With the first week of 2021 under our belt, news and rumors are starting to pick up again. This week saw details on AirTags item trackers, the Apple Car, and upcoming upgrades for most of Apple’s iPad lineup.
We also heard about Apple’s AR glasses and the iPhone 13, while getting our hands on Belkin’s new 3-in-1 MagSafe charger. Finally, the Mac App Store turned 10 years old this week, so read on for full details on all of these stories and more, and watch our video above for even more coverage!
Rumor has it that Apple will unveil AirTags, Augmented Reality device, new AirPods and more this year
The calendar has now changed to 2021 and Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has outlined his expectations for a number of new Apple devices this year, including the highly anticipated AirTags item trackers, new AirPods, the first iPads and Macs with Mini-LED displays, more Macs with Apple silicon chips, and some sort of augmented reality device.
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AirTags are expected to help users keep track of their personal belongings, such as their keys, wallets, and backpacks, and to 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 starting to prepare for the launch of the accessory.
As for the augmented reality device, Apple is rumored to be working on both an AR / VR headset and AR glasses. Last year, Apple CEO Mike Rockwell said at an internal meeting that the headset may be announced in 2021 and released in 2022, while the glasses are expected to arrive in 2023 at the earliest, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said.
Taiwanese publication DigiTimes reported this week that a so-called “Apple Glasses” prototype is about to enter the “second phase” of development as the product progresses to technical verification.
The third generation of AirPods are rumored to have an in-ear design like the AirPods Pro, but without noise cancellation.
According to Kuo, the first Macs with Mini-LED displays will include redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with Apple silicon, while also expected to include a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro with Mini-LED display. will be introduced. this year. There are rumors as to whether the 11-inch iPad Pro will also get a Mini LED display.
Apple is negotiating with Hyundai about the production of Apple Car
A new report from Bloomberg says this week that Apple is indeed aiming to launch a full-fledged car rather than just developing autonomous systems for other automakers, but Apple’s car won’t be ready for launch for five to seven years.
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Shortly after the report, word emerged that Apple was in talks with Hyundai about potential battery technology and vehicle manufacturing partnerships. Hyundai initially confirmed the talks in an official statement, but later declined to omit any specific mention of Apple, saying only that it was approached by “several companies regarding the development of autonomous electric vehicles.”
iPhone 13 Pro models would use Samsung’s LTPO technology for 120Hz display
It is still rumored that the iPhone 13 Pro models will feature low-power LTPO display technology, allowing for a long-awaited refresh rate of 120 Hz.
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A report this week from the Korean website The Elec claimed that Samsung will be the exclusive supplier of this LTPO technology for iPhone 13 Pro models. LTPO combined with a 120Hz refresh rate would result in smoother scrolling and smoother motion without consuming too much battery life.
In other rumors about this week’s iPhone 13, we’ve learned that the LiDAR scanner may be expanded to the full iPhone 13 series, rather than just the Pro models, and that the ultra-fast mmWave 5G could be available on the iPhone 13 models sold outside the United States. also.
While Apple no longer includes a charger in the box with new iPhones, the company is reportedly working on GaN-based USB-C power adapters that would be smaller, lighter, and more energy-efficient than the silicon-based power adapters it is currently being sold for release. already this year.
The next inexpensive iPad has a thinner, lighter design
Japanese blog Mac Otakara offered some possible details on several upcoming iPad models this week, including the upcoming ninth-generation 10.2-inch iPad, claiming that the device will have a thinner and lighter design while retaining both Touch ID and a Lightning connector .
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The report also claimed that the next iPad Pro will not undergo 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 could be expected in March, with camera lenses no longer protruding beyond the larger camera bump. The 12.9-inch model can also be 0.5mm thicker as part of the transition to a mini LED display.
And last but not least, Mac Otakara claimed that the next generation iPad mini will also be launched in March and the screen size will 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 thinner bezels than the current iPad mini.
Comparison: M1 MacBook Pro vs Razer Book 13
Razer released the Razer Book 13 in November, a new portable laptop that focuses on productivity rather than gaming. Since it is similar in many ways to the M1 Macs Apple recently launched, we decided to compare the Razer Book 13 to the M1-based 13-inch MacBook Pro to see how they perform.
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While the MacBook Pro wins 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 technical specifications, features and more.
Review: Belkin’s 3-in-1 Boost Charge Pro offers hassle-free 15W MagSafe charging for iPhone 12
Belkin’s new Boost Charge Pro 3-in-1 Wireless Charger with MagSafe is now available to order from Apple at a discount of $ 10 off the regular $ 150 price tag, and we’ll get our hands on the accessory beforehand to see if it’s worth it is worth 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 to get in our eyes. It works with any iPhone 12 model, the Apple Watch and AirPods, and it’s only $ 30 more expensive than Apple’s MagSafe Duo. And as an Apple-certified MagSafe accessory, the Boost Charge Pro can deliver up to 15W of power to iPhone 12 models, while unofficial magnetic wireless chargers are still limited to a maximum of 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 came 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!
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Apple announced in a press release in 2011 that the Mac App Store was “open for business.” “With more than 1,000 apps, the Mac App Store is off to a great start,” said Steve Jobs, Apple co-founder and former EXECUTIVE. “We think users will appreciate this innovative new way to discover and buy their favorite apps.”
Since its inception, the Mac App Store has received a fair amount of criticism from developers. Apple has addressed some of these complaints over the years by allowing developers to offer free trials through in-app purchases, 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 “Explore” tab that highlights popular apps and games and features Apple editorial. Another advancement in the Mac App Store came in 2020, when Apple made iPhone and iPad apps available on Macs with Apple silicon, as all devices share the Arm architecture.
All in all, Apple has certainly made progress with the Mac App Store over the past 10 years, but some developers believe that further improvements are needed if they are to embrace the storefront.
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