With the first week of 2021 now under our belt, the news and rumors are starting to grow again. This week saw details about AirTags item trackers, the Apple Car and future updates for most of the Apple iPad range.
I also heard a little about the AR glasses from Apple and iPhone 13, while getting my hands on Belkin’s new MagSafe 3-in-1 charger. Finally, the Mac App Store turned ten 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 is announced to unveil AirTags, augmented reality device, new AirPods and more this year
The calendar is now heading into 2021, and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has set 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 sorts.
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AirTags are expected to help users keep track of their personal belongings, such as keys, wallets and backpacks, and inform users on their Apple devices when they are separated from a tagged item. In 2019, MacRumors got screenshots showing that AirTags will be managed through a new Articles tab in the Find Me app. Accessory manufacturers are already beginning to prepare for the launch of the accessory.
As for the augmented reality device, it is rumored that Apple works on both an AR / VR headset and AR-only glasses. At an internal meeting last year, Apple executive Mike Rockwell said the headset could be announced in 2021 and launched in 2022, while the glasses are expected in 2023 at the earliest, according to Mark Gurman, from Bloomberg.
The Taiwanese publication DigiTimes reported this week that the so-called “Apple Glasses” prototype is about to enter the “second phase” of development as the product progresses to technical verification.
It is rumored that third-generation AirPods would have an in-ear design like AirPods Pro, but without noise cancellation.
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 been circulating that the 11-inch iPad Pro will also receive a Mini-LED display.
Apple is negotiating with Hyundai for the production of Apple cars
A new report from Bloomberg this week says that Apple really aims to launch a full-fledged car, rather than just developing standalone systems for other carmakers, but Apple’s car won’t be ready to launch for at least five to seven years.
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Shortly after the report, it was revealed that Apple was in talks with Hyundai about the potential partnership on battery technology and vehicle production. Hyundai initially confirmed the talks in an official statement, but later backtracked to omit any specific mention of Apple, saying only that it had been approached by “various companies regarding the development of autonomous electric vehicles”.
The iPhone 13 Pro models said that they will use Samsung LTPO technology for 120Hz display
Rumors continue to suggest that iPhone 13 Pro models will feature low-power LTPO display technology, allowing a long-awaited 120Hz refresh rate.
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A report this week on the Korean website Elec claimed that Samsung will be the exclusive supplier of this LTPO technology for the iPhone 13 Pro models. LTPO coupled with a 120Hz refresh rate would result in smoother scrolling and smoother movement without consuming too much battery life.
In other rumors about the iPhone 13 this week, we learned that the LiDAR scanner can be extended to the full range of the iPhone 13 rather than the Pro models, and the ultra-fast mmWave 5G may become available on iPhone 13 models sold outside the United States. also.
While Apple no longer includes a charger in the box with new iPhones, it is rumored that the company is working on GaN-based USB-C power adapters, which would be smaller, lighter and more energy efficient than the silicon-based power adapters it currently sells for launch as early as this year.
The next low-cost iPad is presented to present a slimmer and lighter design
Japanese blog Mac Otakara this week offered some potential details about some future iPad models, including the future 10.2-inch iPad of the new generation, claiming that the device will have a thinner and lighter design and will keep both Touch ID and a connector Lightning.
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The report also claims that the next iPad Pro will not show significant design changes, but expects the device to be equipped with a series A chip much faster. 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 defect. . The 12.9-inch model can also be 0.5 mm thicker as part of the transition to a Mini-LED display.
Finally, Mac Otakara claimed that the new generation iPad mini will be launched in March and will see the screen size increase from 7.9 inches to 8.4 inches. Overall, the design will be similar to the third-generation iPad Air, retaining the Home ID Touch button and Lightning port, but with thinner display frames than the current iPad.
Comparison: M1 vs. MacBook Pro Razer Book 13
Razer launched Razer Book 13 in November, a new portable laptop focused on productivity rather than gaming. Because it’s similar in many ways to Apple’s recently launched M1 Macs, we decided to compare the Razer Book 13 to the 13-inch MacBook Pro based on the M1 to see how it stacks up.
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While the MacBook Pro gains 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 offers a deeper dive into technological specifications, features and more.
Review: Belkin 3-in-1 Boost Charge Pro Provides Smooth 15W MagSafe Charging for iPhone 12
The new 3-in-1 Boost Charge Pro wireless charger with MagSafe is now available to order from Apple at a $ 10 discount from the regular $ 150 price, and ahead of time, I got my hands on the accessory to see if it’s worth the cost. .
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All in all, if you are looking for a multi-device charger for an iPhone 12, this is the one you will see in our vision. It works with any model iPhone 12, Apple Watch and irAirPods and is only $ 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, while unofficial magnetic cordless chargers are still limited to a charge of up to 7.5W.
Belkin also offers MagSafe-compatible car ventilation support for the 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 was released 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. As a result, this week marked the 10th anniversary of the Mac App Store!
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Apple announced that the Mac App Store was “open for business” in a 2011 press release. “With more than 1,000 apps, the Mac App Store got off to a great start,” said Steve Jobs, co-founder and former Apple CEO. “We think users will love this innovative new way to discover and buy their favorite apps.”
Since its inception, the Mac App Store has attracted a fair share of criticism from developers. Apple has addressed some of these complaints over the years, allowing developers to offer free in-app purchases, create app packages, distribute apps across multiple Apple platforms as a universal purchase, view analytics for Mac apps, and 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 of the Mac App Store came in 2020, when Apple made iPhone and iPad applications available on Apple silicon Macs, given that all devices have Arm architecture.
All in all, Apple has certainly made progress with the Mac App Store over the past 10 years, but some developers believe further improvements are needed to accept the showcase.
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