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Good Job Apple, Now Back to Software?
Ok, Apple did a great job this week. A lot has already been said about Apple’s announcements. The MacBook Neo is a killer, even as an entry device. My wife is getting one. It’s the original Mac mini in a laptop shape. Apple did a great balancing act with the Neo. The only two quibbles: only 8 GB of RAM (I wanted 12 GB) and the lack of a MagSafe port. Continue reading →
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One vendor doesn’t mind high RAM prices: VMware — The Register
The high price of memory and solid-state storage has almost everyone worried – but not VMware, because the most innovative new feature in the Cloud Foundation 9 (VCF 9) private cloud suite it launched last year is memory tiering tech that allows offload of data from RAM to NVMe drives.
VMware has always promoted VCF 9 memory tiering as offering the chance to reduce infrastructure costs by reducing the amount of RAM needed in new servers, and by creating the opportunity to upgrade the NVMe drives in old boxes and effectively increase their memory capacity.
Well, yeah, memory tiering certainly helps reduce the cost of servers, but even NVMe drives, which are built on electronic chips too, are impacted by price increases. And, servers must be compatible with this feature. No magic bullet here.
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People’s reactions to Apple hardware announcements so far have been quite positive, if not enthusiastic, much more so than any software announcements in recent years. The difference is stark.
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To understand what Apple launched today, we have to go back just over five years, when Apple launched the M1 in November 2020. I wrote then:
“This approach to integration into a single chip, maximum throughput, rapid access to memory, optimal computing performance based on the task, and adaptation to machine learning algorithms is the future — not only for mobile chips, but also for desktop and laptop computers.”
That turned out to be right.
What Apple achieved with their new M5 Pro and M5 Max is quite impressive. Even more impressive is that the architectural decisions made back in 2020 (or earlier) are still paying off today. If only Apple had the wisdom to make similar smart decisions with Siri architecture. Apple seems stuck on redoing its homework forever with software.
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Apple Does Value (Week) — On my Om
Apple has decided that $599 is the new floor for a “real” Apple device—not a hand-me-down, not last year’s leftovers, but a current-generation product with current-generation silicon.
If Om Malik is right, this would put the new entry-level MacBook price at 599 US$. The question now becomes: what do you get for that amount of money beyond the A18 Pro chip?
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Apple is still proud of Liquid Glass. Found on the iPhone 17e mini website. 😵💫
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Prices of the new iPad Air and iPhone 17e seems in line with previous generation products they replace and not affected by the current tech environment where prices are going up drastically… it looks rather well too for the upcoming entry-level MacBook pricing.
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During any tech transition, the people who retain old-school knowledge while the new-school is developing are particularly valuable. Nobody needs to know punch cards anymore, but I’m sure that while punch cards were being phased out, extensive knowledge about them was incredibly useful.
The same is true about cloud migration. Those who did traditional data centers and started to get interested and involved in cloud migration were (and still are) very in demand.
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Welcome (back) to Macintosh, by Jesper @ Take
“My hope is that, just as Apple crawled out of a hardware nightmare pockmarked by thermal throttling, keyboards incapacitated by strands of human hair and lack of respect for its users needs, it can choose to refocus its software and its humility too, and stop doing this to the bicycle for the mind.”
I think we will have to wait, the upcoming week’s releases are about Apple hardware…
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Claude hits #1 on the App Store as users rally behind Anthropic’s government standoff — 9to5Mac
While the long-term consequences of this disagreement are unclear, Anthropic appears to be winning in mindshare, at least for now, in terms of app downloads among iPhone users.
If Anthropic was a publicly traded company ten times their current valuation, would they still stand out against the US government? Asking for a fictional friend at Apple.
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Apple Reportedly Expects ‘Major Rush’ of Customers This Week:
The new product likely to receive the most interest is the rumored lower-cost MacBook, which is described as an “incredible value” within Apple, according to the newsletter. Apple believes that a more affordable MacBook will help to “drive a serious number of switchers from Windows machines and Chromebooks,” wrote Gurman.
Somehow, I think that if the price is really competitive, Apple’s bet is that services will subsidize this entry-level MacBook price.
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Apple believes low-cost MacBook will be an ‘incredible value,’ tempting switchers: report — 9to5Mac
Internally, the low-end MacBook is being described as an “incredible value,” with Apple believing the launch is going to drive a serious number of switchers from Windows machines and Chromebooks. It could even compel iPhone users without computers to buy their first Mac.
I’m trying to convince my wife to buy one as she finds the iPad to be lacking for certain tasks. I suggested that we buy one of those new entry-level MacBook to try it out without much obligation as we can return the thing in less than 14 days.
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Anyone new to Objective-C thinks it’s difficult and maybe a bit harsh because [[those squareBrackets] lookInsane:YES].
Once you get past that, which takes a day or two given a good-faith effort, you’ll realize how small a language it is, how easy to hold in your palm and turn around and understand all sides of it. And you’ll appreciate how easy it is to make good decisions when you don’t have a surplus of language features to choose from.
I had many great moments writing in Objective-C (2009-2013) while experimenting with iPhone app development. As someone who learned a bit of C++ in university computer science courses, I thought Objective-C was indeed more approachable. When I peek at Swift code these days, my thinking goes like this: “I’m too old for this shit!”
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Three ways new Apple products next week will modernize iPhone, iPad, and Mac — 9to5Mac
That would mean that every new iPhone, iPad, and Mac supports Apple Intelligence for the first time — oh, and Apple Vision Pro, too.
Instead of downplaying Apple Intelligence, Apple is doubling down on it. They must be confident, even after such a false start in 2024.
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Leaker Says Apple’s Lower-Cost MacBook Will Have These 8 Limitations — MacRumors
While the leaked files are real, this source currently lacks an established track record, so these claims should still be treated with some skepticism.
Well, this information pretty much aligns with the definition of an entry-level Mac.
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Samsung Launches Galaxy S26 Ultra With Built-In Privacy Display and New AI Features — MacRumors
New to the Galaxy S26 Ultra is a built-in “Privacy Display” that makes it harder to view what’s on the screen when looking at the phone from a side angle. It’s clear when looking at it head on, but someone sitting next to you will have a hard time seeing your phone’s display. Privacy Display works at the pixel level, controlling how pixels disperse light. It can be set to activate only for certain apps or situations like entering a PIN, and there are partial and maximum privacy options.
I want Apple to copy this. So clever and quite useful for someone like me who commutes on public transport.
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I like this image for a few reasons. First, it feels a bit like the early nineties, with some mid-century design elements. But this PowerBook Duo station on the integrated desk reminds me of when I was working at an Apple Dealer; I could use a PowerBook Duo in this exact configuration. It was a great and novel product at the time.
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The recent rumors about Apple incorporating touch support into macOS for the M6 MacBook Pro, expected around fall 2026, seem a bit odd. I’m somewhat skeptical about Apple’s abilities lately, particularly after the Liquid Glass reveal. Incorporating an adaptive touch mode on the Mac feels unusual to me. In recent years, Apple made so many changes to macOS to make it look more like iPadOS. I wonder why it needs to add adaptive UI on top of that. And, introducing an M6 MacBook Pro less than 12 months after introducing new M5 models also feels strange.
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Apple accelerates U.S. manufacturing with Mac mini production - Apple
What the Apple press release seems to depict are workers building 2U rack servers. No Mac mini in sight. 🧐🤨
