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Tech: Apple shifting focus from Mac development
Member Since: 9/3/2011
Posts: 22,014
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Apple shifting focus from Mac development
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Mac upgrades, once a frequent ritual, are few and far between. The Mac Pro, Apple's marquee computer, hasn't been refreshed since 2013. The affordable and flexible Mac mini was last upgraded in 2014. And when a new machine does roll out, the results are sometimes underwhelming, if not infuriating, to devotees.
Interviews with people familiar with Apple's inner workings reveal that the Mac is getting far less attention than it once did. They say the Mac team has lost clout with the famed industrial design group led by Jony Ive and the company's software team. They also describe a lack of clear direction from senior management, departures of key people working on Mac hardware and technical challenges that have delayed the roll-out of new computers.
Making a laptop stand out is also harder these days. But when Apple has tried to leapfrog the competition, it has fallen short. Take the company's attempt to create a longer-lasting battery for the MacBook Pro. Apple engineers wanted to use higher capacity battery packs shaped to the insides of the laptop versus the standard square cells found in most machines. The design would have boosted battery life.
In the run-up to the MacBook Pro's planned debut this year, the new battery failed a key test, according to a person familiar with the situation. Rather than delay the launch and risk missing the crucial holiday shopping season, Apple decided to revert to an older design. The change required roping in engineers from other teams to finish the job, meaning work on other Macs languished, the person said. The new laptop didn't represent a game-changing leap in battery performance, and a software bug misrepresented hours of power remaining. Apple has since removed the meter from the top right-hand corner of the screen.
In the Mac's heyday, people working on new models could expect a lot of attention from Ive's team. Once a week his people would meet with Mac engineers to discuss ongoing projects. Mac engineers brought prototypes to Ive's studio for review, while his lieutenants would visit the Mac labs to look at early concepts. Those visits have become less frequent since the company began focusing more on more-valuable products like the iPhone and iPad, and the change became even more obvious after the design team's leadership was shuffled last year, according to a person familiar with the situation.
In another sign that the company has prioritized the iPhone, Apple re-organized its software engineering department so there's no longer a dedicated Mac operating system team. There is now just one team, and most of the engineers are iOS first, giving the people working on the iPhone and iPad more power.
When the company was developing the first 12-inch MacBook, Apple tested two primary prototypes. One, known internally as Stealth Fighter, was lighter. The second, a slightly less ambitious design known as Stealth Bomber, was heavier. The lighter model prevailed, but with engineers developing and testing two competing concepts, they had less time to figure out how to cram all the electronics into a thin slab of aluminum that would hold together. In the end, Apple shipped the laptop in 2015, months after its 2014 goal.
For a 2016 MacBook update, some Apple engineers wanted to add a Touch ID fingerprint scanner and a second USB-C port (which would have made some power users happy). The update instead included a new rose gold color option alongside a standard speed increase.
The internal turmoil has taken a toll. More than a dozen engineers and managers working on Mac hardware have left for different Apple teams or other companies in the past year and a half, said people familiar with the situation.
Source
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This expose
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 14,234
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Yeah, they should have never done the 2016 Macbook
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Member Since: 8/18/2013
Posts: 13,165
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What a yikes Apple will be over soon
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Member Since: 6/1/2011
Posts: 10,384
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ATRL Contributor
Member Since: 1/3/2014
Posts: 11,976
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 9,153
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Anyone could tell that the USB-C Gen of MacBook's is a hot mess.
None of the new devices, include USB-C cords to plug into the MacBook's. You need an adapter to plug in the iPhone 7, and the new AirPods.
Most likely, you will need an adapter for the upcoming iPhone too. It may have wireless charging, but you'll need to plug it in occasionally. You're not gonna be able to take a wireless pod everywhere you go
The USB-C era for MacBook, is a disgrace compared to the flawless Magsafe 1 & 2 eras.
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Member Since: 9/3/2011
Posts: 22,014
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Quote:
Originally posted by gloamingtheplain
Anyone could tell that the USB-C Gen of MacBook's is a hot mess.
None of the new devices, include USB-C cords to plug into the MacBook's. You need an adapter to plug in the iPhone 7, and the new AirPods.
Most likely, you will need an adapter for the upcoming iPhone too. It may have wireless charging, but you'll need to plug it in occasionally. You're not gonna be able to take a wireless pod everywhere you go
The USB-C era for MacBook, is a disgrace compared to the flawless Magsafe 1 & 2 eras.
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Truly a disgrace they seem to have difficulty meeting deadlines across the board. Pretty astonishing given their unlimited resources. Perhaps they should stop wasting time on dumb **** like the Touch Bar or these AirPods that were rushed to market
Jony and Tim need to step down.
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Member Since: 8/7/2015
Posts: 8,070
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 9,153
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Quote:
Originally posted by Haus
Truly a disgrace they seem to have difficulty meeting deadlines across the board. Pretty astonishing given their unlimited resources. Perhaps they should stop wasting time on dumb **** like the Touch Bar or these AirPods that were rushed to market
Jony and Tim need to step down.
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Yeah, Apple need a break. Worry about the iPhone next year, forget the Mac line up except minor upgrades (like Ram and CPU/GPU), and come back in 2018.
This is all so messy. Steve (who was proud that everything Apple just "worked") would be disgusted that the iPhone and iPad can't even connect to the MacBook & MacBook Pro.
I could only imagine.
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Member Since: 5/27/2016
Posts: 6,297
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how about they stop changing things for the sake of changing it
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Member Since: 2/11/2008
Posts: 10,964
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They've focused more on design rather than in functionality and usability, and that's stupid.
I've never been a supporter of "Steve Jobs wouldn't let this happen", but I guess that Apple definitely saw a decline in quality after he passed away. He really put the balance between design and function, and the results were truly flawless.
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 6,832
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Quote:
Originally posted by gloamingtheplain
Anyone could tell that the USB-C Gen of MacBook's is a hot mess.
None of the new devices, include USB-C cords to plug into the MacBook's. You need an adapter to plug in the iPhone 7, and the new AirPods.
Most likely, you will need an adapter for the upcoming iPhone too. It may have wireless charging, but you'll need to plug it in occasionally. You're not gonna be able to take a wireless pod everywhere you go
The USB-C era for MacBook, is a disgrace compared to the flawless Magsafe 1 & 2 eras.
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People used to say the same things when Apple was the first one to remove 'Floppy' disks from their computers during the 90s, who is still missing them?
People used to say the same things when Apple started to take off CDs players from their laptops, people were outraged, and then well, we all know the Tea, who is still using CDs?
The lack of the normal USB is the only annoying thing about the new products because it's still very used, but for how long?
Everything is on iCloud, or your iTunes Match account or whatever, you can even do a wireless synchronization with your Mac iTunes and iPhone if you really need that, you don't need to to connect your iPhone with your Mac physically, those times have passed.
Nowadays it's all about wireless-wi-fi.
You only need electricity in your home (or another place) to charge them through the cables-charges that you still find inside the box of their products, then stop, Apple is thinking in this way like they always did whatever you like or not.
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 9,153
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Quote:
Originally posted by Leptine
People used to say the same things when Apple was the first one to remove 'Floppy' disks from their computers during the 90s, who is still missing them?
People used to say the same things when Apple started to take off CDs players from their laptops, people were outraged, and then well, we all know the Tea, who is still using CDs?
The lack of the normal USB is the only annoying thing about the new products because it's still very used, but for how long?
Everything is on iCloud, or your iTunes Match account or whatever, you can even do a wireless synchronization with your Mac iTunes and iPhone if you really need that, you don't need to to connect your iPhone with your Mac physically, those times have passed.
Nowadays it's all about wireless-wi-fi.
You only need electricity in your home (or another place) to charge them through the cables-charges that you still find inside the box of their products, then stop, Apple is thinking in this way like they always did whatever you like or not.
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There is a difference though.
Apple removed the Floppy Disc when it was replaced by CD/DVD.
Apple removed the Superdrive when THEY (important) stopped supporting software on CD/DVD.
That's fine.
However, they have dropped all the other ports, when their current products need them. Their future products need them too.
Apple are famous for dropping things once their products no longer need them.
SD Cards, HDMI and USB 3 are still current and are STILL being used by current Apple products.
That's why the excuse of "Apple were the first to drop..." wears thin.
I still think the removal of the headphone jack was a good move, long term.
Removal of ports that are still being upgraded in 2016? No.
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Member Since: 8/6/2015
Posts: 6,832
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Quote:
Originally posted by gloamingtheplain
There is a difference though.
Apple removed the Floppy Disc when it was replaced by CD/DVD.
Apple removed the Superdrive when THEY (important) stopped supporting software on CD/DVD.
That's fine.
However, they have dropped all the other ports, when their current products need them. Their future products need them too.
Apple are famous for dropping things once their products no longer need them.
SD Cards, HDMI and USB 3 are still current and are STILL being used by current Apple products.
That's why the excuse of "Apple were the first to drop..." wears thin.
I still think the removal of the headphone jack was a good move, long term.
Removal of ports that are still being upgraded in 2016? No.
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Make a research, things are not properly like that...
Apple removed floppy disks in 1998, when they were at their peak in Windows computers for save documents until early 00's when CDs totally took over (2002-2003) [indeed Apple wasn't that popular like now except from American movies and tv shows because of their beautiful designs, Apple still was a niche product], [I wish I had the first colorful macbook in pink or orange].
Then Apple removed CDs with the first MacBook Air in early 2008 when CDs were still at their peak, and people moaned about the fact that they need to take external CD players....
Then they did that for the rest of their computers.
It has always been like that, Apple did it first before these things graduatelly disappearead from the common use.
About the rest it really depends from the use, I personally don't use HDMI or SD cards on my Apple devices so I don't need them... At the end it really depends from what do you need to do and Apple still give you the possibility of using those adaptors if you really need them, but majority of Apple users are using iCloud, Wi-Fi-Wireless connection, mobile network, Bluetooth, and these things in first.
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 9,153
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Quote:
Originally posted by Leptine
Make a research, things are not properly like that...
Apple removed floppy disks in 1998, when they were at their peak in Windows computers for save documents until early 00's when CDs totally took over (2002-2003) [indeed Apple wasn't that popular like now except from American movies and tv shows because of their beautiful designs, Apple still was a niche product], [I wish I had the first colorful macbook in pink or orange].
Then Apple removed CDs with the first MacBook Air in early 2008 when CDs were still at their peak, and people moaned about the fact that they need to take external CD players....
Then they did that for the rest of their computers.
It has always been like that, Apple did it first before these things graduatelly disappearead from the common use.
About the rest it really depends from the use, I personally don't use HDMI or SD cards on my Apple devices so I don't need them... At the end it really depends from what do you need to do and Apple still give you the possibility of using those adaptors if you really need them, but majority of Apple users are using iCloud, Wi-Fi-Wireless connection, mobile network, Bluetooth, and these things in first.
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Apple removed the floppy when THEY replaced them with CD/DVD.
Apple removed the CD/DVD drive in 2012 when THEY started using the App Store for software.
They have removed standard ports that THEY still use outside of the MacBook line.
That's the difference, Apple removed something they still use.
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Also, the MacBook Air didn't remove CD/DVD, they never included it. It was designed as Apple's version of a NetBook, which also didn't have CD/DVD's back then.
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Member Since: 9/3/2011
Posts: 22,014
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HDMI and SD were literally only removed as collateral damage of their thinness agenda.
Regardless of whether or not the 2016 MacBook Pro fits with Apple's previous history of "removing stuff", it has never been done in such a broken way. Macs using USB-C, iPhones using Lightning, iPhones shipping with USB-A chargers, Lightning EarPods that can't be used with Macs, dongles or separately-purchased cords to sync your new iPhone with your new MacBook...
Apple 2016 is a sloppy mess. Across the board. Logic Pro won't even have Touch Bar capabilities until 2017. We've waited years for this supposed OLED iPhone that keeps getting delayed. The 2016 MBP was meant to have a tiered battery but they couldn't get it working in time, so we got a rushed afterthought rather than them waiting to perfect it. They've completely lost touch.
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Member Since: 11/27/2010
Posts: 9,806
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Quote:
Originally posted by gloamingtheplain
Apple removed the floppy when THEY replaced them with CD/DVD.
Apple removed the CD/DVD drive in 2012 when THEY started using the App Store for software.
They have removed standard ports that THEY still use outside of the MacBook line.
That's the difference, Apple removed something they still use.
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Also, the MacBook Air didn't remove CD/DVD, they never included it. It was designed as Apple's version of a NetBook, which also didn't have CD/DVD's back then.
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Actually this account isn't true. People including all MacBook Pros were still very much using CD/DVD drives when the first 4 airs came out up until 2012 when the retina MacBook Pros came out.. The first two versions of the MacBook Air were both commercial flops. The third version in Oct 2010 is the one that took off.
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Member Since: 11/27/2010
Posts: 9,806
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Tim Cook says Apple is committed to Macs and Desktops are coming.
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“Some folks in the media have raised the question about whether we’re committed to desktops,” Cook wrote. “If there’s any doubt about that with our teams, let me be very clear: we have great desktops in our roadmap. Nobody should worry about that.”
Cook cites the far better performance of desktop computers, including screen sizes, memory, storage and more variety in I/O (ha) as a reason that they are “really important, and in some cases critical, to people.”
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Member Since: 3/15/2013
Posts: 9,153
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Quote:
Originally posted by Adonis
Actually this account isn't true. People including all MacBook Pros were still very much using CD/DVD drives when the first 4 airs came out up until 2012 when the retina MacBook Pros came out.. The first two versions of the MacBook Air were both commercial flops. The third version in Oct 2010 is the one that took off.
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I never said they weren't. What I was saying was, the MacBook Air was not designed for typical use, It was Apple's version of a Netbook.
Meant for mostly internet, and small amounts of productivity (Word Processing etc). So a CD/DVD drive didn't fit the vision.
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Member Since: 9/18/2011
Posts: 30,431
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Apple needs a break. They need to stop yearly releases and reflect.
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