Dive Brief:
- New hardware for PCs and Macintoshes, along with full access to the Google Play store for Chromebooks, are coming in the next few months, Business Insider reports.
- It is unclear exactly when the software and hardware will be released, but all companies are expected to announce the changes soon.
- As PC sales have slumped, companies are getting more creative to drive more interest from consumers.
Dive Insight:
According to Gartner, worldwide PC shipments fell nearly 9.6% in the first quarter of 2016. Several tech companies are preparing new offerings in an attempt to give sales a boost.
Apple is reportedly preparing for a major MacBook Pro update that will include "a slimmer design, USB-C ports, a fingerprint reader, and a secondary OLED display that’ll replace the usual row of function keys," according to Business Insider.
Meanwhile, PCs have the newest generation of Intel Core processors, codenamed Kaby Lake, to look forward to. Intel CEO Brian Krzanich confirmed Kaby Lake processors will be available in devices this fall. In June, Krzanich said the upgrade cycle for PCs has slowed down from an average four years to nearly six years.
Lastly, Google announced that the Chrome OS will formally support the Google Play Store in September. That means Chromebook users will now be able to download and use Android apps.
