There have been a lot of signs recently suggesting that Apple may be preparing to release Macs with high resolution Retina displays. Today AppleInsider has found even more clues in the form of updated system graphics in Apple’s recent release of OS X 10.7.4.
One such example is in the TextEdit app on OS X 10.7.4. As the above image illustrates (click to see the full-sized version, which illustrates this best, Apple has upgraded the maximum size of their icons to 1024×1024 (compared to 512×512) in 10.7.4. What’s even more interesting, however, is that the image is only listed as having 512 points.
The doubling of pixels in application icons suggest that Apple is planning to introduce new Macs with ultra-high-resolution screens, much like the Retina displays currently found on the iPhone, iPad and iPod touch lineup. Apple’s new iPad, released in March, packs 3.1 million pixels onto its 9.7-inch display, giving it a higher resolution than a high-definition 1080p television.
This is just the latest piece in a long series of hints suggesting that Apple is continuing to work on optimizing Mac OS X for next-generation high-res displays. Clues have been found throughout OS X (in updated system graphics, cursors, and a hidden HiDPI mode), and in Apple’s Messages for Mac beta.
The fact that Apple is continuing to update system graphics and resources with high-resolution versions is very telling, and seems to suggest that Retina-level Macs may be coming sooner rather than later, and has been testing their own apps with high-res imagery to make sure everything looks like it should!
Additional rumors have suggested that Apple may be preparing to update their MacBook line with a Retina display featuring four times the resolution of the current 15-inch MacBook Pro display at 2880×1800 pixels.
Considering that Apple’s MacBooks and iMacs are due for an update, the fact that Intel specifically hinted at “Retina” display support in their Ivy Bridge processors, and with OS X 10.8 Mountain Lion set for release this summer, it will be interesting to see what Apple has in store.
