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macbook

Apple Is Reportedly Bringing Touchscreens to MacBooks As Early As 2025

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According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple is working on adding OLED touchscreens to MacBooks as early as 2025. In the past, the Cupertino company refrained from adding the feature to its MacBook product line, even as its competitors widely embraced the tablet-computer model.

Bloomberg released the report on Wednesday, citing unnamed sources familiar with the matter. Apple has added touchscreens to its other products, such as phones, tablets and smartwatches. However, many Apple execs did not support adding the capability to its MacBook line.

At a 2010 apple event, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs expressed that he found the concept of a laptop with a touchscreen tiring for a user.

“We’ve done tons of user testing on this, and it turns out it doesn’t work. Touch surfaces don’t want to be vertical. It gives a great demo, but after a short period, you start to fatigue, and after an extended period, your arm wants to fall off. It doesn’t work; it’s ergonomically terrible.“

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In 2012, his successor as CEO, Tim Cook, ridiculed Microsoft for merging its tablets and laptops, comparing the move to fusing a toaster and a refrigerator.

In 2021, Apple hardware engineering SVP John Ternus said that the company made the “world’s best touch computer on an iPad.”

“It’s totally optimized for that. And the Mac is totally optimized for indirect input. We haven’t really felt a reason to change that.”

Even while it’s unclear whether Apple will release the touchscreen laptop, doing so would help the company meet the changing needs of its customers and boost sales of its Mac computers.

Apple’s defiance of its co-founder’s vision is likely due to the increasing number of competitors providing touchscreen laptops, including Dell, Lenovo, HP, Samsung and Microsoft. 

Tablet and laptop customers can find what they are looking for in several of these brands’ laptops thanks to their 360-degree hinges and multipurpose features.

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Apple had reservations that adding touchscreens to its Mac product line may cut into iPad sales, which declined in previous years.

However, Bloomberg reports that laptop sales have brought in more revenue. Therefore, it is not surprising that Apple has decided to use touchscreens. Interest in Apple computers has been growing due to Apple’s inclusion of its new in-house processor that improved battery life and performance. MacBook revenue increased 14% in Apple’s 2022 fiscal year to $40.1 billion. 

David McQueen, research director at ABI Research, commented that the distinction between high-end iPads and MacBooks is becoming increasingly hazy thanks to new chips, battery life, and thinner designs. 

By using an Apple Pencil with a 12.9-inch iPad Pro attached to a Magic Keyboard, there is “not much to tell it apart from a laptop experience,” according to McQueen.

“The market has embraced 2-in-1 laptop-tablet hybrids, and maybe now Apple sees the rationale for also adding one to its armory.”

iPhone

iPhone 12 To Potentially Feature 5G Capability, And Other Rumors

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Despite the current coronavirus pandemic, major tech companies are continuing to roll out new projects on schedule in order to create a sense of encouragement and something to look forward to for tech lovers everywhere. Apple, being the most prominent, recently held a virtual Keynote conference where they announced a multitude of new products and software. Now, fans of Apple know that next up is their September Keynote presentation where they, typically, announce the year’s newest iPhone upgrade. 

While there’s no real word on how or when this Keynote presentation will take place, based on the release of iOS 14, many tech experts are gearing up for an iPhone update right on schedule this year. Here’s some of the most anticipated/rumored features that Apple fans are predicting the company will implement in the new upgrade. 

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Disclaimer: These are all rumors/predictions based on what experts typically look for in Apple’s annual conference, none of these features have been confirmed or denied from Apple. 

Typically, the newest iPhone is announced in the beginning of September and released by the end of the month, however, based on trading discrepancies with China, the coronavirus pandemic, and exporting issues in general, experts are predicting the new iPhone will more likely be released in October. 

The iPhone 12 will possibly be cheaper than the iPhone 11, as Apple has been releasing their newer models at cheaper prices and payment plans to appeal to more audiences who miss having the two-year upgrade fee of just $200 whenever they would want a new phone. The iPhone 11 itself was $50 cheaper than it’s previous counterpart, so many are predicting Apple will continue this trend. 

The design is always what fans look forward to seeing every year, however, many are predicting that the exterior of the iPhone 12 won’t be that different from the 11. Tech rumor blogs that are in coordination with Apple factory workers in China claim that so far the only major physical difference in the 12 is a slightly thinner body, however, Apple tends to love to shock their audiences with dramatic physical changes to their devices; for example the removal of the home button and headphone jack from all iPhone models. 

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It’s also been rumored that as a means to promote wireless charging products, the new iPhone may not even have a charging port to plug into. This would further push individuals to buy the company’s wireless headphones, Airpods, as well, as many can still use plug-in headphones through an adapter that goes in the charging port. 

With the iPhone 11 Pro, Apple announced a new dark green color that was widely popular among consumers. Now, it’s rumored that the Pro version of the 12 will also include a dark navy blue shade to choose from as well. 

Many are also predicting that size wise the iPhone 12 will come with options just like the 11 and 11 Pro Max. The screen quality will also have a higher resolution and refresh rate; meaning it’ll be able to switch from screen-to-screen much easier. 

Finally, like most new phone models it’s predicted that the newest iPhone will include 5G connectivity and Apple may even release their own 5G antennas. 5G is a relatively new concept in the tech world but it’s one that all major company’s (Samsung, Google, Sony etc.) are beginning to implement into their personal devices. 

Only time will tell how valid these rumors are, however, Apple fans are notorious for their predictions/source information when it comes to device features and release dates, so it’s more of just a waiting game now.