Apple’s new OS X 10.10 desktop operating system will provide a lot of new features, but it could also herald the launch of a new iMac with Retina display.
According to French Mac developer forum MacBidouille, the OS X 10.10 developer preview contains a file that hints at a super-sharp all-in-one desktop in Apple’s future.
The file itself sets out the display resolution scaling modes for a device identified as an iMac. These scaling resolutions don’t match anything possible on the current 21-inch and 27-inch iMac range.
There’s mention of resolutions that max out at 6400 x 3600, which would probably translate to a 3200 x 1800 HiDPI equivalent. 5760×3240 (2880×1620 HiDPI) and 4096×2304 (2048×1152 HiDPI) are also mentioned.
Of course, the native display resolution of a Retina-equipped iMac would likely be somewhat different, and isn’t mentioned here. The simple speculation is that it could work out to 5120 x 2880, which is double the resolution of the current 27-inch model.
If you’re wondering about the discrepancy between the native and high-end resolutions, and what those HiDPI figures mean, it relates to Apple’s technique with Retina devices. The likes of the MacBook Pro with Retina display generate a higher resolution image before scaling down, which has the effect of providing a sharper picture with more screen space than a non-Retina equivalent.
It’s likely that an iMac with Retina display would follow the same path.
Apple last refreshed the iMac range in September, with new processors and storage options. Might we see a new sharper (and likely more expensive) 27-inch iMac with Retina display towards the end of the year?
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Via: MacRumours