Author: Munro Stewart

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Society Author • Wellbeing Scholar
Technology Planner • Entertain Player

MacBook Lineup Without 15" MacBook Air

Tech • Tech Notes

I wonder if Apple may end up with a MacBook lineup which mirrors the current iPad lineup, with a 12" MacBook mini and 5 total devices including a super budget device. There would be no 15" MacBook, which goes against some currently suggested rumors.

iPad

  • iPad Pro - Large and Small - 12.9" and 11"
  • iPad Air - Large - 10.9"
  • iPad mini - Small - 8.3"
  • "iPad" - Cheap - 10.2": Older design with newish internals

MacBook?

  • MacBook Pro - Large and Small - 16.2" and 14.2"
  • MacBook Air - Large - 13.6"
  • MacBook mini - Small - ~12.2"
  • "MacBook" - Cheap - 13.3": Older design with newish internals

Why

  • So there are only 2 size choices of the mainstream SKU, Air and mini
  • So there is an ultraportable mainstream 12" MacBook with good performance
  • So there is a super budget device, but not way too many different choices
  • "MacBook" could be old design with updated internals at budget price
  • MacBook Air and mini reach main customers who want very portable Mac
  • Budget "MacBook" SE would reach budget customers who just want Mac

Allow TextExpander Full Purchase

Tech • Tech Notes

I wonder if TextExpander should offer both a single full purchase that includes all features offline, and a separate but optional subscription purchase, that includes an online account with cloud syncing.

What

  • Single purchase for all main features
  • Subscription purchase for cloud sync features
  • Single purchase includes all features without account
  • Subscription includes saving and syncing settings with account

Why

  • Have more happy users and positive reviews
  • Get many more users for network effect
  • Still have recurring revenue from power users
  • Make versions 2, 3, etc. for single purchase upgrade strategy

Raptors Draft Trade And Lineup 2022

Soul • Soul Notes

Here is a potential trade I like for the Raptors to get a player in the draft lottery this year. The Kings, Trail Blazers, Pelicans, and Wizards all might be teams they could potentially trade with to get Daniels, or someone else if they prefer.

Raptors

  • Dyson Daniels - 7th Pick
  • Eric Bledsoe
  • Greg Brown - Hopefully

Blazers

  • Gary Trent Jr.
  • Malachi Flynn
  • Khem Birch - Hopefully

Here are some other players I like for the Raptors in this year's draft. All of these are players I have picked out that could be good players worth picking, with a focus on defensive potential as much as offense.

Trade Up

  • Dyson Daniels
  • Tari Eason
  • Dalen Terry
  • AJ Griffin - Maybe

#33 Draft Pick

  • Dalen Terry - Unlikely available
  • Khalifa Diop
  • Justin Lewis
  • Ron Harper Jr. - Maybe

Undrafted

  • Khalifa Diop - C
  • Justin Lewis - F
  • Ron Harper Jr. - SG
  • Scottie Pippen Jr. - PG
  • Ibou Badji - C
  • Julian Champagnie - SF
  • Hyunjung Lee - SF

Here is how I see the Raptors lineup if they could somehow add both Dyson Daniels and Dalen Terry. Beyond their top 10 players, they could keep Thaddeus Young possibly, or look to other free agents and undrafted players.

Lineup

  • Fred VanVleet - Dalano Banton - Eric Bledsoe
  • Dyson Daniels - Dalen Terry - Ron Harper Jr.?
  • OG Anunoby - Justin Champagnie - Thaddeus Young?
  • Scottie Barnes - Chris Boucher - Greg Brown
  • Pascal Siakam - Precious Achiuwa - Khalifa Diop?

2-Ways

  • Scottie Pippen Jr? Khalifa Diop?
  • Ibou Badji? Julian Champagnie?

MacBook 15 And 12 Inch Sizes

Tech • Tech Notes

If I had to guess if Apple makes a 15" MacBook, a 12" MacBook, or both sizes, I would guess they only make the 12" size, to pair with the current 13.6" MacBook Air. It could have an M3 chip based on ARMv9 and might also be the first non-Pro device by Apple with Mini-LED.

Nature Versus Nurture

Soc • Soc Notes

Nature versus Nurture? Both.
Selfish versus Helpful? Both.
Men versus Women? Both.
Black versus White? Both.

Freewill versus Determined? Both.
Independence versus Community? Both.
Acceptance versus Improvement? Both.
Forgiveness versus Disapproval? Both.

Belief versus Action? Both.
Individual versus Collective? Both.
Rational versus Emotional? Both.
Strength versus Vulnerable? Both.

Habits versus Goals? Growth.
Personal versus Social? Harmony.
Working versus Relaxing? Balance.
Similar versus Different? Diversity.

June 8, 2022

Raptors Offseason Lineup Changes 2022

Soul • Soul Notes

These ideas do not take into account future FA or trade upgrades.

Notes

  • Make Achiuwa the starting center
  • Move Trent to the bench as 6th man
  • Resign Boucher as backup big
  • Sign Champagnie to NBA deal as 3-and-D bench player
  • Let Thaddeus Young go - Better Shooter or Younger
  • Move Birch to 3rd string 7K contract only - Better Shooter
  • ----
  • Run offense through Barnes and Banton handling ball much more
  • Turn Fred and Malachi into shooters more often than ball handlers
  • Make Fred, OG, Malachi, Gary do catch and shoot 3 PTs mainly
  • Make Fred and Gary shoot only from 3 PT line, not 5 feet back
  • Have Pascal, Prec, Justin, Chris focus on catch and shoot 3 PTs
  • Give ball to Pascal or Gary if near end of shot clock to score
  • ----
  • Draft or add versatile athletic center with shooting potential
  • Bench is Banton, Trent, Champagnie, Boucher, 2nd Rd Pick or FA
  • Play the bench more and rest the starters more in season
  • Playoff 7-8 might be Trent, Boucher, Banton/Champagnie
  • If keep Young, make him small ball center, trade Birch if possible
  • Bench would then be Banton, Trent, Champagnie, Boucher, Young

Lineup Option 1

  • VanVleet - Banton
  • Barnes - Trent
  • Anunoby - Champagnie
  • Siakam - Boucher
  • Achiuwa - Draft Pick / Young / FA

Lineup Option 2

  • VanVleet - Flynn
  • Barnes - Banton
  • Anunoby - Trent
  • Siakam - Champagnie
  • Achiuwa - Boucher

New MacBook Or Mac Mini For WWDC?

Tech • Tech Notes

I wonder if Apple WWDC 2022 might not include the release of the newly redesigned consumer MacBook or Mac mini.

Notes

  • I have an alternate idea about the products that could be announced at Apple's WWDC 2022 event, as we often expect things earlier than they arrive, like people thinking M2 could come in spring 2022, a flat Watch in 2021, or a redesigned flat back iPhone in 2022.
  • Since the new MacBook and Mac mini are giant updates to decade old designs, I wonder if it could make sense to only release a MacBook Pro sans notch and a larger iMac with 5nm M1X/M2 in 2Q22, and leave the new MacBook and Mac mini for the 3nm M2/M3 with ARMv9 for around 1Q23.
  • The new Mac Pro with the most powerful chip Apple will make could then be the star of the show, as long as it is ready to be released. The Mac Pro and iMac are more developer focused devices anyway, as opposed to the MacBook and Mac mini, which are targeted more at consumers.
  • Rebranding or naming of products is much tougher to guess, but I wonder if there is at least a chance that the Mac Pro could be renamed to something else, based on the Mac Studio being released with a new name earlier this year, and including the M1 Pro chip.

Update - June 4th

  • While my alternative guess is that the newly redesigned MacBook and Mac mini could wait until 2023 for the 3nm M1-series chip, I will add that maybe they could still release an updated MacBook Air with the old design, instead of the new colorful design.
  • Since the potential third generation 5nm M1X/M2 chip for this year may not be a big enough upgrade for the new design, they could release both the MacBook and MacBook Pro this year in the old designs, which they used for the original M1 Macs from late 2020.

But Why Would They?

Tech • Tech Notes

Previously:

@gruber I wonder if Apple could make their next iMac and consumer oriented display to each have a design with a 30 inch 6K screen, a resolution of 5760 x 3240 with 220 PPI, and a 60Hz IPS screen without Mini-LED and likely without 120Hz ProMotion. [Link]

They could. But why would they? I don’t see them making standalone displays that aren’t technically excellent, and that means ProMotion and probably Mini LED. - John Gruber

TLDR

  • What size would you choose to make the larger iMac?
  • I somewhat agree with your point about Pro displays
  • Why would they? Larger than 27", consumer price, etc.
  • Should they? Yes, according to me it's the best option
  • Will they? Probably not
  • Who's on first? Yes

Why 30" iMac?

  • Larger than previous 27" size started in 2009
  • Proportionally larger as new 24" is over 22"
  • Wider horizontal resolution at 1620 over 1440
  • Keeps the same 220 PPI retina resolution
  • Creates 6K 5760 x 3240 standard
  • Created 2K 2560 x 1440 standard

Why 30" Consumer Display?

  • I agree they could leave this to others or have 120Hz
  • But, allows lower cost than Pro XDRs for consumer Macs
  • They DO make a consumer level of most products
  • Makes a good match for all M1 Macs and forward
  • Matching single or dual 24" and 30" - 27" and 32" Pro
  • M1 supports up to 6K and 60Hz

Why Not 32"?

  • OK, you got me there
  • But, 6K at 5760 x 3240 would be a good standard
  • Maybe others would also make 30" at 6K
  • Could be considered upgrade to industry 27" at 4K
  • In 2009, others embraced 27" 2K at 2560 x 1440
  • Others haven't embraced 27" 5K or 32" 6K thus far

Why Consumer Display And Products?

  • iMac, MacBook Air, Mac mini - Displays to match?
  • iPad Air, iPad mini, iPad
  • iPhone, iPhone mini, iPhone SE
  • AirPods, HomePod mini, iPod Touch
  • Apple TV 4K, Apple TV, Apple Watch SE
  • iPad screen isn't technically excellent like Pro XDR, for instance

Lineup

  • Suggested consumer and pro lineup of Macs and Displays
  • Larger sizes for both iMacs and possible consumer displays
  • iMac - 24" and 30" - Same display tech as Apple Display
  • Apple Display - 24" and 30" - 60Hz IPS LED for now
  • Mac Pro - Mac Pro and Mac Pro Max - Mac Pro "mini"?
  • Apple Display Pro - 27" and 32" - 120Hz Mini-LED for now

More reasons in original post with idea for 30" 6K iMac and display

Make A 30 Inch 6K iMac

Tech • Tech Notes

I wonder if Apple shouls make their next large-size iMac and consumer oriented display to each have a design with a 30 inch 6K screen, a resolution of 5760 x 3240 with 220 PPI, and a 60Hz IPS screen without Mini-LED and likely without 120Hz ProMotion.

Devices

  • 30" iMac
  • 30" Apple Display

Specs

  • 30 inches
  • 6K display
  • 5760 x 3240
  • 220 PPI
  • IPS - No Mini-LED
  • 60Hz - No 120Hz - Maybe though

Notes

  • 2000:1 Contrast - LG's new "IPS Black" technology
  • 60Hz IPS - No Mini-LED and likely no 120Hz ProMotion
  • Regular iMac only at 30", not an iMac Pro
  • Space Gray or Black color option unlike earlier 24" iMac
  • No iMac Pro with higher cost and pro features
  • No Mini-LED and likely no 120Hz ProMotion

Whys

  • Larger than 27" similar to new 24" being larger than old 22"
  • Get larger screen but still smaller than 32" Pro XDR Display
  • Targets approximate retina 220 PPI just like 24" and 27" iMacs
  • Lower cost without Mini-LED and 120 Hz "Pro" features
  • iMac Pro isn't needed because Mac Pro box and 32" XDR Display
  • Matching 30" iMac and display at reasonable consumer prices

Lineup - Added February 24th

  • Suggested consumer and pro lineup of Macs and Displays
  • Larger sizes for both iMacs and possible consumer displays
  • iMac - 24" and 30" - Same display tech as Apple Display
  • Apple Display - 24" and 30" - 60Hz IPS LED for now
  • Mac Pro - Mac Pro and Mac Pro Max - Mac Pro "mini"?
  • Apple Display Pro - 27" and 32" - 120Hz Mini-LED for now

Reply To: John Gruber “But Why Would they?”

Make Tablets Foldable Instead Of Phones

Tech • Tech Notes

I wonder if it will ultimately be tablets, and not phones at all, that will be primarily redesigned in their best and most common form to be foldable.

Notes

  • They would open up similar to a book with the screen only on the inside, but most importantly have a much larger single screen when flipped into portrait orientation like a tablet when opened.
  • They would also fit in a much smaller space so that a tablet opened up to be about 9 inches, like an iPad mini, could fit in your pocket while being wider and shorter than a typical phone when closed.
  • They would not have any screen on the outside to function like a phone, but would be designed more like a book or notebook, with the screen fully protected inside the device when closed.

Separate Work And Life Names

Soc • Soc Notes

I wonder if society would be better if everyone was encouraged to create an official and separate public name to be known by for their work as opposed to their life, with completely different profiles and names online for each role.

What

Separation of life and work by name. Offer and encourage the creation of an official government work name of a person's choice, likely allowed anytime after a person turns 18, or legal adult age. This name would be a work, craft, professional, and business name, separate from a person's life, social, family, and personal name they were given by their parents at birth.

Why

To encourage balance in all of our lives and to provide better online discussions and focus of work and interest groups, through natural categorization and separation of topics. A person could focus on their work or crafts only under their work name and profile, and could discuss personal events and social issues under their life name and profile. You could think of it as separation of life and work, as opposed to separation of church and state.

I think this could also allow people to have a personal identity and role in life that is not linked to their profession, by keeping their original given name as their life name. It may allow everyone to see other individuals in the world as a human being first, having their own worth and value in life regardless of their specific profession, level of wealth, or employment status.

Also, I do not mean that this would be mandated as a rule of law, whereby you could not discuss life issues under your work name, or work issues under your life name. Neither am I saying that a person must create this second work name if they do not wish to do so. I am only suggesting this separate work name as a possible solution and guideline for a way of living that could possibly improve everyone's health, wellness, work, productivity, social life, and personal connection with others.

September 29, 2021

Apple Products For 2021 Fall Event

Tech • Tech Notes

Could Apple announce or release these unlikely products at their second fall event of 2021 or in the future? Here are some quick guesses and a few key details for some unlikely products I wonder about Apple announcing if they have a second or third fall event in 2021.

Products

  • 14" MacBook or MacBook Air - M2
  • 30-32" iMac - M2
  • 24" and 30-32" Apple Displays
  • AirPods 3

Future

  • 12" MacBook mini - M2
  • 14" MacBook Pro - M2X. Mini-LED.
  • 16" MacBook Pro - M2X. Mini-LED.
  • 40-80" Apple TV - M2. Mini-LED. 55" and 75"?

Thoughts

  • Many of you likely know what the rumors are currently.
  • So I understand that the rumors are currently suggesting the MacBook Pro and maybe Mac mini will likely come first this fall, possibly with an M1X chip.
  • Then, sometime next year the MacBook Air would be released and a larger iMac.
  • I just like to think a little different.
  • I like to try and guess what might not be currently predicted or most rumored at the time.
  • So here are some alternative ideas and thoughts for products they could release next based on my haphazard analysis.
  • I'm also skeptical that the lower tier MacBook Air will include Mini-LED in its next release, as is being rumored.
  • To keep costs down and differentiate their products, I would guess that Apple continues to leave Mini-LED for their Pro level products only.
  • I wonder if this strategy could be the plan even for the MacBooks for at least the next release, and maybe more.

Raptors Ben Simmons Trade Idea 2021

Soul • Soul Notes

Here are my thoughts and some potential trade options to be involved in a trade for Simmons currently.

Trade Options

  • Raptors - 76ers
  • Ben Simmons - Fred VanVleet
  • Matisse Thybulle - Goran Dragic
  • $8.2M Trade Exception - 2022 1st Rd Pick

Lineup 1

  • PG - Simmons - Flynn - Banton
  • SG - Trent - Mykhailiuk - Wainwright
  • SF - Anunoby - Thybulle - Watanabe
  • PF - Barnes - Bonga - Dekker
  • C - Siakam - Achiuwa - Birch

Lineup 2

  • PG - Dragic - Flynn - Banton
  • SG - Trent - Mykhailiuk - Bonga
  • SF - Anunoby - Wainwright - Watanabe
  • PF - Simmons - Barnes - Dekker
  • C - Siakam - Achiuwa - Birch

Lineup (No Trades)

  • PG - VanVleet - Flynn - Banton
  • SG - Dragic* - Trent - Mykhailiuk
  • SF - Anunoby - Wainwright - Bonga
  • PF - Boucher* - Barnes - Dekker
  • C - Siakam** (INJ) - Achiuwa - Birch** (START)

* Note - Maybe Dragic and Boucher could be starters, with all our young guys playing together on the bench, to also boost Dragic's trade value and because Boucher is better than Birch.

** Note - Maybe Siakam or Barnes could actually play center, with Birch starting the year there as a solid player, but really being our 3rd string center later in the year when Siakam returns.

Thoughts

I think we want Thybulle instead of Maxey because he is a great defensive player with length like OG but at the 2-3 spots, similar to all the other players we like who are great defenders to start with. Contrary to the latest Raptors Digest video on September 2nd which says not to trade VanVleet, I think our deal almost certainly has to involve Fred. Why would the 76ers accept a deal with Gary Trent as the top player, unless they get Boucher as well as 4 first round picks and all young players? And that's a deal I don't think we want, just like we don't want to trade Siakam or Anunoby. Plus, I'm not sure we can include Trent in a deal before the season since we just signed him to a deal this offseason.

But our deal can now include Dragic, unlike my thoughts on trading VanVleet and Boucher earlier, before the NBA draft took place. And we can think of it like we traded Lowry but also got an extra guy we love in Achiuwa. We might be competing with a deal for CJ McCollum, who's a pretty good player and better offensively, on paper, and in the media than VanVleet, and he's also in the West where the 76ers don't compete against the Blazers. The fact that they could probably get McCollum is another reason why Gary Trent and Boucher likely won't cut it to make a deal.

In the big picture though, with our deal the 76ers get a lot of shooting which Morey likes with all of VanVleet, Boucher, and Dragic, while losing their two horrible shooters in Simmons and Thybulle. So it could be addition by subtraction and offer a lot of shooting while getting rid of their bad shooting. Plus Boucher is a great fit for them as a stretch four, as he is still extremely undervalued and a starting caliber player in this league in my opinion just like Norm Powell is. Boucher has been very high on PER both of the last two years, along with guys like Powell and Christian Wood before his deal with the Rockets. The 76ers can move Harris to small forward and have starters VanVleet, Curry, Harris, Boucher, Embiid and a bench of Dragic, Maxey, Green, Niang, Drummond. Green might start at SG obviously though.

We're in a decent position though, because the 76ers likely want to win now so they don't really want young players or picks like they might get in deals with San Antonio, Sacramento, Golden State, or other places. Plus if they want defense and winners they could like our guys, or particularly our main guy in VanVleet, better than guys like McCollum, Buddy Hield, or D'Angelo Russell. VanVleet to start and Dragic to play off the bench offers them a lot of playoff-tested defense, winning, experience, and passing to replace Simmons in order to win now. Plus they still get a good young player in VanVleet at point guard to make the trade look at least somewhat normal. Personally, I think VanVleet is a perfect point guard to fit with Embiid as well because he is a great shooter and leader, and because Embiid will get the ball more so you don't need a pass first point guard like Simmons, Chris Paul, or Kyle Lowry.

The above trade would be the most we might offer, but we might get it done for just 3 of those assets, or without Thybulle for as little as two of those assets. But I still think VanVleet almost certainly has to be the centerpiece to get a deal done likely at the very least, and I don't think we want to do a deal if it includes Anunoby or Siakam. To make the salaries match in order to get Dragic, I think the 76ers have about an $8 million trade exception from the Horford deal, which might even expire as soon as September 7th, or possibly later in the year.

The lineups proposed by me are based on two possible deals, one where we keep Dragic and don't get Thybulle. If we could keep Boucher and just give up VanVleet, Dragic, and a 1st round pick that would be the best deal we could hope for I think, but the least likely for the 76ers to accept probably, so I don't have a lineup based on keeping Boucher. The actual deal made from the list in my trade would depend on the 76ers and Raptors opinions on the values of Boucher, Thybulle, and the value of 1st round picks compared to those players.

Unlike many people who think Simmons isn't a good fit now without a starting point guard like VanVleet or Suggs, I'm actually higher on getting Simmons now than I was before the draft and getting Barnes. We can go all in on the strategy of defense, length, speed, and passing while developing all these guys shooting skills. Plus we still have some shooting in Siakam, OG, Flynn, Trent, Mykhailiuk, Watanabe, Dekker, plus Barnes and Achiuwa who do show potential to improve quickly. We could even possibly keep Dragic for our starting point guard for this year, with Flynn as a possible replacement in the future too.

But imagine how many rebounds we can get and how great the defense could be if we do leave Simmons and Barnes as big guards eventually, and decided that Siakam could play center if that's the case, instead of the skinny Boucher. Boucher could start at power forward if we are able to keep him instead of Dragic, and we would have 5 guys who are about 6'9" or taller who are pretty good players who can guard multiple positions. A lineup of Simmons, Barnes, Anunoby, Boucher, and Siakam would have a lot of potential, or even a lineup with Achiuwa at center instead of Boucher at power forward if Achiuwa's shooting improves enough in a year or two. If it's not enough shooting and we lose Boucher we can still have Trent, Flynn, or Dragic in there with a lineup like Simmons, Trent, Anunoby, Barnes, and Siakam.