Category: Tech

I wonder if Apple might release a redesigned MacBook Air in two new 12" and 14" sizes that are even thinner, lighter, and smaller, and which may not have a tandem OLED screen like the iPad Pro.

What

• M4? - Redesigned - 12" and 14" - $1199/$1399?
• M2? - Discounted - 13" and 15" - $799/$999?
• M3? - Discontinued

Why

• Make next MacBook Air thin, light, and small
• Offer cheaper old MacBook Air for education
• Keep MacBook Air somewhat lower priced
• Leave tandem OLED for MacBook Pro first

I wonder if Apple should split macOS into two separate operating systems, instead of simply making macOS touch capable. Make one OS for touch operated MacBook laptops with touchscreens, and one for mouse operated Mac desktops with monitors.

What

• Split macOS in two, maybe renamed MacOS and MacBookOS
• Like current iOS and iPadOS, MacOS and MacBookOS have similar apps
• Make MacBookOS a touch first UI for laptop MacBooks, and later iPads too
• Keep MacOS a mouse first UI for desktop Macs, and also iMacs and servers
• Force allow all iPadOS and iOS apps to work only on MacBookOS, but not MacOS
• Make any iPads that are 11" or larger and all MacBooks both use MacBookOS

Why

• iPads become more powerful by having the full power of MacBookOS
• MacBooks become more useful with touch iPad and iOS apps on MacBookOS
• iPads and MacBooks come with powerful MacBookOS, giving people option
• People have option of the all-in-one MacBook laptop or modular iPad tablet
• The most popular segment of "portable computers" are merged into one OS
• Apple Vision replaces the iPad as an entertainment device that can do work too

2024-08-23

• Maybe eventually rename all iPads that are 11" or larger to MacPad
• Maybe allow either MacBookOS or iPadOS to be installed on MacPads

Here are some reasons why I might choose to leave Mac computers, which are also some major improvements that I think may be able to be changed on future Mac devices.

1. 8 GB and 256 GB base instead of 16 GB and 512 GB
2. Memory and storage upgrades are way too overpriced
3. Promised all iPad and iOS apps would work on Mac
4. Most iPad and iOS apps still not available on Mac
5. The MacBook screen has an intruding notch cutout
6. No USB-C port on both sides of all MacBook devices

Quandaries

• Base M-Series is not optimized for fanless devices
• High throttling misappropriates actual performance
• No OLED/Mini-LED displays or 120Hz refresh for Air?
• No touch MacBooks that support touchscreen apps?

I wonder if Apple could have CPU redesign, newer N3P process, and add cores for their A18 and M4 chips. If so, 2024 iPhone and 2025 M4 Macs could be great upgrade for tock cycle, especially compared to year old A15 in iPhone 14, and M2 Macs.

Ideas

• A18 and M4 get more cores with 3+6 - A11 started 2+4
• A18 and M4 use newer N3P process - Skip N3E of others
• M4 focuses on CPU improvements - CPU redesign
• M3 focused on GPU improvements - GPU redesign
• If so, A18 will be worthwhile tock upgrade
• If so, M4 will be solid tock upgrade too
• If so, A18 iPhone could be great choice
• If so, M4 Macs could be good choice too

Cores

• A18 Reg - 3 PC - 6 EC - 6 GC
• M4 Reg - 6 PC - 6 EC - 12 GC
• M4 Pro - 9/12 PC - 6 EC - 24 GC
• M4 Max - 12/18 PC - 6 EC - 48 GC

Dates

• A18 Reg - Fall 2024
• M4 Reg - Spring 2025
• M4 Pro & Max - Summer 2025
• M4 Ultra - Summer 2025

Devices

• Fall 2024 - A18 iPhone 16 Reg - Update - A18 goes in iPhone
• Fall 2024 - A18 iPhone 16 Pro - Redesign
• Spring 2025 - M4 15 inch and/or 13 inch MacBook Air - Update
• Spring 2025 - M4 12 inch MacBook mini - Redesign or M3 12 inch Update
• Summer 2025 - M4 Pro Mac Pro nee Studio and MacBook Pro - Update
• Summer 2025 - M4 Ultra Mac Ultra nee Pro - Redesign or M3 Ultra Update

Hi Matt. Could any of these ideas be favorable?

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I wonder if we should design keyboards to input the bullet point character (U+2022 •) instead of the backtick character (U+0060 `), which is currently the key above the tab key and to the left of the number 1.

Notes

• Why 1 • The bullet point is a very common symbol used in lists and HTML
• Why 2 • The bullet point character is an excellent information separator
• I wonder if the bullet point should be used as a data/table separator
• Column Data 1 • Column Data 2 • Column Data 3 • Column Data 4
• I wonder if the bullet point should be used as a better colon replacement
• Title of This Book • Cool Subtitle of This Book With a Really Long Name
• I wonder if the bullet point could even be used as a filename/URL separator
• Example • 2023-08-20•bullet-point-character-on-keyboards•munro-stewart

August 20th, 2023

I wonder if our personal and work technology future will consist solely of using wearable devices including headsets, glasses, watches, and other future devices. These wearable devices would completely replace all the "screens" we now use including PCs, TVs, phones, and tablets.

Wearables

• I envision Headsets replacing all computers, laptops, and televisions
• We will use these devices while at home or work for everything
• I envision Glasses replacing all phones, tablets, and readers
• We will wear these devices constantly, both inside and mobile outside
• Headsets will be powerful and display any screens or environments
• Glasses will be less powerful and display information differently

Devices

• Headset, Glasses, and Watch wearables will be all most people need or use
• In that sense, we almost merge with technology as it is always present
• Desktop or Laptop will be reserved for power users and old computers
• Even then, a wireless or wired Headset will usually be used as your monitor
• We wouldn't need a Watch, but it makes sense to track our health metrics
• Other wearable devices in the future will make us even more like a cyborg

I wonder if XR headsets will be to the TV set what a laptop is to the desktop. Some people will still use televisions in the future, but most people will transition to use a portable, smaller, and battery powered XR headset instead of a TV.

Notes

• Headsets make the TV portable and smaller, just like a laptop
• Headsets are battery powered unlike a TV, just like a laptop
• They use nearly as powerful of a processor as a console, just like a laptop
• They are fully self-contained and functional on their own, just like a laptop
• Unlike a laptop, the screen will actually appear bigger than a TV
• Unlike a laptop, a Micro OLED screen would appear better than a TV

November 15th, 2022

I wonder if the rumored 5.7 inch iPhone SE could actually be a potential new size and design for the regular iPhone, possibly for fall 2023. The next iPhone SE could be based off that new design with USB-C, possibly for spring 2025 or 2026.

Notes

If there is an earlier iPhone SE in the spring of 2024, I wonder if it would be based off of the 5.4 inch iPhone 13 mini, or the 6 inch iPhone 13. However, they would need to at least slightly redesign the exterior of the device, to add USB-C, and possibly also Touch ID in the power button for cost reasons. Previously, the iPhone SE was not updated for 4 years from 2016 to 2020. Waiting three or four years after 2022 until the next iteration could make sense, to allow it to be based off of a newer design with USB-C, instead of ever having an iPhone SE based on an iPhone from the Face ID and notch era of devices.

I wonder if Apple may end up with a MacBook lineup which mirrors the current iPad lineup, with a 12" MacBook mini and 5 total devices including a super budget device. There would be no 15" MacBook, which goes against some currently suggested rumors.

iPad

• iPad Pro - Large and Small - 12.9" and 11"
• iPad Air - Large - 10.9"
• iPad mini - Small - 8.3"
• "iPad" - Cheap - 10.2": Older design with newish internals

MacBook?

• MacBook Pro - Large and Small - 16.2" and 14.2"
• MacBook Air - Large - 13.6"
• MacBook mini - Small - ~12.2"
• "MacBook" - Cheap - 13.3": Older design with newish internals

Why

• So there are only 2 size choices of the mainstream SKU, Air and mini
• So there is an ultraportable mainstream 12" MacBook with good performance
• So there is a super budget device, but not way too many different choices
• "MacBook" could be old design with updated internals at budget price
• MacBook Air and mini reach main customers who want very portable Mac
• Budget "MacBook" SE would reach budget customers who just want Mac