O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: 2022

  • WWDC: Apple announces second-generation Mac Studio featuring M2 Max, M2 Ultra processors

    WWDC: Apple announces second-generation Mac Studio featuring M2 Max, M2 Ultra processors

    Over at WWDC on Monday, Apple announces its second-generation Mac Studio desktop, complete with M2 processors offering up to 25 percent fast performance while retaining the same chassis as the first-generation model.

    The original Mac Studio was released in March 2022 in configurations with an M1 Max or an M1 Ultra processor. This new refresh offers a choice of M2 Max and M2 Ultra processors.

    According to Apple, the unit “doubles the performance of M2 Macs. The 24-core CPU and M2 Ultra delivers 20 percent faster performance than M1 Ultra, and its 76-core GPU is 30 percent faster than M1 Ultra. Finally, the 32-core neural engine is 40 percent faster.”

    The M2 Ultra “can support an enormous 192GB of unified memory, which is 50 percent more than M1 Ultra.”

    The new Mac Studio with M2 Max “now has higher-bandwidth HDMI,” says Apple, “enabling up to 8K resolution and 240Hz frame rates.” Per the company, with the M2 Ultra, Mac Studio can drive up to six Pro Display XDRs. It also comes with Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity.

    The new Mac Studio, which retails from $1,99, became available for pre-orders on Monday with shipping beginning next week.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider

  • No Man’s Sky launches for the Mac via Steam, Mac App Store release coming soon

    No Man’s Sky launches for the Mac via Steam, Mac App Store release coming soon

    While it’s unconfirmed as to whether it might be headed to Apple’s forthcoming headset, the classic action-adventure survival game “No Man’s Sky” is now available for the Mac on Steam, with “another surprise” from studio Hello Games to follow in the “near future.”

    Following last year’s WWDC announcement, Hello Games announced that No Man’s Sky would be available for the iPad and Mac would by the end of 2022. While Hello Games missed that deadline, the game is finally available for the Mac as of Thursday. Hello Games founder Sean Murray teased two upcoming Apple-related announcements earlier this week. Today, Murray seemingly confirmed that the launch for Mac is one of the two teased announcements, meaning another is soon to follow.

    No Man’s Sky is currently available on multiple VR platforms, including the Windows PC and PlayStation VR. When the game was demoed at WWDC last year, it was played on a Mac with the M1 chip. Since Apple’s headset is rumored to feature at least one chip that is based on the M2 chip in addition to a dedicated image signal processor, it should be more than capable of running the game.

    No Man’s Sky is available for the Mac now on Steam and retails for $59.99, with a release on the Mac App Store to soon follow. The game also offers a cross-play feature, which tracks the progress of the game and your campaigns across platforms.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Steam

  • Hello Games founder posts cryptic tweet, hints at possible launch for Apple platforms for No Man’s Sky

    Hello Games founder posts cryptic tweet, hints at possible launch for Apple platforms for No Man’s Sky

    An absolutely amazing game has been teased for Apple’s platforms.

    The founder of Hello Games, the makers of popular action-adventure survival game “No Man’s Sky,” yesterday tweeted two apple emojis, sparking speculation that the studio is teasing an announcement for Apple platforms at WWDC.

    Hello Games founder Sean Murray, who’s been known to tease upcoming announcements via cryptic emojis, teased that No Man’s Sky would be available for the iPad and Mac would by the end of 2022. Hello Games missed that deadline and the game has yet to release for Apple devices, meaning that the two emoji teasers could indicate that the launch of No Man’s Sky for the ‌iPad‌ and Mac is now imminent.

    It’s also rumored that given the widespread energy and hype around Apple’s mixed-reality headset at WWDC in less than a week, No Man’s Sky could be en route for the new device. No Man’s Sky is already available on multiple VR platforms, including on PC and PlayStation VR. When the game was demoed at WWDC last year, it was played on a Mac with the M1 chip. Since Apple’s headset is rumored to feature at least one chip that is based on the M2 chip in addition to a dedicated image signal processor, it should be more than capable of running the game.

    Hello Games has also worked with Apple to publish games on Apple Arcade, something which points to a solid connection and/or relationship between the two companies.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and @NoMansSky

  • Rumor: Apple adds Wentai Technology as additional Chinese supplier for MacBook Pro production

    Rumor: Apple adds Wentai Technology as additional Chinese supplier for MacBook Pro production

    With Apple looking to expand its manufacturing to India and Vietnam, the company is rumored to have recently added an additional Chinese supplier for the creation of its MacBook Pro notebook.

    According to IT Home, Wentai Technology has been mass-producing the MacBook Pro since the end of 2022. That production capacity is reportedly rising rapidly, and the company is increasing its labor force.

    Citing the China Securities Network as well as unspecified sources within the supply chain, Apple is reported to eventually have Wentai produce 10 percent of all MacBook Pro units. Apple’s aim is said to be that Foxconn will make 35 percent, while Quanta will produce 55 percent

    Beyond its current MacBook Pro manufacturing load, it’s been claimed that Apple will gradually move production of the 13-inch MacBook Air to Wentai’s factory in Kunming, southwest China.

    It’s also been rumored that Apple is looking to hand some production off to Wingtech, which functions as a subsidiary of Wentai Technology.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and IT Home

  • Rumor: M3 chip to enter mass production in second half of 2023

    Rumor: M3 chip to enter mass production in second half of 2023

    The M3 chip you’re hankering for is in the works and is said to enter mass production in the second half of 2023.

    Per a tweet by noted analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, M3 chip production will begin “slightly ahead” of the M3 Pro and M3 Max. Apple should use the M3 chip for future models of the 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, 24-inch iMac, and Mac mini, while the higher-end M3 Pro and M3 Max chips are destined for the next 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, which Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman expects to be released in the first half of 2024.

    The M3 is expected to be based on Apple chipmaking partner TSMC’s latest 3-nanometer process, as opposed to the 5-nanometer process used for the M2 chip. As a 3-nanometer chip, this should offer significant performance and power efficiency improvements.

    Kuo also stated that the long-rumored 15-inch MacBook Air will be powered by an M2 chip. Back in June 2022, Kuo predicted that the 15-inch model would also be available with the M2 Pro chip, but he no longer expects this.

    It’s also still rumored that Apple’s next-gen Mac Pro desktop tower will feature an M2 Ultra chip, and it is likely that Apple would finish its rollout of the M2 series of chips before announcing the M3 chip.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors, @mingchikuo, and Bloomberg