sumergo

EsquireCats said:

The core problem with the complaints is that people hate change, they hate seeing the industry move on without them and they think it's the industry's fault for progressing without accomodating their particular workflow. Even when the replacement workflow is superior in every single way. A person who starts their workflow today is not going to have any problems with Apple's new laptop, hence the device is not flawed.

Naturally such complaints are myopic - Apple have replaced a laptop which had around 7 static-function ports, with 4 variable-function ports. Each of those 4 ports can replace the 7 on its own. There is simply not an audience that uses every static-function port, but everyone will be able to use the 4 ports on a macbook pro.

Now about "pros" - a lot of people think they're "pros" when they're not, and these criticisms really do sort the men from the boys - a professional doesn't worry about switching out a few inexpensive USB3 cables to keep their current peripherals working with their latest hardware purchase - it's not an outrageous cost to bear, and it's a tiny additional spend when buying a $2000+ laptop. For comparison my first pro laptop cost around $7k (closer to $9k in today's money), it didn't have a VGA port despite VGA being ubiquitous. I didn't throw out my screen, I used a dongle - however when I did eventually upgrade my screen you couldn't even buy a proper screen that still used VGA, and the whole market (myself included) were better for that.

The only complaint in this argument with even a little weight is SD-card based workflows, but this harkens back to floppy-disk based workflows. It's an outdated model, pros switched to wireless transfer for DSLR 5+ years ago, first with adapters, then with built-ins. Even still the alternative to keep using 10 year old hardware is doing just one of the following: switching a single cable, using a plug in device, switching to wireless mode on your DSLR, or switching to a wi-fi enabled SD card.

AppleInsider said:

Potentially adding to a growing list of complaints regarding limitations with Apple's new MacBook Pro, an aftermarket Mac accessories maker reports the notebooks might not be compatible with existing Thunderbolt 3 hardware.

Plugable, a manufacturer of docking stations, adapters and other peripherals, in a blog post this week claims Apple "design decisions" prevent Thunderbolt 3 devices running Texas Instruments controller chips from communicating with late-2016 MacBook Pro hardware.

The aftermarket parts maker discovered the deficiency during compatibility testing of its existing Thunderbolt 3 dock lineup. Specifically, a pair of Plugable's Thunderbolt 3 graphics adapters were found incompatible with a MacBook Pro without Touch Bar test bed, forcing the firm to push back launch of an upcoming docking product. Plugable's flagship TBT3-UDV dock with Power Delivery/Charging, which employs a next-generation TI controller, was found compatible with the new MacBook Pro, suggesting the limitation applies only to older TI chips.

Whether Plugable's findings are accurate is unclear, though it seems unlikely that Apple would intentionally alienate owners with early Thunderbolt 3 devices. Perhaps more plausible is Plugable implemented a chip that fails to comply with specifications adopted by standard bearer Intel.

Apple has not responded to requests for clarification on the matter.

The revelations add to complaints about Apple's redesigned MacBook Pro lineup. After the company unveiled the laptops last week, tech pundits and a swath of consumers decried the new hardware's lack of expansion ports. In particular, some users were upset that Apple removed MacBook Pro's SD card slot, a port deemed vital for professional photographers. Others took umbrage to the lack of USB ports, as the new model requires users purchase an adapter dongle to connect and charge legacy devices -- Apple's own iPhone and iPad included.

In response, Apple SVP of Worldwide Marketing Phil Schiller on Wednesday defended the company's design decisions, but admitted MacBook Pro "might not be right for everyone on day one."

As for criticism that the new MacBook Pro models lack "pro level" features, Schiller pointed to the headphone jack, saying the long-in-the-tooth I/O standard was retained to support professional audio gear. As noted by AppleInsider, however, the 3.5mm port no longer supports optical out capabilities, limiting its utility to musicians, film makers and other pro users.

AppleInsider said:

Responding to concerns over the crippling of Apple Pencil of usability features in iOS 9.3 beta, namely the ability to navigate iPad Pro's user interface, Apple on Tuesday confirmed such functionality will be restored in the next beta build.

Apple's response comes weeks after AppleInsider first called attention to the apparent gimping of Apple's $99 iPad Pro accessory. Apple Pencil shipped last year to serve primarily as a drawing and writing tool, but the device also doubled as a stylus for Springboard input, menu navigation and other operations normally accomplished with a finger. But that changed with the iOS 9.3 beta release in January.

"We believe a finger will always be the primary way users navigate on an iPad, but we understand that some customers like to use Apple Pencil for this as well and we've been working on ways to better implement this while maintaining compatibility during this latest beta cycle," an Apple spokesperson told The Verge. "We will add this functionality back in the next beta of iOS 9.3."

Initially, iOS beta testers expected Apple to reinstate Pencil's secondary capabilities in an ensuing software update, but as of third beta issued on Monday, the device is still limited to in-app functions like drawing. Following yesterday's beta release, some users began to speculate that the decision to restrict Pencil to drawing activities was a conscious one. Indeed, Apple CDO Jony Ive expressed concern that users might "confuse the role of the Pencil with the role of your finger in iOS."

Apple said it temporarily removed Pencil's ability to act as a finger replacement as it works to refine such functionality, the report said. Full capabilities should be restored in the upcoming iOS 9.3 beta, and will assumedly be included in the firmware's final version.

cnocbui said:

boltsfan17 said:

Even if the EU rules against Ireland/Apple, this will be drawn out in court for a long time. Ireland will appeal the ruling if it goes against them. 

If they appeal, I as a put-upon tax payer will ask them loudly why they are doing so as it isn't in my interests nor those of other Irish tax payers that the large US multinationals continue to get away with this unbelievable rort.

This shouldn't just be about Apple, but all the companies that have had their snouts in the trough.

Prof_Peabody said:

karmadave said:

Think what you want of Rupert Murdoch, but he controls one of the world's largest media companies and Apple would be foolish to ignore (or antagonize) him...

Nah, kissing someone's ass just because they are rich or influential is actually a really bad thing to do.  Quintessentially corrupt in fact. 

Apple should have refused to attend IMO, just for the optics alone, although no one really cares about doing the "right thing" much anymore (case in point: you).