Category: News

  • Apple improves benefits for all retail workers with slew of positive changes

    Apple improves benefits for all retail workers with slew of positive changes

    The rumor: Working at Apple’s retail stores will be better than ever when the new benefits go live on April 4, according to Mark Gurman (85.5% accurate).

    The details, via Bloomberg…

    • Double the paid sick days for part and full-timers
    • More vacation days each year, beginning at 3 years of working (was 5 years)
    • Part-timers get up to 6 paid vacation days, plus parental leave for the first time (up to 6 weeks with work time scaling back up for the first 4 weeks back) and “access to discounted emergency backup care for children or elderly family members”

    Our take: This is really good. Some workers have been asking for better benefits for months now, and it’s good that Apple is set to deliver these new benefits in early April. Just straight positives across the board.

  • 2022 MacBook Pro said to launch in early March

    2022 MacBook Pro said to launch in early March

    The rumor: Apple will unveil a new low-end MacBook Pro model in just about a month, according to DigiTimes (60.8% accurate).

    According to the report…

    Our take: I doubt that we will see this M2 MacBook Pro before any other M2 computers, like the redesigned MacBook Air or iMac 24-inch. At the same time, l can’t imagine it would be too difficult to put a less-powerful chip in the body of a notebook made for more-powerful chips.

  • Apple announces game-changing iPhone payments feature

    Apple announces game-changing iPhone payments feature

    The news: Later this year, your iPhone will be able to accept credit cards and transform into a mobile payment terminal…with no additional hardware.

    • Apple has announced Tap to Pay on iPhone, which works with Apple Pay, contactless credit cards and “other digital wallets” to natively accept payments on-device
    • Powering the experience initially will be payment processors Stripe or Shopify Point of Sale
    • Tap to Pay on iPhone will be available on iPhone XS or later

    Our take: Great scoop from Mark Gurman on this a few weeks ago. As I said before, this is game-changing. Anyone with a recent iPhone will now be able to, overnight, accept payments from essentially anyone privately and securely. I love the future present.

  • Apple will release 4 Macs with M2 chips beginning later this year

    Apple will release 4 Macs with M2 chips beginning later this year

    The rumor: This could be the biggest year for Mac releases ever, according to Mark Gurman (85.5% accurate, via Power On).

    These are the Macs getting an M2 chip as soon as this year…

    • Low-end MacBook Pro 14-inch
    • iMac 24-inch (refresh of current M1 model)
    • Low-end Mac mini (refresh of current M1 model)
    • Redesigned MacBook Air

    Our take: I find it most interesting that Apple is already looking to update their M1 products to faster M2 chips. Considering how that chip gets the job done for the vast majority of the population, I thought Apple would keep it around for some time. It doesn’t appear that way. Unlike Intel refreshes, which would happen on the Mac intermittently, every couple of years, it looks as if Apple could be updating computers with their latest silicon much more regularly!

  • 2022 MacBook Pro refresh will focus on new low-end model

    2022 MacBook Pro refresh will focus on new low-end model

    The rumor: Apple’s next MacBook Pro will be an updated version of the 14-inch…but with worse specs across the board, according to Mark Gurman (85.5% accurate, via Power On).

    Here’s what to expect…

    • Same design as the current 14-inch model
    • Worse screen without Mini-LED or 120Hz ProMotion
    • Lower storage configuration options
    • M2 chip (yet to be unveiled)

    Our take: So who is this notebook for? I’m genuinely confused because Apple is working on a revamped MacBook Air with specs that are almost identical…and it will likely be cheaper. Based on this report, Apple is taking away essentially everything that makes this MacBook Pro in the first place.

  • Apple March 8 event scheduled for new products

    Apple March 8 event scheduled for new products

    The rumor: Apple’s first event of 2022 is just over a month away, according to Mark Gurman (85.5% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “Apple Inc. is targeting a date on or near March 8 to unveil a new low-cost iPhone and an updated iPad, according to people with knowledge of the matter” Gurman says
    • The report specifies that both a new iPhone se and iPad Air will be unveiled, with a new Mac also being possible

    Our take: There we go: Apple event in early March from the best Apple source in the game. The lineup of products doesn’t sound wildly exciting by any means but this is the best news we’ve heard in a while.

  • iPhone SE 3 rumor says it won’t get MagSafe charging

    iPhone SE 3 rumor says it won’t get MagSafe charging

    The rumor: Apple’s next budget iPhone won’t charge like the iPhone 13, according to Macotakara (55.9% accurate).

    • “According to reliable sources in China, the iPhone SE (3rd generation), which is supposed to be the successor to the iPhone SE (2nd generation) released in April 2020, will retain the iPhone SE (2nd generation) chassis design and will continue to support Qi wireless charging, but will not support MagSafe” Macotakara reports
    • Apple’s next iPhone SE is also said to feature a faster processor, but there won’t be much else new

    Our take: As much and I thought MagSafe would happen on the new SE, we are talking about Apple’s cheapest iPhone here: implementing MagSafe into a design this old really wouldn’t be worth it for them. Again, this is going to be the smallest SE update yet.

  • iPhone SE 3 & iPad Air reportedly begin production ahead of Spring event

    iPhone SE 3 & iPad Air reportedly begin production ahead of Spring event

    The rumor: 2 new Apple products are in production, according to Macotakara (55.9% accurate).

    • “Production of the iPhone SE (3rd generation) has apparently begun, as has the iPad Air (5th generation)” the report says
    • Apple is rumored to hold their first event of 2022 in either March or April where the new iPhone SE and iPad Air will be unveiled

    Our take: Good news from the supply chain that matches up with what other sources have been saying. But will the next event take place in March or April?

  • First images of iPhone SE 3 show (lack of) design changes (update: fake)

    First images of iPhone SE 3 show (lack of) design changes (update: fake)

    Update 2/4: After others pointed out that the Apple logo was placed in the wrong position, Prosser has acknowledged the oddity.

    The leak: Apple’s upcoming iPhone SE with 5G won’t look much different than the previous generation, according to Jon Prosser (69.4% accurate) via the Genius Bar podcast.

    • The new images show an iPhone SE in black that looks essentially identical to the iPhone SE released in April 2020
    • Apple is rumored to release the new iPhone SE at an event taking place in March/April

    Our take: While I assumed Apple would have some slight way to differentiate the 5G iPhone SE from the 4G version…it doesn’t look like that will be the case. Perhaps only new wallpapers will set this apart from the older model?

  • New iPhone SE & iPads revealed in Indian import data

    New iPhone SE & iPads revealed in Indian import data

    The leak: Apple is preparing to release new products soon, according to import data seen by 91mobiles.

    Here’s what has reportedly been imported to India for testing…

    • A budget iPhone with a price of around ~$300 (models A2595, A2783 and A2784)
    • A new iPad with a price between $500-700 (models A2588 and A2589)
    • A budget iPad priced at ~$300 (models A2757 and A2761)

    Apple is said to hold an event to announce these new products in March or April.

    Our take: Even more confirmation that a new iPhone SE and iPad Air are getting ready to launch. Curiously, 91mobiles also cites a new budget iPad, too. Considering that Apple just updated it in September, would we really see a new one this soon? I doubt it.

  • New iPhone, iPad and Mac rumored to launch at Apple event in March/April 2022

    New iPhone, iPad and Mac rumored to launch at Apple event in March/April 2022

    The rumor: Apple will be unveiling new products across 3 categories this Spring, according to Mark Gurman (87% accurate, via Power On).

    • “The company is planning to launch a new iPhone SE with 5G and a faster processor, a new iPad Air, and at least one new Mac this spring” Gurman says
    • Gurman previously broke the story that Apple was holding an event in March/April before anyone else

    Our take: We had heard previously about this new iPhone SE and iPad Air, but now it looks like a new Mac (likely a new Mac mini) is a sure bet, too. When it’s finally released, I have a feeling the new Mac mini will steal the show with its all-new design.