O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: Retail Store

  • Rumor: M5 Pro and M5 Max-based MacBook Pro models could launch between now and the end of March

    Rumor: M5 Pro and M5 Max-based MacBook Pro models could launch between now and the end of March

    Apple may be releasing its M5 Pro and M5 Max-based MacBook Pro notebooks this month and next month.

    Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurmanthe new models could launch before the spring. According to Gurman, a new MacBook Pro is planned to launch roughly alongside macOS 26.3, though he doesn’t necessarily give a strict timeline:

    “I’m told the new models — code-named J714 and J716 — are slated for the macOS 26.3 software cycle, which runs from February through March.”

    While this isn’t exactly groundbreaking information, it helps to hone in on a target date, as well as highlights that Apple’s macOS 26.3 Tahoe update is set to arrive within the coming weeks. Typically, spring Apple products are tied to the x.4 release cycle. Those releases tend to debut in late March or April.

    From a retail perspective, Apple is thought to be running low on inventory for the higher-end M4 Pro and M4 Max MacBook Pro configurations. This tends to happen when a new model is fast approaching.

    Within his new Power On newsletter, Gurman also hints at the possibility of a Studio Display refresh coming soon given that the current model is also in low supply.

    After these product launches, Apple will kick off its much larger product launch cycle, where iPhone 17e, M5 MacBook Air, new iPad and iPad Air models, and more are expected.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Bloomberg

  • Apple updates online Mac shopping experience, shifts to feature selection as opposed to standard configurations

    Apple updates online Mac shopping experience, shifts to feature selection as opposed to standard configurations

    If you’re shopping for a Mac, things just changed a bit.

    Apple recently updated its online storefront with a new ordering process for Macs, including the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Studio, and Mac Pro. Prior to the changes, there were a handful of standard configurations for each Mac. Now, customers must configure a Mac entirely from scratch on a feature-by-feature basis.

    Per Macworld and Consomac, if you were to order a MacBook Pro, you’d begin by choosing a 14-inch or 16-inch display, then decide whether to upgrade to a nano-texture display. From there, you’ll choose the M-series chip and core counts, followed by the amount of custom RAM, SSD storage, power adapter, and keyboard language.

    The entire process is now entirely à la carte, which may represent a significant difference for some customers.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the new Apple online shopping experience for a new Mac, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors, Macworld, and Consomac

  • Apple posts Q1 2026 finances, cites $143.8 billion in revenues, $42 billion profit in best quarter ever

    Apple posts Q1 2026 finances, cites $143.8 billion in revenues, $42 billion profit in best quarter ever

    Apple held its first quarter 2026 earnings call on Thursday, and it was a series of record-breaking returns, with Apple posting revenues of $143.8 billion, a 16 percent year-over-year increase, and $42 billion in profit.

    The iPhone had its best quarter ever, with $85 billion, beating the previous record of $71.6 billion set in the first quarter of 2022.

    Mac sales were down 7 percent year-over-year, which wasn’t surprising given that Apple had only released one new Mac for the quarter in the form of the M5 MacBook Pro.

    Still, Services posted a record quarter with an increase of 15 percent year-over-year, and exceptional growth in Apple TV and Apple Music.

    The iPad also saw an increase of 8 percent year-over-year, and Apple’s sales for Wearables, Home, and Accessories saw a slight 2 percent year-over-year decrease.

    Apple stated that the company now has 2.5 billion activated devices, a new record.

    The breakdowns are as follows:

    • iPhone: $85 billion (up from $69 billion)
    • iPad: $8.6 billion (up from $8 billion)
    • Mac: $8.3 billion (down from $8.9 billion)
    • Wearables, Home, and Accessories: $11.5 billion (down from $11.7 billion)
    • Services: $30 billion (up from $26 billion)

    The RAM price increases that the market has been experiencing did not affect Apple for the first quarter, Cook noted during a conference call for investors. However, he said Apple is now “in a supply chase mode,” and is experiencing supply constraints like the rest of the industry.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via Macworld and investor.apple.com

  • First AirTag 2 teardown video published, internal speaker is now harder to remove

    First AirTag 2 teardown video published, internal speaker is now harder to remove

    Apple’s new AirTag 2 tracking devices began shipping on Wednesday, and YouTuber Joseph Taylor was apparently the first to post an unboxing video and teardown.

    The AirTag 2, in addition to offering improved features such as a longer tracking distance and louder speaker, has apparently been improved upon since the first generation of Apple’s AirTag, which was used by bad actors after its release for unintended purposes. Apple has stated that it has taken steps to mitigate these issues and that the new devices feature “industry-first protections against unwanted tracking.” It specifically highlights two improvements: “cross-platform alerts and unique Bluetooth identifiers that change frequently.”

    Based on a teardown by YouTuber Joseph Taylor, which can be seen here, it seems there’s another change meant to make AirTag 2 less useful to bad actors: the speaker is harder to remove.

    Prior to the end of the video, Taylor attempts to remove the AirTag 2’s internal speaker magnet and comments that it’s much more difficult to take out than the first model. Taylor states that it’s “glued in quite well,” and it takes multiple tools and more effort to take out—though Taylor still ultimately manages to remove it.

    This change, as well as others, could mark Apple’s efforts to eliminate unwanted tracking via the AirTags 2 devices.

    The AirTags 2 are now available for sale and can be purchased at $29 for a single AirTag or $99 for the AirTag 4-pack.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Joseph Taylor (YouTube)

  • Apple releases Pixelmator Pro for iPad

    Apple releases Pixelmator Pro for iPad

    At long last, Pixelmator Pro has arrived for the iPad.

    Apple on Monday released Pixelmator Pro for the iPad, complete with features such as a new touch-optimized workspace, full Apple Pencil support, the ability to work between iPad and Mac, along with the editing tools from the Mac version.

    PIxelmator Pro is an image editing application that was acquired by Apple last year. While there’s already a more basic Pixelmator app for the iPad and iPhone, Apple has stated that the app is “no longer being updated.” As such, in order to eceive new features going forward, iPad users will need to move to the full-fledged Pixelmator Pro app.

    Pixelmator Pro for iPad is compatible with iPad models equipped with the A16, A17 Pro, or M1 chip or later on iPadOS 26 or later.

    The following are some of the Pixelmator Pro features that have been highlighted by Apple:

    • A full-featured Layers sidebar allows creators to use images, shapes, text, and video
    • Smart selection tools for isolating and editing specific parts of images
    • Advanced bitmap and vector masks
    • Super Resolution for intelligently upscaling photos
    • Deband for removing compression artifacts
    • Auto Crop with automatic composition suggestions
    • Apple Pencil support for pressure-sensitive brushing, plus hover, squeeze, and double tap

    Pixelmator Pro for both the iPad and Mac is available via the new Apple Creator Studio subscription bundle, which retails for $12.99 per month or $129 per year in the U.S. A one-time $49.99 purchase option remains available for the Mac app.

    If you’ve had a chance to try Pixelmator Pro for iPad, please let us know what you make of it in the comments.

    Via MacRumors and the App Store