New MacBooks, a Big New WatchOS Update, and Apple's Mixed Reality Headset To Be Announced At WWDC (theverge.com) 49
In addition to the company's long-rumored mixed reality headset, Apple is expected to launch new MacBooks, as well as a "major" update to the Apple Watch's watchOS software at its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. All told, WWDC 2023 could end up being one of Apple's "biggest product launch events ever," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. The Verge reports: Let's start with the Macs. Gurman doesn't explicitly say which macOS-powered computers Apple could announce in June, but lists around half a dozen devices it currently plans to release this year or early 2024. There's an all new 15-inch MacBook Air, an updated 13-inch MacBook Air, and new 13-inch and "high-end" MacBook Pros. Meanwhile on the Mac side Apple still needs to replace its last Intel-powered device, the Mac Pro, with an Apple Silicon model, and it also reportedly has plans to refresh its all-in-one 24-inch iMac.
Bloomberg's report notes that "at least some of the new laptops" will make an appearance. The bad news is that none are likely to run Apple's next-generation M3 chips, and will instead ship with M2-era processors. Apple apparently also has a couple of new Mac Studio computers in development, but Bloomberg is less clear on when they could launch.
Over on the software side, which is WWDC's traditional focus, watchOS will reportedly receive a "major" update that includes a revamped interface. Otherwise, we could be in for a relatively quiet show on the operating system front as iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS are not expected to receive major updates this year. Gurman does say that work to allow sideloading on iOS to comply with upcoming EU legislation is ongoing.
Bloomberg's report notes that "at least some of the new laptops" will make an appearance. The bad news is that none are likely to run Apple's next-generation M3 chips, and will instead ship with M2-era processors. Apple apparently also has a couple of new Mac Studio computers in development, but Bloomberg is less clear on when they could launch.
Over on the software side, which is WWDC's traditional focus, watchOS will reportedly receive a "major" update that includes a revamped interface. Otherwise, we could be in for a relatively quiet show on the operating system front as iOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS are not expected to receive major updates this year. Gurman does say that work to allow sideloading on iOS to comply with upcoming EU legislation is ongoing.
Apple VR... meh. (Score:3)
I work in an industry that uses Apple products quite a bit... probably on an average higher than normal. I hear my colleagues talk a lot about Apple's various products and one thing I have NOT heard is anybody showing the slightest interest in whatever Apple's headset is.
I'm speaking purely anecdotally here, but the pre-hype here in my little sphere of influence was pretty high for both the apple watch and the ipad, but the headset is just crickets. It's possible lack of any real use-cases for the product is the cause of this, but my gut says to not expect that one to be a hit.
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Welp.. if Apple wanted to grab my attention they could go in the direction of making these goggles you only wear at work. IF these are AR instead of VR, and they could track where my computer monitors are, they could then ADD information around my displays. That COULD start to get interesting to me, but it really only works in a work setting... I ain't wearing glasses that have cameras in them in public.
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Welp.. if Apple wanted to grab my attention they could go in the direction of making these goggles you only wear at work. IF these are AR instead of VR, and they could track where my computer monitors are, they could then ADD information around my displays. That COULD start to get interesting to me, but it really only works in a work setting... I ain't wearing glasses that have cameras in them in public.
Welp; we all know from leaks that this is going to support both AR and VR modes.
Apple is ever-mindful of Privacy; plus, they have Google's "Glasshole" object-lesson to remind them. So, although it will have to be studded with cameras and LIDAR modules for AR to work, I am sure that the API will not allow recording, which was Google's big mistake!
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Apple is ever-mindful of Privacy; plus, they have Google's "Glasshole" object-lesson to remind them. So, although it will have to be studded with cameras and LIDAR modules for AR to work, I am sure that the API will not allow recording, which was Google's big mistake!
Google's mistake was purely in marketing Glass to consumers. Had the first users been mechanics working on engines and surgeons in operating theaters, Glass would have become as hip and sought-after as an Apple product, whether or not it had recording.
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Apple is ever-mindful of Privacy; plus, they have Google's "Glasshole" object-lesson to remind them. So, although it will have to be studded with cameras and LIDAR modules for AR to work, I am sure that the API will not allow recording, which was Google's big mistake!
Google's mistake was purely in marketing Glass to consumers. Had the first users been mechanics working on engines and surgeons in operating theaters, Glass would have become as hip and sought-after as an Apple product, whether or not it had recording.
Unfortunately, time seems to move in only one direction; so it is impossible to test your theory.
Convenient for you, eh?
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There have been many false dawns for VR.
At least Apple is only betting one product on the proposition that "This time is different."
Meta bet the whole company. Oops.
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I really don't know what the play is here. When do they expect that I'd use this headset? Am I supposed to wear it while using my phone? My computer? Is it for driving? walking around?
Yes.
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Perhaps it could be for workers:
* in factories
* storage areas
* maintenance of high tech equipment
* farmers/gardeners identifying plants, diseases or pest
Etc. p.p.
Perhaps you would might want to write apps for it, though ...
A general hint: if you have no idea for what to use it. it is not amde for you
Re:Apple VR... meh. (Score:5, Interesting)
Apple has a solid track record of taking existing products and existing products and making them much more useful to the average user. iPhone wasn't the first smartphone but they approached the usability for the average user in a much better way than existing smartphones did.
As Steve Jobs said, "I think Henry Ford once said, 'If I'd ask customers what they wanted, they would've told me a faster horse.' People don't know what they want until you show it to them. That's why I never rely on market research. Our task is to read things that are not yet on the page."
I'm interested to see their take on it.
Re:Apple VR... meh. (Score:5, Insightful)
Apple has a solid track record of taking existing products and existing products and making them much more useful to the average user.
For the record- I agree. Apple's arrogance is legendary, but if your computer usage model fits within their plans it's actually quite nice. That's why I use Mac at home, but it's also why I don't have the slightest interest in telling anybody else they should.
Although at this point Microsoft has made damned sure they will not be an option for me ever again... that worries me some, Apple behaves better when they have competition. :/
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I'm not sure I buy the "usability" line. It's still pretty far behind what I had in 2008 in those terms. What Apple had was fashion, not function.
How long they can hang on to that remains to be seen. That reputation has survived a few product flops, but I wonder if it can weather a major embarrassment like I suspect this is going to be. Glassholes 2.0.
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Yes, but SJ is dead so...
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If it is 8K per eye, I will definitely buy it. 4K per eye, will buy it reluctantly but only from mild curiosity not excitedness. 8K per eye means it will be around 60ppd which is 20-20 vision. My vision is 20/10 so I likely need 80ppd or higher with no gaps between pixels, but 60ppd should be great. Also, with foveated rendering the GPU requirement will be less than what an HD monitor requires since it only needs to render a 480x480 box per frame in high resolution. If you don't believe me, try to read this
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I also have 20-10 vision... when I'm wearing my glasses. Just a blurred mess without them. Which brings me to my point: how well will a headset work for people who wear varifocal glasses? I have to tilt my head to adjust which part of the lens I look through as distances change, and the section for short range clarity is very small.
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I also have 20-10 vision... when I'm wearing my glasses. Just a blurred mess without them. Which brings me to my point: how well will a headset work for people who wear varifocal glasses? I have to tilt my head to adjust which part of the lens I look through as distances change, and the section for short range clarity is very small.
It is supposed to allow incorporation of prescription lenses. Whether Varifocal has been accommodated remains to be seen. . . Ba Dum Bump!
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When the high res headset appears, the use cases will appear too. The biggest use case is hype realistic gaming. Mike experience that will be shocking, shit like being eaten by a spider in VR.
The main problem of VR is the display and headset technology sucks. IF Apple can fix that, it will be a hit. I remember for YEARS people doesn't see any use case for a smartphone either. See this reference for a typical +5 modded example: https://hardware.slashdot.org/... [slashdot.org]
Note I kept saying if a decent one was made it
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Slashdot doesn't let me search past comments that far back, but I know there are many other instances of people saying smartphones were a really bad idea that would never work.
One only has to look at the trashtalk before the iPad debuted.
Not to mention all the hand-wringing over Apple putting a "toy processor" in the Mac.
Slashdotters simply don't have a very good track record at predicting the success of Apple Products.
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If we were paid apple shills we might have the inside info to make better predictions
I'm still waiting for that first paycheck.
Moron.
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I work in an industry that uses Apple products quite a bit... probably on an average higher than normal. I hear my colleagues talk a lot about Apple's various products and one thing I have NOT heard is anybody showing the slightest interest in whatever Apple's headset is.
I'm speaking purely anecdotally here, but the pre-hype here in my little sphere of influence was pretty high for both the apple watch and the ipad, but the headset is just crickets. It's possible lack of any real use-cases for the product is the cause of this, but my gut says to not expect that one to be a hit.
But Apple has not been working to create any buzz about this. They are just moving the project along at their usual, careful pace.
No doubt the Demo will show some use-cases and features that make us all go "Yeah! That would be cool.
Always remember: Apple is the Master of creating Products you never knew you wanted. . . Until you saw them!
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Always remember: Apple is the Master of creating Products you never knew you wanted. . . Until you saw them!
This is true, and it is a notable omission from my original post. I just meant that the watch and the ipad had captured my buddies' imaginations.
Having said that, I wish I could modify my original statement about it not expecting it to be a hit. That was a bit bold of me at this point.
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Always remember: Apple is the Master of creating Products you never knew you wanted. . . Until you saw them!
This is true, and it is a notable omission from my original post. I just meant that the watch and the ipad had captured my buddies' imaginations.
Having said that, I wish I could modify my original statement about it not expecting it to be a hit. That was a bit bold of me at this point.
No Problem!
Oh, that Slashdot had an Edit Button. . .
iPadOS needs a Calculator app! (Score:1)
Can iPadOS finally achieve built-in app parity with iOS- we need a Calculator app!
We started out missing Stocks, Weather and a few others.
Give us iPad users a Calculator app in 2023! Come on, Apple- don't leave us hanging!
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Swipe down for the search bar and type your calculations in there. Quick and easy. Been available there for a decade.
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That is not an appropriate substitute for a calculator app. It's like saying you don't need a media player because you can access youtube from the browser.
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Then download a calculator app. There are thousands of them and most are free. Cry about when they don't install extra apps from the factory, cry when they do. Cry because you can't take 30 seconds to download an app to solve your issues.
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My comment specifically addresses the absurdity of the parent's proposed "solution" to the missing calculator app. Learn how how to read.
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For 99% of calculations most are doing, which is just simple stuff, it's perfectly fine. If you need more than that, there are other options available. But keep crying about it and go buy something that meets your needs.
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No, it's not fine. You'd be up in arms if a system's default calculator app required an internet connection! It's hard to image a more wasteful and invasive way to do simple arithmetic.
But keep crying about it and go buy something that meets your needs.
Learn how to read. As I've already explained, I'm only addressing the parent's proposed solution.
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Oh, for funk sake: then use the hint the guy gave you and type "calc" and open the calculator app.
If you do not like the view/abilities of it: click the green "(+)" button: can't be so hard.
Of course you can use the menu instead and switch to "programmer mode".
I'm kind of tired about people complaining about lack of features on a Mac or an Application on the app, but tos lazy to google it.
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The complaint was that there isn't a default calculator app.
My comment specifically addresses his proposed "solution" to the missing calculator app.
Learn to read.
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Swipe down for the search bar and type your calculations in there. Quick and easy. Been available there for a decade.
Never knew that, thanks!
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I'm aware of that possibility. It strikes me as basically a "command line" calculator. Not exactly the "Apple Way" in my book- at least in my understanding of the Apple Way.
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Apple has explained why they haven't. Can always use Siri to do so too.
https://tech.hindustantimes.co... [hindustantimes.com]
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A sonnet from chatgpt:
Oh Apple, how I love your sleek design
Your iPad is a marvel of the age
But there is one thing missing from your line
A calculator app that can engage
Why must I use a third-party tool
Or switch to my iPhone every time
I need to do some math or find a rule
Or convert some units or a dime
A calculator app is not too much
To ask from such a giant of the tech
You have the power and the skill and such
To make it happen with a simple check
Oh Apple, please consider this request
And add a calculator app
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Who modded that down? It was kind of funny regardless of truthness level.
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It's a posting from an AI bot trying to fish out the self unaware douches in order to train itself in the art of trolling Apple fans better known as douches. Beware.
27" IMAC (Score:1)
Still waiting for a 27" or 32" IMAC replacement, or at least a clean compute/monitor combo at the same price point.
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Still waiting for a 27" or 32" IMAC replacement, or at least a clean compute/monitor combo at the same price point.
It's called a PC
27" iMac - where are you? (Score:2)
plans to refresh its all-in-one 24-inch iMac.
Where's a new 27" iMac? My 2017 model is getting old and I would much rather replace it with a new 27" M2 iMac than with a Mac mini + standalone display.
Still don't get why they discontinued the 27" model.
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Same. ... uh .. a decade?
Don't get why there is no 17" Mac Book Pro since
Or as we are on it: a 19" one? Or at least 18"?
"Major" WatchOS update... (Score:2)
...with a wide range of useful new features. *
* Useful new features only available for the Series 9 available this fall.