Apple Event thread - New iPads etc. - Oct. 16, 2014

[dlock13]

Apple designed the timing controller.

http://www.apple.com/imac-with-retina/design/

Uhh... Then how do they explain this monitor using such a resolution?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8496/dell-previews-27inch-5k-ultrasharp-monitor-5120x2880

 

[smackababy]

I was hoping the updated MacMini would have an SSD and not a traditional HDD. I wonder how hard it is to swap on your own. Anyone know?

Oh well, for $500, I will likely be picking one up soon to start some dev work. I would imagine the first $2,000 I make (if I make any), would be put towards a rMBP.

 

[Blackjack200]

Wow, I want one of those iMacs. $2500 though

 

[IndyColtsFan]

I'm not sure why they have 16 GB as the entry model for $499 for the Air 2. They seriously couldn't have bumped that up to 32 GB?

 

[Childs]

Uhh... Then how do they explain this monitor using such a resolution?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8496/dell-previews-27inch-5k-ultrasharp-monitor-5120x2880

I dunno, its not out yet. Maybe they are doing that thing where its essentially two 1440p displays.

 

[Rakehellion]

Uhh... Then how do they explain this monitor using such a resolution?

http://www.anandtech.com/show/8496/dell-previews-27inch-5k-ultrasharp-monitor-5120x2880

It doesn't exist. Also, it's just two monitors glued together. It requires two DisplayPort connectors.

5K requires DisplayPort 1.3 which was just released last month.

 

[Rakehellion]

Sorry Apple, not sticking to a standard 4K resolution on the iMac just seems dumb to me. Plus, whatever GPU you put in there probably can't handle it well.

4K isn't a "standard" because nothing exists for it yet. You can edit 4K video on the new iMac and see every pixel.

Way to make 5K seem worse than 4K somehow.

 

[Eug]

I'm not sure why they have 16 GB as the entry model for $499 for the Air 2. They seriously couldn't have bumped that up to 32 GB?

They did the same thing for the iPhones. I suspect it's because there's a lot of newbies out there who don't really give a damn about base storage, or else just don't know any better.

 

[Steelbom]

Well, I'm surprised. They improved graphics performance substantially without a resolution increase. So the 5S will have "good" performance, the 6 the same, the 6 plus less so due to the much higher resolution, and the Air 2 will have fantastic graphics performance. The Retina Mini will be the same, which is surprising.

 

[tfinch2]

Nice lower price on the iPad Mini 2 @ $299, considering the Mini 3 does not really have any upgrades. I'll probably try to snag one this holiday season when they go on sale.

 

[RussianSensation]

It doesn't exist. Also, it's just two monitors glued together. It requires two DisplayPort connectors.

5K requires DisplayPort 1.3 which was just released last month.

"
Much more interesting is how Apple is driving it. Since no one has a 5K timing controller (TCON) yet, Apple went and built their own. This is the first time we’re aware of Apple doing such a thing for a Mac, but it’s likely they just haven’t talked about it before. In any case, Apple was kind enough to confirm that they are driving the new iMac’s display with a single TCON. This is not a multi-tile display, but instead is a single 5120x2880 mode.

This also means that since it isn’t multi-tile, Apple would need to drive it over a single DisplayPort connection, which is actually impossible with conventional DisplayPort HBR2. We’re still getting to the bottom of how Apple is doing this (and hence the sneaky nature of the iMac), but currently our best theory is that Apple is running an overclocked DisplayPort/eDP interface along with some very low overhead timings to get just enough bandwidth for the job. Since the iMac is an all-in-one device, Apple is more or less free to violate specifications and do what they want so long as it isn’t advertised as DisplayPort and doesn’t interact with 3rd party devices."

 

[jpiniero]

I was hoping the updated MacMini would have an SSD and not a traditional HDD. I wonder how hard it is to swap on your own. Anyone know?

Oh well, for $500, I will likely be picking one up soon to start some dev work. I would imagine the first $2,000 I make (if I make any), would be put towards a rMBP.

BTW, Apple removed the quad core upgrade for the Mini. I think I figured out why - Apple wanted Iris and the quad core models have Iris Pro which would have been too expensive for their tastes.

 

[tsupersonic]

I was hoping the updated MacMini would have an SSD and not a traditional HDD. I wonder how hard it is to swap on your own. Anyone know?

Oh well, for $500, I will likely be picking one up soon to start some dev work. I would imagine the first $2,000 I make (if I make any), would be put towards a rMBP.

It's not that difficult to do, takes about 10-15 mins. - you can get a kit that has tools + an extra SATA adapter - that lets you hook up an SSD along with the stock HDD (dual drive configuration). This all from a 2012 Mac Mini perspective.

 

[LightPattern]

They did the same thing for the iPhones. I suspect it's because there's a lot of newbies out there who don't really give a damn about base storage, or else just don't know any better.

I'll be sending a PSA on my social media advising them not to go for the 16 GB base models... and to stay the hell away from the original iPad mini with ancient specs.

 

[Eug]

I'll be sending a PSA on my social media advising them not to go for the 16 GB base models... and to stay the hell away from the original iPad mini with ancient specs.

What's worse is the re-release of the iPhone 4S with 8 GB RAM in 2013, and then the re-release of the iPhone 5c with 8 GB RAM in 2014.

16 GB is decent enough for entry level users. 8 GB is very restrictive.

---

BTW, here are the Canadian prices for the iPad Air 2:

16 GB: $549
64 GB: $659
128 GB: $769

Subtract $20 for education.

I'm gonna get the 64 GB gold for CAD$639.

 

[mugs]

I'm not sure why they have 16 GB as the entry model for $499 for the Air 2. They seriously couldn't have bumped that up to 32 GB?

Same reason as the iPhone 6 - they want you to buy the next model up.

 

[Steelbom]

I'm eyeing that Retina Mini 2 now... it's got a pretty nice price there now.

 

[tsupersonic]

I really wanted a Mini 3 LTE that was spec equivalent - using the A8x even slightly lower clock speed with the Air 2. This is so disappointing - guess I'm going with the Nexus 9. Or I'll just wait till next generation of iPad

 

[Childs]

I really wanted a Mini 3 LTE that was spec equivalent - using the A8x even slightly lower clock speed with the Air 2. This is so disappointing - guess I'm going with the Nexus 9. Or I'll just wait till next generation of iPad

Not a disappointing as the Mac Mini. You should see the thread over at macrumors...

 

[Eug]

How the iPad has shrunk in thickness over the years:

 

[rsutoratosu]

well, im preordering tomorrow.. i have a 4th gen that is 2 year old, need one with data service for the kids in the car.. plus have a $200 off verizon fios coupon i can use.. so saving a bit

 

[Subyman]

it needs 2 to do 4k correct? I do admit that this seems odd that the imac can now power a higher rez display vs the pro

id love to see a stand alone panel at this rez or 4k, more of them should drive the price down for the rest of the stuff out there

I think HDMI 1.4 and Displayport 1.2 both support 4k @60hz. The Dell 5k monitor needed 2xDP cables to work though. 5K definitely puts them in a strange spot for external monitor support. I'm interested to see how they solve the issue. Requiring two TB ports to run a monitor doesn't seem like a thing Apple would want to do. Especially if someone with a Mac Pro wants to run a dual monitor setup for work, then 4 ports would be used for monitors alone.

 

[Rakehellion]

"
Much more interesting is how Apple is driving it. Since no one has a 5K timing controller (TCON) yet, Apple went and built their own. This is the first time we’re aware of Apple doing such a thing for a Mac, but it’s likely they just haven’t talked about it before. In any case, Apple was kind enough to confirm that they are driving the new iMac’s display with a single TCON. This is not a multi-tile display, but instead is a single 5120x2880 mode.

This also means that since it isn’t multi-tile, Apple would need to drive it over a single DisplayPort connection, which is actually impossible with conventional DisplayPort HBR2. We’re still getting to the bottom of how Apple is doing this (and hence the sneaky nature of the iMac), but currently our best theory is that Apple is running an overclocked DisplayPort/eDP interface along with some very low overhead timings to get just enough bandwidth for the job. Since the iMac is an all-in-one device, Apple is more or less free to violate specifications and do what they want so long as it isn’t advertised as DisplayPort and doesn’t interact with 3rd party devices."

The Dell monitor is tiled, not the Apple.

 

[Rakehellion]

I'm wondering, does the GPU in the Mac Pro even support 5k without multiple cords?

Nope.

On the other hand, Apple hasn't had a Cinema Display in years. You go to the Apple Store and see Mac Pros connected to Sony monitors.

 

[Rakehellion]

I think HDMI 1.4 and Displayport 1.2 both support 4k @60hz. The Dell 5k monitor needed 2xDP cables to work though. 5K definitely puts them in a strange spot for external monitor support. I'm interested to see how they solve the issue. Requiring two TB ports to run a monitor doesn't seem like a thing Apple would want to do. Especially if someone with a Mac Pro wants to run a dual monitor setup for work, then 4 ports would be used for monitors alone.

HDMI 1.4 supports 4K at 30Hz. HDMI 2.0 does 60Hz. Only DisplayPort 1.3 does 5K.

DisplayPort 1.3 was just released a month ago, so the Mac Pros will get it with next year's refresh. I'm 80% sure the new iMacs don't have it since Apple went out of their way to say they aren't using off-the-shelf parts.