10th generation iPad with same 10.2-inch design and 5G launching in 2022

Apple will not redesign its entry-level iPad this year, according to information shared by leaker Dylandkt.

The 10th-generation iPad will keep the same 10.2-inch design, with the Home button and Touch ID, that was first introduced in 2019. A redesign will take place next year, where Apple is expected to include USB-C, thinner bezels and a design similar to that of the iPad Air 4.

This year’s model will instead get modest upgrades, such as the inclusion of 5G support, WiFi 6, and an A14 Bionic chip. It will also ship with Bluetooth 5.0.

Our take: it’s only disappointing that Apple is using the same dated design again if it doesn’t decrease the price of the entry-level model, but there’s no doubt that the performance from the A14 Bionic chip will be in another class.

Apple considered battery-powered HomePod but scrapped idea

Apple has in the past explored a HomePod model featuring a battery, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman in the latest Power On newsletter. 

According to Gurman, Apple prototyped a smart speaker with a battery a few years ago, but decided against launching one. The company has released many battery-powered speakers under the Beats brand, such as the Beats Pill+, but no HomePod equivalent. 

Currently Apple only sells the HomePod mini after it discontinued the original HomePod in March 2021. It hasn’t launched any new models since the introduction of the HomePod mini, but was rumored to be developing a smart speaker with Apple TV-like capabilities, interactive software experience and a display. 

Would you want to see a battery-powered HomePod? Do you own any HomePod model? Please let us know on Twitter @AppleScoop.

Office for Mac update brings full Apple Silicon support for Excel

Microsoft has released a new version of Office for Mac that brings full Apple Silicon support to the Excel app.

Excel will now run natively on Macs with an M1, M1 Pro or M1 Max chip instead of using Rosetta 2 to translate the Intel version to make it compatible on the new devices. It means users should see performance improvements and improved efficiency. Apple launched Rosetta 2 with the introduction of its own silicon in November 2020. The technology is effectively a translation layer, allowing apps that are built for Intel Macs to run smoothly on Apple Silicon devices, albeit with some impact on performance.

The change comes as part of version 16.57, which applies to Office 365, Office 2021 for Mac, Office 2019 for Mac and Office LTSC 2021. To update to the new version, open any Microsoft Office application and click Help > Check for Updates.

Microsoft says that version 16.57 of Office can also prevent users from taking screenshots or copies of documents that are marked as sensitive.

Apple MR headset to use 96W charger and two processors, no metaverse

Apple’s mixed reality or MR headset will be charged with a 96-watt charger, similar to the ones already shipping on the higher-tiered 14-inch MacBook Pros, according to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The new headset requires significantly more power than Apple’s mobile products like the iPhone and iPad, the latter of which all ship with a 20-watt charging brick. He also corroborated his earlier reports of the headset using two processors, one powerful enough to match the M1 in performance, and a less powerful one for its sensors, such as hand tracking. They will use the 4nm and 5nm manufacturing process, although he did not specify which would be used for which processor.

The main selling points will be significant AR innovations, seamless switching between AR and VR, playing well with the rest of the Apple ecosystem, and 2nd gen products with lower prices.

A Q&A session from Bloomberg tech reporter Mark Gurman’s newsletter revealed that he would be shocked to hear Apple even mention the metaverse, with higher-ups pushing for the headset to be used for short bursts of consumption. This strategy is a stark contrast to Meta Platforms’ (formerly Facebook) plans for a metaverse, a virtual world where users would do everything from working, playing games, and getting fit, using their to-be-announced Meta headsets.

Both Mark and Ming-Chi agree that the headset could be unveiled sometime in 2022, with a gap till the headset is on sale, to allow developers to make apps for it, similar to how the Apple Watch was first unveiled in September 2014, and later going on sale on April 2015.

Apple likely to announce iPhone SE 3 at a virtual event in March or April

According to a new report from journalist and leaker Mark Gurman (reliability: 84.38%), Apple is already planning its first event of 2022. The event will reportedly take place virtually in March or April and will see the announcement of the next-generation iPhone SE.

Apple gets ready for its first virtual event of 2022. Apple’s first virtual event of 2022 is coming up in just a few short months and is likely to take place in either March or April, I’m told.

What should we expect? Probably a new iPhone SE, at least. It was at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic in April 2020 that Apple ushered in the current iPhone SE.

Gurman says the focus of this event will be the new iPhone SE 3, similar to what other sources like Ming-Chi Kuo have previously stated. The iPhone SE 3 will reportedly be very similar to the current model and will have a design based on the iPhone 8. New changes will include the addition of 5G connectivity and more. More info on the iPhone SE 3 can be found here. It is unclear whether the new rumored MacBook Air models will be announced at this event, as they could be saved for later in the year.

Gurman goes on to say that it is likely that most, if not all, Apple events, including WWDC, this year will be held virtually. While this is not certain, it makes sense considering the continuing state of the pandemic.

Apple becomes first company to cross $3 Trillion market cap

On Monday, Apple eclipsed $3 trillion in market capitalization, becoming the very first publicly traded company in the world to cross that threshold and just three years after they crossed $1 Trillion market cap in 2018. Apple’s success is due in large part to the iPhone, which revolutionized the smartphone industry and remains a major hit for the company. Apple continues to see strong momentum in its other businesses as well, with its services and Mac divisions reporting an all-time high in Q4 of 2021.

The company's share price briefly hit $182.86 in intra-day trading on Monday at 1:46 PM Eastern Time. Multiplying that share price by the number of outstanding shares results in a market valuation over $3 trillion — which in comparison is bigger than the economy of the U.K.

Apple is followed by Amazon, Microsoft, Tesla, Meta, and Alphabet, all with market caps exceeding $1 trillion.

iPhone 14 to feature 48MP camera, periscope lens coming with iPhone 15

According to reliable leaker Ming-Chi Kuo (reliability: 80.95%), the iPhone 14 will allegedly feature a 48-megapixel camera and will be followed by a new periscope lens camera on the iPhone 15. In an investor note, Kuo shared that “the continued upgrading of the iPhone camera lens in the next two years will help Daliguang market share, revenue and profit growth.”

This is not the first time that we have heard of the iPhone 14’s camera being upgraded. In the spring, Kuo reported that “the standard rear cameras on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will be upgraded to 48-megapixels, a 4x increase over the 12-megapixel sensor in iPhone 12.”

These new 48MP cameras will produce 8K video which will be suitable to be viewed on Apple’s heavily rumored upcoming VR/AR headset. Just last week, Jeff Pu, another Apple analyst agreed with Kuo’s statements saying that “two Pro models will be equipped with a triple-lens rear camera system with an upgraded 48-megapixel Wide lens and 12-megapixel Ultra-Wide and Telephoto lenses.”

The rumored periscope lens coming in the iPhone 15 has been rumored for years so it is likely Apple will finally add the lens sometime soon. The periscope lens will allow for significantly increased optical zoom.

Cover image by Apple Tomorrow.

Apple comes close to hitting $3 trillion USD market cap

On Monday (December 13th), Apple Inc's (AAPL) market valuation was just shy of $3 trillion, following a spectacular run over the last decade that has elevated it to the status of the world's most valuable business.

On Monday, the company's shares slid slightly over 2% to settle at $175.74, reversing earlier advances that saw it near the $182.86 price needed to reach a market value of $3 trillion.

Last week, Apple's stock jumped by 11%, extending its year-to-date rise of more than 30%, as investors remain confident that wealthy customers will continue to pay top price for iPhones, MacBooks, and services like Apple TV and Apple Music.

The iPhone maker led a group of mega-cap tech companies including Google’s parent company Alphabet Inc (GOOG) and Amazon.com Inc (AMZN) that benefitted from consumers and businesses depending extensively on technology during the pandemic, rising from $2 trillion to near $3 trillion in market value in 16 months.

In contrast, Apple took two years to go from $1 trillion to $2 trillion in market capitalization.

"It's now one of the more richly valued companies in the market, which shows the dominance of U.S. technology in the world and how confident investors are that it will remain in Apple’s hands," said Brian Frank, a portfolio manager at Frank Capital who sold his long-standing position in Apple in 2019 as the stock's valuation rose. "It seems like the stock has priced in every possible good outcome.”

According to Daniel Morgan, senior portfolio manager at Synovus Trust Company, new revenue lines that investors expect include a possible Apple Car, as well as growth in service categories such as apps and TV, which are still well below the 65 percent of the company's revenues generated by iPhone sales. Over the last decade, Tim Cook has done an incredible job, bringing Apple's share price up over 1,400 percent," said OANDA analyst Edward Moya.

Chief Executive Tim Cook, who took over after Steve Jobs quit in 2011 and overseen the company's expansion into new products and markets, would be ecstatic to surpass the $3 trillion barrier.

Since the 1990s, Apple shares have gained 22 percent each year, whereas the S&P 500 (.SPX) has only returned less than 9% per year.

If Apple surpasses the $3 trillion mark, Microsoft Corp (MSFT) will be the lone business in the $2 trillion club, with Alphabet (GOOGL), Amazon (AMZN), and Tesla Inc (TSLA) having already surpassed the $1 trillion mark.

Microsoft, with a market capitalization of $2.6 trillion, was the most valuable corporation in the world until late October, when Apple warned that supply chain issues could stymie its growth for the rest of the year.

As firms transitioned to a hybrid work paradigm and consumers upgraded their gadgets, large technology stocks have surged this year, with investors tapping increased demand for cloud-based products. The Nasdaq 100 (NDX), which is dominated by huge corporations like Apple, is up over 26% this year, while the S&P 500 index is up roughly 24%.

As the global economy recovers from the coronavirus epidemic and supply chain pressures lessen, emerging technologies such as 5G, augmented reality/virtual reality, and artificial intelligence may help Apple and other cash-rich major technology stocks remain popular with investors.

"I am in the camp that are experiencing another 'Super Cycle' with the iPhone 12/iPhone 13 franchise," wrote Daniel Morgan, senior portfolio manager Synovus Trust Company, in a note. "And that AAPL is lifting off to another string of quarters with strong revenue and profit growth."

Apple delays Universal Control for Mac and iPad until early 2022

Apple today released macOS 12.1 with many new features, but missing was the ambitious Universal Control feature for Mac and iPad. Apple has updated its website from saying the feature was coming “later this fall” to saying early spring.

Apple’s description of the Universal Control feature:

A single keyboard and mouse or trackpad now work seamlessly between your Mac and iPad — they’ll even connect to more than one Mac or iPad. Move your cursor from your Mac to your iPad, type on your Mac and watch the words show up on your iPad, or even drag and drop content from one Mac to another.

Throughout the beta testing period for macOS Monterey 12, 12.0.1, and 12.1 Universal Control has never been present. There is, however, a workaround to gain the feature as a beta. When the feature arrives in the spring, Apple says it will be available for these Mac and iPad devices:

• MacBook Pro (2016 and later)
• MacBook (2016 and later)
• MacBook Air (2018 and later)
• iMac (2017 and later)
• iMac (5K Retina 27-inch, Late 2015)
• iMac Pro, Mac mini (2018 and later)
• Mac Pro (2019)
• iPad Pro, iPad Air (3rd generation and later)
• iPad (6th generation and later)
• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

The feature was first shown off at WWDC21 this summer. Unfortunately, the feature was found too ambitious and has not been shipped to the public this year even after the release of macOS Monterey.

Instagram launching chronological feed in 2022

Instagram has confirmed that it is working on a chronological feed and plans to release the feature in early 2022.

Testifying at U.S senate panel, Instagram’s CEO, Adam Mosseri, said a new version of the feed will be available to users as an option in the first quarter of 2022.

The chronological feed display the latest posts first, in order of when they were posted. It was a popular feature and one that was removed with Instagram’s big redesign in 2016, with thousands of requests for the preferred feed to return.

Since 2016, Instagram has continued to push its own algorithm, which suggests posts based on the type of people you interact with the most, and the topics you are interested in. It’s since expanded the feed to include suggested posts related to content you’ve viewed on the platform.

New Apple Watch SE model coming next year, ‘rugged’ Apple Watch reportedly set to launch

The Apple Watch will see some major updates in 2022, according to claims from Mark Gurman in his Power On newsletter.

Apple will reportedly update the Apple Watch SE for the first time in two years. It is expected to have a similar design to the 2020 model. Apple could also upgrade the chip and include more health features, such as ECG readings, a feature first introduced with the Apple Watch Series 4 in 2018.

This update will come alongside the Apple Watch Series 8, although Gurman didn’t specify what changes to expect. We could see more significant performance upgrades than the Series 7, and an expanded set of health features.

Apple is also launching an all-new model of Apple Watch aimed at athletes. This will be more durable and have a “ruggedized” design which can withstand scratches, bumps and drops. Apple has promoted the Apple Watch Series 7 as more durable, with thicker front glass, so it will be interesting to see the new design.

• Apple Watch Series 8: similar design to current Series 7, more health features, S8 chip, longer battery life. 
• Apple Watch SE 2nd-generation: tweaked design, two screen sizes, upgraded chip, additional health features. 
• Apple Watch “Sport”: new design with thicker, more durable casing, similar specs to Series 8, greater water and dust resistance.

Apple is expected to announce the new Apple Watch lineup in late 2022, likely at the same time as the iPhone 14.

New iPad Air and 10th-generation iPad planned for 2022

Apple is planning minor updates to the iPad and iPad Air lineup in 2022, according to a report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

Apple redesigned the iPad Air in 2020, with thinner bezels and a larger 10.9-inch display. The 5th-generation model will likely be a minor spec update, with A15 or A16 Bionic chip and improved internals. Apple recently updated the entry-level 10.2-inch iPad with an A13 Bionic chip, True Tone, and an upgraded 12MP ultra-wide front camera with Center Stage support. It was rumored to release a more significant update with a larger 10.5-inch display and thinner design, but these reports failed to come to light.

Since 2017, Apple has refreshed the entry-level iPad annually, adding support for Apple Pencil, performance improvements and increasing the display size in recent years. It could overhaul the design of its final iPad with a home button, similar to the redesigned iPad Air. Alternatively, Apple could continue using the classic iPad design, but increase the display size to 10.5-inches, similar to the iPad Air 3.

Gurman says that no updates are planned for the iPad mini, which received its first major redesign in September. The new model has a larger 8.3-inch display, flat edges, A15 Bionic chip, USB-C port and Apple Pencil 2 support.

He also suggested that Apple is readying a major upgrade to the iPad Pro, with an improved design and wireless charging support.

2022 iPad Pro rumored get updated design and wireless charging

Apple will release a new iPad Pro next year with an improved design and wireless charging, Mark Gurman reiterated on Sunday.

The iPad Pro will feature a new design with a glass back to enable wireless charging, a first for any major tablet, and the first iPad model to support the feature. It could also support reverse wireless charging, allowing you to charge up other devices using the rear of the iPad Pro. This was first rumored to come with the iPhone 11, but hasn’t shipped on any iPhone or iPad model so far.

It will be the first significant upgrade to the current iPad Pro design, which launched in late 2018, alongside the introduction of the 11-inch model. Since then, Apple has updated the iPad Air and the iPad mini with a similar, flat-edge design and thinner bezels. The iPad Pro was last updated in April, with an M1 chip, mini-LED display, Thunderbolt port, Center Stage and other changes.

Apple is also expected the ship the mini-LED technology used in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro with the smaller 11-inch model, following a delay due to shortages this year. Mini-LED, which Apple markets as Liquid Retina XDR, has a higher contrast ratio, darker blacks and over 10,000 local dimming zones, making it superb for watching HDR content on.

After shipping the M1 chip with both 2020 iPad Pro models, it isn’t clear how Apple will improve performance with the next versions, or if it plans a chip upgrade at all.

Gurman didn’t comment on other upgrades that Apple has planned.

Why I can’t switch from Chrome to Safari, and why that's so frustrating

I’ve used Google Chrome as my preferred browser on both Windows and Mac for years, and it’s been the browser that ‘just works’, with very few hassles or broken features. I haven’t just stuck with Chrome, though, and I moved to Microsoft Edge when it was relaunched with Chromium in January 2020.

Edge worked well, and I found very minor differences between the two browsers. But I found Microsoft adding more and more features that cluttered Edge, and many of them I never used and I probably wouldn’t if I were still a full-time user. I liked both Chrome and Edge because of their cross-platform and syncing capabilities, and it made working between Windows and Mac really simple. I’d simply have to sign in with my Google or Microsoft account, and my data would be available wherever I am.

I now have less need for Chrome as my browser, as my two primary devices are my 27-inch iMac and M1 MacBook Air, and I only occasionally work from a Windows PC. I’ll try and work from my personal devices wherever possible, as not only do I prefer macOS, but it’s easier to start something and finish it later. But it’s not so easy to switch to Safari on Mac, and I’ve tried, and will keep trying. While my history and bookmarks sync, and Safari supports Bitwarden (my password manager), I can’t move away from the reliance of the solid extensions available in the Chrome Store. Adblock Plus, Image Downloader and TubeBuddy have features that I rely on every day, and I can’t replicate that experience in Safari.

I’d much prefer to use the native features of Safari, and benefit from the syncing capabilities of iCloud and continuity, the privacy functions and the cleaner interface. Safari is improving year-on-year, and Google is failing to innovate with Chrome, leading to a boring and static experience when browsing.

Hopefully in the next year, the number of extensions for Apple’s browser will improve, as the company just added support for extensions to Safari for iOS and iPadOS, so developers can reach a much larger market.

Google rumored to release Pixel smartwatch in 2022

Google will release its first smartwatch next year, according to a report from Business Insider. It will reportedly be called the ‘Pixel Watch’ and marks a significant step up from the company’s development of wearOS.

The report claims that the device will feature no bezels and a rounded design. It could have a design that is “comfortable to wear for at least 90% of the population”, unlike many current smartwatches, which are available in only one or two sizes. The Pixel Watch could launch as soon as Spring 2022 and will compete directly with the Apple Watch Series 7, which was unveiled in September, with thinner bezels, larger displays and a more rounded-off design.

Leaker Jon Prosser revealed what the design could look like in renders earlier this year, depicting a round design with interchangeable bands and no buttons. He previously claimed that Google could announce the watch in October. Google hasn’t invested much into wearOS as a competitor to watchOS, which runs on the Apple Watch, so the launch of its own smartwatch could see a big step up in smartwatch competition and innovative software features from other companies.

watchOS 8, the latest version of the software for Apple Watch Series 3 and later, introduces Find My apps, UI improvements, redesigned Photos app, new Mindfulness app and much more.

Apple launches MacBook upgrade program

Apple recently introduced a business-only program that allows members to obtain and eventually upgrade their Macs for a low monthly fee. This comes after Twitter user Max Weinbach posted an image of what appears to be an Ad located on Apple's business portal.

See this is something I'd absolutely subscribe to pic.twitter.com/QbhtGKGGua

— Max Weinbach (@MaxWinebach) November 29, 2021

As outlined on CIT's website, Apple Business Partners can distribute the 13-inch MacBook Pro, 13-inch MacBook Air, 14-inch MacBook Pro, and 16-inch MacBook Pro to their staff for only 3% of their retail list prices as monthly installments.

The company's M1 refresh initiative aims to push businesses to upgrade from Intel-based Macs to their more powerful and energy-efficient successors. CIT will issue a PO to Apple on the business's behalf.

Apple announces winners of the 2021 App Store Awards

Today Apple announced the winners of its 2021 App Store Awards. The overarching theme this year was connectivity, and popular apps like Among Us and Carrot Weather were highlighted.

Here are the recipients of the 2021 App Store Awards:

Apps

• iPhone App of the Year: Toca Life World
• iPad App of the Year: LumaFusion
• Mac App of the Year: Craft
• Apple TV App of the Year: DAZN
• Apple Watch App of the Year: Carrot Weather

Games

• iPhone Game of the Year: League of Legends: Wild Rift
• iPad Game of the Year: MARVEL Future Revolution
• Mac Game of the Year: Myst
• Apple TV Game of the Year: Space Marshals 3
• Apple Arcade Game of the Year: Fantasian

The Trend of the Year

These apps were highlighted by Apple’s App Store team as trending apps that enhanced connections this year. Apple says: “This year’s trend winners brought people together in meaningful ways — while meeting social, personal, and professional needs for users around the world.”

• Among Us!
• Bumble
• Canva
• EatOkra
• Peanut

Along with Apple’s App Store Award winners, Apple also announced the most downloaded apps of 2021. The most popular apps included TikTok, YouTube, Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook. More info about Apple’s 2021 App Store Award winners can be found on Apple’s website.

Written by Divi

App Store Apps Apple Announcements

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iPhone 6 Plus being added to vintage products list this month

According to MacRumors, an internal memo was sent out to Apple employees today stating that the iPhone 6 Plus will be added to the Apple vintage products list on December 31st. This will mark the fifth year since Apple has stopped selling the device.

Repairs and services for vintage products are available for up to seven years or as long as parts are available.

The iPhone 6 Plus, introduced in September of 2014, was one of Apple’s best-selling smartphone models ever. It was discontinued after two years in 2016, while the regular iPhone 6 stayed available until 2018. This means that the regular iPhone 6 will not be added to the vintage list for about two years. Apple dropped software support for the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus with iOS 13 a few years ago but has continued to offer security fixes periodically.

The iPhone 6 Plus was one of the first iPhone models to feature Apple Pay and advanced cameras. It also had a very small base storage capacity of only 16GB. Through their larger form factor and more advanced parts, the iPhone 6 and 6 Pro changed the smartphone game in 2014.