mjtomlin

sbdude said:

Seems less about the capabilities of the M1 chip vs. the "incentive" to move to a mac with an M1 chip. I'm almost certain macs made with an intel chip in the last two years could accomplish the same feat. This is not unusual for apple.

Not really… just about all the above features make heavy use the ANE and ML accelerators on the CPU, which do not exist on any Intel Mac. The M1 contains specialized cores for handling certain tasks that NO Intel based Mac could ever keep up with.

The big issue here is that Apple does not allow 3rd party apps to indefinitely access Bluetooth while they're in the background on iOS. So Tile's tracking system is left at a disadvantage as it is not able to constantly monitor unless their app is open and running. The FindMy system in iOS is allowed, specifically because it is a system level service.

So the question becomes is it ok for Apple to allow its operating system to do this, but not 3rd party apps? And of course the answer is, yes.

iqatedo said:

mjtomlin said:

eightzero said:

Seems that silicon iMac is perhaps a greater possibility given the recent demise of the iMac Pro. 

I'm really on the fence about selecting iMac as my replacement desktop. I've been using iMac since the first models, and my needs are very modest. It is only because my current 2009 27" iMac still meets my needs that I've not been pushed to a decision. I have a second 4K monitor and was going to drive it with a M1 mac mini, but Apple certainly knows how to price iMac to make it an attractive alternative. Looking forward to seeing what they produce.

Well that and the little iMacs haven't been updated in a long time!!! So, yeah, I think the rumored 24" iMacs are waiting in the wings.

I have the same iMac and it is still good enough for what I need. However, I couldn't wait and ended up buying a base model M1 Mac mini and use the iMac as the display for it. It's actually a pretty good set up!

I was wondering how well that works. Thinking of the same route, though my display has been marginal from time-to-time. However, oddly, it is better now than 5 years ago. (Probably something to do with the standard of soldering of the graphics chip.)

If you do it, make sure you get a Mini Display cable and a USB-C to Mini Display Adapter. Stay away from anything that's labeled Thunderbolt.

I also have them connected directly with one another over ethernet, so that I can "Share Screen" of iMac on the mini.

ionicle said:

Would have made more sense to open this in the UK

Not really... Germany is home to Infineon; the company that sold their wireless communications division to Intel. The same division that Apple acquired from Intel 2 years ago. So I'm guessing Apple already has a presence in the area and is expanding it.

The major and seemingly only gripe with Apple, is the AppStore. Which happens to only exist on Apple products, so it's not like it affects any larger market. I do see the AppStore opening up eventually, a little at a time, so Apple's bottom line isn't hit all at once. We're seeing some of that now with the new 15% fee for apps that make less than a million bucks. And I think next we'll see the ability to side load apps on iOS devices. It won't be the wild west like it is on Macs, but it will allow for developer direct distribution.

However, I do also see most of the services being moved to a new subsidiary company; Apple Entertainment. Mainly because some of these do exist outside Apple's ecosystem.