Category: News

  • Unite 4 brings powerful, native web apps to macOS (sponsored)

    Unite 4 brings powerful, native web apps to macOS (sponsored)

    The news: The biggest update ever for Unite has just been released with a number of incredible new additions and significant improvements to existing features.

    • Unite 4 lets you build native web apps in one click, with a redesigned setup UI that supports both light and dark mode
    • Apps are highly customizable, with everything from fonts to window shading and opacity user-configurable
    • Status bar support is available for all of your Unite 4 apps, bringing Twitter, Instagram and other favorite sites just a click away
    • Other major upgrades in Unite 4: refreshed in-app UI, notifications, live dock slices, macOS Keychain support and new pro tools

    Use code appletrack at checkout to receive 20% off your purchase.

    Our take: Running websites as near-native apps is incredibly helpful for checking things at a glance…it’s like if complications for Apple Watch also existed on Mac. My two favorite uses so far? Twitter running in the status bar and showing Robinhood as a dock slice.

  • Apple launches repair program for iPhone 11 models

    Apple launches repair program for iPhone 11 models

    The news: Just before the end of the day on Friday, Apple introduced a new display repair program for certain iPhone 11 models.

    • Apple says that some iPhone 11 models have been found to exhibit issues with the display module, which can cause them to be unresponsive to touch
    • Affected iPhone 11 units were manufactured between November 2019 and May 2020

    Our take: When Apple says “that a small percentage of iPhone 11 displays” are affected, I always wonder what that percentage is that determines the launch of a repair program. Apple has a serial number checker tool on the replacement program page, so go see if you’re in the affected pool.

  • Apple announcement planned for morning of December 8

    Apple announcement planned for morning of December 8

    The rumor: Apple really does have one more thing coming before the end of 2020, according to MacRumors (70% accurate).

    • In a leaked memo provided to AppleCare servicers, Apple says to prepare for ‘new product SKUs, new/updated product descriptions, and new/updated product pricing’
    • Apple says the release is happening next week, around 5:30 am PST on Tuesday, December 8

    Our take: I believe this 100%. With L0vetodream’s (88.9% accurate) prior prediction of some surprise, this lines up to a tee.

  • Apple may release ‘2 or 3 new chargers in 2021’

    Apple may release ‘2 or 3 new chargers in 2021’

    The rumor: Apple is planning to expand their lineup of charging products in 2021, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (78% accurate).

    • Without further detail, Kuo says Apple will likely release ‘2 or 3 new chargers’ sometime next year
    • Kuo was one of the first to reveal that Apple was working on new, non-AirPower charging products for 2020

    Our take: Have a feeling these will have some MagSafe slant to them, although it’s impressive the number of products out already that use Apple’s 20W power brick (e.g. iPhone 12, HomePod mini, MagSafe & MagSafe Duo).

  • iPhone 12 Pro’s raw materials cost only $406

    iPhone 12 Pro’s raw materials cost only $406

    The news: The bill of materials for iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro, which tells us the raw competent cost, has been published by Formalhaut Techno Solutions (via Nikkei Asia).

    • The raw parts of the iPhone 12 Pro are said to add up to $406 USD…and the cost is only a few dollars cheaper for iPhone 12 at $373 USD
    • The most expensive components? Qualcomm’s X55 5G modem and Samsung’s OLED display, both around $90
    • Last year’s iPhone 11 Pro Max saw a higher cost of $490.50, according to TechInsights

    Our take: I always look forward to seeing how the numbers change year-over-year, but context is important here: this is how much the materials alone cost for the 2020 iPhones. Manufacturing, assembly, storage, shipping, distribution, advertising, etc. all add significant margins on top of the base cost.

  • iOS 14.3 beta 3 released to developers

    iOS 14.3 beta 3 released to developers

    The news: Apple seeded the third beta of iOS 14.3 to developers on Wednesday morning.

    • Previous betas included support for scanning app clips, Apple ProRaw photography and better support for skinned app icons
    • This update also seemingly supports two unreleased products: AirPods Studio and AirTags

    What’s new

    https://twitter.com/WSig/status/1334205171384152064
  • Apple releases MagSafe Duo, ships this week

    Apple releases MagSafe Duo, ships this week

    The news: Just ahead of the end of the day on Tuesday, Apple released the MagSafe Duo charger.

    • The charging mat costs $129 with deliveries as early as December 3, buy it from Apple here
    • MagSafe Duo charges both your iPhone and Apple Watch simultaneously
    • This product successfully avoided the plight of AirPower

    Our take: I picked one of these up, although I haven’t been to impressed from the early impressions I’ve seen so far. Just happy it actually shipped!

  • Concept imagines redesigned 24/32-inch iMacs with Apple Silicon

    Concept imagines redesigned 24/32-inch iMacs with Apple Silicon

    The concept: New renders from svetapple.sk depict what redesigned iMac models could look like when they’re updated with Apple Silicon…eventually.

    • The purported design is heavily reminiscent of the iPad Pro
    • Rumors suggest that next iMac models will actually come in 24-inch and 32-inch sizes, with larger displays and slimmer bezels

    Our take: While I think these renders looks great…the form factor seems way to thin for an iMac. But with the insane improvements to performance, efficiency, and thermal management we’ve already seen with the M1, maybe this isn’t too far off after all.

  • The best 2020 Apple Black Friday deals

    The best 2020 Apple Black Friday deals

    The deals: We scoured the internet to find the best deals on Apple products for the biggest shopping event all year, Black Friday.

    Stock will likely go faster than usual with so many of us ordering products from home, so some deals may be sold out by the time you click.

    AirPods

    Apple TV

    • $50 Apple gift card with Apple TV HD/4K at Apple

    Apple Watch

    • Series 6 40mm Stainless Steel (GPS + Cellular) $50-120 off at Amazon
    • Series 6 44mm Stainless Steel (GPS + Cellular) $40-50 off at Amazon
    • Series 6 40mm Aluminum (GPS only) $20-69 off at Amazon
    • Series 6 44mm Aluminum (GPS + Cellular) $20 off at Amazon
    • $25 Apple gift card with purchase of Series 3 at Apple

    HomePod

    • $100 Apple gift card with HomePod (2017 model) at Apple

    iPad

    iPhone 12

    AT&T

    • iPhone 12 mini free with trade-in at AT&T
    • Up to $700 off with trade-in on iPhone 12, 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max at AT&T

    T-Mobile

    • iPhone 12 for free with select trade-in at T-Mobile
    • Save up to $950 on iPhone 12 Pro with select trade-in at T-Mobile

    Verizon

    • Up to $700 off with trade-in as a new customer on all iPhone 12 models at Verizon

    MacBook Air

    MacBook Pro

    Mac mini

    Apple gift card

    • $20 Best Buy gift card with purchase of $100 Apple Gift card at Best Buy
  • AirPods 3 likely delayed until April-June 2021

    AirPods 3 likely delayed until April-June 2021

    The rumor: Apple plans to unveil AirPods 3 a bit later than initially planned, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (78% accurate).

    • Kuo now expects upgraded AirPods in April-June 2021
    • AirPods 3 will likely share a hybrid design between AirPods 2 and AirPods Pro

    Our take: A bit disappointing, but this is only a brief push back from the February/March timeframe. Excited for the upgraded, non-in-ear design.

  • Numerous redesigned Macs likely coming in the second half of 2021

    Numerous redesigned Macs likely coming in the second half of 2021

    The rumor: Apple plans to significantly upgrade a number of Macs in the second half of 2021, according to L0vetodream (88.9% accurate) and Ming-Chi Kuo (78% accurate).

    • While Kuo suggests design changes are coming only to Macs with Apple Silicon, L0vetodream suggests Intel Macs will see redesigns as well
    • 14/16-inch MacBook Pro models and a smaller Mac Pro are expected
    • Apple debuted the M1 chip in MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and Mac mini earlier this month

    Our take: Seems like the second half of next year will be huge for the Mac. I am extremely excited to see what Apple can do with their silicon in optimized designs.

    https://twitter.com/L0vetodream/status/1331635944290623490?s=20