Apple has launched its new Back to School deals, and if you've been considering a new iPad or Mac for the classroom - either remote or in-person - you could get a treat for your ears, too. The Cupertino company is adding to its usual education discount with an AirPods promo, and a discount for Apple Care+.
Apple's WWDC 2021 keynote went down earlier this week, and if you were expecting the reveal of new MacBook Pros during the show - as many of us were - you probably walked away disappointed. Indeed, there were no MacBooks anywhere in sight, just talk a lot of talk about what's new on the software front. While Apple may not have announced new MacBooks at WWDC, we may have an indication that some kind of announcement is on the way.
As of today, Apple Music supports Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos. This means that tracks that work with said technology will be played as "immersive audio experiences" on a select set of Apple devices. Today we're going to take a peek at the devices that will be able to take advantage of this upgrade. We're also taking a peek at the best ways to drop in on the new tech to hear the difference as clear as possible.
There are many versatile Windows laptops that boast great performance, extreme power and decent battery backup. Joining the ranks is the new Surface Laptop 4, the latest entrant from the house of Microsoft that touts a massive upgrade in battery and performance from its predecessors. This Surface rendition is very nicely priced and is billed as a competitor to the M1 chip-powered 13-inch MacBook Pro.
This week a set of leaks suggest that the 2021 version of the MacBook Pro will bring back some long-lost must-have features. Where the MacBook Pro used to come with a variety of ports: USB, HDMI, headphone jack, and SD-card included. With the latest data leak on the next MacBook Pro release from Apple, it would seem that we could get at least SOME of that variety back later this year.
A hardware leak this week shows a set of MacBook devices that made we want to switch back to using an Apple computer. I've used either Windows or Mac OS computers for the past couple of decades - at this point I could go either way with the software. With what I do on either platform, apps I use pretty much roll right, regardless of OS. For me, the hardware now needs to make the case for my next purchase.
The next big chip on the Apple Silicon roadmap is already in mass production, according to a new report, with what's believed to be the Apple M2 being lined up for new MacBook models later in 2021. The leak follows the debut of the new iMac 24-inch last week, which tapped the existing Apple M1 chipset, and the revamped iPad Pro 2021 which also adopted the M1.
A ransomware gang suggests this week that they've broken past security of the Apple contractor Quanta. They've suggested that they're holding secret and/or private information hostage, including data and drawings on a pair of Apple products that have not yet been released to the public. One of these items appears to be a new MacBook Pro, likely set for release in the year 2021. Specifications indicated in one drawing say MacBook Pro 2021 could have more ports than it's had in a number of years - which is good.
Global chip shortages look set to claim Apple as their next victim, according to new leaks, with a scarcity of components reportedly forcing the company to push back MacBook and iPad production. The ongoing pandemic, among other factors, has led to supplies of chips falling well short of demand, something which has impacted not only the tech industry but automotive and other segments.
If you're sitting on some Apple products you don't use anymore, then you might like to know that Apple has tweaked the trade-in values of a rather large swathe of devices. The devices that have seen their prices change include everything from iMacs and iPad Pros to MacBooks and even some models of iPhone. While you might expect that Apple has reduced trade-in prices across the board, trade-in values are actually going up in some cases.
Apple has had several high-profile issues with its popular MacBook line of notebook computers in recent years. One of the biggest issues was with the so-called "butterfly" keyboard design. Those keyboards regularly failed during use due to the ability of dirt and debris to get under the keys rendering them useless. Apple was slow and, in some cases, refused to repair the keyboards leaving owners with expensive laptops that were unusable.
If you're looking to buy a new iPad or MacBook in the near future, you might want to adjust your plans. A new note from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that the next iPad Pro will feature a Mini-LED display, and that said device will begin production in mid-to-late April. Kuo also said that two MacBook Pro models and one MacBook Air will have Mini LED technology in the next couple of years.