Post by Ramen on Oct 9, 2014 17:45:50 GMT
Here's what we know:
Apple event next Thursday with the teaser "It's been way too long..."
Apple often uses it's teaser lines as hints about the products they are going to unveil. For example, in 2012 their "We've got a little more to show you" was all about smaller products - thinner Macbook Pro retina, updated Mac Mini, super thin iMac, etc.
We know that October events are for iPads, as well. All the rumors suggest a small refresh to the iPad perhaps with touch ID sensor added. Nothing explosive there.
"Way too long", if it actually refers to products, could hint at a couple of things. First, and most obviously, would be a refresh to products that have not seen updates in awhile. The two most likely suspects are the Mac Mini and the Apple TV, which haven't seen form factor upgrades in years.
However, there's a more subtle possibility that I think is increasingly likely based on a lot of rumors going around. First is the rumor of a new 12" Macbook hybrid that is supposed to be thinner than the current Air models by making use of new smaller USB ports that allow for power transfers. IOW, they could do away with Magsafe power adapter and replace it with several very thing new USB ports. That rumor seems credible and there's even some info coming out of the supply chain emails about production of this in December.
Related to this, "way too long" could also refer to the fact that this is the 30 year anniversary of the release of the original Macintosh computer. The iMac is rumored to get an upgrade to 5k display and iMacs also seem a likely target for updates at the October events, given Apple's history.
My own crazy theory is an entirely new product line of Macintosh computers redesigned from the ground up. Last year's Mac Pro has a completely refreshed form factor. Something similar looking and smaller for the Mini makes sense, as well. Then a completely redesigned iMac fits right in with this new product line, with the new laptop launching the new laptop product line.
I also wonder about a trend we've seen over the past few years of dropping the "i" designation on new products. The watch is called "Apple Watch", they have "Apple Pay" instead of iPay, and none of the computers have the "i" designation other than the iMac. So they could simply rename the lineup as a relaunch of the iconic and original "Macintosh" or "Mac" labels.
Regarding that new 12" laptop, some of the rumors are a 2-in-1 device similar to the Surface or touchscreen laptops. I think this is extremely unlikely. It doesn't fit with Apple's philosophy about separate devices and I doubt it could even be executed well. Plus, by all accounts Apple is releasing a 12" iPad which is bound to push the $1000 barrier, so some kind of 2-in-1 device would cannibalize their brand new product. Just doesn't make a lot of sense, financially.
Anyway, just some random thoughts that popped in my head.
Apple event next Thursday with the teaser "It's been way too long..."
Apple often uses it's teaser lines as hints about the products they are going to unveil. For example, in 2012 their "We've got a little more to show you" was all about smaller products - thinner Macbook Pro retina, updated Mac Mini, super thin iMac, etc.
We know that October events are for iPads, as well. All the rumors suggest a small refresh to the iPad perhaps with touch ID sensor added. Nothing explosive there.
"Way too long", if it actually refers to products, could hint at a couple of things. First, and most obviously, would be a refresh to products that have not seen updates in awhile. The two most likely suspects are the Mac Mini and the Apple TV, which haven't seen form factor upgrades in years.
However, there's a more subtle possibility that I think is increasingly likely based on a lot of rumors going around. First is the rumor of a new 12" Macbook hybrid that is supposed to be thinner than the current Air models by making use of new smaller USB ports that allow for power transfers. IOW, they could do away with Magsafe power adapter and replace it with several very thing new USB ports. That rumor seems credible and there's even some info coming out of the supply chain emails about production of this in December.
Related to this, "way too long" could also refer to the fact that this is the 30 year anniversary of the release of the original Macintosh computer. The iMac is rumored to get an upgrade to 5k display and iMacs also seem a likely target for updates at the October events, given Apple's history.
My own crazy theory is an entirely new product line of Macintosh computers redesigned from the ground up. Last year's Mac Pro has a completely refreshed form factor. Something similar looking and smaller for the Mini makes sense, as well. Then a completely redesigned iMac fits right in with this new product line, with the new laptop launching the new laptop product line.
I also wonder about a trend we've seen over the past few years of dropping the "i" designation on new products. The watch is called "Apple Watch", they have "Apple Pay" instead of iPay, and none of the computers have the "i" designation other than the iMac. So they could simply rename the lineup as a relaunch of the iconic and original "Macintosh" or "Mac" labels.
Regarding that new 12" laptop, some of the rumors are a 2-in-1 device similar to the Surface or touchscreen laptops. I think this is extremely unlikely. It doesn't fit with Apple's philosophy about separate devices and I doubt it could even be executed well. Plus, by all accounts Apple is releasing a 12" iPad which is bound to push the $1000 barrier, so some kind of 2-in-1 device would cannibalize their brand new product. Just doesn't make a lot of sense, financially.
Anyway, just some random thoughts that popped in my head.
