MacBook Pro

KGI: Kaby lake processors and more RAM coming to Mac laptops this year

Cody Lee ∙ January 16, 2017

Apple is planning updates for its MacBook and MacBook Pro lines later this year, according to a research note from KGI Securities' Ming-Chi Kuo. The noted analyst says the new notebooks will feature Intel's next-generation Kaby Lake processors and updated RAM options.

Kuo says the refreshed 12-inch MacBook models will enter mass production as early as March, and may offer a new 16GB RAM option (currently capped off at 8GB). As for the 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models, he doesn't see production starting until early third quarter.

Following software fix, Consumer Reports now recommends the new MacBook Pro

Cody Lee ∙ January 12, 2017

Following Apple's software fix, Consumer Reports has updated its review of the new MacBook Pro, stating that it now recommends the laptop. The publication says the fix corrects the erratic battery behavior it saw during its initial testing, and all MacBook Pro models now fall "well within the recommended range" in its ratings.

MacBook Pro battery: hidden Safari setting led to flawed results in Consumer Reports tests

Cody Lee ∙ January 10, 2017

Apple has come to the conclusion that a hidden setting in Safari caused the odd battery results in Consumer Reports' MacBook Pro review that kept the publication from recommending the laptop. In a statement to AppleInsider, the company said it worked with CR's team over the holidays and determined that its testing methods were flawed.

Speck’s Presidio cases offer scratch and drop protection for your new MacBook Pro

Anthony Bouchard ∙ January 6, 2017

Apart from the colorful array of iPhone case offerings Speck is known for, they’re also fabled for their popular transparent MacBook Pro cases, which are built to prevent scuffing across your computer’s metallic surface while you travel with it.

Speck is now announcing a new breed of Presidio-based transparent cases for the all-new 2016 MacBook Pro at CES 2017, which for the first time, brings as much as four feet of drop protection to Apple’s premium notebook computers thanks to the company's patented Impactium material.

Consumer Reports reportedly stands by its controversial MacBook Pro battery findings

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 29, 2016

As you probably heard, the influential consumer organization Consumer Reports is not recommending Apple's new MacBook Pro due to inconsistent battery performance. Apple's marketing honcho Phill Schiller responded by saying that the product-testing magazine's test results don't match the company's own data. 9to5Mac reached out to Consumer Reports to learn more about their findings, here's what the magazine had to say.

Schiller: Apple working with Consumer Reports to understand MacBook Pro battery results

Cody Lee ∙ December 23, 2016

Apple is working with Consumer Reports to better understand their MacBook Pro battery tests, according to Phil Schiller. The company's SVP of marketing sent out a tweet late Friday night, saying CR's test results don't match Apple's data.

Schiller's comments follow Consumer Reports' scathing review of Apple's new MacBook Pro, in which the product-testing magazine said, for the first time ever, that it could not recommend the laptop due to inconsistencies in battery life.

Spotify for Mac gains Touch Bar shortcuts

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 23, 2016

Spotify for Mac was updated this morning with support for Touch Bar shortcuts on the new MacBook Pro models, German outlet Giga.de reported. A few handy music-playback controls are now available in Spotify's Mac app directly from the Touch Bar, including common controls such as transport and search, as well as persistent Now Playing buttons like play, pause, shuffle, repeat and the volume slider.

Consumer Reports won’t recommend new MacBook Pros over inconsistent battery life

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 22, 2016

Consumer Reports will not be recommending Apple's latest MacBook Pro models due to inconsistent battery performance, the magazine said Thursday. After conducting a battery of tests, Consumer Reports discovered that battery life across all new Pros varied “dramatically” from one test to another.

On the other hand (as I note in this article), the battery woes might be caused by a software issue in Safari for Mac because Chrome (a notorious battery hog) fared far better in the tests.

Be that as it may, Apple's latest notebooks received low rating and failed to earn Consumer Report’s recommendation “after battery life issues surfaced during testing”. As a result, the new MacBook Pro is the first Apple notebook that did not receive a Consumer Reports recommendation, said the magazine.

Apple extends limited time USB-C accessory price cuts through end of March 2017

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 20, 2016

Apple told The Loop's Jim Dalrymple that it is extending USB-C accessory price cuts from end of the year to March 31, 2017.

Responding to a flurry of complaints targeting the new MacBook Pro, the company originally said a month and a half ago that it would temporarily cut the prices on USB -C adapters and peripherals it sells in its stores through the end of the year.

Duet Display update brings Touch Bar to your iPad

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 20, 2016

Duet Display, an app from ex-Apple engineers that turns your iPad into an extra display for your Mac or Windows PC, was updated today on the App Store with an interesting new feature that adds a Touch Bar to your tablet. Simply use Duet Display's free of charge iOS app to connect to Duet Display running on a Mac with Sierra 10.12.2 or later and enable the new feature in Duet's menu bar settings.

Deliveries for Mac gains full Sierra compatibility, Touch Bar shortcuts & other new features

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 19, 2016

After refreshing Deliveries for iOS with full iOS 10 and watchOS 3 support and other nice-to-haves four days ago, Deliveries for Mac was updated on the Mac App Store with full support for macOS Sierra, Touch Bar shortcuts on the new MacBook Pro and more.

Touch Bar shortcuts can be customized for features like shipping company suggestions when you add a delivery, auto-complete for email addresses, a 1Password button when it's appropriate and more.

Apple took no specific steps to improve MacBook Pro battery life with macOS Sierra 10.12.2

Christian Zibreg ∙ December 16, 2016

The macOS Sierra 10.12.2 software update, released three days ago, removes your Mac battery's time remaining indicator but owners of the new MacBook Pro won't see any improvements to their notebook's battery life as a result of the update.

As ArsTechnica noted, the company “told us repeatedly and emphatically that it had taken no specific steps to improve MacBook Pro battery life” with macOS Sierra 10.12.2.

Now, some people have reported seeing improved battery performance after installing the update on their MacBook Pro, but there's a reasonable explanation for that.