Professionals looking for a more powerful MacBook will get really significantly more performance by upgrading to an M3 Max processor instead of the M3 Pro.
It’s no surprise that the Max version of one of Apple’s new chips is faster than the Pro, but many people might not be aware how very much faster it is.
Samsung just launched the T5 EVO, a consumer-oriented solid state drive that provides up to 8 terabytes of storage, the most currently available in a portable SSD.
And the lower-capacity versions cost less than the equivalent Samsung T9 pro-grade drives that also hit store shelves recently.
French iPhone users now have access to Tap to Pay, which enables businesses to accept contactless payments from credit cards directly on their iOS handset – no additional hardware required.
The service has been gradually roiling out around the world since it launched in 2022.
Apple is reportedly on the list of streaming services with the option to acquire Coyote vs. Acme, a film Warner Bros. made but recently decided to not release.
It’s a story of Wile E. Coyote attempting to catch the Road Runner from the classic cartoons. John Cena stars in the film.
The good news is that iPhone could finally allow users to install applications directly starting in 2024, according to a reliable source. The bad news is that being able to go without the App Store will only be an option in Europe.
To be clear, sideloading is required by EU law so it’s definitely happening. The timing isn’t clear, though.
Tests show that the 8GB version of the M3 MacBook Pro is significantly slower than the 16GB version when running Photoshop, Blender and other graphics applications.
And there are performance differences for other types of apps, too. But these are not as dramatic. If you’re trying to decide between different configurations, it’s worth considering which models rank among the best Macs for video editing to ensure you get the best performance for your needs.
Steve Wozniak suffered a minor stroke but is now recovering at home.
The Woz is now 73 but not really retired from a career that included co-founding Apple with Steve Jobs in 1977.
iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can record ProRes video at 4K and 60 fps, but only if the handset is connected to an external drive that’s fast enough to handle it. To find out if your SSD is up to the job, there’s OWC Drive Speed.
This new app verifies transfer speeds between your iPhone and external drives. It displays the maximum frames per second a drive can handle. Because you don’t want to find out on the day of the shoot that the SSD you’re counting on is a dud.
Those eager to watch Masters of the Air should be thrilled by the first teaser trailer for the upcoming WWII drama series from Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks.
It’ll hit Apple TV+ in January and will be a gritty look at the perilous air war in the skies over Germany — as the trailer makes clear.
★★★★★
Have an M.2 NVMe drive you want to use with your MacBook or iPad? Put it in the HyperDrive Next USB4 NVMe SSD Enclosure and you can access the contents at speeds up to 40Gbps.
I plugged a solid state drive of mine into this very rugged enclosure to put it to the test.
Backbone updated the USB-C version of its popular game controller just in time for the iPhone 15 series, Apple’s first handsets with a USB-C port.
Like earlier versions, this wraps around an iOS or Android handset to put a collection of buttons, sticks and triggers on either side of the landscape screen.
The classic horror game Resident Evil 4 will make its iPhone and iPad debut on December 20. It’s a demonstration of the gaming capabilities of Apple’s most powerful mobile devices.
This is one of multiple console titles being ported to Apple handsets and tablets thanks to their highly capable processors.
Apple Music joined the ranks of the Swifties. Taylor Swift was picked to be Apple Music’s Artist of the Year for 2023.
“I am so honored to be Apple Music’s Artist of the Year,” said Swift. “Thank you to every single one of you for making this year the most incredible, joyful, celebratory year ever. From streaming the music nonstop to screaming it together in real life at the shows, dancing chaotically in movie theaters, none of this would have been possible without you. Thank you so much.”
Work on the operating systems Apple will release in 2024 was reportedly halted temporarily because the code had become extremely buggy.
The move affected iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15 and watchOS 11, none of which are expected to reach users for almost a year.
★★★★☆
The just-launched Apple Pencil includes USB-C charging, making it easy to use with the budget iPad. While top quality, the new model doesn’t have all the features of Apple Pencil 2 but costs $50 less.
I tested the stylus with my iPad and found reasons to like it even more than the premium version.
Apple just introduced iOS 17.1.1 to patch a nasty glitch with BMW cars. And there’s watchOS 10.1.1, a promised fix for a battery bug affecting many Apple Watch users.
Plus Mac users can now install macOS Sonoma 14.1.1 with its own bug patches. And don’t overlook iPadOS 17.1.1.
Mac gamers can soon enjoy Stray. Players become a cat wandering through a cyberpunk city in this very popular and award winning title. It’ll debut for macOS in only a few weeks.
The macOS release is well timed to fit with Apple’s new push for Mac gaming.
The upcoming Final Cut Pro version 10.7 brings in improvements to timeline navigation and organization, as well as new changes that Apple says will simplify complex edits.
And Final Cut Pro for iPad 1.3 includes new features intended to enhance using the professional-grade video-editing application on a touchscreen.
Belkin designed its new BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Dock for iPhone and Apple Watch to blend into its environment. The dual-device charging stand is intended top be both useful and esthetically pleasing.
Apple likes it enough to sell it in its online store.
Players can create a soccer club dynasty in Football Manager 2024 Touch. The newest version of the team management simulation game from Sega & Sports Interactive challenges players to be the boss of one of the world’s best clubs.
It launched Monday on Apple Arcade, where its playable on a range of devices, including iPhone and Mac.
Fans of all-in-one desktops are about to get the improved iMac they’ve been waiting for. The first reviews of the 2023 version are out and they’re full of praise for performance gains that that come with the new Apple M3 processor.
“The 2023 edition of the 24-inch Apple iMac is a real pleasure to use, and arguably the best all-in-one desktop when it comes to the amount and variety of tasks it can accomplish,” said the PCMag reviewer.
Many Apple Watch wearers suffered from shortened battery lives after upgrading to watchOS 10, but the problem will be taken care of soon with a software patch, according to an internal Apple document.
While not affecting everyone with an Apple Watch, this a clearly a significant problem, considering the number of complaints about it online.
New Apple TV+ series Lessons in Chemistry continues to be one of the top 10 most popular shows on any streaming service, according to a market analysis. The romance drama starring Brie Larson has pulled in big audiences since it debuted in October.
Season one is ongoing, with new episodes debuting every week on Apple’s streaming service.
iPad and the whole tablet market had a bad September quarter. But the slowdown in Apple’s shipments in the product category is partially self inflicted.
Nevertheless, iPad shipments are up considerably over what they were before the pandemic.
Parents should take note that Apple TV+ series or specials received over two dozen nominations for this year’s Children’s & Family Emmy Awards.
Jane, Best Foot Forward, Helpsters, Slumberkins, Ghostwriter, Snoopy Presents: Lucy’s School and Fraggle Rock: Back to the Rock all landed nominations for top awards.