Apple's iPhone 12 sales in China exceeded all expectations in the fourth quarter of last year, according to local media sources (via DigiTimes).
Sales reached 18 million units, earning Apple an over 20% market share, with momentum expected to continue through the Lunar New Year holiday, bringing shipment volumes for Q1 2021 on par with the number of units shipped the previous quarter.
The figures are all the more impressive given that prior to the iPhone 12 series launch in October 2020, Huawei, Xiaomi, Oppo, and Vivo accounted for over 90% of China's smartphone market.
The staggering fourth-quarter iPhone 12 shipments helped push Apple's share in China's handset segment to over 20% in fourth-quarter 2020 and reduced the combined share of Chinese brands to about 78%, said the sources, citing market data.
The DigiTimes report offers a word of caution regarding whether supply can keep up with demand, following a widening shortage of semiconductors for handset parts.
However, Apple's wholesale adoption of 5G should bode well for it in the mainstream Chinese market, where 5G phones have started replaced 4G models, with shipments totaling 160 million units out of a total of 300 million handsets.
Microsoft today released updates to its suite of Office apps for iPad, including Word, PowerPoint, and Excel. Notably, Excel for iPad now supports Split View, which allows you to open two spreadsheets simultaneously side-by-side to view and edit. Word and PowerPoint received support for Split View in May 2020.
Split View can be accessed by touching and holding on a spreadsheet document in any file view and then dragging it to the left or right side of the screen. To exit Split View, grab the slider in the middle of the screen and drag it to either the left or right to close one of the spreadsheet documents and take the remaining one full-screen.
Meanwhile in PowerPoint, users can now rehearse their presentations with the new Presenter Coach feature, which offers feedback on the things that keep an audience engaged, such as pacing, pitch, filler words, sensitive phrases, and more.
Microsoft has also been working to implement full support for the iPadOS trackpad controls that were introduced in iPadOS 13.4, and the latest version of Word (2.45) does just that. Following the update, users can connect a trackpad and mouse to their iPad to interact with documents. Keyboards with trackpads include Apple's Magic Keyboard and Brydge's Pro+ for the iPad Pro and Logitech's Combo for the 10.2-inch iPad and the 10.5-inch iPad Air.
If you run into trouble with your AirPods Max and need to get a replacement pair under warranty, it looks like the new set will be delivered without a refreshed set of ear cushions.
A 9to5Mac reader sent in a pair of AirPods Max for repair due to an issue with the Digital Crown, and the replacement set that he received back did not include ear cushions.
Apple instead expects users to keep the ear cushions from the damaged set of AirPods Max to use them with the replacement pair, unless of course the ear cushions themselves have also experienced damage. Given the modular design of the AirPods Max, it is possible for Apple to ship just the headphones or just the ear cushions for replacement purposes.
Apple's instructions for mailing in the AirPods Max include a diagram that instructs users to remove the ear cushions before shipping the AirPods Max in a repair box.
Image via 9to5Mac
With replacement AirPods Pro models, Apple does provide new ear tips, but ear tips for the AirPods Pro are priced at $8 rather than $69 like the AirPods Max ear cushions, so it's no surprise these are delivered separately.
At the current time, Apple is not selling ear cushions on a standalone basis, but they will presumably be available when stock improves. AirPods Max purchases from Apple continue to have March delivery dates at the current time.
Apple has scored the rights to an upcoming sci-fi comedy drama from Ben Stiller, Noah Hawley, and "Palm Springs" team Andy Samberg and Andy Siara, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Apple apparently won a bid for the show over the weekend, which is based on an original idea from "BoJack Horseman" creator and author Raphael Bob-Waksberg. The project is untitled as of yet.
Andy Samberg will produce and star in the series, while Stiller and Bob-Waksberg will serve as producers on the show. Andy Siara will write the script and will also serve as an executive producer. The show received interest thanks to "Palm Springs," a 2020 Hulu movie starring Andy Samberg and Cristin Milloti.
In other Apple TV+ news, Geoffrey Arend has joined the cast of "Physical," an upcoming comedy drama starring Rose Byrne. "Physical" is set in a 1980s Southern California beach community and will follow a woman struggling in her role as a tortured housewife who finds a path to power through the world of aerobics.
Intel today showed off its next-generation Alder Lake chips designed for desktop and mobile processing (via The Verge). Intel says that the Alder Lake chips represent a "significant breakthrough" in x86 architecture, and are the most power-scalable system-on-chip from Intel to date.
Coming in the second half of 2021, Alder Lake chips will be built on Intel's new 10nm SuperFin process, and will combine high-performance cores and high-efficiency cores into a single product, much like Apple's M1 chips.
Intel says that these new chips will deliver smarter, faster, and more efficient real-world computing through their ability to maximize power and efficiency.
It's not clear if Apple will have any use for Intel chips going forward as the transition to Apple silicon has already begun. So far, Apple has debuted the M1 Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air, with additional Apple silicon machines on the horizon for 2021.
With Apple planning to eventually use Apple silicon chips across its entire lineup, it continues to be unclear if there will be additional Macs that use Intel chips as the transition continues.
Apple's worldwide Mac shipments were up in the fourth quarter of 2020, according to new PC shipping estimates shared this afternoon by Gartner. Apple shipped an estimated 6.9 million Macs during the quarter, up from the 5.25 million it shipped in the year-ago quarter, marking growth of 31.3 percent.
Gartner's Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q20 (Thousands of Units)
Apple was the number four vendor during the quarter, and its market share also grew to 8.7 percent, up from 7.3 percent in the fourth quarter of 2020. There was growth across the entire PC market, and Lenovo, Dell, Acer Group, and ASUS all saw sales growth.
Lenovo was the number one PC vendor in the world with 21.5 million PCs shipped, followed by HP, with 15.7 million PCs shipped. HP was the only vendor that saw a slight drop in sales in the fourth quarter of 2020.
Apple's Market Share Trend: 1Q06-4Q20 (Gartner)
Dell was the number three vendor with 13.2 million PCs shipped, while Acer and ASUS brought up the rear with 4.7 and 4.6 million PCs shipped, respectively.
Overall, there were 79.4 million PCs shipped in the fourth quarter of 2020, a 10.7 percent increase from the fourth quarter of 2019. Total PC shipments hit 275 million in 2020, a 4.8 percent increase from 2019 and the highest growth seen in 10 years.
In the United States, Apple was the number four PC vendor with 2.7 million PCs shipped, up from 2 million in the year-ago quarter for a total of 32 percent growth. HP, Dell, Lenovo, and Microsoft also saw significant growth in U.S. shipments.
Gartner's Preliminary U.S. PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 4Q20(Thousands of Units)
Across all of 2020, Apple shipped an estimated 22.5 million Macs worldwide, marking 22.5 percent growth compared to 2019 when it shipped 18.3 million Macs. Apple was the number four vendor for the entire year, trailing Lenovo, HP, and Dell.
Gartner's Preliminary Worldwide PC Vendor Unit Shipment Estimates for 2020 (Thousands of Units)
IDC also released its own shipping estimates this morning, noting similar significant growth for Apple and other vendors. According to IDC, Apple shipped an estimated 7.4 million Macs, up from 4.9 million in the year-ago quarter for estimated growth of 49.2 percent.
Across 2020, IDC suggests Apple shipped 23 million Macs, up 29.1 percent from the 18 million that it shipped in 2019.
Data shared by Gartner and IDC is estimated and not reflective of Apple's actual sales, though historically, it's not usually too far off. Estimated data used to be able to be confirmed when Apple provided quarterly earnings results with actual Mac sales information, but Apple no longer breaks out unit sales for the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, making it impossible to determine exact sales numbers.
Apple in the fourth quarter of 2020 released the M1 Macs, which include the M1 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. Mac growth could continue to rise significantly in 2021 as Apple is rumored to be overhauling additional Macs with Apple silicon chips, including iMacs, higher-end MacBook Pro models, and more.
Ecobee today announced that its SmartCamera has a new price of $129.99, down from $179.99, and the camera has also been updated with some new features.
In addition to gaining compatibility with HomeKit Secure Video last month, which allows users to securely stream and store video from the SmartCamera on iCloud servers, the indoor security camera now features Spotify integration, smoother panning and zooming, and smoke alarm detection with a subscription to Ecobee's home monitoring service Haven.
- HomeKit Secure Video to safely stream and store videos taken on the ecobee SmartCamera with voice control on Apple’s secure servers. To give users additional peace of mind, the Smart Camera leverages Apple's iCloud service to securely encrypt and store video clips, where they will stay. - SmartFocus v2 to track the motion of multiple people and pans and zooms more smoothly. - Spotify Connect to stream anything from Spotify through SmartCamera with voice control. - Smoke Alarm Detection (with Haven subscription) to alert users and the family when the SmartCamera with voice controls hears the smoke alarm.
Key features of the SmartCamera include 1080p image quality, a 180° field of vision, infrared night vision, voice control with Siri or Alexa, built-in speakers with two-way talk, person detection, the ability to set activity zones, and more.
Anker brand Eufy has more affordable indoor security cameras with HomeKit Secure Video, including the Indoor Cam 2K for $39.99.
Western Digital today announced the upcoming launch of several new consumer-oriented portable SSDs with 4TB capacities, with new offerings from the SanDisk, WD, and WD_Black brands. The new 4TB SSDs are designed for gamers, content creators, and creative professionals who need additional storage space to work with.
The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable NVMe SSD offers up to 2000MB/s read and write speeds, and its aluminum chassis serves as a heatsink to deliver higher sustained speeds. The SanDisk Extreme Pro Portable SSD will be available later this quarter for $750.
Also under the SanDisk brand, Western Digital is offering the SanDisk Extreme Portable SSD with read speeds up to 1050MB/s and write speeds up to 1000MB/s. The Extreme Portable SSD features two-meter drop protection and IP55 water and dust resistance. The new SSD will be available later this quarter for $700.
For gamers, the WD_Black offers read speeds up to 2000MB/s, and it is compatible with PCs, PlayStations, and Xbox One game libraries. It will be available later this quarter for $750.
Under the WD brand, Western Digital debuted the latest MyPassport SSD, which offers read speeds up to 1050MB/s and write speeds up to 1000MB/s. It features a shock and vibration resistant metal design that is drop resistant up to 6.5 feet, and it comes in colors that include blue, gray, red, gold, and silver. It will be available later this quarter for $680.
Apple today released iOS 12.5.1, an update that is available for older iPhones unable to install the iOS 14 update. The update features an Exposure Notifications bug fix.
The iOS 12.5.1 update can be downloaded all on eligible devices over-the-air in the Settings app. To access the new software, go to Settings > General > Software Update.
Apple in December released iOS 12.5 alongside iOS 14.3, bringing support for Exposure Notifications to older devices for the first time.
According to Apple's release notes, today's update addresses a bug that could cause Exposure Notifications to incorrectly display logging profile language.
Apple's Exposure Notifications system is now available in a wide range of countries, and many states have also adopted it, including North Dakota, Arizona, Delaware, Nevada, Alabama, Colorado, Wyoming, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Maryland, New York, New Jersey, Minnesota, Washington, Connecticut, Nevada, the District of Columbia, and California.
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Popular accessory maker Anker today unveiled a whole range of new products that will be coming out over the course of the next few months.
There are a range of magnetic cases for the iPhone 12 that will work with MagSafe and non-MagSafe magnetic accessories, with the cases offering simple but protective designs. Anker's iPhone cases will come out in mid-January with prices ranging from $20.99 to $25.99.
There are several new magnetic power banks that will be able to attach to the back of an iPhone, with capacities up to 10,000mAh. These will snap right onto the iPhone and will be able to charge it at up to 7.5W while the iPhone is in use. Power banks will be released in February 2021 with prices ranging from $37.99 to $51.99.
Anker is also debuting new magnetic wireless chargers and stands, which will attach to Apple's iPhone 12 models. These appear to be magnetic rather than MagSafe, and will charge at 7.5W. There are a range of stands, including multi-device stands, with prices that will range from $20.99 to $159.99. Anker says its magnetic wireless chargers will come out in March 2021.
Though not magnetic, Anker is introducing a PowerWave Go 3-in-1 stand that can charge an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at once. It includes a detachable 10,000mAh wireless pad for charging on the go as well, with the power bank able to be charged through the stand.
The Apple Watch module is removable and can be paired with the power bank for portable Apple Watch charging capabilities. The PowerWave Go 3-in-1 Stand will be priced at $159.99 to $199.99, and it is set to come out in March 2021.
There are a range of new PowerLine III Flow Lightning to USB-C cables in pastel colors, along with a PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock that will be able to charge laptops at up to 85W and works with a single 8K display or dual 4K displays. The PowerExpand 5-in-1 Thunderbolt 4 Mini Dock will be released on February 18, 2021, and it will cost $199.99.
OtterBox is teaming up with Microsoft to launch several new mobile gaming accessories, which include the OtterBox Mobile Gaming Clip and the Easy Grip Gaming Case.
The Mobile Gaming Clip is designed to work with the Xbox controller, and it is a simple clip that connects a controller to one of Apple's iPhones. OtterBox says that the design is meant to balance the weight of the iPhone on the controller to keep wrists comfortable during hours of gaming.
OtterBox's Mobile Gaming Clip is able to hold an iPhone (or an Android phone) securely in place, and it is easy to attach and detach as needed. Multiple angle adjustments are available, and it has an extendable arm to fit multiple phone sizes.
The clip is also able to be used in a table top capacity, serving as a stand when the iPhone is detached from the controller. OtterBox says that the Mobile Gaming Clip has a premium rubber grip and is able to collapse flat for easy transportation.
The Mobile Gaming Clip is priced at $29.95 and it works with the Xbox One controller, Xbox Series X S controller, and Xbox Elite Wireless Controller Series 2.
OtterBox is also introducing a series of Easy Grip Gaming Cases that are specifically designed for use when playing mobile games. The cases offer an anti-slip grip design and OtterBox's "CoolVergence" technology is designed to expel heat to reduce the risk of overheating.
OtterBox says that the gaming cases are easy to clean and have been infused with lasting antimicrobial technology, plus they offer OtterBox Drop+ protection to keep the iPhone safe from drops and scratches. All buttons also work as expected, and the case is "optimized for 5G."
Easy Grip Gaming Cases come in three colors, Lucid Dream, Glitch, and Squid Ink. Priced at $54.95, the cases are available for the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max, iPhone 11, iPhone 11 Pro Max, iPhone SE, iPhone 8, and iPhone 7.
Other OtterBox gaming accessories include the Gaming Glass Privacy Guard screen protector that's meant to block viewing the iPhone's display from the side, the Easy Grip Controller Shell for Xbox controllers, and the Gaming Carrying Case for protecting a controller during travel.
OtterBox's new gaming accessories will be available for pre-order on January 25, and will start shipping out in mid-February.
Belkin today debuted the Boost Charge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charger Stand with MagSafe, which is designed to work with Apple's iPhone 12 lineup.
The Boost Charge Pro 2-in-1 with MagSafe is similar to the existing Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 with MagSafe, but it includes a single MagSafe charger and eliminates the accompanying Apple Watch charger. It also features a wireless charging base that supports AirPods, AirPods Pro, or another iPhone that charges over Qi-based wireless charging.
The MagSafe charger is able to charge Apple's iPhone 12 models at 15W, while the base charger charges at 5W. The MagSafe charger works just like Apple's MagSafe charger and it can be used in either portrait or landscape orientation. It comes in either black or white. Belkin is pricing the Boost Charge Pro 2-in-1 with MagSafe at $99.95, and it will be launching in March or April 2021.
Belkin today also announced the launch of Soundform Freedom True Wireless Earbuds, which are wire-free earbuds that offer up to eight hours of play time, environmental noise cancellation, and Qi-based wireless charging.
The Freedom True Wireless Earbuds are the first third-party product compatible with the Find My app, and will be able to be tracked and located right alongside Apple devices in Find My if they should be lost or stolen.
Belkin's Soundform Freedom True Wireless Earbuds will be available in March or April 2021.
Belkin's Linksys brand today announced the launch of the Linksys AXE8400 Wi-Fi 6E Mesh System that takes advantage of the 6GHz band to provide more bandwidth to consumers for faster networks and better reliability.
The Linksys AXE8400 uses Qualcomm's Networking Pro 1210 platform to offer speeds that Linksys says are 2x faster than competing routers. According to Linksys, it is an ideal choice for homes that use up a lot of bandwidth as it can support multiple simultaneous activities for those who learn, work, and live all in one place.
The new Linksys system is certified with the Wi-Fi Alliance and the FCC, and it has tri-band capabilities, supporting 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and 6GHz, plus there's a 5Gb/s WAN port. There are four Gigabit LAN ports and a single USB 3.0 port for hardware connections.
The Linksys AXE8400 is able to cover up to 3,000 square feet per node and can handle up to 65 connected devices all sharing the same bandwidth. It is compatible with other Linksys Intelligent Mesh products and can support smart devices that are 6E-certified and those that are not.
Linksys will begin selling the AXE8400 starting in the Spring or Summer of 2021, and it will be priced at $449 for a single node, $849.99 for a two node setup, and $1,199.99 for a three node setup.
Alongside the Linksys AXE8400, Linksys is today also introducing the next-generation version of Linksys Aware, its motion sensing technology that works with third-party Wi-Fi connected devices like Wemo smart plugs and Belkin smart speakers to expand motion-sensing coverage capabilities.
With the Linksys aware technology, existing smart devices serve as points of communication for greater motion sensing range. Features include motion alerts viewable in the Linksys app when activity is detected, customizable motion sensitivity levels, and a live graph to show real-time and historical motion data throughout the home.
The Linksys Aware update will be available in the Linksys app in March or April of 2021. After a 90-day free trial, it is priced at $2.99 per month or $24.99 per year.
PopSockets today announced the upcoming launch of a new line of MagSafe-compatible accessories that have been created to work with Apple's iPhone 12 models. These accessories are designed to be easily removable to allow iPhone 12 devices to charge, as prior PopSocket accessories attached through adhesive.
PopSockets is unveiling three new grips, a wallet with an integrated grip, and two mounts. The first product, the PopGrip for MagSafe, attaches magnetically to MagSafe-compatible cases for iPhone 12 models. It has a no-slip rubber bottom and it works with the PopSockets PopMount 2 phone mounts.
The PopGrip Slide for iPhone 12 attaches mechanically to the sides of an Apple Silicone case using sliding arms, while the PopGrip Slide Stretch attaches mechanically to most MagSafe-Compatible cases.
PopSockets says that the new mounts will allow PopSockets Grips users to magnetically mount their iPhone 12 devices without moving their grips, and swappable tops are included for customizability.
The PopWallet+ for MagSafe is a customizable wallet that lets users carry up to three cards and it has an integrated grip. It attaches magnetically to the iPhone 12 or MagSafe-compatible cases.
The PopMount for MagSafe includes the PopMount for MagSafe Multi-Surface and the PopMount for MagSafe Car Vent, both of which attach to the iPhone 12 magnetically for mounting purposes. As mentioned above, these mounts allow the PopGrip MagSafe to remain attached.
PopSockets plans to launch the first of its new MagSafe accessories in the Spring of 2021. The PopGrip Slide Stretch will be available on March 21 on PopSockets.com and in Target locations, with the PopGrip Slide and PopMount line launching a bit later.
Netgear today announced the launch of the Nighthawk RAXE500 Tri-band Wi-Fi router, which is Netgear's first router using upgraded Wi-Fi 6E technology. Wi-Fi 6E takes advantage of the new 6GHz band, which is free from interference and congestion and allows speeds up to 10.8Gb/s.
Wi-Fi 6E's spectrum is ideal for households that have a multitude of Wi-Fi connected devices in use because it allows networks to support more devices.
"The proliferation of Wi-Fi over the last few decades first stressed the 2.4 GHz band and then eventually the 5 GHz band with Wi-Fi 4, 5, and 6," said Phil Solis, research director at IDC. "As regulatory bodies around the world open up the 6 GHz band, Wi-Fi 6E networks will provide enabled devices with the breathing room to use large channels even in dense and congested areas with higher average data rates and lower latency."
The Nighthawk RAXE500 offers up to 200 percent more available spectrum than dual-band (2.4GHz and 5GHz) routers, and since there are few devices on the 6GHz band, it allows for lower latency. There are four streams of 6GHz, four streams of 5GHz, and four streams of 2.4GHz to reduce network congestion.
There's a 64-bit 1.8GHz quad-core processor in the Nighthawk RAXE500 along with a 2.5G Ethernet port and five additional Gigabit ethernet ports.
Netgear plans to begin selling the Nighthawk RAXE500 in the first quarter of 2021, and it will be available from the Netgear website for $600.
Biotechnology company Biogen today announced the launch of a new Apple Watch study in partnership with Apple that is aimed at investigating the role the iPhone and Apple Watch might play in monitoring cognitive performance and screening for decline in cognitive health.
The multi-year study will launch later this year and will enroll both young and aging adults with a range of cognitive performance. The study's objectives are to find digital biomarkers for helping to monitor cognitive performance over time and identifying early signs of mild cognitive impairment.
Mild cognitive impairment impacts approximately 15 to 20 percent of adults over the age of 64, and the onset of symptoms are often subtle, so it can take months or even years before health care providers become aware of the problem.
"Working in collaboration with Biogen, we hope this study can help the medical community better understand a person's cognitive performance by simply having them engage with their Apple Watch and iPhone," said Jeff Williams, Apple's chief operating officer. "We're looking forward to learning about the impact our technology can have in delivering better health outcomes through improved detection of declining cognitive health."
The study will be privacy-focused with customer control, transparency, and data security in mind. Participants will be offered a detailed consent form listing the data types collected and how that data may be used and shared. Data is stored encrypted and in systems with strong security controls.
Chinese brand TCL today at the all-digital CES 2021 announced that all of its 2021 6-Series Roku TVs will feature 8K resolution, up from 4K, with the lineup set to begin rolling out later this year. As with TCL's other recent Roku TVs, these 8K models should support AirPlay 2 for wirelessly streaming audio and video to the TV from Apple devices like an iPhone or iPad, as well as HomeKit for controlling the TV with Siri and the Home app.
TCL also plans to releases its first 85-inch Roku TVs this year, including two 4K models that should support AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. Exact pricing, availability, and specifications have yet to be disclosed for any of the TVs.
In the home audio department, TCL is teaming up with Roku to launch new "Roku TV Ready" sound bars this year, including wired and wireless options, with advantages being TV and sound bar control with one remote, automatic software updates, consolidated on-screen sound settings, and optimized audio/video synchronization.
One of TCL's new sound bars will be the Alto 82i with Dolby Atmos surround sound, dual built-in subwoofers, and support for AirPlay 2, Amazon Alexa, and Google Assistant, set to launch in the third quarter of 2021.
As part of CES 2021, Pioneer today introduced its latest in-dash receiver with support for both wired and wireless CarPlay and Android Auto.
The new DMH-WC5700NEX receiver features a modular design, combining a 6.8-inch touchscreen with a hideaway control unit for installation flexibility in a wide variety of vehicles with limited or restricted dash space, according to Pioneer.
By physically separating the touchscreen from the sub-chassis that contains the CPU and other components, the sub-chassis can be mounted in a different location or orientation within the vehicle. This setup is useful for vehicles with limited depth behind the dash that prohibits the installation of a traditional single-DIN or double-DIN receiver.
"With the DMH-WC5700NEX, Pioneer provides an automotive upgrade solution for many different vehicles that typically have been extremely restrictive or even impossible with regard to the installation of an aftermarket in-dash receiver, including several popular late model Chevrolet vehicles such as the Silverado and Camaro," said Ted Cardenas, vice president of marketing for Pioneer Electronics USA.
The receiver's other features include Bluetooth connectivity, built-in HD Radio, SiriusXM readiness, RGB illumination, rear camera input, a HDMI video input for rear seat entertainment, 4V RCA preamplifier outputs, and more.
Pioneer plans to release the DMH-WC5700NEX in summer 2021, but it has not yet disclosed pricing. The company released a similar 9-inch receiver last year.
