Well that was quite the jam-packed week of Apple news, wasn't it? From a media event on Tuesday where Apple unveiled three new Macs based on the brand-new custom M1 chip to the release of macOS Big Sur on Thursday and the release of two new iPhones on Friday, this week had it all.
Next week is shaping up to be another busy one as well, with HomePod mini deliveries beginning and the new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models making their way into customers' hands, but before we get to that, take a breath and read on below for details on everything that happened this week.
Everything Announced at Tuesday's Apple Event in 6 Minutes
Apple on Tuesday held its third virtual media event in as many months, this time focusing on the Mac. As expected, Apple introduced the first Macs based on Apple Silicon in the form of the new M1 chip.
The M1 arrived in three different machines this week, including the MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. All of the new machines are available to order now, with availability starting next Tuesday, November 17. Apple also continues to offer Intel-based configurations of the higher-end 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini.
Apple's event was an efficient one, clocking in at under an hour, but we also boiled it down to just a six-minute summary, so make sure to check out our video recap and links to all of our coverage from the event.
Apple Releases macOS Big Sur With Fresh Design, Control Center, Safari Privacy Report, Messages Updates, Maps Overhaul and More
In the wake of Tuesday's event, Apple on Thursday finally released macOS Big Sur to the public, bringing a new look and a host of new features to macOS.
Benchmark results have also surfaced for the new 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini, showing very similar performance, which is to be expected given that the M1 chip has virtually identical tech specs in all three machines beyond the lowest-end MacBook Air configuration having a 7-core rather than 8-core GPU.
Hands-On With the New iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Mini
It was easy to lose track given all of the news surrounding Apple's Mac event this week, but this week also saw the launch of two new iPhone models, the iPhone 12 mini and the iPhone 12 Pro Max.
Advance media reviews of both the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max have been positive, although some reviewers have some concerns about limited battery life on Apple's smallest flagship phone. We of course have our own hands-on overview of both of the new phones, and we'll have more coverage next week once we've some more time to spend with them.
What's New in iOS 14.3: ProRAW Support for iPhone 12 Pro, Cardio Fitness Features, and More
Apple released the first iOS 14.3 beta on Thursday, and MacRumors was able to dig into the software update and make some discoveries.
At WWDC 2020 in June, Apple also said that it still had exciting new Intel-based Macs in development in the interim, but it's unclear if that will extend beyond the updated 27-inch iMac released in August.
Watch: HomePod Mini Reviews, Sound Quality Tests, and Unboxing Videos
Amid a very busy week for Apple, the first reviews and unboxing videos have been shared for the HomePod mini, with many media outlets and YouTubers finding that the speaker delivers "big sound" despite its compact design.
Priced at $99, the speaker is available to order in the U.S., Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, and the U.K. Orders will begin in China, Mexico, and Taiwan later this year.
HomePod mini will begin arriving to customers on Monday, November 16.
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.
Happy iPhone launch day part deux! Today is the official release day for the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 mini, which join the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 that were released last month. We picked up the new iPhone 12 mini and Pro Max for an unboxing, hands-on, and quick video comparison.
At 5.4-inches, the iPhone 12 mini is the smallest iPhone that Apple has released since the 2016 iPhone SE, and the 6.7-inch iPhone 12 Pro Max is the largest iPhone to date, so seeing these two devices side-by-side is a bit comical. The iPhone 12 Pro Max, which is a dual-handed use phone, looks enormous next to the super tiny mini, which can be used one-handed.
For most people, MacRumors videographer Dan included, the 6.1-inch size of the iPhone 12 and 12 Pro may be the sweet spot, but those who want light weight, one-handed use, and better pocketability will love the mini. For most screen real estate, the iPhone 12 Pro Max is the device to choose, and many of us here at MacRumors are fans of Apple's largest phone.
The 12 Pro Max offers a lot more screen real estate when browsing the web and using apps than the iPhone 12 or 12 mini, but it is a good deal heavier than Apple's other iPhones. Weight wise, it's not too far off from the iPhone 11 Pro Max for those that have that iPhone, but it is much more hefty than the iPhone 12 or 12 mini.
We got the iPhone 12 Pro Max in silver and the color is almost a bright white, which looks fantastic. It has shiny silver edges, and the silver color seems to be better at concealing fingerprints than the blue iPhone with matching blue edges. Our iPhone 12 mini is red, and the red shade this year is brighter than usual like a shiny candy apple, and it too looks great.
The mini is so small that the Wallet accessory that Apple made goes right to the edges of the phone (it's the same width), which makes for an odd look. We also picked up a Leather case and the wallet attachment seems more slippery compared to the Silicone case, which is something to keep in mind.
The iPhone 12 mini has the same camera as the iPhone 12 and takes identical pictures, but the iPhone 12 Pro Max has a triple-lens camera with a sensor that's better than the sensor in the iPhone 12 Pro, giving it the best camera out of the bunch. Even though it has the best camera, the cameras in the other iPhones are quite good, and you may not see too much difference between them in standard lighting situations. You should, however, see some slightly better performance out of the 12 Pro Max in low lighting conditions.
We took some comparison shots with the new iPhones and shared them in the video, so make sure to give it a watch to see if you can tell the difference in photo quality.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max comes with an extra large Apple sticker
We're going to have more in-depth coverage of the new iPhones coming next week, including a camera comparison across the iPhone 12, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max, so make sure to stay tuned to MacRumors for all of your iPhone news.
Since the release of the new iPhone 12 models, many new iPhone owners have been running into problems with the Messages app. There are complaints from users who aren't seeing SMS messages from friends, are missing text messages in group chats, and who aren't getting notifications when text messages are incoming.
It's not clear if this is a problem that's related specifically to the iPhone 12 models or if it's a wider issue with iOS 14.1 and iOS 14.2, but the majority of complaints appear to be from iPhone 12 owners.
Those who are experiencing missed SMS messages are simply not seeing some text messages that are sent from Android devices, as MacRumors reader FraXis describes:
But I just upgraded to an iPhone 12 (coming from an iPhone 11 Max Pro), and I am in a group message with my kids. One of my kids is an Android user. Last night he came up to me and asked me why I didn't reply to his two text messages he sent to the group. I checked my iPhone, and I didn't receive any text messages from him in the group chat. He then showed me his phone, and sure enough, he had sent them to the group.
Most of the people who are missing SMS messages are not seeing them in group chats, but there are reports of some standalone messages not getting delivered. From MacRumors reader TheElmnt:
I'm having the exact same problem. It seems I'm having issues in group threads only when it has android users. I've been so confused in our messages the last few days. None of our conversations make sense. My friends and I just tested with iMessage and it doesn't seem to have any problems with just Apple users. I reported the bug to Apple. I just noticed this after upgrading to an iPhone 12 Pro from iPhone XS. Running iOS 14.1 on Verizon. I deleted every single text message on my phone and rebooted, turned iMessage off and back on. Hoping this helps.
There are also separate complaints of Messages being received, but no notification showing up. This is a problem that even pre-dates the iPhone 12 and iOS 14, as we've had earlier issues with it too. From MacRumors reader bmac4:
I am having the issue with just a single person and it's not SMS. Mine is iMessage. I was texting with my mom last night, and she updated to 14.2 on her XR in the process. Soon after, she stopped replying to my text. I sent her another one, and she said she never saw the text. Then I stopped receiving any alerts at all. I had to open the message app and check to see if a message was there. Sure enough the phone never alerted, and there was no badge, but there was a message. iOS 14 is a total mess.
Some Verizon users have been able to solve their SMS messages by downloading the Verizon Message+ app, but it's not a complete fix for everyone and it doesn't work for all non-Verizon users. One reader also had success resetting network settings (Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings), but that has not worked for others. Toggling off 5G also does not seem to be a solution.
This is likely a problem that carriers need to address with updated firmware or that Apple needs to fix in an upcoming software update. It appears to be a problem in both iOS 14.1 and iOS 14.2, and it's too soon yet to tell if iOS 14.3 is affected.
Are you having issues receiving some messages on iPhone 12 and 12 Pro models? Let us know in the comments.
Following the release of macOS Big Sur this week, a number of apps have received compatibility updates for the latest operating system. Many of the apps have also been updated with native support for Apple Silicon Macs with the M1 chip.
Launching on November 19, image editing app Pixelmator Pro 2.0 features an all-new design for macOS Big Sur, ranging from a simplified Effects Browser to new layouts for the sidebars and presets. A new Workspaces feature lets users customize the look of Pixelmator, with presets optimized for photo editing, design, illustration, and painting. The app is also universal now, with native support for both Apple Silicon Macs and Intel-based Macs.
Pixelmator Pro 2.0 takes advantage of the M1 chip's 16-core Neural Engine for accelerated machine learning. This allows features like Super Resolution, which intelligently increases the resolution of images while preserving details, to work up to 15x faster.
Writing app Ulysses has been updated with a new design and icon for macOS Big Sur, as well as native support for Apple Silicon Macs. There is also a refined Revision mode with a dedicated view outside of the dashboard, and a new "editor focus" mode that hides all chrome and presents sidebars as overlays. Version 21 of Ulysses for Mac is available now.
Blackmagic Design today announced that it has released a new beta of its popular filmmaking app DaVinci Resolve with native support for Apple Silicon Macs. The recently released DaVinci Resolve 17 is a major new release with over 300 new features and improvements, including HDR grading tools, redesigned primary color controls, and more.
Amazon today is discounting Apple's Smart Keyboard Folio for the third and fourth-generation 12.9-inch iPad Pro. You can get this accessory for $119.97, down from $199.00, which represents the lowest price we've ever tracked for this accessory.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
The Smart Keyboard Folio is designed to work with Apple's 12.9-inch iPad Pro and includes a full-size keyboard, without any need to be charged separately. When closed, it also acts as a case that protects the front and back of the iPad Pro.
If you're shopping around for an iPad Pro itself, check out our post from earlier this week, highlighting sales across Apple's entire iPad lineup. Currently, you can get a 12.9-inch iPad Pro from $929.00 on Amazon, down from $999.00.
For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.
Update: You can also get the 11-Inch Smart Keyboard Folio on sale for $99.97, down from $179.00. This model fits both the 11-inch iPad Pro and the new 10.9-inch iPad Air.
It's Friday, November 13, which is the official launch date for the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max. iPhone orders are arriving to customers, and Apple has begun selling the new devices in retail stores.
We've seen multiple reviews of the two new iPhones from media sites, but now regular customers have the smallest and largest iPhones in hand and are sharing their opinions of the device on the MacRumors forums. For those waiting for their own new iPhone or considering making a purchase, impressions from regular consumers provide useful insight.
iPhone 12 mini
MacRumors reader elephantnut had a long list of thoughts to share. The flat edges are a "welcome departure" from the rounded edges, but the design makes the phone look and feel thicker. The white color is "elegant but cute," and more of a warm white than a cool white.
The display is a fantastic size. While I wouldn't say it's comfortable to reach the edges, it's much easier to do compared to the 5.8" iPhones. The lighter weight makes is easy to shimmy the iphone across your hand if you have smaller hands.
True Tone seems a bit more aggressive than it was on my iPhone 8. Compared to an OLED iPhone X, my 12 Mini has a more yellow/green cast with True Tone off, and is significantly yellower with True Tone on.
MacRumors reader Hoobaman shared some useful photos of the iPhone 12 mini in a Leather Case for those wondering how the new leather cases look.
MacRumors reader pinchies said that the size is nice and allows for one-handed typing, but getting to Control Center still "requires a hand shuffle." The screen is dimmer than the iPhone 11, and it's not quite as sharp as expected. MacRumors reader skyhawkmatthew disagreed on sharpness, though, and said that "colour and sharpness on the display look great."
Prior 2016 iPhone SE owner Klasma said that the iPhone 12 mini is both heavier and larger than expected and not as "handy" as the SE when it comes to chassis size.
It's so small and lightweight that it feels like air
The notch eats up too much of the screen compared to the rest of the iPhone 12 lineup
Speakers sound much better compared to older iPhones, but sound is "thinner" than iPhone 11 with less bass
The screws on the bottom of the mini are not color matched to the device
The display is warmer than older iPhones
The iPhone 12 mini is barely noticeable in a pocket
iPhone 12 Pro Max
MacRumors reader Vengapat9 returned his iPhone 12 Pro because of battery life issues and chose the iPhone 12 Pro Max with its larger battery. He says the phone is "big as hell" and a "tiny bit wider," with the larger screen displaying more information "even better."
Image via MacRumors reader Sal09
MacRumors reader Gtg456x loves the larger screen size and says that it "doesn't seem that big."
I had been debating between the Pro and Pro Max. I've had an iPhone X for 3 years, but before that had a 7 Plus, and have missed having a big screen for the past few years, but was worried about how many people were scared by the 12 Pro Max size and weight. Well, the 12 Pro Max came today, and let me tell you, it was the right decision! After only using it for 30 minutes, I looked at my iPhone X for something and MY GOD that screen looks small now. How the heck did I use it for 3 years? It honestly doesn't even seem that big. Seems about the same as all of the large phones from the past decade.
MacRumors reader Ryancgray said that the stabilization for video recording is "incredible," while MacRumors reader lukeoneill90 said that the iPhone 12 Pro Max is "blazing fast" with quality speakers.
Feels more solid and secure to hold than 11 Pro Max
HDR video recording is amazing, it looks very real and vibrant
It's huge and may take some time to get used to
Have a new iPhone 12 mini or iPhone 12 Pro Max? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below. Make sure to check out our iPhone forum too, where people are sharing more thoughts on the new phones, photos, and more.
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Astropad to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Luna Display adapter that's able to transform an extra old Mac, PC or iPad into a secondary display that can be used with your main Mac.
The Luna Display adapter, priced at $80, is a small dongle that plugs into your Mac using a USB-C port (on newer Macs) or a Mini DisplayPort and when used in combination with the Luna Display software, your primary Mac can be connected to an iPad or another Mac over WiFi, giving you a way to take advantage of old hardware or add an extra display without having to invest in a new device.
When connected, the Luna Display extends the primary Mac's display to the secondary Mac or iPad to allow the extra device to be used as a second screen, which is useful as more and more people continue working and learning from home with makeshift office setups.
The Mac and iPad have built-in Sidecar functionality that can turn an iPad into a secondary display for a Mac without an accessory, but the Luna Display sets itself apart with the Mac-to-Mac support, which Sidecar is not capable of. Luna Display is also able to work with older iPads that don't have Sidecar support.
In Mac-to-Mac mode, the primary Mac needs to have macOS El Capitan or later installed, while the secondary Mac can be running macOS Mountain Lion or later, so Luna Display works with machines that are quite old. For best performance, the main Mac should be a 2012 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac mini, iMac, or later, or a 2013 Mac Pro or later.
Luna Display offers full keyboard, trackpad, and mouse support on both connected Macs in Mac-to-Mac mode, with more information on how it works available on the Luna Display website.
As for iPads, the Luna Display is compatible with almost all modern iPads, including the iPad 2 or later, all iPad mini models, all iPad Pro models, and all iPad Air models, with iOS 9.1 or later as the only requirement. Performance is faster on newer iPads, but older models work well too.
For those who have PCs, there is a Luna Display adapter for Windows, which can be preordered from the website. The PC version of Luna Display extends your desktop from Mac to PC to iPad, allowing your devices to work interchangeably.
We have five Luna Display adapters to give away to MacRumors readers. To enter to win, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumorsFacebook page.
Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.
The contest will run from today (November 13) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on November 20. The winners will be chosen randomly on November 20 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3 updates to public beta testers, one day after providing the betas to developers.
Public beta testers who have signed up for Apple's beta testing program can download the iOS and iPadOS 14.3 updates over the air after installing the proper certificate from the Public Beta website on an iOS device.
iOS 14.3 introduces the ProRAW feature Apple announced at the iPhone 12 launch to the iPhone 12 Pro and 12 Pro Max. ProRAW lets those who prefer to shoot in RAW take advantage of the Apple image pipeline data like noise reduction and multi-frame exposure adjustments while still using the RAW format.
The ProRAW feature can be enabled in the Camera section of the Settings app for those who have installed the iOS 14.3 beta on a new iPhone 12 Pro or Pro Max. When enabled, there's a RAW toggle in the upper right side of the camera app that can be tapped to turn it off or on. Photos taken with ProRAW are 25MB in size.
Ecosia, the search engine that plants trees when people conduct searches, can now be set as the default search engine on iPhone and iPad as an alternative to Google, DuckDuckGo, Yahoo, and Bing.
iOS 14.3 includes an icon that seemingly unveils the design of the AirPods Studio, along with code supporting third-party item trackers and Bluetooth devices in the Find My app. Apple mentioned this feature in June when iOS 14 was unveiled, and it seems we could soon be seeing third-party devices that are able to be tracked via Find My.
iOS 14.3 also includes pregnancy data in the Health app, third-party app suggestions at setup in certain countries, support for scanning App Clips QR codes with the camera app, an option to update HomeKit products with the Home app, and more, with full details available in our iOS 14.3 features guide.
Apple today shared a teaser trailer for the second season of "Servant," which is set to be released on Friday, January 15. The first season of the show was well received and Apple renewed it shortly after it launched.
"Servant" is a horror thriller produced by M. Night Shyamalan, who has also directed some of the episodes. The show follows a Philadelphia couple who are in mourning after losing their child. Their baby, Jericho, is replaced by a reborn doll, and a strange nanny, Leanne, is hired to look after it. After Leanne arrives, bizarre things begin to happen to the family.
The show stars Lauren Ambrose, Nell Tiger Free, Rupert Grint, and Toby Kebbell. The full first season of "Servant" is available on Apple TV Plus.
Comedian and actor Hasan Minhaj has joined the cast of "The Morning Show" for season two, reports Deadline. Minhaj will play Eric, a charismatic, rising star that joins the news team.
Minhaj had a role as a correspondent on "The Daily Show," and he had a Netflix show called "Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj." He's also starred in a standup special, "Hasan Minhaj: Homecoming King."
Minhaj will be joining the existing cast of "The Morning Show," which includes Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, Steve Carell, Billy Crudup, Mark Duplass, and more.
Production on "The Morning Show" resumed filming on October 19, but there's still no word on when the second season will premiere. Season two filming started in March but went on hiatus for several months due to the pandemic, with the pandemic storyline set to be written into the show.
"The Morning Show" is one of Apple's most popular TV shows to date. It was nominated for several Golden Globe awards, and Billy Crudup won an Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
As noted by CNET, the Alliance for Telecommunications Industry Solutions (ATIS) this week announced that Apple has joined its Next G Alliance, an industry group working to "advance North American mobile technology leadership in 6G and beyond over the next decade, while building on the long-term evolution of 5G."
Apple is one of 11 new members of the group alongside Charter, Cisco, Google, Hewlett-Packard, Intel, Keysight Technologies, LG, Mavenir, MITRE, and VMware.
The announcement provides more details about the Next G Alliance:
Designed to set the foundation for a vibrant marketplace for North American innovation in future generations of mobile technology, the Next G Alliance is named after its primary goal: to establish North American preeminence in the 5G evolutionary path and 6G development. Its work will encompass the full lifecycle of research and development, manufacturing, standardization and market readiness.
The Next G Alliance says it will be holding its first meeting for members on Monday, November 16 to set the initiative's overarching direction and strategy.
In September, AT&T said that it already has engineers working on next-generation 6G networking, but the technology is not expected to fully materialize for many years. Apple just released its first iPhones with support for 5G networks within the last month.
Reservations for Apple's iPhone 12 Upgrade Program are once again available in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
The program has been unavailable in the United Kingdom since November 5 due to lockdown restrictions in England. Unfortunately, because of the way Apple's retail system operates, this meant the program was also temporarily unavailable in the UK's other three constituent countries, despite those nations' devolved governments imposing different public protection measures.
Whatever the operational issue was with Apple's retail system, it now appears to have been resolved, and customers in those countries can now book reservations in local Apple stores.
Stores in England remain open only for click-and-collect and returns, and lockdown restrictions are set to remain in place until at least December 2, when they will be reviewed by the UK government.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Woot. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
For the tablets, this includes the latest 2020 models of the iPad Pro from $739.99 for 256GB Wi-Fi. You can also save on the previous generation iPad Pro, the 2019 iPad Air, the seventh generation iPad, and more.
For the MacBooks, you can get the 13-inch MacBook Pro from mid 2020 for $1,169.99, and the 16-inch MacBook Pro for $1,899.99. MacBook Air models from early 2020 start as low as $849.99.
Facebook's Messenger and Instagram apps are getting a new "vanish mode" feature that gives users a new way to chat using disappearing messages.
Disappearing messages can already be used in Messenger's "secret conversation" feature, but they require several steps and users have to set a timer to make the messages disappear.
However, the new "vanish mode" is enabled by simply swiping up in a chat, after which messages disappear after they're seen, and if the recipient takes a screenshot of the conversation, the sender will be notified.
Accessing the new mode in Instagram requires that users accept Facebook's offer to integrate Messenger features into Instagram's in-app chat.
Facebook recently rolled out a new disappearing messages feature to all WhatsApp users on iOS and Android, allowing messages, photos, and videos to be marked to disappear after seven days.
Vanish mode is available to Messenger users in the U.S. now and Facebook says the feature will expand to additional countries, and to Instagram, "soon."
Apple intends to launch an iPad with a mini-LED display and AirPods 3 with a design signature similar to AirPods Pro in the first half of next year, according to TFI Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
In a research note to investors, seen by MacRumors, Kuo's latest predictions relate to the fortunes of Taiwanese manufacturer Career Technology, which is expected to be a key partner in the supply chain for Apple's products in 2021, thanks to its flexible soft board technology.
LCP (liquid crystal polymer) soft boards are said to offer a flexible way to connect components together while facilitating high-speed, low-latency data transfer. Career is expected to regain orders for acoustic and optical components in soft boards destined for a mini-LED iPad, which will be mass produced in the first half of 2021, according to the note.
Kuo said roughly eight months ago that Apple has six mini-LED products in its pipeline planned to launch though the end of 2021. The products include a 12.9-inch iPad Pro, a 27-inch iMac Pro, a 14.1-inch MacBook Pro, a 16-inch MacBook Pro, a 10.2.-inch iPad, and a 7.9-inch iPad mini.
However, Kuo has long predicted that a 12.9-inch iPad Pro with a fourth quarter 2021 launch timeframe would likely be Apple's first mini-LED product, so this latest development appears to suggest that the analyst's expectations have changed.
As we've outlined in our guide on mini-LED technology, the displays use on the order of 1,000 to 10,000 individual LEDs that offer a number of improvements over traditional LED-backlit displays, coming close to performance of OLED displays without some of the drawbacks of that technology.
With regards to AirPods, the note reiterates Kuo's belief that Apple is working on third-generation AirPods that will go into mass production during the first half of 2021.
The new AirPods will adopt the System-in-Package used for the AirPods Pro, replacing the rigid-flex PCB+SMT design of the second-generation AirPods, and allowing for a form factor similar to the AirPods Pro, featuring a shorter stem and replaceable ear tips.
The AirPods 3 are expected to be more affordable and will lack higher-end features like Active Noise Cancellation. Battery life could be improved, though, and Apple is working on a new wireless chip.
Kuo says Career will obtain component orders for the AirPods 3, which is expected to significantly contribute to the supplier's revenue and profit from the second quarter of 2020.
Kuo's note also mentions that Apple intends to expand its use of soft board technology in next year's "iPhone 13," which is expected to save space and reduce manufacturing costs, with Career again projected to benefit from the wider adoption.
German developer Alexander Heinrich today updated his popular Menu Bar Controller app for Sonos speakers connected to Mac, with a new design that mimics Apple's Control Center aesthetic in macOS 11 Big Sur.
The updated app retains all the features of the previous versions within the new layout, which shows the current playing song, its album cover, and larger buttons to interact with the queue.
A new slider has been added to integrate muting and changing the volume in one control button, while at the bottom of the main panel, users are able to quickly select the current Sonos group or room in their system.
In addition, the views for playing music on grouped speakers have been redesigned. For example, the Group view now clearly shows which song will play on the created group and which speakers are selected.
Lastly, a new set of configurable keyboard shortcuts allow users to quickly mute or pause the current playback.
Menu Bar Controller for Sonos costs $1.99 and can be downloaded from the Mac App Store. [Direct Link]
macOS Big Sur is finally here. Version 11 of Apple's operating system for Mac features a completely overhauled look that's designed to be both fresh and familiar, but it's not just the design that's new. Apple has also rethought and retooled many features of macOS to improve the user experience, so whether you're running on Intel or Apple Silicon, there's plenty that's new to explore.
In this article, we've picked out some of our favorite additions and improvements in the public release of macOS Big Sur, including some smaller changes that you might not know about.
8 Quick Start Tips Video
This video gives you a quick overview on where to start with macOS Big Sur right after you get it installed:
If you've got more time to dig in, we've also collected this more comprehensive list of tips and tricks for the latest macOS release.
50 Tips and Tricks for macOS Big Sur
1. Setup Assistant Accessibility
When you first set up macOS, there's a new step in the setup wizard that offers you an opportunity to configure various accessibility features before you log in.
In previous versions of macOS, the only accessibility option you could enable in the setup wizard was VoiceOver, so this should come as a welcome addition for users who find the accessibility features useful.
2. "Now Playing" Media Menu Bar Item
A new menu bar item for media that's currently playing is now available. It's similar to the widget that you can add to the Notification Center.
To enable the Now Playing menu bar item, go to System Preferences -> Dock & Menu Bar, click Now Playing in the side column, then check the box next to Show in Menu Bar.
3. Play Sound on Startup Option
You can now choose whether your Mac plays the traditional startup chime or not without having to mess with Terminal commands. Go to System Preferences -> Sound, and check the box next to Play sound on startup.
4. Tab Search Field
In Safari, you can search all your open tabs using a new Search Tabs input field in the upper right corner of the Tab Overview screen.
The functionality has actually been available in the Tab Overview screen in earlier versions of Safari, but the search field would only appear once you started typing, so many users probably didn't realize that it was even a thing. This higher visibility should make more users aware of the feature.
5. Safari Start Page Customization
Safari in macOS 11 features a customizable Start Page that allows you to personalize various aspects of it.
With the Start Page open, click the Settings icon in the bottom-right corner of the window, and you'll see checkboxes to control the appearance of Favorites, Frequently Visited, Privacy Report, Siri Suggestions, Reading List, iCloud Tabs, and the Background Image. You can even select a wallpaper for the background, or choose your own image by using the big + button.
6. Control Wallpaper Tinting in Windows
In macOS Big Sur, windows are tinted based on the color of the desktop wallpaper by default, even if there's something between the window and the wallpaper.
If that gets your goat, you can disable the colored tinting of windows by going to System Preferences -> General and unchecking the box next to Allow wallpaper tinting in windows.
7. Safari Tab Website Previews
Another neat addition in Safari is website previews for tabs. Instead of opening a tab to get a better idea of what it's about, simply hover your cursor over the tab in question, and you'll see a small preview of the website appear.
8. Override Battery Health Management
In macOS Catalina 10.15.5, Apple introduced battery health management, which limits the charge of your MacBook's battery to extend its lifespan if your Mac is connected to a power source more often than not.
Previously it wasn't clear if or when your Mac's battery charge was being limited, but in Big Sur you can find this information right in the battery menu bar item, and even force a full charge when you need it using the Charge to Full Now option.
9. Safari Privacy Report
Safari now has an integrated Privacy Report that provides a list of trackers on a website and the number of trackers that were blocked, preventing websites from keeping tabs on your browsing habits across the web.
From the Privacy Report toolbar option, you can see how many trackers have been blocked in the last 30 days. You can also view a rundown on how many trackers have been blocked from profiling you on the Start Page.
10. Cycling Directions in Apple Maps
In Maps, routes with cycling directions can be planned on your Mac and sent to your iPhone or iPad, with the directions taking into account elevation, busy roads, stairs, and more, plus there are options for planning routes that incorporate electric vehicle charging stations.
11. Keyboard Shortcuts in Reminders
Reminders has some new keyboard shortcuts that make it easier to navigate between lists and make changes like setting due dates.
12. Redesigned Wi-Fi Status Icon
The Wi-Fi connection status icon has been redesigned to include three segments like in iOS, rather than the traditional four.
This isn't exactly a new trick or feature, but we thought it was a worthwhile tip so users don't have the impression that their Wi-Fi connection signal isn't as strong as it used to be.
13. Guides in Apple Maps
You can now use Guides in Apple Maps to explore places. Guides provide recommendations for the best places to visit in a city, offering up suggestions on places to eat, shop, and explore.
Some of Apple's partners for these Guides include Lonely Planet, the Washington Post, AllTrails, The Infatuation, and more. You can save Guides with the Add to My Guides button, and they automatically update when new places are added, so you always have the latest recommendations.
14. Relocated New Tab Button in Safari
In Safari, the button to create a new tab has been relocated from the right of the tab bar to the main toolbar above.
This allows you to move it where you like using the Customize Toolbar... option (right-click the toolbar), just like you can rearrange the rest of the toolbar buttons.
15. Pin Messages in the Messages App
Just like in iOS 14, you can now pin messages in the Messages app in macOS 11 to make it easier to refer back to conversations with people that you're regularly in contact with.
Up to nine of your most important conversations can be pinned to the top of the Messages app, with pinned conversations depicted as circular icons. Simply drag a chat thread to the top of the sidebar, or swipe right on the thread and click the yellow Pin button.
16. Enhance Voice Memo Recordings
The new Enhance Recording option in the Voice Memos app attempts to improve the quality of your recording. It does this by using machine learning to remove potentially unwanted sounds such as background noise and echoes. Think of it as the audio equivalent of the Photos app's magic wand button that enhances the quality of the selected image.
Just click the Enhance button in the top-right of the window when you're editing a recording's waveform. The result won't always be all that dramatic and may not even be particularly desirable for what you're recording, but it's worth a try and you can easily remove the enhancement if you don't like it.
17. Safari Built-In Translation
Safari now has a built-in web translator that translates seven languages with just a click, so you can read an entire webpage in another language without having to have an extension installed.
When you load up a page in a language you don't understand, check for the translation icon at the right end of the address bar. Built-in translation works for English, Spanish, Chinese, French, German, Russian, and Brazilian Portuguese.
18. Prefer Tabs When Opening Documents
This option lets you force a new document to open in a tab instead of a new window. It isn't exactly new, but it has moved, so it's worth highlighting.
"Prefer tabs when opening documents" has been relocated in System Preferences from the Dock pane to the General pane. It's also now simply called Prefer tabs and the options have been rephrased to Never, In full screen, and Always.
19. Battery Usage History
In the new Battery section that replaces "Energy Saver" in System Preferences, a new Usage History feature provides details on your Mac's battery life over the course of the last 24 hours or the last 10 days, broken down into Battery Level and Screen On Usage so you can see how your battery is performing.
Along with the Usage History section, there are Battery and Power Adapter sections that replace the functionality that was previously available through Energy Saver. You can choose when to turn the display off, enable or disable power nap, and more, with the settings split for battery usage and usage when connected to power. The Schedule feature is also present.
20. Assign Reminders to People
In the Reminders app, you can now assign reminders to specific people in group reminder lists.
Click a reminder and then click the Assign To button, or right-click the reminder and select the same option from the contextual dropdown menu.
21. Speak Typing Feedback
In System Preferences, the "Speech" section in the Accessibility pane has been renamed Spoken Content, and it includes a new feature called Speak typing feedback which, when enabled, will speak back to you what you're typing, as you type it.
22. Hide Menu Bar
In macOS 11, Apple has moved the setting that lets you hide the menu bar. Previously this could be found in the "General" pane of System Preferences. It's now located in the Dock & Menu Bar section.
To set the menu bar to hide and show when you move the cursor to the top of the screen, check the box next to Automatically hide and show the menu bar.
23. Customize Control Center
In System Preferences, the Dock & Menu Bar pane lets you choose what appears in the Control Center. You can turn on/off individual controls such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, AirDrop, Do Not Disturb, Keyboard Brightness, and more.
You'll also find additional optional Control Center modules available including Accessibility Shortcuts, Battery, and Fast User Switching.
24. Pin Control Center Options to Menu Bar
Your favorite Control Center menu items can be pinned to the top of the menu bar for quick access.
Simply click-hold a menu item in the Control Center and drag it to the menu bar with your cursor.
25. Access Notification Options
Notifications are now grouped by app and have additional interactive features, so you can do things like play a new podcast or reply to an email without having to open up the associated app. Simply click the Options button to get a dropdown menu of additional interactivity.
26. Numbered Grid Voice Control
In System Preferences, the Voice Control section in the Accessibility pane now lists the Numbered Grid option in the Overlay dropdown.
When selected, this option segments the entire screen into numbered zones, allowing you to interact with parts of the screen that don't have a control, or that Voice Control doesn't recognize as clickable.
To click the item behind a grid number, say "Click" and the number. Or say "Zoom" and the number to zoom in on that area of the grid, then automatically hide the grid. You can also use grid numbers to drag a selected item from one area of the grid to another: "Drag 3 to 14."
27. Customize Notification Center Widgets
Widgets have been redesigned in macOS Big Sur and are similar to the widgets introduced in iOS 14. Open the widget gallery and you can customize them in three sizes using the (S)mall, (M)edium and (L)arge buttons.
Then just drag them from the library to add them to the Notification Center.
28. Photos Picker in Messages
There's a new Photos picker in the Messages app that's accompanied by Memoji stickers (which can be created on the Mac for the first time with the Memoji editor), an #images search for finding trending images and GIFs, and Message effects, which have been available on iOS for several years.
29. Look Around in Maps
macOS 11 adds Look Around to the Maps app, so you can explore cities in a detailed, street-level view, similar to Google Maps. Just click the Look Around icon (it's a pair of binoculars) and move the binoculars around the map to change location.
30. Use Quick Styles in Notes
Apple has added Quick Styles to the text style menu in Notes, so now you don't have to open a Font window or dig into dropdown menus to go bold, italic, underline, or strikethrough.
31. Show Battery Percentage in Menu Bar
By default, the battery percentage no longer appears next to the Battery icon in the menu bar. Fortunately, you can reinstate it.
Go to System Preferences > Dock & Menu Bar, scroll down in the sidebar, then click Battery under Other Control Center Modules and tick the Show Percentage checkbox.
32. Show Individual Note With Light Background
If you're using Dark Mode, individual notes in the Notes app can be set to have a light background for better legibility.
Just right-click inside the note and select Show Note with Light Background from the contextual dropdown menu.
33. Delete Old SDKs and Xcode Caches
You can now delete Xcode caches and older SDK versions in the storage management section of About this Mac (Apple menu -> About This Mac).
Click the Storage tab, then click the Manage... button and select Developer in the side column, and you'll be able to select which caches and unused SDKs to delete.
34. Set Profile Picture in Messages
Like iOS 14, you can now customize your profile picture in the Messages app.
Simply select Messages -> Preferences and click your profile shot. You can choose your own photo or select a Memoji, and that's how message recipients will see you if they're also using iMessage.
35. Use Folders for Voice Memos
You can now organize your voice memo recordings in the Voice Memos app using folders.
Just click the New Folder icon in the bottom-right corner of the sidebar, give your new folder a name, then click Save. You can drag and drop recordings into folders, and even select specific folders as Favorites to make them easier to access.
36. Edit Videos
The Photos app has inherited the video editing options that first debuted in iPadOS 14, so now you can go into editing mode and not only trim your video clips, but also add filters, crop, make color adjustments, change saturation and exposure intensity, change highlights, shadows, and more.
37. Accent and Highlight Colors
In Big Sur, Apple has made a subtle but significant change to the macOS interface with the addition of new Accent color and Highlight color options. In System Preferences, the General pane gives you various Accent color radio buttons and Highlight colors that together change the appearance of interface buttons, selection highlighting, and sidebar glyphs across the system.
But if you select the new multicolored radio button (first in the row of Accent color radio buttons) and the Accent Color option in the Highlight color dropdown menu, this will apply the accent and highlighting colors that developers personally chose to represent their own third-party interfaces, making each app feel that bit different.
38. Get Precipitation Weather Forecast
Apple's acquisition of Dark Sky has brought minute-by-minute hourly rain forecasting to the Weather widget.
Just click the time in the menu bar to reveal the Notification Center, click Edit Widgets, then drag the medium or large Weather widget from the widget gallery to the Notification Center.
39. APFS Time Machine Backups
With macOS Catalina and previous versions of the operating system, Time Machine was only compatible with HFS+ disks. In macOS Big Sur, however, you can now make Time Machine backups to an APFS disk.
To prepare an external disk for use as an encrypted Time Machine drive, simply select it in Disk Utility, click Erase, and choose APFS in the format options.
40. Add Captions to Photos and Videos
iOS 14 allows you to add captions to photos and videos, and these sync across all devices if iCloud Photo Library is enabled, so the "Description" field in Photos has been renamed to Captions for continuity.
41. Import Passwords and Settings From Chrome
Safari now lets you import passwords and settings from Google's Chrome browser, including your history and bookmarks.
You can find the new setting in Safari's menu bar, under File -> Import From -> Google Chrome....
42. Safari Extensions
The Mac App Store now has a Safari Extensions section in its Categories, so it's easier than ever to find Safari extensions.
When you install a new extension, Safari will ask you which websites it can access, ensuring your browsing habits to remain private. Apple has also introduced support for its WebExtensions API that makes it easier for developers to bring extensions designed for other browsers to Safari.
43. Messages Inline Replies
Inline replies is a Messages feature that's designed to make it easier to organize chats that involve multiple people and/or multiple subjects. If you're in a chat with several people and there are conversations going on that cover multiple topics, you can make it clear who you want to reply to by using an inline reply.
Simply long-click the message that you want to reply to and choose the Reply option. Inline replies will show up threaded under the original reply, and if you tap on one, you can see the entire conversation separate from the main chat conversation.
44. Maps: Save Locations as Favorites
In Maps, you can now create a selection of favorite locations for easy access from the sidebar.
Just select a location on the map, click the circular ellipsis button in the top-right corner of the location card, then select Add to Favorites.
45. Check Privacy 'Nutrition Labels' for Apps
You'll soon be able to check "nutrition labels" for third-party apps in the Mac App Store.
A new section on every app's page called App Privacy includes information from developers on what data is collected and whether that data is used to track you across other apps and websites, allowing you to make more informed decisions about the apps you download.
Apple is still collecting this information from developers, but starting in early December, developers will be required to submit it before they can have a new app or an update approved.
46. Top Hits in Notes Search
When you search notes in the Notes app using the Search field, Top Hits appear at the top of your search results and surface the most relevant results, making it easier to find what you need.
47. Podcasts "Listen Now" Feature
The Podcasts app now has a Listen Now section similar to iOS 14, making it easier to find what to play next. You can use it to resume the next episode in your queue from Up Next, discover the latest episodes in shows you follow, and browse hand-picked episode recommendations.
48. Indoor Maps
The Maps app features more detailed indoor maps than ever, taking in major airports and shopping centers around the world.
Indoor maps provide full layouts of each mall or airport location with icons for restaurants, elevators, bathrooms, shops, and other notable landmarks. Different floors are clearly marked, making it easy to navigate through unknown areas. You can use it to locate restaurants, restrooms, or store at the mall before you step out your front door.
49. New Wallpapers
Big Sur brings 40 new wallpapers to macOS, some of which may look familiar. That's because many of them take cues from wallpapers that Apple introduced in iOS 14.2.
True to the Big Sur theme, you'll find more pictures of mountains and rock formations in System Preferences -> Desktop & Screen Saver, as well as illustrated landscapes with different lighting conditions for dynamic desktops.
50. Headphones Icon on Connect
In macOS 11, when you attempt to pair your AirPods or other Apple headphones to your Mac, you'll get a notification, and an identifying icon will replace the generic volume icon in the menu bar, so you always know when you're connected. You'll also see a battery percentage for your Apple headphones in the dropdown menu.
Got any of your own favorite tips or feature changes that we haven't mentioned here? Let us know in the comments below.
Flexibits today announced the release of version 3.3 of its popular calendar app Fantastical for Mac, with key new features including full compatibility with macOS Big Sur, native support for Apple Silicon, and a new design.
Fantastical version 3.3 also supports macOS Big Sur's revamped Notification Center widgets with customizable themes and sizes, displays sunrise and sunset times in the weather forecast, provides severe weather alerts, adds support for adding Microsoft Teams meetings to events on Office 365, and more.
Many of these new features and others have also been implemented in the latest version of Fantastical for iPhone and iPad.
Fantastical is free on the Mac App Store/App Store for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, with a Fantastical Premium subscription required to unlock all features. A subscription costs $4.99 per month or $39.99 per year in the United States.
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