We kept hearing a lot more this week about Apple’s plans for the Mac lineup, including reports of a high-end redesigned MacBook Air and the return of an SD card slot as part of the upcoming MacBook Pro redesign. It also sounds like Apple has been working on Face ID for Mac, but it won’t appear in a redesigned iMac this year as originally planned.
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This week there were also rumors that the iPhone 13 will get a smaller notch, and Apple is almost ready to release a series of OS updates, including iOS 14.4 and macOS 11.2, as Release Candidate releases of all updates to developers and other testers this week. Read on for details on all of these stories from the past week!
Apple is working on ‘thinner and lighter’ high-end MacBook Air with MagSafe, may launch in the second half of 2021
After last Friday’s series of rumors, BloombergMark Gurman released a new report this week with some more details about Apple’s product plans. Notably, Gurman says Apple is working on a thinner and lighter MacBook Air that could release later this year or sometime next year. The new MacBook Air will feature an updated Apple silicone chip, MagSafe charging, and perhaps a smaller case made possible by shrinking the screen bezels.
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The redesigned MacBook Air is said to be a high-end model that will be sold alongside cheaper models that continue to use the current design. Apple has reportedly considered making a 15-inch version of the MacBook Air to match the popular 13-inch size, but has chosen not to move forward with the model, at least for the next generation.
Rumor has it that iPhone 13 will include a smaller notch, sensor-shift camera stabilization on all models
Apple plans to combine several Face ID components into one module to allow for at least a slightly smaller notch on iPhone 13 models, said DigiTimes.
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The same report claims that Apple plans to expand optical image stabilization with sensor shift to the entire iPhone 13 series, compared to just the iPhone 12 Pro Max among current models. The technology stabilizes the camera’s sensor instead of individual lenses for even greater image stabilization. In combination with a larger sensor, users can expect even better photo quality.
Earlier this month, DigiTimes reported that the LiDAR scanner will also be expanded to the full iPhone 13 series, while mmWave 5G is expected to be available on iPhone 13 models sold outside the United States.
Face ID for iMac likely pushed back to second iteration of upcoming redesign
Gurman also said that while Apple has been developing Face ID technology for its Mac lineup and plans to introduce it in the upcoming refreshed iMac he reviewed last week, Apple has decided not to release it. to be included in the first version.
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Plus, he says Apple has tested offering mobile connectivity for its Mac lineup, but it sounds like that’s not coming any time soon.
Next MacBook Pro with SD card reader
Redesigned MacBook Pro models are also in the works, as reported by Bloomberg last week, and one of the tidbits from that initial report was that the new designs will include more ports than the current models.
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This week’s report addresses that claim a bit, specifically claiming that the new MacBook Pro models will include the return of an SD card slot, making it easier for photographers and other users of the popular removable storage stand to access the cards directly. in their Macs. without the need for a separate card reader.
iOS 14.4 Release Candidate now available
Apple seeded the Release Candidate version of iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 for developers and public beta testers this week. This version should reflect the latest release of the software updates coming soon.
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iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 are relatively minor updates. Apple’s release notes confirm that iOS 14.4 introduces a notification for when the camera cannot be verified as a new genuine Apple camera on the iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max, and there are several others bug fixes. The update also improves Handoff functionality with the HomePod mini.
Apple also seeded Release Candidate versions of macOS 11.2, watchOS 7.3, and tvOS 14.4 for testing. All software updates should be released to the public in the near future.
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