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Apple's MacBook Pro isn't the touchscreen laptop it ought to be
Ever since Phil Schiller brought up the issue while introducing the second-generation MacBook Air, Apple has made a point of publicly resisting the pressure to introduce touchscreen Macs. Computers need a fundamentally different interface than your smartphone or tablet, Apple argues, and it's cumbersome to keep raising your hand to the display. However, the new MacBook Pro's Touch Bar really amounts to a confession -- it's an acknowledgment that touch input can improve your computing experience, and that Apple has been missing out on technology that some PC users take for granted. As big a step forward as the Pro may be, it's not necessarily the giant stride that you might like.
The new 15-inch MacBook Pro can push four 4K monitors at once
Thanks to that discrete Radeon graphics chip in the new 15-inch MacBook Pro, users can run nearly 43 million pixels worth of lag-free screen real estate from their laptop. Tucked into the tech specs for the new notebook is the clarification that Apple's new top-of-the-line portable machine can power four displays with 4096 x 2304 4K resolution with zero lag at 60Hz and full color. If you're in the market for a 5K flagship monitor, the new MacBooks can still power two of them alongside the built-in retina display as well.
LG's latest 5K screen is Apple's new flagship display
If you're eyeballing Apple's new MacBook Pro line, but you need even more screen real estate than 15 inches of Retina display -- LG has already got you covered. Taking the place of Apple's own, discontinued Thunderbolt Display, the LG 27-inch UltraFine 5K and 21.5-inch UltraFine 4K displays are stepping up as the new go-to companions for the MacBook Pro's sharp new screen and limited port variety.
Watch Apple's MacBook Pro event in nine minutes
In contrast to Microsoft's everything-and-the-kitchen-sink approach to announcements just a day earlier, Apple's "Hello Again" event was a more focused affair. However, there was still a lot to take in. How does the new MacBook Pro's Touch Bar work, exactly? And what's this TV app that Apple introduced? Don't worry about having to spend ages reading (or watching the full replay) if you don't have time, though. We've recapped the entire presentation in a 9-minute video, so you can get the gist of Apple's media shindig in the time it takes to grab a drink. Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple's "Hello Again" event.
Apple's 'Hello Again' event by the numbers
Well, that was unusually brief. Apple debuted just three new products during its "Hello Again" event held today. The company showed off its new almost-all-in-one TV app (which somehow doesn't include Netflix), a fully revamped Final Cut Pro X and the newest additions to the MacBook Pro line. There wasn't even a "one more thing" moment. Man, I sure do miss those. Here are some numbers, because how else will you know how many input ports Apple decided to remove from this year's model? Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple's "Hello again" event.
Does the iPad Air have a future at Apple?
During its "Hello Again" keynote in Cupertino today, Apple debuted its newest MacBook Pro as well as an overhaul of Final Cut Pro X and an all-in-one video entertainment app simply titled, TV. But surprisingly, there was not a word spoken about iPads.
Apple's new MacBook Pro is slim, trim and has a stunning screen
We knew it was coming, and now it's here: Apple's newest MacBook Pro. It's thinner, it's lighter and it comes with a better screen than the Pros of yesteryear. But, given how much of the company's presentation was dedicated to it, the showstopper for the new MBP is a truly unique hardware feature in the world of computing -- an OLED screen embedded in the keyboard called the Touch Bar.
The 15-inch MacBook Pro vs. the competition: More than touch
The larger MacBook Pros have always been about getting serious work done, and now you might be able to do even more thanks to the new Touch Bar. But there are plenty of other 15-inch machines to choose from -- they may not have an OLED touch strip, but keeping features like USB 3.0 ports and an SD card reader can make a big difference in your routine. We've put some current mid-size laptops toe-to-toe with the new 15-inch MacBook Pro to see which one is best equipped to tackle your day.
You'll need a new cable to connect the MacBook Pro and iPhone 7
Today, Apple unveiled brand new MacBook Pros with a dynamic Touch Bar and a quick (albeit forced) migration to USB-3 (AKA Thunderbolt). Of course, it's Apple's prerogative to continue to push its customers toward better standards. It did it with USB back in the '90s and removed the headphone jack on its phones because it wants everyone to go wireless. But while it's evolving its ports, it also just made every iPhone owner who wants one of these computers buy a new dongle.
The 13-inch MacBook Pro vs. the competition: Small but effective
It's been a while since we've seen a revamp of the MacBook Pro, and this year's models are definitely a big change thanks to the new OLED touch bar. Meanwhile, rival companies have been busy releasing machines that are increasingly more powerful, slimmer and even a bit sexy. We've highlighted some of the more outstanding small and light machines on the market here to see which slim chassis brings the most thunder under the hood.
UK pricing for Apple's new MacBook Pros
So, Apple's "Hello Again" event is over, and it turned out to be a little lighter than first thought. The company announced a new all-in-one guide for Apple TV, as well as Minecraft hitting the little box before the end of the year. The new MacBook Pro lineup was the main reason people showed up, though. They are thinner and lighter, with brighter screens and improved performance, though they seem to have misplaced standard USB ports. The new OLED Touch Bar with Touch ID that replaces the function keys is the big addition to the top-end 13-inch and 15-inch models, offering contextual controls based on what program you're using at the time (where supported, of course). We know what you're here for, so we'll cut to the chase. What's the damage?
The writing is on the wall for MacBook Air
Apple hasn't updated the MacBook Air since 2015 and it's not going to any time soon. Instead, the company today phased out the $900, 11-inch MacBook Air. Only the $1,000, 13-inch MacBook Air remains available on Apple's store, and the company has instead gone all-in on the new line of MacBook Pros.
The new MacBook Pro goes all-in on Thunderbolt and USB-C
The rumors are sadly true: Apple is ditching standard USB ports on the new MacBook Pro. Instead, the next version of the laptop will feature a quartet of Thunderbolt 3 ports, which have the same shape as USB-C. More than that, MagSafe is going extinct as well. Meaning, any of your other chargers won't work here in case you trip over the new one and rip it in half. The one port Apple didn't get rid of? The headphone jack. But hey, there's always next year for that sort of courage, right? Click here to catch all the latest news from Apple's "Hello again" event.
Meet the MacBook Pro's new Touch Bar with TouchID
Apple has unveiled its newest line of MacBook Pro notebooks, and true to the leaks, it comes with an OLED strip instead of function keys. As the company's Phil Schiller notes, function keys are a decades-old technology that shouldn't really have a place in a laptop from 2016. In its place, the company is adding a retina display touchscreen (with multitouch) that it's calling the Touch Bar. As well as contextual menus that change depending on what app you're in, the power button on the far right now doubles as a TouchID sensor.
Apple unveils a thinner MacBook Pro with an OLED 'Touch Bar'
Apple's long-awaited MacBook Pro refresh is finally here and it's, well, pretty much what we expected. That's Apple's fault, partially, after a recent macOS update revealed details about the laptop's OLED touch strip -- now known as the "Touch Bar" -- and Touch ID sensor. Instead of having the usual function and hardware control keys at the top of the keyboard, the Touch Bar will offer contextual options depending on what you're doing. As usual, the new MacBook Pros will be available in 13-inch and 15-inch options, and they're both thinner and lighter than the previous generation.
'Minecraft' is coming to Apple TV
Today's Apple event might be about new Macs, but the company is taking time to detail updates for its other products too. First up: Apple TV. On stage today, CEO Tim Cook said that the box now offers access to over 8,000 apps, and will soon become home to one of the most popular games on both consoles and mobile: Minecraft. That's right, Microsoft's huge open-world sandbox game will be available on Apple TV "by the end of the year."
The new Apple TV app is: TV
The rumored TV guide app for Apple TV is here, just unveiled at the company's event. It brings TV and movies from the box's various apps into one browsable location. As demonstrated on stage by designer Jen Folse, pressing play within the guide can immediately start a video stream in an app like HBO Now, without any intervening menus. The main "Watch Now" menu knows which apps you've signed into with its unified login feature, and will show options that you have access to. "TV" isn't just for Apple TV either, as the app is also accessible from iPhone and iPad.
We're liveblogging Apple's 'Hello Again' MacBook launch!
Hello again, indeed! If it feels like we were just doing this, it's because... we were. Apple held an event last month to unveil the iPhone 7 and Apple Watch Series 2. There was much fanfare and we had quite a bit to say about it all. Now, just a few weeks later, Apple is back, hosting yet another event, with this one rumored to be all about MacBooks. Rumors point to refreshed 13- and 15-inch models, obviously with newer chips inside, and very likely some smaller ports along the edges. We'll also be curious to see if the long-neglected MacBook Air line gets some love, or if it gets the axe. (Or, it could die a long, slow death, the way the iPod Classic did.) One thing you probably won't hear about at this event: those rumored MacBooks with E Ink keyboards. If those are even real, they're not expected until at least 2018. With those expectations set, get comfy and hunker down as we give you the blow-by-blow on today's keynote. (And stay tuned afterward for our first impressions of the new devices, once we get to see them in person.)
How to watch Apple's 'Hello Again' event
Roughly an hour from now, Tim Cook and pals will take to the stage at Apple's "Hello Again" event. The redesigned MacBook Pro complete with OLED touch strip and fingerprint reader is already out of the bag, and we expect there could be more updates across the MacBook range. Other than a shoutout to the next iteration of macOS, though, who knows? New iPads maybe, or iMac refreshes? Perhaps even a surprise or two.
What to expect from Apple's 'Hello Again' event
Apple is sneaking in one more big product unveiling before 2016 comes to a close, and expectations for new Macs are running high. And how couldn't they be? Aside from last year's iMacs and the 12-inch MacBook, Cupertino's computer lineup has gone largely untouched since 2015 -- and there are numerous systems that have remained the same for even longer. But which Macs are going to get an upgrade on Oct. 27th? And is there a chance that other devices will get their moment in the sun? We've rounded up some of the more credible rumors to give you a sense of what's likely in store.
