Five years ago, the Mac lineup was in a bad state. Over three years had passed since Apple redesigned the Mac Pro with a sleek but constrained "trash can" enclosure, while the iMac, MacBook Air, and Mac mini had also gone years without updates.
At the time, some users began to question whether Apple was still committed to the Mac, especially at the high end of the market.
The criticism ultimately led Apple to hold a meeting with a small group of reporters, where it apologized to pro Mac users and ensured that it remained committed to the Mac. In a rare and surprising move, Apple also pre-announced it was working on a "completely rethought" Mac Pro with a modular design, a new pro-level iMac, and a new pro display.
The meeting, which was disclosed to the public five years ago today, involved Apple's former marketing chief Phil Schiller, software engineering chief Craig Federighi, and then-VP, now-SVP of hardware engineering John Ternus. One of the reporters in the room was John Gruber, and the quotes that follow are from his Daring Fireball coverage.
Schiller's apology to Mac Pro users:
The current Mac Pro, as we've said a few times, was constrained thermally and it restricted our ability to upgrade it. And for that, we're sorry to disappoint customers who wanted that, and we've asked the team to go and re-architect and design something great for the future that those Mac Pro customers who want more expandability, more upgradability in the future. It'll meet more of those needs.
Federighi's admission that Apple had designed itself into a "thermal corner":
I think we designed ourselves into a bit of a thermal corner, if you will. We designed a system with the kind of GPUs that at the time we thought we needed, and that we thought we could well serve with a two GPU architecture. That that was the thermal limit we needed, or the thermal capacity we needed. But workloads didn’t materialize to fit that as broadly as we hoped.
Schiller ensuring that Apple remains committed to the Mac:
We're committed to the Mac, we've got great talent on the Mac, both hardware and software, we've got great products planned for the future, and as far as our horizon line can see, the Mac is a core component of the things Apple delivers, including to our pro customers.
To say that Apple delivered on its promise is an understatement. Not only did Apple release the modular Mac Pro and the since-discontinued iMac Pro, but it also finally ditched the problematic butterfly keyboard on MacBooks, announced its game-changing transition to Apple silicon, brought back a wide array of ports on the latest MacBook Pro models, gave customers an entirely new option in the Mac Studio, and more.
Apple's roundtable discussion with reporters will forever be a turning point in the Mac's history.
Two models of the AirPods have returned to their 2022 all-time low prices today on Amazon, including the AirPods Pro with MagSafe and the AirPods 2. Discounts reach up to $75 off these models, and both are in stock and ready to ship today from Amazon.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
AirPods Pro with MagSafe
Apple's AirPods Pro with MagSafe Charging Case is on sale for $174.00, down from $249.00. This price is a match of the 2022 low price on the AirPods Pro, and overall it's the second-best price we've ever tracked.
The headphones are in stock now on Amazon and ready to ship, with a delivery window between April 5-6. The new AirPods Pro launched in 2021, and are essentially the same as the 2019 model with the addition of the new MagSafe Charging Case.
AirPods 2
Secondly, Amazon has the AirPods 2 at $99.00, down from $129.00. We haven't seen the AirPods 2 return to this low of a price since early February, and at $99.00 it's only about $10 higher than the all-time low price seen during the holidays.
We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.
The iPhone 14 Pro may deliver more detailed images thanks to a considerably larger sensor and smaller pixels, according to unverified technical information shared on Chinese social media site Weibo.
A recent post from the account "Fishing 8" on Weibo listed a large number of the iPhone 14 Pro's technical camera specifications. In line with a multitude of rumors about the iPhone 14 Pro's Wide camera from over the past year, the post claims that the iPhone 14 Pro will feature a 48MP camera. As a result of the increased number of megapixels, the iPhone 14 Pro's Wide camera pixels will be smaller, purportedly measuring at 1.22µm. This is a reduction of 0.68µm compared to the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max.
The sensor is believed to be a Sony unit, like those of the iPhone 13 Pro. Despite the change in pixel size, the iPhone 14 Pro will allegedly feature the same Dual Pixel Auto Focus (DPAF) system, marketed by Apple as "Focus Pixels," that the iPhone has offered since the iPhone 6 in 2014, and the same ability to record 16:9 HDR video at up to 60fps.
The device's sensor is said to be 1/1.3-inches in width, a 21.2 percent increase over the 1/1.65-inch sensor width of the Wide camera on the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. This translates to an approximate sensor area increase of 57 percent compared to the iPhone 13 Pro.
Overall, the information suggests that the iPhone 14 Pro will offer larger, higher-resolution images with finer details, but at the risk of poorer low-light performance and images that are more susceptible to noise. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has previously said that he believes that the camera quality of the iPhone 14 Pro models will "elevate mobile phone camera photography to a new level."
The Weibo account that shared these technical specifications frequently posts detailed camera information, but it does not have a track record of leaks about future Apple devices and MacRumors cannot verify the authenticity of its post, so the rumor should be taken with a pinch of salt. Nevertheless, the iPhone 14 Pro is widely believed to feature a larger, 48MP Wide camera sensor, so the shared technical specifications seem to be plausible and broadly in line with other rumors.
Update Apr 5: This article originally stated that the new sensor would be 21 percent larger than the corresponding sensor on the iPhone 13 Pro, but it is actually approximately 21 percent wider and 57 percent larger.
Amazon today has introduced a new batch of all-time low prices on the Apple Watch Series 7, starting as low as $329.99 for the 41mm GPS models. These sales reach up to $69 off, and in every model listed below you'll find record low discounts. Below we focus on the aluminum versions of the Apple Watch, but Amazon is also offering $69 off a few stainless steel models.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
41mm GPS Aluminum
Starting with the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7, this model has hit $329.99 in all colors, down from $399.00. This is now beating the previous all-time low price by about $10, and only Amazon is offering this steep of a discount.
Similarly, the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 has every color on sale at a new record low price, which is $359.99, down from $429.00. Today's discount is beating the previous all-time low discount by about $20, and again every GPS aluminum color option is on sale.
For the Cellular aluminum models of the Apple Watch Series 7 you'll find similarly solid discounts today. The 41mm Cellular Apple Watch Series 7 is priced at $429.99, down from $499.00, and coming in about $20 under the previous record low discount.
Finally, Amazon has every aluminum model of the 45mm Cellular Apple Watch Series 7 at $459.99, down from $529.00. Similar to the other sales, this price beats the previous best deal by about $20 and only Amazon is offering the sale.
Apple today added a new range of postpartum workouts to Fitness+ to help mothers return to regular exercise after childbirth.
Almost a year after Apple introduced new Fitness+ workouts geared toward pregnant women, the company today launched a range of workouts for the postpartum period. The series, titled "Get Back to Fitness After Having a Baby," contains seven workouts in the Core, Strength, and Mindful Cooldown categories.
This program is designed for anyone who has recently had a baby, with workouts that can help you feel stronger and more energetic as you take on the daily demands of parenthood. The Core workouts are about reconnecting to your core, building up your ab and back strength, and working your pelvic floor. The series starts with a Core workout to help you create a foundation for getting stronger and avoiding setbacks. There are also upper-body, lower-body and total-body Strength workouts that use one light to medium dumbbell or just your bodyweight. And the Mindful Cooldowns include stretches that target common post-pregnancy tight spots, plus meditations that focus on themes like patience and self-care. Throughout, there are exercise options to help you feel more comfortable, no matter what type of delivery you had. You can do any of the workouts on their own or combined with other workouts in this program or the Fitness+ library. Check with your healthcare provider before starting an exercise.
CNET reports that some of the new workouts target the pelvic floor to help restrengthen muscles supporting organs in the pelvis that relax during childbirth. There are modifications for different levels of intensity depending on the preferred level of activity after childbirth, and the Mindful Cooldowns include messages about the importance of patience and self-care for new parents.
Priced at $9.99 per month, or available as part of the $29.95 per month Apple One Premier plan, Apple Fitness+ is a subscription-based workout video service, available in over 20 countries around the world. A one-month free trial is available for all Apple Watch users.
Apple last month released the fifth-generation iPad Air, with key new features including an M1 chip, 5G support for cellular models, an upgraded front camera with Center Stage support, and up to a 2x faster USB-C port for data transfer. As it turns out, Apple also made an internal change to the device that repair advocates may appreciate.
According to repair website iFixit, the new iPad Air's battery cells have stretch-release pull tabs on the underside for easier removal. In comparison, previous iPad Air models have completely glued-in battery cells that are more difficult to remove, with technicians commonly using a solvent like isopropyl alcohol to loosen the large amount of adhesive.
The pull tabs should make battery replacements easier for third-party repair shops and customers attempting do-it-yourself repairs, but Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers still replace the entire device when a customer needs a new battery for all iPad models, according to a source familiar with the matter.
The pull tabs could also have environmental benefits by making it easier for Apple's recycling partners to remove the battery from the iPad's aluminum enclosure.
Apple has been adding battery pull tabs to more devices, including the sixth-generation iPad mini and the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. However, despite having pull tabs, iFixit previously found that the iPad mini's battery is still glued down along the top and bottom edges, so it is not an entirely repair-friendly design. It's unclear if the new iPad Air's battery cells remain glued in to some degree as well.
Other devices with battery pull tabs include the iPhone 5s and newer, select iPad Pro models, and newer MacBook Air models.
Update - April 4: iFixit has confirmed the battery has no additional non-stretch adhesives. However, the BMS (battery management system) strip on the right edge of the battery is glued to the chassis and requires isopropyl alcohol to be loosened. iFixit added that the battery connector design continues to make it very challenging to disengage power from the device while it is being opened. iFixit has a special tool for this purpose.
Calendars have turned to April and we're still waiting for Apple to officially announce its plans for WWDC 2022, but that doesn't mean we don't still have tons of Apple news and rumors to focus on.
This week saw the release of bug fix operating system updates including iOS 15.4.1, macOS Monterey 12.3.1, and more, while we continued our coverage of Apple's new products like the Studio Display and third-generation iPhone SE. We're of course still hearing rumors about Apple's future product plans, along with other assorted news, so read on below for all of the details!
Apple Releases iOS 15.4.1 With Fix for Battery Drain Issue and More
While there are still no signs of an iOS 15.5 beta, Apple did release iOS 15.4.1 this week with several bug fixes and security patches. Notably, the update resolves a bug that may have resulted in some users experiencing excessive battery drain after updating to iOS 15.4.
Apple Stores Will Now Decline to Repair iPhones Reported as Missing
Apple Stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers will now be alerted if an iPhone has been reported as missing in the GSMA Device Registry when a customer brings in the device to be serviced, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors.
If an Apple technician sees an iPhone has been flagged as missing in their internal system, they are instructed to decline the repair. The new policy should help to reduce the amount of stolen iPhones brought to Apple for repair.
iFixit Teardown: Studio Display Features iMac-Like Internal Setup
The Studio Display has a similar internal design as an iMac, with impressively thin power supply boards cooled by two fans, and a logic board containing the A13 chip. The display's built-in webcam is virtually identical to the iPhone 11's front camera, according to iFixit.
Hands-On With Apple's Most Lackluster Smartphone: The 2022 iPhone SE
Priced from $429 in the United States, the iPhone SE remains Apple's most affordable smartphone. However, with the same design as the iPhone 8 released in 2017, it is perhaps not surprising that Apple has reportedly scaled back iPhone SE production due to sluggish demand.
In a September 2021 research note, Kuo had predicted that Apple would launch at least one new iPhone model with an under-screen fingerprint scanner in the second half of 2023, but his latest tweet suggests that the feature is no longer coming in the foreseeable future.
Apple's Craig Federighi Explains Why iOS Auto-Updates Often Arrive Several Weeks Late
While some iPhone users opt to install iOS updates as soon as they are released, others are happy to wait for the Automatic Updates feature to do the job.
Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we've covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.
Apple in March 2022 introduced its most powerful Apple silicon chip to date, the M1 Ultra, which is designed for and used in the Mac Studio.
This guide covers everything that you need to know about the M1 Ultra.
M1 Ultra Detailed
The M1 Ultra is Apple's fourth System on a Chip (SoC) developed for use in Macs, and it puts Apple one step closer to entirely transitioning away from the Intel chips that have been used in Macs since 2006.
Compared to the M1, M1 Pro, and M1 Max, the M1 Ultra is special because it represents a new feat of engineering from Apple. The M1 Ultra is essentially two M1 Max chips that have been connected together through an Apple-developed method, so it offers double the performance of the M1 Max.
As an SoC, the M1 Ultra integrates several different components, including the CPU, GPU, unified memory architecture (RAM), Neural Engine, Secure Enclave, SSD controller, image signal processor, encode/decode engines, Thunderbolt controller with USB 4 support, and more, all of which power the different features in the Mac.
Traditional Intel-based Macs used multiple chips for the CPU, GPU, I/O, and security, but integrating multiple components onto one chip allows Apple silicon chips to operate faster and more efficiently than Intel chips. The M1 Ultra features 114 billion transistors, the most ever in a personal computer chip, and it is Apple's largest Apple silicon chip to date.
M1 Max + M1 Max
The M1 Ultra uses "UltraFusion," the name that Apple has given to its packaging architecture. Apple's architecture interconnects the dies of two M1 Max chips to create a single system on a chip that operates just like the M1 Pro or the M1 Max.
Typically, scaling performance is done by connecting two chips on a motherboard, but that comes with tradeoffs like increased latency, reduced bandwidth, and more power consumption.
But for the M1 Ultra, Apple is using a silicon interposer that is designed to connect the two chips across more than 10,000 signals, offering 2.5TB/s of low-latency inter-processor bandwidth, which Apple says is 4x the bandwidth of the leading multi-chip interconnect technology. At this latency level, the M1 Ultra behaves as and is recognized as a single chip, so developers do not have to take any steps to take advantage of the full capabilities of the M1 Ultra.
M1 Ultra vs. Intel Chips
Apple silicon chips like the M1 Ultra use an Arm-based architecture, similar to the A-series chips that have been used in iPads and iPhones for many years.
Intel chips, meanwhile, are built on x86 architecture, which Apple has decided to move away from. Apple's chips are built by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), a company that builds all of Apple's A-series and M-series chips.
CPU and GPU
The M1 Ultra has a 20-core CPU that includes 16 high performance cores and four high efficiency cores, which is equivalent to two 10-core M1 Max chips.
There's up to a 64-core GPU and a 32-core Neural Engine, capable of running 22 trillion operations per second.
The M1 Ultra is faster and more powerful than any other chip that Apple offers, including the 28-core Xeon chip in the highest-end Mac Pro. Its GPU performance also exceeds the best graphics card that Apple has used to date.
Apple says the M1 Ultra is able to offer 90 percent higher performance than the fastest 16-core PC CPU within the same power envelope, and it can deliver the PC chip's peak performance using 100W less power. It offers similar performance to "one of the most popular discrete GPUs" while using 1/3 as much power, and it provides faster performance than the highest-end discrete GPU while using 200W less power.
Memory
Apple is using a unified memory architecture that lets the CPU, GPU, and other processor components use the same data pool rather than wasting time copying data between one another and swapping between multiple pools of memory. It's a technique that makes all of Apple's M-series chips remarkably efficient.
The M1 Ultra supports up to 128GB unified memory. It also offers up to 800GB/s memory bandwidth, 2x more than the M1 Max.
Media Engine
There's a Media Engine included in the M1 Ultra that's designed to accelerate video. The M1 Ultra has double the media engine capabilities of the M1 Max, with more video encode and decode throughput
It can play back up to 18 streams of 8K ProRes 422 video, double the capabilities of the M1 Max.
Other Chip Features
The M1 Ultra has several other built-in technologies.
32-core Neural Engine for machine learning.
A display engine that drives external displays.
Integrated Thunderbolt 4 controllers that offer more I/O bandwidth than before.
A custom image signal processor used to enhance the camera's image quality.
Secure Enclave with hardware-verified secure boot and runtime anti-exploitation technology.
Macs With an M1 Ultra Chip
The M1 Ultra is used exclusively in the high-end Mac Studio, which is also offered with an M1 Max chip.
M1 Ultra Security Features
Intel Macs had a built-in T2 chip that handled security and other features on the Macs, but with the M-series chips, that functionality is built right in and a secondary chip isn't required.
The M1 Ultra has a built-in Secure Enclave that manages Touch ID and a storage controller with AES encryption hardware for SSD performance that's faster and more secure.
Running Apps on the M1 Ultra
The M-series chips use different architecture than Intel chips, so Apple has designed tools that allow developers to create Universal app binaries that run on both Apple silicon and Intel chips, plus there is a Rosetta 2 translation layer that lets x86 apps operate on machines with Apple silicon.
With Rosetta 2, apps designed for Intel machines will continue to run on M1 Macs with some limited performance compromises. For the most part, apps run similarly on both Intel and Apple silicon because of the performance enhancements added by the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips.
Everything should function as normal when transitioning to Apple silicon Macs, and over the course of a few years, almost all popular Mac apps will be built to run on the M1 Macs natively.
As of now, there's one significant compromise when choosing an Apple silicon Mac, and that's Windows support.
There is no Boot Camp for Macs with Apple silicon chips, and the machines are not officially able to run Windows, although some users are figuring out ways to make it work. Official support could come in the future, but it largely depends on Microsoft licensing its Arm-based version of Windows to consumers, and so far, that hasn't happened.
M1 Ultra Macs can run iPhone and iPad apps as well as Mac apps, so long as app developers make them available to Mac users.
Apple today began offering refurbished versions of the 14 and 16-inch MacBook Pro models that are equipped with M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. This is the first time that these Macs have been available with a refurbished discount since their 2021 launch.
Apple has a range of different machines and configurations available, with several M1 Pro options and a few higher-end M1 Max MacBook Pros. An entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Pro chip, 8-core CPU, and 14-core GPU is priced at $1,800, down from the original $2,000 price tag.
A refurbished 16-inch MacBook Pro with M1 Max chip, 10-core CPU, 32-core GPU, and 1TB SSD, which is the base high-end M1 Max, is priced at $3,149, a savings of $350 over the standard $3,499 price.
Limited stock is available at this time because the contents of the refurbished store fluctuate based on what people have sent in for repair and replacement, so these machines could go quickly. Apple will regularly replenish the refurbished store, with available specifications changing over time.
All of Apple's refurbished Macs feature the same one-year warranty available with brand new products, along with all manuals and accessories. Every refurbished device from Apple goes through a rigorous testing, repair, repackaging, and cleaning process. Standard one-year warranties can be extended with AppleCare+, making Apple's refurbished products virtually indistinguishable from new products.
Apple will add two MacBook Air models and one MacBook Pro model to its obsolete products list on April 30, according to an internal memo obtained by MacRumors. All three notebooks have already been on Apple's list of "vintage" products since 2020 and will be moved to the "obsolete" list at the end of the month.
The models set to become obsolete:
MacBook Air (11-inch, Early 2014)
MacBook Air (13-inch, Early 2014)
MacBook Pro (13-inch, Mid 2014)
Apple considers a product obsolete once seven years have passed since the company last distributed the product for sale. Apple discontinues all hardware service for obsolete products, but the MacBook models listed above may remain eligible for battery-only repairs in select countries for a limited time, the memo said.
Apple discontinued the 11-inch MacBook Air following its October 2016 event, where it introduced the first MacBook Pro with a Touch Bar. Apple continues to sell the 13-inch MacBook Air, which was last updated in November 2020 with the M1 chip, and display industry consultant Ross Young said a larger 15-inch MacBook Air is coming in 2023.
Apple is testing a device with a 9-inch foldable display, but the company's long-rumored foldable iPhone is unlikely to launch until 2025 or later, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.
On Twitter, Kuo said that Apple is "actively testing" a device with a 9-inch foldable OLED display and a PPI somewhere between the iPhone and the iPad. This device is purportedly being used to evaluate and verify the key technologies involved in Apple's foldable, and may not feature the specifications of any final retail product.
Kuo believes that Apple's foldable product development is initially focusing on medium-sized devices, followed by devices with larger displays, before finally expanding to small devices like the iPhone.
Kuo also revised his prediction from last year that claimed that Apple will launch its foldable iPhone as soon as 2024, explaining that it is now clear that this prediction needs to be revised to 2025 at the earliest. He added that Apple's first foldable device may be a hybrid iPhone and iPad, or simply a foldable iPad.
Kuo's comments come in response to a report from the The Elec, which claimed that Apple is collaborating with LG to develop a foldable OLED display panel with ultra-thin cover glass for future Apple tablets and notebooks. In February, display analyst Ross Young ignited rumors about Apple working on large foldable devices, explaining that the company is exploring all-screen foldable notebooks with displays around 20-inches in size.
A new DigiTimes report today focused on notebook shipments briefly mentions that Apple plans to launch a new MacBook Air in the second half of 2022, which lines up with a timeframe shared by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman earlier this month.
The relevant excerpt from the report, which cites supply chain sources:
Apple's MacBook series are high-end consumer devices, but can also be regarded as a business notebook model as they are favored by many companies or office workers, the sources indicated, adding that hot sales of MacBook Pro released in late 2021 have lingered into the first quarter of 2022, with shipment volumes higher than expected, and new MacBook Air set for launch in the second half of the year is expected to add further sales momentum.
The new MacBook Air will feature a slightly larger 13.6-inch display versus the current 13.3-inch model, display industry consultant Ross Young said in a tweet last week.
While several sources have claimed the new MacBook Air will feature an M2 chip with an 8-core CPU and 9-core or 10-core GPU options, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the notebook to have an M1 chip still, according to a list of predictions he tweeted in early March. In an email, Kuo told MacRumors that the new MacBook Air could have a modified M1 chip, and while he did not specify further, the rumored extra GPU cores are certainly possible.
Kuo's tweet said the new MacBook Air would also have an all-new design with additional color options, and enter mass production in the late second quarter or third quarter of 2022. Unlike the latest 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Kuo does not expect the new MacBook Air to feature a mini-LED display, meaning ProMotion is unlikely.
Today we're tracking a pair of deals on Amazon and one offer from Das Keyboard, including an all-time low price on the 14-inch MacBook Pro and an ongoing solid discount on the Apple TV 4K.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
14-Inch MacBook Pro
Starting with the 14-inch MacBook Pro (M1 Pro/10-core CPU/1TB SSD), you can get this model for $2,249.00, down from $2,499.00. This sale is only available in Silver, and the notebook is shipped and sold directly by Amazon, with stock available today.
This sale remains the best price that we've ever tracked on this model of the 14-inch MacBook Pro, and it beats the previous record low by about $50. Only Amazon is currently offering this discount price, and as of writing only the 1TB 14-inch MacBook Pro is seeing an all-time low price.
You can find even more discounts on other MacBooks by visiting our Best Deals guide for MacBook Pro and MacBook Air. In this guide we track the steepest discounts for the newest MacBook models every week, so be sure to bookmark it and check back often if you're shopping for a new Apple notebook.
Apple TV 4K
Secondly, the 32GB Apple TV 4K is on sale for $169.98, down from $179.00. This isn't a record low price for this version of the Apple TV 4K, but it remains the most consistent discount for the set-top box in 2022.
The Apple TV 4K is available for the usual free Prime shipping options, and it's in stock and ready to ship today. You can also get the 64GB Apple TV 4K for $189.98, down from $199.00. Both of these Apple TV 4K models were released in 2021 and come with the redesigned Siri Remote.
Das Keyboard
Update: Das Keyboard is offering the Model S Keyboard for Mac at $99.00, down from $119.00. This sale will only last for one day and you won't need any coupon code to see the discount.
The Model S Keyboard was designed for the Mac and it includes Cherry MX blue gold-plated mechanical key switches, a two-port USB hub, and Mac-specific Command and Alt/Option keys.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Pillonel was the first to gain notoriety for modifying an iPhone X to add a functional USB-C port, which went on to sell for over $86,000 at auction. His latest project sought to achieve the inverse and add a Lightning port to a Galaxy A51, including charging and data transfer functionality.
Pillonel told Engadget that the project was "a complex modification that required some out-of-the-box thinking."
The Lightning cables sold by Apple are not "dumb." They will only charge Apple devices. So I had to find a way to trick the cable into thinking it was plugged into an Apple device. And the whole thing needs to fit inside the phone, which is another challenge in itself.
Pillonel admitted that "the quality of the finished product is nowhere near what it was for the iPhone," but he doesn't expect "anyone in their right mind" to want to do this to their device. "It was for fun, I just wanted to see if I could do it," he explained, adding that such projects serve as a great example of what can be achieved with devices, even without the help of the companies that originally made them.
Pillonel plans to release a full-length explanation video about the Galaxy A51's conversion from USB-C to Lightning on his YouTube channel soon.
Apple is collaborating with LG to develop a foldable OLED display panel with ultra-thin cover glass for future iPad and MacBook models, according to a report from The Elec.
The report explains that LG Display will supply 17-inch foldable 4K OLED panels to HP this year, destined for an in-folding notebook with an 11-inch display when closed. LG Display has growing expertise in foldable OLED displays, having supplied the 13.3-inch display panel for the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Fold.
The Elec claims that alongside its foldable OLED notebook panel for HP, Apple is collaborating with LG Display "to develop another foldable OLED panel." This panel will purportedly use an ultra-thin cover glass instead of polyimide, which most other foldable displays currently use.
The report is the second dependable sign from Apple's supply chain that large foldable devices are in development, since The Elec's claim appears to line up with a recent report from display analyst Ross Young, which said that Apple is exploring all-screen foldable notebooks with displays around 20-inches in size.
Young said that these devices could form a whole new product category for Apple and result in a dual-use product, potentially able to work as a notebook with a full-size on-screen keyboard when folded and as a monitor when unfolded and used with an external keyboard. The devices feature 4K resolutions or higher at the size Apple is investigating, Young added.
While Young described the device as a "foldable notebook," it seemed plausible at the time that the all-screen device could actually be a foldable iPad Pro, and today's report from The Elec's clarifies that the display panel in development is suitable for both tablets and notebooks.
According to Young, the launch timeframe for Apple's foldable notebook is "likely later" than 2025, with 2026 or 2027 being floated as reasonable possibilities.
If you recently picked up a new Mac such as the Mac Studio, you may be in search of useful accessories to go along with it. In our latest YouTube video, we have once again rounded up some excellent Mac accessories that we think are worth checking out.
DockCase SSD Enclosure ($99) - The DockCase SSD Enclosure, as the name suggests, is a simple enclosure designed for an SSD. It has a small LCD that displays information about your SSD like SSD health, and DockCase says that it has built-in power loss protection and heat dissipation features. It supports M.2 NVMe SSDs.
Twelve South MagicBridge ($50) - The Twelve South MagicBridge is designed to turn the Magic Keyboard and the Magic Trackpad 2 into a single control surface for a tidier workspace. It keeps the trackpad and the keyboard from sliding apart, with the trackpad able to be positioned on the left or the right.
OWC miniStack STX (Starting at $279) - The miniStack from OWC is an add-on accessory that's designed for the Mac mini. It adds up to 18TB of extra HDD and SSD storage space, and you can buy your own storage or purchase a model with storage already built in. It includes a universal SATA HDD/SSD bay AND an NVMe M.2 PCIe SSD slot, and OWC says it is the first Thunderbolt certified Thunderbolt 4 storage solution.
Vissles LP85 Mechanical Keyboard ($119) - This ultra-thin mechanical keyboard from Vissles matches well with Apple's devices and according to Vissles, it is the world's thinnest optical-mechanical keyboard. If you like the feel of a mechanical keyboard but don't like the bulk, this may be worth checking out.
Keychron K4 Wireless Mechanical Keyboard($69) - If you're looking for a more traditional mechanical keyboard that's also more affordable, the Keychron K4 has an excellent key feel with Gateron switches and 15 types of RGB backlighting. It's also affordable at pricing that starts at $69.
VIVO Adjustable Under Desk Mounting Platform ($55) - If you use your Mac in clamshell mode, this adjustable mounting platform from VIVO is worth checking out because it installs right under your desk and keeps your laptop out of sight and out of the way, freeing up desktop space. You can also use this as a pull out option for your laptop or other products.
OXO Good Grips Laptop Cleaner ($12) - The OXO Good Grips Sweep & Swipe Laptop Cleaner is an ideal solution to keep your laptop from getting grimy. One side of the OXO is designed to clean fingerprints and smudges from your display, while the soft brush sweeps dirt and crumbs away from your keyboard. The brush retracts and there's a cover for the end to keep it from getting dirty when not in use.
Satechi Pro Hub Max ($99) - The Pro Hub Max from Satechi is designed to work with Apple's modern Mac models. It plugs into two USB-C ports on the side, adding additional ports for you to use. It features a USB-C PD port, 4K HDMI output, Gigabit Ethernet, USB-C data, USB-A data, micro/SD card readers, and an audio jack port.
Do you have favorite Mac accessories you want to recommend to other MacRumors readers? Let us know in the comments below.
Apple's Maps app in the United States has incorporated real-time roadway hazard information from HAAS Alert Safety Cloud, making the app better at notifying users of upcoming safety issues.
According to a blog post announcing the integration, HAAS Safety Cloud is the "most comprehensive and trusted digital alerting platform for roadway safety."
Drivers that are approaching emergency vehicles, incident responders, work zones, and other hazards on the road sourced by Safety Cloud will now receive an alert in Apple Maps. Digital alerts about upcoming hazards in the road improve driver safety and can reduce the risk of crashes.
HAAS Alert's SVP of Connected Vehicle, Jeremy Agulnek, said that the company applauds "Apple for prioritizing driver safety and taking steps towards achieving the Vision Zero goal of eliminating all traffic fatalities and severe injuries."
The Maps app has had safety alerts about upcoming road hazards for some time now, but the addition of information from the HAAS Safety Cloud will make the alerts more comprehensive.
Apple today released macOS Monterey 12.3.1, a minor update to the macOS Monterey operating system that launched in October. macOS Monterey 12.3.1 comes two weeks after the launch of macOS Monterey 12.3, an update that brought Universal Control.
The macOS Monterey 12.3.1 update can be downloaded on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences.
According to Apple's release notes, macOS Monterey 12.3.1 introduces a fix that could cause Bluetooth controllers like game controllers to disconnect from the Mac after playing audio through some Beats headphones. It also addresses a bug that could cause USB-C or Thunderbolt external displays to not turn on when connected to the 2018 Mac mini as a secondary display.
This update fixes the following issues: - USB-C or Thunderbolt external display does not turn on when connected to Mac mini (2018) as a second display - Bluetooth devices, such as game controllers, may disconnect from your Mac after playing audio through some Beats headphones
macOS Monterey 12.3.1 also addresses two vulnerabilities, including an AppleAVD issue that could allow an application to execute arbitrary code with kernel privileges and an Intel Graphics Driver issue that could allow an application to read kernel memory.
Apple says these exploits may have been actively exploited, so it is a good idea for all users to update as soon as possible.
Today's macOS Monterey update was also accompanied by iOS 15.4.1, iPadOS 15.4.1, tvOS 15.4.1, watchOS 8.5.1, and new 15.4.1 software for the HomePod.
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Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
