Mobile menu toggle

MacBook Pro - page 56

Should Apple streamline its product lineup? [Friday Night Fights]

By

streamlining Apple product lineup
Do you find it difficult to choose Apple products?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s product portfolio has expanded quickly since Tim Cook replaced Steve Jobs as CEO, what with the launch of larger iPhones, Apple Watch and the 12-inch Retina MacBook. But are things getting out of hand?

Friday Night Fights bug Some fans might argue Apple has too much on its plate, and that other products — particularly its software — are suffering as a result. Others might argue that Apple needs everything in its current lineup — and more! — to keep up with the competition.

So, who’s right? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we exchange insults and virtual blows over whether Apple desperately needs to streamline its product lineup.

The best WWDC 2016 announcements plus iOS 10 hidden features on The CultCast

By

You'll need to be a registered developer to get them today.
You'll need to be a registered developer to get them today.
Photo: Apple

This week on The CultCast: It’s our WWDC 2016 reactions! Plus: All the WWDC announcements worth getting excited about; the best hidden iOS features not mentioned onstage; more confirmation that a MacBook Pro with OLED touch bar is imminent; and a very strange iPhone 7 rumor surfaces.

Our thanks to Freshbooks for supporting this episode. FreshBooks is the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. Get started now with a 30-day free trial.

Clues in macOS Sierra point to OLED touch bar for MacBook Pro

By

Adding an OLED touchpad could make the MacBook Pro even more magical.
Adding an OLED touchpad could make the MacBook Pro even more magical.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Apple’s WWDC 2016 keynote came and went without any new hardware announcements, but you might not have to wait much longer for the unveiling of the new MacBook Pro.

Source code in the first beta build of macOS Sierra hints that Apple plans to add support for an OLED touchpad, seemingly confirming the accuracy of the leaked MacBook Pro photos Cult of Mac published last month.

Everything to expect from Apple’s jam-packed WWDC 2016 keynote

By

WWDC's opening keynote will be at San Francisco's cavernous Bill Graham Auditorium.
WWDC's opening keynote will be at San Francisco's cavernous Bill Graham Auditorium.
Photo: Milo Kahney/Cult of Mac

Apple’s keynote to kick off this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference is going to be huge. So huge, in fact, that Apple already revealed some stuff early because Tim Cook and his Cupertino cronies won’t have time to cover everything during the jam-packed, two-hour event.

While WWDC might seem like a bit of a snoozefest for Apple fans who don’t know anything about Xcode and Swift, the 2016 edition of the annual developer conference should bring lots of new stuff even normals can get hyped about. The WWDC keynote will give us a peek inside the ever-evolving Apple ecosystem — and thus our clearest picture of the future of all Apple products.

This year, all of Apple’s platforms are set to get major updates, as are some of the company’s most popular services, like Siri and Apple Music. Here’s what to watch for during Apple’s keynote, which will kick off WWDC 2016 next Monday morning in San Francisco.

Will major changes kill the MacBook Pro? [Friday Night Fights]

By

fnf
Don't you want an OLED touchpad on your MacBook Pro?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple’s MacBook Pro redesign this fall will bring big changes to one of its most beloved notebooks. According to recent leaks, the machine will pack an OLED touchpad above its keyboard, and only USB-C connectivity.

FNF-bugSome fans aren’t happy about that. Many love the physical function keys already found on the MacBook Pro, while others don’t believe it will be a suitable “pro” machine without standard USB ports. But isn’t it time they moved on?

Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over the rumored changes to the MacBook Pro.

Apple Pay may take on PayPal with web payments

By

Apple Pay
Apple Pay is everywhere.
Photo: Apple

Pretty soon when you’re shopping online, Apple Pay might become the quickest way to checkout instead of using PayPal.

Rumors have been floating around the web for months that Apple plans to bring Apple Pay to the web and according to a new report, Apple’s WWDC 2016 keynote will be the site of the grand unveiling.

MacBook Pro concept shows how useful an OLED touchpad will be

By

Siri might even find a new home on the OLED touchpad.
This is what the new MacBook Pro may look like.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Apple might not unveil a radically redesigned MacBook Pro at WWDC next week, but thanks to artist Martin Hajek we’ve got the next best thing: concept images.

Cult of Mac’s favorite concept artist has created a series of mockups that show just how awesome it will be when Apple adds an OLED touchpad to the MacBook Pro. While last week’s spy photos gave us an early look at the new MacBook Pro’s frame, Hajek’s images show how the OLED touchpad could automatically change based on the apps you’re using.

Take a closer look at the rumored MacBook Pro OLED touchpad:

The week’s best Apple deals: free classes, free headphones and more

By

Update your fancy wrist computer to the latest watchOS.
Update your fancy wrist computer to the latest watchOS.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac
With WWDC 2016 just days away, you’d be right to hesitate at buying new Apple gadgets this week. But with experts expecting more new software than hardware, rest assured that these great deals and freebies will still look good next week. Read on for free headphones, free classes at the Apple Store, and more in this week’s best Apple deals.

Sleek skins give your MacBook the marble look

By

home-slider-slide-1
Use UNIQFIND for a unique look.
Photo: UNIQFIND

When you’ve owned a lot of Apple devices, aluminum starts to look a little… boring. But not when you slap a UNIQFIND skin on it.

For as little as $25, these sleek wraps and cases make your MacBook, iPhone, or iPad look like it was made out of marvelous marble.

Want a new MacBook Pro? Get ready to wait a little longer

By

apple-12q2-macbook-pro-ret-zebra-lg-640x340
The new MacBook Pro won't be shipping soon.
Photo: Apple

Apple will unveil a new MacBook Pro this month along with a minor update to the MacBook Air lineup, according to the latest Apple rumor out of China.

The big announcement will supposedly happen in June, though it might not happen at WWDC. A “reliable Chinese supplier” claims the new MacBook Pro will ditch USB-A connectors, Thunderbolt 2 and MagSafe 2 charging for USB-C, just like the spy shots we posted, but you’ll have to wait a few more months to get it.

Apple supplier already shipped key component for new MacBook Pro

By

The new MacBook Pro vs the Old.
The new MacBook Pro vs the Old.
Photo: Cult of Mac

The next-gen MacBook Pro is nearing completion, according to a new report that claims an Apple supplier has already shipped hinges that will be used in the upcoming 13-inch model.

In order to make the MacBook ultra-thin, Apple will reportedly use metal injection molding hinges from Taiwanese supplier Jarllytec, which shipped them to Apple in May.

MacBook Pro spy photos leak, this week on The CultCast

By

The new MacBook Pro vs the Old.
The new MacBook Pro vs the Old.
Photo: Cult of Mac

This week on The CultCast: MacBook Pro spy photos reveal some juicy new features, but some old favorites go bye-bye. Plus: Apple may finally update its ancient Thunderbolt display; why moving iPhone to a three-year update cycle would suck; and stay tuned for more weird and wacky super-fan stories from The Cult of Mac.

Our thanks to Squarespace for supporting this episode. It’s simple to build a website that looks beautiful on any device that visits at Squarespace.com. Enter offer code CultCast at checkout to get 10 percent off.

Fans aren’t happy with Apple’s changes for the 2016 MacBook Pro

By

Custom keys for Photoshop.
Some MacBook Pro users aren't interested in an OLED touchpad.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is expected to introduce a massive MacBook Pro redesign later this year, and photos recently published by Cult of Mac all but confirm it will feature an OLED touchpad and USB-C connectivity.

But it seems the company will have to win some fans over first, because many aren’t happy about these changes.

Apple will host its WWDC 2016 keynote on June 13

By

macbook-pro-wwdc-2016
Apple's WWDC keynote is confirmed!
Photo: Apple

Apple has begun inviting members of the press to its WWDC 2016 keynote on June 13.

The event kicks off at 10 a.m. PT in the Bill Graham Auditorium in San Francisco, and it should deliver our first sneak peeks at iOS 10 and Apple’s next major upgrades for watchOS, tvOS, and OS X.

Rumors point to a major Macbook Pro overhaul, this week on The CultCast

By

New Apple hardware in March on The CultCast
New Apple hardware in March? Reports say yes, indeed.
Image: Erfon Elijah/Cult of Mac

This week, on The CultCast: Macbook Pro’s about to get its biggest refresh ever; Apple’s plans to rival Amazon’s Echo; more great stories from the Cult of Mac; the state of gaming in OS X, iOS, and tvOS; Apple gets serious about iCar charging stations; and we set aside our agendas to discuss YOUR topics in an all-new As You Wish.

Our thanks to Freshbooks for supporting this episode. FreshBooks is the easy-to-use invoicing software designed to help small business owners get organized, save time invoicing and get paid faster. Get started now with a 30-day free trial.

Is it time for Apple to ditch the MacBook Air? [Friday Night Fights]

By

fnf
Isn't the MacBook Air too good to go?
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple could be about to kill its most popular notebook. According to reliable KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the company is planning to ditch the MacBook Air and add a 13-inch MacBook to its lineup as a replacement.

FNF-bugThe original ultraportable is starting to look a little long in the tooth. Having gone without an update for over a year, it is Apple’s only laptop without a Retina display, a Force Touch trackpad, and Thunderbolt 3 connectivity.

But is it really time to let it go, or does it just need a refresh? Join us in this week’s Friday Night Fight as we battle it out over whether the MacBook Air has a place in Apple’s future.

Why the MacBook Pro needs an OLED touch pad

By

MacBook-OLED-touch-pad
What the MacBook Pro might look like with a fancy touch pad.
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

Apple is expected to deliver one of its biggest ever MacBook Pro refreshes later this year, ushering in a thinner and lighter design and amazing new features. One of them, according to a reliable analyst, will be an OLED touch pad.

Here’s why that would be a stellar addition to Apple’s best notebook.

MacBook Pro to get Touch ID in biggest ever refresh

By

apple-12q2-macbook-pro-ret-zebra-lg
Sadly you'll have to wait until the end of the year to get one!
Photo: Apple

Apple is set to give its MacBook Pro lineup their “most significant upgrade ever,” according to respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo of KGI Securities.

Kuo claims that Apple’s new high-end laptops will boast a thinner and lighter form factor (just as you’d expect), but will also include Touch ID and an OLED display touch bar to replace physical function keys on the keyboard, as well as employing the same metal injection molded hinges and butterfly mechanism keyboard seen on the 12-inch MacBook.