Apple

According to a report, Apple's plan to release MacBook Pros with mini-LED displays has been pushed back until Q4 2021 or Q1 2022. Apparently, supply issues are to blame, but a rise in COVID infections in Taiwan may come into play, too.

The Apple Watch Series 7 could be in line for a redesign according to tipster Jon Prosser. The changes would make the Watch look squared off at the edges and replace the currently rounded off look bringing it in line with the squared off look that started with the iPad Pro design and most recently made its way to the iPhone 12.

Apple's next-generation MacBook Air will receive not only a design overhaul but also a revised SoC. The SoC will serve as the successor to the popular M1, albeit with faster CPU cores and up to two additional GPU cores.

Apple is working towards releasing in-house silicon with up to 40 CPU and 128 GPU cores, Mark Gurman claims. The powerhouse SoC will make its way into a smaller Mac Pro, while the Mac mini will receive a chip with up to 32 GPU cores.

According to a new report, Apple has set its sights on releasing three new MacBook Pro models, starting this summer with 14-inch and 16-inch variants. All will have new Apple Silicon SoCs, with up to ten CPU cores and thirty-two GPU cores for the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16.

Apple’s impressive new iPad Pro 12.9-inch model could be very hard to find on launch according to Bloomberg. Its vaunted mini-LED-based display is said to be behind the supply constraints due to difficulties with producing the new panels.

Apple Music has launched its vaunted lossless and spatial audio support to much fanfare. However, it isn't all good news with Apple confirming that none of its headphones, including the US$549 AirPods Max, support higher resolution streaming over Bluetooth.

Apple has added images for the Beats Studio Buds to iOS and tvOS betas. The TWS earbuds have a compact design and have been shown in three colours.

Apple Music subscribers are in for a treat, as the platform will soon support Dolby Atmos, Spatial Audio and lossless music. Existing subscribers will automatically gain access to the entire lossless music catalogue. Apple aims to offer its entire library of 75 million tracks in a lossless format.

The latest leaks increasingly insist that the iPhone 13 series will be the one to finally launch with a smaller notch. A new report might help explain how the Cupertino giant plans to bring this about: by cutting a necessary Face ID-enabling component in half, or as close as it can get.

HTC may be just clinging on to the smartphone market, but there is little question that at its peak it produced some of the most beautiful smartphones ever made. The former design chief behind its classic M7 and M8 smartphones is now working at Apple on new Beats headphones along with other design work for the company, it has been revealed.

According to tipster Luke Miani, Apple is planning to launch a new Apple Music HiFi audio streaming tier for US$9.99 a month, going head to head with the likes of Tidal and Qobuz.

The new and colorful 24-inch Apple iMacs with M1 chips have started popping up on Geekbench and have revealed strong performances, especially in single-core testing. The M1 iMac was able to surpass any average single-core score by all previous iMac and iMac Pro models regardless of size or Intel processor variant.

The 2021 Apple iPad Pro with M1 chip has started appearing on Geekbench, and it is throwing up results that will have fans excited about making a purchase. Not only does the M1 iPad Pro manage to produce scores that are +50% more than those of the 4th Gen iPad Pro with A12Z Bionic chip, but it also nudges past all the M1 Macs in average single-core results.

A German security researcher who goes by the alias "stacksmashing" posted a YouTube video detailing how he was able to dump the firmware of an Apple AirTag. Furthermore, he was able to inject a custom firmware that changed the AirTag's "Lost Mode" function. This could open the door to more malicious jailbreaks of AirTags in the future.

It has been reported that Samsung is preparing to enter the laptop processor market with a new Exynos SoC in the second half of the year. The Samsung Exynos chip will compete against the Apple M1 by also being produced on a 5 nm manufacturing node. Samsung has enlisted AMD’s expertise for the integrated graphics component.

The next MacBook Air has leaked again, this time in multiple colours. Apple's next budget MacBook will feature a revised keyboard, a new chassis and white display bezels. The device is expected to launch with an Apple M2 SoC, too.

The respected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reportedly noted that Apple plans to make iPhones with in-house 5G modem SoCs in the next few years. This would be a considerable blow to Qualcomm, the Cupertino giant's current source of chipsets necessary for up-to-date connectivity. It might mean the chip-maker would lose more of a grip on the 5G market.

The latest version of iOS (14.5) introduced App Tracking Transparency, a new set of dialog boxes that informs the user whenever an app wants to track their activity across the UI and that they can prevent this if they wish. According to new research, its uptake skyrocketed to 88% worldwide, and 96% in the US, within 1 week of the update's release.

Apple's AirTags might be the latest thing in personal possession-tracking, although customers might find it hard to actually secure said things with the little monolithic smart pucks out of the box. However, Spigen has stepped up to offer new holders with the keyrings and clips necessary to take such a tag anywhere.

Jon Prosser has heard from his source that Apple is testing a Blue colourway for its new MacBooks. Therefore, we can reasonably assume that the soon-to-be-announced MacBook Air and MacBook Pro will come in multiple colour variants.

Apple’s new AirTag has been a hit with Apple fans keen to use it to keep track of their belongings. However, it is a little too thick to be comfortably fitted into the average wallet. Naturally, that hasn’t stopped someone from deconstructing an AirTag and repurposing it to fit into a card that slides into a wallet much more easily.

The wait goes on for a new iPad mini, but specifications for the so-called iPad mini Pro have now leaked. According to a new report, Apple plans to charge US$649 and up for the iPad mini Pro, which it will equip with an 8.7-inch display and 5G connectivity. Expect the iPad mini Pro to arrive in 2H 2021.

MediaTek has been forecast to finish 2021 as the leading mobile chipset maker according to a report by Counterpoint Research. It will be the second consecutive year that it has beaten out Qualcomm, although Qualcomm edges out Apple as the leading maker of 5G-capable SoCs.

Lewis Hilsenteger of the famous Unbox Therapy YouTube channel has been sent what is described as an authentic dummy unit of the hotly-anticipated iPhone 13 Pro Max. Should this be the case, the purported top-end device has not changed much compared to its predecessor - except that it might be slightly thicker, have larger rear cameras and rock the rumored smaller notch.

A new Apple AirTag teardown video reveals that each one is packed with drivers, coils and (of course) button batteries. However, and possibly more importantly, it may also show that their clearly keenly developed appearance might degrade quickly over time with use. On the other hand, they can theoretically be torn down for repair (should the user want to do so) at least.

A YouTube content creator successfully managed to install an entire Royal Kludge RK61 mechanical keyboard into a 2008 MacBook Pro. While the keyboard and MacBook Pro work without any issues, it is impossible to close the lid given the keyboard's size.

Apple’s AirTag location trackers have been a long time coming but their launch isn’t going as smoothly as the company would like. Australian retailer Officeworks has pulled the product from its store shelves over child safety concerns that its user replaceable battery could be too easily removed.

A key supplier in Apple's mini-LED supply chain has stated that it will significantly increase its mini-LED production in preparation for "two upcoming mini-LED-backlit MacBook Pro models." This news gives legs to long-standing rumors of mini-LED 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros.

A filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has led to some speculation that a future Apple wearable, possibly even the expected Apple Watch Series 7, could be fitted with a non-invasive glucose indicator. On top of that, an Apple Watch 7 may even sport an alcohol monitor, thanks to Rockley Photonics’ expertise.

Apple is set to launch its rumored iPhone foldable in 2023 according to a new note from respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The foldable will feature a Samsung Display-sourced 8-inch flexible OLED panel suggesting that it will adopt a Galaxy Fold-like approach to foldables.

Apple has now released its latest iPad Pro for pre-order in the US, and asks at least US$1,099 for its 12.9-inch variant. Prospective buyers should be aware that they may now have to pay even more for repairs should their brand-new premium slate incur damage in a way the OEM deems to be out of warranty.

Research firm Counterpoint has published a report about global smartphone market share by quarter, including the first quarter of 2021. Apple has shrunk a little but still remains strong and Samsung looks solid as ever. However, Huawei’s situation seems perilous as the Chinese OEM has slipped from 20% share to just 4% in under a year.

The European Commission (EC) has issued a preliminary verdict as a result of its anti-trust investigation against Apple. It concerns the treatment of third-party music apps on its App Store. The Commission has ruled that the OEM leverages its "dominant position" in this market to subvert competition and consumer choice, particularly when it comes to payment methods and rates.

The Checkra1n jailbreak was recently updated to feature support for iOS 14.5 and compatibility with Macs sporting the M1 processor. Version 0.12.3 adds these new features, along with a host of bug fixes.

Apple has now officially made its new 2021 24-inch iMac computers with M1 Apple Silicon available to order. There are plenty of configurations for shoppers to choose from, with prices ranging from US$1,299 for the entry-level iMac to US$3,127.98 for the model with all the hardware and software it can handle.

Apple has yet to update the vanilla iPad, not to mention its Mini variant, despite having been repeatedly rumored to do so in 2021. Now, new registrations with the EEC authority may point to a launch for these tablets soon. In less expected news, they have been joined on this database by what look like a new accessory for the AirPort Time Capsule, Extreme and Express.

The new iPad Pros and iMac will be pre-orderable from tomorrow, but Apple has hinted that it will not have many units available. Apple expects shortages to continue into Q3 2021, although primarily for iPad and Macs.

The M1 Apple Silicon has now claimed the top spot in PassMark’s CPU Mark single-thread performance charts for both desktop and laptop CPUs, thanks to the hybrid processor turning up in devices such as the MacBook Pro 13 laptop and Mac Mini desktop. The Apple M1 managed to outscore powerful rivals such as the Intel Core i9-11900K, i9-11900F, AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS, and Ryzen 9 5900HS.

Apple continues to shift huge numbers of iPhones as well as Macs according to its latest quarterly results. Not only that, its Services business, which includes its App Store and subscriptions services like Apple Music, Apple News+ and Apple Arcade.

Spotify is planning to raise prices in certain regions including Europe and the United States. However, the price hikes aren't uniform and, thankfully, they don't appear to be extreme.

Apple has released an update that allows a user to unlock their iPhone with their Apple Watch should they be wearing a mask at the time. This new iOS 14.5 setting requires the latest version of watchOS (7.4) to work. iPhones on the latest corresponding software upgrade can also now use App Tracking Transparency to allow or deny activity-tracking in a highly granular manner.

Reports claim that the M1 successor has already entered mass production at TSMC on the N5P nodes and shipments are to be expected sometime in July. The new "M2" processors could first be introduced with the 14-inch / 16-inch redesigned MacBook Pro models and 27-inch iMacs launching this fall.

Sony has announced the XAV-AX150, XAV-AX8100 and XAV-AX5600 as its latest AV auto receivers. Sony asserts that they deliver clear, bass-heavy in-car audio thanks to the OEM's proprietary technologies. The new units also feature HDMI inputs for the first time, as well as Apple CarPlay, Android Auto and WebLink Cast.

Apple seeks to maintain interest in its iPhone 12 and 12 Mini by adding a new color for the two flagship variants: purple. Now, the accessory OEM Anker has released new units of its PowerPort III Nano 20W (or Nano 20W) in a matching color. The power brick is 50% smaller than the first-party adapter for the iPhones that now ship without them.

Overall, the Radeon Pro W6900X is somewhere between an RX 6800 XT and an RX 6900 XT. Since it is noticeably faster than the RX 6900 XT in the Metal API tests, the professional card could be getting 32 GB of VRAM. The clocks will most likely be lower though, so it might only feature a more compact blower style cooler.

The new 12.9-inch iPad Pro is 0.5mm thicker than its predecessor. That extra thickness could cause the iPad screen to press on the keyboard a bit too tight. However, an older Magic Keyboard could still work with the new iPad Pro.

CAD renders of Apple's next iPhones may have already appeared, but so has a prototype showing the iPhone 13 mini's camera design. The design will probably reflect the iPhone 13's too, which shows that Apple has switched to a diagonal arrangement, for some reason.

One aspect of the Apple iPad Pro launch that caught the eye is Apple’s use of the M1 chip in the new 11-inch and 12.9-inch models. Naturally, this got tongues wagging about whether Apple was planning on bringing Mac apps to the iPad or whether, in fact, it is planning on merging the two operating systems. Apple’s Greg Joswiak says the answer is a firm ‘No’ to the latter.