Apple

The Apple M1 SoC, also frequently known as Apple Silicon, has made a ground-breaking entry into PassMark’s CPU Mark chart for single-thread performance. The Apple M1’s rating placed it above the AMD Ryzen 7 5800X and nipping at the heels of the Intel Core i7-11700K, thus unsettling the AMD/Intel establishment with its presence.

Apple has abruptly updated its current iMac Pro sales page to reflect the fact that apparently only its base model is in stock. This has led to speculation that a new version of this PC, perhaps even with an in-house chipset instead of the last remaining unit's 10-core Intel Xeon W-series processor, is on the way. However, the OEM might be wrapping its product cycle up for some other reason.

The Apple Watch, Huawei Watch GT and Galaxy Watch lines helped their respective OEMs maintain their leading positions in the smartwatch space in 2020. This was a year in which the market showed relatively little growth, although its premium segment enjoyed a "significant" uptick.

Fantasian is a new JRPG headed for Apple Arcade. Written by Hironobu Sakaguchi and featuring a soundtrack by Nobuo Uematsu, Fantasian throws players into a multi-dimensional world constructed from over 150 hand-made dioramas. Gameplay features a unique mechanic for monster management and traditional JRPG tropes.

Apple may is yet to unveil its first ARM-based iMac, but a YouTuber has. The project is rough around the edges, but it shows what Apple could create if it merged the existing iMac with an M1-based Mac mini.

We compared the Apple M1's performance in CPU benchmarks against the AMD Ryzen 9 5980HS in the Asus ROG Flow X13, the Core i9-10980HK, and the Core i7-1185G7 and found that native benchmarks such as Cinebench R23 and Geekbench 5.3 indicate clear leads for Apple Silicon in single-core performance despite operating in just a 10 W TDP envelope. We see that Intel Tiger Lake Core i7-1185G7 is able to match the M1 in single-core tests but loses out significantly in multi-core tests.

Although Apple still has to confirm this, it looks like macOS 11.3 will come with a nasty surprise for some users. Depending on the region, this update might remove Rosetta, so the users of M1-powered machines in those countries will lose the ability to run x86 apps built for Intel-based Macs.

A new report from a Taiwanese news outlet tells us that TSMC plans on opening six new manufacturing plants in the U.S. The first plant will be based in Arizona. Construction is expected to begin later this year, and the facility will supposedly manufacture 12-inch (300mm) wafers.

A new model in Apple's burgeoning iPad product stack is set to arrive in the second half of 2021, according to a new report. Apparently, the device will be called the iPad mini Pro, which would position it somewhere between eh iPad mini 6 and the iPad Air 4.

Without bringing any major changes to the gameplay or interface, World of Tanks 1.12 is now live and comes with (only four, unfortunately) rebalanced tier VIII premium tanks, interface improvements inspired by popular mods, a sneak preview of the reworked Steel Hunter mode, and more.

A new research note allegedly issued by the legendary analyst Ming-Chi Kuo states that the iPhones launched in 2022 will have punch-hole displays in place of the notches that have come to define these flagships. The third-gen SE is now also thought to launch in that year, and just might come with the same new kind of screen.

The market for tablets in India had shrunk for 4 years straight - until 2020. That year saw a resurgence in demand for that form-factor, as users felt they were necessary for learning or working from home. Therefore, it exhibited a year-on-year (YoY) growth of 14.7%, although Lenovo retained it status as its leading brand.

Apple is expected to launch redesigned Mac desktops including the iMac and Mac Pro later this year. Known leaker Jon Prosser has shared renders of what could be 2021 iMac and Mac Pro. The 2021 iMac is touted to be available in five color options with reduced bezels resembling a Pro Display XDR. The Mac Pro will be half the size of the current iteration and resemble a stack of Mac Minis. Both desktops will be powered by an upgraded Apple Silicon.

Apple has re-worked the MagSafe brand as a new type of ultra-thin and (theoretically) extra-strong wireless charger that enables a user to hold up and use an iPhone 12 as normal while juicing it back up. Now, ESR has "re-imagined" this technology, mainly through the inclusion of a useful flip-out stand.

According to a new report, the next MacBook Pro 16 will feature an Apple M1 chip, not a more powerful next-generation model. Any design changes will be on the minor side too, resulting in the 2021 edition looking basically the same as its 2019 predecessor. Minor changes could include a switch to a flat design and the return of legacy ports though, along with slimmer display bezels for the new model.

Apple has dominated a list of the most-shipped smartphones in 2020, with the iPhone 11 alone shipping 64.8 million units with an estimated value of around US$48.9 billion. Five iPhone models are in the top 10 list, joined by four Samsung Galaxy smartphones and a sole representative from Xiaomi in the form of the Redmi Note 9 Pro.

The lifespan of the soldered SSD's in new M1 Macs may be severely limited, according to multiple reports. Current wear of some SSDs is so high that some drives may need replacing within two years.

A full MacBook Pro refresh is due later this year, with a switch to Apple's in-house processors reputedly planned. According to a new report, the 2021 MacBook Pro refresh will feature an HDMI port too, which dovetail with the return of the SD card for the series.

Apple is reportedly planning to shift some of its iPad production to India and is lobbying to increase the budget for the Indian Government's performance-linked incentive (PLI) scheme. This report comes in the wake of the Cupertino-giant plans to offload some of its contract manufacturing to Vietnam and reduce dependence on China due to ongoing US-China trade tensions.

A new leak has set expectations for the AirPods 3, Apple's next TWS earbuds. The AirPods 3 look like a cross between the AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro, as does its charging case.

Apple has been working on at least two different foldable iPhone prototypes or concepts with a view to potentially bringing one of the designs to market. However, a new report suggests that the company is only lukewarm on the idea and it is still some years away from being launched, if at all.

New Redmi Note 10 teasers have claimed that the upcoming potential midrange smartphone champion will have a display that is as bright as the screen of the iPhone 12 Pro and certainly way beyond that of the Redmi Note 9. The teasers have sparked renewed speculation that the Redmi Note 10 will feature an OLED screen instead of an LCD like its predecessor.

According to a new report, Apple will announce at least three new products at its next hardware event. Supposedly scheduled for March 16, the event is expected to showcase the iPad mini 6, AirTags and a 2021 refresh of the iPad Pro series. The 12.9-inch version of the latter should have some impressive hardware upgrades too, including a new SoC that will rival the Apple M1.

Apple M1-native malware has been discovered by an independent macOS security researcher. The GoSearch22 Safari browser extension, which is linked to the infamous Pirrit adware family, can run on any M1 silicon-based device, such as the late 2020 models of the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac Mini.

The latest full-year analysis of the PC market show that devices that run ChromeOS gained more and more market share during 2020 compared to those running macOS. Windows remained the market leader, although its share did fall compared to 2019. These changes might be related to the overwhelming demand for home-learning and -working solutions that marked the year just gone.

Epic Games has stepped its dispute with Apple over developer remuneration by filing an official antitrust complaint with the European Commission (EC). It alleges that competition in the app-distribution and payment markets has been "completely eliminated" by Apple's practices of insisting that these activities are carried out through its App Store for all software intended for use on iOS.

Apple is working on a new yet to be announced external battery pack for the iPhone 12 range. The accessory will use Apple’s MagSafe magnetic adapter tech to attach to the rear of an iPhone and charge wirelessly over the Qi protocol.

Apple is thought to have a foldable iPhone in the works. However, according to a new report, the market analyst group Omdia claims that its launch has been pushed back to 2023. Then again, it might share the feature of Apple Pencil compatibility with many iPads by that time.

The next Pro-grade iPhones are currently tipped to get LTPO displays. They are also rumored to finally upgrade to 120Hz refresh rates – and to always-on displays, according to the latest leak. The successors to the 12 series are also now believed to benefit from a new, possibly textured matte finish.

Huawei CEO Ren Zhengfei continues to gush about Apple and its products. In his latest interview, Zhengfei has said that Apple makes the best 5G iPhones in the world and that they are the perfect compliment for his company’s 5G network technologies.

Despite low sales of the iPhone 12 Mini, sources have told noted tipster Jon Prosser that Apple will launch an iPhone 13 Mini. According to these sources, the main reason the iPhone 12 Mini floundered was the success of the iPhone SE (2020). Since no iPhone SE will launch in 2021, the iPhone 13 Mini will do markedly better.

Apple plans to unveil the AirTags and its 2021 iPad Pro refresh, according to new reports. Possibly launching simultaneously, rumours about the pair have been circulating for months.

The market research group Above Avalon has studied the fortunes of the Apple Watch series up to 2020, and has put the number of its adopters at 100 million. This would make it the OEM's fourth biggest product, with iPhones, iPads and Macs the only lines to sell better than these wearables. Should this trend continue, they may in fact be able to overtake the PCs by 2022.

An updated Bluetooth SIG listing has sparked speculation in regard to a mysterious “B2002” entry, with guesses ranging from Apple TV to an M1 iMac. The B2002 item joins new registrations for the M1-based MacBook Air, MacBook Pro 13, and Mac mini. The model number for the baffling potential product is simply “TBD”.

What Apple's mixed reality headset looks like remains a secret, but there have already been some hints about the so-called 'Apple Glasses. The designer Antonio De Rosa has taken up the topic and, based on previous leaks, has published photorealistic renders of how Apple's upcoming headset could look.

A proposed North Dakota law will force Apple and Google to allow developers alternative options for distributing iOS and Android apps, respectively. The bill will also allow developers to receive in-app payments through any method they choose, not just through the app's respective app platform.

Rumours have been circulating about Apple releasing a redesigned iMac with a high-end ARM-based processor that has at least 12 cores. While past rumours have suggested that the 2021 iMac will arrive as early as March, a new report claims that Apple has scheduled the device's release for October 2021, instead.

A new report from prolific Apple leaker Jon Prosser suggests that Apple could go the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip route with its upcoming foldable iPhone. The clamshell-shaped iPhone could come in several colourways and marketed as an 'entry-level' iPhone of sorts.

Apple will give developers US$500 for returning its Developer Transition Kit, a US$300 increase from the value of its original credit. The new coupon is no longer restricted to being redeemed against M1 hardware either and can be used until the end of 2021.

Apple will align the design of its MacBook Pro and iPhone series this year, according to a new report. The change will see 2021 MacBook Pros with a flatter design, albeit one with rounded corners. Apple is expected to release at least a new 16-inch MacBook Pro this year, which could also be the first ARM-based MacBook that supports MagSafe charging.

Slides from Intel have been published revealing numerous benchmark and usage comparisons between the ARM-based Apple M1 chip and Core i7 representatives of the Intel 11th Gen Tiger Lake series. The choice of benchmarks and some subtle SKU changes suggest Intel is focusing on trash-talking the Apple M1 rather than improving its own production.

Apple could be set to end production of the iPhone 12 mini as soon as the end of the second quarter this year. While it seems Apple will continue to market and sell the iPhone 12 mini, at least until its inventory runs dry, it doesn’t look good for the future of small iPhones.

A Counterpoint report has stated that Apple managed to sell over 9.5 million iPhones in the US market alone in December 2020. This gave the iPhone 12 maker a huge 64% of the market share, leaving Samsung in second on 20%. Google managed to claw back some share thanks to the Pixel 4a and Pixel 5, but Motorola and Alcatel are firmly in ZTE territory.

Telegram was #9 on SensorTower's list of most downloaded (non-game) mobile app in December 2020. Fast forward one month, however, and it had jumped up to #1. WhatsApp and Instagram were #3 and #4 at the end of 2020, but fell to #5 and #6 respectively at the start of 2021.

A tech tipster has claimed that Apple is preparing four new SoCs and has shared the alleged internal identifiers for the processors. Unsurprisingly, this has led to considerable speculation about their eventual product names, with Apple M1X, M2, A14X, A15, and A15 Bionic heading the suggestions. 2021’s 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models could feature a new SoC.

Apple has more or less phased out its iPod brand, once a stable of its hardware business. Nonetheless, concept renders have shown how Apple could utilise the Watch Series as a portable music player with a click wheel.

Gone are the days when Apple would give developers an iMac to return a Developer Transition Kit (DTK). Instead, the company now expects developers to return its latest DTK for a US$200 coupon off an M1 Mac, the cheapest of which retails for US$699.

More details have surfaced about Apple’s mixed reality headset including an impression of what it looks like and its eye-watering price tag. If you thought that Apple jumped the shark with the pricing of the Airpods Max at US$500, it pales in comparison to what could be an eye-watering US$3,000 price tag for its new headset.

Apple has accepted a ruling from South Korea's national Fair Trade Commission that it has abused its dominance of the smartphone market in that country to skew conditions in its favor when it came to selling and supporting iPhones through carriers. Therefore, Apple has "volunteered" to fund facilities and education for small business in the IT sector.