Following recent rumors that Apple may be preparing a Retina display MacBook Pro, and previous references to HiDPI display modes in OS X Lion back in July, Apple’s latest OS X 10.7.3 developer beta suggests that Apple is continuing to actively work on bringing Retina-like HiDPI display settings to OS X.
In previous builds of OS X Lion 10.7.3, the HiDPI settings have shown up within the application “Get Info” window within Finder with the addition of an “Open in HiDPI mode” checkbox, however, in Apple’s latest developer build, that checkbox has now been removed entirely.
MacRumors explains the significance:
While its removal may suggest a step backward in Apple’s implementation of HiDPI support, it is routine for Apple to activate and deactivate portions of features as it works on them. Consequently, the mere change in the checkbox’s visibility in the new build indicates that Apple is indeed likely actively working on the feature.
In addition, RazorianFly has discovered actual Retina-quality image files in the latest 10.7.3 developer beta, indicating that Apple may be moving ever closer to Retina display support on the Mac.
More than that, if Apple is indeed continuing to focus on HiDPI support in 10.7.3, it may indicate that the final release of the 10.7.3 update could actually implement support for new high-resolution displays, perhaps ahead of an early 2012 release of Retina-like displays, or even a Retina MacBook Pro.