Imagine for a moment where someone whispers in the ears of the little smart people at Apple "Stop taking away useful things just to make it thinner and lighter". What? You can't. Neither could I. Very soon it will be so thin and light it will be totally useless.
We continued to hear a lot more about Apple's plans for its Mac lineup this week, including word 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 be appearing in a redesigned iMac this year as originally planned.
This week also saw rumors about the iPhone 13 getting a smaller notch, and Apple is just about ready to unleash a set of operating system updates including iOS 14.4 and macOS 11.2, as Release Candidate versions of all of the updates were pushed out to developers and other testers this week. Read on for details on all of these stories from the past week!
Apple Working on 'Thinner and Lighter' High-End MacBook Air With MagSafe, Could Launch in Second Half of 2021
Following up on last Friday's batch of rumors, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman came out with a new report this week sharing a few more details on Apple's product plans. Most notably, Gurman says that Apple is working on a thinner and lighter MacBook Air that could launch later this year or sometime next year. The new MacBook Air will include an updated Apple silicon chip, MagSafe charging, and perhaps a smaller body enabled by shrinking the display bezels.
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 reportedly considered making a 15-inch version of the MacBook Air to go along with the popular 13-inch size, but has opted not to move forward with the model, at least for the next generation.
iPhone 13 Rumored to Feature Smaller Notch, Sensor-Shift Camera Stabilization on All Models
Apple plans to combine various Face ID components into one module to allow for at least a slightly smaller notch on iPhone 13 models, according to DigiTimes.
The same report claims that Apple plans to extend sensor-shift optical image stabilization to the entire iPhone 13 lineup, compared to only the iPhone 12 Pro Max among current models. The technology stabilizes the camera's sensor instead of individual lenses for even greater image stabilization. Coupled 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 entire iPhone 13 lineup, while mmWave 5G is expected to become available on iPhone 13 models sold outside of the United States.
Face ID for iMac Likely Pushed Back to Second Iteration of Upcoming Redesign
Gurman also shared that while Apple has been working on developing Face ID technology for its Mac lineup and was planning to introduce it in the upcoming redesigned iMac he discussed last week, Apple has decided not to include it in the initial version.
In addition, he says that Apple has tested offering cellular connectivity for its Mac lineup, but it sounds like that's not coming soon either.
Next MacBook Pro to Feature 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.
This week's report expounds upon 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 standard to directly use the cards in their Macs without the need for a separate card reader.
iOS 14.4 Release Candidate Now Available
Apple this week seeded the Release Candidate version of iOS 14.4 and iPadOS 14.4 to developers and public beta testers. This version should mirror the final release of the software updates coming soon.
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 is unable to 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 other bug fixes. The update also enhances Handoff functionality with the HomePod mini.
Apple has also seeded Release Candidate versions of macOS 11.2, watchOS 7.3, and tvOS 14.4 for testing. All of the software updates should be released to the public in the near future.
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Article Link: Top Stories: 'Thinner and Lighter' MacBook Air, Smaller iPhone 13 Notch, iOS 14.4 Incoming
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Top Stories: 'Thinner and Lighter' MacBook Air, Smaller iPhone 13 Notch, iOS 14.4 Incoming
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I mean this has nothing to do with my arguments or original post at all.Weird, my M1 MBA came with a 30 watt charger. 13 inch MBPs come with 61 watt charger. 15 inch MBPs came with 87 watt chargers. 16 inch MBPs come with 96 watt chargers. MagSafe MacBooks came with either 45 watt, 60 watt, or 85 watt.
Identify your Mac power adapter - Apple Support
Learn which power adapter and cable comes with your Mac laptop and how to check the wattage of a connected power adapter or display.support.apple.com
And Apple has included/sold at least 5 different chargers for various iPhones/iPads ranging from 5 to 20 watts.
About Apple USB power adapters - Apple Support
Learn about Apple USB power adapters.
Just because you can use an underpowered charger to charge the lowest end MacBook doesn't mean it's going to charge as fast. Including an expensive 96 watt charger with an iPad or MBA seems like overkill. But if you want to buy one, or stick with slower charges, more power to you.
I never once said my MacBook came with the 20W brick. Of course it didn't. But it still works.
I never once asked Apple to include ANY charger with the iPhone at all.
..and charging speed has nothing to do with anything I was talking about.
Again... All they had to do was make the new MagSafe Duo Charger have a usb-c input then
mat + cable + brick would charge ALL of my apple devices. But no they had to make the input freaking lighting which forces us to use at least 2 cables. The worst part is it was total purposeful and just pure greed.
No way. The M1 MacBook Air is a fantastic little computer that should last you for years to come.
My favourite rumours on this site are actual Mac rumours - can’t wait to see some redesign leaked parts etc this year. Got my finger on the trigger for a 16”
In the specific instance of MacBook Air I also want something bigger. At least 15 inch and I am hopefully first or second in line to purchase.
That wouldnt work because a USB-C port and its internal flat blade don't allow the plug to tilt in every direction as it is accidentally pulled from the computer. A USB-C port which allows the plug to tilt would not hold a non-magnetic cable securely at which point it might as well be a dedicated MagSafe-3 port.
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A thinner 16" Air is possible because its components could be spread out horizontally.
Exactly. The issue isn't what the touchscreen shows, it's the fact that it's a touchscreen in the first place.
Darth Tulhu
macrumors 68020
Like I said, it STINKS. But I'm nose blind to it now. I agree with the fact that the notch sucks. However, it does not detract from my phone use.
All that said, I must admit that I do not use my phone like the young and power users. I don't watch videos on my phone (except in a pinch). I message very little (wife and kids mostly). I take photos of the fridge or the pantry when going shopping, or of serial numbers that are too small to see... I can't remember the last time I took a personal photo. My phone is primarily a work email/chat tool when away from my desk. I actually use roughly 10 apps, and that's it.
For me, pretty much ANY modern smartphone would do. I chose Apple (this time) because I'm a Mac and (now) iPad user. That's IT.
Because the videos I watch aren't that wide, and were I to force them to the sides then the top and bottom would be cropped.
The notch has never bothered me.
Yes, just that it is one row further away. Also, function keys are different on laptop keyboards versus separate keyboards, while all other keys are in the same position. You need to be a giant to be able to use function keys on a separate keyboard without lifting your hands. On a MacBook keyboard you may get to the keys but you are overstretching your fingers while doing it. I would like to see a video of somebody making good use of function keys while typing blind.
Anyone vi user hits keys in the function key row without looking hundreds of times a day. Why do you think they put the ESC key back?
Still waiting for my MacBook than can detach and run iPadOS and accept an Apple Pencil. Hello? Timmy? Can you hear me?
Yes, that vi. And aside from being able to use function keys (many of us map them in our Vimrc ), it REQUIRES the use of the escape key, which is the left-most key in the function key row. And the reason that Apple was forced to remove the ESC key from the touchbar and make it a separate key is that many people regularly use the ESC key, without having to look at it, but found that they could no longer do so after Apple subsumed the ESC key into the touchbar.
I just had (and got rid of) a Microsoft Laptop 3. It's good for a windows laptop but after the M1 was announced I hopped back to the MBP.
One thing I enjoyed was the charger as it had their magnet charger (which is a bit more secure than the magsafe on my older retina MBP from 2012), but also a USB-C slot on the brick. So I just needed to bring a USB-C to USB-C cable for ipad Pro, kids' Fire tablets, etc. etc., a USB-C to lightning for my iphones. Or just leave the brick at home and carry my PD block and USB-C cable because it was smaller and of course, the Surface LT3 could charge either way (and they also sell USB-C to MS magsafe connection if I wanted that)
I liked the magsafe because I have young kids who don't always pay attention (especially when chasing the dog).
That's why i still have my 2017 MBA. I don't ned more batery.. 10 hours is plenty for what i do.