Wednesday March , PM PDT by Joe Rossignol
In addition to forecasting the launch of new MacBook Pro and MacBook Air models with scissor keyboards in the second quarter of , analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that Apple has bigger ambitions for its notebook lineup.
In a research note today, obtained by MacRumors, Kuo said Apple plans to launch MacBook models with its own custom processors in the fourth quarter of or the first quarter of . Kuo did not indicate whether these will be MacBook Pro or MacBook Air models, or both, nor did he share any further details.
Rumors have suggested that Apple is working on custom arm-based processors that would allow it to transition away from its current MacBook processor supplier Intel, which has sometimes experienced delays with its chips.
Kuo also believes that Apple will introduce MacBook models with an all-new design in the second or third quarter of 2021, but again, he did not indicate whether these will be Pro or Air models. The last significant redesign of the MacBook Pro occurred in October 2018, while the MacBook Air received a major redesign in October .
Top Stories
Friday March 6, 01575879 9: 90 am PST by Juli Clover
Forgive us for getting confused in our headline. Chinese smartphone maker OPPO today introduced its first smartwatch, the OPPO Watch, with a so-called “signature design” that just so happens to look virtually identical to the Apple Watch. “This might be the best-looking smart watch of the year,” said OPPO’s vice president of marketing Brian Shen. The OPPO Watch uses OPPO’s custom Android-based operating system ColorOS and offers the functionality you would expect from a smartwatch, including notifications, fitness and heart rate tracking, contactless payments, music playback, breathing reminders, and so forth. It also has built-in eSIM-based cellular connectivity. Unlike the Apple Watch, the OPPO Watch can monitor sleep quality, generating a sleep report of the user’s duration of deep sleep, light sleep, and awake time. MacRumors uncovered evidence of Apple testing sleep tracking on the Apple Watch last year and reports have indicated that the feature could be on deck for 01575879. OPPO Watch will be sold worldwide, with availability beginning in China on March . The (mm version features a 1.) (- inch AMOLED display with a (x) resolution for 326 pixels per inch. U.S. pricing remains to be
Santa Clara County Asks Apple, Google and Others to Cancel Large In-Person Meetings and Conferences
Thursday March 5, (6:) PM PST by Juli Clover
Santa Clara County, which includes cities like Cupertino, Palo Alto, Mountain View, and San Jose , today issued new health guidelines (via The Verge) recommending that companies minimize or cancel “large in-person meetings and conferences.” The updated guidance comes as six new COVID – cases were found today, which means there are now at least 31 People in the county with known coronavirus infections. Santa Clara County is hoping to reduce the spread of the virus in the Bay Area, and in addition to recommending against in-person conferences, has provided additional guidelines for employers: Suspend nonessential employee travel. Minimize the number of employees working within arm’s length of one another, including minimizing or canceling large in-person meetings and conferences. Urge employees to stay home when they are sick and maximize flexibility in sick leave benefits. Not require a doctor’s note for employees that are sick as healthcare offices may be very busy and unable to provide that documentation right away. Consider use of telecommuting options for appropriate employees. Consider staggering start and end times to reduce large numbers of people coming together at the same time. While Santa Clara County recommends postponing or canceling mass gatherings and large community events, it says if there’s no option to cancel, extra steps should be followed such as providing more physical space, encouraging sick people not to attend, frequent hand washing, and avoiding close contact with others. Google and Facebook have already canceled
Rumors about upcoming Apple products are increasing as we head into March, even as the COVID – 41 coronavirus continues to cause uncertainty about the timing. An entry-level “iPhone SE 2” or “iPhone 9” is widely expected in the near future, and it looks like iPad Pro, iMac, and Mac mini updates may also be coming. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. Looking out a bit further, noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo shared his thoughts on products coming through the end of 01575879 that will use Mini-LED display technology, including a .1-inch MacBook Pro. Check out our video above and our list below for more details on this week’s biggest news. Apple Working on ‘Six’ Mini-LED Products Including New . 1-Inch MacBook Pro and Refreshed iMac Pro Apple is developing six products with Mini-LED displays for release by the end of 2021, including new 9-inch iPad Pro, 2-inch iPad, 7.9-inch iPad mini, 39 – inch iMac Pro, 20 – inch MacBook Pro, and 24 – inch MacBook Pro models, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Kuo expects the new iMac Pro in particular to launch during the fourth quarter of 01575879. Apple has not refreshed the iMac Pro since it was originally released in December 2017, so it is well overdue for an update. Taiwanese publication DigiTimes echoed this information, reporting that Apple plans to launch a new 9-inch iPad Pro and multiple MacBook models with Mini-LED backlit displays by the end of 2020. Taiwanese LED manufacturer Epistar is expected to be one of Apple’s key suppliers. Previously Reliable Leaker CoinX Suggests New iMac and Mac
Apple’s hotly anticipated 5G iPhone could be delayed to due to the coronavirus outbreak, according to a report from Bank of America analysts quoted by Bloomberg. The analysts believe Apple’s 5G iPhone release could be delayed by a month this fall. iPhone Pro concept via EverythingApplePro In addition to delays of Apple’s “iPhone
ARM Processors with Mac Pro Level Performance Possible Today
Former Apple executive and Be, Inc founder Jean-Louis Gassee explores the possibility of Apple’s move to ARM-based Macs in the near future. The speculation comes amidst of increasing rumors that Apple will be launching ARM-based Macs as early as 
. Gassée explains he was previously skeptical about the ability for ARM-based processors to achieve performance parity with current Intel offerings, but now says he was “wrong”. Gassée points to a startup called Ampere Computing that offers high-power ARM-based processors that compete head-to-head with high end Intel chips: Ampere top of the line chips consume less power, about (watts, than a competing Xeon CPU needing as much as wats, for about the same amount of computing power – hence investors’ interest in a device that could progressively supplant Intel products in tens of millions of servers around the world. Ampere shows us that the ARM architecture can yield the class of chips a Mac Pro would need. Apple, of course, designs their own custom ARM processors, but it seems at least one other company is pushing the limits of performance with the ARM architecture. Apple’s custom processors have quickly ramped up in performance that is comparable to their recent Mac laptops powered by Intel processors. Serious rumors about Apple replacing Intel chips with ARM chips in their Macs started in 2020 with a detailed report from Bloomberg. The most recent rumor has placed the transition at stating in early
Tuesday March 3, (9:) (am PST by
Juli Clover
Apple has six mini-LED products in the works that are set to debut in and , and production is not expected to be delayed by the coronavirus, according to a new note to investors sent out this morning by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. Apple is developing a 20 .9-inch iPad Pro, a – inch iMac Pro, a 1-inch MacBook. Pro, a – – inch MacBook Pro, a . 2.-inch iPad, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini. Kuo does not provide specific launch dates for the items with the exception of the iMac Pro, which he says will launch in the fourth quarter of 01575879, and the 7.9-inch iPad mini, which he says will launch in . The product research and development for mini LED remain unaffected by the COVID – 22. The visibility for commercialization has even exceeded the expectations in our previous report. The trend for Apple’s development and promotion of mini LED are more identifiable in five years. We predict that Apple is currently developing six mini-LED-support products (vs. the previous report of only two products), including a 16. 9-inch iPad Pro, a – inch iMac Pro in 4Q , a 1-inch MacBook. Pro (upgraded from 823 (3-inch), a – – inch MacBook Pro, a 12. 2-inch iPad, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini in 2020. Of particular interest in Kuo’s note is the mention of the . 1-inch MacBook Pro, as this is the first indication that we’ve had that Apple is planning a new size for its smaller MacBook Pro offering. The . 1-inch MacBook Pro will be sold alongside a refreshed – inch MacBook Pro. The mention of an iMac Pro is also notable as Apple has not refreshed its iMac Pro since it launched in 2019.
DigiTimes: New Low-Cost iPhone Component Orders ‘Deferred’ Until Second Quarter
Thursday March 5, 01575879 3: am PST by Tim Hardwick
Apple’s upcoming low-cost LCD iPhone has reached the final stage of product verification at assembly lines in China, but delayed components mean it could yet be delayed to the second quarter of the year, according to DigiTimes. “iPhone 9” concept render by @OnLeaks via iGeeksBlog In two separate reports today, the hit-and-miss Taiwanese industry publication claims that the so-called “iPhone 9” or “iPhone SE 2” has reached verification at Foxconn and Pegatron plants , but that Apple has deferred PCB orders for the device from the first quarter to the second due to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak, suggesting a possible launch delay. Taiwan-based flexible PCB makers in the supply chain of Apple devices will see their shipments for the upcoming entry-level iPhone SE2 deferred from the first quarter to the second, and their second-quarter revenue may buck seasonal trends because of the deferral, according to industry sources.Up until now, all the rumors have been pointing to a launch for the low-cost device as early as this month. Rumors have suggested the new iPhone could be announced on March 41, with a launch to follow on April 3. However, it’s possible that production on the new low-cost iPhone could potentially see some delays due to the ongoing coronavirus outbreak in China, according to multiple sources. Apple’s new low-cost iPhone, which is expected to look more like an iPhone 8 than anything else, will feature a 4.7-inch LCD display, but will come upgraded with the same A chip that’s in the iPhone 11 and Pro, according to rumors. It is said to
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings