• Home
  • Latest
  • Fortune 500
  • Finance
  • Tech
  • Leadership
  • Lifestyle
  • Rankings
  • Multimedia
TechApple

Apple’s New MacBook Pro Debuts With More Questions Than Answers

By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
By
Don Reisinger
Don Reisinger
Down Arrow Button Icon
July 14, 2018, 9:00 AM ET

Things are changing in Apple’s world.

Once upon a time, the release of a new Mac would be big news. But earlier this week, Apple unveiled new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros, but barely said anything about it. The company issued a press release, said that the laptops would come with improved performance and quieter keyboards, and then went about its day. Nothing more. It was arguably the best illustration yet of just how important the iPhone is—and how the Mac has moved into a supporting role.

This is Fortune’s latest weekly roundup of the biggest Apple news. Here’s last week’s roundup.

But it wasn’t only about Macs this week. Apple’s App Store turned 10 years-old, and in a not-so-surprising move, Apple has decided to ditch its Photo Print Products service.

Get Data Sheet, Fortune’s technology newsletter

Read on for more about this week’s biggest Apple headlines:

  1. The biggest Apple news of the week centered on the company’s new MacBook Pros. Apple announced the notebooks on Thursday, saying that the 13- and 15-inch MacBook Pros now ship with eighth-generation Intel Core processors that will substantially improve performance over the previous models from last year. Apple also said that the new MacBooks Pros come with a fourth-generation keyboard that will be “quieter” than the previous option. They’re available now.
  2. Apple is upgrading the Maps application in iOS 12, the company confirmed. Apple is now collecting its own mapping information instead of getting it from third-parties. According to the company, the move should mean more accurate information and quicker updates about road changes. Apple is also promising 3D mapping features, including a 3D view of what a location looks like from within the app. Apple’s new Maps will debut with iOS 12 this fall.
  3. Apple’s App Store turned 10 years-old this week. The store, which launched with just 500 apps, now has more than 2 million. And although it started as a way to bring more features to the iPhone, it’s now a major revenue-maker for Apple’s Services division. Suffice it to say, Apple’s App Store has been critical to the company’s success over the last several years.
  4. Apple plans to kill its Photo Print Products service at the end of September. The service, which debuted in 2002, let you order photo albums, prints, and photos containing pictures you took on your iPhone. The service was lost amid the countless rivals from other companies. And now, it’s going away.
  5. A security researcher this week investigated the code inside Apple’s iOS to determine why, when iPhones are set to Chinese location settings, the Taiwan flag emoji cannot be accessed. The researcher ultimately determined that Apple is deliberately stopping the Taiwan flag emoji from being used when a device is in China. Exactly why is unexplained, but the researcher argues that the company may be appeasing the Chinese government, which does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country. Apple never responded to a Fortune request for comment about the report.

One more thing…A former Apple engineer who’s been accused of stealing information about the company’s self-driving car project is facing up to 10 years in jail and a $250,000 fine, if he’s convicted.

About the Author
By Don Reisinger
See full bioRight Arrow Button Icon

Latest in Tech

JPMorganChase CEO Jamie Dimon says AI will eliminate jobs—and that soft skills will be more important than ever.
Future of WorkTech
Jamie Dimon says soft skills like emotional intelligence and communication are vital as AI eliminates roles
By Nino PaoliDecember 14, 2025
4 minutes ago
AIchief executive officer (CEO)
Microsoft AI boss Suleyman opens up about his peers and calls Elon Musk a ‘bulldozer’ with ‘superhuman capabilities to bend reality to his will’
By Jason MaDecember 13, 2025
10 hours ago
InvestingStock
There have been head fakes before, but this time may be different as the latest stock rotation out of AI is just getting started, analysts say
By Jason MaDecember 13, 2025
15 hours ago
Politicsdavid sacks
Can there be competency without conflict in Washington?
By Alyson ShontellDecember 13, 2025
16 hours ago
InnovationRobots
Even in Silicon Valley, skepticism looms over robots, while ‘China has certainly a lot more momentum on humanoids’
By Matt O'Brien and The Associated PressDecember 13, 2025
18 hours ago
Sarandos
Arts & EntertainmentM&A
It’s a sequel, it’s a remake, it’s a reboot: Lawyers grow wistful for old corporate rumbles as Paramount, Netflix fight for Warner
By Nick LichtenbergDecember 13, 2025
22 hours ago

Most Popular

placeholder alt text
Success
Apple cofounder Ronald Wayne sold his 10% stake for $800 in 1976—today it’d be worth up to $400 billion
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
Tariffs are taxes and they were used to finance the federal government until the 1913 income tax. A top economist breaks it down
By Kent JonesDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Success
40% of Stanford undergrads receive disability accommodations—but it’s become a college-wide phenomenon as Gen Z try to succeed in the current climate
By Preston ForeDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
The Fed just ‘Trump-proofed’ itself with a unanimous move to preempt a potential leadership shake-up
By Jason MaDecember 12, 2025
1 day ago
placeholder alt text
Success
Apple CEO Tim Cook out-earns the average American’s salary in just 7 hours—to put that into context, he could buy a new $439,000 home in just 2 days
By Emma BurleighDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
placeholder alt text
Economy
For the first time since Trump’s tariff rollout, import tax revenue has fallen, threatening his lofty plans to slash the $38 trillion national debt
By Sasha RogelbergDecember 12, 2025
2 days ago
Rankings
  • 100 Best Companies
  • Fortune 500
  • Global 500
  • Fortune 500 Europe
  • Most Powerful Women
  • Future 50
  • World’s Most Admired Companies
  • See All Rankings
Sections
  • Finance
  • Leadership
  • Success
  • Tech
  • Asia
  • Europe
  • Environment
  • Fortune Crypto
  • Health
  • Retail
  • Lifestyle
  • Politics
  • Newsletters
  • Magazine
  • Features
  • Commentary
  • Mpw
  • CEO Initiative
  • Conferences
  • Personal Finance
  • Education
Customer Support
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Customer Service Portal
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms Of Use
  • Single Issues For Purchase
  • International Print
Commercial Services
  • Advertising
  • Fortune Brand Studio
  • Fortune Analytics
  • Fortune Conferences
  • Business Development
About Us
  • About Us
  • Editorial Calendar
  • Press Center
  • Work At Fortune
  • Diversity And Inclusion
  • Terms And Conditions
  • Site Map

© 2025 Fortune Media IP Limited. All Rights Reserved. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy | CA Notice at Collection and Privacy Notice | Do Not Sell/Share My Personal Information
FORTUNE is a trademark of Fortune Media IP Limited, registered in the U.S. and other countries. FORTUNE may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Offers may be subject to change without notice.