6 Apple Products Just Itching For An Update
March 28, 2014
We know Apple will launch new iPhones and iPads later this year. Less certain are the fates of other products that have long been needing a refresh. Here are six of those products:
Apple hasn’t updated the Mac mini since October 2012. This suggests a Mac mini update is imminent — or the product is about to be put out to pasture. We believe in the former.
Assuming Apple does release a new Mac mini later this year, it will likely come with Intel Haswell processors, as well as 802.11ac wireless and USB 3.0, HDMI, and Thunderbolt ports.
Rumors suggest the next iPhone will look a lot like this workhorse, which was first introduced in 2005 when it replaced the iPod mini. Although a space gray model was released last fall, the iPod nano hasn’t been updated since October 2012.
With the “iWatch” likely to launch later this year, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the non-iOS iPod nano discontinued. Otherwise, an eighth-generation model could arrive this fall.
We’ve been hearing about Apple’s plans to retire the iPod classic since at least 2011. Last September, in fact, the device’s demise seemed like a forgone conclusion. Nonetheless, the only Apple mobile device with an actual hard drive remains, nearly five years after its last update.
The existence of that hard drive is probably what keeps this iPod model alive. For just $249, users can snag 160GB of storage, which is enough to hold around 40,000 songs or 200 hours of video. No other Apple mobile device can achieve this.
The world has changed a lot since 2011, when Apple last updated its Thunderbolt displays. Today, most displays are heading towards 4K. Expect Apple to join the 4K party later this year.
Apple has been very good at updating the MacBook Air each year. Unfortunately, it has yet to bring a Retina display to the lineup. This should change as early as June, which marks the first anniversary of the last MacBook Air update.
As we’ve repeated often in recent months, Apple’s “hobby” device hasn’t been updated since March 2012. This too should change very soon, as we’ve noted here, here, and here.
What products do you hope Apple updates this year?
Mac mini
Apple hasn’t updated the Mac mini since October 2012. This suggests a Mac mini update is imminent — or the product is about to be put out to pasture. We believe in the former.
Assuming Apple does release a new Mac mini later this year, it will likely come with Intel Haswell processors, as well as 802.11ac wireless and USB 3.0, HDMI, and Thunderbolt ports.
iPod nano
Rumors suggest the next iPhone will look a lot like this workhorse, which was first introduced in 2005 when it replaced the iPod mini. Although a space gray model was released last fall, the iPod nano hasn’t been updated since October 2012.
With the “iWatch” likely to launch later this year, we wouldn’t be surprised to see the non-iOS iPod nano discontinued. Otherwise, an eighth-generation model could arrive this fall.
iPod classic
We’ve been hearing about Apple’s plans to retire the iPod classic since at least 2011. Last September, in fact, the device’s demise seemed like a forgone conclusion. Nonetheless, the only Apple mobile device with an actual hard drive remains, nearly five years after its last update.
The existence of that hard drive is probably what keeps this iPod model alive. For just $249, users can snag 160GB of storage, which is enough to hold around 40,000 songs or 200 hours of video. No other Apple mobile device can achieve this.
Displays
The world has changed a lot since 2011, when Apple last updated its Thunderbolt displays. Today, most displays are heading towards 4K. Expect Apple to join the 4K party later this year.
MacBook Air
Apple has been very good at updating the MacBook Air each year. Unfortunately, it has yet to bring a Retina display to the lineup. This should change as early as June, which marks the first anniversary of the last MacBook Air update.
Apple TV
As we’ve repeated often in recent months, Apple’s “hobby” device hasn’t been updated since March 2012. This too should change very soon, as we’ve noted here, here, and here.
What products do you hope Apple updates this year?
