14 DAY TRIAL // Apple spokesman Bill Evans has toned down rumors of iMac refreshes this year, as well as those concerning hardware upgrades for the company's desktop computers, the Mac mini and Mac Pro.
According to Macworld, Bill Evans said that “[Apple's] holiday line-up is set,” “despite Internet rumors of forthcoming product releases,” the article reads. The statement doesn't come as a surprise, but certainly shaves off some hard-earned points of rumor-focused sources like AppleInsider.
Last month, the company was said to be refreshing its entire iMac line sometime in the next four weeks, following the release of its “unibody” MacBooks. Sources close to the Cupertino-based manufacturer allegedly told AppleInsider that some of the parts built inside Apple's latest notebooks would be making their way into revamped iMac models as well. The publication cited people familiar with the company's plans as saying that changes to “the iMac family will largely consist of performance improvements and technology refreshes.” The source also drew attention to the architectural resemblance to the MacBook line, as a potential hint.
Other changes were said to include the processor, the connectivity ports and (maybe) the graphics solution, the source said, pointing out that with Snow Leopard on the way (Grand Central), Apple's Macs would have to boast an increased number of processor cores. As for the new connectivity, AppleInsider believed iMacs were likely to get the DisplayPort now found on Apple's aluminum MacBooks. Apple stated at its event last Tuesday that all Macs would be receiving DisplayPort, so replacing the mini-DVI on current iMacs is almost inevitable.
Lastly, the source also found it possible that new iMacs were getting graphics solutions similar to those available in the current MacBook and MacBook Pro, namely the 9600M GT, citing the same people hinting at Apple's holiday plans.
Having noted all this, it's fairly possible that all of these hardware upgrades materialize. But whether or not they will, Apple's plans don't include a pre-holiday release.