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.
Apple shipped 22.6 million PCs in 2020, an increase of 16 percent over 2019's 19.4 million, but the company remains well behind rivals, according to a new report by Canalys.
The report, which excludes tablet computers, shows that worldwide PC market growth accelerated significantly in the final quarter of 2020. Shipments of desktops, notebooks, and workstations increased by 25 percent year-on-year to reach a record 90.3 million units. The fourth quarter of 2020 was the third consecutive quarter of sequential growth, bolstered by strong holiday season demand.
For the whole of 2020, PC shipments grew 11 percent to reach 297 million units, which is the highest full-year growth since 2010 and the highest shipment volume since 2014. Canalys notes that PC market growth in 2020 was "singlehandedly driven" by notebooks and mobile workstations, with these devices increasing in shipments by 44 percent to reach 235.1 million units. Desktop and workstation shipments fell 20 percent from 2019 to reach 61.9 million units.
Apple placed fourth for PC shipments over the course of 2020 with 22.6 million devices. HP and Dell shipped over twice as many PCs as Apple, and Lenovo led the market with 72.6 million units. Nevertheless, Apple shipped 16 percent more devices than it did in 2019.
Looking toward 2021, Canalys predicts that the PC market will become even more competitive. The industry as a whole is reportedly reorienting toward a broader range of customers with "new behaviors and use cases," though it is expected to be constrained to some extent by supply shortages for the first half of the year.
In an effort to capitalize on increased demand from 2020, vendors are expected to put chipset innovations and operating systems at the forefront. A particular trend that Canalys expects to emerge is a fierce rivalry between Apple and Microsoft in the domain of custom silicon, but there may also be attention on updates to Chrome and Windows in an effort to lure users away from rival platforms.
LG has today announced the UltraFine Display OLED Pro with HDR individual pixel dimming, a 31.5-inch display, and over 8 million pixels, as well a new 39.7-inch UltraWide 5K2K monitor.
The newest addition to LG's popular series of high-end UltraFine monitors features an OLED display that covers 99 percent of the DCI-P3 color space and 99 percent of the Adobe RGB color space. The display offers Pixel Dimming HDR technology that is made possible by OLED and is targeted at professionals such as video editors or photographers.
Very few OLED monitors have come to market in recent years, with the majority of models coming from Dell. The UltraFine OLED Pro is the first OLED monitor offering from LG.
The display includes three standard USB ports, two DisplayPort inputs, a HDMI 2.0 port, a USB Type-B upstream port, a 90W USB Type-C port, a KVM switch, and a headphone jack.
LG also announced the UltraWide 5K monitor, featuring a 39.7-inch curved Nano IPS display panel, a 5K2K resolution, a wide color gamut, and integrated stereo speakers.
The monitor appears to be positioned as a direct rival to Dell's newly-announced UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD, which shares the same panel and similar specifications.
The monitor espouses a Thunderbolt 4 connection, but there are also connectivity options for DisplayPort, HDMI, and USB, but there is little other information available about the product at this time.
Full specifications, availability, and pricing information for the UltraFine Display OLED Pro and UltraWide 5K monitor have not yet been announced.
As part of the all-digital CES 2021, accessory maker Kensington today unveiled the StudioDock, an iPad Pro docking station that also includes built-in iPhone and AirPods wireless charging and an optional Apple Watch charger.
A recipient of a CES 2021 Innovation Award, the StudioDock greatly expands an iPad Pro's connectivity options with three USB-A ports, one USB-C port, one HDMI 2.0 port, a 3.5mm headphone jack, an SD card reader, and a Gigabit Ethernet port. The whole setup appears to be powered by a 20V DC power adapter.
11-inch iPad Pro, 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and 10.9-inch iPad Air models can be magnetically attached to the dock, and it rotates for both portrait and landscape modes.
Kensington has yet to reveal pricing or availability for the StudioDock, but users can sign up on its website to receive updates.
Apple has often used CES as an opportunity to promote the company's commitment to privacy, and this year is no different, with Apple releasing two short privacy-focused ads that highlight how Face ID data and Apple Pay purchase history is not shared with Apple.
Satechi today announced the launch of the Dock5 Multi-Device Charging Station that works with iPhones, iPads, AirPods, and other smartphones and tablets.
The dock is able to charge up to five devices at one time through two 20W USB-C ports, two 12W USB-A ports, and a Qi-based wireless charger that can charge at up to 10W. With the exception of the Qi-based wireless charging spot, charging is done over a wired connection and Lightning cables or other cables will need to be supplied.
Satechi says that the Dock5 is ideal for workspaces, kitchen counters, nightstands, and any other location where multiple devices might need to be charged at one time.
The charging station features a space gray aluminum finish with multiple slots to hold devices in place while they charge. Satechi says that the Dock5 is ETL and CE certified with over-temperature protection.
As part of CES 2021, TP-Link today introduced its latest networking offerings, including two mesh Wi-Fi 6E systems, two tri-band Wi-Fi 6E routers, and more.
Deco X76 Plus
Wi-Fi 6E offers the features and capabilities of Wi-Fi 6, including higher performance, lower latency, and faster data rates, extended into the 6GHz band. The additional spectrum will provide a lot more airspace beyond existing 2.4GHz and 5GHz Wi-Fi, resulting in increased bandwidth and less interference for devices that support Wi-Fi 6E.
TP-Link's new Deco X96 mesh Wi-Fi system supports 6GHz, 5GHz, and 2.4GHz tri-band Wi-Fi for whole-home coverage at advertised speeds up to 6,600 Mbps. TP-Link says the system uses artificial intelligence to learn your network environment and provide ideal Wi-Fi for your home. A two-pack provides Wi-Fi coverage across up to 6,000 square feet of space, and up to 200 devices can be connected without performance degradation.
For smart home enthusiasts, the Deco X76 Plus is another Wi-Fi 6E mesh system, but it also acts as a smart hub, bringing together various Zigbee, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi smart devices in the TP-Link Deco app. The router delivers advertised speeds up to 5,400 Mbps with tri-band Wi-Fi, and it has the same artificial intelligence capabilities as the Deco X96. A two-pack provides Wi-Fi coverage across up to 5,500 square feet of space.
For those looking for a traditional router, TP-Link's new Archer AX96 supports Wi-Fi 6E for advertised speeds up to 7,800 Mbps with tri-band Wi-Fi. TP-Link says the router has so-called "Smart Antennas" that boost coverage and improve wireless connections. Other key features include a 1.7 GHz quad-core CPU that manages throughput for reduced latency, one 2.5 Gbps WAN/LAN port, one Gigabit WAN/LAN port, and four Gigabit LAN ports.
Archer AX96
The higher-end Archer AX206 router also supports Wi-Fi 6E and is equipped with two 10 Gbps ports, enabling ultra-fast 10G networking. The tri-band router has a 2GHz quad-core CPU and supports OFDMA and UL/DL MU-MIMO technologies for low latency.
A CES 2021 Innovation Awards Honoree, the Deco Voice X20 is a mesh Wi-Fi system with an Alexa-powered smart speaker for voice control, smart home management, and music streaming. This system supports 5GHz and 2.4GHz Wi-Fi only.
TP-Link says all of these new products will become available throughout 2021, but it has not disclosed pricing at this time.
The Caséta Outdoor Smart Plug has an IP-65 water and dust resistance rating that allow it to be protected even in the rain. Lutron says that it is built to last and will survive severe weather "season after season."
The Smart Plug can be used for holiday lights, string lighting, some motors and pumps, and other outdoor lighting options. It is HomeKit compatible and can be controlled in the Home app or through the Lutron app for scheduling purposes. There's a built-in smart timer that keeps it on the right time year-round, even through Daylight Savings.
The Caséta Outdoor Smart Plug can be used with a Lutron Smart Bridge for increased reliability and responsiveness, plus the plug can be paired with other Caséta lighting products.
Lutron will start selling the Caséta Outdoor Smart Plug in late March at Amazon, Best Buy, Home Depot, and Lowe's, and it will be priced at $79.95.
Apple is reportedly working on a fix for the Bluetooth connectivity problems that some M1 Mac users have experienced since the new machines were launched back in November.
When the M1 MacBook Air, M1 MacBook Pro 13-inch, and M1 Mac mini models arrived in customers' hands, a number of owners almost immediately began reporting various Bluetooth problems ranging from intermittent disconnects of wireless peripherals to completely non-functional Bluetooth connections.
Until recently, there was no consensus on whether the issues were due to a software problem or something more deep-seated, since Apple has not commented on the issues. However, The 8-Bit notes that The Atlantic writer Ian Bogost, who has personally run into Bluetooth problems, tweeted on Sunday that Apple told him "a fix is in progress and forthcoming just about anytime."
Solved my M1 Mac Bluetooth issues by plugging in my keyboard and buying a Logitech mouse with its own Bluetooth dongle.
(Apple tells me a MacOS fix is in progress and forthcoming just about anytime. But jeez.)
— Ian Bogost (@ibogost) January 10, 2021
The development will be welcomed by anyone whose use of an M1 Mac has been blighted with the issues, which reportedly affect third-party accessories like Bluetooth mice, keyboards, and headphones, as well as Apple products such as AirPods, Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard.
Mac mini owners have been worst affected, with the problems compounded by the fact that many rely on wireless peripherals to interact with their Mac in order to free up available ports. Some MacRumors staff members have also experienced similar problems.
Apple hasn't specified what's included in the coming macOS Big Sur 11.2 update, a beta of which is already in the hands of developers and public testers, but it likely includes performance improvements, security updates, and fixes for bugs that weren't able to be addressed in the release version of macOS Big Sur.
Apple and Hyundai will reach a partnership agreement for the upcoming Apple Car by March, according to a new report shared by Reuters, citing Korea IT News.
Before being revised, the Korea IT News report said that the companies may either manufacture the electric vehicles at a Georgia factory owned by Kia Motors, a Hyundai Motor Group affiliate, or invest in a new facility in the United States that could produce up to 400,000 vehicles annually. The report also mentioned that a "beta version" of the Apple Car could be released in 2022.
Reuters last month reported that Apple Car production may begin around 2024, and that time frame was again echoed in today's report. A 2024 start of production may be a bit ambitious, as a report from Bloomberg last week said that the Apple Car is "nowhere near production stage" and could be ready in around five to seven years.
Rumors that Apple is in negotiations with Hyundai first surfaced last week, suggesting that Apple is planning to work with the automaker to produce electric vehicles and develop batteries due to the high costs of the technology and the necessary production facilities.
Hyundai initially confirmed its electric vehicle discussions with Apple in a statement to CNBC, but the statement was revised hours later with no mention of Apple.
Dell this week unveiled a series of new monitors, and there is one in particular that stands out for Mac users: the UltraSharp 40 Curved WUHD Monitor.
A recipient of a CES 2021 Innovation Award, the UltraSharp 40 or "U4021QW" is the world's first 40-inch ultrawide curved monitor with a 5120×2160 resolution, also known as 5K2K or WUHD. This is not a true 5K resolution and instead works out to around 140 PPI, which is equivalent to a 32-inch 4K display, but with 33% more viewing space.
With a 21:9 aspect ratio, the UltraSharp 40 is ideal for users who want lots of screen real estate within a single display, but without compromising on resolution. Along with LG's ultrawide 34-inch 5K2K monitor from 2018, the UltraSharp 40 is one of the only ultrawide monitors with a "4K" resolution, with most having a lower QHD resolution of 2560×1440.
A built-in Thunderbolt 3 port allows the UltraSharp 40 to be connected to a compatible Mac with a single cable, and the monitor can power a MacBook Pro with up to 90W of pass-through charging. Other connectivity includes two HDMI 2.0 ports, a DisplayPort 1.4 port, three 10Gbps USB-A ports, one USB Type-B upstream port, an Ethernet port, and a 3.5mm headphone/audio jack on the back of the monitor, plus one 15W USB-C port and another 10Gbps USB-A port on the bottom of the monitor for quick access.
Dell says the UltraSharp 40 is a 10-bit display that covers 100% of the sRGB and 98% of the DCI-P3 color spaces, producing 1.07 billion colors. However, for a high-end monitor, peak brightness is relatively low at 300 nits. Other specs include a fast 5ms response time, a 60Hz refresh rate, 2500R curvature, built-in KVM functionality, and integrated 9W speakers. Dell did not indicate whether there is HDR support, so it should not be expected.
The UltraSharp 40 is intended for content creators, creative professionals, data analysts, and coders. A picture-in-picture mode allows the UltraSharp 40 to mimic two displays side by side, and a so-called "ComfortView Plus" feature reduces blue light.
Dell says the UltraSharp 40 will be available beginning January 28, with pricing starting at $2,099.99 in the United States.
Apple today confirmed that it has chosen to suspend Parler from the App Store, stating that the self-described "non-biased, free speech social media" app has failed to take "adequate measures to address the proliferation" of "threats to people's safety." Apple said there is "no place on our platform for threats of violence and illegal activity," and noted that Parler will remain unavailable on the App Store until if and when these issues are resolved.
Apple's full statement, issued to MacRumors:
We have always supported diverse points of view being represented on the App Store, but there is no place on our platform for threats of violence and illegal activity. Parler has not taken adequate measures to address the proliferation of these threats to people's safety. We have suspended Parler from the App Store until they resolve these issues.
Apple first sent Parler a letter on Friday morning stating that it had received "numerous complaints regarding objectionable content" within the app, and accusations that the Parler app was "used to plan, coordinate, and facilitate the illegal activities in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021," referring to the riot at the United States Capitol that resulted in the loss of life, injuries, and the destruction of property.
Apple said Parler "appears to continue to be used to plan and facilitate yet further illegal and dangerous activities," and provided the app with 24 hours notice to submit an update and "moderation improvement plan," or face removal from the App Store. In a subsequent letter sent to Parler, Apple now says that "the processes Parler has put in place to moderate or prevent the spread of dangerous and illegal content have proved insufficient."
According to Apple, Parler said that it has been taking harmful content "very seriously for weeks" and was planning to implement moderation efforts "for the time being," but Apple said a temporary "task force" is "not a sufficient response given the widespread proliferation of harmful content," leading to Parler being suspended today.
Apple's second letter to Parler in full:
To the developers of the Parler app,
Thank you for your response regarding dangerous and harmful content on Parler. We have determined that the measures you describe are inadequate to address the proliferation of dangerous and objectionable content on your app.
Parler has not upheld its commitment to moderate and remove harmful or dangerous content encouraging violence and illegal activity, and is not in compliance with the App Store Review Guidelines.
In your response, you referenced that Parler has been taking this content "very seriously for weeks." However, the processes Parler has put in place to moderate or prevent the spread of dangerous and illegal content have proved insufficient. Specifically, we have continued to find direct threats of violence and calls to incite lawless action in violation of Guideline 1.1 - Safety - Objectionable Content.
Your response also references a moderation plan "for the time being," which does not meet the ongoing requirements in Guideline 1.2 - Safety - User Generated content. While there is no perfect system to prevent all dangerous or hateful user content, apps are required to have robust content moderation plans in place to proactively and effectively address these issues. A temporary "task force" is not a sufficient response given the widespread proliferation of harmful content.
For these reasons, your app will be removed from the App Store until we receive an update that is compliant with the App Store Review Guidelines and you have demonstrated your ability to effectively moderate and filter the dangerous and harmful content on your service.
Regards, App Review Board
Parler remains available to users who already installed the app on their device.
Update: Amazon Web Services also plans to suspend Parler's account effective Sunday at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time, stating that the app "poses a very real risk to public safety" in violation of its terms of service, according to an email obtained by BuzzFeed News. "Amazon's suspension of Parler's account means that unless it can find another host, once the ban takes effect on Sunday Parler will go offline," the report explains.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
After sharing potential details about upcoming iPad mini, iPad, iPad Pro, and iPhone 13 models earlier this week, Japanese blog Mac Otakara now claims that Apple plans to release both second-generation AirPods Pro and a third-generation iPhone SE in April 2021, with the information once again coming from Chinese supplier sources.
The report claims that the new AirPods Pro will come with a slightly redesigned charging case. Specifically, the report claims the case will remain 21mm thick, but will have a height of 46mm and a width of 54mm. The current AirPods Pro charging case has a height of 45.2mm and a width of 60.6mm, so the new case will apparently be slightly narrower.
The report does not offer any further details about either the AirPods Pro or iPhone SE. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has previously reported that Apple is aiming to make the second-generation AirPods Pro more compact by eliminating the stem that sticks out from the bottom, but it's unclear if Apple will achieve this. Gurman said Apple had a design in testing with a more rounded shape that fills more of the ear, similar to Google's Pixel Buds.
As for the iPhone SE, most rumors have centered upon a larger Plus-sized variant of the device with a 5.5-inch or 6.1-inch display, which analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said will launch in the second half of 2021. Given that Mac Otakara refers to the upcoming model as a "third-generation" iPhone SE, however, it is possible that Apple plans to stick with a 4.7-inch display like the second-generation iPhone SE — it's unclear.
Apple released the current AirPods Pro at the end of October 2019, while the second-generation iPhone SE launched in April 2020.
With the first week of 2021 now under our belts, news and rumors are starting to ramp up again. This week saw details about the long-rumored AirTags item trackers, the Apple Car, and upcoming upgrades for most of Apple's iPad lineup.
We also heard a bit about Apple's AR glasses and the iPhone 13, while we got our hands on Belkin's new 3-in-1 MagSafe charger. Finally, the Mac App Store turned ten years old this week, so read on for full details on all of these stories and more, and check out our video above for even more coverage!
Apple Rumored to Unveil AirTags, Augmented Reality Device, New AirPods, and More This Year
The calendar has now turned to 2021 and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has outlined his expectations for some new Apple devices this year, including the long-awaited AirTags item trackers, new AirPods, the first iPads and Macs with Mini-LED displays, more Macs with Apple silicon chips, and an augmented reality device of some kind.
AirTags are expected to help users keep track of their personal belongings, such as their keys, wallets, and backpacks, and would notify users on their Apple devices when they are separated from a tagged item. In 2019, MacRumors obtained screenshots showing that AirTags will be managed through a new Items tab in the Find My app. Accessory makers are already beginning to prepare for the accessory's launch.
As for the augmented reality device, Apple is rumored to be working on both an AR/VR headset and AR-only glasses. In an internal meeting last year, Apple executive Mike Rockwell said the headset may be announced in 2021 and released in 2022, while the glasses are expected in 2023 at the earliest, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Taiwanese publication DigiTimes this week reported that a so-called "Apple Glasses" prototype is about to enter the "second phase" of development as the product progresses towards engineering verification.
The first Macs with Mini-LED displays will include redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon, according to Kuo, while a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a Mini-LED display is also expected to be introduced later this year. Rumors have conflicted on whether the 11-inch iPad Pro will receive a Mini-LED display as well.
Apple Negotiating with Hyundai for Apple Car Production
A new report from Bloomberg this week says that Apple is indeed aiming to launch a full-fledged car rather than just developing autonomous systems for other car manufacturers, but Apple's car won't be ready to launch for at least five to seven years.
Shortly after the report, word surfaced that Apple has been in discussions with Hyundai about potentially partnering on battery technology and vehicle production. Hyundai initially confirmed the talks in an official statement, but later walked that back to omit any specific mention of Apple, saying only that it has been approached by "various companies regarding development of autonomous EVs."
iPhone 13 Pro Models Said to Use Samsung's LTPO Technology for 120Hz Display
Rumors continue to suggest that iPhone 13 Pro models will feature low-power LTPO display technology, allowing for a long-awaited 120Hz refresh rate.
In other iPhone 13 rumors this week, we learned that the LiDAR Scanner may be expanded to the entire iPhone 13 lineup, rather than just the Pro models, and ultra-fast mmWave 5G may become available on iPhone 13 models sold outside of the United States as well.
While Apple no longer includes a charger in the box with new iPhones, the company is rumored to be working on GaN-based USB-C power adapters that would be smaller, lighter, and more power efficient than the silicon-based power adapters that it currently sells for release as early as this year.
Next Low-Cost iPad Said to Feature Thinner, Lighter Design
Japanese blog Mac Otakara this week offered some potential details about several upcoming iPad models, including the upcoming ninth-generation 10.2-inch iPad, claiming that the device will feature a thinner and lighter design, and retain both Touch ID and a Lightning connector.
The report also claimed that the next iPad Pro will not feature any significant design changes, but the device is expected to be equipped with a much faster A-series chip. In a follow-up report, the site said that both 11-inch and 12.9-inch models should be expected in March, with camera lenses no longer protruding beyond the larger camera bump. The 12.9-inch model may also be 0.5mm thicker as part of the transition to a Mini-LED display.
Finally, Mac Otakara claimed that the next-generation iPad mini will also launch in March and see its display size increase from 7.9 inches to 8.4 inches. Overall, the design will be similar to the third-generation iPad Air, retaining a Touch ID Home button and Lightning port, but with slimmer display bezels than on the current iPad mini.
Comparison: M1 MacBook Pro vs. Razer Book 13
Razer in November released the Razer Book 13, a new portable laptop focused on productivity rather than gaming. Since it is similar in many ways to the M1 Macs that Apple recently launched, we decided to compare the Razer Book 13 with the M1-based 13-inch MacBook Pro to see how they stack up.
While the MacBook Pro wins out in terms of performance and efficiency, the Razer Book 13 is a capable laptop for those who need or prefer the Windows operating system. Our comparison provides a deeper dive into tech specs, features, and more.
Review: Belkin's 3-in-1 Boost Charge Pro Offers Hassle-Free 15W MagSafe Charging for iPhone 12
All in all, if you're looking for a multi-device charger for an iPhone 12, this is the one to get in our view. It works with any iPhone 12 model, the Apple Watch, and AirPods, and it's just $30 more expensive than Apple's MagSafe Duo. And as an Apple-certified MagSafe accessory, the Boost Charge Pro is capable of delivering up to 15W of power to iPhone 12 models, whereas unofficial magnetic wireless chargers are still limited to up to 7.5W charging.
Belkin also offers a MagSafe-compatible car vent mount for iPhone 12 models, available for $39.95 from Apple's online store.
This Week Marks the 10th Anniversary of the Mac App Store
While the App Store launched on the iPhone in July 2008, the Mac App Store arrived on January 6, 2011, when Apple released Mac OS X Snow Leopard version 10.6.6. Accordingly, this week marked the 10th anniversary of the Mac App Store!
Apple announced that the Mac App Store was "open for business" in a press release back in 2011. "With more than 1,000 apps, the Mac App Store is off to a great start," said Steve Jobs, Apple's co-founder and former CEO. "We think users are going to love this innovative new way to discover and buy their favorite apps."
Since its inception, the Mac App Store has attracted its fair share of criticism from developers. Apple has addressed some of these complaints over the years by allowing developers to offer free trials via in-app purchase, create app bundles, distribute apps on multiple Apple platforms as a universal purchase, view analytics for Mac apps, respond to customer reviews, and more.
In 2018, the Mac App Store received a major redesign as part of macOS Mojave, complete with a new "Discover" tab that highlights popular apps and games and features editorials from Apple. Another advancement to the Mac App Store came in 2020, when Apple made iPhone and iPad apps available on Macs with Apple silicon, given that all of the devices share Arm architecture.
All in all, Apple has certainly made progress with the Mac App Store over the last 10 years, but some developers feel that further improvements are necessary if they are to embrace the storefront.
MacRumors Newsletter
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple is expected to continue to offer four iPhone options in 2021, with the iPhone 13 to be identical in design to the iPhone 12 with few changes, according to a new report today from Japanese site Mac Otakara that cites sources within the Chinese supply chain.
The height and width of the four iPhone models are expected to remain the same, but thickness could increase by approximately 0.26mm.
The rear camera unit is expected to increase in size by 0.9mm on all iPhone 13 models, and Apple will shift to a design that "covers the entire camera unit with sapphire glass." The lenses are expected to protrude less in a design that's more similar to the 2020 iPad Pro, which has a thick camera bump but less protrusion when it comes to the lens design.
Mac Otakara believes that the iPhone 13 Pro could feature sensor-shift optical image stabilization, a feature that Apple included in the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
As for the front of the iPhone 13, the site suggests that the TrueDepth camera "is getting narrower" because the receiver at the top of the display will move to the edge of the case. This suggests that the notch on the next-generation iPhone could be slightly thinner.
This is the second time that we've heard rumors of a thinner or shallower notch, so it's possible the 2021 iPhone models will have a notch that's the same length but not as tall.
Other iPhone 13 rumors have suggested we could see some models getting LTPO OLED displays with support for 120Hz refresh dates, and there will, of course, be a faster A15 chip. We have more on what to expect from the iPhone 13 in our dedicated roundup.
Apple has given conservative social network Parler 24 hours to implement a full moderation plan and remove objectionable content or face a permanent ban from the App Store, reports BuzzFeed News.
In an email sent to Parler this morning, Apple said that it had received complaints that the app had been used by supporters of President Donald Trump to plan and coordinate the infiltration of the U.S. Capitol on Wednesday. Apple says that the Parler app violates objectionable content and user-generated content guidelines.
We require your immediate attention regarding serious App Store guideline violations that we have found with your app, Parler.
We have received numerous complaints regarding objectionable content in your Parler service, accusations that the Parler app was used to plan, coordinate, and facilitate the illegal activities in Washington D.C. on January 6, 2021 that led (among other things) to loss of life, numerous injuries, and the destruction of property. The app also appears to continue to be used to plan and facilitate yet further illegal and dangerous activities.
Our investigation has found that Parler is not effectively moderating and removing content that encourages illegal activity and poses a serious risk to the health and safety of users in direct violation of your own terms of service, found here: https://legal.parler.com/documents/Elaboration-on-Guidelines.pdf
Examples of these complaints can be viewed on these links: https://twitter.com/slpng_giants/status/1347190280492089344?s=20 https://twitter.com/EmmanueLoree/status/1347260055410896897/photo/1 https://twitter.com/Lovedrea/status/1347263797614972928?s=20 https://twitter.com/Wilmographer/status/1346714000554303489?s=20 https://twitter.com/pjg0014/status/1347265499210592256?s=20
Content of this dangerous and harmful nature is not appropriate for the App Store. As you know from prior conversations with App Review, Apple requires apps with user generated content to effectively moderate to ensure objectionable, potentially harmful content is filtered out. Content that threatens the well being of others or is intended to incite violence or other lawless acts has never been acceptable on the App Store.
Your CEO was quoted recently saying "But I don't feel responsible for any of this and neither should the platform, considering we're a neutral town square that just adheres to the law." We want to be clear that Parler is in fact responsible for all the user generated content present on your service and for ensuring that this content meets App Store requirements for the safety and protection of our users. We won't distribute apps that present dangerous and harmful content.
Apple is requiring Parler to submit an update and a "requested moderation improvement plan" within 24 hours from when the email was received on Friday morning. If Parler does not comply, the app will be pulled from the App Store.
Parler CEO John Matze said on the social network that Parler will not "cave to politically motivated companies and those authoritarians who hate free speech." Since launching in 2018, Parler has claimed to be a free speech alternative to mainstream social networks with more relaxed content moderation rules, which has attracted those who have been banned or suspended on Twitter, Facebook, and other mainstream social networks.
In related news, social network Twitter today announced that it has permanently suspended the Twitter account of U.S. President Donald Trump. Twitter said that the account was suspended because of the "risk of further incitement of violence."
After close review of recent Tweets from the @realDonaldTrump account and the context around them we have permanently suspended the account due to the risk of further incitement of violence.https://t.co/CBpE1I6j8Y
— Twitter Safety (@TwitterSafety) January 8, 2021
Twitter yesterday suspended Trump's account for 12 hours after he posted a video calling rioters "very special" and repeating claims of election fraud.
Twitter said that the account would be unlocked if Trump deleted tweets, but warned that further violations would result in a permanent ban. Facebook and Instagram have also indefinitely banned Trump, and Google Play on Friday night removed the Parler app.
Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
