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What to expect from WWDC 2022: Apple’s new MacBook Air, AR headset and more

Apple’s Worldwide Developers Conference is just around the corner, and like in years past, several rumours are swirling about the event.

We know almost for certain that we’ll catch a glimpse of the tech giant’s new operating systems, including iOS 16/iPadOS 16, but sometimes hardware also appears at Apple’s events.

Rumours surrounding WWDC 2022 are all over the place, with some pointing to a new MacBook Air being revealed and others indicating that Apple will finally tease its long-awaited mixed reality headset.

Let’s get into it and break down what we might see at WWDC 2022:

The hardware mystery

AR/VR headset

This year, the main question surrounding WWDC is if Apple will finally reveal its long-awaited virtual reality/augmented reality (VR/AR) headset. A recent report, courtesy of Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, indicates we won’t catch a glimpse of the headset during WWDC’s keynote, but like a lot of rumours/reports, this could prove inaccurate.

There’s a possibility Apple could utilize WWDC to get developers interested in creating apps for its headset’s operating system (OS), rumoured to be called ‘realityOS.’ This wouldn’t be entirely out of the ordinary for the tech giant as it revealed the original HomePod at WWDC back in 2017 several months ahead of its release in the U.S. (and year’s ahead of it dropping in Canada).

Apple’s AR/VR headset is rumoured to feature dual 4K displays, several 3D sensors and a price tag in the range of $3,000 USD price tag (roughly $3,736 CAD). Some rumours also point to the headset being powered by the tech giant’s M1 chip.

MacBook Air and the M2 chip

Though we likely won’t see Apple’s VR/AR headset at WWDC 2022, there’s a strong possibility the tech giant will finally show off its M2-powered MacBook Air.

The new MacBook Air is rumoured to feature a significant redesign that includes several new colours (hopefully, borrowed from the colourful M1 iMac). The laptop will likely feature a thin but more squared-off design in line with the MacBook Pro, along with the return of the SD card slot.

On the M2 side, Apple’s entry-level next-gen chip will reportedly be based on a 5nm chip with an eight-core CPU, similar to the M1, but with a notable clock-speed bump. The GPU will also reportedly jump to a 9-core or 10-core variant. Despite being more powerful than the original M1 chip, the M1 Pro, Max and Ultra will still surpass the M2, according to reports.

MacBook Pro/HomePod/Mac Pro 

Despite what some rumours might indicate, we likely won’t see a new MacBook Pro at WWDC, but there are rumours Apple could show off a new HomePod equipped with a camera and an M1 Ultra-powered Mac Pro.

What we’ll definitely see

iOS 16/iPadOS 16

Not much is known about iOS 16/iPadOS 16, but it will almost certainly be shown off at WWDC 2022. That said, there are reports pointing to a revamped notification system and software functionality that will enable the iPhone 14 Pro to feature an always-on display that refreshes down to 1Hz.

Another report courtesy of Bloomberg’s often-reliable Mark Gurman also cites the possibility of new features coming to Apple’s Messages/Health apps and that all of Apple’s apps will get a visual refresh of some sort.

watchOS 9

Similar to Apple’s other OS updates, it’s unclear what new feature will make its way to watchOS 9. We’ll likely see new Watch Faces and revamped older Faces that better fit the Apple Watch Series 7’s more expansive display.

macOS 13

Rumours point to macOS 13 being called ‘Mammoth Lakes‘ (via 9to5Mac), but beyond this, not much is known about the desktop OS update. Given Apple has moved nearly its entire Mac line over its M1 architecture, it’s likely that we’ll see the tech giant release more exclusive features for the chip.

tvOS 16

Apple’s set-top box OS rarely gets much attention at WWDC, but some rumours point to the tech giant releasing some sort of HomeKit-focused feature for the Apple TV that makes it a better smart home hub.

The event will take place on April 6th at 1pm ET/10am PT.

Source: @mingchikuo, Bloomberg (2), @markgurman, 9to5Mac, (2)

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Apple confirms its virtual WWDC keynote is set for June 6 at 1pm ET

Though Apple already confirmed a few weeks ago that WWDC 2022 will run from June 6th to the 10th, the tech giant has revealed the timing for the annual event’s keynote — 1pm ET/10am PT.

Similar to years past, Apple will hold this year’s event remotely, though it will offer an in-person watch party for a small group of developers.

WWDC is typically software-focused and focused on the tech giant showing off updates to iOS, iPadOS, MacOS and more, but rumours point to the tech giant possibly finally revealing its often-reported virtual reality headset.

Along with the new headset, there’s a possibility the tech giant could reveal a new iMac, MacBook Air, MacBook Pro and even an M1-powered Mac Pro.

MobileSyrup will have more on WWDC in the coming weeks.

Image credit: Apple 

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Apple’s macOS 12.2.1 update aims to fix MacBook battery drain issue

Apple’s latest macOS update should solve a battery drain issue some MacBook users have been experiencing since upgrading to macOS 12.2.

In macOS 12.2.1’s update notes, Apple outlines that the release includes a fix for “an issue for Intel-based Mac computers that may cause the battery to drain during sleep when connected to Bluetooth peripherals.”

Before this update, some users reported experiencing battery drain issues when their MacBooks were asleep but still connected to Bluetooth devices. According to reports, the problem persists even if you turn off Bluetooth before closing your computer. The issue seems only to affect Intel-powered Macs and not Apple’s M1, M1 Pro or M1 Max Macbooks.

Apple also dropped updates for iOS, iPadOS and watchOS. On the iOS 15.4.1 release side, the update includes a bug related to a braille accessibility feature and a potential major security flaw — so you’ll likely want to install it immediately. On the other hand, Apple’s watchOS 8.4.2 update seems to be tied to stability.

Via: Engadget 

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Apple could launch 4 new M2-powered Macs later this year

Along with a report surrounding a new iPhone SE/iPad Air and a fast-approaching March 8th hardware event, Bloomberg’s often-reliable Mark Gurman is back at it again with a rumour surrounding Apple’s future Mac plans.

Gurman says that along with one new Mac launching this spring — likely an M1 Pro/Max-powered Mac mini — at least four new M2 Macs are currently in Apple’s pipeline.

This list includes a new MacBook Air, a refreshed entry-level 13-inch MacBook Pro and a 24-inch iMac. There’s also a possibility we could see a new 27-inch iMac in 2022, though recent rumours point to an August or September release, instead of a summer reveal.

The notorious source of Apple leaks doesn’t expand much on this report in his Power On newsletter, though he does mention that the new 13-inch MacBook Pro will likely ditch the Touch Bar and says it will lack the higher-end Pro models’ impressive ProMotion display.

In other Apple-related news, Gurman says that Apple’s new iPhone SE will feature the same iPhone 8-like design as its predecessor, but with a faster A15 chip and 5G support. The new iPad Air will also be similar to its 2020 counterpart, with the primary change being a more powerful A15 chip.

Source: Bloomberg Via: MacRumors 

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Apple reportedly set to complete silicon transition away from Intel, completed by WWDC instead

Apple’s debut of its in-house M1 chip during November 2020 was the first milestone in Apple’s transition away from Intel reliance. Apple had planned a two-year period to pave the road for the company to complete its transition. Now, a new report claims WWDC 2022 will see the completion of this transition period.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple is developing a brand new Mac Pro, a new Mac mini, and an iMac Pro with a large screen. All three new devices are said to be backed by Apple silicon. These will prove to be the defacto finish line in the company’s plan. As explained in Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter (seen by 9to5Mac), the three devices may be unveiled during the first half of 2022.

“The company has a bevy of new pro Macs in the works based on the M1 Pro and M1 Max chips that are already inside the MacBook Pro. That includes a smaller Mac Pro with up to 40 CPU cores and 128 graphics cores, a new Mac mini and a large-screened iMac Pro. I’d expect Apple to finish its transition to its own silicon from Intel chips as early as June at WWDC 2022,” Gurman wrote.

He also discusses the next-generation chip from Apple. Tentatively dubbed the ‘M2’ chip, it’s said that while expected in 2022, it won’t offer any major performance improvements but will feature “the same overall CPU core count”. Apple’s M1 offers four high-performance cores and four energy-efficient cores. Though, Gurman believes the M2 will feature a modestly improved GPU. The differences between the M1 and M2 are said to be comparable to the improvements made between Apple’s annual iPhone upgrades.

The report also backs up previous claims that Apple is working on a major refresh to its MacBook Air. It’s believed that the new device will sport the M2 chip over the M1 Pro and M1 Max silicon. It’s also expected that the new MacBook Air will feature the “biggest redesign in the product’s history.”

Apple’s breakup with Intel has long been openly discussed by the iPhone maker. Rather than rely on Intel to make meaningful innovations, Apple has taken ownership over the silicon in its own devices. So far, it’s been met with positive reception. Though, Apple silicon is still in its infancy. It remains to be seen if the M2 can impress next year.

Imag credit: Apple

Source: 9To5Mac

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Apple has several refurbished iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple TVs in stock

Apple Canada currently has several refurbished iPhones, iPads, Macs, and Apple TVs in stock.

Apple’s refurbished discounts only amount to about $240 to $300, but this is a solid deal given its stellar reputation when it comes to used devices.

You can some notable deals below:

Apple TV

iPhones

iPads

Macs

Find all Apple refurbished products here.

MobileSyrup utilizes affiliate partnerships. These partnerships do not influence our editorial content, though MobileSyrup may earn a commission on purchases made via these links.

Source: Apple

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MacBook Pro (2021)’s notch is causing inconsistencies in some apps

If you’ve seen Apple’s new MacBook Pro (2021), you likely have an opinion on its display notch. While it’s not a significant issue for a majority of people (including myself), there are some inconsistencies in how it works.

For instance, if an app has lots of taskbar options, then there’s a chance that you might lose one under the notch, as illustrated by a very joyful Quinn Nelson from Snazzy Labs.

I’d expect most apps that suffer from issues like this will update over the next year to support the notch, but if you do hate it, you can disable it on a per-app basis by clicking get info on an app and selecting ‘Scale to fit below built-in camera.’

You’ll need to be on the latest macOS 12.0.1 to enable the feature. You can watch a demo of the setting in action in a tweet below.

As a third-party opinion, I’ll mention that I bought a 14-inch MacBook Pro the other day and I don’t find the notch too distracting. However, I primarily use the laptop hooked up to a display so most of my apps appear on the notchless screen.

Perhaps this would be more of an issue if you only used the MacBook screen, but even then I haven’t run into an app that pushes menu bar items that far toward the centre of the screen.

Source: Quinn Nelson, Joseph from Sketch Via: The Verge

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New MacBook Pro teardown reveals improved battery replacement design

The team at iFixit has discovered that the battery in the new 16-inch and 14-inch MacBook Pro can be replaced much easier than any MacBook Pro model since 2012.

Before the release of the MacBook Pro (2021), Apple glued batteries to the top of the case to keep them secure. Some models even required the removal of the motherboard before you could access the battery. Now, there are small pull tabs on the batteries in the new MacBook Pros to make them easier to remove.

The iFixit team has yet to make a full ruling, but in its teardown teaser, the repair guide mentions that this could be the first MacBook Pro to feature do-it-yourself battery replacement since 2012.

For more on the MacBook Pro (2021), check out our review of the laptop.

Source: iFixit

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Apple’s MacBook Pro has an SD card reader again, but only at UHS-II speeds

Apple has now confirmed the specifications for the built-in SD card slot on the new MacBook Pro. Disappointingly, the speed will max out at a little over 300MB/s.

Apple confirmed the speed to The Verge’s Dan Seifert, who posted the information to Twitter. Further, 9to5Mac shared an excellent breakdown of the various SD card standards, since it can be rather confusing.

First, there are two physical sizes of SD card — ‘full size’ SD cards and microSD cards, which are much smaller. You can get adapters to use microSD cards in full size SD card readers, however.

Next up are capacity categories, all of which the new MacBook Pros support:

  • SD (up to 2GB)
  • SDHC (up to 32GB)
  • SDXC (up to 2TB)
  • SDUC (up to 128TB)

Finally, are the speed ratings. We marked the ones supported by the new MacBook Pros with an asterisk (*) below:

  • Standard SD* – 12.5MB/s
  • High Speed (HS)* – 25MB/s
  • Ultra High Speed I (UHS-I)* – 104MB/s
  • Ultra High Speed II (UHS-II)* – 312MB/s
  • Ultra High Speed III (UHS-III) – 624MB/s
  • SD Express (HC/XC/UC) – 985MB/s or 1,970MB/s or 3,940MB/s

To further complicate all this, some UHS SD cards will show half of the speeds listed above. This is because that’s the maximum full ‘duplex speed’ where one lane each is assigned to a “downstream direction” like transferring data from the host to a card, and the other assigned to “upstream” for transferring data from the card to a host. Cards can also operate in a “half duplex” mode and use both lanes for one direction. According to the SD Association’s website, a UHS-II card could operate at 156MB/s in full duplex or 312MB/s in half duplex.

While it’s great that the new MacBook Pros brought back the SD card slot, it’s a little disappointing that it doesn’t support higher speeds. For most use cases, UHS-II is likely fine. But professional users like videographers or photographers may find themselves bumping up against that transfer speed ceiling more often than not.

Source: Dan Seifert (Twitter) Via: 9to5Mac

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The 16-inch MacBook Pro includes Apple’s most powerful charger yet

There’s a little more than expected to the charging bricks included with Apple’s new MacBook Pro laptops.

For example, while the 16.1-inch MacBook Pro’s beefy new 140W charger can charge the upcoming laptop through its MagSafe port, it’s also compatible with the still relatively new USB-C Power Deliver 3.1 standard, according to Apple. On the other hand, the 14.1-inch MacBook Pro features a 67W or 96W charger depending on its configuration.

What’s notable about this is that because Apple has adopted the USB PD 3.1 charging standard, the brick can also fast charge other devices. According to The Verge, this means that the new MacBook Pro will be completely compatible with third-party chargers.

The publication goes on to say that the new MacBook Pro’s charging brick is a gallium nitrade (GaN), allowing third-party companies to build higher-powered chargers that are smaller.

Apple says that the 14.1-inch MacBook Pro can fast charge through its USB-C ports, but that the 16.1-inch version of the laptop requires the MagSafe 3 port for fast charging. Lower wattage chargers can be used with both laptops, but like previous versions of the MacBook, they’ll result in the laptop charging more slowly.

Apple sells its 140W USB-C Power Adapter separately for $119. Apple also sells the new MacBook Pro’s USB-C to MagSafe charging cable for $50.

As someone who prefers to travel with a few chargers as possible, this is definitely good news.