MacRumors

Apple is working on a series of new custom Apple silicon processors to power upgraded versions of the MacBook Pro, new iMacs, and a new Mac Pro for introduction as early as next year, according to a new report by Bloomberg.

Apple is said to be working on several successors to the M1 custom chip, its first Mac main processor that debuted in November in a new Mac mini, MacBook Air, and 13-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌. If they live up to expectations, they will significantly outpace the performance of the latest machines running Intel chips, according to Bloomberg's sources.

Chip engineers at the Cupertino, California-based technology giant are working on several successors to the M1 custom chip, Apple's first Mac main processor that debuted in November. If they live up to expectations, they will significantly outpace the performance of the latest machines running Intel chips, according to people familiar with the matter who asked not to be named because the plans aren’t yet public.

Apple's M1 chip was unveiled in a new entry-level MacBook Pro laptop, a refreshed Mac mini desktop and across the MacBook Air range. The company's next series of chips, planned for release as early as the spring and later in the fall, are destined to be placed across upgraded versions of the MacBook Pro, both entry-level and high-end iMac desktops, and later a new Mac Pro workstation, the people said.

The next two lines of Apple chips are said to be "more ambitious" than some industry watchers expected for next year, according to the report. Apple expects to finish the transition away from Intel and to its own silicon in 2022.

The current ‌M1‌ chip has four high-performance processing cores and four power-saving cores. For its next generation chip targeting ‌MacBook Pro‌ and iMac models, Apple is said to be working on designs with as many as 16 power cores and four efficiency cores.

Apple is also reportedly testing a chip design with as many as 32 high-performance cores for higher-end desktop computers planned for later in 2021, as well as a new half-sized Mac Pro planned to launch by 2022.

In addition, Apple is said to be developing more ambitious graphics processors. The current ‌M1‌ chip has an Apple graphics engine that comes in either 7- or 8-core variations. For Apple's future high-end laptops and mid-range desktops, the company is reportedly testing 16-core and 32-core graphics parts, with even more powerful custom graphics on the horizon:

For later in 2021 or potentially 2022, Apple is working on pricier graphics upgrades with 64 and 128 dedicated cores aimed at its highest-end machines, the people said. Those graphics chips would be several times faster than the current graphics modules Apple uses from Nvidia and AMD in its Intel-powered hardware.

Apple could still choose to hold back these more powerful chips in favor of lesser versions for next year's Macs, according to Bloomberg's sources. For example, Apple could choose to first release variations with only eight or 12 of the high-performance cores enabled depending on production. The report notes that chipmakers are sometimes forced to offer some models with lower specifications than they originally intended because of problems that emerge during fabrication.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple is transitioning to mini-LED displays for its Mac lineups next year, meaning some or all of the machines mentioned in today's report could come with the more advanced screens.

Kuo says Apple has six mini-LED products in the works that are set to debut in 2021, with Macs including a 14.1-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, a 16-inch ‌MacBook Pro‌, and a 27-inch ‌iMac‌.

ByteDance's deadline to divest itself of social media app TikTok has elapsed, but talks are set to continue with the U.S. government about a sale without another deadline extension, according to reports.

Last month, ByteDance was granted a seven-day extension on an order from the Trump administration to sell the short-form video sharing platform.

The deadline passed on December 5, but the Trump administration opted not to grant a new extension of an order requiring the Chinese company to divest TikTok's U.S. assets. However, talks will continue over the app's fate, reports Reuters.

A Treasury Department representative said late on Friday the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) "is engaging with ByteDance to complete the divestment and other steps necessary to resolve the national security risks."

Trump was said to have personally made the decision not to approve any additional extensions at a meeting of senior U.S. officials, according to a person briefed on the meeting. The government had previously issued a 15-day and seven-day extension of the initial 90-day deadline, which was Nov. 12, in Trump's order.

ByteDance remains in protracted talks with Walmart and Oracle on a deal that would divest it of the social media app and create a new U.S.-based company called TikTok Global.

In September, a federal judge granted TikTok a preliminary injunction that temporarily halted an order from the Trump Administration that would have banned new downloads of the app in the United States because of the perceived risks posed by their data collection practices and Chinese ownership.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

After a period of beta testing, Waze is now able to directly integrate with Apple CarPlay's multiscreen dashboard, as noted by users of the navigation app on the MacRumors forums.

In addition to CarPlay Dashboard support, the update appears to introduce in-app lane guidance for the first time.

Before the introduction of Apple's CarPlay Dashboard, users were required to switch between app screens to view audio controls and other information while navigating to a destination. The dashboard lets users see a map, audio controls, and more in a convenient split-screen view.

The feature, which was introduced in iOS 13 and initially limited to Apple Maps, was expanded in iOS 13.4 to allow third-party app developers to add support for the dashboard mode in their respective navigation apps.

(Thanks, Marco!)

Users on the Apple Developer forums and Reddit are widely reporting that iOS 14.2 causes severe battery drain issues.

Symptoms of the problem include rapid battery drain and longer charge times than usual. Some users are reporting that their devices are losing over 50 percent charge in less than 30 minutes, and seeing large drops of around five percent within minutes of normal use.

The issue seems to be software-related because multiple users are experiencing battery life sticking at a high percentage before dropping, as well as seeing a sudden gain in battery life after restarting their device.

The affected iPhones all appear to be slightly older, such as the iPhone XS, iPhone 7, iPhone 6S, and first-generation iPhone SE. The 2018 iPad Pro running iPadOS 14.2 also seems to be affected.

iOS 14.2 and iPadOS 14.2 arrived just two weeks after iOS 14.1 and iPadOS 14.1, in the second major updates to the iOS and iPadOS 14 operating systems that were released in September. The update included new emojis, Intercom, AirPods Optimized Battery Charging, People Detection, and new wallpapers.

There are no new reports suggesting that the battery issue was fixed in iOS 14.2.1, which sought to address bugs with MMS messages, made for iPhone hearing devices, and a significant issue with screen responsiveness on the iPhone 12 mini.

The third developer and public betas of iOS 14.3 and iPadOS 14.3 have already been released, so it is possible that Apple may fix the problem in that update. The third major update to iOS 14 and iPadOS 14 brings support for Apple ProRAW, as well as refinements to Home, Health, and Weather.

Users with older devices may wish to hold off on updating to iOS 14.2 if they have not already done so, until the issue has been fixed by Apple.

Twitter user @DongleBookPro has shared images of a prototype Macintosh Classic with a translucent casing.

The final retail Macintosh Classic used an iconic beige plastic, so it is rare to see one with a clear casing. This allows it to show off many of the Macintosh's internal parts, such as its nine-inch CRT monitor. It also highlights just how much empty space there was within the Mac.

DongleBookPro did not share any further information about the machine, but Apple has been known to prototype its devices using translucent casings, such as for the Apple Newton or the Macintosh Portable M5120. These prototypes with clear casings are very rare and fetch high prices when they come to auction.

DongleBookPro regularly posts images of unreleased Apple devices and prototypes. In August, they revealed images of an unreleased first-generation iPod touch prototype with a 2013 Mac Pro-style glossy black finish and a prototype first-generation Mac mini with a built-in dock for an iPod nano.

Apple this week announced its App Store Best of 2020 winners, recognizing 15 apps released over the course of the year. For the first time, winners are now receiving a physical award, and some developers have begun sharing their respective awards over the past few days.

Fantastical developer Flexibits, Genshin Impact, and Share the Meal have all provided photos of their awards. Constructed from 100 percent recycled aluminum, the square-shaped award features a mirror-like ‌App Store‌ logo on the front with the name of the winner engraved on the back.

Alongside the award, Apple is providing winners with a congratulatory letter that's signed by Apple CEO Tim Cook.

Congratulations! Your app is one of the best of 2020. Every year, the App Store celebrates exceptional apps that improve people's lives. These apps showcase the highest levels of quality, innovation and impact, and Apple is proud to recognize your app this year. Thank you for making a dent in the universe in 2020.

Along with Fantastical, Genshin Impact, and ShareTheMeal, other App Store award winners this year included Wakeout!, Zoom, Disco Elysium, Disney+, Dandara Trials of Fear, Endel, and Sneaky Sasquatch. Apple also highlighted Everything Whiteboard, Caribu, Pokémon Go, and Shine.

You'd think news and rumors would be settling down a bit as we get into December, but that certainly wasn't the case this week as we saw quite a bit of both. On the rumor front, the big one was a fresh report from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterating that Apple is planning for two redesigned MacBook Pro models next year featuring Apple Silicon and Mini-LED displays, with Mini-LED trickling down the MacBook Air in 2022.

MacRumors also obtained an internal memo for Apple service providers suggesting we could see some new hardware launched next Tuesday via press release. On the news side, Apple's MagSafe Duo Charger has finally launched, and we've gone hands-on with both the new charger and Apple's new Leather Sleeve for the iPhone 12 lineup. Read on below for details on these stories and more from the past week!

Two Redesigned MacBook Pros With Apple Silicon and Mini-LED Displays Expected in 2021, Followed by New MacBook Air in 2022

Apple plans to release two redesigned MacBook Pro models with Apple Silicon and Mini-LED displays in 2021, according to reliable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. He also expects a new MacBook Air with Apple Silicon and a Mini-LED display to launch in 2022, but it is unclear if it will sport a new design.

Kuo has previously claimed that the two MacBook Pros will be new 14-inch and 16-inch models set to launch in the late second quarter to third quarter of next year. Apple already announced that it plans to transition its entire Mac lineup to Apple Silicon within around two years, with other rumored models in the pipeline including a redesigned 24-inch iMac and a new Mac Pro that looks like the current design at about half the size.

Apple released the first three Macs with its custom M1 chip last month, including a new MacBook Air, low-end 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini. Apple said the chip delivers industry-leading performance per watt, as proven by impressive benchmarks and real-world usage tests.

Mini-LED backlighting has been long rumored for the Mac, and would deliver many of the same benefits as OLED displays on some other Apple devices, including higher brightness, improved contrast ratio, and increased power efficiency versus a traditional LCD. At least one upcoming iPad Pro model is also rumored to feature Mini-LED technology.

MagSafe Duo Charger for iPhone 12 and Apple Watch Now Available for Purchase

After being previewed at Apple’s iPhone 12 event in September, the MagSafe Duo wireless charger is now available for purchase on Apple.com, in the Apple Store app, and at select Apple Store locations. We've already gone hands-on with the new charger, so make sure to check out our video for our early impressions.

Priced at $129, the MagSafe Duo features a MagSafe charger and an Apple Watch charger embedded side by side in a foldable accessory, with power supplied by an included Lightning to USB-C cable. However, like the latest iPhones, Apple’s recommended 20W power adapter is not included in the box and must be purchased separately for $19 if needed.

It's worth noting that the ‌MagSafe‌ Duo is not able to charge iPhone 12 models at the full 15W supported by the standalone ‌MagSafe‌ charger, and is instead limited to a maximum of 14W when paired with a 27W or higher USB-C power adapter, according to Apple.

MagSafe Duo is compatible with all iPhones that support wireless charging, including the iPhone 8 and newer, in addition to every generation of the Apple Watch and AirPods/AirPods Pro with a wireless charging case.

AppleCare Memo Hints at Potential Hardware Announcement Next Tuesday

In an internal memo this week, obtained by MacRumors, Apple informed service providers that it has AppleCare-related changes planned for Tuesday, December 8 at approximately 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time. Specifically, Apple has advised technicians to prepare for new product SKUs and related descriptions/pricing updates.

Apple has issued nearly identical memos ahead of several previous product announcements, and 5:30 a.m. Pacific Time has been a common time for Apple to issue press releases introducing new products, so there could be a potential hardware announcement from Apple next Tuesday.

Last month, cryptic-yet-reliable Twitter user "L0vetodream" tweeted that there will be a "Christmas surprise from Apple," but it remains unclear which product(s) might be announced next Tuesday, if any. There have been countless rumors about Apple's item tracking AirTags, AirPods-branded over-ear headphones, and a new Apple TV with a gaming controller, but it is unclear if any of these products are ready to launch before the end of 2020.

Any announcement would almost certainly come via press release, as Apple is not expected to host any more events this year.

$99 Speaker Showdown: HomePod Mini vs. Amazon Echo and Google Nest Audio

Apple recently released the HomePod mini, and its $99 price tag makes it more competitive with affordable smart speakers from Amazon and Google.

‌Many reviewers and customers have praised the HomePod mini's high-quality sound at its price point, so in a recent hands-on video, we thought we'd compare it to Google's Nest Audio and Amazon's Echo to see how it measures up in terms of sound quality, design, and smarts.

Hands-On With the Leather Sleeve for iPhone 12 Models

Apple this year came out with a handful of accessories for the new iPhone 12 models, and in addition to the standard Silicone and Leather cases, there's also a new Leather Sleeve that recently went on sale.

We picked up one of the Leather Sleeves to check it out to see if it's worth the $129 that Apple is charging. The Leather Sleeve is available for the ‌iPhone 12‌, 12 Pro, 12 Pro Max, and 12 mini, with all of the Sleeves priced the same.

Also see our hands-on video with Apple's new MagSafe Wallet from last month.

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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.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

Apple today launched a new display replacement program for iPhone 11 devices to address a problem that cases a "small percentage" of ‌iPhone‌ 11 displays to stop responding to touch.

Apple says that affected devices were manufactured between November 2019 and May 2020, and if there are touch issues, the ‌iPhone‌ 11 models could have a problem with the display module.

Those with ‌iPhone‌ 11 models exhibiting this issue can have eligible devices serviced by Apple. ‌iPhone‌ 11 owners can use the serial number checker available through Apple's support document to see if their devices are part of the replacement program. For devices that are eligible, Apple or an Authorized Apple Service Provider will provide service at no charge.

Customers with ‌iPhone‌ 11 models in need of service can find an Apple Authorized Service Provider, make an appointment at an Apple retail location, or contact Apple Support to arrange a mail-in repair. The program covers affected ‌iPhone‌ 11 devices for two years after the first retail sale of the unit, and those who paid to have their devices repaired can contact Apple about a refund.

(Thanks, Holger!)

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets (ACM) today announced an investigation into contactless platforms on smartphones and the access that payment apps have to NFC capabilities.

According to the ACM, the software that's on some smartphones "only allows the developer's own payment app to connect to NFC communication," preventing third-party payment apps from also being able to use NFC capabilities.

Apple is not specifically mentioned in the press release, nor are any other smartphone manufacturers, but on iPhones, Apple Pay is the only payment method able to use NFC. Apple does not permit other financial apps to use NFC, which has resulted in disputes with some banks and financial institutions.

In Australia, for example, banks petitioned the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission in an effort to negotiate with Apple over ‌Apple Pay‌. The banks wanted open access for the NFC function on the iPhones. The bid was not successful and NFC continues to be restricted to ‌Apple Pay‌ on Apple devices.

The Netherlands Authority for Consumers and Markets says that limiting NFC on smartphones "may stifle innovation with respect to payment apps" as well as reducing freedom of choice for consumers and businesses.

The ACM plans to investigate whether limiting the payment apps' access to NFC does indeed reduce freedom of choice, and if that is indeed the outcome of the investigation, there could be a penalty, such as a fine.

As Bloomberg points out, ‌Apple Pay‌ is also under investigation by the European Commission to determine whether Apple's terms, conditions, and other measures related to the use of ‌Apple Pay‌ distort competition and reduce choice and innovation. The EC too is concerned that ‌Apple Pay‌ is the only mobile payment solution able to access NFC functionality for payments on Apple Devices.

For this week's giveaway, we've teamed up with Swiss company WhyWood to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a 3-in-1 "Pad X3" Wireless charger that's able to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods all at the same time.

WhyWood specializes in attractive wooden charging stations for smartphones and tablets, and the Pad X3 is one of the company's most advanced wireless chargers to date, combining modern charging technology with a wood and stone design not often seen in standard electronic accessories.

Priced at 159 Swiss Francs (which is about $177 in the United States), the WhyWood Pad X3 has a flat space for charging an ‌iPhone‌ (or another smartphone), an upright charging puck for an Apple Watch, and a space behind the Apple Watch charger for charging AirPods.

Though it's a three device charger, the Pad X3 is compact in size, and it features a walnut, oak, or black oak wood base combined with a white matte or marble acrylic stone charging surface. It measures in at 170mm long, 98mm wide, and 22mm thick.

The charging surface is able to charge an ‌iPhone‌ at up to 7.5W, which is the fastest Qi-based wireless charging speed available for iPhones, but it can charge other smartphones at up to 15W. It also offers full speed charging for both the Apple Watch and the AirPods with Wireless Charging Case or the AirPods Pro.

WhyWood includes a softer cork material underneath the Pad X3 that serves to protect both the wood base and the surface that the charger is placed on. The Pad X3 ships with a 1.5 meter charging cable and a power supply.

We have three of the Pad X3 wireless chargers from WhyWood to give away to MacRumors readers, which will include the white acrylic stone top and either a walnut or oak base. To enter to win our giveaway, use the Gleam.io widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, following us on Instagram, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

The contest will run from today (December 4) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on December 11. The winners will be chosen randomly on December 11 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Apple yesterday quietly expanded its Family Sharing App Store functionality, adding a new App Store toggle that allows family members to share in-app subscriptions with one another. Apple today confirmed that the functionality has now rolled out and that it's also applicable to in-app purchases.

In an update for developers, Apple says that it's now possible for them to enable Family Sharing for auto-renewable subscriptions and non-consumable in-app purchases, allowing all members of a family group to enjoy the benefits of these features.

You can now enable Family Sharing for auto-renewable subscriptions and non-consumable in-app purchases, allowing users to share their purchases with up to five family members. Family Sharing provides a streamlined, convenient user experience and can help you attract subscribers, encourage paid subscriptions, increase user engagement, and improve retention. Sales and Trends reports will be updated soon to help you understand the performance of family subscriptions.

Non-consumable in-app purchases include in-app purchases that unlock app features rather than those that use coins or other currency to purchase expendable in-app or in-game items.

Apple first announced these subscription and in-app purchase sharing options in June, and said that the functionality would come in iOS 14, iPadOS 14, and macOS Big Sur.

Developers can choose to implement Family Sharing for in-app purchases or subscriptions or can opt to require each member of the family to subscribe separately or make separate purchases.

Prior to now, if one member of a family purchased an app that included a subscription benefit or an app feature that was unlocked via an in-app purchase, there was no built-in way for those features to be shared with other family members.

The Settings section of the ‌App Store‌ now has a "Share New Subscriptions" feature that's enabled automatically for people who use Family Sharing. To access in-app purchases from an app purchased by another family member, the app should be downloaded from the family member's purchased history. These features will only be available for apps where developers have enabled Family Sharing functionality.

Apple has filed a patent application for an intense light-absorbant matte black finish for a range of products, including the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, and MacBook (via Patently Apple).

The patent application, filed with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, is titled "Anodized Part Having a Matte Black Appearance," and outlines the characteristics of the finish and possible manufacturing processes to achieve it. The patent notes that the finish can be used on a range of metals and metal alloys, including aluminum, titanium, and steel.

The finish comprises an anodized layer that includes "randomly distributed light-absorbing features that are capable of absorbing visible light." The layer contains pores, "where color particles are infused within the pores." The resulting surface is a deep, intense matte black.

A genuine black color is extremely difficult to achieve, with most commercial "black" products actually being dark gray or blue. The patent explains that "merely depositing dye particles within pores of an anodized layer is insufficient to impart a true black color."

One of the issues involved is that, generally, the truer the black, the higher the gloss of the finish, which in turn reflects a large amount of visible light. In etching the surface of an anodized layer with pores, Apple is able to absorb "generally all visible light" to deliver a truer black finish without increasing glossiness.

Apple's solution appears to be tantamount to existing true-black solutions such as "Vantablack," which is one of the darkest substances known, absorbing up to 99.965 percent of light.

Although there are other options such as skins, Apple has never offered a matte black MacBook. The company has experimented with a number of matte black finishes on other products, however, such as the ‌iPhone‌ 7.

Patent applications cannot be taken as proof of what Apple is intending to bring to market and many patented ideas never reach the shelves. Nonetheless, they provide an interesting insight into what Apple is researching and developing behind the scenes.

Satechi today announced a new USB-C Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable, which is a new wireless charging option for Apple's iPhone 12 models. Designed to work with the magnets built into the ‌iPhone‌ 12 lineup, the Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable adheres to the back of an ‌iPhone‌ much like Apple's MagSafe charger.

The Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable works attaches to an ‌iPhone‌ 12 with a magnetic connection, but it is not ‌MagSafe‌ and can charge an ‌iPhone‌ at a maximum of 7.5W like other Qi-based wireless chargers.

Though not able to charge at ‌MagSafe‌ charging speeds, Satechi's charger is convenient because it snaps right into the right spot for charging on an ‌iPhone‌ 12 model. It features a small wireless charging puck that's quite a bit smaller than standard Qi-based wireless chargers that don't have magnets for placement guidance.

The Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable has a space gray finish and the cable measures in at close to five feet so its long enough to use even in situations where an outlet isn't close at hand. It plugs into any USB-C power adapter, but does not ship with one.

Satechi's new wireless charging option is designed to work with the ‌iPhone‌ 12 models, but when paired with a new Magnetic Sticker, it is also compatible with the ‌iPhone‌ 11 lineup. The Magnetic Sticker is also required when using the charger with an ‌iPhone‌ 12 case that does not have built-in ‌MagSafe‌ magnets, but it does work alone on a naked ‌iPhone‌ 12 or an ‌iPhone‌ 12 with a ‌MagSafe‌ case.

The USB-C Magnetic Wireless Charging Cable can be pre-ordered from Satechi's website for $29.99. The Magnetic Sticker is available as a separate purchase for $9.99. Those who pre-order from today through December 16 can get 20 percent off a purchase using the promo code MAGNET.