14 DAY TRIAL // The first beta of OS X 10.9.4 has been released to the developer community packing a terse set of release notes and an intriguing reference to a new iMac model buried deep within its code. As usual, testers can install this update using the OS X Software Update Seed Configuration Utility.
According to people familiar with the software, Apple tells developers, “This build is being provided to you for testing and development purposes. Should you encounter any problems, please submit a bug report using the online Bug Reporter at bugreporter.apple.com.”
Besides the usual download/install instructions, no additional information is provided regarding the contents of the betas, such as newly-emerged bugs, focus areas, or incoming new features (like 10.9.3 mentioned improved 4K support).
However, there is a little nugget of information that has leaked out from the beta, and that is a reference to an all-new iMac model dubbed “iMac 15,1.” There are actually three instances where the beta mentions the new system, including two calling it “iMac15,n.”
There are several rumors flying around involving Apple’s plans with the Macintosh lineup in the near future, including a somewhat improbable scenario where the Cupertino giant would forego Intel processors in favor of ARM-based chips similar to those used in its range of iDevices (i.e. the A7 SoC currently found in iPhone 5s and iPad Air). However, ARM is very unlikely to be used as a standard in desktop Macs.
Coincidentally, KGI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has released an investor note highlighting the possibility of Apple announcing price cuts across its iPhone and Mac lineups at WWDC. Regarding the iMac, he had this to say:
“...as the PC market remains sluggish, we revise down our 2014 iMac shipments forecast from 4.8mn units to 4.0-4.5mn units, even though we think a cheaper iMac can boost shipments.”
A cheaper iMac could also mean a model with altered specifications, which would require the company to assign the system a different designation in the underlying code of OS X builds (ensuring that the OS knows what system it’s running on). Usually these code references indicate minor revisions. The changes could be so subtle that Apple won’t even bother to highlight them with any formal announcements.
Much bigger announcements at WWDC14, held June 2-6 at San Francisco’s Moscone West, will include OS X 10.10 (the next-generation Mac OS), iOS 8 with its all-new Healthbook app, Maps enhancements, the newly-confirmed Beats acquisition, and more.
Some expect Apple to equip more Macs with Retina/4K displays this year, so this is also a possible announcement in the cards for WWDC.