Inhaltsverzeichnis für March 2021 in Macworld UK

Apple’s recent announcement might not have been as exciting as a new iPhone, but its impact could be just as monumental. As part of its previously announced $100 million investment in the Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, the tech giant recently unveiled several ways it will be using its sizable investment. First and foremost, Apple will be launching a “first-of-its-kind global innovation and learning hub” called the Propel Center (pictured left) in partnership with the Southern Company and “a range of community stakeholders”. Apple is contributing $25 million to the Atlanta campus, which it says “is designed to support the next generation of diverse leaders, providing innovative curricula, technology support, career opportunities, and fellowship programs”. The centre will offer a wide range of classes, including a curriculum focused on music…

After launching the first M1 MacBook Pro in November, all eyes have turned toward the next releases. According to two reports from the most accurate analysts in the business, they could deliver everything we want. TFT Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reiterates rumours that a new 14in MacBook Pro is coming alongside a refreshed 16in model, both of which will feature the next generation of Apple silicon featuring “more cores and enhanced graphics”, according to a similar report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. They might also bring a new design. According to MacRumours, Kuo says the new models “cancel the curvy design of existing models’ top and bottom parts and adopt a flat-edged form factor design similar to the iPhone 12”. Presumably, that’s referring to the corners of the case, but Kuo…

I’ve been a fan of tiny Mac laptops for many years. From the 12in PowerBook G4 to the iBook to the 11in MacBook Air, I’ve always opted for the smallest laptop I could get my hands on. And yet, with the discontinuation of the 12in MacBook, the smallest Apple goes is the 13in MacBook Air. Is the Air as small as a Mac laptop can get? I don’t think so. And that’s why I think Apple should bring back the 12in MacBook. LET’S GET SMALL First, I’ve got to admit that the MacBook Air is a small laptop. Back in the days of the 11-and 13in MacBook Air models, I preferred the 11in model. Casual observers of the MacBook Air might not realize that it downsized during the transition to…

Price: £549 from fave.co/2KUPqfm Apple’s latest expansion of the AirPods brand is a set of large over-the-ear wireless headphones. The AirPods Max look great, sound great and are quite comfortable despite their heavy weight. They’re also £549, a difficult price to justify when the competition (primarily the Sony WH-1000XM4 and the Bose 700) are around £200 to £250 less. In some ways, the AirPod Max give you what you pay for. Build quality is unmatched at any price, and there are some clever design flourishes. But there are also a few compromises worth noting, like a ‘Smart Case’ that is anything but. For those embedded in the Apple ecosystem, the AirPods Max will be worth considering when they’re on sale for £449 or less, but it’s otherwise hard to justify…

Apple’s no stranger to introducing and popularizing new technologies. The original iMac wasn’t the first to use USB, but it drove adoption of the standard. Multitouch displays existed before the iPhone, but it was the first real commercial product offering it. Sometimes those technologies take a while to gestate, though. And there may be no better example in recent years than Apple’s take on ultra-wideband, or UWB. Like those other technologies, ultra-wideband isn’t new as a concept, but it’s something that hasn’t really found a home in the consumer market. In 2019, Apple released the iPhone 11 series and included a custom chip dubbed the U1. During the introduction, Apple talked up the amazing properties of the U1, and how it could be used to not only track the location…

The Apple Watch is great right out of the box, but you’ll want to add a few apps to really make it sing. Apple’s wearable is a true marvel, but you’ll never know just how useful it can be if you don’t expand your horizons a bit. When we think about the Apple Watch apps we just can’t live without, these are at the top of the list. Some are free some are not, but every single one is worth your while. 1. AUTOSLEEP Price: £3.99 from fave.co/3pnTBi3 Apple finally added sleep tracking to watchOS 7, but it’s a little lacklustre. It only works during specific designated Sleep Mode hours, and it doesn’t give you much insight into the quality of your sleep. Fortunately, better sleep tracking is not…

We’ve heard rumours for about a year or so that Apple is on the verge of launching some products with Mini LED display technology. It could come to MacBooks, iPads, iMacs – really anything with a display, though it’s unlikely to ever end up in Apple Watch or iPhone (which use OLED displays). What is a Mini LED display and what will it do for you? This short explanation may help you understand why this technology can be such a big step forward for Apple’s products. A BETTER BACKLIT LCD To understand Mini LED, you first have to know the basics of how a traditional backlit LCD works. That’s what we have in all our iPads, MacBooks and iMacs today. It can get complicated, but in short, there’s a backlight…

Anew report from Bloomberg gives us some updated information on Apple’s virtual reality and augmented reality plans. Mark Gurman, who has a very good record with these sorts of insider-info leaks, says that Apple plans to first sell a very high-end VR (virtual reality) headset as early as next year before moving on to AR (augmented reality) glasses in a few years. The report claims that Apple “isn’t looking to create an iPhone-like hit for its first headset”, but rather a high-end, expensive, niche product that would appeal to developers and well-heeled consumers, preparing everyone for an eventual mass-market AR glasses product. The headset, code-named N301, is expected to be more expensive than VR products from Oculus, so much so that Apple may only sell a single unit a day…

The new M1 Macs have opened up a world of possibility for Apple’s computers, but two of the most sought-after features might take a little longer to arrive. According to a new Bloomberg report, Apple isn’t rushing to add 5G or Face ID to Macs this year. That will be a disappointment to anyone hoping for a speedy transition to a truly next-gen Mac. While a new iMac, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air could be on the way this year, they will likely stick to the same standard set of features, possibly with new designs. Bloomberg reports that while Apple is indeed working on 5G cellular connectivity and Face ID for the Mac, it’s not part of the next round of 2021 releases. Specifically, the report targets the iMac as…

Just as I wrapped up a series I worked on most of last year about the most notable Macs of all time (see fave.co/3qVbK82), I received a comment on Twitter about a specific peculiarity about my list that I’d never considered. “It’s super interesting to me that only one Intel machine made it,” wrote Jay Parlar. I looked and – yep. Despite the Intel Mac era lasting 15 years, the only Mac on my list that originated in that era was the second-generation MacBook Air. I considered several others, but they didn’t make the cut. I was surprised by Jay’s comment, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to me. During the 2010s, Apple took a remarkably conservative approach to the Mac – with a…

Apple has launched its first non-Beats-branded pair of over-ear headphones and they certainly look great. There’s no denying that the AirPods Max are packed with features, flush with Apple’s trademark design touches (like a stitched ‘L’ so you know which side is which), and surely sound as good as the best wireless headphones from Sony and Bose. But at £549, it’s hard to look at the AirPods Max as anything other than a missed opportunity. We knew they wouldn’t come cheap, but AirPods Max are hundreds more than their closest competitor and are arriving pretty late to the game bringing features we’ve seen and heard before. They feature the same Adaptive EQ, Active Noise Cancellation, Transparency mode and spatial audio that’s available on the AirPods Pro, along with the H1…

If you’re thinking of buying an iPhone on contract, you’ve got a SIM-free iPhone and want to sign up to a contract, or are nearing the end of a contract and want to go with a different provider, you’ll be wanting to know which network is best for you. This article is the right place to find out. We go through the various network providers available in the UK and discuss their pros, cons and general performance – you should be able to find the right choice for you in no time. We also go into more detail about the research and reports we use to determine our verdict for each network further into this article. THE NETWORKS In the UK we have four big networks: EE O2…

Online fitness services have become very popular, and now Apple wants in on the business. The firm has launched Apple Fitness+, the latest service for Apple users. It combines your Apple devices, videos, and collected exercise data to allow you to have satisfying workouts. HOW DO I SIGN UP? Apple Fitness+ launched on 14 December. You’ll need to install iOS 14.3 on your iPhone, iPadOS 14.3 on your iPhone and tvOS 14.3 on your Apple TV hardware to sign up and use Apple Fitness+. You’ll also need to update your Apple Watch to watchOS 7.2. Once the updates are installed, launch the Fitness app on your iPhone or iPad (iPad users need to get the Fitness app from the App Store). A new Fitness+ button appears at the bottom of…

INCONSISTENT FACIAL RECOGNITION IN APPLE PHOTOS It is extremely handy to tag people you know in photos you take. You can then easily find images of those people across time and at specific events. This feature appears in Photos in iOS, iPadOS and macOS, but may not work correctly across devices without iCloud Photos enabled – and sometimes even with it turned on. Many companies have tried to make this easier by adding facial recognition, so that software algorithms try to guess who is the same person across many faces in your photos, which may include your dearest loved ones and strangers. Apple’s most recent approach, implemented several years ago in Photos, kept all facial ID local to your computer or mobile device. (As opposed to, ahem, Google.) In 2016,…

The MacBook Air is Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop, but it seems the company wants to make it even thinner and lighter. That’s according to a recent report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who says that Apple plans to release the redesigned MacBook Air later this year or in 2022. Apple will shrink the laptop by making the bezel smaller, though the screen will still be 13 inches. The current MacBook Air has a width of about 12 inches and a depth of 8.36 inches. When closed, the height of the current model tapers, measuring 0.16 inches at its shortest point, and 0.63 inches at its tallest. Presumably, shrinking the bezel will make the width and depth smaller, though Gurman doesn’t state if the new MacBook Air will still have the…

f recent rumours are any indication, 2021 is going to be a landmark year for the Mac. We recently saw reports stating that Apple will ship 14- and 16in MacBook Pros with MagSafe, Apple silicon with more cores and enhanced GPUs, and a case redesign. Now, another report says that new iMacs and Mac Pros are coming this year, as well. Rumour has it that the iMac will be redesigned to resemble Apple’s Pro Display XDR. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman last month reiterated the XDR-like redesign, with 21.5-and 27in models that have a screen with a much smaller bezel, no ‘chin’, and a flat back instead of the curved one the current iMac. It’s been a long while since the iMac saw a change in form. The current design was introduced…

If you’re reading this article, then the chances are you’re thinking about buying a new Mac computer and may be in need of a little guidance. Fortunately, we’re quite familiar with Apple’s Macs, and we’re happy to help you choose the right Mac for you. This buying guide provides an overview of all the Mac models available, and what each model is best suited for. MACBOOK AIR Models for sale were originally released November 2020. What is it? The MacBook Air is Apple’s affordable line of laptops. It currently offers two 13in models. Who’s it for? The MacBook Air is ideal for the budget conscious. It’s also for anyone who is always on the go, doesn’t want to be bogged down by a regular-size laptop and needs a computer that’s…

The year has barely begun and we already have our first heavyweight smartphone battle of 2021. Samsung has released its line-up of Galaxy S21 phones a little earlier than usual this year, and it’s clear they have Apple’s newest phone in its sights. Samsung hasn’t reinvented the S21 as much as it’s retooled it to take on the iPhone 12, with a lower price point, sharper design, and some new camera tricks. Here’s how the two £800 smartphones stack up. DESIGN Samsung’s Galaxy S is always at the forefront of Android smartphone design and the S21 continues that tradition. Samsung has crafted a truly unique design where the metal sides seamlessly blend into the camera array, as if it were snapped onto the back. The back is made of plastic…

Whether you buy the mini, Max, Pro or iPhone 12, one thing is for sure: you’re going to want to slap a case on it. Even with a new stronger ceramic coating on the screen and a thinner, more grippable design, the iPhone 12 is still dressed all in glass, so you’ll need to protect it from slips, scratches and fingerprints. Here are our favourite cases so far. OTTERBOX COMMUTER Price: £40 from fave.co/3mE0yKk Colour: Black, green, blue, pink. MagSafe charging: No. Why we love it: Otterbox is one of the most well-known names in phone cases for good reason: its cases are stylish, sturdy and will keep your phone safe from all kinds of falls. The Commuter case is a classic one that strikes a balance between the bulky…

What started out with an earnings warning, stock drop and store closures ended up being a very successful year for Apple. Nearly every product in Apple’s catalogue saw a refresh, a couple of new ones joined the fray, and tens of millions of devices were sold to happy customers. Here’s our 2020 Apple product report card, where we give each segment of Apple’s business a grade from A to F. iPHONE New products: iPhone SE, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max Michael Simon: First came the iPhone SE, which somehow made the iPhone 8 feel fresh again with a speedy chip, better camera and lower price tag. Then we got OLED displays and 5G support across the board, better cameras, a new design and…