Apple Bogarts Xbox Series X|S Day for Mac Event
- Paul Thurrott
- Nov 02, 2020
-
46
Apple is holding a special event for its new ARM-based Macs, and it’s doing it on the same day that Microsoft is releasing Xbox Series X|S. For some reason.
“One more thing,” the press invite to the Apple event reads, referring to the famous Steve Jobs quote. “Please join us for a special Apple Event from Apple Park. Watch it online at apple.com. November 10, 2020. 10 a.m. PST.”
Windows Intelligence In Your Inbox
Sign up for our new free newsletter to get three time-saving tips each Friday — and get free copies of Paul Thurrott's Windows 11 and Windows 10 Field Guides (normally $9.99) as a special welcome gift!
"*" indicates required fields
The November 10 date is, of course, the same day that Microsoft will release its new consoles, the Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S. But it’s also the third Apple virtual event in as many months: In September, Apple announced Apple Watch Series 6, Fitness+, and Apple One. And in October, the firm announced its new iPhone 12 lineup.
For Windows fans, of course, the Mac event will land with a sense of dread and anticipation. Like Microsoft, Apple is moving its desktop platform to ARM, but unlike Microsoft, Apple is going all-in and is widely expected to offer ARM-based Macs that significantly out-perform Windows 10 on ARM. We’ll see, of course.
Also unclear is which Mac—or Macs—that Apple will transition first. One might assume that a low-end Mac would make the most sense, and some rumors do point to a new 12-inch MacBook. But Apple is also rumored to be prepping a MacBook Pro as well. Again, we’ll see.
Conversation 46 comments
-
yoshi
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>"Bogarts". I hope this word never dies.</p>
-
markld
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590292">In reply to yoshi:</a></em></blockquote><p>So freaking true, thanks </p>
-
shameer_mulji
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>"<span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">some rumors do point to a new 12-inch MacBook"</span></p><p><br></p><p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">Latest rumors point to two 13" models: so 13" MBA / MB & 13" MBP</span></p>
-
Vladimir Carli
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590293">In reply to shameer_mulji:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I’m also reading about the 16 inch MacBook Pro. It seems that Apple is going all in and not updating only the slowest notebooks of the line</p>
-
sammyg
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590327">In reply to Vladimir:</a></em></blockquote><p>16 inch rumor was squashed. </p>
-
ngc224
Log in to Reply<p>My guess is there will be at least one Macbook “Pro” with an Intel processor. Apple learned from the disaster of Microsoft’s Surface “Pro” X that didn’t deliver a “Pro” experience.</p>
-
nazmuslabs
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590304">In reply to ngc224:</a></em></blockquote><p>A Mac pro maybe but not a macbook pro. The A12 bionic chip rums laps around Surface X’s SQ1 100 times and stills has time to breath. The chip on the Surface X is a pentium II when compared to Apple’s A12 and A13 chips</p>
-
Vladimir Carli
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590317">In reply to NazmusLabs:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>actually the rumors are also about a Mac Pro next year. This risks being very embarrassing for Microsoft and Qualcomm </p>
-
reefer2
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590304">In reply to ngc224:</a></em></blockquote><p>You are most probably wrong. Apples earlier transitions left the previous platforms with no new models. You have to understand that this is a company that have done this before and with a mercilessly follow through. </p><p>Surface Pro X is a half baked product that is only used as leverage against Intel and cant in any way be compared to Apple Silicon.</p>
-
bhofer
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590366">In reply to reefer2:</a></em></blockquote><p>Tim stated they still have new Intel-based Macs in the pipeline during WWDC when Apple Silicon was announced, so there will be new Intel ones too (for now). The transition to Apple Silicon for the entire Mac lineup won't be complete until two or three years. It won't be a hard cutover, like in the past.</p>
-
reefer2
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590508">In reply to bhofer:</a></em></blockquote><p>No, no new Intel Macs will occur.</p>
-
rm
Log in to Reply<p>Well, they will lose some of their audience then. I will be paying attention to the Xbox news myself. Of course, some will do the opposite.</p>
-
dftf
Log in to Reply<p>Not too sure this will make much of a difference — it's supposed to be a macOS event about the move to Apple Silicon which won't interest (or make sense to!) something-like 95% of the public. As long as their apps work, they don't care beyond that and will only take-notice of things like any major battery-life improvements it might offer, which they'll just hear-about in regular news after.</p><p><br></p><p>And how-many owners of an Xbox console also own a mac desktop or laptop, so would have reason to watch Apple's event?</p>
-
Chris_Kez
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590323">In reply to dftf:</a></em></blockquote><p>I think Paul’s point is just that Apple having a Mac announcement will reduce same-day coverage for Xbox. There is only so much press attention to go around, and Apple releasing a new Mac platform is going to get a lot of that attention.</p>
-
sammyg
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590365">In reply to Chris_Kez:</a></em></blockquote><p>Really? Because gaming news outlets are going to cover Mac news? Or Apple centric news sites are going to cover the Xbox launch?</p><p><br></p><p>I will make sure to checkout Macrumors or Appleinsider for Xbox news. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
-
Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyYes.
-
sammyg
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590323">In reply to dftf:</a></em></blockquote><p>"And how-many owners of an Xbox console also own a mac desktop or laptop, so would have reason to watch Apple's event?"</p><p><br></p><p>Actually as a happy Mac user, I have no qualms in saying that gaming on a Mac is a complete joke. So lots of Mac owners, like to game and they game on a console.</p><p><br></p><p>I have had a gaming PC for since my first 286-12mhz I built. In 2007/Vista days I moved my personal computing over to the Mac and have never looked back. I work in IT so I still touch Windows quite a bit at work, but less and less. I kept my gaming PC going but only used it for that. When the PS4 came out I got it and have slowly moved to console gaming. I got and Xbox One X Scorpion addition on its launch day and have a XSX pre-order.</p><p><br></p><p>My desk in my office has a desktop Mac with a 27inc 4K monitor and right next to it my X1X with a 27 inch 1440p/144hz gaming monitor. I am running the X1X at 120hz 1440p with VRR….and I love gaming on it, as much as I love my Mac's for computing. My XSX will take the place of the X1X next Tuesday. </p><p><br></p><p>My gaming PC is on my work bench in the basement. I am giving the 2070 Super in it, to someone and getting their 1060. If AMD CPU had a built in GPU I would just use that. That PC will be used to for something…I guess?? Watch Youtube videos on how to fix something I have on the bench? Like taking about a lawn mower carburetor 🙂 </p>
-
glenn8878
Log in to Reply<p>Apple had record sales of Macs. This will be interesting. I'm in no mood of switching, but I'm firmly in the Apple iPhone ecosystem. It's too bad Microsoft bailed out on Windows Phone when it should have stayed in.</p>
-
scovious
Log in to Reply<p>Coming soon, we are bravely removing more features and compatibility from our products to make us more profit! </p><p>-Apple</p>
-
lezmaka
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Apple's also overshadowing patch Tuesday with their silly little event!!</p>
-
Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyDAMNMIT
-
dcdevito
Log in to Reply<p>I can’t wait to see what’s in store for Apple Macs. I’m excited about the future of MacOS. </p>
-
Truffles
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590370">In reply to dcdevito:</a></em></blockquote><p>Me too. This feels like a 'go big or go home'-moment for Apple, so my guess is they'll demo what they have now but more importantly announce the road map for their entire range of portable and desktop computers. Perhaps not the specs or the designs, but something like "iMac in 1st quarter, Mac Pro in 3rd quarter" etc</p>
-
RonV42
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Hey they may announce that Mac is now a gaming platform 8K graphics for Flappy Bird.</p>
-
dallasnorth40
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>I don't care about Macs, so I'm good.</p>
-
briantlewis
Log in to Reply<p>My wallet is going to be so sad.</p>
-
SRLRacing
Log in to Reply<p>The technical term for this is: a dick move. </p>
-
Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to Replylol yes
-
SvenJ
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#590409"><em>In reply to SRLRacing:</em></a><em> </em>You know both companies had this planned well in advance, and didn't share their calendars. Just because one announces earlier doesn't make it incumbent on the other to change their plans. </blockquote><p><br></p>
-
brettscoast
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<p>Apple being Apple still trying to hog the limelight. Interesting word bogart had to look it up:)</p>
-
waethorn
Log in to Reply<p>Apple making a message pretty clear here: Windows on a Mac won't be feasible, possibly not even an option in the future.</p>
-
SvenJ
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#590414"><em>In reply to Waethorn:</em></a><em> </em>Parallels was shown running on an ARM Mac at the announcement. So, not dual booting (Boot Camp), but seemingly what most people need, that one Windows application they can't do without. </blockquote><p><br></p>
-
nbplopes
Log in to Reply<p>The thing Im most curious about is if Apple will take this as an opportunity to close the macOS app “sideloading” loop further and to which point.</p><p><br></p><p>For me either they accompany this with some exciting design </p><p> or this it will be … ok Mackbooks are joaninha ARM … next.</p><p><br></p><p>On the matter of overlapping date …. don’t think it matter. MS already told everything there is to tell about the X, it’s just a last push before Christmas. The target crowd is also very different.</p><p><br></p><p>Myself I will probably see “live” the Apple one. it has the potential to change more things in the tech landscape than the X.</p><p><br></p><p>PS: I miss the days when where I could program on a game console. In fact it was on a game console where I have my first programming steps Timex Z80 and ZX Spectrum. XBOX programming …. that would be cool for my 10th and 13th year old kids.</p>
-
thurrotcommentator
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590417">In reply to nbplopes:</a></em></blockquote><p>Regarding your PS, I also started on ZX Spectrum and ZX81! FYI you can do Xbox programming, UWP apps run on XBox fine (Ive written and released my own). You will need a Windows machine on the same network to connect to it for debugging etc, but it all works rather well in my experience and the set up was very easy. Hope it helps. :)</p>
-
nbplopes
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590487">In reply to thurrotcommentator:</a></em></blockquote><p><br></p><p>I know we can program for XBOX using a Windows machine. Back in the days we could use the console to make little programs for the console, no other things were necessary.</p><p><br></p><p>I understand that today things got more complex and sophisticated to the point mechanic keyboards became a thing 🙂 But for kids and teens to start doing some stuff I believe it would be excellent if some level of support was there.</p><p><br></p><p>In the iPad kids have the Swift Playgrounds.</p><p><br></p><p>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cT8y7fNEMuw</p>
-
longhorn
Log in to Reply<p>There are many large cross platform software projects: Chromium in all kinds of variants (including Electron), Firefox, VLC and even games.</p><p><br></p><p>I wonder how/if these will transition to ARM. Chromium runs on ARM already so it's possible ARM Macs won't suffer from worse software compatibility. Then the question is how many are willing to buy a Mac that can't run Windows?</p><p><br></p><p>In the past many Mac users used Windows for compatibility. Windows won't be an option for ARM Macs unless Parallels shows up on the virtual stage and announce their software for ARM Macs.</p><p><br></p><p>I'm sure ARM Macs will be plenty powerful, but there is also a risk for iPhoneification of Macs.</p><p><br></p>
-
behindmyscreen
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590435">In reply to longhorn:</a></em></blockquote><p>I am planning my next computer to be an apple silicon Macbook Pro.</p>
-
sammyg
Log in to Reply<p>???? </p><p><br></p><p>The two have nothing to do with each other. A super Xbox user is not going to care about new Macs and vice versa. </p>
-
Chris_Kez
Premium MemberLog in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590438">In reply to sammyg:</a></em></blockquote><p>So is your position that it doesn’t matter when you have your event, because the super users will find it? That the entire practice of timing when you release news should be scrapped? Monday, Friday, Saturday, holiday, doesn’t matter? Day of the Presidential election just as good as the Tuesday before or after? </p>
-
Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyI care about Xbox and the Mac. I assume many others do as well. It’s all personal technology.
-
behindmyscreen
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590459">In reply to sammyg:</a></em></blockquote><p>I assume they will say "use the iPad version" and then they will add features that present when you are using a Mac.</p>
-
SvenJ
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#590472"><em>In reply to Bob_Shutts:</em></a><em> </em>I'm sure they did. I don't imagine either C-Suite woke up and said, lets have a release event next week.</blockquote><p><br></p>
-
SvenJ
Log in to Reply<blockquote><a href="#590459"><em>In reply to sammyg:</em></a><em> "</em>Example will Adobe make a version of PhotoShop that is equal to their Intel version". Maybe not but they'll darn sure make one equal to their current Mac version.</blockquote><p><br></p>
-
sammyg
Log in to Reply<blockquote><em><a href="#590505">In reply to SvenJ:</a></em></blockquote><p>???? The current version (Intel, x86/64) is the same on both Windows and Mac today in terms of features. </p><p><br></p><p>I want the Mac on ARM to succeed so I want the ported version of Adobe CC to be equal, in terms of features, to the Intel versions and not some slight update of their iOS versions. </p><p><br></p><p><br></p>
-
SvenJ
Log in to Reply<p>The good news is these 'events' are likely pre-recorded. Apple's surely is. That means you can watch them 'live' or immediately after they end on Apple TV, YouTube or wherever. Only folks disadvantaged are those who make a living telling you what they said.</p>
-
Paul Thurrott
Premium MemberLog in to ReplyFolks who make a living explaining what Big Tech companies like Apple *really* said/did are in great shape, since that need will always exist.