#389 - Apple unveils the 8-core MacBook Pro!

This week: Apple releases the MacBook Pro we never thought possible, packed with Intel’s newest 8-core chip! But can a machine this slim handle the heat? Plus: WWDC 2019 is officially on! We talk our keynote predictions. And even more good news, Apple announces two new warranty repair programs to fix MacBook’s most troubling issues… for FREE.

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On the show this week

@erfon / @lkahney

This week's stories

Apple’s wacky unicorn invites press to June 3 WWDC keynote

• Invitations to the keynote address for Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference just went out. The design features a unicorn whose brain is exploding with ideas.
• You can catch Episode #387 for our rundown of all features expected to be announced for iOS 13, macOS 10.5, watchOS, all the OSs

iOS 13

• But Apple is expected to unveil a whole bunch of new and upgraded apps for iOS, a Dark Mode, possibly a new swipe keyboard. They’re adding new features to the Health, Books, Maps, and Messages
• Apple is also planning to let the HomePod respond to different users’ voices, creating a multiuser mode.
• iPad is getting some loving', including an updated home screen, updates to multi-tasking, and the ability to use two instances of the same apps.

watchOS

• New apps for the Apple watch that will make it more independent from the iPhone, health tracking enhancements, and an Apple Watch store so you can download apps on the go.
• Marzipan is set to be unveiled for the Mac, meaning developers can bring their iPad apps to the Mac. This should be interesting.
• Apple will be bringing the Podcast app to the Mac, along with Find my Friends, Find my iPhone, and Screen Time.
• New voice memos app so you can record notes from your wrist.
• New watch faces (from Bloomberg:
• A “Gradient” face that makes a gradient look out of a color the user chooses, at least two new “X-Large” faces that show jumbo numbers in different fonts and colors, a “California” dial that looks like a classic watch face and mixes Roman numerals with Arabic numerals, a redesigned “Solar Analog” watch face that looks like a sundial, and a new “Infograph Subdial” one that includes larger complication views like a stock market chart or the weather.
• Apple is also adding more complications

Hardware

• There’s a chance we could see new hardware, like the new Mac Pro, or Bloomberg says there’s a possibility we’ll see a new Apple Display featuring HDR.

Apple unleashes its fastest ever MacBook Pro

• Apple just brought Intel’s latest eighth- and ninth-generation chips to the MacBook Pro, making it the company’s fastest ever laptop.
• The newest 8-core models deliver up to twice the performance of a quad-core MacBook Pro, and up to 40% more than a 6-core model. They also promise powerful graphics, a T2 Security Chip, super-fast SSDs, and “all-day” battery life.
• Apple also addressed problems with the Butterly keyboard, noting that these new models use different materials in the keyboards which will supposedly reduce the well-publicized issues with keys sticking.
• According to Apple:
• • You’ll get to enjoy up to twice as many Alchemy plugins in Logic Pro X. You’ll render 3D scenes up to twice as fast in Maya Arnold. You’ll get to apply complex edits and filters up to 75% faster in Photoshop. And you’ll compile code up to 65% faster in Xcode.
  • What’s more, video editors now have the ability to edit up to 11 simultaneous multicam steams of 4K video in Final Cut Pro X. And you don’t just get new chips.

All MacBooks with butterfly keyboards are now eligible for free repairs

• Apple updated its Keyboard Service Program today to also include support for the 2018 MacBook Pro and 2018 MacBook Air.
• The news comes on the heels of Apple’s unveiling of new MacBook Pros this morning with 8-core processors and butterfly keyboards with new materials. With the updated program, any MacBook with a butterfly keyboard is now eligible for service free of charge.
• Theory: It seems like Apple has no plans to ditch the butterfly keyboards…

Apple Launches New Backlight Service Program for 2016 13-Inch MacBook Pro Display to Address 'Flexgate’ Issues

• Alongside the launch of new MacBook Pro models, Apple today introduced a new Backlight Service Program for the 13-inch MacBook Pro.
• Strangely, this is the only model Apple will fix even though there have been reports of the 15” also having the stagelight issue