK OUT on a new computer, so sad that DELL, ms, Lenova and hp have made me lust for proper computers

In all of apple's modern history, PC's have always been faster. Nothing new here.

 

[navaira]

@Bacillus, your "office chats" are way too elaborate. I'd imagine them to look more like this.

Tim: It's been another great year for us and our shareholders. I even figured out how to avoid paying tax. We're going to buy Ireland. Problem = solved.
Eddy: Y'alls, I am so rich now! I'm going to buy even more chest-showing shirts!
Angela: Oh, stop with the bloody shirts, Eddy, we are working here. So. Back to important stuff. Have you seen the trees I picked for Apple?
Eddy: For Apple what?
Angela: I told you they aren't called stores anymore. For Apple... experiences. But don't call them that either.
Tim: Let's agree to Apple Apples.
Jony: I haven't heard anything you just said but look at my sketch of a new chair for the Campus!
Tim: We already got chairs for the Campus.
Jony: They're not thin enough.
Eddy: This doesn't look comfortable.
Jony: Like I give two *****.
Tim: Let's focus on our pipeline for 2017. First, the important products: iPhone 7s. Jony, get to work on iHump 7s. Then iPad Pro Mini Plus Large S. Is this ready?
Jony: Still too thick. Sorry.
Eddy: Yay! I just secured an exclusive for Apple Music!
Angela: Will that exclusive look good next to my Louis Vu... Apple Apples?
Eddy: It will have lots of rappers and swearing in it. And possibly cars. Expensive cars.
Angela: Ah, expensive, I like that. Make sure they are all rose gold. And give the rappers rose gold chains.
Tim: PIPELINE, guys, pipeline.
Jony: My car doesn't fit in the pipeline. It actually got stuck in it. We have to abandon the project for now. It's people's fault though. They're not thin enough so I had to make the car bigger. Couldn't sleep all night. But the plumber is on his way. And I've got a dedicated team working on making humans smaller.
Phil: Guys. I need something to market. I'm the marketing president. Give me something to market.
Tim: You have a Touch Bar, price increases and the best iPhone since the previous iPhone. Isn't that enough? And especially improved bump. I mean hump. I mean CAMERA. Jesus, what is it with me today?
Jony: Actually I've been thinning we could remove the camera and make iPhone 7s thinner...
Angela: Thinking.
Jony: What are you thinking?
Angela: No, you should have said thinking.
Tim: That reminds me. I've been thinking I said we will show a lot of love to the Macs this year.
*raucuous laughter*
Jony: The new wallpapers with hearts on them for macOS Yeehaw are almost ready.
Tim: Very good. I think this was a very fruitful meeting for all of us. Let's give ourselves a bonus, shall we?
Eddy: I can't believe nobody complimented my new shirt yet.
Tim: Actually, why haven't we invited Craig?
Eddy: Craig really gets on my nerves with this talk about new software and stability and stuff. When the intern finishes macOS Yeehaw Craig can go onstage and talk about it. Anyway, I think we're done. I have to go talk to Drake.
Angela: I agree. Gotta go too, I have Apple Watches to arrange in a new ironic shape.
Jony: Aluminium, everyone.
*everybody* Aluminium, Jony.

 

[Bacillus]

@navaira
Wahaha - your guys sound slightly juvenile and could be more OT.
Got my mike planted in the Boardroom, so that could make a difference
Nice try though - keep up !

 

[cwt2nospam]

In all of apple's modern history, PC's have always been faster. Nothing new here.

I don't ever remember that being true. I remember higher clock speeds and lower performance on PCs. Even today, using a PC after using my Mac feels like I've fallen into a vat of cold molasses! Windows bloatware is terrible.

 

[Bacillus]

OMG Tim, if you can't kill off these horrific bezels, bring us a bike to drive around them.

 

[slimothy]

How are they fragmented? its not like its difficult to develop for all of them, like android. The big iPhones are great imho, but some people prefer small iPhones.

Not sure if you've kept up with the rumors, but there are some that state the iPhone 8 will come in 3 sizes, up from 2 (the 6/6S/7), which was already a size change from the iPhone 5, which was a size change from the 4 (and below). It's pretty clear you're not a developer, but for those that are, making an app for all of those sizes, PLUS iPads, PLUS Apple Watch... oh boy. It's not nearly as easy as it used to be. And if they continue to add new sizes so quickly, it leads to poorly optimized apps as well as apps being made only by bigger developers who can put the time and money into development. Hurts the indie devs the most.

 

[Martyimac]

I don't ever remember that being true. I remember higher clock speeds and lower performance on PCs. Even today, using a PC after using my Mac feels like I've fallen into a vat of cold molasses! Windows bloatware is terrible.

My experience mirrors the following posters.

In all of apple's modern history, PC's have always been faster. Nothing new here.

Yep, I have a 6 year old Dell Core I7 (8 cores) that is as fast as my 3 year old nMP with a 6 core Xeon processor which is supposed to be a faster and more competent processor, (if you take the hard drives out of the equation).

 

[plexdk]

Not sure if you've kept up with the rumors, but there are some that state the iPhone 8 will come in 3 sizes, up from 2 (the 6/6S/7), which was already a size change from the iPhone 5, which was a size change from the 4 (and below). It's pretty clear you're not a developer, but for those that are, making an app for all of those sizes, PLUS iPads, PLUS Apple Watch... oh boy. It's not nearly as easy as it used to be. And if they continue to add new sizes so quickly, it leads to poorly optimized apps as well as apps being made only by bigger developers who can put the time and money into development. Hurts the indie devs the most.

Actually i am, and if you know a little bit about iOS development, you would know that they have put a lot of effort in their tools for making multiple screen size support a breeze for the developers.

Anyway, I'm surprised how people are starting hate on apple, when their knowledge is based on rumors. Keep calm, and wait and see what happens - besides, usually they are putting a lot of power in making the screen transitions smooth, in the SDK.

 

[rGiskard]

What iphone sales slump? The January seasonal slump where every year apple reduces production?

They're selling relatively poorly this year because of no form factor change and the loss of a headphone jack.

Based on the accolades and awards Jony Ive has received, he probably is worth every penny of his compensation that apple pays him. But to each their own view.

So by that measure, Michael Bolton is a brilliant artist.

 

[I7guy]

They're selling relatively poorly this year because of no form factor change and the loss of

You don't know the reason for the small downturn only injecting your own bias.

So by that measure, Michael Bolton is a brilliant artist.

I'm going to leave that assessment in your very capable hands.

 

[slimothy]

Actually i am, and if you know a little bit about iOS development, you would know that they have put a lot of effort in their tools for making multiple screen size support a breeze for the developers.

Anyway, I'm surprised how people are starting hate on apple, when their knowledge is based on rumors. Keep calm, and wait and see what happens - besides, usually they are putting a lot of power in making the screen transitions smooth, in the SDK.

"A breeze", highly subjective.

I think people have a right to their opinions, and I think that anyone hating on Apple is probably just disappointed in the paths they're deciding to take recently. The less fragmentation, the better.

 

[cwt2nospam]

My experience mirrors the following posters.
Yep, I have a 6 year old Dell Core I7 (8 cores) that is as fast as my 3 year old nMP with a 6 core Xeon processor which is supposed to be a faster and more competent processor, (if you take the hard drives out of the equation).

I see posts like these on the internet, and yet when I see a PC in action I always end up thinking of molasses.

 

[WaxedJacket]

This is going to be the best year in the history of the company. The products Apple will realease are just unbelievable. They will blow people's mind. You will see the the widest range of colors in the entire tech industry. There will be new watch bands that will make YSL envy. Needless to say, all the products will be thinner and thinner as unnecessary ports are removed from the devices. The new emoji collection will have the most comprehensive ethnicity ever created. The number of online orders for each product category will be the largest in Apple's history and will outpace the competition by many folds. The company will continue to make efforts to improve safety and privacy. On top of that, they will continue to make sure we live in a better planet.

For all that, I thank you Tim, for ruining Apple computers.

Happy 2017, everyone!

This is brutally honest and extremely accurate. Where's the fire and passion Apple?

 

[rGiskard]

You don't know the reason for the small downturn only injecting your own bias.

Are you suggesting the iPhone 7's three year old form factor and it's lack of a headphone jack have had no effect on sales? Are you going to tell me next that I inject my own bias when I note that the sky is blue?

 

[I7guy]

Are you suggesting the iPhone 7's three year old form factor and it's lack of a headphone jack have had no effect on sales? Are you going to tell me next that I inject my own bias when I note that the sky is blue?

I'm saying you can't know, only speculate. and about the sky being blue is just hyperbole.

 

[rGiskard]

I'm saying you can't know, only speculate. and about the sky being blue is just hyperbole.

Yet you speculate that a three year old form factor and absense of a headphone jack had no effect on sales.

You inject your own bias into your analysis.

 

[Mr Staunton]

Expect from Apple in 2017? Let's start with better supply for demand.

 

[I7guy]

Yet you speculate that a three year old form factor and absense of a headphone jack had no effect on sales.

You inject your own bias into your analysis.

One bias is as good as another.

 

[Septembersrain]

Expect from Apple in 2017? Let's start with better supply for demand.

Took me until December to find a JB 7+ at T-Mobile. I was even desperate to buy right out at Apple, no luck there either. I think if they say sales are down, it's partially their fault. If it's not there to buy, it can't be sold. Not everyone wants to order online and wait for it to be shipped. I don't because if it's defective, it's hell to replace if it's not in the stores.

 

[rGiskard]

One bias is as good as another.

You miss my point, so let me explain: what we are discussing is not bias but an explanation as to why iPhone 7 sales are relatively soft. You fail to give a cogent reason for why you don't like an explanation and instead dismiss it as "bias."

Bias: prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair...​

I suggested two reasons for soft iP7 sales:
1. Absense of 1/8" audio jack.
2. Three year old form factor.

Had I said "I refuse to buy an iP7 because it looks the same as my 6 Plus" then that would be a form of bias. But the reasons I gave are based on what I've gleaned from maybe a dozen iP7 reviews, discussion forums, and speaking with employees at Apple Stores. They're descriptive of how consumers feel the iP7 lacks value.

Neither the audio jack nor form factor are why I've chosen to skip the iP7. My 6 Plus is still going strong and I hope the iP8 camera will add OIS to the zoom lens module and perhaps improved image sensors to both modules. Notice I didn't say sales are soft because of those personal reasons. I'm not representative of the average iPhone consumer, though I do believe that if Apple made a higher-priced iPhone Pro with a class-leading camera then they could capture a loyal and wealthy niche of consumers. That's a biased opinion, lol.

Anyways, I won't respond to further insults from you. If you can't acknowledge Apple's mistakes then you must inhabit one seriously miserable little world of fandom.

 

[navaira]

1. Lots of people say they won't buy an iPhone without headphone jack
2. iPhone without headphone jack gets released
3. iPhone without headphone jack does not sell extremely well
4. "Saying that the lack of headphone jack affects sales is pure speculation not based on facts"

 

[pankajdoharey]

I'm with you. Except for the earbuds...I don't really care about those at all. I really want to be enthusiastic about Apple again and to stop stalking and posting at MacRumors. Unfortunately for me what I want to see is an updated MBP line that moves beyond current critiques. Since Apple seems unable to update every line once a year that seems unlikely. I think I'll have to stew with the current MBPs for another year and a half.

Yes a sad MBP lineup was my breaking point!!!
[doublepost=1483525507][/doublepost]

And Kaby Lake.

That would be nice and basically what Lenovo, Dell, ASUS and others will provide in a few months.



The Airpods are actually something good Apple has created, best new product in years. You may not appreciate them now, but I'm sure you will see the greatness in a couple of years when everybody has them and there tons of cheap copies. Expect quirks like lack of touch volume control and a bit too hard tap to activate Siri will be fixed in next revisions.

The price is not unreasonable if you compare with other earphones. Earin wireless earbuds costs $250.

I'm willing to pay if the product is extra ordinary, but not for hardware that competitors had on market for "years" and No, the Touch Bar is not something I want, I rather have my escape key.

I need my escape key too. I am a web developer and use a combination of emacs and vim.

 

[navaira]

Simplest way to refresh iMacs:
– that new incredible revolutionary courageous screen
– smaller bezels
– SSD as base storage
– USB-C (our keyboard has two regular USBs which would make us happy enough with just one dongle!)
– no price changes (in America, the prices go up in Europe all the time)
– keep the rest as is.

I don't think anybody outside of Macrumors forums would complain about the CPU being too slow. If there's one bottleneck that's been keeping me from upgrading our 2011 machine it's the price of SSD upgrades.