Apple’s priciest laptops have been given a major upgrade. The company announced that it will be refreshing its high-end Macbook Pros on Thursday, with new versions of the computers featuring processor upgrades, which will see the 13-inch model double its speeds, while the 15-inch model will increase its speeds by 70 percent, according to the announcement. Apple’s souped-up Macbooks will also see an increase in their memory and storage capacities, as well as the introduction of True Tone technology — which adjusts the colors onscreen based on the external lighting conditions — into its displays. Most notably, Apple is introducing a new keyboard for the computers that will allow for “quieter typing.” Apple’s Macbook Pro keyboard design has been under fire recently for its rate of failure and high cost to replace. The company late last month announced that it would repair Macbook keyboards for free after acknowledging that they were prone to break. It also said it would make refunds to any users who had previously paid to have their keyboards repaired. Apple’s new Macbook Pros will start at $1,799 for the 13-inch model and $2,399 for the 15-inch model. Apple shares were up 1.7 percent Thursday, closing at $191.11.<doc-sep>Should professionals keep banking on the Mac? Watch Now Video: Should professionals keep banking on the Mac? Well at least Apple updated the processors in its 13-inch and 15-inch Touch Bar MacBooks with RAM, storage and battery upgrades. But that circa 2016 design remains. CNET outlines the details behind Apple MacBook Pro 2018 update, and perhaps the big takeaway is that the 13-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,799 and the 15-inch begins at $2,399. The rest of the Mac models -- MacBook, MacBook Air -- remain the same for now, pending a larger hardware upgrade plan. Apple claims that the MacBook Pro 2018 upgrades make the 15-inch version 70-times faster and the 13-inch two-times faster. MacBook Pro models feature the Touch Bar. Must read: Best ultraportable laptops for business | Best laptops While Apple's update of the guts of the Mac -- not to mention a third generation quieter keyboard -- is nice, the effort is a bit uninspired. In fact, the only thing Apple accomplished was stoking fears that the company is lollygagging with the Mac innovation. After WWDC, the Mac consternation was palpable. Black background was arguably the biggest selling point in Mac OS Mojave. Needless to say, I was wondering what in the Mac was going on. Read also: Everything you need to know about buying Apple's 2018 MacBook Pro | A full-spec updated 15-inch Apple MacBook Pro will cost you $6,699 | Blackmagic eGPU: The future of the MacBook Pro is having more stuff tethered to it It's also worth noting that BlackMagic's eGPU system launched with the MacBook Pro 2018 refresh and may be the most interesting item in the news flow. BlackMagic's eGPU features AMD's Radeon Pro. WWDC 2018: Does Apple still care about macOS? Watch Now But Jason Perlow went all the way to Mac hospice. Perlow outlined why he thinks the Mac platform -- known for ease-of-use, battery life and design -- as we know it is dying. That argument is based on the Mac potentially moving to ARM, a lack of true convergence with iOS and priorities that revolve around other products. Perhaps the iPad Pro replaces the MacBook at some point. Read also: It's gone! 2015 15-inch MacBook Pro vanishes from Apple Store - CNET Meanwhile, the lack of compelling features in Mac OS Mojave highlights how Apple's primary software focus lies elsewhere. Has Apple abandoned professional Mac users? It's becoming obvious to me that Apple's hardware focus is also elsewhere. Apple is doing just enough to keep its base on Mac, but is hardly extending itself. Oh sure, there are predictions that Apple will roll out its hardware refresh in full force with a new iPad Pro, iMac update, and even a Mac mini. But it's likely that Mac updates will be tucked away in the launch that includes the iPhone and Apple Watch. Just like it was at WWDC 2018, the Mac will be a tuck-in afterthought. Does the Mac malaise matter? The short answer: Probably not to Mac profitability. For the quarter ending March 31, Apple's Mac sales were $5.85 billion, flat from a year ago. For the six months ended March 31, Mac sales were $12.74 billion, down 3 percent from the previous year. The Mac lineup simply isn't updated much. Sure, there are Mac OS tweaks with component upgrades, but touch screens, hybrids and other designs are sorely lacking. Read also: Apple's Mac is in a 'sad state', says this popular developer: Do you agree? | Apple suddenly remembers the Mac (or remembers you care about it) | Why Mac users don't really matter to Apple | Introducing the Mac mini Pro Yet, Apple's refresh to the MacBook Pro laptops come as back-to-school season is underway and sets up the Mac for the holiday shopping rush too. The MacBook Pro will also be part of a back-to-school promotion starting today at the Apple Education Store. It's a safe bet that there will be some pop (assuming there are upgrades for the lower-priced Macs), but remember Apple is driven by iPhone sales primarily with services revenue No. 2 and growing at a rapid clip. Mac sales are larger than the iPad for the six months ended March 31, but Apple has more enthusiasm for its tablet than the device that got the company started. Specifications: 15-inch MacBook Pro model: Intel Core i7, Core i9 Max RAM of 32GB, up from 16GB Radeon Pro discrete graphics with 4GB of video memory Retina Display DDR4 RAM 2TB to 4TB of storage True Tone Third generation keyboard T2 system on chip processor for security features Read also: Apple boosts performance of 13-, 15-inch MacBook Pros - TechRepublic 13-inch MacBook Pro model gets: Intel Core i5, Core i7 1TB to 2TB of storage Intel Iris Plus integrated graphics 655 with 128MB of eDRAM Retina Display True Tone Third generation keyboard T2 processor Related stories:<doc-sep>Apple today updated its MacBook Pro lineup, bringing Intel’s 8th generation processors, True Tone display, a third-generation butterfly keyboard and more to the 13- and 15-inch notebooks. If you’re going to be upgrading, follow along for how to get ready to switch to a new MacBook Pro. Particularly if you’re thinking of selling or giving away your current Mac, there are a handful of items to check off your list to make upgrading as smooth as possible. How to prepare to upgrade to a new MacBook Back up your Mac Sign out of iCloud, Apple apps, and other services Deauthorize your machine in iTunes and other software Migrate data to new Mac Wipe your old Mac and reinstall macOS Follow along below for more details: Step 1. Back up your Mac Especially if you’re selling or giving away your current MacBook before you get your new one, backing up is a crucial step. You can follow along with our tutorial on backing up your Mac with Time Machine and any hard drive here. If you’re thinking of backing up and restoring your data manually for a fresh start on your new MacBook you can also skip Time Machine and just drag and drop your important files on your external drive. Unless you really can’t find a way to make it happen, you should have two separate backups of your information. Segate offers 1TB and 2TB external drives formatted for Mac for $60 and $80, respectively. Even Samsung has speedier external SSD options starting at $100. Step 2. Sign out of iCloud and other services Signing out of your Apple apps and services is a good idea, even if you’re going to wipe your Mac. Head to System Preferences → iCloud → Sign Out found in the bottom left corner. Don’t forget to sign out from Messages and FaceTime as well in Preferences → Sign Out. Step 3. Deauthorize your machine in iTunes and other software While you can deauthorize all devices in the future if you need to. It can be less work to deauthorize the one machine you’re getting rid of before wiping it. Open iTunes then in the menu bar up top, click Account → Authorizations → Deauthorize This Computer… While you won’t need to do this for more current subscription/cloud based software from third-parties, it’s also worth a look through your applications to check if any other purchased software needs to be deauthorized as well. Step 4. Migrate data to new Mac If you’re keeping your previous Mac, or you have your new one before selling or giving it away, moving your data to your new machine is ideal. As you go through the set up process when first powering your new MacBook Pro on, you’ll see the Migration Assistant page. You can use this feature to bring your data to your new Mac with external drives and also via a Mac to Mac transfer with target disk mode. Read more about using Migration Assistant here. Step 5. Wipe your old Mac and reinstall macOS With your new machine all up and running with your data transferred, or at least two backups if you don’t have your new MacBook yet, you’re ready to wipe your old Mac. Note: If you happen to be upgrading from a 2016 or 2017 MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, you’ll likely want to wipe out the Secure Enclave data too. You can follow along here for a walkthrough with images on how to erase your Mac and reinstall a clean version of macOS. You can also reference Apple’s Support page here. Finally, you can log into your account at appleid.apple.com to remove your previous machine under Devices. Click your device, then select Remove. For more help getting the most out of your Apple devices, check out our how to guide as well as the following articles: Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news: FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More. Check out 9to5Mac on YouTube for more Apple news:<doc-sep>
APPLE has quietly updated its powerful and popular range of MacBook Pro laptops. The attractive notebooks have been given a major performance boost, thanks to the introduction of new high-end processors. 2 Apple has overhauled the interior of its high-end MacBook Pro laptops Credit: Apple Both the 13-inch and 15-inch models (with Apple's Touch Bar feature) now use the latest 8th-generation Intel processors. Apple exec Phil Schiller talked up the new models, describing them as the firm's best laptops to date. "The latest generation MacBook Pro is the fastest and most powerful notebook we've ever made," Schiller explained. He added that it's the "best notebook for pro users". 2 Apple has also introduced a swanky leather sleeve for the MacBook Pro Credit: Apple Apple's 15-inch model comes fitted with a six-core chip that promises a 70% speed boost in terms of performance. Meanwhile, the 13-inch model is available with a quad-core 8th-generation processor that purportedly doubles performance. Apple is aiming these new models at professional users who need their machines to push out solid performance consistently. But the top models will also appeal to Apple fans who are desperate to have the latest and greatest tech. Apple has also added support for up to 32 gigabytes of memory. Memory is the bit of a computer that lets you multi-task – unlike storage, memory is where all of your temporary files are held. That includes any programs you're currently running. The more memory your computer has, the more programs and apps you can have open at once without issue. The 32-gigabyte upgrade is a major boost for MacBook fans, because it's more than enough for even the most demanding computer work. New MacBook Pro 2018 specs – here's what's new Apple has made some changes... 15-Inch MacBook Pro Highlights: 6-core Intel Core i7 and Core i9 processors up to 2.9 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.8 GHz Up to 32GB of DDR4 memory Powerful Radeon Pro discrete graphics with 4GB of video memory in every configuration Up to 4TB of SSD storage2 True Tone display technology Apple T2 chip Touch Bar and Touch ID 13-Inch MacBook Pro Highlights: Quad-core Intel Core i5 and i7 processors up to 2.7 GHz with Turbo Boost up to 4.5 GHz and double the eDRAM Intel Iris Plus integrated graphics 655 with 128MB of eDRAM Up to 2TB of SSD storage2 True Tone display technology Apple T2 chip Touch Bar and Touch ID Even more excitingly, Apple has fitted these new models with a True Tone display. That's the iPhone tech that adjusts the colour temperature of your screen depending on the ambient lighting where you are. The idea is that the screen will change to show you the best (and most accurate) colours, no matter what environment you're sitting in. It's a popular feature on iPhone, so it's no surprise it's made its way to Apple's top MacBook models too. Another new update is the addition of a third-generation keyboard, which Apple claims will provide "quieter typing". Apple has struggled with its MacBook Pro keyboards in recent months, with some users complaining that they were prone to breaking. The fruity firm has since offered free repairs to remedy this – and bundling a new keyboard onto top MacBook Pro models may help matters too. MOST READ IN TECH BOUNCE BACK Dogecoin founder thanks Elon Musk for tweet as crypto market stages comeback Live Blog LOOK UP Lunar eclipse 2021 LIVE: Blood Moon and total eclipse happening NOW PHENOMENON Lunar eclipse 2021: Why the Super Blood Moon isn't visible in the UK LOST & FOUND New Google Maps feature means you'll NEVER get lost again OPEN WINDOW Microsoft boss reveals NEW 'next-gen' Windows coming six years after Windows 10 BLOOMING Super Flower Moon will fill skies tonight – how to see stunning lunar spectacle All the usual MacBook Pro features are sticking around on these models, too. For instance, you'll get the large Force Touch trackpad, which lets you click (like a normal trackpad), or deep click for additional functionality. These models also come equipped with Apple's Touch Bar, which is a thin OLED touchscreen that replaces the top row of function keys on a normal MacBook. The icons on this bar change depending on what program you're using – so you'll see different keys if you're on Spotify compared to, say, Photoshop. The updated 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro with Touch Bar models will start at £1,749 and £2,349 in the UK respectively.