Online reports indicate some Apple Stores in the U.S. are setting up queueing areas outside their stores, suggesting they are readying for crowds that could be generated by an announcement at Apple’s “Hello Again” event, to be held at 1:00PM Pacific time today.
A Reddit user has posted pictures of the San Francisco Apple Store where employees are setting up line dividers and measuring floor space as if they are preparing for a new in-store display of some kind. This seems to suggest that the new Mac laptops (or something else?) may actually go on sale today, once the event is over …
Comments in the Reddit thread indicate queues are being setup at other Apple Stores as well. With reports of it happening in Indianapolis, and Hawaii. While the queueing areas may be for new Mac models that will go on sale immediately following their debut today, it could also be possible Apple may announce a “one more thing,” such as a new accessory, or even an updated Apple TV that might be available today. (Apple is expected to at least announce some Apple TV-related app news at the event today.)
Is anything similar happening at your local Apple Store? Let us know in the comments section, below.
The event is expected to feature the debut of new a new MacBook Pro lineup, a refreshed MacBook Air entry, and an Apple TV app that will aid in television show discovery. We could possibly see other announcements and updates.
A major update of the aging MacBook Pro lineup has been long rumored, with reports indicating the revamped laptop will boast a number of changes, such as a thinner body, a MacBook-style keyboard, Touch ID support, and an OLED touchbar replacing the usual row of physical function keys at the top of the keyboard.
Some reports indicate the new laptop will do away with most of the ports present on the current MacBook Pro, including the USB-A ports, the HDMI port, and SD card slot. The new Pro will instead boast four USB-C ports which will support USB 3.1 and Thunderbolt 3.
A 13-inch MacBook Air is also rumored to be ready to debut, also boasting USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 compatibility. The 11-inch MacBook Air is rumored to be on its way out.
Updated iMacs have also been rumored, which are said to feature AMD graphics chips. Also possibly making an appearance might be a much-rumored 5K display, to take the place of the discontinued Thunderbolt Display. The display is said to include an integrated GPU, which would make it an instant favorite among multi-monitor Mac users. However, both the iMacs and the display are considered longshots.
Apple will be livestreaming today’s event, and MacTrast will provide live coverage of the debut of new Macs, as well as any other announcements, so be here at 10:00AM Pacific/1:00PM Eastern Time later today. We’ll also feature a closer look at everything that was announced at today’s shindig, so be here then. Aloha!
