Apple Classifies Early 2013 21.5-inch iMac as Obsolete

Saturday August 31, 2019 6:21 AM PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple has added the Early 2013 21.5-inch iMac to its vintage and obsolete products list. The model of iMac is now classified by the company as vintage in the United States and Turkey, and obsolete in the rest of the world.


Apple defines vintage products as those that have not been manufactured for more than five but less than seven years. Macs and other products on the vintage and obsolete list are generally no longer eligible for hardware service at a Genius Bar or Apple Authorized Service Providers.

That being said, also-obsolete Late 2012 model iMacs are currently eligible for Apple's pilot program that allows for repairs to continue into the vintage period, subject to parts availability. It's not clear if the Early 2013 model 21.5-inch iMac will also come under the pilot program, but Apple has expanded it to include additional Macs and other Apple devices in the past.

The Early 2013 21.5-inch iMac was originally only available to educational institutions, taking advantage of a cheaper dual-core Intel Core i3 processor and integrated graphics to offer pricing of $1099, which was $200 less than the entry-level pricing for the consumer 2.15-inch iMac models Apple was selling at the time. The education-only iMac, which carries a model number of ME699LL/A, also included just 4GB of RAM and a 500GB hard drive.

Tags: education, vintage and obsolete
96 comments

MacRumors Giveaway: Win a Type-C Dual Multimedia Adapter From Satechi

Friday August 30, 2019 11:00 AM PDT by Juli Clover
For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Satechi to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win Type-C Dual Multimedia Adapter for Apple's USB-C Macs from Satechi.

Satechi makes a whole range of different USB-C adapters, hubs, and docks to add ports to Apple's Macs, but the Multimedia Adapter is one of the more powerful, specialized options.


Priced at $109.99, the Dual Multimedia Adapter is designed to plug into two USB-C ports on a MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, or Mac mini. It needs two USB-C ports because it offers two 4K HDMI ports, so you can connect two 4K displays.


There's one 4K 60Hz HDMI port and one 4K 30Hz HDMI port for dual display setups, but a direct HDMI to HDMI connection is required, so be aware that it won't work with VGA, Thunderbolt, or DVI displays.


Along with two 4K HDMI ports, the Multimedia Adapter features a USB-C port for charging purposes (up to 60W), a Gigabit Ethernet port, microSD and SD card slots, and two USB-A ports for USB-A accessories.


The Multimedia Adapter is made from brushed aluminum and comes in either silver or space gray to match Apple's devices. It measures in at 5 inches long and 2 inches wide, which means it's portable enough to take with you on the go if needed, but it's also perfect for desk use.

Satechi says that the Multimedia Adapter works with the 2018 and later MacBook Pro, the 2018 MacBook Air, and the 2018 Mac mini.


We have five of the Multimedia Adapters from Satechi to give away. 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 MacRumors Facebook 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.

Satechi Multimedia Adapter

The contest will run from today (August 30) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 6. The winners will be chosen randomly on September 6 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Tags: giveaway, Satechi
4 comments

Deals: Browse New Lowest-Ever Prices on Apple's iMac, MacBook Pro, iPad, and More

Thursday August 29, 2019 7:09 AM PDT by Mitchel Broussard
There are quite a few deals on Apple's biggest products going on today, including notable markdowns on the iMac, MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and iPad. Some of the sales come from Best Buy's new Labor Day sale, which will last through Monday, September 2 and includes free shipping for My Best Buy members.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Apple Watch Series 4


Best Buy's Labor Day sale event has $50 off the Apple Watch Series 4 (GPS) and $70 off models with cellular support. This means that prices start at $349.00 for 40mm Aluminum models (GPS) and $379.00 for 44mm Aluminum models (GPS), and then rise to $429.00 for 40mm Aluminum models (GPS + cellular) and $459.00 for 44mm Aluminum models (GPS + cellular).


Of course, there are a wide variety of Apple Watches on sale at Best Buy through this weekend, including Nike+ editions and models with stainless steel cases. You can browse the full list by heading to Best Buy, and then check out the full Labor Day sale by visiting this page.

iMac


For the iMac, Best Buy, Amazon, and B&H Photo all have lowest-ever prices for numerous iMac models this week.


27-inch (Early 2019)
  • 3.0GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion - $1,599.99, down from $1,799.00 ($200 off) [Best Buy]
  • 3.1GHz, 8GB RAM, 1TB Fusion - $1,799.00, down from $1,999.00 ($200 off, lowest ever) [Amazon]
  • 3.7GHz, 8GB RAM, 2TB Fusion - $2,099.00, down from $2,299.00 ($200 off, lowest ever) [Amazon]

MacBook Air


B&H Photo is discounting the MacBook Air from late 2018 by up to $300, while Amazon has discounts on the newest MacBook Air models from Mid 2019.


Late 2018
Mid 2019
  • 128GB - $999.99, down from $1,099.00 ($99 off)
  • 256GB - $1,199.99, down from $1,299.00 ($99 off)

MacBook Pro


Best Buy's Labor Day sale includes a few solid discounts on the brand-new MacBook Pro from 2019, with lowest-ever prices on both the 13-inch and 15-inch models.


13-inch (Mid 2019)
15-inch (Mid 2019)

iPad


Amazon today began discounting the 2018 9.7-inch iPad to as low as $249.00, with savings of up to $100 off original prices of the tablet. We've also rounded up a few sales on the iPad Pro below, all of which can also be found on Amazon.


9.7-inch (Early 2018)
11-inch iPad Pro (Late 2018)
12.9-inch iPad Pro (Late 2018)
  • Wi-Fi, 64GB - $799.00, down from $999.00 ($200 off, lowest ever)
  • Wi-Fi, 256GB - $949.99, down from $1,149.00 ($199 off)
  • Wi-Fi, 1TB - $1,349.99, down from $1,749.00 ($399 off, lowest ever)
  • Cellular, 64GB - $899.99, down from $1,149.00 ($249 off, lowest ever)
  • Cellular, 256GB - $1,099.99, down from $1,299.00 ($199 off)
Our full Deals Roundup has even more information on the latest Apple-related discounts and bargains.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
15 comments

macOS Catalina Tips and Tricks Worth Knowing

Wednesday August 28, 2019 12:26 PM PDT by Juli Clover
macOS Catalina, the newest version of the software that runs on the Mac, is set to come out in just a few weeks. macOS updates don't often receive as much attention as iOS updates, so there are some macOS Catalina features that may have gone under the radar.

We've covered major new additions in macOS Catalina in beta posts and our roundup, but we thought it would be worth highlighting some of the smaller changes and tweaks that are worth knowing about.

Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos.

- Notes Sharing - In the Notes app, there are new sharing options that let you share an entire folder of notes or share a note in a view-only capacity, so someone can see it but not edit it.

- Easy Multitasking - If you hover over the green button on any app, there's an option to tile it to the left or the right, which sends it to one side of the screen so you can open another app right next to it for quick multitasking. You can also use this feature to send an app fullscreen, of course.

- Signing Documents - In macOS Catalina, if you need to sign a PDF or another document, you can do so with your iPhone or iPad. Just use the Markup menu inside of Preview, choose Signature, and then create signature. You can sign right on your touchscreen after selecting an iOS device.

- One-Click Unsubscribe in Mail - There's a new feature in the Mail app that puts a handy little unsubscribe link right at the top of mailing list emails so you can get off of mailing lists quick.

- Picture in Picture - In Safari, there's an option to enter picture in picture mode by clicking on the little sound icon that's up in the navigation bar and selecting the "Picture in Picture" option. This pulls out the video window so you can watch while you browse the web. Picture in Picture is also now available inside QuickTime (just click the Picture in Picture button in the navigation controller).

- Automatic Dark Mode - macOS Mojave brought Dark Mode, but in macOS Catalina, there's a new "Auto" option that will swap between Dark Mode and Light Mode in the mornings and the evenings. You can turn it on by opening up System Preferences and going to the General tab.

- Relocated Apple ID and Device Syncing - macOS Catalina splits iTunes into Music, TV, and Podcasts, which means some iTunes features have been relocated. Device syncing is now handled through the Finder app when an iPhone or iPad is connected, and managing your Apple ID is now done in System Preferences.

- iCloud File Sharing - In iCloud Drive, there's now an option to share entire iCloud folders with another user. Just right click on a folder and choose share.

- iCloud File Deletion Tweaks - You can remove downloads from your Mac without deleting them from iCloud in Catalina. Right click on a file and select the "Remove Download" option. This will make it available only on iCloud, with a little iCloud icon denoting that it's no longer on your machine.

Have other tips and tricks worth knowing that we didn't include in the video? Let us know about them in the comments.

Related Roundup: macOS Catalina
26 comments

Apple Seeds Seventh Beta of macOS Catalina to Developers [Update: Public Beta Available]

Wednesday August 28, 2019 10:08 AM PDT by Juli Clover
Apple today seeded the seventh beta of macOS 10.15 Catalina for testing purposes, a little over one week after seeding the sixth macOS Catalina beta and over two months after the new Mac operating system update was first unveiled at the Worldwide Developers Conference.

The new macOS Catalina beta can be downloaded using the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences after installing the proper software from the Developer Center. As with all new betas, macOS Catalina should not be installed on a primary machine because it is early release software and has bugs.


macOS Catalina eliminates the iTunes app, splitting it into Music, Podcasts, and TV apps. The Apple Music and Apple Podcasts apps are available now, while the Apple TV app is coming later this year.

The three new apps offer similar functionality to iTunes, but are split up by feature. iOS device management is still available on the Mac, but it's now done through the Finder rather than iTunes.

With a new Sidecar feature, you can turn your iPad into a second display for your Mac with just the click of a button. The Apple Pencil works with Sidecar, so you can turn your iPad into a drawing tablet in apps like Photoshop and Illustrator.

Your Apple Watch can be used to approve security prompts for passwords and other info in macOS Catalina, and Macs with a T2 chip now support Activation Lock, making them more secure. There's a new Find My that brings the Find My Mac app to the Mac for the first time and even lets you track your devices when they're offline, or, in the case of notebooks, closed.

Screen Time is available on the Mac as well as iOS devices, and Project Catalyst, a new Apple initiative, will let developers easily port their iPad apps over to the Mac to increase the number of Mac apps available.

There's a new Photos interface that surfaces your best photos organized by day, month, or year, there's a new start page in Safari, Mail has new tools for muting email threads and blocking senders, and the Reminders app has been overhauled. 32-bit apps no longer work in macOS Catalina, which is something to be aware of before installing the beta.

According to Apple's release notes for beta 7, there are several fixes available. The Cloud Files section in About This Mac > Storage > Manage now accurately represents the state of files on your Mac.

The CloudKit Share URL now launches a Mac Catalyst app present on the system or takes the user to the appropriate App Store page to download it.

Deleting Podcasts using About This Mac > Storage > Manage now updates what's shown in the Podcasts app, and Screen Time > Content & Privacy > Content > Web Content > Allowed Websites Only is now enforced in the beta.

For more details on macOS Catalina, make sure to check out our macOS Catalina roundup.

Related Roundup: macOS Catalina
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Pixar Animations Studios Poster Signed by Steve Jobs to Be Auctioned Off for $25,000+ [Update: Sold]

Monday August 26, 2019 2:20 PM PDT by Juli Clover
A rare Pixar Animation Studios poster featuring "Toy Story" characters Buzz Lightyear and Woody that was signed by former Apple CEO Steve Jobs is set to be auctioned off later this week.

Jobs is said to have signed the poster sometime after 1995 when "Toy Story" debuted. The movie was Pixar's first feature length film and it was overwhelmingly successful, securing Pixar as a major animated film studio.

Poster with extra magnification of the signature at the bottom
Steve Jobs was a majority shareholder in Pixar and he was credited as an executive producer in "Toy Story." Following Pixar's acquisition by Disney, Jobs also served as a member of Disney's board of directors as the company's largest individual shareholder.

The poster measures in at 24 inches by 36 inches and is signed by Jobs at the bottom near the Pixar logo.

The bidding on the poster will start at $25,000, and it comes with a letter of authenticity. The auction will kick off on August 29.

Update: The poster ended up selling for $31,250.

Tag: Steve Jobs
27 comments

Apple CEO Tim Cook Donates Nearly $5 Million in Stock to Charity

Monday August 26, 2019 1:51 PM PDT by Juli Clover
Apple CEO Tim Cook last week donated close to $5 million in Apple stock to an unnamed charity, according to an SEC filing shared today.

Cook donated a total of 23,700 shares worth over $4.89 million at Apple's current closing price of $206.49. There's no word on which charity Cook donated to, as the SEC does not disclose that information.

In the past, Cook has said that he plans to give away the vast majority of his wealth. In a 2015 interview with Fortune, Cook said he had already started donating money quietly and had plans to create a "systematic approach to philanthropy."

Cook at this same time last year also donated $5 million in stock to charity. Following the 2019 donation, Cook continues to own 854,849 shares of Apple stock worth over $176 million.

Tag: Tim Cook
51 comments

Deals Spotlight: Save With Low Prices on Apple's 2019 iMac and MacBook Pro (Starting at $1,599)

Friday August 23, 2019 10:20 AM PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Discounts on the latest iMacs remain ongoing this month, with Amazon and B&H Photo now offering a new all-time-low price on the 27-inch Retina iMac with 8GB RAM and a 1TB Fusion Drive. This model is now priced at $1,599.00, down from $1,799.00.


These retailers are also discounting Apple's new MacBook Pro, with prices also starting at $1,599.00. Both 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Pro models are on sale, and you can find all of these markdowns in the lists below.

2019 iMac


2019 MacBook Pro


More of the latest Apple-related sales can be found in our full Deals Roundup. This week that includes ongoing discounts on the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case, Pad & Quill's new 25 percent off sitewide sale, and more.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals
16 comments

PSA: Google Calendar Experiencing Syncing Issues With Apple Calendar

Friday August 23, 2019 10:10 AM PDT by Joe Rossignol
Google and Apple calendars are not playing friendly right now.


As alerted to us by multiple MacRumors readers, there appears to be a syncing issue with Google Calendar and Apple's Calendar that began within the past 24 hours or so. The issue prevents Google Calendar entries from appearing in Apple's Calendar app on the iPhone, iPad, Mac, and other devices.


The underlying cause is unknown at this time, but anecdotal customer reports across the Google support forums and Twitter suggest that the issue is on Google's end. In any case, a fix is likely in the works.

Tag: Google Calendar
19 comments

Satechi Launches Dual-Connector Type-C Multimedia Adapter, Supporting Two 4K Displays

Thursday August 22, 2019 8:30 AM PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Satechi today announced the Type-C Dual Multimedia Adapter, which plugs into two of the MacBook Pro's USB-C ports to offer a handful of add-on ports.


In total, this includes: one 4K HDMI port at 60Hz, one 4K HDMI port at 30Hz, USB-C power delivery charging, Gigabit Ethernet, a micro/SD card reader and two USB 3.0 ports. Satechi said that this dual-connector design is patent pending.

Satechi's accessory allows users to connect their MacBook Pro to external 4K monitors, and extend the display across two screens. The company is also launching the Type-C Dual HDMI Adapter for anyone who solely wants a dual-display setup, without the extra ports.


The smaller adapter features two HDMI ports at 60Hz, supporting an extended 4K display, as well as an added USB-C charging port. The company includes a silicone cover for the dongle, which it says is recommended for added heat protection when both 4K 60Hz HDMI display ports and the power port are all being used at once.

The Type-C Dual Multimedia Adapter is available to purchase now in Silver or Space Gray for $109.99 [Amazon / Satechi], while the Type-C Dual HDMI Adapter is available for $64.99 [Amazon / Satechi]. You can enter the code DUALDISPLAY on Satechi.net or Amazon to get 20 percent off the accessories through September 3.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Tag: Satechi
36 comments

'Designed by Apple in California’ Book No Longer Available on Apple's Online US Store

Thursday August 22, 2019 2:24 AM PDT by Tim Hardwick
Apple appears to have ended U.S. online sales of its 'Designed By Apple in California' book, which chronicles 20 years of Apple product designs through 450 photographs.


A minisite dedicated to the book is still live on Apple's servers, but links to buy the book from Apple's online U.S. store have become dead ends. A search for the book on the online store and the Apple Store app also return no results.

Stocks of the hardback book have been fluctuating since around June, suggesting Apple has been reducing print numbers for some weeks. In some other countries, the book is still available through Apple's regional online stores, but stock still appears to be dwindling.

Released in 2016 in two sizes priced at $199 and $299, the publication covers product designs from the iMac in 1998 to the Apple Pencil in 2015, and "also documents the materials and techniques used by Apple’s design team over two decades of innovation." It is dedicated in the memory of former Apple CEO Steve Jobs.

A video starring Jony Ive accompanies the book on Apple's minisite. If that gets removed, the video should still be available on YouTube.

33 comments

Apple Releases Safari Technology Preview 90 With Bug Fixes and Performance Improvements

Wednesday August 21, 2019 1:19 PM PDT by Juli Clover
safaripreviewiconApple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser Apple first introduced three years ago in March 2016. Apple designed the Safari Technology Preview to test features that may be introduced into future release versions of Safari.

Safari Technology Preview release 90 includes bug fixes and performance improvements for Web API, Media, WebRTC, WebGPU, and Web Inspector.

The new Safari Technology Preview update is available for both macOS Mojave and MacOS Catalina, the newest version of the Mac operating system that was introduced at the June Worldwide Developers Conference.

The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in the Mac App Store to anyone who has downloaded the browser. Full release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.

Apple's aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download.

Tag: Safari Technology Preview
7 comments