Apple Sends Special T-Shirts to Apple Silicon Transition Teams
Source: The Twitter feed of Andy Boretto
While thousands and thousands of dollars worth of Apple shares may be cool, can you wear that to the gym? Okay, I guess with thousands and thousands of dollars you could buy stuff to wear to the gym, but that’s not the point. MacRumors says Apple employees who’ve been part of the Apple Silicon transition have received a T-shit commemorating the move. According to the piece:
Andy Boretto, who works at Apple as a senior software engineer, tweeted an image of a special t-shirt with the M1 chip and its accompanying glow, alongside a card from Apple that reads, "Every so often, something comes along that changes everything. Congratulations and thank you for helping make Apple M1 possible!”
I feel like that shirt should read, “My work changed the face of computing for decades to come an all I got was this lousy t-shirt.”
Or, “and all I got was this lousy t-shirt and $180,000 in restricted stock.”
That one’s for select engineers.
BlackBerry Consumer Services Going Dark on 4 January 2022
If your friend from 2009 doesn’t get back to you anytime soon, it may not be his or her fault. It’s just that their state-of-the-art Crackberry is going the way of the dodo. Engadget says BlackBerry has announced that “classic devices running BlackBerry OS 7.1 or earlier, as well as OS 10, will lose key services” effective Tuesday 4 January. “Key services” means no texting, no data service, and no phone calls - even to emergency services like 911. “You can also expect to have issues with Wi-Fi and apps like BlackBerry World and Desktop manager,” according to the report.
USA Today and Rolling Stone Name Apple TV+ Series “For All Mankind” Best of 2021
Source: Apple
Perhaps more surprising than a public willingness to steal a much talked about series is the praise for a series that seems to generate little buzz. Two publications have put the Apple TV+ series “For All Mankind” on their lists of best TV series of 2021.
Scratch that. The series didn’t just make the lists put out by USA Today and Rolling Stone magazine. It topped them. Apple Insider has the USA Today writeup saying:
The series is at its best in the second-season finale, involving a U.S.-Soviet standoff in space with the stakes of the Cuban missile crisis…
“Mankind” asks big questions and doesn't shy away from the worst tendencies of 20th-century America, all without careening into pedantic and patronizing territory…
As for the Rolling Stone writeup, MacDailyNews has that pub saying:
The second season of Apple’s unheralded sci-fi epic (…) delivered the year’s best, most assured, most intensely satisfying stretch of TV. As the action moved into the early Eighties and focused on tension between rival lunar bases, For All Mankind did what so many modern serialized dramas aspire to but rarely achieve: It told a collection of seemingly disparate stories that built in suspense and emotional resonance over the course of the season, until everything came together in a thrilling, beautiful conclusion…
Alright. Maybe I’ll give it another shot.
Room for “Ted,” Too
While “Ted Lasso” topped neither list, it was not left out. The USA Today list had team “Lasso” taking seventh-place on its 2021 TV show list. According to that writeup:
Plenty of TV shows that hit it big with audiences, critics and Emmy voters in their first season flounder in their second, but thankfully, producer and star Jason Sudeikis' “Lasso” isn't one of them.
Foundation and Piracy: Apple TV+ Series Among Most Pirated Shows of 2021
Source: Apple
While “Ted Lasso” may be the biggest hit for Apple TV+ so far, two of the streamer’s sci-fi titles grabbed a few positive notices in 2021. The first is either “positive in a negative” way or “negative in a positive way” - not sure which. A piece from Cult of Mac says the Apple TV+ series “Foundation” was among the top-ten most pirated shows of last year. Citing numbers from TorrentFreak, the piece says “Foundation” is the first show from the Cupertino-streamer to land on that list - coming in at number seven.
One wonders whether it would have landed higher on the list if Apple TV+ cost more than it does. Four of the top-five shows were Marvel titles from Disney+ - a few dollars more per month than the $4.99 charged for Apple TV+. The fifth was “The Witcher” from Netflix, which runs anywhere from $8.99 to $17.99 per month.
Or maybe it’s not about the money.
Apple Including “Year of the Tiger” AirTag with Select Purchases in Japan
Source: iDownloadBlog
In addition to China and Hong Kong, it is also the Year of the Tiger in Japan. While there seem to be no special AirPods or special Beats Buds on offer there, residents of the island nation do have a shot at a commemorative AirTag.
iDownloadBlog says the Cupertino-company is running a special New Year’s sale in Japan. Many of the specials include gift cards for future purchases. “But,” the piece says, “the real kicker is the aforementioned limited-edition AirTag.” It features a cute, Year of the Tiger engraved emoji that’s different than the one on the AirPods in China.
How do consumers get them? By buying something else. According iDownloadBlog:
Apple Japan says that the first 20,000 customers in Japan who purchase a new iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, or the latest iPhone SE will get the special AirTag.
The two-day, New Year promotion runs through 3 January 2022.
Apple Releases Special Edition “Year of the Tiger” Beats Studio Buds for China
Source: BeatsByDre.com.cn
For China specifically, something a bit more colorful than Year of the Tiger AirPods Pro to mark the new year. MacRumors says Apple subsidiary Beats has come out with a pair of “Year of the Tiger” Beats Studio Buds.
As with the “Year of the Tiger” AirPods Pro, the Studio Buds feature the same function and same price as a standard pair. MacRumors says:
The wireless earbuds feature a compact round design without any “stems” dropping below the ears, active noise cancellation with up to five hours of listening time per charge, hands-free “Hey Siri” support, IPX4-rated sweat and water resistance, Find My support, and a USB-C wired charging case.
But the Year of the Tiger pair is pretty. The commemorative units feature a red case with a white Beats logo, per usual, and gold tiger stripes on the case and the earbuds themselves, which is distinctive. The units are available through the Beats by Dre website in China.
Apple Releases Special Edition “Year of the Tiger” AirPods Pro
Source: Apple.hk
In certain regions on certain calendars, it is (or soon will be) the Year of the Tiger. Apple is marking the year with stuff. In China, Hong Kong, and other select regions, 9 to 5 Mac says the Cupertino-company “has released a new special edition pair of AirPods Pro…” Not unlike last year’s pair marking the Year of the Ox, the Year of the Tiger earbuds come in a case with a stylized tiger emoji engraved on it. The piece says the units also include “a set of 12 envelopes featuring emoji versions of each Chinese zodiac animal [sign].” And the company is also sporting a special Year of the Tiger Apple logo on select sites as well.
Apart from the engraving on the case, the AirPods Pro are standard. They include the same functionality and the same price as non-commemorative AirPods Pro in the regions in which they’re available. They’re now in stores and on Apple’s online store in the select regions.
Apple Puts Chennai Foxconn Plant on Probation Over Employee Living Conditions
Problems with a Foxconn plant in India were not as simple as food poisoning. I know there’s nothing simple about food poisoning. What I mean is, it’s worse than initially suspected. Headed into the holiday break we heard word that workers at a Foxconn plant producing iPhones in Chennai, India had demonstrated over cases of food poisoning. According to a piece from Apple Insider, “256 workers at the factory were treated as outpatients, while 159 were hospitalized.” That “led to protests blocking a key highway,” which brought out the police, which led to detainments. 70-or-so women were released after less than a day in custody, while 22-men were formally arrested, according to the report.
Initially, Apple said nothing about the incident, though the company did look into it, and did not like what it found. A report from The Mac Observer says “Apple has put the India iPhone factory on probation until Foxconn fixes the problems,” of which there are many. A separate report from The Mac Observer cites overcrowded living quarters, toilets with no running water, and - according to one village-level administrator, “no safeguards to prevent COVID-19 infections.”
One can see why Apple wouldn’t be pleased. The Mac Observer quotes an Apple spokesperson, saying:
We found that some of the remote dormitory accommodations and dining rooms being used for employees do not meet our requirements and we are working with the supplier to ensure a comprehensive set of corrective actions are rapidly implemented.
Workers will keep getting paid during the downtime, according to the report. Meanwhile, Foxconn is said to be “restructuring its local management team and systems, as well as making the promised improvements to living and working conditions.”
J.P. Morgan: iPhone 13 Line Nears Supply/Demand Balance
Source: Apple
Supply and demand for iPhone 13 got really chummy to end the year. Toward the end of the week last week, Apple Insider ran a piece that had JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee tracking wait times for Apple’s latest communicators. According to the analyst, the Pro phones are still the hardest to get, though they only require a bit of patience. On average globally, would-be buyers are looking at three-day waits for iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, and iPhone 13 Pro Max, with a five-day wait for iPhone 13 Pro. Breaking those waits down:
No wait for the lower end of the line in the U.S. Opting for an iPhone 13 Pro or Pro Max means waiting a day or two
No wait for the lower end of the line in China. Going iPhone 13 Pro means waiting five-days, while a Pro Max is only a day away
While waits for Pro phones may frustrate some buyers, it looks like good news for Apple. The report indicates that the “skew toward the higher-end models” bodes well for iPhone’s average selling price.
Chatterjee has a “Buy” rating on Apple shares. TipRanks shows his 12-month price target on the shares at $210.
Apple Shares Just Miss $3T Market Cap at Year’s End
Source: Apple Stocks App
With about a week-and-a-half since the last news roundup, it seemed we’d come back to Apple having hit a market cap of $3T. That did not happen, though it got wicked close.
Monday 27 December, MacDailyNews ran a piece saying that Apple had hit new intraday and closing highs. Shares started the last week of the year on a tear. They got as high as $180.40 before giving back the tiniest amount, closing at $180.29. That gave Apple a market value of $2.959 trillion.
A week later, shares are beginning a bit lower - Apple starts the first week of 2022 at $177.57 and a market cap of $2.91T.
Sporadic COVID Closures End the Year for Apple Retail
Source: Apple
While just about everyone is “done” with COVID-19, COVID-19 is not done doing its thing. A week ago today - just after the crush of Christmas shopping, Cult of Mac ran a piece saying that Apple had closed roughy 20 stores across the U.S. That article pulled from an article in The New York Times, which listed two reasons for the closures: Some went dark to stop the spread of the virus, while others closed “because not enough healthy employees were available to remain open.”
Several articles also said that Apple had closed its stores in New York City, though most of those closures seem to have ended. They’re not open for walk-ins, though. Checking the status for various stores around the city yielded the same message:
We are offering online order pick up and limited drop-in services for shopping and Genius Bar support at this location. Face Masks required. If you need one, just ask. You can also shop online with free two hour delivery and visit Apple Support where our teams are available to help.
One standout store seems to be Apple Williamsburg in Brooklyn. Apple’s site indicates that that location will not reopen until Saturday 8 January. While retail disruptions seem to be sporadic, Cult of Mac suggests checking a store’s status before heading that way.
Apple Adds Three New Colors to HomePod mini Line
An announcement about Apple’s small smartspeaker was close to its smallest announcement during Monday’s “Unleashed” event. The second bit of news Apple had to offer was a colorful announcement around HomePod mini. That’s it. The Cupertino-company’s brought three new colors to the diminutive speaker’s line. Joining the established white and black models are orange, yellow, and blue. The price for the device stays $99. Orders and shipping are set for sometime in November.
Apple Intros Third-Generation of AirPods at "Unleashed" Event
Coming in third for the biggest “Unleashed” announcement would have to be the third-generation of AirPods. Not a huge surprise here (thanks again, spoilers), though they are an impressive pair of noisemakers, inching up on a lot of performance formerly reserved for AirPods Pro. The new units feature adaptive EG, support for Spatial Audio, dynamic head-tracking, and Dolby Atmos.
Near as I can figure, about the only things that separate them from their Pro cousins are contours, active noice cancellation, and price. Though redesigned, the the AirPods “3” are single plastic units - no silicone nib for a more snug fit. They do not offer active noise cancellation, and they do cost less. We’ll get to cost in a moment.
AirPods “3” do have a force sensor for controlling various functions. They are sweat and water resistant. They offer six-hours of listening time on a full charge, though - in a pinch - five-minutes of charging gives one one-hour of listening time. They come with a MagSafe, wireless charging case… and now we can get to the price. AirPods “3” will run buyers $179. The second-gen units are still available. Their price dropped to $129 on Monday. Of course, AirPods Pro are still out there, coming in at $249. And the AirPods Max are still going over your ears for $549.
Orders for AirPods “3” started on Monday. They ship next week. As of this writing - ordering now would see units in your ears next Tuesday 26 October.
Apple Introduces M1 Pro and M1 Max Powering New 14” and 16” MacBook Pros
Monday was a big day for the Mac. At it’s “Unleashed” media event, Apple introduced the next processors in the “M” series - the M1 Pro and M1 Max.
Memory bandwidth for the M1 Pro is said by Apple to be nearly three-times faster than the M1. It has 32GB of unified memory, shared by the CPU and GPU. 33.7 billion transistors make up its circuitry - more than two-times as many as the M1. So far, I’ve only counted 1.2 million, though in my defense, my TV’s only 1080p.
M1 Pro sports a 10 core CPU - eight high-performance cores and two high-efficiency. Apple says the M1 Pro hits speeds as much as 70% faster than those attained by the M1. M1 Pro also sports between a 14 and 16 core GPU - up to twice the performance of its M1 predecessor, according to the company.
Sounds good, right? Well, get ready for it to sound weak. Memory bandwidth for the M1 Max is up to two-times that of the M1 Pro and up to six-times that of the M1. The unit sports up to 64GB of unified memory, 57 billion transistors, the same 10 core CPU as the M1 Pro - but a 32 core GPU. That gives M1 Max up to four-times the GPU performance of the M1.
Performance Against the Competition
Of course, it’s not just about how it compares to last year’s Macs. How do the new processors stand up to chips that power the PC side? It might be better to ask, “how do chips that power the PC side stand up to the latest in Apple’s ‘M’ series?” To hear Apple tell it, they do not. According to the firm - at peak, M1 Pro and M1 Max deliver 1.7-times the CPU performance as an eight-core PC laptop in the same power envelope. Dial the new “M” series processors back to match the marks hit by the PC and it does so using 70% less power. That does, of course, mean any machine it powers runs cooler and the battery lasts longer. Just because it can go all out doesn’t mean it has to all the time.
GPU performance versus PC counterparts sounds just as impressive. At its peak, the M1 Pro is said by Apple to be seven-times faster than integrated PC laptop graphics. Versus PC laptops with discrete GPU, M1 Pro offers a bit more performance, while using 70% less power.
And again, here comes M1 Max to make that look quaint. According to the company, M1 Max offers comparable performance to the highest performing PC laptop in terms of graphics, while using 100 watts less power. But here’s the amazing bit: To get its best performance, that PC laptop has to be plugged in. Run it on battery and its performance drops off, while M1 Max stays right where it was - blowing away that battery-powered PC.
So what can we use it to power?
New MacBook Pros Make the Scene
Surprising no one (thanks spoilers), Apple introduced two new laptops on Monday - a 14-inch MacBook Pro and a 16-inch MacBook Pro. The M1 Pro powers the 14-inch machine, while the the 16-inch device be driven by either M1 Pro or M1 Max.
The 14-inch machine is 15.5-mm thick or thin, weighing in at 3.5 pounds. The 16-inch Mac is 16.8-mm thick or thin, weighing in at 4.7 pounds.
The displays are bigger without being bigger. Apple’s shrunk the top and side boarders, yielding a 16.2-inch display on the 16 and a 14.2-inch display on the 14. Graphics performance was also addressed, but I sort of feel like we covered that.
They new MacBook Pros have a 1080p FaceTime camera, a studio-quality three-mic array, and a six-speaker sound system that supports Spatial Audio. I believe that that is true of both sizes. They no longer have a TouchBar, and they’re down one USB-C port. Lots of other ports made their way back, though. Addressing connectivity, Apple heralds the return of the HDMI port, the SD card slot, and MagSafe - not only does it bring its quick-releasing self back, but it brings the much missed (at least by me) charging indicator light. They’ve also got a Thunderbolt 4 port on one side and two USB-C ports on the other.
The performance most people care about most is probably the battery. The 14-inch MacBook Pro offers an insane 17-hours of video playback - seven extra hours versus the M1, according to the company. Meanwhile, the 16-inch machine offers a certifiably insane 21-hours of video playback.
The 14-inch machine starts at $1,999, though fully specked out, you can make it cost $5,899. In fairness though, $2,200 of that was the 8TB SSD. A 16-inch MacBook Pro powered by an M1 Pro starts at $2,499. That one you can kit up to $6,099. Interestingly, the 8TB SSD on that one costs $200 more than the SSD on the 14-inch machine. Not sure why. Finally, the 16-inch MacBook Pro powered by M1 Max starts at $3,499. You can max that one out at $6,099 - same price as the maxed out 16-inch machine. For some reason, the 8TB SSD is back down to $2,200 - which is even more confusing than jacking the price on the other 16-inch MacBook Pro.
You Want It When?
Orders started Monday for the new machines. They ship next week, though not if you weren’t at the front of the line. MacRumors ran a piece Monday afternoon saying that delivery dates for the machines had already slipped to November, with some already seeking delivery as late as December. Buying off the rack, i.e. without customization, gets gets you your machine sooner. Then again, you want what you want and need what you need. Of course, if you’re fine with the stock builds there’s still a chance of nabbing one next week. MacRumors points out that Apple should have those machines in-store next Tuesday 26 October.
Apple Goes "Unleashed" Today
In case you’ve lost track, Apple is pressing “play” on a media event today. Apple goes “Unleashed” at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern. You can catch the event on Apple’s Events page. A placeholder has turned up on both Apple TV and the Apple TV app. The company will stream the event on its YouTube channel. Post event, it should show up as a video podcast and an audio podcast. The tech press and the Twitteratti will be all over it. I’ll be chatting up a few people this week on “In a Few Minutes”, and - of course - we’ll hit the highlights on Tuesday’s edition of “Mac OS Ken.”
When and Ways to Watch Apple's "Unleashed" Event
Now doubt you’ve heard that Apple is pressing “Play” on another media event next week. Set for Monday 18 October, Apple goes “Unleashed” at 10AM Pacific/1PM Eastern. You can catch the event on Apple’s Events page. Though I’ve not seen it turn up yet, it seems a safe bet that it’ll be featured on both Apple TV and the Apple TV app. The company has also already set up a placeholder on its YouTube channel. Post event, it should show up as a video podcast and an audio podcast. Tweeters will tweet. Bloggers will blog. And I will - of course - hit the highlights on “Mac OS Ken” on 19 October, which is a Tuesday.
Apple Watch Series 7 Deliveries Move Quickly to November
Let me tell you the story of ordering my Apple Watch Series 7. I was still awake at 4AM on the west coast last Friday, so I sensibly decided to stay up until five. Went through my Apple Store app on my iPhone and at about three past five, I was in. Since there had been no “set up your order” feature as there was when iPhone 13 launched, I had to chose each thing individually. I chose the Midnight, 45mm, GPS with a Midnight Sport Band. Did I have an Apple Watch to trade? Yes I did. Read the terms and conditions, choose Apple Pay, decide about AppleCare+ - and deciding about one of those steps, I cannot remember which one… but deciding about one of those steps pushed my order from arriving this Friday 15 October to sometime between 8 November and 14 November.
It was eleven minutes past five.
Like an idiot, I hit cancel figuring I had screwed something up. Did it all again and, no… I didn’t screw anything up. The watch I wanted would arrive sometime between 8 November and 14 November.
Like an idiot, I hit cancel. No idea why I thought getting the same watch as a Nike device might work… but it did. My Apple Watch Nike Series 7 GPS, 45mm Midnight Aluminium Case with Anthracite/Black Nike Sport Band should be here this Friday 15 October.
It was 17 minutes past five.
I bring you all of that to illustrate how scarce the devices are likely to be. On Friday, 9 to 5 Mac ran a report, saying shipping estimates for Apple Watch Series 7 had quickly slipped to November. Like I said: Less than 10 minutes. I would call that quick. “As it stands right now,” said the site on Friday:
…the vast majority of Apple Watch Series 7 configurations, ranging from the entry-level aluminum model to the high-end titanium model, are quoting an estimated delivery date in the first or second week of November. If you’re looking for October 15 delivery, you might be able to schedule an Apple Store pickup, but you likely won’t be able to find one for delivery.
The Nike thing’s not gonna work, by the way. I just checked Apple’s site and the watch I ended up ordering now shows delivery between 16 November and 23 November. Same dates for the one I originally tried to order. Different colors and band options moved the delivery a few days. Spot checking a Stainless Steel model moves delivery to the first week of November, but - again - that’s spot checking. Punch up the watch you want and see, but it looks like Apple Watch Series 7 may be playing hard to get for a while, at least if you’re buying straight from Apple.
Latest Round of Apple Betas Out to Public Testers
Surprising no one, the betas seeded to developers on Wednesday ended up out to the public testing program on Thursday. iMore ran a couple of stories on a couple of the betas - one saying that the third iOS 15.1 public beta was out, and the other saying the same for the third public beta of iPadOS 15.1. Meanwhile, a piece from MacDailyNews heralded the third public beta of watchOS 8.1. And finally, it was a piece from MacRumors that let me know about the latest beta of macOS Monterey making it out to the plebs.
If you’re in the program, you know how to get what’s to be gotten. If you’d like to be part of that not so secret society - more info awaits at beta.apple.com.
Apple, Goldman Sachs Make Good on iPhone 13 Pre-Order 3% Daily Cash
If you tried to order an iPhone 13 with Apple Card on 17 September but could not, you may see something unusual in your balance. If you don’t remember what happened, there was a snag that morning for people trying to do the pre-order thing with Apple’s credit card. For four-hours and 36-minutes - starting right as pre-orders began - the Cupertino-company said, “Some Apple Card customers were not able to make iPhone Upgrade Program purchases.”
Folks had a decision to make: Switch to another payment method and miss out on the 3% Daily Cash Apple offers on such purchases, or keep trying with Apple Card and risk not getting the desired phone on day-one. A lot of people switched to a different payment method, though they were assured by Apple and Goldman Sachs (the bank that backs Apple Card) that the 3% Daily Cash would be honored. Which leads us to yesterday’s weirdness.
A piece from Apple Insider on Tuesday had people spotting “balance adjustments” to their Apple Cards, with no explanation as to why. “The only indication that the adjustment relates to pre-orders is the fact that it ‘matches perfectly with the 3% missed cash back,’” according to Apple Insider. The site says an explanation email had been expected, and it sounds like they got one, eventually.
I got an email from Tim on Tuesday - not that one. Rather, “Mac OS Ken” listener Tim wrote to me Tuesday, saying “I received the email from Goldman Sachs that was referenced in your piece last week…” He also sent along that email, which said in part.
You successfully completed your iPhone pre-order with a payment method other than Apple Card. We understand that your initial purchase attempt with Apple Card was declined and you didn't earn 3% Daily Cash.
We apologize for the inconvenience you experienced and want to make it up to you. We are providing you a credit for the Daily Cash on the initial payment of your iPhone 13. You’ll see this appear as a Balance Adjustment in the Wallet app.
Boy, it’s all about timing, huh?
Thanks for sending that my way, Tim. You definitely rock.
Waits Lengthen for iPhone 13 Pro/Pro Max
iPhones in the 13 Pro line are still tough to get. MacRumors ran a piece Friday saying folks looking to buy an iPhone 13 Pro or 13 Pro Max in Canada, the U.K., and the U.S. were looking at waits of three-to-four weeks.
Of course, I had to go looking. And I did not see any of that three-week business. Spot checking for both of the phones in the Pro line showed delivery times of four-to-five weeks, with one in my hands between 4 November and 11 November.
iPhone 13 mini was kind of interesting. Order for delivery and I’d be waiting until sometime between 15 October and 20 October. If I’d been willing to pay $9.00 for delivery or head to a store though, I could have had one yesterday.
iPhone 13 was particularly interesting. The 128GB seems to be hardest to get. Trying that in a few different colors yielded delivery dates between 25 October and 28 October. That was true for other storage sizes as well, unless I was either willing to go to the store myself or pay $9.00 for delivery. Do that and I could have it in my hot little hands within a couple of hours. Again though, that differed depending on color and configuration.
If you want to build an availability map for yourself, try ‘em all. And if you actually want to get a new iPhone, give that a go as well. You can even try something in the Pro line. But for those, you are probably looking at a month or more, at least as far as ordering from Apple is concerned.