Patrons may not get Apple's HomePod this year, but they still have the launch of the iMac Pro to look forward to before 2017 comes to a close. Thanks to eagle-eyed developers Jonathan Levin and Steve Troughton-Smith, there are now a couple of tidbits known about the upcoming Apple computer.
Information dug up in the BridgeOS 2.0 software reveals that the workstation coming out soon would feature iPhone 7's A10 Fusion system-on-chip (SoC) as a coprocessor. This would be the first time that a Mac would utilize an A-series chip designed by the tech giant.
In a series of tweets first picked up by 9to5mac, Troughton-Smith — the same guy who leaked accurate iPhone X information from examining the unreleased HomePod software — says that the move would allow the company to "experiment with tighter control" of macOS without developers and users. He further explains that the A10 Fusion chip in the iMac Pro would enable things like an always-listening "Hey, Siri" that is not yet available from the MacOS version of the voice assistant. In fact, the chip might run even when the computer is completely shut off.
According to reports, previous rumors suggested that the iMac Pro could house a secondary machine. However, early signs reportedly pointed toward something more akin to Apple's custom ARM chip called T1, which handles the TouchBar and the Touch ID fingerprint scanner in the new MacBook Pros.
If Troughton-Smith's claim is accurate, the A10 Fusion could help do even more considering it is more powerful than the T1. The new chip's inclusion should make for a faster and more efficient machine.
There is no word yet as to when exactly Apple will release the iMac Pro, but the company already promised that the all-in-one machine should hit the shelves before the end of 2017. There are only a few weeks left before 2018 rings in, so patrons should keep their wallets handy. The high-end machines will likely start at $4,999.
