News - page 308

Apple revenue during the July-to-September quarter totaled $83.4 billion, up 29% year over year and a new record for the quarter. That lead to an dramatic increase in net income. Revenue from iPhone was up significantly, while iPad, Mac, wearables and services revenue grew by smaller percentages.

But analysts had been expecting more. The consensus was for Apple’s total revenue to be nearly $85B. It’s rare for the company to not exceed these expectations. Apple execs said in a conference call after the announcement that component supply constraints cut revenue by $6B.

Developers just got their hands on macOS 12.1, the initial major update to Monterey. It’s Apple’s first opportunity to test features missing from macOS 12, like SharePlay and Universal Control.

But the beta is so new it’s not yet clear whether these features are in it yet.

If you have a MacBook Pro of a certain age, you probably know what it’s like to run out of storage. These days, apps, macOS updates and big media files like videos require more space than ever before. But memory and storage provider OWC has your 2016-2017 13-inch MacBook Pro covered with its new Aura Pro NT NVMe solid state drive (SSD).

The new Plugable UD-3900C universal docking station is a reasonably priced means of “hot-desking” with Macs and PCs. That allows hybrid workers to easily connect and get right back on the job when they come back to the office, even if they always use a different desk.

After weeks of speculation surrounding a new Apple Music app for PlayStation 5, the streaming service has finally landed on Sony’s newest home console, allowing subscribers to enjoy their favorite playlists while they game.

However, the app is missing one of its most impressive features. Users have discovered that spatial audio with Dolby Atmos is not available for Apple Music tracks on PlayStation 5.

A group of students in China is suing Apple for no longer including chargers with its newest iPhone models. The lawsuit calls for Cupertino to cough up for charging adapters, breach of contract, and court fees.

Apple has already been fined by Brazil’s consumer protection agency since it stopped shipping power adapters with iPhone 12 last fall.

When the time comes to replace the battery inside your 2021 MacBook Pro, you can avoid the pricey repair shops. Apple has made this particular process significantly easier than it was on earlier MacBook models.

All six battery cells inside the new machines are easily accessible — with no need to remove the logic board first — and much easier to remove. The changes make for a fairly simply at-home repair for those who are brave enough.

HomePod mini’s new color options, which were introduced during Apple’s big MacBook Pro event on October 18, will go on sale in the U.S. next week, according to a new report. Fans in Europe will have to wait a little longer.

The new color options include orange, yellow and blue. Aside from the fresh lick of paint, however, the new smart speakers are identical to the original.

After Apple finally decided to reverse its controversial Safari design changes in the latest macOS Monterey beta (when you use the “Separate” tabs option), it has made the same move for those running macOS Big Sur and Catalina.

The Safari 15.1 update released Wednesday for earlier versions of macOS brings back Safari’s old tab design. However, if you prefer the new “Compact” interface — introduced at WWDC 2021 back in June — you still have the option to use it.

iOS 15.2 beta 1 and iPadOS 15.2 beta 1 have been seeded to developers. When available to everyone, the updates will bring an App Privacy Report for tracking what third-party application are doing. It’ll show users, each app’s sensor, data and internet usage in a simple chart.

These beta releases come only two days after iOS 15.2 and the iPad equivalent were released to the general public.

Aqara’s affordable new USB-powered controller, the Smart Hub E1, makes it easy to control devices and sensors through Apple’s HomeKit and other smart-home systems. The company’s Zigbee-based devices, such as smart sensors, connect to the cloud through a central smart hub.

Because Aqara bridges all its devices to HomeKit, you can mix and match automations using different vendors. What’s more, you can power the Aqara Smart Hub E1 with any USB port you have, whether it’s a wall plug or a powered USB port on a console, computer or smart TV.

Apple’s M1 Pro and M1 Max processors in the new MacBook Pro offer powerful graphic performance. That’s intended for artists rendering video and other professional tasks, but tests show that it translates to excellent gaming performance.

Of course, that doesn’t remedy the lack of high-end games for Mac.

Add Russia to the list of countries investigating the App Store. It is reportedly looking into whether Apple’s policy forbidding iPhone developers from telling customers about alternate — and possibly cheaper — payment options is a violation of its antitrust laws.

The U.S. and other countries are asking that same question.

As part of its goal to become completely carbon neural, Apple says that 175 of its suppliers will transition to using renewable energy, more than double the number that had previously committed to using 100% clean power.

It’s part of the Mac-maker’s plan to be carbon neutral across its supply chain and products by 2030.

Some of the criticism leveled at the latest 16-inch MacBook Pro should inspire Apple to make a MacBook Air with the same size display. It would be the largest Air ever, but there seems to be a market for a very big, yet very slim, Mac notebook.

And that’s not something Apple offers in its current product lineup.

Apple News will now offer its “local news experience” in three additional U.S. cities: Charlotte, N.C., Miami and Washington, D.C. The service’s editors curate local news, selecting coverage of topics important to communities, Apple said.

Bose recently rolled out an all-new portable Bluetooth speaker. The rugged little SoundLink Flex features an IP67 rating for dust and water resistance, 12-hour battery life and what Bose said is “astonishing” sound for its size. Oh, and it floats, too, the company said.

Anker launched six new charging accessories for the iPhone 12 and 13 series Monday with its new “MagGo” lineup: three desktop chargers, a car charger, a battery and a phone grip.

We wrote about a new Anker 3-in-1 charger just yesterday. Now, Anker builds out its raft of iPhone 13 accessories with a new collection of MagSafe gear to keep your handset charged up at home or on the go.

The just-released version of Photoshop on iPad lets users work with raw photos, making adjustments to images right out of the camera. And the new Illustrator on iPad adds a Vectorize feature, converting any image into a crisp, vector graphic.

The announcements came out of the Adobe Max conference, which kicks off Tuesday.

The first iPhone SE with an edge-to-edge display won’t launch until 2024, according to a new report. And the third-generation model in the budget line, expected in 2022, supposedly will come with an unexpected name.

Apple rolled out iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 on Monday with the anticipated inclusion of SharePlay, a feature missing from the recent iOS 15 release. Today’s update also brings camera improvements for iPhone 13 Pro models, enables adding COVID-19 vaccination records to Wallet, and includes a bunch of other features.

If you’re in the upgrading mood, you can download iOS 15.1 and iPadOS 15.1 now. (Note for Mac owners: macOS Monterey is now available as well.)

iPhones and Apple Watches and AirPods, oh my. If you own these three devices, you should enter our latest giveaway. Cult of Mac is giving away four Trio Wireless Charging Pads from Satechi.

This $119.99 charging pad will juice up three of your most-used Apple products at once. The Trio Wireless Charging Pad’s sleek designer look means you can easily place it anywhere without taking up too much space. If you are getting weighed down by charging bricks and cables, embrace your minimalist self and be sure to enter this giveaway.

Dr. Brain will be the first Korean Apple Original when it launches on Apple TV+ in early November. It tells the story of a scientist so desperate to find out how his family was killed that he’s willing to connect his brain to theirs to access their memories.

A trailer released Monday gives a first look at how intense the six-episode series will be. Watch it now!

The first wave of AirPods 3 reviews just came out, and they’re full of good news for those considering Apple’s latest truly wireless earbuds. Sound quality draws praise, as does battery life. But reviewers don’t seem as happy about the lack of active noise cancellation. And some would have preferred silicone ear tips.

Read on for reviewers’ specific comments about AirPods 3.

Anker expanded its lineup of iPhone 13 accessories Friday with a new version of the PowerWave Magnetic Stand. Now with a 3-in-1 form factor, Anker’s new MagSafe-compatible stand will juice up your iPhone, AirPods and Apple Watch — all at once, if necessary.