Think software not hardware for WWDC 2016

By Rene Ritchie
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An external GPU (eGPU)-powered Apple Display won't be among the things announced at WWDC 2016.

There'd been some speculation on Twitter and rumor reports about Apple possibly introducing a display with an integrated eGPU. Theory being, it would take some of the graphical processing overhead off MacBooks and/or facilitate a single-cable connection that could drive 5K. It sounds cool, but I asked around, and it's not happening at the keynote or any time in the immediate future.

So, scratch eGPU off your list for now, but keep your eyes locked to the keynote on Monday, June 13, for lots of other amazingly cool stuff.

We'll be there live to bring you back all the action!

Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.

22 Comments
  • So does this mean no Thunderbolt Display period, or just not one with an eGPU?
  • Confused by that as well.
  • Watch the WWDC, and tell us.
  • The important thing here is that this post is the biggest evidence that Rene has someone at Apple in the capacity to know "stuff". We all knew that, but it's a nice confirmation.
  • Thunderbolt 3 supports single-cable 5K, anyway (it only supports DisplayPort 1.2, but it supports two DP 1.2 streams over one port/cable).
  • The real question is whether Rene has become the new, more loquacious successor to John Gruber. Yep. OR maybe we should check out Daring Fireball and see if Gruber has quoted Renee and added his famous imprimatur.
  • No Apple Display with integrated GPU at WWDC or An external GPU (eGPU)-powered Apple Display won't be among the things announced at WWDC 2016.???
    its Integrated GPU or eGPU (external GPU)??
  • "introducing a display with an integrated eGPU." how can an INTEGRATED GPU to be external GPU ?
  • Because it's external to the main computer.
  • Wow Rene. The authority of this post scares me. Looks like Rene has a personal line to Cook.
  • I personally think Apple is done making external monitors.
  • " lots of other amazingly cool stuff." sorry I haven't seen anything coming from Apple in a long time. I will look with interest and will have my credit card ready.
  • Honestly, I thought this was obvious that it wouldn't be at WWDC. Why release something like this when you don't have any systems that can use it? The redesigned Macbook / Macbook Pro's with Thunderbolt 3 won't be released until coming Fall. So how anyone can be surprised its not coming at WWDC is just .. well .. surprising. I really hope it does come this fall; a GPU based monitor actually is something I'd buy-in-to .. but we need to look at this with at least some logic; oh. wait.. this is the interwebs.. sorry. HA! If this comes at all; it will be along side the release of the new MacBooks this fall.
  • I'll scratch that off my wish list and hope for something else at WWDC. By the way ... watch 2.0 isn't on my list.
  • Other cool stuff? Like what? Enhancements to Siri, which no one I know ever uses? Another two cities added to Maps' transit information (bringing the total outside China to, what, 10?). Some more health APIs that will never be used in any product? Some improvements to home automation for which we will never see a product? Some more incoherent speeches by brain-dead musicians and producers? Federighi and Cue announcing stuff that does not work while being 100% not funny? Ive explaining the benefits of the next GUI redesign that makes things harder to use and read on a 5.5" device than they used to be on a 3.5" one? Another bigger iPad for which not even Apple adjusts its GUIs and stores properly? A TV update that will now require you to enter passwords with a slate and a chisel and then fax them to Apple? iTunes 13 that will wipe your entire network and replace your library with a selection of Polka and lounge music while constantly pushing you to subscribe to stuff you do not want? Cook thanking everyone at Apple for working so hard without even leaving hibernation mode himself? Hardware is about the only thing that Apple still gets right (software and Cloud services definitely not). If there is none, then they should not bother streaming the keynote and keep it a developer event. Other than making people complain and the stock tank, there won't be any positive outcome.
  • I too have noticed that. Their software and cloud services leave something to be desired.
  • Hopefully the pro apps get some attention (specifically Logic).
  • If not at WWDC then soon! It's on my wish list for sure. Sent from the iMore App
  • Then just give us a Macbook Pro with a couple thunderbolt 3 ports and a really good GPU so that I can drive two 4K monitors.
  • I'm hoping for improvements to Apple Maps. They need to make up ground on the competitors (not just Google but others such as Mapbox) and yet there was nothing new at last year's WWDC. They are slowly improving the data but really need to improve the functionality of the app and the SDK. They have bought a few mapping companies over the last few years, so I am hoping that we will see some big improvements this year.
  • So no new Macbook Pro either? :/
  • I don't care about the Thunderbolt Display, just give us the new MacBook Pro!!! I would think the rumored OLED touchbar would require the support of developers, so WWDC would be the ideal place to debut it.