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Apple To Announce New iPads on October 30 (buzzfeednews.com)
Apple will hold its next big product announcement in New York later this month, the company said today. BuzzFeed News: It's the first time Apple, which usually holds these events in the Bay Area, will roll out new devices in New York City. It'll happen at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, on October 30. The company is widely expected to refresh its iPad and possibly the MacBook Air lineups at the event.
*yawn*
The Mac mini haven't been updated in four years. Where's the love, Apple?
Yeah the Mac mini update cycle is crazy. I am thinking they will release a new version of that along with the new Mac Pro "early" next year.
After Apple released the iMac Pro, that gave them enough runway for other pro-level updates they could take some time...
The good news is that when they do update the Mac mini, they are supposed to have more of a pro version that would have decent hardware inside so you could really use it as a small desktop with good power and connectivity (probably would included Thunderbolt 3 at least so it could handle an eGPU and fast storage options).
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Remember when there used to be "One more thing..."
Like when SJ pulled the iPod Nano out of his pocket? Or when he introduced iPhoto printed books? I miss stuff like that. That's what these events were really for. Now they are just big expensive press releases for minor hardware upgrades.
Do you remember when you could buy a Mac Mini with non-soldered RAM, a quad core CPU, and a replaceable disk? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Update the thing already, or kill it. Please. Thunderbolt 3, decent, CPU, non-soldered on RAM/disk and I'm pleased as punch.
I can feel my dick twitching already! Nothing makes for a rock hard tumescent member than Apple product announcements. I and a few of the other Apple fan boiz are going to slip out to the company restroom for an afternoon Apple gay circle jerk. Yum! Yum! Yum! Won't you join us?
I'm covered in apple cum!!!
too tired to continue on yet another hype!
I generally agree with your sentiment about many Apple Events being big press releases (though not very expensive for Apple at all considering the coverage they get!!).
However, I don't think the hardware changes for the iPad this time are all that minor. They'll probably be getting FaceID for one, also the latest processors and neural engine that are in the latest iPhones, so that is quite a large performance boost.
Especially interesting is how much the latest Apple processors have helped increase Javascript speed, due to adding specific processor support for Javascript floats...
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Do you remember when you could buy a Mac Mini with non-soldered RAM, a quad core CPU, and a replaceable disk?
If you want non-soldered RAM and user replaceable disks you need to show Apple a business case where it makes sense for them. The number of people who upgrade RAM in their machines is a rounding error and I'm pretty sure Apple has the data to prove it. If the number of your customers who take advantage of a feature is a good approximation of zero then why incur the added cost (design, manufacturing, purchasing) of the more complicated device? If it is more profitable for them to just deal with it as a warranty issue then they will do that. I think the lost business they incur from this decision is almost zero (unfortunately) so it really shouldn't be surprising especially in light of Apple's preference for a closed ecosystem.
Don't get me wrong, I have a Mac Mini and swapped the RAM on it a while back so I'd definitely prefer that option. But I get why Apple does what they do and I'm not really sure how to make a business case for modular RAM that would bring in enough profit to Apple for them to give a shit.
The store may not have the exact build configuration you want, and if you wait to order the shipping times can easily go out several weeks if there's any surge in popularity - the probability of that is higher with this round of iPads which will be more of a change than previous iPad iterations.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
I think it's more that building in the RAM means you have to buy your RAM upgrades from Apple.
Sure that's part of it - Apple can bring in extra revenue that way. But don't underestimate the cost savings from not having to add the hardware to interface with the memory modules. They also don't have to design a user serviceable product which saves money too. They don't have to source the more complicated modular parts, they can have simpler assembly procedures, they reduce warranty costs by not having to deal with third party parts and ham handed users, etc. They realize these savings on EVERY device, not just the ones they sell to the smaller group of people who might consider upgrading the RAM.
Financially it's a win in pretty much every way for Apple so whining at them about it will accomplish nothing. Like I said, if you want Apple to give a shit about user serviceable parts then you need to make a financial case where it's in Apple's interest to provide them. I think that is going to be a hard thing to accomplish.
The Ashcan is ridiculous. The iMac too constraining. When do we get a new decent workstation, Apple?
The iMac pro is not at all constraining, what makes you think that it is?
I can add other GPU's and external storage easily via Thunderbolt 3.
I agree that they also need a part-replaceable unit but they have one scheduled for next year, so it's not like they don't have a plan for that... in the meantime the iMac Pro is a really good system if you need more power.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
The mini is dead (price cut on left overs to get rid of them)
What's wrong with this picture? Why is the hairy old guy with the retro watch and marshmallows in his coffee scribbling a picture not worthy of a three year old? And note the standard headphone jack on his earbuds. WTF is Apple's message?
When all you have is a hammer, every problem starts to look like a thumb.
OH!!! Are they the exact same modle as the last but with an XS added tp the model with a 1000 dollar price tag??? SIGN ME UP!!!!
Apple is almost more irrelevant than Linux when it comes to desktop computers. They desperately need to release a new Mac Mini. No one on Earth gives a damn about iPad or MacBook Air, those are both failed products.
It is, however, constraining for people who don't desire an integral monitor. Deal breaking, in fact.
Why is that deal breaking?
I would have preferred a separate monitor myself. But it just means now I have two monitors instead of one - why is that so awful?
It's not constraining if it does only the thing you want it to do
Again, what is it exactly you think it cannot DO. The only example you gave was something you wanted to be removed, not a feature that could not be added.
The computing world isn't defined by the narrow range of products Apple sells
But the thing is the range they have is not as narrow as you are pretending. Yea the iMac would make for a poor rack mounted server, that's about the only scenario I could see at the moment where they don't have any great offerings. But for anything most people buy a computer for, there's an Apple system that can do an excellent job with a lot of overlap.
"There is more worth loving than we have strength to love." - Brian Jay Stanley
Man Iâ(TM)m already falling asleep.
like the rumors. It's weird how Apple so often forgets how much they make off of music.
I just updated the 2010 Mac Pro to a 6-core last year, the most it can take. It is such a nice machine, currently upgraded to 2xSSDs, 2x3TB HDs, usb3, esata, 32GB RAM, waiting until Apple comes out with something similar, something ACTUALLY Pro.
I also have the upgradeable Mac Mini, at least with 16GB RAM it is not doing bad, but, yeah, an update would be great.
Violence is the last refuge of the incompetent. Polar Scope Align for iOS
Remember when there used to be "One more thing..."
I was always disappointed that they never had Peter Falk (aka Columbo) do a cameo for one of those.
What happens when you empower a company with a history of sleazy business practices: Portless, borderless, possibly a soldered battery, dongles, doubling down on anti - 'right to repair', more room for Face ID pics in order to keep their DBs current, notches, price hikes, data-mining apps, social scores based on the emails they read and who you communicate with... truly courageous.
Of course it is ... since it was soldered in place in the last "upgrade" it's 0
Don't be ridiculous. Most Windows desktops and laptops have user upgradable memory and the VAST majority of people and companies never touch it. They don't even open the case to look. This is not some sort of new revelation. People rarely upgraded memory on Macintoshes when they could do it and Apple provided the opportunity for literally decades. It shouldn't surprise anyone that Apple looked at the data and said "we can make more money by eliminating something almost none of our users are bothering with anyway".
People act like Apple somehow should be forced to cater to their niche need which baffles me. Apple is going to do what is best for Apple. If you care about something that only a single digit percentage of users will ever care about (like upgrading your RAM) don't be surprised when Apple or any other company decides the added cost and lost revenue isn't worth the trouble.
We had a large lab to support and were buying Mac Minis by the pallet.
That just makes you the exception that proves the rule. The primary customers for Macs are decidedly NOT "large labs" or companies. They are end users purchasing them on their own dime and the vast majority of them never crack open the case. People like you and me are the rare exception and Apple knows it. They can make more money by reducing cost and overcharging for the OEM installed memory so they do that because it makes financial sense for them to do it. They know they aren't going to lose customers over it so why wouldn't they? I'm not saying I like it or approve but I get it.