“The word ‘hello’ means something in the Apple universe,” Jonny Evans writes for Computerworld. “It was the first word on the first Mac, the first word on the iMac, and was part of the company’s WWDC invitation, where it announced adoption of the name “macOS” to replace OS X. Now it is the buzz word on its invitation to the latest news from the company.”
“That Apple is saying “Hello” must be significant, especially with some Mac models having seen no upgrade for almost three years (1,000 days),” Evans writes. “We won’t know how significant until next week, but with claims it plans to enhance touch in Macs with is new ‘Magic Keyboard’ and ‘Magic Touchbar’ and reports claiming the A10 series processor used inside current iPhones is equally as powerful as a low end MacBook (and the A10X easily competes), there are plenty of tongues turning speculation of all types.”
“Some or all of the most way out rumors may turn out top be a little truer than we originally thought,” Evans writes. “That could mean new processors, new iPad/Mac hybrids and radical redesigns (is it time the Mac Pro became the hideously powerful A10X Cube, for example?) Might Apple choose to retire the hardware completely in favor of macOS support on mobile devices? (No). I’m not expecting changes as big as these — yet — but never say never with Cupertino.”
MacDailyNews Take: As we wrote just after Apple’s invitation was delivered, “The use of ‘hello’ by Apple (previously used to introduce the original Mac, the original iMac, and the iPhone) is significant and signals that this is more than a typical Mac event.”
A few more quotes (things to consider before next week’s event):
Now, does it make more sense to be smearing your fingers around on your notebook’s screen or on a spacious trackpad (built-in or on your desk) that’s designed specifically and solely to be touched? Apple thinks things through much more than do other companies. The iPhone’s and iPad’s screens have to be touched; that’s all they has available. A MacBook’s screen doesn’t not have to be touched in order to offer Multi-Touch. There is a better way: Apple’s way. And, no Gorilla Arm, either.
The only computers using Multi-Touch properly, using device-appropriate Multi-Touch input areas are Macintosh personal computers from Apple that run OS X (and Linux and can even slum it with Windows, if need be) and iOS even more personal computers (EMPCs), namely: iPhone, iPod touch, iPad, and iPad mini.
Note that none of this bars a “MacPad” from production. Any iOS-based iPad would become a high quality display (possibly still “touchable,” but likely not due to the reasoning stated above) when docked into a “MacBook” (running OS X, and providing keyboard, trackpad, processor, etcetera). Such a convertible device would negate having to carry both an iPad (car) and a MacBook (truck) around. They’d be one thing, but able to be separated into two, each providing the best capabilities of their respective form factors. — MacDailyNews, May 4, 2013
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Think code convergence (more so than today) with UI modifications per device. A unified underlying codebase for Intel, Apple A-series, and, in Apple’s labs, likely other chips, too (just in case). This would allow for a single App Store for Mac, iPhone, and iPad users that features a mix of apps: Some that are touch-only, some that are Mac-only, and some that are universal (can run on both traditional notebooks and desktops as well as on multi-touch computers like iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, and – pretty please, Apple – Apple TV). Don’t be surprised to see Apple A-series-powered Macs, either. — MacDailyNews Take, January 9, 2014
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Anyone in the market for a 12.9-inch device that’s an OS X-powered MacBook when docked with its keyboard base and an iOS-powered iPad when undocked?
Illustration from Apple’s hybrid Mac-iPad patent application
Absolutely correct. Which is why I suspect these long delays are inversely correlated with quality and power. In other words, the longer Apple waits to get it right, the more likely it’ll knock our socks off.
From the outside Apple may appear maddeningly lackadaisical, cavalier, oblivious to the cacophony outside their ivory towers. But inside, there is a fury of invention, and great heaps of abandoned projects — Steve’s famous Graveyard of No. We only get to see the final Yes.
MacPad = Surface. Not saying I’d be against the idea, but it’s funny how much even MDN was against the idea in the past.
But tech has improved to the point where such a device could be elegantly possible, and Apple would probably be the one to pull it off.
But back to the point of the article – I kinda hope that Apple would save the “Hello” campaign (if we’re going to give it such a sacred provenance as everyone seems to be claiming) for a true revolution in the iMac, rather than just it’s latest spec bump. Even a control strip on the keyboard (unless REALLY special and useful) wouldn’t necessarily warrant that. Then again, I’m not sure what another revolution to the desktop could be, so maybe it’s fair, after all.
And finally, the greatest desktop revolution would be de-evolution to a user-upgradeable headless powerful desktop Mac so as not to obsolete all these stand-alone displays that many of us already have on our minis and old Pros.
“Hello” has been used to denote major pivot points in the history of the Mac.
So what treat are we in for this time?
What are the hints:
1. No major Mac (MacBook, iMac, mini or Pro) updates for a loooong time
2. A10 SoC configurations approaching the power of Intel processors
Sceptics will claim immediately that there is no way Apple inc. could replace Intel with their own processors anytime soon without a major software rewrite.
Guess what, Apple inc. achieved previous Huge pivots moving from IBM power PC to Intel, miniaturising OSX for the iPhone to name two …. so why not another major pivot that nobody could see coming.
I pray for some exciting stuff.. not just cpu upgrades and a like..
New designs.. new formfactors.. new ideas.. etc…
I have been calling for a hybrid device for thec last 2 years.. and have been laughed at by MDN and others..
but i feel thats the future.. sooner rather than later…….but i would not hold my breath to see it next week. ……
i just want some kick ass excitement and surprises .
“Anyone in the market for a 12.9-inch device that’s an OS X-powered MacBook when docked with its keyboard base and an iOS-powered iPad when undocked?”
Answer – Absolutely
I hope at least a Mac – Pro class machine to show even if is not the center of the release. Including user upgradable parts and top graphics.
I am afraid Apple used all this time and effort only to create a Mac/device using a proprietary Arm chip, leaving pro users relegated and waiting another year.
Another possibility would be a Mac device with a proprietary chip that will add functionality to all or most Macs. Some kind of compact server, hub or link box that will provide high end graphics, high network and streaming capabilities, storage and connectivity.
I wouldn’t give you a dime for a Surface hybrid even if it did have an Apple brand name. I am a Mac user and I abhor the suggestion that Apple should keep dumbing down the Mac to be more like, or hybridized with, iOS. That’s what Windows 10 offers. If iOS lovers are sick of the many limitations of that platform, then buy yourself a Surface now. Macs need to be compatible with CISC software, period.
I really don’t see how anything less than a full refresh of every Mac will be good enough.
What about the Mac Mini – all but dead in the last refresh, let alone this one, it had better get something.
iMac – the entry level better not be completely unusable with a 5400rpm drive and a 1.4ghz processor.
iMac – the mid to high end – something Apple please, chequebook is waiting.
MacPro? I don’t see how anything but a re-commitment to upgrading it on a regular basis will suffice – they need to understand what users need at this level.
We need a monitor with an Apple logo to go with this MacPro.
And Apple for fsck’s sake, can we innovate in maybe refreshing them every 6 months to a year?
It’s getting really embarrassing that the PC’s that are used for Office at work, have better graphics cards and are faster than what I use for graphic design.
If all we get is a refreshed MacBook Pro with a touchbar (who asked for that?), maybe a minor speed bump here and there and a few sparkly colours then that will indeed be it, for me at least.
I’ll try to not let the door hit my ‘innovative ass’ on the way out.
I use my IPad Pro with the keyboard and I actually have found a touch screen with keyboard laptop configuration to be quite useful. Now my screen is much smaller so it is easier on the arm but I definitely would not mind the option of a touch screen Mac.
Non Ives designed Mac Pro. Old Jonny has done great, unless he designed the round Mac Pro. User changeable RAM, drives in Mac mini, MacBook Pro, all Macs. And, paaawaaaa, mo paaawaaaa, we always want that.
I’ve been wanting to upgrade now for two years but couldn’t pull together the funds for anything that’d be much of an upgrade to my 2011 Mac Mini Server machine.
I’ve been looking at (drooling over) a 27″ iMac w/4GHz i7, – finally got the cash together for that & I’m sure that’d be a more than capable machine for many years to come. That said, I’m thinking it’s best to wait another measly 5 days to see what they bring with this update. If it’s something significant then I’ll go with something new, if not perhaps I can find a price drop on a new 2015 iMac.
My biggest concern is a change in hardware platform or something that would render a 2015 machine dead in the water as far as software upgrades and support in a few years. Would hate to spend upwards of $3k on a badass machine only to see it essentially EOL’d in 4 years…
Would also hate to pull the trigger & then see them come out with something groundbreaking. A user upgradeable Mac Pro or something (not that I’m holding my breath LOL!!). Or an iMac with new screen tech (or wider screen 😉 more RAM standard or a faster SSD as a standard instead of an additional costing option.
It’s moments like these when I really appreciate reading the analysis and futuristic thoughts of Steve Jack and/or MDM. Putting aside some of evangelical stuff and focusing on the future of technology from Apple is refreshing.
I still think a bi-weekly, or monthly Steve Jack column (he’s still there, right?) would be a hit. Rather than solely (and often appropriately) bashing what other tech journalists have to say, Steve could be out there saying what he thinks needs to be said. Just a thought.
I’m not sure about the MacPad. It would definitely have to have a seriously strong and unbreakable hinge of some kind, that’s for sure. I would guess that’s (in part) why Apple hasn’t done one. All that connecting and disconnecting will surely take it’s toll. [I would think that’s affecting the Surface pads by now]
Anyway, I sure hope it’s not the end of the Mac laptop or MacOS as we know it, either. Both are still superior to iOS for anyone who wants to get anything even marginally related to “work” done.
New iMacs, please!
Kaby Lake
USB-Type C
Thunderbolt 3
EXTENDED keyboard with “Magic Touchbar” and black, backlit keys
I would love an extended keyboard on a laptop if they could magically make it fit.
Easy. Bring back the 17″ Mac Pro. It had the best keyboard of any portable Apple product ever.
As stated by many for months.
There is absolutely no reason the richest company on planet earth — cannot deliver the best computers in every configuration.
😎
Absolutely correct. Which is why I suspect these long delays are inversely correlated with quality and power. In other words, the longer Apple waits to get it right, the more likely it’ll knock our socks off.
From the outside Apple may appear maddeningly lackadaisical, cavalier, oblivious to the cacophony outside their ivory towers. But inside, there is a fury of invention, and great heaps of abandoned projects — Steve’s famous Graveyard of No. We only get to see the final Yes.
MacPad = Surface. Not saying I’d be against the idea, but it’s funny how much even MDN was against the idea in the past.
But tech has improved to the point where such a device could be elegantly possible, and Apple would probably be the one to pull it off.
But back to the point of the article – I kinda hope that Apple would save the “Hello” campaign (if we’re going to give it such a sacred provenance as everyone seems to be claiming) for a true revolution in the iMac, rather than just it’s latest spec bump. Even a control strip on the keyboard (unless REALLY special and useful) wouldn’t necessarily warrant that. Then again, I’m not sure what another revolution to the desktop could be, so maybe it’s fair, after all.
And finally, the greatest desktop revolution would be de-evolution to a user-upgradeable headless powerful desktop Mac so as not to obsolete all these stand-alone displays that many of us already have on our minis and old Pros.
Difference between mythical “MacPad” and Surface is the separate OS that would apply, depending on configuration…
I wouldn’t mind seeing a way to link 2 iPads wirelessly so one acts as the keyboard and the other the display.
What to expect? Really?
I’ll let Kristen Bell tell us…
“Hello” has been used to denote major pivot points in the history of the Mac.
So what treat are we in for this time?
What are the hints:
1. No major Mac (MacBook, iMac, mini or Pro) updates for a loooong time
2. A10 SoC configurations approaching the power of Intel processors
Sceptics will claim immediately that there is no way Apple inc. could replace Intel with their own processors anytime soon without a major software rewrite.
Guess what, Apple inc. achieved previous Huge pivots moving from IBM power PC to Intel, miniaturising OSX for the iPhone to name two …. so why not another major pivot that nobody could see coming.
Next week is going to be very interesting!!
They did it when Steve Jobs were alive he’s dead. It’s no longer the same company and that is being proven every day
New Airs running the A-series chips with a battery life of 24+ hours.
I pray for some exciting stuff.. not just cpu upgrades and a like..
New designs.. new formfactors.. new ideas.. etc…
I have been calling for a hybrid device for thec last 2 years.. and have been laughed at by MDN and others..
but i feel thats the future.. sooner rather than later…….but i would not hold my breath to see it next week. ……
i just want some kick ass excitement and surprises .
Good passion.
“Anyone in the market for a 12.9-inch device that’s an OS X-powered MacBook when docked with its keyboard base and an iOS-powered iPad when undocked?”
Answer – Absolutely
I would like that. How would they censor?
Solar-powered Macbook Pro.
Maybe wind-powered, with a tiny windmill.
I hope at least a Mac – Pro class machine to show even if is not the center of the release. Including user upgradable parts and top graphics.
I am afraid Apple used all this time and effort only to create a Mac/device using a proprietary Arm chip, leaving pro users relegated and waiting another year.
Another possibility would be a Mac device with a proprietary chip that will add functionality to all or most Macs. Some kind of compact server, hub or link box that will provide high end graphics, high network and streaming capabilities, storage and connectivity.
I wouldn’t give you a dime for a Surface hybrid even if it did have an Apple brand name. I am a Mac user and I abhor the suggestion that Apple should keep dumbing down the Mac to be more like, or hybridized with, iOS. That’s what Windows 10 offers. If iOS lovers are sick of the many limitations of that platform, then buy yourself a Surface now. Macs need to be compatible with CISC software, period.
Maybe it’s Hello as in…
Hello McFly
Wake up and update your products already.
I’m hoping for a new “big box”, with hot-swappable drives, built-in RAIDs, and easy-to-add RAM…
Don’t get your hopes up, Apple left that market a long time ago.
I really don’t see how anything less than a full refresh of every Mac will be good enough.
What about the Mac Mini – all but dead in the last refresh, let alone this one, it had better get something.
iMac – the entry level better not be completely unusable with a 5400rpm drive and a 1.4ghz processor.
iMac – the mid to high end – something Apple please, chequebook is waiting.
MacPro? I don’t see how anything but a re-commitment to upgrading it on a regular basis will suffice – they need to understand what users need at this level.
We need a monitor with an Apple logo to go with this MacPro.
And Apple for fsck’s sake, can we innovate in maybe refreshing them every 6 months to a year?
It’s getting really embarrassing that the PC’s that are used for Office at work, have better graphics cards and are faster than what I use for graphic design.
If all we get is a refreshed MacBook Pro with a touchbar (who asked for that?), maybe a minor speed bump here and there and a few sparkly colours then that will indeed be it, for me at least.
I’ll try to not let the door hit my ‘innovative ass’ on the way out.
I use my IPad Pro with the keyboard and I actually have found a touch screen with keyboard laptop configuration to be quite useful. Now my screen is much smaller so it is easier on the arm but I definitely would not mind the option of a touch screen Mac.
Non Ives designed Mac Pro. Old Jonny has done great, unless he designed the round Mac Pro. User changeable RAM, drives in Mac mini, MacBook Pro, all Macs. And, paaawaaaa, mo paaawaaaa, we always want that.
I’ve been wanting to upgrade now for two years but couldn’t pull together the funds for anything that’d be much of an upgrade to my 2011 Mac Mini Server machine.
I’ve been looking at (drooling over) a 27″ iMac w/4GHz i7, – finally got the cash together for that & I’m sure that’d be a more than capable machine for many years to come. That said, I’m thinking it’s best to wait another measly 5 days to see what they bring with this update. If it’s something significant then I’ll go with something new, if not perhaps I can find a price drop on a new 2015 iMac.
My biggest concern is a change in hardware platform or something that would render a 2015 machine dead in the water as far as software upgrades and support in a few years. Would hate to spend upwards of $3k on a badass machine only to see it essentially EOL’d in 4 years…
Would also hate to pull the trigger & then see them come out with something groundbreaking. A user upgradeable Mac Pro or something (not that I’m holding my breath LOL!!). Or an iMac with new screen tech (or wider screen 😉 more RAM standard or a faster SSD as a standard instead of an additional costing option.
It’s moments like these when I really appreciate reading the analysis and futuristic thoughts of Steve Jack and/or MDM. Putting aside some of evangelical stuff and focusing on the future of technology from Apple is refreshing.
I still think a bi-weekly, or monthly Steve Jack column (he’s still there, right?) would be a hit. Rather than solely (and often appropriately) bashing what other tech journalists have to say, Steve could be out there saying what he thinks needs to be said. Just a thought.
I’m not sure about the MacPad. It would definitely have to have a seriously strong and unbreakable hinge of some kind, that’s for sure. I would guess that’s (in part) why Apple hasn’t done one. All that connecting and disconnecting will surely take it’s toll. [I would think that’s affecting the Surface pads by now]
Anyway, I sure hope it’s not the end of the Mac laptop or MacOS as we know it, either. Both are still superior to iOS for anyone who wants to get anything even marginally related to “work” done.