Apple today seeded the first beta of an upcoming tvOS 14.3 update to developers for testing purposes, with the beta available a week after the tvOS 14.2 release.
Designed for the fourth and fifth-generation Apple TV models, the tvOS 14.2 developer beta can be downloaded onto the Apple TV via a profile that's installed using Xcode.
Other than new releases, tvOS updates are often minor in scale, focusing on under-the-hood bug fixes and improvements rather than major outward-facing changes. There's no word yet on what's included in tvOS 14.3 update, but we'll update this article should anything new be found.
Though we don't often know what's new in tvOS during the beta testing process, we let MacRumors readers know when new updates are available so those who are developers can download it upon release.
If you are seeing long delays in launching apps or being unable to open Mac Apps at all, this may be due to Apple having significant problems right now with their services.
Apple has noted on their status site that "Users may be experience issues with the service." We've seen reports that this is affecting launching apps when connected to the internet.
Hey Apple users:
If you're now experiencing hangs launching apps on the Mac, I figured out the problem using Little Snitch.
It's trustd connecting to https://t.co/FzIGwbGRan
Denying that connection fixes it, because OCSP is a soft failure.
(Disconnect internet also fixes.) pic.twitter.com/w9YciFltrb
— Jeff Johnson (@lapcatsoftware) November 12, 2020
A forum user describes what they are experiencing:
This is the most bizzare problem. My Macbook slows to a crawl when WiFi is enabled. I'm not talking about internet speed, that is fine. But simply launching or using apps becomes extremely slow. Apps will bounce on the dock for 10 minutes before they load.
As soon as I turn off Wifi, everything goes back to normal.
For now, disabling internet connectivity will allow you to bypass the issue temporarily.
It's been exactly one year since the Disney+ streaming service first launched, and over the course of the last 12 months, Disney+ has gained 73.7 million subscribers, surpassing expectations.
Disney announced the impressive subscriber numbers during its fourth quarter earnings results, which went out this afternoon.
"Even with the disruption caused by COVID-19, we've been able to effectively manage our businesses while also taking bold, deliberate steps to position our company for greater long-term growth," said Bob Chapek, Chief Executive Officer, The Walt Disney Company. "The real bright spot has been our direct-to-consumer business, which is key to the future of our company, and on this anniversary of the launch of Disney+ we're pleased to report that, as of the end of the fourth quarter, the service had more than 73 million paid subscribers - far surpassing our expectations in just its first year."
Disney+ last reported subscriber numbers in August, when the streaming service had 57.5 million subscribers. Based on those numbers, Disney+ has gained 16 million subscribers in the last three months alone.
At launch, Disney's goal was to hit 60 to 90 million subscribers by 2024, a target that the company has already met. Disney+ seems to have been more successful than Apple TV+, which launched right around the same time. Apple does not provide subscriber numbers for Apple TV+ so there's no direct comparison to make, but if Apple's numbers were that high, it's likely company executives would have mentioned it.
When Apple TV+ launched, Apple offered all customers who purchased a new device a free year of service, which is a deal that's still available now. Customers who took advantage of this promotion were originally meant to start paying in November, but Apple extended the free trial until the end of January.
Apple TV+ has not been able to compete with Disney+ because Disney has an established catalog of content along with popular Star Wars and Marvel content. Apple, meanwhile, has been working to build up new original TV shows and movies, but it still trails behind Disney.
Apple this morning released macOS Big Sur to the public, and since the software went live, it has had extremely long download times that have prevented many from being able to install it.
Even those who have made progress through the download have run into problems where the software downloading process is suddenly interrupted and must be restarted. Others have reported being able to download the update and then having the installation fail. Apple's site appears to be having some major issues due to the number of people attempting to download the update at once.
In addition to these Big Sur download problems, Apple's developer site is also down at this time, and as a result, some third-party apps are unable to be opened up at this time.
An error occurred while installing the selected updates
It's not clear what's causing the problem. It could be that the macOS Big Sur downloads are failing due to a developer site issue or the developer site could be failing under the strain of macOS Big Sur demand, but it is clear that those hoping to get the new software should hold off until things are more stable.
Apple's System Status page is listing an issue with macOS Software Updates and says that the problem is "currently being investigated."
Popular iOS game Plague Inc. was this week updated with a new game mode called "Plague Inc: The Cure," which is designed to let players work to stop a pandemic from spreading across the globe.
The original game, which has been around for many years now, encourages players to find ways to spread a disease to wipe out the world's population with various symptoms and transmission methods. Plague Inc. has always been a highly downloaded iOS game, and it is currently number two on the App Store's chart for paid games.
Ndemic Creations back in May said that it was planning an update that would tweak core gameplay to let people stop the outbreak of a virus. The new gameplay mode was developed with the help of experts from the World Health Organization, the Global Outbreak Alert, Response Network, and more.
Players are able to manage disease progression and boost healthcare systems in "The Cure," controlling actions like triaging, quarantining, social distancing, supporting the economy during lockdown, and the closing of public services. The goal of the game is to track down patient zero while also developing a vaccine and taking measures to limit the spread of the outbreak.
Plague Inc. is priced at $0.99, and "The Cure" mode is available in the original game for free. The app can be downloaded from the App Store. [Direct Link]
Given that Apple's new M1 chip is designed based on ARM architecture, apps built for Intel's x86 architecture will need to be run through Apple's translation layer Rosetta 2 in order to function on Apple Silicon Macs, and this process can take some time.
Microsoft this week indicated that when launching any of its Mac apps for the first time on Apple Silicon Macs, the apps will bounce in the dock for approximately 20 seconds while the Rosetta 2 translation process is completed, with all subsequent launches being fast. This applies to Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, OneNote, and OneDrive.
Apple's developer documentation acknowledges this matter, noting that the Rosetta 2 translation process "takes time" and that users "might perceive that translated apps launch or run more slowly at times" as a result:
If an executable contains only Intel instructions, macOS automatically launches Rosetta and begins the translation process. When translation finishes, the system launches the translated executable in place of the original. However, the translation process takes time, so users might perceive that translated apps launch or run more slowly at times.
To avoid this translation process, developers can create a universal binary for their apps, allowing them to run natively on both Apple Silicon Macs and Intel-based Macs with one executable file. Microsoft is one of many developers in the process of doing so.
A handful of apps have already been announced with universal support, including Darkroom, djay Pro AI, and OmniFocus.
The first Macs with the M1 chip will begin arriving to customers Tuesday.
Update - November 14: Microsoft has since changed the wording of its support document, and now simply says that the first launch of each Office app "will take longer," rather than specifying 20 seconds. We’re told this is because Microsoft has not yet confirmed exact speeds on production hardware.
In November 2020, Apple updated the Mac mini with the first Apple silicon chip for the Mac, the M1 chip. However, Apple continues to sell its older, Intel-based Mac mini. The Intel Mac mini last received a significant update in 2018, so why is Apple still selling its older Mac mini?
Curiously, rather than making the older model available for a lower price, Apple is presenting the Intel-based Mac mini as a high-end option, starting at $1,099, which is substantially more than the $699 starting price of the Apple silicon-based Mac mini. Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two Mac minis is best for you.
Comparing the M1 Mac mini and the Intel Mac mini
The M1 Mac mini and the Intel Mac mini share a large number of important features such as design, storage capability, and USB-A ports. Apple lists these same features of the two devices:
Similarities
Compact industrial design
Up to 2TB storage
Bluetooth 5.0 wireless technology
Two USB-A ports
HDMI 2.0 port
Gigabit Ethernet or optional 10Gb Ethernet
Although the two Mac minis share a number of features, the two machines have more in contrast than they do in common, including memory capacity, ports, and external display capability.
Differences
M1 Mac mini
Eight-core Apple M1 chip with eight-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine
Up to 16GB unified memory
Support for one display up to 6K and one display up to 4K
Two Thunderbolt / USB 4 ports
802.11ax Wi-Fi 6
Silver
Intel Mac mini
Up to six-core Intel Core i7 processor with Intel UHD Graphics 630
Up to 64GB memory
Support for up to three 4K displays or one 5K display and one 4K display
Four Thunderbolt 3 (USB-C) ports
802.11ac Wi-Fi
Space Gray
Read on for a closer look at each of these aspects, and see exactly where Apple's Mac minis differ.
Performance
The key difference between the two Mac minis is their processors. The main Mac mini Apple now sells contains the M1 chip, which is Apple's first custom silicon SoC for the Mac. The M1 has an eight-core CPU with four performance cores and four efficiency cores, and an eight-core GPU.
Apple also offers the Mac mini with two different Intel processors, a 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz, and a 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 with Turbo Boost up to 4.6GHz. Both come with Intel UHD Graphics 630.
In Geekbench 5 averages, the 3.0GHz 6-core Intel Core i5 achieves a single-core score of 998, while the more powerful 3.2GHz 6-core Intel Core i7 model comes in with a single-core score average of 1,101.
When looking at average multi-core scores, the 3.0GHz model comes in at 4,651 while the 3.2GHz model achieves an average score of 5,474.
Early benchmarks suggest that the M1 in the Apple silicon Mac mini achieves a much higher single-core score of 1,682 and a multi-core score of 7,097, and the M1's extremely impressive performance has been demonstrated in other benchmarks.
Since the M1 is clearly more powerful than either of the Intel offerings in the Mac mini, who should consider the Intel processors? If you need to run Windows via Boot Camp, virtual machine apps that virtualize x86_64 platforms, apps which you are concerned may not run well under Rosetta 2's translation layer, or use eGPUs, the Intel Mac mini offers a more reliable option. If your workflow is dependent on older technologies, it may be better to buy the Intel Mac mini until Apple Silicon becomes more mature.
For the vast majority of users, the M1 offers a major performance increase, but a small segment of "pro" users may be better suited to an Intel-based machine.
Memory
The M1 Mac mini only supports configurations of 8GB or 16GB of unified memory, but the Intel Mac mini can support up to 64GB of memory. While 8GB or 16GB should be sufficient for most users given the efficiency of having everything integrated on one chip, some pro workflows demand much larger amounts of memory. In these cases, the Intel Mac mini, which offers significantly higher 32GB and 64GB RAM configurations, will be a much more viable option.
Connectivity and Ports
Unlike memory, where the Intel Mac mini is clearly more capable, the picture is a bit mixed when it comes to connectivity and ports.
The M1 Mac mini has two Thunderbolt and USB 4 ports, while the Intel Mac mini has four Thunderbolt 3 and USB 3 ports. So, if you need more ports the Intel Mac mini is better, but if you need to connect USB 4 devices at maximum speeds, you will need the M1 Mac mini.
Both models come with Gigabit Ethernet as standard, with 10Gb Ethernet available on both as a $100 upgrade. On the other hand, the M1 Mac mini supports 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6, while the older Intel Mac mini only supports 802.11ac Wi-Fi.
As a result, neither of the Mac mini models is clearly better. Choosing between the two models will depend on what specific connectivity requirements you have. Generally, pro users may be better off getting the Intel model for now due to its additional USB ports, but each individual will have to weigh up what specific connectivity they need.
External Display
The picture between the Mac mini models is also mixed when it comes to external display support. The M1 Mac mini can support one display up to 6K and one display up to 4K, while the Intel Mac mini can support up to three 4K displays, or one 5K display and one 4K display.
This means that to use a 6K display such as Apple's Pro Display XDR, you must have the M1 Mac mini. However, if you want to use three 4K displays, you must have the Intel Mac mini. You cannot use three displays with the M1 Mac mini. Users should therefore carefully consider their external display setup before deciding on either machine.
Color
Although it may not be important to many users, it is worth noting that the M1 Mac mini comes in Silver, while the Intel Mac mini comes in Space Gray. There are no other color options for either machine.
Other Mac Options
Other Macs, such as the 24-inch iMac, contain the M1 chip. Most Macs have now transitioned to Apple silicon, but Apple is still in the process of updating its entire Mac lineup to add Apple silicon chips.
The M1 Mac mini holds a fairly unique place in the current Mac lineup as the only M1 Mac without a display, which makes it difficult to highlight specific alternatives to it. The Apple desktop closest to the Mac mini is the 24-inch iMac since it contains the M1 chip, but this is an all-in-one device.
Final Thoughts
Overall, it is clear that the two Mac mini models are significantly different from one another. You should only consider the older Intel-based Mac mini if you are dependent on an Intel architecture for tasks that do not work with Apple silicon. Similarly, if you require a large amount of RAM or want to have many USB devices attached directly to your machine, the Intel model is the only feasible option.
However, the M1 Mac mini is undoubtedly the more modern device and will be the best option for the vast majority of users. Not only is the M1 Mac mini markedly more powerful, but it is also less costly than its Intel predecessor. The Apple silicon M1 Mac mini is available to order now.
Popular camera app Darkroom was today updated to introduce Universal App support, which means that the newest version of Darkroom works on iPhones, iPads, and Macs. It is compatible with Apple's upcoming M1 Macs and Intel Macs that are running macOS Big Sur.
On the Mac, Darkroom offers up editing tools that have been optimized for a Mac experience and designed with the macOS Big Sur aesthetic. There's a translucent sidebar and native window toolbars, and interactions have been optimized for mouse, trackpad, and keyboard input.
Using Darkroom on Mac requires a Darkroom+ subscription, which is priced at $3.99 per month or $19.99 per year and provides access to Darkroom on all platforms. There's also an option to pay $49.99 to unlock the app forever. Darkroom+ includes video editing, curves and selective color tools, watermarking, and more.
Apple's first Macs with M1Apple Silicon chips were introduced earlier this week and will be in the hands of customers by next Tuesday. Amid the release, Apple engineering chief Craig Federighi, hardware engineering VP John Ternus, and marketing chief Greg Joswiak spoke with The Independent to discuss the new Macs.
When announcing the new M1 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and MacBook mini, Apple had bold claims about their speed relative to both older Macs and PCs, and benchmarks last night proved that those claims are true. The new Mac models are faster than any other Mac in single-core performance and beat out many high-end machines, including the 16-inch Retina MacBook Pro, in multi-core performance.
On performance, Federighi says that Apple "overshot" and the M1 chip turned out to be better than Apple thought it would be. Apple execs were shocked at the battery life numbers.
"We overshot," says Federighi. "You have these projects where, sometimes you have a goal and you're like, 'well, we got close, that was fine'. [...]
"We started getting back our battery life numbers, and we're like, 'You're kidding. I thought we had people that knew how to estimate these things'."
According to Ternus, during the development process, it became clear that the chip was doing more than had been expected. Apple's teams were "so passionate and excited" about the chip that they just kept pushing and optimizing.
On the name, Joswiak said that "M1 makes a lot of sense for a Mac chip," because Apple aims to use letters that make sense. A in the A-series chips used in iOS devices stands for "Apple," and the chips for headphones use H. "We're brilliant marketers that way," said Joswiak.
With the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini all using the same chip at variable price points, Federighi says that the main differentiating factor is thermal capacity. The MacBook Air has no fan and uses passive cooling, while the MacBook Pro has an active cooling system for faster performance.
Apple's entire Mac lineup is going to transition to Apple Silicon chips over the course of the next two years, and when it comes to Intel Macs, Apple execs said that they trust the machines to do the jobs they are for. Federighi said that the Intel Macs run Big Sur and will be a "big part" of Apple's focus for "many years." Apple expects the transition to be "seamless" because Apple has experience after transitioning from PowerPC to Intel in 2006.
Even though there are no design changes, Ternus said that the new Macs "make a statement" with their performance and that they're a "tremendous foundation" for the transition to kick off with.
"And, you know, we don't usually want to just go and change the design just for the sake of changing a design - we have a great platform here, we have a great new [processor], we can marry them into something really spectacular. And that was that was the thinking behind it."
With macOS Big Sur, Apple is somewhat merging iOS and macOS and allowing iPhone and iPad apps to run on the Mac, which lets developers create a single app for all platforms. Apple execs have continually said that they have no plans to merge the iPad and the Mac, and that continues to be the case despite the launch of universal apps. Federighi said there's no secret plan to change the way the Mac works and Apple isn't aiming for a touchscreen Mac.
"We're living with iPads, we're living with phones, our own sense of the aesthetic - the sort of openness and airiness of the interface - the fact that these devices have large retina displays now. All of these things led us to the design for the Mac, that felt to us most comfortable, actually in no way related to touch.
Federighi said that Apple designed and evolved the look of macOS in a way that felt comfortable and natural across a family of devices, and something like touch was not even remotely considered. "It's just they all feel like the natural instantiation of the experience for that device," said Federighi. "And that's what you're seeing not some signaling of a future change in input methods."
The full interview with Federighi, Joswiak, and Ternus is worth checking out and it can be found on The Independent's website.
Apple today released macOS 11 Big Sur, the newest version of its operating system designed for the Mac. macOS Big Sur's release comes after several rounds of beta testing and months of refinements since the update's June unveiling.
Here's a quick start tips video for macOS Big Sur:
The new macOS Big Sur update can be downloaded on all eligible Macs using the Software Update section of System Preferences. Like all Mac updates, macOS Big Sur is a free download. It can also be found in the Mac App Store, which is another way to initiate the update.
macOS Big Sur is a major update that brings a redesigned look to the Mac with Control Center, new widget options. Safari is faster and more battery efficient and there are new privacy protections and a translate option, plus it supports 4K YouTube playback.
Apple has also added updates and new options for Messages, Photos, and Maps, with a list of the major changes available in our features guide and a complete rundown of all the changes available in our roundup.
Shortly after the full-size HomePod launched in 2018, some customers noticed that the speaker left white rings on wood surfaces with an oil or wax finish. Apple confirmed this possibility in a support document, noting that "it is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-damping silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces," as a result of "oils diffusing between the silicone base and the table surface."
White rings left behind by the full-size HomePod via The Wirecutter
Fortunately, Apple says that it has addressed this matter with the HomePod mini, according to Rene Ritchie's review video:
It is unclear if Apple ever made any changes to the full-size HomePod to prevent it from leaving marks on waxed or oiled wood surfaces. Apple's support document, last updated in March 2020, still has a blurb about the matter:
It is not unusual for any speaker with a vibration-damping silicone base to leave mild marks when placed on some wooden surfaces. The marks can be caused by oils diffusing between the silicone base and the table surface, and will often go away after several days when the speaker is removed from the wooden surface. If not, wiping the surface gently with a soft damp or dry cloth may remove the marks. If marks persist, clean the surface with the furniture manufacturer's recommended cleaning process. If you're concerned about this, we recommend placing your HomePod on a different surface.
HomePod mini will begin arriving to customers on Monday, November 16. Priced at $99, the speaker is available to order in the United States, Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, and the UK. Read our HomePod mini reviews roundup and unboxing videos roundup for more impressions of the speaker.
Just a few days after Apple's first Macs with its custom-designed M1 chip became available to order, the first orders are now beginning to ship to customers, with deliveries set to begin arriving to customers on Tuesday, November 17.
While most pre-orders are still in the "processing" or "preparing to ship" stage on Apple's website, UPS is beginning to show some MacBook Air orders as "in transit" from China as of today. The new 13-inch MacBook Pro and Mac mini should follow suit soon, as all three Macs with the M1 chip are slated to launch on the same day.
Apple says the M1 chip delivers up to 3.5x faster system performance, up to 6x faster graphics performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning, while enabling battery life up to 2x longer than previous-generation Macs. The chip features an 8-core CPU, up to an 8-core GPU, a 16-core Neural Engine, unified memory architecture, I/O, and more all in one.
The new Macs are available to order on Apple.com and through the Apple Store app. Pricing starts at $1,299 for the new 13-inch MacBook Pro, $999 for the new MacBook Air, and a lowered $699 for the new Mac mini in the United States.
Algoriddim has today unveiled djay Pro AI for Mac, a universal app that can run natively on the M1 chip and take advantage of Apple's 16-core Neural Engine.
djay Pro AI allows users to separate vocals and instrumentals in real-time, as well as crossfade between individual components of two songs independently. This allows for impressive remixing capabilities as DJs can easily swap bass lines or melodies of two songs while their keys and beats are automatically matched. The "Neural Mix" feature can isolate beats, instruments, and vocals of any track.
Using the M1, djay Pro AI offers Mac users 15 times faster machine learning performance, resulting in ultra-low latency and enhanced precision for live DJ mixes.
djay Pro AI and its groundbreaking Neural Mix technology are profoundly impacting DJing and remix culture as a whole. And we're thrilled to bring it to the Mac. With the power of Apple's M1 chip we're doubling down on machine learning to introduce new features that mark a breakthrough in digital audio, including the possibility to apply audio effects not only on the whole track but on individual components of a song. The all-new streamlined user interface shines on macOS Big Sur and will offer DJs unprecedented tools to fine-tune their skills and mix music like never before.
djay Pro AI contains an extensive library of samples, loops, and audio effects, Neural Mix channel configurations and looping, music production tools, video mixing, integration with streaming services and hardware controllers, and more. It also replaces Neural Mix Pro for Mac with a single app to unify djay across macOS and iOS devices.
djay Pro AI is available now on the Mac App Store. There is an optional Pro subscription for $6.99 per month or $49.99 per year that offers full access to all content and features, and djay for iOS subscribers will get the complete djay Pro AI for Mac as part of their existing Pro subscription.
Apple is set to release macOS Big Sur in a few hours based on past macOS release timelines, and it's a major update with a whole slew of new features. Ahead of the launch, we've highlighted the biggest changes so you can get a quick overview of what to expect when downloading it later today.
Redesign
macOS Big Sur brings a significant redesign to the Mac operating system, debuting the first design refinements that we've seen to macOS in years. It overhauls the entire look of the software, from the curvature of window corners to the dock icons to the iconic system sounds. Everything in the update feels fresh but familiar, with Apple aiming for a lighter and more modern appearance.
Control Center and Notification Center
A new Control Center that mirrors the Control Center on iOS puts key system controls right at your fingertips, and there's a revamped Notification Center.
The Notification Center features iOS-style widgets that are available in multiple sizes, along with interactive notifications that are grouped up by app to make it easier to see all of your incoming notifications at a glance.
Safari Changes
Safari is faster and more battery efficient, and Apple has added a new start page that can be customized with wallpapers and various sections such as Reading List and iCloud Tabs for a Safari that's more tailored to your individual usage needs.
Tabs have been redesigned with a new preview option so you can see what you've got open at a glance, and there's a new built-in translation feature for automatic language translation. Chrome and Firefox extensions can be ported to Safari for the first time, and there's an option to choose which sites an extension can access for improved privacy.
YouTube now supports 4K video playback through Safari, and Apple added a new Privacy Report feature to let users know which trackers Safari is blocking when visiting websites. Mac users may already be familiar with these features as they were introduced in the Safari 14 update provided to macOS Catalina and macOS Mojave users.
Messages Updates
Messages is more similar to the Messages app on iOS with support for pinned conversations, mentions, inline replies, and Memoji creation, and the built-in search feature has been overhauled to make it a lot easier to find links, photos, and conversations within the app.
Overhauled Maps App
The Maps app for macOS has been redesigned with support for Look Around, indoor maps, and guides, which are lists of notable attractions and restaurants created by trusted sources, plus Maps can be used to generate directions for cycling routes and electric vehicle trips that can be sent to iPhone. Shared ETA updates are also now viewable on the Mac.
Photos Update
Photos includes a better Retouch tool, the Apple Music For You section has been replaced with a Listen Now section, HomeKit Secure Video cameras support Face Recognition and Activity zones, and Siri can answer a wider range of questions than before.
Battery Monitoring
There's a new Battery section in System Preferences for keeping an eye on battery, and the macOS App Store in the future will help users better understand privacy practices with clear info on the information that an app collects. After installing macOS Big Sur, future macOS updates will begin in the background and then finish much more quickly, which will make it easier to keep your Mac up to date.
Read More
There are tons of other new features that are coming in macOS Big Sur, so make sure to check out our macOS Big Sur roundup for a more complete list of everything that's new.
Following Apple's unveiling this week of Macs with the M1 chip, Serif has released new versions of its Affinity apps for Mac that include support for macOS Big Sur and compatibility with Apple Silicon machines.
This means that Affinity Designer, Affinity Photo, and Affinity Publisher can be installed and run on Apple's latest 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini without using Apple's Rosetta 2 translation layer.
Serif says that its suite of apps are now actively optimized for the M1 chip, "making Affinity apps the first professional creative applications to offer native M1 support."
This is great news for our users because the architecture of the M1, particularly having such a high-performance GPU with unified memory with the CPU, is perfect for professional creative applications. The advantages are particularly noticeable when working on documents with thousands of pixel layers, vector objects and text. Edits to pixel layers are best handled on the GPU, while vector and text on the CPU, so when you have unified memory, it allows much faster handling of these complex documents.
With the new M1 MacBook Air, Serif reports a three-times speed increase when using its software. Mac customers with the M1 can apparently expect a smoother, more responsive user experience when painting, pixel editing, using filter effects, document rendering, and more.
M1 also allows many more elements such as adjustment layers and live filters to be maintained before performance is constrained, allowing for a more non-destructive workflow, even in complex documents.
The 1.8.6 update for Affinity apps on macOS is now available.
HomePod mini reviews have now been shared by media outlets and YouTubers, providing us with the first impressions of the speaker's sound quality and design. We've rounded up some opinions of the speaker below. For more video reviews, see here.
HomePod mini is equipped with the same S5 chip as the Apple Watch Series 5, which Apple says allows the speaker to "analyze the unique characteristics of the music and apply complex tuning models to optimize loudness, adjust the dynamic range, and control the movement of the driver and passive radiators in real time."
I've used a lot of different smart speakers in my day, and honestly, I'm really impressed with the sound the company was able to get out of the 3.3-inch device.
It's full and clear and impressively powerful for its size.
Yet despite its much lower cost and smaller size, the HomePod Mini sounds phenomenal compared to other similarly priced speakers I've used. Even with the volume at only 40%, the HomePod Mini's sounds fill up my large living room richly and evenly.
Indeed, the sound blew me away when I first started streaming tunes. It didn't sound far off from the quality you hear from the original HomePod, yet it sounded twice as good to my ears to the similarly sized sub-$150 wireless speakers I'm used to hearing. After listening to the HomePod Mini for only a few days, when I went back to my old JBL wireless speakers—and even the speakers on my 16" MacBook Pro (which are fantastic speakers for a laptop)—both now seem tinny in comparison to the quality of the sound from the HomePod Mini.
In his YouTube review, Marques Brownlee likewise said the HomePod mini delivers "big sound":
Not everyone was equally impressed. The Verge's Dan Seifert said that while the HomePod mini sounds good, it doesn't sound as good as similarly priced competitors like the Amazon Echo and Google's Nest Audio:
So it sounds good, but I can't say the HomePod mini sounds great. And next to the larger Echo and Nest Audio, both of which cost the same, it simply can't keep up. It doesn't have the presence, volume, or sound stage of either, and it certainly can't match the Echo's bass output. As they say, there's no replacement for displacement.
Design
Forbes' David Phelan said the HomePod mini has a "cool, compact design" that is unmistakably HomePod with its mesh covering:
It's still unmistakably a HomePod though, with the familiar mesh covering that's soft to the touch, not that you'll be touching it all that much. And it comes in the same two colors as the original: a dark, smokey gray that's nearly black but softer-looking, called Space Gray, and white. The white isn't really white, because of the slightly darker color behind the mesh, making for a subtle but appealing look. Both are attractive and more or less indistinguishable from the HomePod shades.
Reviews confirm that the HomePod mini cable ends with a USB-C port for use with the included 20W power adapter in the box.
The Verge's Dan Seifert found the HomePod mini's touch control surface is harder to see from across a room than the Amazon Echo's glowing ring:
In my testing, I've found this light-up panel to be harder to see from across the room than the Echo's glowing ring. Unless you’re right next to the HomePod mini, it's hard to tell when Siri has heard your voice command and is responding.
Availability
HomePod mini is priced at $99 in the United States. Pre-orders began Friday, November 6, with the first deliveries to customers and in-store availability set to begin Monday, November 16. In addition to the United States, launch day countries include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, and the UK.
Apple's embargo has lifted on reviews for the HomePod mini ahead of the speaker launching on Monday. In addition to our in-depth HomePod mini reviews roundup, we've gathered a collection of unboxing videos and sound quality tests below.
As its name implies, the HomePod mini is a smaller version of the standard HomePod, standing just 3.3 inches tall. However, despite its more compact, spherical design, Apple says the HomePod mini still delivers "amazing sound" using "computational audio." The speaker is equipped with the same S5 chip as the Apple Watch Series 5, allowing the speaker to optimize loudness, adjust the dynamic range, and more.
Like the standard HomePod, the HomePod mini offers HomeKit smart home capabilities, handing off of audio from an iPhone, multi-user detection, ambient sounds, and compatibility with Apple's new Intercom feature for sending voice messages — from one HomePod to another, or to an iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, AirPods, or vehicle with CarPlay.
Videos
HomePod mini is priced at $99 in the United States. Pre-orders began Friday, November 6, with the first deliveries to customers and in-store availability set to begin Monday, November 16. In addition to the United States, launch day countries include Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Hong Kong, India, Japan, Spain, and the UK.
Philips Hue, known for its line of HomeKit-connected lights, has begun rolling out a new firmware update for the Hue Bridge that brings HomeKit Adaptive Lighting support to the Hue range of Ambiance lights (via iCulture). The rollout follows a month of beta testing with select Hue users.
Adaptive Lighting is an iOS 14 feature that's designed to allow HomeKit-connected lights to adjust their color temperature throughout the day. Warm colors are used in the morning, cooler colors are used midday, and blue light is reduced at night for better sleep.
To update your Hue Bridge, launch the Hue app, tap Settings, then scroll down and select Software Update. The version you want is 1941132070. Tap Update to install it. No new update is required for the lights.
After the update, launch the Home app and you should see message appear at the top indicating that your lights support Adaptive Lighting. Tap the message and you can choose which lamps to enable it for.
Color temperature shifts throughout the day without user interaction, using subtle transitions between color options. With Philips Hue, this works with both the White & Color Ambiance and the White Ambiance lamps, in all different shapes (candle lamp, E27, GU10, and so on).
