Apple this week received FCC approval for an unreleased MacBook Pro with a model number of A2159, which is one of the model numbers that was recently registered with the Eurasian Economic Commission.
In the FCC documentation, Apple specifies that the unreleased A2159 machine is a MacBook Pro, which is curious as the MacBook Pro already received a 2019 refresh in May.
A2159 is a model that was not included in the May update, and it's not entirely clear what it is. As a Reddit user points out, the back of the machine says that it's rated at 20.3V - 3A Max, which is equivalent to 61W, perhaps suggesting a refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro.
From the FCC filing
There's a possibility that Apple is planning to launch an updated 13-inch MacBook Pro without a Touch Bar, which is one of the machines that did not receive a May update. The non-Touch Bar 13-inch MacBook Pro has not seen a refresh since 2017.
Apple is also said to be developing a 16-inch MacBook Pro that features a new design and larger display perhaps enabled through slimmer bezels, though it's not clear if that is the machine outlined in the FCC document given the power information specified.
A mockup of what a 16-inch MacBook Pro might look like
FCC approvals tend to be published right when a new machine launches, so we could see the A2159 MacBook Pro model quite soon.
Update: The FCC has pulled all of the documentation on the new A2159 machine.
Sunday December 15, 2024 9:47 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is planning a series of "major design" and "format changes" for iPhones over the next few years, according to The Wall Street Journal's Aaron Tilley and Yang Jie.
The paywalled report published today corroborated the widely-rumored "iPhone 17 Air" with an "ultrathin" design that is thinner than current iPhone models. The report did not mention a specific measurement, but previous...
Monday December 16, 2024 10:06 am PST by Juli Clover
Apple today seeded the first betas of upcoming iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 updates to developers for testing purposes, with the software coming a week after Apple released iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2.
iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 can be downloaded from the Settings app on a compatible device by going to General > Software update.
There's no word yet on what's included in iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3, ...
Sunday December 15, 2024 8:43 am PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple is working on a redesigned Magic Mouse that will address some "longstanding complaints," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said Apple in recent months has been working on a "full overhaul" of the Magic Mouse with a design that "better fits the modern era." However, he does not expect the new Magic Mouse to be released in the "next 12 to 18...
Sunday December 15, 2024 2:57 pm PST by Joe Rossignol
Apple plans to release a second-generation AirTag next year with "considerably" longer range for item tracking, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In his Power On newsletter today, Gurman said the new AirTag will use Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, or equivalent technology. The chip debuted last year in the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2, and Apple said it offers up...
Thursday December 12, 2024 4:36 am PST by Tim Hardwick
Next year's iPhone 17 Pro models will reportedly feature a major redesign, specifically centering around changes to the rear camera module, and now new supply chain information appears to confirm the striking change, according to a Chinese leaker.
iPhone 17 Pro concept render
Late last month, The Information's Wayne Ma claimed that the rear of the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro...
iPhone users have largely avoided the Apple Intelligence features released prior to iOS 18.2, a new survey suggests.
A survey conducted by SellCell, a tech trade-in platform, has revealed that while nearly half of iPhone users—47.6%—consider AI an important factor when purchasing a smartphone, 73% of those who have used Apple's AI offerings feel that the features add little to no value...
Apple today shared the most downloaded iPhone and iPad apps and games of the year, localized for more than 30 countries and regions around the world.
The annual charts include the top free and paid apps and games, as well as the top Apple Arcade games, for the iPhone and iPad in the United States:
Top Free iPhone Apps
Temu: Shop Like a Billionaire
Threads
TikTok
ChatGPT
Go...
But the Touch Bar does not remove any functionality that didn't exist before with the physical keys. I do agree that taking your eyes off the screen can be adjustment, and maybe that's where the disconnect is for people? You need to "look at the keyboard" when touch-typing is meant to avoid that?
You act as though having to look down at your keyboard to use it merely "an adjustment." It's a major regression, not to mention what I already pointed out: the touchbar goes to sleep, so you have to tap it gingerly somewhere to wake it up, THEN peer at it to poke at it... to step over a line of code.
So yes, it DOES take away function. Not to mention the fact that it should be an OPTION. Why is Apple forcing an emoji bar on so-called "pro" users?
Please, please, please, No butterfly keyboard. We don’t care what promises you make this time around that now you’ve fixed that junker. You’ve said that too many years in a row.
I’d like an updated no-touchbar MBP 13. Touchbar is a terrible addition to an even worse keyboard.
The emoji bar is an embarrassing gimmick that's worse than useless; it deletes a dozen USEFUL keys and replaces them with a featureless strip that goes to sleep. So even if you set it to show function keys all the time, you have to wake it up if you want to press one. Craven stupidity, and insulting on a "pro" computer.
And to add further insult: There's still no real Delete key on Apple's laptops, and you can't even add one to the emoji bar. WTF?
What is wrong at Apple to result in this perpetual state of incompetence in regard to HIDs? Hideously defective keyboards, laughably incompetent mice, and even the trackpads are now way too big... constantly in contact with the heels of your hands and working overtime (and not always successfully) to filter out spurious touches.
Oh... and again, we pay a penalty for the incompetently giant trackpad while Apple fails to provide what would be an obvious benefit: making the Pencil work on it!
