Apple iPhone 6 First Impressions and Camera Samples

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We’ve seen many Android and Windows Phone devices already this year, most of them have become cheaper and more capable in many ways. And now, it’s time to take a look at the product category that once redefined the term ‘smartphone’, the iPhone 6 is a product that many people like you and me have been waiting for, Apple have set a standard so high in both hardware and software design that it is difficult to overlook what the company has to offer every year. We’ve gotten ourselves a brand new (No Bends!), Space Grey 128GB iPhone 6 in our labs and it’s time to get our dirty hands on it.

Apple iPhone 6 Unboxing & First Impressions Video

Bigger Screen, All New Hardware Design – a whole new milestone

Apple isn’t a fan of huge displays on the iPhone a few years back, the company has focused a lot on one hand usability that almost every user realized that important feature. Fast forward today, smartphone makers like Samsung have gained success with its popular huge size GALAXY smartphones, so successful that it made iPhone owners wanting a bigger screen to do more, some have even jumped the bandwagon and swore that they will never go back to an iPhone. But, the iPhone 6 is going to change what you perceive, at least in our own humble opinion.

The iPhone 6 features a whole new design language, it is now flatter and slimmer, looking less metal in every way but still made of aluminum, don’t get us wrong though, the phone still feels extremely premium with the smooth and polished surface on its back cover, the corners are more rounded this time and speaker grilles looking more minimalist, it feels great to hold a bigger iPhone on hand and we certainly won’t miss the compact form factor that the iPhone used to have.

Having a 4.7-inch display on the iPhone 6 makes perfect sense for people who have smaller hands, that screen size has worked on the HTC One M7, which have got some many people loving it and it is still manageable with one hand if you have a longer thumb, thanks to the extremely reduced screen bezels, using the iPhone 6’s display isn’t one handed isn’t a chore at all and Apple has been really smart to include a Standard and Zoom mode in the display settings to allow users navigate around the Springboard with ease.

The Retina HD display on the iPhone 6 is simply stunning, producing natural colors, great viewing angles and outdoor visibility, you will simply fall in love with it at first sight, however we aren’t satisfied that Apple hasn’t stick to a standard display resolution, despite having achieved 326 PPI with the non standard 1334 x 750 resolution, playing our HD content will tend to show letterboxes, which isn’t cool.

iOS 8 has always been a simple and straightforward mobile operating system, it looks great on the iPhone 6 and works flawlessly, our unit currently runs on iOS 8.0.2 and we hadn’t face any issues until today, as usual you get to navigate around with rows of icons, have some great software features. In fact, it looks extremely good on a huge display that you won’t find it boring and outdated.

Overall, the iPhone 6 have given us an extremely great first impression of it, we were prepared to be disappointed when we received our unit, but no, the iPhone 6 has gotten us excited and wanting to find out more on how it affects our daily lives after using so many Android devices in the past few months, and we can’t wait to compare with a few devices that we have here and conclude it with a full review.

iPhone 6 Camera Samples

The iPhone 6 features an improved 8 Megapixel f/2.2 camera that takes beautiful pictures in both daylight and low light conditions, so do check out the images down below and tell us what you think in the comments.

The front facing camera ain’t too bad as well despite being a 1.2 Megapixel shooter, sometimes you don’t really need a high resolution camera to take good selfies, though we wished Apple could have included a decent 5 Megapixel shooter.


Apple iPhone 6 Review: Is this Apple’s best effort on a smartphone?

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It’s been a while since we last saw an iPhone that has a totally new design, that same block factor, one piece of screen design language has been used on so many phones that we know of today. This year, Apple announced the
iPhone 6
 and iPhone 6 Plus, both with new but the same design language, but one with a 4.7-inch display and the other a larger 5.5-inch display. The new iPhones have shifted away from the iPhone 4’s design language and introduced a design that many could start to follow for the next couple of years. The
iPhone 6
 has been with us for two weeks, we’ve enjoyed and loved every bit of it, we weren’t worried about #bendgate in our review period, as a matter of fact, the
iPhone 6
 has been a solid device that we’ve ever expect from Apple.

Apple iPhone 6 Video Review

Apple iPhone
 6 Hardware Specifications

Processor:
 Apple A8 1.3GHz 64-bit Dual-Core with M8 co-motion processor
RAM/ROM
: 1GB/up to 128GB flash
Display:
 4.7″ 1334 x 750 IPS TFT
Camera:
 8MP iSight f/2.2 (Main), 1.2MP FaceTime HD f/2.2 (Front)
Connectivity:
 WiFi 802.11 b/g/n/ac, BT 4.0 LE, NFC (only for Apple Pay)
Networks:
 TD-LTE/FDD-LTE/DC-HSPA+/GSM
Battery:
 1810 mAh

New design – rounded corners and a smoother textured surface

Similar to the previous iPhone line ups, Apple has chosen to use an aluminum unibody construction on the
iPhone 6
. The first thing that you’ll notice when picking up the phone is that how light and slim it is for a 4.7-inch device, of course this was before we experienced the Oppo R5 back a few days. The
iPhone 6
 feels extremely solid to hold and some of our friends have complained the smooth textured surface on the back this time which makes the phone slippery to hold. At 6.9mm, the phone feels extremely sleek and it’s amazing to see how Apple have managed that design mastery on the iPhone 6.

Some may feel that the iPhone 6 doesn’t have the attractive look previous iPhones used to have, however in my very own humble perspective point of view, the Space Grey iPhone 6 looks very discrete and professional, lay the phone on a flat surface with the screen turned off, it’s dark and black glass reflects that elegance everyone will love

Of course, with every iPhone purchase, you are surely to get a
case
 to protect the phone because the phone’s material obviously isn’t scratch resistant. For my
case
, I’ve got the
VIVA Sabio Flex Grafito
 casing which acts extremely well as a business card holder and kickstand for viewing videos, it can be purchased for RM109 from most Apple authorized resellers nationwide.

iOS 8 – Reliable and Snappy, Handoff works extremely well

iOS is probably the most reliable smartphone operating system that I’ve ever used, despite having an entire visual overhaul since iOS 7, many still complained the home screen for still being rows and rows of apps. I personally owned an iPhone 4 back a few years and have been an Android smartphone user after that, this time on the iPhone 6 I just find that I’m in love with the operating system once again.

The iPhone’s 4.7-inch display has a lot to do with it, it simply makes iOS look better and what you are going to experience on the phone is the smoothness and reliability of the software, every gesture that you perform on the display responses precisely. Thanks to the slim bezels of the display, one handed operation is still manageable if you have large fingers, trust us, you will never want to go back to a smaller iPhone again after using the iPhone 6.

If your fingers can’t reach the top menu of an app, there’s a Reachability feature that lets you bring them down by double tapping on the home button, the feature is enabled by default and if you need to find that option, head on to Accessibility in the Settings app.

iOS 8 looks visually the same like iOS 7, it introduces Apple Pay, Healthkit, Handoff and some other features that we won’t usually care about using in real life. While Apple Pay isn’t available here and Healthkit merely acts as a fitness tracker which most other phones are able to do so, Handoff is a groundbreaking feature on iOS 8.

If you happen to have invested into Apple’s ecosystem, such has having a Mac and
iPad
, you will enjoy making phone calls and selling iMessages over the other devices when they are connected within the same WiFi network. Handoff works extremely well in my tests, when my iPhone is laying around somewhere in the house and I happen to be using my iPad on the couch, I’ll still be able to receive my phone calls from my
iPad
 and my callers haven’t reported issues like cracking sound which could be expected over a wireless connection. Handoff only works over WiFi networks and it makes sense for Apple to implement things like this, since having it worked over a cellular won’t give you the reliability that it needs to have.

Touch ID still works great on the iPhone 6 and you can still use it to unlock your phone or purchase apps in the app store. With a bigger 4.7-inch display, this is a feature you can’t miss to use on the iPhone 6 to make life simpler.

On iOS 8, you also get to have notification widgets that lets you do some awesome stuff such as checking in a place on Swarm or viewing your stock portfolio, more apps are starting to support the feature so we really look forward to that.

Apple’s soft keyboard has also been improved with prediction feature, while it supports third party keyboards like SwiftKey and Touchpal, we sometimes still prefer Apple’s own keyboard as some keyboards may not work well on apps, switching to another keyboard is also a very weird experience, I still prefer the Android way though.

Gaming on the iPhone 6 is another great feature that is worth mentioning, with the Metal framework on iOS 8 and the Apple A8 64-bit processor, you will start finding graphics demanding games being more realistic and able to show some effects that don’t usually appear when you’re on iOS 7 or using iPhones with older A6 processors and below. We recommend you to try out Asphalt 8, one of the most graphical demanding games on mobile platforms and you will start seeing some realistic crash effects and raindrops on your phone’s display. One great thing to note as well, the iPhone 6 stays warm when it gets fully loaded, impressive for such a thin device.

iOS 8 and iPhone 6 works extremely well, though the software doesn’t introduce much goodies for a bigger screen, it has already proved so much potential for future iPhone releases, and we continue to look forward on that aspect.

All new iSight Camera – one of the best smartphone cameras

Over the years, we’ve seen superior cameras like Nokia’s Pureview, HTC’s Ultrapixel and Sony’s Exmor for Mobile. The iPhone 6’s camera is the same 8 Megapixel f/2.2 camera that we’ve come to know of from the iPhone 5S, Apple has also mentioned that the camera module on the iPhone 6 is a much improved one from its predecessor and we believed it, focus and shutter speeds are really fast, the iPhone 6 takes awesome pictures in both outdoor and low light shots, check out some of the image samples down below.

While most Android flagships today support 4K video recording, the iPhone 6 still maintains video recording at 1080p resolution which is still great, video and sound recording quality is good. While the iPhone 6 doesn’t have optical image stabilization, taking videos with it isn’t really shaky at all. View the video down below to believe it.

A 1.2 Megapixel front facing camera may sound disappointing for selfie lovers, but if you merely want to take them for social media uploads, the iPhone 6’s improved f/2.2 FaceTime HD camera still takes pretty good selfies with very minimal noise and sharp details.

Acceptable battery life and awesome network quality

Samsung
 used to teased iPhone users as wall huggers for its small battery capacity and poor battery life. I personally haven’t used an iPhone since the iPhone 4 so I can’t comment on battery lives of previous devices. On the iPhone 6, I would have to call its battery life acceptable if I were to compare with Android devices that I’ve previously reviewed, with some light to medium weight usage I could get the iPhone 6 through a day of usage but when I start becoming a heavy texting guy that day, the phone can barely last me half a day before needing a charge. Fortunately, the iPhone 6 charges extremely fast when I hook it up to a 2A power bank that I’ve always brought along, the phone takes approximately 90 minutes to fully charge from 0%.

iPhones have always been impressive on having great voice quality over phone calls, and the iPhone 6 continues to have that benefit, my callers have been reporting superb clarity on my voice and I haven’t faced any call drops over the Maxis network.

The iPhone 6 is a reliably beautiful smartphone from Apple

Apple has made one of the most wonderful products that have changed the industry, the iPhone 6 unfortunately isn’t a game changing product this time, but it introduces what Android users have always wanted on an iPhone – a bigger display. What really matters this time is the reliable software and that beautiful hardware, by introducing a larger display on the iPhone, Apple has made sure that its software is able to play well with the hardware, all thanks to the sleek form factor and the Apple A8 processor, the iPhone 6 fits well into my hands and iOS 8 is beautiful and reliable on it.

The iPhone 6 will start retailing in Malaysia on November 6 from RM2,399 for the 16GB model, RM2,749 for the 64GB model, and RM3,149 for the 128GB model.

The Good:

+ Beautiful and solid build quality

+ Retina HD display is bright with natural colors

+ Apple A8 processor shows potential in gaming

+ Touch ID works extremely well

+ Handoff on iOS 8 is kickass

+ Main and front cameras take brilliant looking pictures

+ Excellent wireless performance

The Not So Good:

– Battery life still isn’t impressive

– Limited features on iOS 8 for huge screen devices

– Phone can be slippery to hold

Based on the score card above, we give the iPhone 6 a score rating of 8.6/10.


Apple reduces the price of the iPhone 8, iPhone XR and iPad Pro by up to RM850

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The iPad Pro 1TB models are now much cheaper than before, just like the iPhone XR and iPhone 8 models due to the launch of the new iPhones and iPad.

The iPhone 8 now starts at the price of RM2,199 while the iPhone 8 Plus starts at the price of RM2,699. When these phones were just launched, they cost RM3,649 and RM4,149. As for the iPhone XR, it has now been reduced to RM2,899 for the 64GB variant and RM3,099 for the 128GB variant. Unfortunately, the bigger 256GB storage variant is no longer available.

What’s amazing about the new iPhone 11 is that it’s cheaper than when the iPhone XR was first launched. The iPhone 11 starts at the price of RM3,399 but the iPhone XR started at the price of RM3,599 — that’s RM200 cheaper! With the new pricing, the iPhone XR is now RM700 cheaper than before, so you’re definitely saving much more if you purchase it now.

Apart from the iPhones getting a price cut, the iPad Pro 1TB models also received a huge price cut. The 11-inch iPad Pro is now RM5,849 for its Wi-Fi variant and RM6,499 for its Wi-Fi + Cellular variant. That’s RM850 cheaper than their original price. The same price cut applies to the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, whereby the Wi-Fi variant costs RM6,699 and the Wi-Fi + Cellular variant costs RM7,349.

There’s no better time to purchase the iPhone XR and the iPad Pro because they’re still relatively new and has all the flagship specs that can last you for the next few years before you need to look for an upgrade again. But then if you’re willing to spend on a new iPhone, then I’d suggest the iPhone 11 that now comes with an extra ultra-wide angle lens. Plus, it has new pastel colours.

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Apple will also release an iPhone 9 Plus alongside the iPhone 9

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The outbreak is causing many events to be cancelled or postponed, including the iPhone 9 launch that is supposed to happen this month. Don’t be too disappointed though, because a hidden code in iOS 14 suggests that there will also be a larger model of the iPhone 9.

According to 9to5Mac, the iPhone 9 Plus will be using the A13 Bionic chip that is currently used in the iPhone 11 models. Both the iPhone 9 and 9 Plus will be the successors to the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus, so we should be getting Home buttons for Touch ID too.

Image credit: SlashGear

The new budget iPhones aren’t the only products Apple planned to launch; there are also new iPad Pros that will supposedly come with a 3D ToF sensor. However, with the launch delayed, there’s no telling when we’ll get our hands on these devices.

On a side note, the name iPhone 9 is still not official — the new iPhones could easily be called the iPhone SE 2 and iPhone SE 2 Plus, but that’ll be rather long names that no one would prefer.

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ipad pro
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iPhone 9 Plus


Apple iPhone and Apple Watch users accidentally triggering emergency SOS feature

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Though it’s actually very convenient of the fact that the Apple’s Emergency SOS feature gets you immediate and necessary help, it also has some downfalls to it. It quickly sends out a phone call or a text message to a local 911 dispatcher, along with your current location, but it’s an issue when it’s accidental.

There have been reports on false emergency calls, whereby apparently a user who wore the Apple Watch to sleep for its sleep tracking ability, accidentally hit the crown button which he was then awakened to the police in his room. And this has been quite a common issue for the police because they have had experience with other users who also unintentionally set off the emergency SOS trigger.

On the Apple iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus and iPhone X, all you have to do is to hold the side button and one of the volume buttons simultaneously, and a slide bar will appear for you to activate the emergency SOS feature. Once that is activated, an emergency phone call to the police would be placed, and a text message and your current location would be sent to your emergency contacts too.

In regards to the iPhone 7 or older models, you would need to rapidly hit on the side button for five times (three times in India) for the SOS protocol to appear on your screen. Then, drag the slider for the emergency call to be placed. Those with the Apple Watch equipped with the iOS 11 and WatchOS 4, can hold down the crown to set off an emergency call without having to drag the slider.

So if you’re sleeping with the Apple Watch on, probably you should consider turning off the SOS feature because, who would want to wake up in the middle of the night with the police in your room?

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apple watch
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Apple’s new iPhone SE doesn’t support Haptic Touch on lock screen

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The iPhone SE sure gained a lot of attention when it was launched with a shocking price of RM1,999. It has the same processor used by the iPhone 11 and has some camera features not seen in the older models, but it also has a limitation that nobody expected.

The 3D Touch found in the iPhone 8 has long been replaced by Haptic Touch; this means that the iPhone SE — despite having the same body as the iPhone 8 — also uses Haptic Touch instead of 3D Touch. Either way, what we get when we long press is a quick action that launches extra menus or functionality. However, this doesn’t apply to the Haptic Touch on the iPhone SE when it’s on the lock

screen/notification center.

Image credit: Engadget

Unlike the newer iPhones, when you long press on the iPhone SE when it’s on its lock screen or notification center, it doesn’t expand to preview the full content. Instead, you’ll have to swipe left and tap on “view” for that to happen. It’s not a bug either; according to a
Reddit user
, an Apple Support representative confirmed that and said there’s no software update to modify that feature.

It is confusing as to why Apple will omit the feature on the iPhone SE. Maybe it’s their way of making the iPhone SE less of a “flagship device”, but it feels unnecessary and can be an important purchasing factor — especially for those who’ve been used to quick actions on the notification center.

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Haptic Touch
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iOS 13
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Apple iPhone XR successor tipped to arrive in two new color options

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The first CAD-based
renders
 showing the upcoming 2019 iPhone XR had leaked on the web last week. A new report has now surfaced online, claiming that the iPhone XR successor will be available in two new color options.

The report from Japanese tech blog
Mac Otakara
 claims Apple will be introducing two all-new colors for the 2019 iPhone XR. Apple will be replacing the current Coral and Blue options with new Green and Lavender shades.

Mac Otakara suggests the rest of the color options will be retained, which means the 2019 iPhone XR will also be offered in Yellow, Black, White, and (PRODUCT) RED shades. The 2019 iPhone XR is expected to have an Apple A13 chipset under the hood, just like the iPhone XS and XS Max successors. As claimed by a
recent report
, the A13 is expected to enter mass production this month.

In terms of optics, the 2019 iPhone XR will have a dual-camera setup on the back, instead of the single rear camera on the current model. The second camera on the back of the phone is tipped to offer a broader zoom range. For selfies, all the three upcoming 2019 iPhones are rumored to have a 12MP camera on the front.

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Apple iPhone
iphone xr


Apple is apologetic for hacked Apple IDs in China

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Apple recently apologised to China users who had their Apple IDs stolen whereby hackers gained access to the App Store and other mobile payment systems.

Hackers could then make unauthorised purchases and also use apps like Alipay and WeChat Pay to transfer money to themselves. Apple believe that Apple users in China may have revealed their account details through phishing emails, in which hackers pretend to be from Apple, sending emails that looks official and manipulating users to believe that the emails are from Apple company.

Apple also confirmed that affected accounts were not secured with two-factor authentication, hence all Apple users should make sure they activate the two-factor authentication for increased security. Activating the two-factor authentication will require users to approve account access whenever there is a new device login, reducing the likelihood of phishing scams.

Image credit : Apple

For users who are unaware of how to turn on their two-factor authentication, this is how you do it. Go to your Settings and tap on your Apple ID. Next, select Password & Security and tap Turn On Two-Factor Authentication. Lastly, proceed by entering your phone number and verifying it.

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Apple IDs
hacked
phishing
scams
two-factor authentication


Apple is creating a watchband that enables FaceTime with Apple Watch

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Apple now has a patent granted by US Patent and Trademark Office that allows the designing of a watchband that is integrated with advanced camera technology. This means the watchband will be able to allow users to FaceTime through their Apple Watches.

According to Apple Insider, Apple plans to provide a hardware and software solution that will allow watchbands to have cameras integrated in it, where Apple plans to either fit wide angles lens into a sensor built into the band or have multiple cameras that functions simultaneously to capture multiple image date to combine it as a continuous wide angle image.

The image will the be cropped after it has its focus on the subject, and this can be done algorithmically or manually, so users will not have to aim towards their image targets or themselves precisely for FaceTime or photo shooting. By merely pointing the lens in the target’s general direction, the watch will be able to capture a wide angle image or video before cropping it to focus on what is important.

Image credit : Apple Insider

Apple also plan on applying facial recognition software in the watchband so that it can identify users’ faces and keep their faces in frames during FaceTime. To prevent the inconvenience of raising your wrist to FaceTime properly, the company also want to incorporate a software that will collect facial data and use it to correct the angle of the image, so even when you’re using FaceTime from a low angle with your Apple Watch, the software will be able to alter the perspective to look as if you’re looking straight at the camera, in addition to registering your facials expression to map it onto your altered face in real time, which is resembles Animoji and Memoji.

We’re definitely looking forward to this watchband but it’ll probably cost so much more and even then, we’re unsure whether Apple Watch will have the advanced software and hardware to be compatible with the watchband.

apple
apple watch
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watchband


Apple is cutting production on the new iPhone models

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The demand for the three newest iPhone models are not as high as expected, leading to Apple cutting the production orders for these iPhones.

Apparently the iPhone XR’s production has been reduced several times due to the lower-than-expected sales, whereas the iPhone Xs series has also been reduced but not as much as the iPhone XR. Apple’s stock also fell this month due to the lower sales number, in addition to Apple no longer revealing the device unit sales.

Despite that Apple is reducing the production of the new iPhones, many sees it as a strategy as it is better to sell fewer iPhones to earn profit than overproducing and causing loss. Similar to last year, despite the orders being cut by 20 million units, the iPhone X brought an 11% increase in revenue in the earlier earnings report this year, so Apple could be implementing the same strategy for this year’s iPhones.

We will only know how good or bad the sales have been for Apple during the first calendar quarter of 2019, but until then we are still expecting an increase in sales over the holidays, especially around Christmas.

apple
iphone
iphone xr
iphone xs
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Apple is developing an ARM-based chip for the Mac

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The next generation of Macs may come with ARM-based processors alongside Intel ones as Apple is currently developing a processor that would “take on more of the functionality” handled by the Intel processors.

Bloomberg
 is reporting that said ARM-based chip, codenamed T310, is built using ARM’s technology and will work in tandem with the Intel processors. With this chip in place, Apple is looking to shift low-power mode functionality, referred to as “Power Nap”, to the ARM chip instead. Shifting “Power Nap” to the ARM chip instead of having it run on the Intel chips will allow the Mac to conserve even more power. Besides low-power mode functionality, this ARM chip will also be connected to wireless and storage components to take on additional power management capabilities.

Apple’s intention to use ARM-based processors in its devices isn’t exactly new as the company has implemented the ARM-based T1 chip to power the new MacBook’s Touch Bar. If all goes well, Apple is expected to introduce the T310 chip into this year’s lineup of Macs. As for Intel processors, Bloomberg mentions that Apple has no plans to abandon them in the near future, so rest assured, the upcoming Macs will still be Intel-powered machines.

Source:
Bloomberg
,
MacRumors

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arm
intel
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Apple is facing an antitrust lawsuit regarding its App Store

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Apple is recently involved in an antitrust case that was started by a group of iPhone users known as Apple Inc. v. Pepper which suggests that the company violated antitrust laws by making the App Store a monopoly ecosystem.

The group of iPhone users were led by a man called Robert Pepper hence the case’s name, and if they get to sue Apple, Apple would have to pay three times the estimated damages.

Apple charges its app developers a commission of 30%, which the plaintiffs (the iPhone users) believe to lead to the app prices being pricier, and it is because Apple has the monopoly power hence they can charge the amount of commission.

According to CNBC, in most cases that come before the Supreme Court whereby one of the parties is a corporation, the corporation parties will usually triumph, and in a previous case known as Illinois Brick Co. v. Illinois, it was concluded that you can only sue for an antitrust case if you’re the direct purchaser of the products or services. In this case, because app developers are the direct party instead of Apple, the plaintiffs should not be able to sue the company.

However, the plaintiffs are stating that Apple has monopolised app distributions instead of apps, which is true because iOS users cannot purchase software from third party marketplace, unlike Android users who can purchase from third party stores besides Google Play Store.

Currently the justices are actually contemplating whether the plaintiffs can even bring the antitrust case, and even if they can, it is unsure if they can win the case. However, it was reported that the justices are leaning against Apple’s arguments on the case so if the plaintiffs can really win the case, Apple will be greatly penalised, which can greatly affect the company.

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Apple is offering Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X free for 90 days

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Own a Mac and want to try editing videos and mix some music with it? Apple is now offering 90 days free trial of Final Cut Pro X and Logic Pro X, these two are the most popular content creation apps that is widely used by professional users on Macs and cost a lot to own.

Final Cut Pro X is a full fledge video editing software that lets you create high quality videos with its set of powerful tools and features, you can take advantage of its wide variety of animated titles and transitions while learning how to expand its capabilities by adding plugins from the resources
here
.

Logic Pro X is a professional recording studio software that also lets you create music from within all thanks to a music score editor, it also has a huge built-in sound library that comes with effects, sampler instruments, loops and more to make music making a time saver.

All features will be usable during the trial period and thereafter, customers will have to purchase Final Cut Pro X at RM1299.90 and Logic Pro X at RM799.

On a side note, Apple has also updated the iWork suite – Numbers, Keynote and Pages – on iPad OS and MacOS, which the biggest update feature bringing native support for the new iPad Pro’s magic keyboard and trackpad.

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final cut pro free
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Apple is likely to continue launching more products after the announcement of AirPods Pro

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The AirPods Pro were released in quite a low-key way, and we think that that’s not the end of it. Despite the absence of a launch event, we believe that there are more Apple products coming our way.

Reports are suggesting that Apple will also announce the 2019 Mac Pro and perhaps the 16-inch MacBook Pro that has been discussed online for quite a few months. While the former is highly likely to be released soon, the latter remains an unconfirmed product that may or may not be released.

There’s also the successor to 2018’s iPad Pro but since Apple doesn’t have the habit of releasing the iPad Pro models annually, we may have to wait until March 2020 to see the next generation iPad Pro.

In the meantime, Apple has just released iOS 13.2 that offers new emojis, Deep Fusion for better camera performance and also support for the new AirPods Pro.


Apple is rumoured to bring back the iPhone 8 in March 2020

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Apple might not have given up on the iPhone 8 yet, as rumours suggest that phone might be coming back in March 2020 as a new device.

The iPhone 8 model that measures at 4.7 inches is rumoured to come with updated hardware so that Apple consumers will still have access to a cheaper alternative as the current iPhones are undeniably pricier than most phones out there.

Image credit: iMore

The revamped iPhone 8 will be mass produced up to 20 million units, and Pegatron will be the company behind this iPhone 8 production. In addition to the iPhone 8, reports stated that Apple might produce a successor to the iPhone SE called the iPhone XE.

According to Slashgear, the iPhone 8 model will come with the A13 processor and a single rear camera, in addition to having 128GB storage. Of course, all these can only be true if the reports received are genuine. Moreover, the iPhone XE is also expected to come next year, with a 4.8-inch AMOLED display and a tiny notch for FaceID — unlike its predecessor that had no notch at all.

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Apple is victorious in second German patent lawsuit against Qualcomm

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Lawsuits between the two tech giants has been going on for quite some time, but the recent case in Mannheim, Germany is a victory for Apple against Qualcomm.

The companies have been suing each other for several issues; Apple sued Qualcomm for unfair business practices while Qualcomm sued Apple for patent infringement. While Qualcomm previously won for the cases in China and Munich, Germany, Qualcomm became the losing end in the Mannheim case.

The court sided Apple this time, stating that Qualcomm’s accusation is groundless and Apple was not found guilty of any patent infringement. That being said, Qualcomm is definitely appealing to the higher court, though the company is also facing another lawsuit against US FTC in court for monopolistic business practices.

The US FTC is also backed by Intel and Apple, accusing Qualcomm of excessively charging its customers like Apple to pay for the wireless chips technology. It is believed that Qualcomm’s decision to overcharge is to maintain its powerful status and monopolise the market.

Circling back to the current issue, it is a relief for Apple that the company won the case because the company may have the legal leverage to lift off the iPhone ban imposed in Munich.

Unfortunately, Apple is still unable to do anything about the older iPhone models that are banned in China.

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Apple issues recall program for faulty three-prong wall plugs that may cause electrical shock

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If you’ve been using an Apple device that was produced from 2003 until 2010, you might want to check your power adapter wall plug; Apple has issued a statement on their website warning users of the three-prong AC plug’s possibility to cause electrical shock.

The plastic parts that are indented to fit the power adapter’s pins may break due to long usage, and the exposed metal parts could cause a shock when touched.  Apple has mentioned the UK, Singapore and Hong Kong as the three countries that use these wall plugs, but Malaysians use the same three-prong plug too, so we suggest you check yours.

Image credit: Apple

Apple is offering a free-of-charge exchange of the old plug to the new one – to identify if you have the old one or the new, unhook the power adapter from the wall plug, and if the inner portion of the module is white like its surrounding parts, then it’s the old version; while in the new ones, the affected part is grey and has text printed on it.

To get your plugs exchanged, visit any authorized Apple service provider or contact
Apple Support
. The exchange program will not void your warranty and is completely free. Stay safe folks.

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Apple issues temporary price cuts to USB Type-C dongles

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When Apple first announced the new batch of MacBook Pros, many noted that the company is dropping all legacy ports in favour of USB Type-C. This decision did not sit well with many iPhone users, as the decision to drop legacy ports means that they would not be able to charge their devices by connecting it to the laptop. In an attempt to please iPhone users, Apple has decided to temporarily drop the prices for its USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 peripherals, as well as USB-C adapters and cables.

Here’s a list of products that will be affected by this price cut:

USB-C to USB Adapter – dropped to RM49

Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) to Thunderbolt 2 Adapter – dropped to RM139

USB-C to Lightning cable (1 m) – dropped to RM89

USB-C to LIghtning cable (2 m) – dropped to RM139

USB-C VGA Multiport Adapter – dropped to RM229

USB C Digital AV Multiport Adapter – dropped to RM229

All of these prices will be in effect until the 31st of December 2016. Once 2017 rolls around, all prices will return to normal. Long story short, if you want to get yourself some adapters, you’ll want to do so before 2016 ends. Regardless, this move by Apple won’t really change much, so you can still expect many more “Apple is a dongle company” jokes to come out for the next year or so.

Source:
Apple Store
,
Wall Street Journal

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Apple updates its iWork; users can now have gradient-filled texts on Pages, Keynote and Numbers

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Those who have been using Apple’s iWork will be glad to find out that the company has recently updated iWork again, bringing new features to Pages, Numbers and also Keynote. These updates are coming for iOS users and Mac users so let’s see what they are.

Pages

There will be new ways to style your text in Pages whether you’re using your iPhone, iPad or Mac. Pages now come with new outline styles and new fills — you can fill your text with two-colour gradient, use advanced gradient fill, or even apply a gradient to an entire page or object if you like. In addition to that, you can “create books using new templates for novels”, toggle between drawing or selecting and scrolling using the Apple Pencil, and many more.

Numbers

For Numbers in Mac, users will get table editing improvements where you can add rows to filtered tables, and with the updated 128-bit calculation engine, there will be better accuracy even with equations that have result in extremely small numbers require decimals. For iOS users, there will be an improved chart editing that allows space adjustments, trendiness addition and even style changes to the individual series in chart that will such as the colours, shadows and added features.

Keynote

The new ways of styling your text with gradient is also found on both Numbers and Keynote. Keynote for Mac will have collaboration improvements so that you can edit your master slides even when you’re collaborating on a prevention. For iPhone and iPad, Keynote will have similar things and also customise their list to when it comes to bullet types; they can now custom their bullets, adjust indentation levels, change the size and colours of their bullets and more.

There are many more updates to the three applications mentioned above. For a detailed full update, do visit the following Apple support pages.

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Apple planning keyboard with keys that have little displays

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Apple isn’t shy of thinking outside the box once in a while and one of the newest innovations to emerge from the California-based company is new keyboard for Mac devices that offer configurable keys that house small displays underneath.

Image credit: US Patent and Trademark Office

A new
patent
 has been granted to Apple in the US for an unnamed keyboard design that’ll feature, at least a large upper portion of the keyboard that’ll be made up of these keys can be customized to function as any input you will it to be.

They can also be dynamic, meaning their functions change depending on the app you’re using – this’ll likely only work on Apple programs first such as Final Cut Pro, and Logic Pro X. Eventually, third-party apps should make use of the features too.

Image credit: US Patent and Trademark Office

According to GSM Arena, the keys could make use of OLED to emit images, but what materials the keys are made of is still very much a mystery. You put this together with the
Apple Touch Bar
, and you have yourself a very creator-centric Mac device.

This is just a patent for now, and we’re hoping we’ll see the idea in the flesh sooner rather than later.

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Apple keynote is happening tonight!

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Apple will be having its keynote event live tonight from its Cupertino headquarters and we are just as stoked as you to watch Apple refresh their product line and maybe launch a couple of new products and new software.

We’ve been hearing countless rumors surrounding an alleged iPhone SE, which is to come in a small form factor, sporting a tiny 4 inch display, a slightly older A8 processor and 1GB of RAM. The rumored handset is also said to not feature Apple’s 3D Touch technology on board.

We will also be expecting an iPad Air 3 in addition to Apple’s iPad lineup, since Apple’s last refresh of the Air line was in 2014. The iPad Air 3 is tipped to sport some features seen with the iPad Pro last year, namely a Smart Connector for accessories such as the Smart Keyboard and the Apple Pencil. The tablet is also rumored to have speakers at four corners like on the larger iPad Pro.

Also expected in the keynote is a refresh of the Apple Watch, rumored to be named Apple Watch 2 or Apple Watch S. Apple is said to focus more on the updated wearable’s internals, with a better processor, better battery optimization and other components in it. However, the new Apple Watch might not have a wireless radio, meaning that it can’t operate as a stand-alone device.

It is highly likely that Apple will be announcing new software – a possible iOS 10/ iOS X? More MacBooks with USB Type-C ports? Stay tuned for the keynote tonight, 1:00AM (March 22) Malaysian time. Apple’s keynote event can be watched live
here
.

Source:
Apple

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5 crazy Apple knockoffs you can get in 2020

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The thing with popular products is there will always be knockoffs to try to replicate some of their success. They offer similar designs and sometimes specs, but at a much lower price compared to the original products. Being a premium brand, it’s unsurprising that Apple also gets copied, so here are a few Apple knockoffs that resemble some of its best products.

i60 TWS Earphones

Yes, the first one we’re diving into is the
AirPods
 lookalike. We found the i60 on
Shopee
. It’s really hard to differentiate this knock-off and the AirPods because the charging case and earbuds look exactly the same. The one difference between these two is the LED indicator — the AirPods indicator is located at the front of the charging case while the i60’s indicator can only be seen when the case lid is opened.

In addition, the i60 is also claimed to have similar battery life as the AirPods — three to five hours in a single charge. Both support wireless charging and charging via Lightning cable.

Based on reviews, the audio quality on the i60 is average and cannot be compared to the AirPods. However, the i60 is priced at RM49.80 while the AirPods with wireless charging case is almost 18x more expensive at the price of RM879.

IWO 13 T500

Fancy an Apple Watch? Well, you can get one for RM78, but here’s the catch: it’s not really the Apple Watch, it just looks like one. You get most of the basic functions of a smartwatch with the
T500
 — smartphone notifications, exercise tracking, heart rate sensor and music playback controls.

The T500 is powered by a MediaTek MT2052 chipset and comes with a 2,00mah battery. It has an IP67 rating, but it’s slightly smaller than the Apple Watch 3’s display at 1.54 inches.

There are mixed reviews for this knock-off, but the majority of it praised the watch and said it has a responsive screen and functions well. It is no doubt a more affordable option compared to the RM849
Apple Watch Series 3
.

Goophone 11 Pro Max

Replace ‘i’ with ‘Goo’ and you’ll have the name of the knockoff that resembles the
iPhone 11 Pro Max
. But hey, it’s not a toy phone; the
Goophone 11 Pro Max
 is a full-functioning phone made in China that features a 5.8-inch HD display — that’s the size of the 11 Pro — and only has 1GB RAM paired with up to 16GB storage.

It also supports Face ID with its 5MP front camera and comes with a 12MP camera on its back. On its site, the phone is said to have “fake 4G LTE” which probably means that you’ll get slower connection than phones with real 4G connectivity. Last but not least, this Goophone 11 Pro Max runs on Android 5.0.
Yikes
.

The original
iPhone 11 Pro Max
 would’ve set you back at least RM5,299 while the Goophone 11 Pro Max is only $219 (RM940), but then again, the specs difference is huge.

Wireless 3.0 Portable Keyboard

Apple’s
Magic Keyboard
 will easily cost you RM379, but here’s a knock-off we found that is only priced at RM42. This brand-less keyboard looks similar to the Magic Keyboard at first glance, but those familiar with the original peripheral will notice the difference in layout and size of keys.

Just like the Magic Keyboard, this knock-off can also pair via Bluetooth but you can’t use a Lightning cable with this keyboard. However, this keyboard allows you to connect to both macOS and Windows OS computers.

Wireless Arc Mouse

Apple’s
Magic Mouse 2
 isn’t one of its most popular products, but it is still a product by Apple; naturally, there will be a knock-off version of this too. This knock-off product is very similar in terms of design, featuring a slim arc top with no physical scroll wheel.

However, the wireless arc mouse is heavier than the Magic Mouse 2 and doesn’t support connections via Bluetooth. It also supports both macOS and Windows OS while the Apple mouse only supports Mac computers.

The Magic Mouse 2 priced at RM299 is really costly as compared to this RM37 knockoff mouse.

Should you get Apple knockoffs?

There’s no doubt that knockoffs are much cheaper than the original products, but there’s an obvious reason for that – knockoffs just can’t match the top-notch quality that is tied to these original products, especially from a premium brand like Apple. In fact, most consumers tend to purchase knockoffs for the sake of giving the impression that they own expensive items, but if you’re someone who prioritises quality, then it’s better to opt for the real deals.

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Apple launches 10th Generation iPad, prices start at RM2,099

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Apple has just sent a press release to medias announcing the 10th Generation iPad, it features a new design that finally departs from the dated thick bezel design and finally matches the rest of the iPad family.

Powered by an A14 Bionic chip, the iPad 10 has a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with a resolution of 2360×1640 pixels and 500 nits of brightness, it continues to offer the standard 10-hour battery life and now charges over USB-C.

Other updated hardware includes an ultrawide 12MP front camera that’s located on the landscape edge of the display and supports Center Stage, an updated 12MP back camera that captures 4K video, WiFi 6 and 5G support.

In terms of accessory support, the iPad 10 still needs to be paired with the first gen Apple Pencil if you want to scribble on it and Apple offers a USB-C to Lightning adapter to charge it, a new Magic Keyboard Folio accessory is also introduced that attaches magnetically to the tablet and comes with a detachable keyboard.

The Magic Keyboard Folio will cost a cool RM1,249.

Apple offers the iPad 10 in four vibrant colors of Blue, Pink, Yellow and Silver, two storage options of 64GB and 256GB are available with WiFi only and WiFi + Cellular models, prices will start at RM2,099 for the base storage model and tops out at RM3,599 for the 256GB WiFi + Cellular model.

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Apple launches 14″ and 16″ MacBook Pros with notched displays

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UPDATE ON MALAYSIAN PRICING: The 14-inch MacBook Pro will start at RM8,799, and RM8,199 for education; the 16-inch model will start at RM10,799, or RM9,999 for education.

The new MacBook Pros have been
launched

and they’re everything we’ve been
speculating
.

There are two sizes to choose from – 14.2-inches, and 16.2-inches. Both models use a Liquid Retina XDR display that supports up to 120Hz refresh rate with Pro Motion. The former pushes a resolution of 3024×1964; while the latter can do 3456 x 2234 pixels.

The most striking addition to the new laptops is the inclusion of a camera notch; this is Apple’s attempt at reducing the bezel size to maximise screen real estate. The top bezel is 60% thinner than before, and the tool bar has been optimised to wrap around the notch.

The webcam that sits inside this notch offers 1080p video recording, and features a sensor that offers better low-light performance.

Moving on to the keyboard, Apple has removed the Touch Bar and has replaced it with physical function keys – a feature that the company says is preferred by professional creators.

Under the hood, Apple has introduced two new additions to the M1 family to power these laptops. You can now opt to get either MacBook Pro model with an M1 Pro or M1 Max chipset.

Both are 10-core CPUs that come with 8 high-performance cores, and 2 power-efficient cores. The M1 Pro is 70% faster than the regular M1 as it packs double the amount of transistors, and a 16-core GPU that benefits from 32GB unified memory.

The M1 Max is a whole other beast as it supports up to 64GB of unified memory, and has a 32-core GPU. It has 4x faster GPU speeds compared to the M1 and is 70% faster than the M1 Pro.

With that said, Apple claims that the MacBook Pro will still be more power efficient than the most powerful Windows laptop in the market. The 14-inch version offers up to 17 hours of battery life, while the 16-inch variant can offer 21 hours of use.
  There’s fast charging support and the laptops now return to MagSafe.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro is priced from $1,999 (about RM8,338) while the 16-inch model will cost $2,999 (about RM12,510). There’s no word on their
local

availability and pricing yet, but watch this space for more updates.

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Apple launches 3rd generation AirPods with Spatial Audio

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Apple’s ‘Unleashed’ event has kicked off with the 3rd generation AirPods, which has been long due for an upgrade and as the rumor suggests, it looks like the AirPods Pro without the rubber tips, though Apple has demonstrated in its ad that they will finally stay on your ears no matter how much you shake and dance.

Apart from the design improvements, the new AirPods features a new custom driver and a high dynamic range amplifier that offers powerful bass with crips and high frequencies, battery life has been improved with an additional hour to 6 hours on a single charge, while a 5-minute charge will get you an hour of listening time and it supports charging with the MagSafe charging puck.

Although you are missing out Active Noise Cancellation, the new AirPods still offers Spatial Audio and Dolby Atmos on Apple Music, it continues to be sweat and water resistant, and Apple claims improved audio quality for FaceTime calls with a new AAC-ELD speech codec that offers full HD voice quality.

The 3rd generation AirPods will retail at RM829 in Malaysia, Apple will continue to sell the 2nd generation AirPods and introduce AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case at the price of RM589 and RM1099 respectively.

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Apple launches 5th Gen iPad Air powered by Apple M1

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Alongside the new
iPhone SE
, Apple has also introduced the 5th Generation iPad Air that is now powered by the M1 Chip, it features an 8-Core CPU and 8-Core GPU that sports 2X faster graphics performance than its predecessor.

The new iPad Air continues to sport the same 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits brightness, notable upgrades include 5G connectivity, faster USB-C port with 10Gbps transfer speed, and a 12MP ultrawide front camera with Center Stage support.

Otherwise, most of the things on its predecessor remained unchanged, such as Touch ID for biometrics security and a main 12MP camera that takes 4K videos.

iPad Air will be available in storage models of 64GB and 256GB with color options of space grey, starlight, pink, purple, and a new blue color, it will continue to support the existing accessories such as the Apple Pencil 2, Magic Keyboard, Smart Keyboard Folio and Smart Folio covers, prices will start from RM2,699 for the WiFi model and RM3,349 for the WiFi+Cellular model.

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Apple Launches Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad, but you can only subscribe to it

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Ahead of WWDC23, Apple has unveiled Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad, making it possible for video and music creators to finally harness the power of the iPad Pro and Apple Silicon. These apps have been created new touch interfaces that provide users with the immediacy and intuitiveness of Multi-Touch, allowing them to enhance their workflows with ease.

With Final Cut Pro for iPad, video creators can record, edit, finish, and share videos all from one portable device. This new app introduces a set of powerful tools, including Live Drawing, Pro Camera Mode, and Machine Learning, that make editing and finishing videos quick and easy. Additionally, creators can choose from a vast library of professional graphics, effects, and audio to enhance their storytelling.

Logic Pro for iPad combines the power of Logic Pro with the portability of iPad, making it an all-in-one professional music creation app. Music creators can use Multi-Touch gestures to play software instruments and interact with controls, as well as navigate complex projects with pinch-to-zoom and swipe-to-scroll.

With the built-in mics on iPad, users can capture voice or instrument recordings, and with five studio-quality mics on iPad Pro, users can turn virtually any space into a recording studio. The all-new sound browser uses dynamic filtering to help music creators discover the perfect sound, and users can tap to audition any sound before loading it into a project to save time and stay in their creative flow.

Both Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad will be available on the App Store as subscriptions starting Wednesday, May 24, for RM22.90 per month or RM199 per year, with a one-month free trial. Final Cut Pro is compatible with M1 chip iPad models or later, and Logic Pro will be available on A12 Bionic chip iPad models or later. Final Cut Pro for iPad and Logic Pro for iPad require iPadOS 16.4.

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Apple launches iPad 2021 and iPad mini 2021: Priced from RM1,499

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Apple has just announced this year’s lineup of iPads, which includes a refresh of the regular iPad and portable iPad mini.

iPad 2021

The 10.2-inch tablet now packs an A13 Bionic chipset that Apple claims is 12% more powerful than the A12. On top of that, you now get a 12MP utlrawide selfie shooter that now supports Center Stage, which was seen in last year’s
 iPad Pro
 – this feature automatically tracks faces and people and adjusts the camera frame to fit all participants.

You still get a True Tone display and Touch ID; and you can also use the first-gen Apple Pencil too. There’s support for the brand’s own Smart Keyboard, and selected third-party ones. The tablet also runs on iPadOS 15 which brings features like Live Text, Auto Translate in chats, system-wide Quick Notes and more.

There’s 22W of charging via USB-C and Apple claims you get an all-day battery life span with the 2021 iPad.

The device is priced from RM1,499 (64GB) for the WiFi-only model, while the WiFi + Cellular version will cost RM2,119. The iPad 2021 comes in silver and space grey.

iPad mini 2021

This 8.3-inch tablet now packs an A15 Bionic chip, supports the second-gen Apple Pencil, a 12MP ultrawide selfie camera and Center Stage, USB-C charging, and 5G connectivity.

The Liquid Retina display now sports thinner bezels and offers up to 500 nits of max brightness, P3 wide colour gamut, an anti-reflective screen coating, and True Tone support.

The Touch ID button is now placed on the top right frame of the iPad mini, and the device runs on iPadOS 15, plus stereo audio in landscape mode.

The iPad mini 2021 is priced from RM2,299 for the WiFi-only model, and RM2,949 for the WiFi + Cellular version. You can get it with 64GB or 256GB of internal storage. The tablet comes in a host of new colours, such as pink, starlight, purple, and space grey.

Visit Apple’s website
here

to place your orders.

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Apple launches iPhone 11, 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max smartphones with new A13 Bionic chipset and square camera modules

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The new Apple iPhone 11 series is finally upon us – so much talk over the past few months has led up to this, and they’ve been quite accurate. The new iteration of the smartphone will see all three iPhone 11 models comes with a square camera module – yikes.

But as we do every year, let’s break down the specs – the iPhone 11 is a 6.1-inch device boasting a Liquid Retina HD IPS LCD display. It pushes 625 nits of brightness and features True Tone and Haptic Touch technology.

The back is reinforced with dual ion-charged glass which Apple claims is the toughest glass on a smartphone. Surrounding the glass is an aluminium frame – this time Apple says the aluminium is fully recyclable.

Here’s where things get interesting – the iPhone 11 gets a dual lens setup (12MP main and 12MP ultrawide lens). So, it seems like the company is playing the catch up game in photography equipment – but knowing Apple, we can expect the actual performance to rival the best Android devices to date. Night mode has been bolstered while depth focus adjustment has been introduced.

The selfie lens is a 12MP TrueDepth Camera and features a new slow-motion video support. You can also shoot 4K videos at 24 fps.

Under the hood is the all-new A13 Bionic chipset which Apple claims far exceeds the performance of its predecessor. In terms of storage you can get it with 64GB, 128GB or 256GB of internal storage. Although Apple hasn’t shared the specifications of the battery, they claim that the iPhone 11 lasts one hour longer than the iPhone XR. Meanwhile, an 18W fast charging power adapter will now come inside the box.

Next, let’s move on to the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max. Interestingly, the iPhone 11 Pro is a smaller 5.8-inch device, while the 11 Pro Max is a 6.5-inch mammoth. Both phones sport the new Super Retina XDR display which pushes sharper images and more vibrant colours. Both push a whopping 1,200 nits of max brightness in HDR.

Over at the back we’ll find three lenses now, the extra one is a 12MP telephoto lens that allows fo 2x optical zoom in and out, as well as up to 10x digital zoom. Like the regular iPhone 11, the ultrawide lens also works when taking videos, but with the Pro you also get the aid of the telephoto lens for zooming.

Elsewhere, the Pro and Pro Max is similar to the regular iPhone 11 – except for battery size. Apple claims that the 11 Pro lasts 4 hours more than the iPhone XS, while the 11 Pro Max lasts 5 hours longer than the XS Max.

All three models charge via lighting cable and will ship with iOS 13. The iPhone 11 is priced from RM3,399; while the iPhone 11 Pro and 11 Pro Max will be available from RM4,899 and RM5,299 respectively. All three models are available for order on September 13 and will be available in stores this September 20. Visit Apple Malaysia’s
website
 for more information on the phones.

For the full summary that gathers all the major announcements made in Apple Event 2019, check out our video down below!

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Apple launches iPhone 8 logic board replacement program

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If you are proudly rocking an iPhone 8 but seem to realize that it has frequent issues of unexpected restarts and freezes, Apple has initiated a repair program that will replace the logic board of your device, at absolutely no cost. While this issue only affects a very small percentage of iPhone 8(s) manufactured between September 2017 and March 2018, it also applies specifically to devices sold in Australia, China, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Macau, New Zealand, and the U.S.

Customers in Malaysia may not need to be worried by this issue, since our devices here are shipped from Singapore, however if you happen to purchase your iPhone 8 from one of the countries mentioned above, then you might want to check if your unit is affected at the
repair program page
. If your affected device isn’t purchased here, Apple mentions that it may actually limit the repair to the phone’s original country, you do however have 3 years to make the repair if you want to resolve the issue.

Apple recommends that you backup your iPhone before sending in a repair, as changing the logic board would most likely reset your phone and lose all of your content. For those who have bought imported units and affected, good luck with that.

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Apple launches new 7th-Gen iPad with 10.2-inch display and comes with iOS 13 out of the box

383

When Apple launched the salvo of updates to their iPad offerings a few months back, they left out one item from the line-up, the original, the OG the daddy of Apple tablets, the iPad – the regular one.

Apple have made the iPad the affordable option of their selection of tablets – it’s even cheaper than 2019’s iPad Mini. The new 7th-Gen tablet is a 10.2-inch device with Apple’s Retina Display – all iPads get.

Despite being cheapest of the lot, you still get support for Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil (albeit only the 1st generation version).

At the back, you get a familiar all-aluminium chassis – very little is done in design this time; but why fix what ain’t broken right? You’ll find a single 8MP lens for imaging purposes, while a 1.2MP selfie camera can be found on the front.

Under the hood is an A10 Fusion chip which should still give you sufficient power for some light editing while keeping the iPad snappy.

The iPad wil be the first to come with iOS 13 out of the box and with that, you get to utilize features such as a redesigned home screen with quick access widgets, as well as working on multiple files on Split View and Slide Over.

The iPad charges via lightning cable and comes with a 32.4Wh battery. As usual, you get Wi-Fi only as well as WiFi + Cellular variants of the iPad – if you get the latter, the tablet will support nano sim as well as eSIM.

It’s very much just the iPad Air but slightly smaller with a weaker chipset, but it’s also priced lower starting at RM1,499 for the 32GB WiFi variant, and RM1,849 for the 128GB WiFi variant. The iPad will be available for order now and will be in stores at the end of the month.

For the full summary that gathers all the major announcements made in Apple Event 2019, check out our video down below!

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Apple launches (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition iPhone 8 and 8 Plus

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The iPhone 8 may have been overshadowed by the more expensive iPhone X, however Apple isn’t going to make you forget that as it has introduced the (PRODUCT)RED Special Edition of the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, coated in a stunning red finish and aluminum frame. Unlike the (PRODUCT)RED iPhone 7, the iPhone 8 and 8 Plus will feature a black glass frame on the front, which compliments the red finishing perfectly.

When you buy the special edition iPhone 8, a portion of proceeds from the purchase will go directly to GLobal Fund HIV/AIDS that provide testing, counseling, treatment and prevention programs. Apple has been a (PRODUCT)RED donor for 11 years, and has since donated more than $160 million to the Global Fund by selling special edition (PRODUCT)RED products.

Apart from launching the special red edition iPhone 8 and 8 Plus, Apple has also introduced a new (PRODUCT)RED iPhone X Leather Folio, which is crafted from specially tanned and finished European leather. The iPhone 8 and 8 Plus (PROUDCT)RED Special Edition will be available in storage options of 64GB and 256GB, customers can purchase them starting April 10th for the same price as the standard iPhone 8 and 8 Plus.

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Apple launches third generation iPhone SE with A15 Bionic

716

Apple has taken the wraps off the third generation iPhone SE – yep, it is simply called the iPhone SE, not SE+ or SE 3.

Powered by the A15 Bionic chip, the new iPhone SE is now 26X faster than the iPhone 8 and uses the the same glass and aluminum design as its predecessor, Apple also made the iPhone SE more durable with the Ceramic Shield for the 4.7-inch display, which is now more resistant to drop and bumps.

With 5G onboard, the iPhone SE is also expected to have improved battery life which Apple attributes to the efficiency of the A15 Bionic chip, and camera wise, you are also getting an improved 12MP main sensor that now supports Photographic Styles, Smart HDR 4 and Deep Fusion, though Night Mode is still sadly out of the picture here.

The iPhone SE will be available for pre-order on March 18th and will be available in Midnight, Starlight and (PRODUCT)RED, it starts at RM2,099 with storage options of 64GB, 128GB and 256GB.

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Apple leaks an image of the AirPower via the back of the new AirPods box

370

Yes, yes, we’ve wrote about the AirPower for the millionth time now, but Apple really seemed to have confirmed the release of AirPower with its recent stunt of putting a printed picture of the AirPower at the back of the AirPods box.

The wireless charging pad has got to be one of the longest Apple product we’ve waited for, and now with Apple’s not-so-subtle hint, it’s possible that the AirPower could really be launched within months or even weeks.

It has been a rollercoaster ride with the AirPower, one moment it’s rumoured to be delayed due to engineering issues, the next moment it’s said to be in mass production and will arrive in February, which is already long overdue.

Previously the AirPower was mentioned in the user guides of the iPhone Xs and Xs Max, now it’s shown in illustration — albeit just an outline — at the back of the new AirPods box, meaning that the company did not forget about the wireless charging pad, and still has plans on launching it.

But let’s discuss what’s to expect of the AirPower. Reports suggested that the AirPower will be able to charge iPhones at a minimum a 15W, twice the amount compared to third-party Qi chargers. In addition, it will be able to charge multiple devices at once, and in this case, it’s clear that the AirPods Wireless Charging Case will be included.

To further prove that the AirPower will be launching soon,
9to5Mac
 also discovered that there’s a hidden AirPower image that was hidden in the source code of the official site. It has since been removed, but our hopes just got higher.

It’s expected to come at a premium price, but no doubt Apple hardcore fans will be more than willing to spend that money just to wirelessly charge their other Apple devices.

airpods
airpower
apple
iphone


[UPDATE] Apple might have to switch from Lightning to USB-C due to EU’s proposal

645

The members of the European Parliament recently proposed a single universal charging method to reduce electronic waste. If the European regulators vote for the proposal to move forward, then we might be looking at iPhones with USB-C ports.

A decade ago, there were many different kinds of chargers in the market but it was reduced to the three we know now — USB-C, microUSB, and Lightning. Now, the EU wants to keep the USB-C port only and remove the other two.

Apple will be in trouble if the proposal is approved, mainly because it will have to adopt USB-C just like what it did with the 2018’s iPad Pro. However, there is another way; Apple could ditch wired charging altogether. The newer iPhone models already come with wireless charging so it’s possible for Apple to just remove the charging port in its upcoming iPhones.

Apple will not be the only affected brand. There are other smartphone manufacturers like OPPO, vivo and HUAWEI that are still using microUSB ports in their phones and they’ll also have to do something about those phones when the proposal is approved.

Update:
 EU’s proposal is regarding wall chargers instead of connector ports, meaning that they’re pushing towards one type of wall charger. In this case, Apple is already in the safe as the company has already produced USB-C to Lightning cable and the newer MacBooks are also charging via USB-C. This also means that Apple can keep the Lightning cable and port.

apple
iphone
lightning
microUSB
usb-c


Apple looking to improve Apple Maps by using drones

362

Apple wants to improve its Maps application, and it may be doing so via a new piece of technology: drones.

Bloomberg has reported that the Cupertino-based company is assembling a team of robotics and data-collection experts that will use drones to capture and update map information faster. The use of drones to improve on Apple Maps isn’t exactly farfetched either as Bloomberg found a 2015 document from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) of the U.S. that gives Apple a license to “operate an unmanned aircraft system to conduct data collection, photography and videography.” This same document also reveals that Apple intends to acquire drones from DJI and Aibotix for this specific purpose.

The decision to use drones to improve upon the Maps application is one made with concern over time. Apple believes that using a fleet of drones to gather mapping data would be faster than relying upon a fleet of vans with sensors. As locations tend to change over time, the app needs to be updated with mistakes fixed as soon as possible.

Besides using drones to improve map data, Apple is looking to add an indoor maps feature and an indoor positioning system that would take advantage of the iPhone’s sensors to provide the user with location of where they are in the building. To do so, Apple has acquired a startup called Indoor.io to realise its indoor mapping ambitions.

Source:
Bloomberg

apple
applemaps
drones
indoorio
indoormapping
mapping


Apple looks into inaccuracy in battery data display on iPhone 6s and 6s Plus

352

It is confirmed that Apple is currently investigating an issue regarding a bug that causes an incorrect display of the battery percentage of the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus. The bug is stated to affect devices in which the time and date is being set manually or during the switching of timezones.

Apple recommends that affected iPhone users restart their devices, before navigating to “Date & Time” in “General” under “Settings” to toggle “Set Automatically” on.

This workaround should help “solve” this bug. However, if users encounter the same issue again, or if the bug appears without changing the time or date, users are recommended by Apple to contact the company’s support team.

We are keeping our fingers crossed, hoping that Apple rolls out an iOS update to fix the aforementioned bug. However, there hasn’t been any specific date as to when this issue will be fixed. So keep your eyes peeled for updates.

Source:
Apple
, via
TechnoBuffalo

apple
battery
bug
ios
iphone


Apple looks to simplify royalty rates for music streaming sites

384

It seems that the ongoing fight between
Apple and Spotify
 may affect other music streaming sites as well. The New York Times has reported that Apple has proposed simplifying the complex way that songwriting royalties are paid when in comes to on-demand streaming services.

According to the report, Apple’s proposal, made with the Copyright Royalty Board, would see streaming services pay 9.1 cents in songwriting royalties for every 100 times a song is played. This proposal would replace the
current federal rules
 for streaming rates, which has been broken down to different types of services.

While this proposal would indeed simplify the whole royalties problem that songwriters have with these types of services, it would also cause paid subscription services to cost quite a bit more than the current rates. Besides that, this proposal would affect all subscription-based music streaming services, including Spotify, Tidal, Google Music, Amazon, and other services.

Don’t get too alarmed yet though, as Apple’s filing was made as part of a proceeding by the Copyright Royalty Board to set statutory rates for downloads and interactive streaming services. Spotify, Google, Pandora, Amazon and the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) are all expected to file their proposals by Friday. Once the Copyright Royalty Board finalizes the proposal though, said proposal would be put into effect from 2018 to 2022.

Source:
The New York Times

app
apple
music
royalties
spotify
streaming


Apple lowers 21.5-inch iMac price to RM3499

292

Apple’s iMacs are amazing All-In-One computers with its extremely thin form factor and high resolution display, one problem of these crazily sexy devices is that they are way too overpriced if you compare to Windows based AIO computers with similar specifications. Apple today introduced a new mid-2014 model to its 21.5-inch iMac desktop, which features a dual core Intel Core i5 chip clocked at 1.4GHz, 8GB RAM, 500GB Hard Drive and Intel’s HD 5000 graphics. Apple has been obviously facing stiff competition from PC makers such as Lenovo, ASUS and
Dell
, which have been coming out with AIO desktops with more flexible form factors and not sacrificing in hardware performance. If you’ve been thinking of getting an iMac of your own and don’t really mind the performance cut, this could be a good time to consider one. Head on over to the source link below.

Source:
Apple


New Apple M1 MacBooks appears to have huge memory leaks & sudden crashes

883

The new apple
M1 Pro and M1 Max MacBooks

had Apple users all over the world impressed with the efficiency and power that came from their newest flagship laptops. Many were satisfied with the hardware of the device and had no issues for a little while. But now, issues are cropping up with the new macOS Monterey – the latest problem now comes by way of memory leaks.

Image credit “@GregoryMcFadden”

As reported by
Lowyat
, one of user by the name of  Gregory McFadden had tweeted that his new laptop was using significant amounts of RAM just for the control center. Other users then responded to the tweet saying that they had the same issues as well. One reply showed how they were reading a document on safari and a warning sign appeared saying that their Mac ran out of RAM.

Image credit “@_Cpriano”

This was not Apple’s first run-in with issues either. Several users on the
MacRumours
forum had also complained that their MacBooks crashed as soon as they played a 4K HDR video on YouTube. Since then, Apple has released updates to fix these issues.

Source 1
 ,
Source 2

2021 MacBook Pro
apple
crash
issues
M1 MacBook
MEMORY LEAK
ram


New 16-inch MacBook Pro and 10.2-inch iPad reported to be announced this October

361

It’s been a good year for Apple, for the most part – the introduction of the 2019 iPad Air and iPad Mini tablets have been a success; while the announcements of upcoming products like the Mac Pro as well as iOS 13 and iPad OS updates during the WWDC conference got people around the world talking.

The next in line to be expected from the American company would be the iPhone – but reports suggest that two other devices are set to see the light of day before any smartphone from Apple. According to BGR, we can expect to see a new MacBook Pro and iPad (the regular one), hit the market sometime this October.

Considering the new iPhone is expected to come this November, fans can remedy some of the excitement with what’s to come this Fall.

The new MacBook Pro in question is said to be a 16-inch variant – the current sports a smaller 13-inch or 15-inch display. It is also expect to come with a Touch Bar like the current gen version, but with more space on the chassis, we could see a thicker and longer panel, which should add to productivity.

Moving on, after refreshing the iPad Mini and the iPad Air, some may have thought that Apple would be doing away with the regular iPad. But the report says that a 10.2-inch version of the device is slated to arrive too – just 0.3-inches shy of the iPad Air.

The tablet is also reported to be in mass production this month, so it’s exciting times ahead if you’ve been eyeing a new Apple device.

apple
iapd air
ios
ipad
iPad mini
iphone
mac
macbook pro
wwdc


Apple to release new Mac with a custom ARM chip in 2021

412

Apple is reported to be developing its own custom 5nm A14 chip for its Mac in 2021; this could mean that Apple will no longer need to depend on Intel in a few year’s time.

The Cupertino tech giant plans to equip its Mac in 2021 with a 12-core A series processor featuring eight high-performance cores and four efficiency cores. In Bloomberg’s report, the 12-core chip will also significantly faster as compared to the A13 chip that is in the new iPhones and iPads.

With the new customized chipsets, Apple’s ecosystem might just grow stronger as they gain more control over their products. It’s possible that the company is transitioning from Intel’s processors to its own because Intel’s upgrades from one year to another has been minimal and did not reach Apple’s expectations.

For comparison purposes, the current iPad Pro has four high-performance cores and four efficiency cores and it has already surpassed the Microsoft Surface Pro X in Geekbench’s
test
. The new chipset should be included in an entry-level MacBook, perhaps a 12-inch MacBook that might be on its way.

5nm process
apple
ARM chip
intel
ipad pro
mac
MacBooko


Apple Mac Pro can now be configured with AMD Radeon Pro W6800X and W6900X GPUs

1.1K

Apple has just
launched

three new GPU configurations for the third-generation Mac Pro – breathing new life into the workstation that was launched in 2019.

Your options in terms of configurations now come by way of the Radeon Pro W6800X MPX Module, or a Radeon Pro W6800X Duo MPX module; for something beefier, you can also opt for the Radeon Pro W6900X MPX module instead.

The Radeon Pro W6800X with 32GB of GDDR6 memory will set you back an additional RM9,600; while the Duo variant will cost you RM18,400. With two of these Duo cards equipped in your Mac Pro, you’re able to get 60 teraflops of graphics performance along with up to 128GB of memory.

Fabric Link allows the Duo variant to access higher bandwidths of 84GB/s when two GPUs are combined like in the Duo configuration, which further improves multi-GPU performance.

Moving on to the Radeon Pro W6900X, it comes with 32GB of GDDR6 memory, and it’ll set you back a whopping RM22,400, or you can also opt two units of the card installed, which will cost a mammoth RM46,400.

The GPU offers up to 22.2 teraflops of single-precision computing, or up to 44.4 teraflops of half-precision computing.

These new GPUs will replace the older AMD Vega II and Vega II Duo configurations, but you can still purchase them as standalone pieces on the
store

should you already own a Mac Pro.

amd
apple
mac pro
radeon pro w6800X
radeon pro w900X


Apple MacBook Air 2020 launched with new Magic Keyboard and 10th-Gen Intel Core CPUs

539

Besides announcing the new iPad Pro, Apple has also launched the refreshed MacBook Air. It’s a 13.3-inch device that’s
aluminium
 all around.

Image credit: Apple

The Retina Display screen here packs a resolution of 2,560×1,600 and outputs over 4 million pixels. It’s also equipped with True Tone technology as we’ve seen before which adjusts the temperature of the display according to your environment.

Under the hood, you get a 10
th
-Gen quad-core Intel Core-i7 CPU clocked at 1.2GHz. It apparently delivers 80% more graphics performance compared to its predecessor thanks to the Intel Iris Plus Graphics integrated GPU. There are lower-end variants too packed with either an Intel Core-i5 or Core-i3 depending on your needs.

For storage, your options include a 256GB or 512GB PCIe SSD, which you can upgrade further up to 2TB of storage. 8GB LPDDR4X memory comes as standard and is upgradeable to 16GB.

Image credit: Apple

The new MacBook Air is improved also with the Magic Keyboard, which was present in last year’s 16” MacBook Pro. These use the more reliable scissor switch with a 1mm travel distance. The trackpad is also 20% larger now too.

In terms of I/
Os
 you get two Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports which you can use for charging and connecting devices, which includes a 6K external monitor.

Image credit: Apple

The iPad Air ships with macOS Catalina and comes with a 30W USB-C charger in the box. Three
colours
 are available – Space Gray, Gold, and Silver. The Core-i3 variant is priced from RM4,399; while the Core-i5 model is priced from RM5,599. Upon
odering
, you can choose to configure your
macBook
 with the aforementioned Core-i7 chip. If you’re a newly-registered college/university student, you’re also eligible for a discounted price of RM3,959 for the base variant.

8gb ram
apple
intel
intel core i7
ios
macbook air
macbook pro
macOS Catalina
Magic Keyboard
pcie ssd
retina display


Apple reportedly ready ditch unreliable butterfly switch keyboards in upcoming MacBook laptops

1.1K

How have we gotten to a point where when a company changes its laptop keyboard switches, the world talks about it? That’s what’s happening now as reports suggest hat Apple will be switching ou (pun very much intended) their butterfly switches in their MacBooks for the more conventional scissor switch.

This is a big deal to some extent, because Apple’s butterfly switches are known to be unreliable – many issues such as non-registering keys, stuck keys, and double-registering keys, have been reported since its inception in 2015.

Image credit: Geek Hack

Part the reason for the constant issues is, according to
Wall Street Journal
, due to the overall size of the keys. Regular scissor switches were thicker, so Apple designed the butterfly switch to fit into a thinner chassis – but with less space, meaning even the most minute of dust particles could get in the dome membrane and be stuck, causing the problems.

So at this point you’re talking about RM5,000 laptops that have keyboards that could fail on you at any time because of some dust – let that sink in. And as it goes for Apple devices, having your keyboard it fixed it was so expensive – so Apple had to carry out a free repair program that’s applicable to a list of models, only up to four years after purchase.  as Since 2015, Apple had tried to improve the switches but the problems were never truly solved.

According to Analyst Kuo Ming-Chi, Apple will finally ditch butterfly switches and implement fibre glass-reinforced scissor switches in the new MacBook Ait this year and other MacBooks hereafter. The scissor switches should provide better reliability, but because it’s thicker, it remains to be seen how it affects the size of the new MacBooks.

apple
butterfly switch
keyboard
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switches


Apple may introduce MacBooks with mini-LED displays next year

424

Have you
heard
 of Apple’s new
M1
 chipset? Of course you have –
Apple
fans have been raving about it since it was announced last month; well, they’re going to have more to shout about next year too as reports say Apple will be introducing two MacBook laptops that use mini-LED display technology.

Image credit: Apple

Reliable tech analyst and
leakster
 Ming-Chi Kuo predicts two MacBook Pros to feature mini-LED panels, which promise better dynamic range and contrast. The smaller LED diodes can better populate the back panel; and with local dimming, the panel can produce darker blacks, retain details in brighter areas, and offer better
colour
 saturation.

This isn’t just great for media consumption, but important for creatives too who need a display that shows accurate
colours
.

On another note, Kuo also predicts that Apple will introduce two or three new chargers next year too – probably to cater to the iPhone 12’s lack of its own adapter out of the box. People who want to make use of the iPhone 12’s fast charging capabilities, or people who are new to the iPhone ecosystem will likely have to fork out
exorbitant amounts
 on these chargers, because…Apple.

In any case, it’ll be interesting if Kuo is right and if indeed Apple will introduce these innovations next year.

apple
iPhone 12
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Apple reported to test macOS on iPhone and add new docking feature

384

Apple has been testing the A12Z Bionic chip in a Mac mini, but now there are rumours suggesting that the company is testing the
iPhone
 to run on macOS.

macOS on iPhone?

iPhone with MacOS

Apple working on Linda/Dex type of prototypes
 the software work on it is insane
 i cant even tell you how excited they are about the whole thing 🤯

im hearing

— Mauri QHD (@MauriQHD)
June 26, 2020

According to leaker
MauriQHD
, Apple has been testing out
macOS
 on an iPhone and is testing out a prototype that resembles Samsung’s DeX technology that allows smartphones to be docked to a laptop/desktop screen for a desktop-like experience.

iPadOS and macOs on iPad

Apple is clearly not the first to try this concept; Razer tried to do the same with
Project Linda
. However, Apple is reported to be trying the same concept with its iPads too, and that has been happening for years. MauriQHD said he has “100% confirmation now”, so we can be sure that there will be a dock-able iPad down the road.

We don’t know if the
iPhone
 or the iPad will be the first to come with docking features, but it’ll be interesting when we finally get to checkout macOS on an iPhone’s screen.

ipad
ipados
iphone
macos


Apple’s new Magic Keyboard arrives in Malaysia from RM1,349

476

The iPad Pro was made available in Malaysia just last week from RM3,499 but if you’re looking for the whole package, well, the Magic Keyboard is also available now.

The Magic Keyboard is different from the Smart Folio Keyboard; one, it has adjustable viewing angles of up to 130 degrees and two, it has a trackpad. In addition, the trackpad also supports Multi-Touch gestures for more efficient navigation and it features USB-C pass-through charging. This means that you’ll be able to charge the iPad Pro via the Magic Keyboard while keeping the USB-C port on the iPad Pro free for other accessories or devices.

Image credit: Apple

Luckily, the Magic Keyboard is also compatible with the third-generation iPad Pro so it isn’t a must for you to get the latest one. Apple also offers different language options for the Magic Keyboard to accommodate more users.

Depending on the size of your iPad Pro, the Magic Keyboard is either priced at RM1,349 or RM1,549. It comes in a single colour and can already be ordered online. If you order now, it should be delivered to you the following week.

apple
ipad pro
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Magic Keyboard


Apple MagSafe Duo Charger is now available at RM589

288

The MagSafe Duo Charger that can charge both your iPhone and Apple Watch is now available to Malaysians via its official site.

MagSafe Duo Charger works with any Qi-compatible devices

At a hefty price of RM589, the Apple charger can charge any Qi-compatible device, but only the iPhone 12 which has MagSafe can magnetically mount to the pad. The other side of the charging pad is slightly smaller to match the size of the Apple Watch and its centre can be brought out from the pad so that those with loop bands can charge their watches without removing the straps.

You’re still not getting a charging brick

However, just like the new iPhones, you won’t be getting a charging brick when you purchase the MagSafe Duo Charger. You’ll get a USB-C to Lightning cable, meaning that you’ll need to buy a USB-C charger if you don’t own one. It’ll also have to be at least 20W if you want 11W wireless charging, but your best option is to get a 27W or higher USB-C charger if you want to enjoy 14W of fast wireless charging.

The
MagSafe Duo Charger
 is priced at RM589, but if you have no need for two charging spots, you can also get the MagSafe Charger at RM179. As for the charging brick, you can also purchase Apple’s 20W USB-C power adapter at RM99 or the
30W version
 at RM189.


Apple Malaysia announces pre-order and release dates for the iPhone 8

292

Looking to get the new iPhone 8 here in Malaysia? Well, wait no more as Apple Malaysia has officially announced the date that the new smartphone will be releasing, 20 October 2017. Apple has posted up the dates today that indicated when the phone will be released and also mentioned that pre-orders will start on 13 October 2017.

The new iPhone 8 will bring many key features that users have been looking forward to, wireless charging using the Qi standard is finally available for the first time on an iPhone. A nice change to follow the standard wireless charging that most phones are using, rather than using their own proprietary standard which Apple is renowned for. For picture taking lovers, Apple has included a wide range of features like the Portrait Lighting where you can change the lighting of a portrait even after the picture is taken giving more of a photo studio feel and the new A11 bionic chip which is a 70% improvement over the A10 chip seen in previous generation devices.

The iPhone 8 is a hardware and software upgrade for those of you that want to change from your previous iPhones or new users that want to jump into the Apple ecosystem. As we mentioned before, the iPhone 8 will cost RM3,649 and RM4,399 for the 64GB and 256GB variants respectively, and the iPhone 8 Plus will cost RM4,149 and RM4,899 for the 64GB and 256GB variants respectively. However, there is no indicator from Apple about the release date of the iPhone X here in Malaysia and for those of you that want to get the highest end iPhone would have to wait awhile more until November rolls around.

8
apple
iphone
plus
pre-order
release


Apple Malaysia online store starts taking orders of iPhone SE

293

If you are dying to buy the same-same but different iPhone SE officially, the Apple Malaysia online store will now allow you to place your order for the new smaller iPhone, available in 16GB and 64GB storage options and color options of Silver, Space Gray, Gold and Rose Gold, the iPhone SE retails from RM1,949 up to RM2,449, delivery will commence from 16th May 2016 onwards so it isn’t too long if you can wait. The iPhone SE may be a disappointment in some ways, but none could deny that this is the most capable and powerful 4-inch smartphone, it shares some similar hardware internals as the iPhone 6s such as the Apple A9 processor, 2GB of DDR4 RAM, 12-megapixel iSight camera and sports a larger battery capacity than the iPhone 5s at 1624mAh.

As you may know, the phone isn’t perfect as well as there are some hardware trade offs, such as a low resolution 1.2-megapixel f/2.4 front camera, a slower but still capable Touch ID fingerprint sensor, and the same screen resolution as the iPhone 5s, you might even find the screen cramped for your fingers as many apps are already developed properly for the iPhone 6’s display size. Still, if you are a person who insists on one handed usability and don’t want to move on to a bigger smartphone, the iPhone SE is definitely worth considering for its capabilities.

apple
applemalaysia
iphone
iphonese


Apple Maps car spotted all around the world, street view in the making?

550

Recently, sightings of an Apple car can be seen all over the world, the car looks like it is equipped with a camera and GPS device on the top of the car, hinting that street view might be coming to Apple Maps. The car is just a simple white coloured vehicle with the words Apple Maps and website address on it.

The cameras on the car are three wide-angle cameras with one in the centre and two more pointed at 45 degrees angles towards the street level and the centre camera is pointing up at the roofs with additional cameras at the front and back. What is even more interesting about this car is the Velodyne LIDAR sensors which are used in self-driving cars. These sensors have a 3D depth-sensing technology that bounces infrared light off objects giving the exact distance of the car in front and at the back giving you a true depth view of the area, something Google does not have.

With all this tech moving around on four wheels, this has the potential to make Apple Maps into a virtual 3D platform, it is already possible to use a VR headsets with the iMac so could this be just a matter of time before we will be able to walk around our streets using VR?

apple
car
gps
ios
lidar
maps
navigation


Apple may be in talks with Sonder for its dynamic keyboard

370

We’ve heard that Apple is looking to
add an OLED screen
 above the keyboard for its upcoming refresh of the MacBook Pro. However, it appears that Apple may be looking to up its keyboard game even further as the company has talked to Sonder Keyboard regarding Sonder’s dynamic keyboard technology.

According to 9to5Mac, Apple’s procurement board has recently held discussions with the Australia startup. Key to this discussion is Sonder’s keyboard, a keyboard that utilizes E Ink technology to offer dynamic, contextual keys that can be customized to a user’s preference. Sonder has confirmed that discussions with Apple did indeed take place, and that Foxconn International Holdings and E Ink Holdings are assisting in the negotiations.

Sonder didn’t get into specifics as to what the company has discussed with Apple, but it is not too much of a stretch to say that Apple may be looking to integrate Sonder’s dynamic keyboard technology into their own products. With the new MacBook Pros supposedly coming out very soon, it is unlikely that this tech will be available by default on Apple’s new laptops. That said, keyboard peripherals for the MacBook may be a very real possibility. Failing that, there is always the chance that this tech will make its way into future MacBooks.

Even if the upcoming MacBook Pros won’t sport Sonder’s E Ink keyboards, the startup has mentioned that it is “currently closing B2B procurement contracts with three 3rd party laptop companies to integrate out technology into their products.” Simply put, E Ink keyboards on laptops will be coming to the market soon.

Source:
9to5Mac

apple
eink
keyboard
macbook
sonder


Apple may be releasing a refreshed MacBook Pro with better specifications later this year

279

The new MacBook Pro reveals have not gone as smoothly as Apple would have liked judging from the amount of criticism many users have thrown at Apple’s latest laptop refresh. One of those criticisms stems from the fact that the MacBook Pro itself can be rather underpowered thanks to its relatively dated specifications. However, if rumours are correct, the performance part of the MacBook Pro will be remedied this year as Apple is planning a performance update for this year’s MacBook Pro update.

According to a report by AppleInsider, KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that Apple’s 2017 laptop line will see them adopt Intel’s Kaby Lake processors. Kuo believes that the upcoming 15″ MacBook Pro will come equipped with a Kaby Lake processor, as well as the ability to house 32GB of desktop-class RAM in it. Besides the 15″ model, Apple is also expected to refresh the 13″ MacBook Pro, giving it a Kaby Lake processor as well.

Kuo also believes that the 12″ MacBook will be getting a component refresh as well although no specifics are given as of yet. That being said, he believes that the 2017 MacBook will get a 16GB RAM option.

Source:
AppleInsider

apple
components
intel
kabylake
macbook
macbookpro
ram


Apple may be updating the MacBook Pro with an OLED screen above the keyboard

296

The design of the MacBook Pro hasn’t changed all that much for quite a while now. That said, rumours are going around that Apple is preparing some major overhauls to the 2016 MacBook Pros that would give some brand spanking new features.

Chief among the new additions to the upcoming MacBook Pro is the presence of an OLED display touch bar which is expected to replace the physical function keys along the top of the keyboard. Apart from the display, the new MacBook Pro will sport a new metal injection molded hinges that would make the laptops light than its predecessors. USB-C and Thunderbolt 3 will also be support on the new MacBook Pros. All these changes will be implemented on both the 13″ and 15″ versions of the laptop.

Besides overhauling the MacBook Pro, there are also rumours that Apple will be introducing a new 13″ MacBook that is similar to the current 12″ Retina model, albeit with a performance boost.

While nothing official has been revealed just yet, both the new MacBook Pros and the 13″ MacBook won’t be available until the fourth quarter of 2016, so we are still a long ways away from Apple’s newest laptops.

Source:
9to5Mac

apple
laptop
macbook
macbookpro


Apple may have seven more MacBook updates coming this fall

341

Great news for Apple fans, Apple has recently registered seven new Mac models with the Eurasian Economic Commission today which means we’ll soon get to see some new MacBooks.

These new models are listed as “portable” computers and go by A2141, A2147, A2158, A2159, A2179, A2182 and A2251. Currently, reports are suggesting that these new models might include new MacBook and MacBook Air. While the MacBook Air was updated just last October, the MacBook hasn’t been getting any updates since June 2017, making it a perfect time for it to get refreshed specs.

That aside, there are rumours that a 16-inch MacBook Pro will also be launching this year. It could be one of the models listed above, though the new MacBook Pro will not be seen at least until fall, especially since the MacBook Pro lineup was jut refreshed this month.

It’s also possible that Apple launches these products alongside the new iPhones this year.

apple
macbook
macbook air
macbook pro