Apple today added new Solo Loop and Sport Apple Watch bands to its online store, expanding the number of colors available for the two band options.
Both the Solo Loop and the Sport Band now come in an orange shade called Kumquat, a lighter blue that Apple is calling Northern Blue, and a deeper purple red called Plum. Plum and Kumquat match iPhone 12 Silicone cases available in the same shades.
Apple last introduced new band colors in September with the launch of the Apple Watch Series 6 and the Apple Watch SE, which is also when the new Solo Loop bands were debuted.
The Solo Loop has a clasp-free design and comes in nine different sizes, which can make finding the right fit difficult. For those interested in purchasing a Solo Loop, we have a fit guide available.
Nanoleaf, the company that makes wall-mounted modular light panels in various shapes, today announced the launch of a line of "Essentials," which includes a new light bulb and lightstrip.
The Smart Color Changing LED Bulb and LED Lightstrip are simpler, everyday lighting options that are meant to be used alongside the light panels. Compatible with HomeKit, both the bulb and the lightstrip have support for HomeKit Adaptive Lighting, which allows them to shift color temperatures during the day.
Cooler lighting temperatures that better match daylight are used during the day, and at night, the lights will cut down on blue lighting to allow for better sleep. The Essentials Bulb, which has a unique shape, supports color temperatures from 2,700 to 6,500K and feature an average brightness of 806 lumens with a max brightness of 1,100 lumens.
The Lightstrip has four white LEDs per LED set, two warm and two cool, and there are 21 LED sets per meter. The Lightstrip measures in at 80 inches and can be augmented with 40 inch expansion strips. Lightstrips can be cut as needed and can reach a maximum of 10 meters with brightness between 2,000 and 2,200 lumens.
According to Nanoleaf, the Essentials are the first smart lighting product to work with Thread, which is a low latency and low power mesh network. With Thread support, users can count on improved connectivity, a wider control range, and an option for setting custom schedules.
Nanoleaf plans to add smart features and integrations in future updates such as Color Scenes, Screen Mirror, and Rhythm Music Sync, which will be made available through the Thread support. No hub is required for Nanoleaf's products, which will connect to HomeKit over Bluetooth.
Nanoleaf's Essentials are launching exclusively in Apple retail stores and the Apple online store. The Nanoleaf Essentials A19 Bulb is priced at $20 and the Nanoleaf Essentials Lightstrip is priced at $50.
Apple's new Mac mini and 13-inch MacBook Pro models with the custom-designed M1 chip are compatible with up to a 6K display, including Apple's Pro Display XDR. By comparison, the previous-generation Intel-based Mac mini and Intel-based entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro with two Thunderbolt 3 ports support up to a 5K display.
The new MacBook Air with the M1 chip can also drive a 6K display, but so can the previous Intel-based MacBook Air released earlier this year.
6K display support is becoming widespread across the Mac lineup, with other capable models including the 2018 and newer 15-inch or 16-inch MacBook Pro, 2020 13-inch MacBook Pro with four Thunderbolt ports, 2019 or newer iMac models, and 2019 Mac Pro. Apple's Pro Display XDR is also compatible with any Mac model with Thunderbolt 3 ports that is capable of being paired with a Blackmagic eGPU.
The new Mac mini, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and MacBook Air mark the beginning of Apple's transition away from Intel processors in Macs. In June, Apple revealed its plans to begin using its own custom chips in Macs, promising industry-leading performance per watt. At the time, Apple said that the transition would take about two years to be completed.
Apple says the M1 chip delivers up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, up to 6x faster GPU performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning, while enabling battery life up to 2x longer than previous-generation Macs.
Apple today updated its Returns Policy for the holiday period, extending the time in which holiday gifts and purchases can be returned in the United States.
Items purchased from the Apple Online Store that are received between November 10 and December 25, 2020 can be returned to Apple until January 8, 2021, offering holiday shoppers more than two weeks to make returns.
These dates are applicable for the U.S. store, but Apple also extends return periods in other countries as well. The time available for a return can vary by country, so before making an Apple purchase as a gift, it's worth checking the return policy where you are located.
Items purchased at the Apple Online Store that are received between 10 November and 25 December 2020 may be returned up to 8 January 2021. Please note that all other terms and conditions provided in the Apple Online Store Sales and Refunds Policy are still applicable with respect to such items purchased. All purchases made after 25 December 2020 are subject to the Standard Returns Policy.
Some items are excluded from the return policy, such as Apple and App Store gift cards, but iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple TV, and accessory purchases can be returned. Purchased devices can be opened and used prior to being returned, but they must be in their original packaging.
Purchases received prior to November 10, 2020 or after December 25, 2020 will be subject to Apple's standard 14 day return policy.
Along with announcing the new holiday return period, Apple today also shared its annual gift guide. The gift guide features holiday-themed Apple product graphics and suggestions for gifts like iPhones, AirPods, Apple gift cards, Apple Watch, HomePod mini, and more.
The M1MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini are the first of Apple's Macs to support WiFi 6, or 802.11ax. WiFi 6 support started rolling out in Apple devices with the March 2020 launch of the iPad Pro, but Apple did not include the feature in Macs refreshed earlier in the year.
WiFi 6 brings faster speeds, expanded network capacity, lower latency, and improved power efficiency, plus it is ideal for homes where there are many WiFi-connected smart home products in use. With more and more routers starting to offer WiFi 6 performance, the update is a welcome change to the Mac lineup.
None of the Macs refreshed today got major design changes, but the MacBook Air features an updated row of function keys that gains Spotlight search instead of Launchpad, and a dictation key and a Do Not Disturb key in place of the function keys that used to be available for adjusting keyboard brightness.
The Fn key at the bottom of the keyboard has also been updated to serve as an emoji key for bringing up emoji on the MacBook Air.
Aside from these function key updates, the M1 MacBook Air uses the same scissor switch keyboard that Apple added to the 2020 MacBook Air earlier this year. The scissor switch keyboard is more reliable than the prior-generation Butterfly Keyboard and not prone to failure due to exposure to crumbs and other small particulates.
The new M1 Macs are available for purchase as of today from Apple's online store, and the first orders are set to arrive to customers on November 17.
Apple's new M1-equipped MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini do not appear to be compatible with eGPUs, including the Blackmagic eGPU that Apple has promoted alongside other Macs and that is available through the online store.
As noted on Twitter, under the lists of accessories compatible with the new Macs, the Blackmagic eGPU is not listed. In the image above, the eGPU is listed as compatible with the Intel MacBook Pro models still available, but not compatible with the M1 models.
I assumed the M1 Macs would support eGPUs since they have Thunderbolt ports but I was wrong. Maybe a software update can bring back eGPU support to Apple Silicon Macs? https://t.co/M0ixmEkeKz
— Steve Moser (@SteveMoser) November 10, 2020
The same is true for the Mac mini, which also comes in both M1 and Intel varieties. MacBook Air models have all been replaced with M1 chips, and none of those machines support eGPUs.
With no eGPU options available at the current time, the new Macs will have to reply on their own M1 chips with built-in GPUs. All M1 chips feature an 8-core GPU with the exception of the M1 chip used in the entry-level MacBook Air, which has a 7-core GPU.
Update: Apple has confirmed to TechCrunch that the M1 Macs do not support eGPUs.
Apple today held a third fall event, this time focused on Macs. Apple announced new MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini models, all of which are equipped with the first Apple Silicon chip, the M1.
It took Apple a little bit under an hour to introduce all of the new devices during the "One More Thing" event, but we've recapped all of the announcements in just six minutes for our readers who want quick but thorough overview of the announcements.
The new Mac mini, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and 13-inch MacBook Air are available to order today from Apple's website. The machines will begin arriving to customers on November 17.
Apple's new 13-inch MacBook Pro and 13-inch MacBook Air models are equipped with the M1, which is the first Apple Silicon chip. In addition to bringing impressive performance improvements, the M1 chip also significantly increases battery life.
The battery in the MacBook Air (49.9WHr) lasts for up to 15 hours with wireless web browsing and up to 18 hours when watching movies using the Apple TV app. The prior-generation model lasted for up to 11 hours when browsing the web, or up to 12 hours when watching movies.
Battery life is even better in the new MacBook Pro, which has a 58.2 WHr battery. The battery lasts for up to 17 hours when browsing the web and up to 20 hours when watching a movie using the Apple TV app. The prior-generation MacBook Pro lasted for up to 10 hours when browsing the web and up to 10 hours when watching movies.
Long battery life is enabled through the four high-efficiency cores that are included in the M1. Apple says that alone, the four cores offer similar performance as the dual-core MacBook Air but at much lower power, providing an efficient way to run simple tasks like checking email or browsing the web.
When needed, the new machines also engage the four high-performance cores of the M1 chip for more demanding tasks and better CPU performance. Apple promises that the M1 chip brings up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, 6x faster GPU performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning.
Humorously, the event ended with a brief appearance from John Hodgman, known as the PC guy in Apple's iconic "Get a Mac" ads from 2006-2009. Matching his persona from those ads, Hodgman attempted to justify his louder operation and inferior battery life as a PC compared to the new fanless MacBook Air with up to 18 hours of battery life.
Hodgman can be seen at the 45:27 mark of the Apple Event. We've also embedded a user-uploaded clip below, but it might be removed at some point by Apple:
Justin Long, who played the Mac in the ad campaign, did not make an appearance today.
Apple's new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini with the Apple-designed M1 chip are now available to order on Apple.com and through the Apple Store app, and they will be available in stores starting November 17. Pricing starts at $999 for the MacBook Air, $1,299 for the 13-inch MacBook Pro, and a lowered $699 for the Mac mini.
The new M1-equipped MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini are each equipped with two USB-C ports that support USB 4 and Thunderbolt, but as it turns out, Apple is continuing to use Thunderbolt 3 rather than upgrading the new models to Thunderbolt 4.
Intel in July shared details on Thunderbolt 4, which is coming out in new PCs with Tiger Lake processors. Thunderbolt 4 offers the same 40Gb/s maximum speeds available through Thunderbolt 3, but it does bring some notable improvements, such as support for docks with four downstream Thunderbolt ports. From Intel:
Double the minimum video and data requirements of Thunderbolt 3.
Video: Support for two 4K displays or one 8K display.
Data: PCIe at 32 Gbps for storage speeds up to 3,000 MBps.
Support for docks with up to four Thunderbolt 4 ports.
PC charging on at least one computer port.
Wake your computer from sleep by touching the keyboard or mouse when connected to a Thunderbolt dock.
Required Intel VT-d-based direct memory access (DMA) protection that helps prevent physical DMA attacks.
Intel has also designed new cables that support Thunderbolt 4 and USB 4, with longer lengths that don't compromise the 40Gb/s speeds. Thunderbolt 4 uses the same physical USB-C connector design, and Thunderbolt 4 ports and cables are backward and cross-compatible with USB 4, Thunderbolt 3, and other USB standards.
Apple's M1 Macs, which include the MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini, are available for purchase today and will begin arriving to customers on November 17.
The new 13-inch MacBook Pro with an M1 chip replaces the lower-end MacBook Pro models that were previously available, and Apple is continuing to sell it right alongside higher-end models that continue to feature Intel chips.
Apple introduced the Intel-equipped MacBook Pro models in May 2020. They're available for $1,799 and $1,999 alongside the $1,299 and $1,499 M1 MacBook Pro models.
Because the M1 MacBook Pro models are replacing the lower-end models, it's worth noting that the machines have just two USB-C ports that offer Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4, while the higher-end models have four ports.
The Mac mini models with M1 chips, priced at $699 and $899 depending on storage, are also being sold alongside an older Intel-equipped Mac mini model. The MacBook Air models, however, use M1 chips across the board and Apple no longer offers a MacBook Air with an Intel chip.
Despite the transition to Apple Silicon, Apple plans to continue to support Intel chips for years to come. Apps built using the new Universal App binary will be able to run on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs going forward.
During today's event where Apple unveiled the new MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models, there was a mention of a new image signal processor for the camera, which brings some improvements to camera quality.
Apple did not, however, add new camera hardware to the two machines, and the technical specifications pages continue to list the same 720p camera used in prior-generation models.
Camera quality, especially in the MacBook Air, has been something that Mac owners have complained about for years now. Apple has gone through many generations of the MacBook Air without adding any new camera hardware.
Apple says the M1 chip improves MacBook camera quality with better noise reduction, greater dynamic range, improved auto white balance, and ML-enhanced face detection so users "look their best during video calls," but we'll need to wait to see the camera tested out to see if there's a notable difference between this model and the prior model.
The newly announced MacBook Air and MacBook Pro models that Apple announced today are equipped with the same 8-core M1 chip that also offers an integrated GPU, with Apple offering no CPU upgrades.
There is, however, a GPU upgrade available for the MacBook Air. By default, the MacBook Air ships with an M1 chip with a 7-core GPU, while the MacBook Pro has the same M1 chip with an 8-core GPU.
If you choose the $1,249 MacBook Air model with a 512GB SSD, it upgrades to an 8-core GPU instead of the default 7-core GPU, but there is no custom configuration option to choose the lower tier model with the upgraded 8-core GPU option.
Both the MacBook Air and the MacBook Pro can be customized with more RAM and more storage space. The Mac mini also has the same M1 chip with 8-core GPU as the MacBook Pro with no GPU/CPU upgrade option available. The new models are available today and will start shipping out next week.
Apple today seeded a second macOS Big Sur 11.0.1 release candidate to developers for testing purposes, with the new RC coming one week after the first macOS Big Sur RC was released.
The macOS Big Sur beta can be downloaded through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, subsequent betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.
macOS Big Sur introduces a refreshed design to the Mac operating system, overhauling the entire look from the curvature of the window corners to the dock icons to the system sounds. Everything features a lighter and more modern appearance. There's a new customizable Control Center that mirrors the Control Center on iOS devices, putting key system controls right at your fingertips.
The Notification Center has been redesigned with iOS-style widgets that are available in multiple sizes, plus there are more interactive notifications that are now grouped by app to make it easier to see what's going on. Safari is faster and more battery efficient, plus there's a new start page that can be customized with wallpapers and sections that include Reading List and iCloud Tabs, which makes Safari more tailored to your individual usage needs.
Tabs now support webpage previews, there's a built-in language translation feature, Chrome and Firefox Extensions can be ported to Safari, and YouTube supports 4K video playback. There's also an option to choose which sites an extension works with for greater privacy. Speaking of privacy, a new Privacy Report feature lets users know the trackers Safari is blocking when you visit websites.
Messages has been brought in line with the Messages app on iOS with support for pinned conversations, mentions, inline replies, and Memoji creation, plus the built-in search feature has been overhauled to make it easier to find links, photos, and conversations in the app.
Apple redesigned the Maps app to add support for Look Around, indoor maps, and Guides, which are lists of notable attractions, restaurants, and more created by trusted sources. Maps can also be used to generate directions for cycling routes and electric vehicle trips that can be sent to iPhone, and shared ETA updates are now viewable on the Mac.
For more on everything that's new in macOS Big Sur, make sure to check out our roundup. macOS Big Sur will see a public launch on Thursday, November 12.
Apple's new MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini with the Apple-designed M1 chip are now available to order on Apple.com and through the Apple Store app, and they will be available in stores starting November 17.
The new MacBook Air starts at $999, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro starts at $1,299, and the new Mac mini starts at $699.
Apple today announced that macOS Big Sur will be released on Thursday, November 12. The news came out of Apple's "One More Thing" event, where it revealed new Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro models with the M1 chip.
macOS Big Sur was previously revealed at WWDC in June, and will feature an overhauled look with what Apple is calling the biggest design update to macOS since the introduction of Mac OS X. This includes overhauling the curvature of window corners and dock icon designs.
While subtle, the changes should have a fresh feel in comparison to the current macOS. Other changes include lighter windows with additional translucency, a more translucent dock, app icons with a new uniform squircle shape, redone system sounds, and more.
There's a refreshed menu bar with access to a customizable Control Center that includes Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and AirDrop controls, keyboard brightness, Do Not Disturb, Dark Mode, sound level, and more. Likewise, Notification Center is redesigned with more interactive notifications grouped by app and iOS-style widgets with customizations in three different sizes.
Many of the first-party Apple apps have seen improvements and overhauls as well. Safari is faster and more battery efficient; Messages now support effects, @mentions, inline replies, and more; Maps supports Look Around, indoor maps, and Guides; Photos has expanded editing features; and Apple Music includes a new Listen Now section.
There are many more additions coming to macOS Big Sur on November 12, so be sure to read our full roundup if you're interested. For more coverage on today's event, check out our posts on the new Mac mini, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro.
Apple today introduced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro, its third announced Mac powered by the company's custom M1Apple Silicon chip with integrated graphics processor.
The first Apple Silicon 13-inch MacBook Pro replaces the low-end 13-inch Intel model, but Apple's M1 chip boasts a more powerful 8-Core CPU and an 8-Core GPU featuring a 16-core Neural Engine, which when paired with the MacBook Pro’s active cooling system, is up to 2.8x faster than the previous generation, according to Apple, making it up to 3x faster than the best-selling Windows laptop in its class.
Machine Learning is up to 11x faster, and for on-device Machine Learning tasks that use the Neural Engine, the new 13-inch MacBook Pro is now the world's fastest compact pro notebook, says Apple. It also features up to 17 hours of wireless web browsing and up to 20 hours of video playback, which is up to twice the battery life of the previous generation, making it the longest battery life ever on a Mac.
"There has never been a chip like M1, our breakthrough SoC for the Mac. It builds on more than a decade of designing industry-leading chips for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, and ushers in a whole new era for the Mac," said Johny Srouji, Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Technologies. "When it comes to low-power silicon, M1 has the world's fastest CPU core, the world’s fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer, and the amazing machine learning performance of the Apple Neural Engine. With its unique combination of remarkable performance, powerful features, and incredible efficiency, M1 is by far the best chip we’ve ever created."
Other new features in the new 13-inch MacBook Pro include 802.11ax Wi-Fi 6 and studio-quality mics, while Apple’s latest camera ISP in the M1 chip enables sharper images and more detail in shadows and highlights on video calls. The new MacBook Pro also includes Apple's Secure Enclave in the M1 and Touch ID, and features two Thunderbolt ports with USB 4 support. The laptop weighs 3-pounds and features a Magic Keyboard and a Retina display.
Starting at $1299, the base configuration comes with 8GB of unified memory configurable up to 16GB, and 256GB of solid state storage configurable up to 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB. Starting at $1499, the mid-tier model also comes with 8GB of unified memory configurable up to 16GB, but has 512GB of solid state storage as standard, configurable up to 1TB or 2TB. Pre-orders are now open on Apple's online store, with deliveries scheduled to begin November 17.
Thanks to the introduction of the M1 chip, the Mac mini's 8-core CPU provides faster performance than the previous generation. Specifically, Apple says that the M1-powered Mac mini is able to compile code in Xcode up to three times faster, play a graphics-intensive game with up to four times higher frame rates, and render a complex timeline in Final Cut Pro up to six times faster.
The new Mac mini also features an advanced thermal design to sustain performance, allowing it to stay cool and quiet. It supports up to two displays and Wi-Fi 6 for faster wireless performance. There's also the Secure Enclave in M1 for what Apple describes as best-in-class security.
Apple says the 5-nanometer M1 chip supports Thunderbolt 3 and USB4 support, and boasts the world's fastest integrated graphics with a 16-core Neural Engine that can process 11 trillion operations per second.
Alongside new MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models, the new Mac mini is part of Apple's transition away from Intel processors in Macs. In June, Apple revealed its plans to begin using its own custom Apple Silicon processors in Macs, promising industry-leading performance per watt. Apple said that the transition would take about two years to be completed.
The Mac mini with M1 is available to order today on Apple.com, and then it will begin to arrive to customers November 17. The Mac mini is available at $699 for 256GB storage — down from a starting price of $799 previously — and at $899 for 512GB storage.
