MacRumors

Apple today announced the next-generation 12-inch Retina MacBook with several faster tech specs, one hour longer battery life, and a new Rose Gold color option.

The ultra-thin notebook is available on Apple's online store starting today from $1,299, and from Apple retail stores and authorized resellers beginning tomorrow.

15% to 18% Faster CPU Performance

Christina Warren has shared 64-bit Geekbench results that show the new 12-inch MacBook (1.2GHz configuration) has around 15% to 18% faster CPU performance compared to last year's equivalent model. The notebook earned a single-core score of 2,894 and a multi-core score of 5,845, versus 2,437 single-core and 5,049 multi-core scores for the previous generation 1.2GHz model.

Primate Labs founder John Poole also shared 32-bit Geekbench 3 results for the new 12-inch MacBook (1.2GHz configuration) that confirms around a 15% bump in CPU performance compared to the equivalent 2015 model. The new 12-inch MacBook earned a single-core score of 2,670 and a multi-core score of 5,252, compared to 2,303 and 4,621 for the last-generation model.

Meanwhile, early BlackMagic disk speed tests have seen write speeds that are up to 80 or 90 percent faster than the write speeds in the previous-generation MacBook. Read speeds are also improved.

480p FaceTime Camera, No Thunderbolt 3 or DDR4 RAM

Initial reaction to the MacBook refresh among MacRumors readers has been mixed, with some appreciating the long-awaited arrival of faster Skylake processors and others disappointed that the notebook continues to have only one USB-C port, a 480p FaceTime camera, and no Thunderbolt 3 or DDR4 RAM.

MacRumors forum member PatriotInvasion writes:

No Thunderbolt 3, no extra USB-C port, and same $1,299 starting price. Ouch. Not what I expected. Let's see what the MacBook Pros will be like.

My guess is Thunderbolt 3 is overkill for the users this Mac is targeted at, but the starting price point is overkill as well.

12-inch MacBook supporters argue that the notebook was never intended to have such capabilities, nor might those additions even be feasible without jeopardizing its size and price point, and promote the MacBook Pro as a more suitable alternative for expanded connectivity and CPU-intensive tasks.

41.4-Watt-Hour Battery

Apple says the new 12-inch MacBook has an additional hour of battery life for up to 10 hours on a full charge. The improvement was made possible by not only more efficient Skylake processors, but also due to a 41.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery. The original 12-inch MacBook has a slightly shorter-lasting 39.7-watt-hour battery that delivers up to 9 hours of power per charge.

- Up to 10 hours of wireless web browsing
- Up to 11 hours of iTunes movie playback
- Up to 30 days of standby time

1.3 GHz Core m7 Upgrade Option

The new 12-inch MacBook is available with a faster 1.3GHz Intel dual-core Core m7 processor as a $150 to $250 built-to-order upgrade option.

The upgrade can be applied to both standard configurations, which offer 1.1GHz Core m3 and 1.2GHz Core m5 processors for $1,299 and $1,599 respectively.

Refurbished Price Drop

Apple has lowered the price of refurbished early 2015 model 12-inch MacBooks on its online store. The notebooks now range between $929 and $1,319 in the U.S. depending on the configuration selected.

The cheapest $929 model features a 1.1GHz Intel dual-core Core M processor based on previous-generation Broadwell architecture, along with 8GB of 1600MHz LPDDR3 RAM, 256GB PCIe-based flash storage, and Intel HD Graphics 5300.

Apple today announced that it has released new 12-inch MacBook models with the latest sixth-generation Skylake dual-core Intel Core M processors up to 1.3 GHz, new Intel HD Graphics 515 that deliver up to 25% faster performance, faster PCIe-based flash storage, an additional hour of battery life, and faster 1866 MHz memory.

The ultra-thin notebook has the same all-metal unibody enclosure that remains 13.1 mm thick and weighs just 2 pounds, with a full-sized butterfly mechanism keyboard and Force Touch trackpad. Like the original model, the new 12-inch MacBook is also fanless and has no moving parts or vents.

The notebook continues to have a 12-inch display with a 2,304-by-1,440 resolution at 226 PPI, single USB 3.1 Type-C port, 256GB or 512GB flash storage, 802.11ac Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 4.0, a 480p FaceTime camera, stereo speakers, dual microphones, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The one-hour improvement to battery life, which is now up to 10 hours, was achieved not only by more efficient Skylake processors, but also due to a larger 41.4-watt-hour lithium-polymer battery. The original 12-inch MacBook has a slightly smaller 39.7-watt-hour battery that lasts up to 9 hours per charge.

The refreshed 12-inch MacBook models are available through Apple's online store starting today, and at Apple retail stores and select Apple Authorized Resellers starting tomorrow. The base 1.1GHz Core m3 model costs $1,299, while the faster 1.2GHz Core m5 model costs $1,599. The 1.3GHz Core m7 is a $250 upgrade.

In addition to Rose Gold, the 12-inch MacBook remains available in existing Gold, Silver, and Space Gray colors.

Apple has also made 8GB of memory standard across all 13-inch MacBook Air configurations.

Apple today updated its website and its Apple Pay support document to note the expansion of the Apple Pay payment service to Singapore. With the addition of Singapore, Apple Pay is now available in six countries, including Canada, China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States.

Apple Pay is available in Singapore through a partnership with American Express, first announced by Apple in October of 2015. By partnering with American Express, Apple has brought Apple Pay to Singapore, Canada, and Australia and will expand it to Hong Kong and Spain later this year.

According to Apple's Singapore website, Apple Pay is currently available to American Express users in the country. American Express cardholders can add their credit cards to the Wallet app by opening the app and tapping on the "+" button or using Settings and tapping "Add Credit or Debit Card."

Apple Pay is limited to cards issued by American Express, but the website says Apple Pay support will expand to major credit and debit cards from top banks "soon." Visa is listed as a credit card partner that will support Apple Pay in Singapore in the future, as are the following banks: DBS, UOB, and Standard Chartered.

Apple Pay is available in a range of retail locations in Singapore, including Starbucks, FairPrice, StarHub, Uniqlo, TopShop, and Shaw Theaters, along with other stores that have NFC-equipped payment terminals. Additional partners like BreadTalk, Cold Storage, FoodRepublic, Giant, and more will be adding support for Apple Pay soon.

Apple Pay will also soon be available within apps, with Uber and HomeAway Asia set to be two of the first apps that will offer Apple Pay support in Singapore.

iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, and SE users can now use Apple Pay in retail stores, and with the Apple Watch, Apple Pay is extended to the iPhone 5, 5c, and 5s. Apple Pay within apps is available on the iPhone 6, 6s, 6 Plus, 6s Plus, SE, iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3, iPad mini 4, and both iPad Pro models.

Apple today confirmed its annual Worldwide Developers Conference for 2016 will take place on June 13 to 17 at the Moscone West Convention Center in San Francisco, California, the same venue where WWDC has been held for the last 10 years. A keynote set to be held on Monday, June 13 will also take place at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. The dates of Apple's conference were first leaked by Siri earlier today.

Apple's 2016 conference will give developers the opportunity to meet with more than 1,000 Apple engineers and attend hands-on labs, over 100 technical sessions, and more. The event will also be used to unveil new versions of iOS and OS X, likely iOS 10 and OS X 10.12, with developers able to learn about the updated operating systems at the conference to get a head start on app development.

"With four innovative operating systems and a new, intuitive programming language powering over 1 billion devices worldwide, there has never been a more exciting time to bring our developer community together," said Philip Schiller, Apple's senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing. "WWDC 2016 is going to be a landmark event for developers who are coding in Swift, and building apps and products for iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS. We can't wait for everyone to join us -- in San Francisco or through the live stream."

The Worldwide Developers Conference has become so popular that Apple provides tickets to developers through a lottery system, with attendees chosen randomly from a pool of registered applicants. Developers can apply for a ticket starting today, with registration lasting through Friday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m. PDT. Those who win a ticket to attend WWDC will be notified by Monday, April 25 at 5:00 p.m. PDT.

WWDC tickets for 2016 are priced at $1,599. Developers wishing to purchase tickets must have been registered members of Apple's Developer Program prior to today's event announcement to prevent last minute signups. Up to 350 WWDC Scholarships will be provided to students and members of participating STEM organizations around the world. Apple will also be providing 125 scholarships to aspiring developers with financial limitations, a program that is new this year.

As has been the case in previous years, developers between the ages of 13 and 17 must have their tickets purchased by a parent or guardian who is also an eligible member. All tickets sold are limited to the applicant and cannot be sold, resold, or transferred.

Apple has provided a full rundown of what developers can expect at WWDC for the ticket price:

- over 1,000 Apple engineers supporting more than 150 hands-on labs and events to provide developers with code-level assistance, insight into optimal development techniques and guidance on how they can make the most of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS technologies in their apps;

- access to the latest innovations, features and capabilities of iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS, and best practices for enhancing an app’s functionality, performance, quality and design;

- the opportunity to connect with thousands of fellow iOS, OS X, watchOS and tvOS developers from around the world — last year, 80 percent of developers attended for their first time, and in total, more than 70 countries were represented;

- a series of get-togethers for attendees focused on particular topics with special guest speakers and activities;

- engaging and inspirational lunchtime sessions with trailblazers and influencers from the worlds of technology, science and entertainment; and

- the Apple Design Awards which recognize iPhone®, iPad®, Apple Watch®, Apple TV® and Mac® apps that demonstrate technical excellence, innovation and outstanding design.

For developers who are unable to attend, Apple plans to stream WWDC sessions live, both through its website and through the WWDC app. For non-developers, the highlight of the event will be the keynote kicking off the conference, which is often used to show off new products and services along with new versions of iOS, OS X, watchOS, and tvOS.

In a longer piece covering the streaming television and video ambitions of Apple, Alibaba, Facebook, and Google, Fast Company suggests Apple is covertly pursuing original television programming deals that would establish it as a major player in the entertainment industry.

Apple is said to be seeking deals with "triple A-list" talent to create a full roster of shows to put it on par with Netflix and Amazon, both of which have successfully launched popular original television shows like House of Cards, Jessica Jones, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Sources that spoke to Fast Company say Apple is aiming to run several major shows at once, perhaps as part of a major launch.

At last year's Sundance Film Festival, Apple created an iTunes Lounge where it hosted private invitation-only events for film makers, producers, and other talent. At the event, described as sleek and understated, attendees said Apple was "definitely talking to the talent." As has been previously rumored, Apple execs also traveled to Los Angeles to hear ideas for original television shows, with Apple's original programming efforts being led by Robert Kondrk, vice president of iTunes Content.

The iTunes Lounge was in fact part of a stealth effort by Apple to establish a new, more active role in delivering entertainment. In the weeks that followed, Apple execs were in Los Angeles hearing pitches for original TV series that it plans to launch on an "exclusives" app on Apple TV and within iTunes. Apple wants to work with "triple A-list" talent, according to a source, and build up a roster of must-see shows available only on its platform. Naturally, the talks have been veiled in the utmost secrecy. Producers who have met with Apple will refer to it only as the United Fruit Company.

Given Apple's positive reputation among creators, Apple has the draw to attract quality talent and the cash reserves to fund high ticket shows. Content creators are said to be "so excited" about the possibility of working with Apple that people are "throwing [ideas] against the wall with them, to every extent possible."

According to five sources who spoke to Fast Company, however, Apple is "disorganized" and "hasn't presented a coherent strategy" for its television plans. The company is reportedly taking a "two-lane" approach to original television programming, producing a series of short films, documentaries, and music videos to promote Apple music while simultaneously developing full Netflix-style original programming.

Apple already has two known television projects in the works. The first, which has not yet been officially announced, is said to be an Apple Music-related project called Vital Signs, which is a dark semi-autobiographical drama starring Beats co-founder and Apple executive Dr. Dre. The second, which was announced in March, is a non-scripted television show that will "spotlight the app economy." Apple is working with Will.i.am, Ben Silverman, and Howard T. Owens on the series.

Alongside the announcement of the the App Store television series, iTunes chief Eddy Cue cautioned the show is not a signal Apple is delving deeper into original television and streaming video, despite rumors to the contrary.

"This doesn't mean that we are going into a huge amount of movie production or TV production or anything like that," Cue said at the time, but he did say Apple would explore similar exclusive projects. Hollywood sources told Fast Company that Apple is approaching its television ambitions with caution and that Cue's statement is "merely tamping down expectations."

As we reported in January, Apple plans to hold its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on June 13 to June 17 in San Francisco, at the Moscone West convention center where the conference has been held for the past several years.

The official WWDC dates have leaked courtesy of Siri (via 9to5Mac), who, when asked when WWDC will be held responds: "The Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) will be held June 13 to June 17 in San Francisco. I'm so excited!"

While today's information counts as official confirmation that the conference will be held from June 13 to June 17, the dates in question were already known based on scheduling information at Moscone West. Since January, the Moscone Center has been booked for the first, second, fourth, and fifth weeks of June, leaving only the third week open for Apple.

Given that Siri is providing information about the Worldwide Developers Conference, the ticket lottery for the event is imminent and could go live as soon as tomorrow. Due to the popularity of the event, Apple offers each $1,599 ticket to developers based on a lottery system.

Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference is of interest to developers because it gives them a chance to interface with Apple engineers and attend a wide variety of instructional websites to learn methods for improving their apps. For non-developers, the Worldwide Developers Conference provides a first look at new versions of iOS and OS X and is also often used as a venue for introducing new products and services.

Former Intuit chairman and Apple board member Bill Campbell has passed away following a prolonged battle with cancer, reports Re/code. Known as "The Coach" around Silicon Valley, Campbell was known for providing sage advice to the leaders of some of the Bay Area's biggest companies, including Apple and Google. At one point, he was even assisting Apple and Google at the same time, something Steve Jobs wasn't happy with. From a 2014 interview with Fortune:

"Steve would say, 'If you're helping them you're hurting me.' He would yell at me," recalls Campbell, whose normal banter typically needs to be sanitized for most publications. " I'd say, 'I can't do HTML, come on. I'm just coaching them on how to run their company better.'

A longtime friend of Steve Jobs, Campbell first joined Apple under John Sculley, where he took on the role of Apple's Vice President of Marketing. After disagreements with Sculley, Campbell, who was a onetime coach of the Columbia Lions football team, he then founded Go Corporation, which was sold to AT&T.

From there, Campbell took on the role of CEO of Intuit and joined Apple's board of directors when Steve Jobs returned to the company in 1997. Campbell remained on Apple's board of directors for 17 years until his resignation in July of 2014.

Campbell was with Apple through all of its transitory periods, and following his retirement, he had kind words to share about Apple's current direction under Tim Cook. "Apple is an institution now," he said in the same Fortune inteview. "Tim's done an amazing job of building bench strength within the organization. There's a whole set of new and smart people who are taking over. You're watching that company grow up."

Update: Apple has posted a tribute to Bill Campbell on its website homepage, a day after his death.