MacBook

Apple is giving creative pros and others the opportunity to use the full versions of Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X to users for 90 days. Final Cut Pro X had previously been available for a 1-month trial period while this is the first time users have ever been able to give Logic Pro X a trial before buying.

The staingate has plagued Apple's laptops for years. Now the manufacturer has confirmed that yet another newer Macbook is exhibiting this problem: The Macbook Air with Retina screen does sometimes develop the typical staingate symptoms.

In his latest research note, well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has forecast that Apple will make a large-scale transition to ARM-based MacBooks and Macs in 2021. Previously Kuo had indicated 2021 would be when the first ARM-based Mac would ship, but wasn’t it still wasn’t clear that Apple would take baby steps or go the whole hog. At the time, we correctly speculated that there were good reasons for Apple to go hard on the ARM-based Mac transition and it looks as though the same rationale will drive the change.

Logitech has released one of its most high-end webcams yet in the form of the 4K Pro Magnetic Webcam. Designed with Apple’s expensive 32-inch 6K Pro Display XDR in mind, the secure mount holds the webcam firmly in place atop your visual pride and joy.

Apple has just unveiled the new MacBook Air model, but the specifications list on the official website did not disclose the full processor options. It appears buyers of the MacBook Air 2020 will be able to select from a choice of new Ice Lake SoCs: Intel Core i3-1000NG4, Intel Core i5-1030NG7, and Intel Core i7-1060NG7. These processors do not offer configurable TDPs unlike their similarly named counterparts.

Some of the latest Geekbench 4 and 5 results for the AMD Ryzen 7 4800H APU have been shared online, and once more they offer the sort of high multi-core scores you would expect from a Ryzen 4000 processor. However, the Renoir part in the Asus TUF Gaming laptop also kept up with the single-core scores for the i9-9980HK found in the Dell Precision 5540 and Apple MacBook Pro 15 2019.

An AMD Ryzen 7 4800HS has been spotted being put through its paces on Geekbench 5. The Ryzen 4000 APU was part of an Asus ROG Zephyrus G14 laptop. The 8-core Renoir chip amassed decent single-core scores of 1,135 and 1,164 points and multi-core scores of 7,444 and 7,544 points in two separate tests. This puts it on a very fair footing with the Coffee Lake Intel Core i9-9880H.

Now starting at US$999, the new MacBook Air is more than just a refresh as last year's model was. Upgraded to quad-core 10th generation Intel Core processors, Apple has also brought over the Magic Keyboard from the MacBook Pro 16. Available to order now, the MacBook Air 2020 can be configured with up to 16 GB of LPDDR4X RAM and a 2 TB SSD.

Apple has announced that its WWDC event will not be live as usual this year. Instead, it will have an online format. This will include a "full program" of sessions and a keynote that will appeal to developers, consumers and other interested parties.

While the iPhone SE 2 may have been put on hold, the MacBook Air 2020 could be arriving as early as next week. The device, which received a minor update last year, is said to be using scissor switching keyboards this year. The MacBook Air 2020 is likely to receive a processor upgrade too, although it may still remain within the Amber Lake-Y family.

Well-known Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the upcoming MacBook Pro and MacBook Air line to be fitted with scissor switch keyboards owing to the good feedback received from users of the 16-inch MacBook Pro. Kuo also predicts that Apple will start using its own custom SoCs in MacBooks to be released in late 2020 or early 2021 along with a complete redesign of the MacBook lineup in late 2021.

Rumour has it that Apple is set to replace the MacBook Pro 13 with a new 14.1-inch model, aptly named the MacBook Pro 14.1. The new model will apparently feature mini-LED technology, with Ice Lake processors being a likely possibility, too.

Chuwi has posted several specs for its upcoming AeroBook Pro PC. It is to be a 15.6-inch notebook with a 4K display rated to cover 100% of the sRGB color-space, and an ultra-thin "full-metal" case. It will become available as part of a new Indiegogo campaign in late March 2020.

Standford’s Folding@home project has been running for a number of years using the donated idle hours of computers to help undertake complex calculations for researchers. With the advent of the novel coronavirus, researchers are now putting out a call to help develop potential treatments for COVID-19, the infectious disease it causes in humans.

Apple plans to replace all Intel CPUs from its laptops and desktops with ARM-based processors produced in-house. Performance is already there if we compare the A13 Bionic SoC with Intel's ULV CPUs, but Apple is waiting for the jump to 5 nm in order to keep Macbook power requirements as low as possible.

It has only been a few days since an Ice Lake-powered Apple device appeared online, but now more have popped up. Possibly versions of the rumoured new MacBook Pro 13, a refresh that may borrow the scissor mechanism keyboard from the MacBook Pro 16, the Ice Lake processors all part of the mysterious Ice Lake-NG series.

Apple will not hit its estimated revenue target for this quarter. Citing supply chain restrictions caused by the coronavirus outbreak and falling demand in China, the Cupertino colossus will pull in lower-than-expected revenue. Apple's stock fell 3% in response.

Apple is expected to release a new MacBook Pro 13 soon, and one that may feature the company's scissor mechanism keyboard. However, there is evidence that it could feature a custom Ice Lake processor too, which may offer up to 20% improved performance over last year's model.

With the upgrade to the quad-core processor and the Touch Bar, both versions of the MacBook Pro 13 are closer than ever. There are still differences, but the more affordable laptop should be the better choice for the majority of users.

Chargeasap, the company responsible for the Infinity Cable, has introduced another new product via Indiegogo. The Flash power bank is described as based on Tesla graphene-battery technology, which allows it to fill up at a maximal rate of 150 watts (W). It also purports to deliver 100W USB-Power Delivery (USB-PD) through a type C port, and that's not all.

With macOS 10.15.4 due to arrive in March, a month when Apple typically refreshes some of its portfolio, people have been scouring the beta 1 build to unearth any hardware-related clues. One leaker has spotted a ton of references to AMD APU and GPUs, in what may be the first hint of an AMD-powered MacBook Pro being in development.

The MacBook Air is a well-known brand, so it makes sense for Apple to offer corresponding devices. However, both the performance and connectivity fall behind the competition, and Apple's own MacBook Pro 13 is a better alternative.

HYPER has put its new charger up for crowdfunding on Indiegogo. Despite packing a maximum rate of 100 watts (W), it is described as even smaller than the MacBook Pro brick with the same kind of port. This is due to its gallium nitride (GaN) technology, which can offer greater power transfer in a smaller footprint.

Many retailers still sell the 2019 MacBook Pro 15, even after the launch of the new MacBook Pro 16. You can often get big discounts, so is the MBP 15 still a good choice, and which components should you take?

Well-connected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has issued his latest research note on Apple’s 2020 product pipeline for TF International Securities and Apple fans are in for a treat if Kuo’s predictions materialize. Among new products expected in the first half of 2020 include Apple’s budget 4.7-inch iPhone, an iPad Pro refresh, AirTags, MacBook Pro/Air refresh, a small wireless charging mat and a set of high-end Bluetooth headphones.

Apple has started selling the Mac Pro in a server-friendly rack-mountable form factor. While the internals of the new model are the same as the tower Mac Pro, the rack-mount design runs an extra US $500.

Market research estimates by Gartner and IDC indicate that Apple's share of the PC market continues to decline. With a 7.5 percent share as of Q4 2019, Apple remains the world's 4th largest PC seller. However, it is outsold significantly by market leaders Lenovo, HP, and Dell.

Apple has reportedly certified 2 new PCs with the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). They both run Catalina (the latest version of macOS). One may be the next 13-inch MacBook Pro, whereas the other could be the Mac Pro rackable SKU. Some previously-released Apple TV devices also appear to have been approved alongside them.

The Wacom One is a new, 13-inch digital-art display. It has an FHD panel and in-built, foldable legs for various modes. It is aimed at those looking to get into electronically-enhanced or -generated art, and can also leverage Microsoft Office features with its corresponding pen.

Apple has launched a new free engraving service for its AirPods and AirPods Pro wireless earphones. Customers can choose from a limited range of emojis or use the alphabet to create their own name, for example.

Brydge has announced a new line up of its popular tablet keyboards coming in 2020. New keyboards are in bound for the Surface Go and the Surface Pro X along with new wireless keyboards for Windows, a new iPad OS Trackpad and other accessories.

According to rumors out of Taiwan, Apple is eyeing the gaming PC market and plans to release a gaming-focused computer next year. The rumor claims the device will cost up to US $5000 but doesn't offer much information. The rumor doesn't even say whether the gaming computer will be a desktop or laptop.

B&H is discounting MacBook Pros by as much as US$1850 as part of their Mega Deal Zone promotion. The entry level 13-in MacBook Pro (2018) is available for just $1299, while the top-tier Core i9 15-in model is selling for $2699. The sale ends on 31st December at 11:59 EST.

iFixit recently took on the new Mac Pro and rated it 9 out of 10 for repairability. A “Fixmas miracle,” the 2019 model is far easier to repair than older “trashcan” Macs. Together with the new public repair manuals, servicing is more user-friendly than ever.

Opera released a variant of its browser optimized for gaming earlier this year. Now, it has announced that the same app, known as GX, is compatible with macOS as well as Windows. Therefore, those using such systems can now use features such as Twitch support and network limiters in their browser.

The latest version of macOS Catalina (10.15.2) brings a slew of minor updates and bug fixes. Interestingly, the update may have fixed the speaker snap, crackle, and pop issues reported by some Macbook and Macbook Pro users, though nothing official has been stated by Apple.

Apple's new Mac Pro is expensive, but most of the components seem worth the asking price (for the most part). But what about the wheels? At its asking price of $400, Apple is pushing the limits of supply and demand.

The smallest MacBook Pro released this year has an issue and one that could seemingly strike at any time. Apple has acknowledged that many MacBook Pro 13 machines released from July onwards this year are experiencing random shutdown issues, but is yet to address it with a proper solution.

Apple returns with a new MacBook Pro that addresses many of the concerns that we had about the fourth-generation models. While the MacBook Pro 16 may look an awful lot like its 15-inch predecessor, Apple has made several tweaks that make it a pleasure to use.

The 16-inch MacBook Pro may have pleased fans and reviewers alike with its scissor-switch keyboard, Apple's latest laptop remains just as difficult as ever to disassemble. Even a mundane task like cleaning the fans poses the risk of damaging the device if you remove its bottom case incorrectly. We accidentally damaged our review unit, but you don't have to.