Individual Empowerment: At the core lies Apple’s belief in technology’s ability to unlock individual potential. From the educational tools on iPads to the health and fitness tracking on Apple Watches, the focus is on providing individuals with the tools and insights to improve their lives. Features like Siri and Shortcuts aim to streamline daily tasks, while innovations in accessibility strive to remove barriers for those with disabilities. This vision empowers individuals to be more productive, informed, and connected.

Seamless Integration: Apple envisions technology not as a separate entity, but as an interwoven thread in the fabric of our lives. Their products, often lauded for their user-friendly interfaces and intuitive design, aim to disappear into the background, serving as extensions of ourselves. Imagine seamlessly transferring work from your Mac to your iPhone while on the go, or effortlessly controlling your smart home with voice commands – this seamless integration is a cornerstone of Apple’s future vision.

Community Building: While empowering individuals, Apple doesn’t lose sight of the collective. Their platforms like FaceTime and iMessage connect people across the globe, fostering communication and collaboration. Initiatives like App Store Connect support developers, creating a thriving ecosystem that benefits both creators and users. Apple’s focus on privacy and security aims to build trust and foster an environment where communities can interact confidently online.

Sustainability and Equity: Recognizing the impact of technology on the planet and society, Apple’s vision incorporates sustainability and equity. Their commitment to renewable energy and reducing their environmental footprint reflects a responsible approach to technological advancement. Similarly, initiatives like the App Store’s “Designed for Change” program promote apps that address social and environmental issues, highlighting the potential of technology to drive positive change.

However, it’s important to acknowledge that Apple’s vision is not without its critics. Concerns about data privacy, walled gardens, and the ethical implications of artificial intelligence cannot be ignored. As with any vision, the journey towards its realization is fraught with challenges, and open dialogue and critical evaluation are crucial.

Ultimately, Apple’s vision for the future paints a picture where technology empowers individuals and communities, seamlessly woven into the fabric of our lives, while acknowledging the responsibility to do so sustainably and equitably. Whether this vision fully materializes or not, it serves as a valuable starting point for discussions about the role of technology in shaping our collective future.

That being said, there are a few common reasons why some individuals may choose not to use Apple products:

1. Cost: Apple products are typically priced at a premium compared to other brands, which can make them less accessible to budget-conscious consumers.
2. Closed ecosystem: Apple’s operating systems (iOS and macOS) are designed to work seamlessly with other Apple devices and services. While this can provide a unified and integrated user experience for Apple users, it also means that Apple products may have limited compatibility with non-Apple devices and software.
3. Customization limitations: Apple products are known for their sleek design and user-friendly interface, but they offer limited customization options compared to some other platforms. This can be a drawback for users who prefer more flexibility and control over their devices.
4. Software restrictions: Apple has a strict app review and approval process for its App Store, which means that not all software or apps may be available on Apple devices. Additionally, some developers may choose to prioritize releasing software for other platforms first.
5. Repairability and upgradability: Apple devices are often criticized for their limited repairability and upgradability. The company tends to prioritize slim designs and sealed units, which can make it more difficult and expensive to repair or upgrade certain components.

Ultimately, the decision to use Apple products or not is subjective and depends on individual preferences, priorities, and requirements. It’s important to evaluate your needs and consider the advantages and disadvantages of any technology before making a purchase.

The next iPhone launch is also just two months away now, and we’re continuing to hear rumors about what to expect from the next-generation models, while we’ve heard more this week about a rumored iPhone SE 4 and an upcoming external Mac monitor that could double as a smart home display.

Finally, Meta this week launched its Twitter competitor known as Threads, and it’s seen rapid uptake thanks to its integration with Instagram. Read on for all the details on this week’s biggest stories!

Everything New in iOS 17 Beta 3

Apple this week seeded the third beta of iOS 17 to developers for testing. The latest beta includes a few smaller changes for the iPhone, so be sure to check out our recap of everything new.

The first public beta of iOS 17 will be available later this month, according to Apple, and the software update will be released for all users with an iPhone XS and newer in September. Read our in-depth iOS 17 roundup to learn more about the update and new features.

Apple also released the third developer betas of iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, watchOS 10, and tvOS 17 this week.

iPhone 15 Pro Expected to Come in Blue

The iPhone 15 Pro models set to be introduced this September will be available in a unique dark blue color that has a gray tone, according to leaker Unknownz21.

Available in a new titanium material, the blue shade will have a brushed finish that is unlike the stainless steel Apple has used in the past. The color is similar to the blue Apple used for the iPhone 12 Pro models, but it appears to be darker and with more gray to better complement the titanium finish. Check out our article for renderings we created to demonstrate the new color.

iPhone 15 Pro Max Predicted to Be More Expensive Than Previous Model

The high-end iPhone 15 Pro Max will be more expensive than the iPhone 14 Pro Max, which starts at $1,099, according to tech analyst Jeff Pu.

One reason the Pro Max might be more expensive this year is the device’s rumored periscope lens, which is expected to enable up to 5-6x optical zoom, compared to the current limit of 3x. The regular 15 Pro is not expected to have a periscope lens.

Meta’s Twitter Alternative ‘Threads’ Now Available

Facebook’s parent company Meta this week launched a new iPhone app called Threads that competes with Twitter. Thanks to Instagram integration, the app amassed over 30 million users as of Thursday morning, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg.

MacRumors is on Threads, as are several of our staff members, so be sure to follow us to keep up with the latest Apple news and rumors.

Apple Reportedly Working on Mac Monitor That Becomes a Smart Home Display When Idle

Apple is working on a new external monitor for Macs that also functions as a smart home display while not in use, according to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said that Apple is developing multiple new monitor offerings, some of which are likely to be successors to its Studio Display and Pro Display XDR, and one that could have smart standby features powered by an onboard iOS chip.

iPhone SE 4: Here’s What the Latest Rumors Say

Rumors about a fourth-generation iPhone SE have been circulating since just months after the current model launched in 2022. This week, we recapped rumors about the device and potential launch timing.

The latest word about the fourth-generation iPhone SE comes from UBI Research analyst Dae-Jeong Yoon, who this week said that mass production of the device has been delayed until some point in 2025.

Top Five New Features in iPadOS 17

While iPadOS 17 has adopted almost all of the features that are available in iOS 17, there are also several additions designed specifically for the larger display of the iPad. In a recent video on our YouTube channel, we highlighted the best new features available for the ‌iPad‌ in the ‌iPadOS 17‌ update.

For more details about the update and new features, read our in-depth iPadOS 17 roundup.

MacRumors Newsletter

Each week, we publish an email newsletter like this highlighting the top Apple stories, making it a great way to get a bite-sized recap of the week hitting all of the major topics we’ve covered and tying together related stories for a big-picture view.

So if you want to have top stories like the above recap delivered to your email inbox each week, subscribe to our newsletter!

This article, "Top Stories: iOS 17 Beta 3, Meta Launches Twitter Rival, and More" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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After iterating for over a decade in the iPhone and iPad, Apple in 2020 brought its custom silicon chip technology to the Mac, enabling major performance and power efficiency improvements. Since then, Apple silicon has expanded to every Mac model, spurring new designs and capabilities that were previously impossible.

Understanding the distinctions between Apple silicon chips will help you make an informed decision when selecting the right Mac for your needs. There have been two generations of Apple silicon for the Mac, each with four different chip variants. The main differences between the four different chip variants are as follows:

• M1 and M2: Standard Apple silicon chip with a balance of performance and power-efficiency.
• M1 Pro and M2 Pro: Apple silicon chip with additional high-performance CPU cores and twice the memory bandwidth of the M2 chip (200GB/s).
• M1 Max and M2 Max: Doubles the GPU cores and memory bandwidth (400GB/s) of the M1 Pro or ‌M2‌ Pro chips for better graphics performance.
• M1 Ultra and M2 Ultra: Encompasses two M1 Max or ‌M2‌ Max chips for double overall CPU and GPU performance, as well as twice the memory bandwidth (800GB/s).

Apple Silicon Generations

With the introduction of the ‌M2‌ series of chips in 2022, Apple made some key improvements over the initial M1 series from 2020.

The below table provides a comparison between the ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ series, highlighting differences in the chips they are based on, node, CPU clock speed, Neural Engines, and more:

The standard ‌M2‌ chip also features several additional changes over its ‌M1‌ predecessor, including:

It is worth noting that all Apple silicon chips other than the ‌M1‌ chip contain media engines for hardware-accelerated H.264, HEVC, ProRes, and ProRes RAW video.

Devices

Each Apple silicon chip is only available in a select number of Apple devices. The standard ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ chips are present in a large number of laptop and desktop devices, several ‌iPad‌ models, and even the upcoming Vision Pro headset, owing to their requirement for a balance of performance and efficiency. On the other hand, the ‌M2‌ Ultra, Apple’s most powerful custom silicon chip to date, is only available in the high-end Mac Studio and Mac Pro.

CPU and GPU Cores

CPU cores are individual processing units within a Central Processing Unit (CPU) responsible for executing instructions and performing general-purpose tasks, while GPU cores are specialized units within a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU) designed for parallel processing and graphics-intensive tasks.

The number of CPU and GPU cores in an Apple silicon chip impacts the performance and multitasking capabilities of a Mac, with more cores leading to faster and more efficient execution of tasks, especially in intensive workloads. The table below presents a comparison of the core configurations and GPU specifications for the different variants of the ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ chips:

Deciding how many CPU cores you need depends on the specific tasks and workflows you intend to perform on your Mac. For example, if you primarily engage in basic tasks like web browsing, document editing, and media consumption, an eight-core chip should suffice. On the other hand, if you work with demanding workloads like software development, opting for a higher core count can provide significant performance benefits. Similarly, graphics-intense workflows like video editing, 3D modeling, or gaming will benefit from additional GPU cores.

Benchmarks

Computer benchmark scores are standardized measurements that evaluate the performance of chips, providing a numerical representation for comparing capabilities and assessing performance against industry standards. The data on this chart is calculated from Geekbench 6 results users uploaded to Geekbench. Geekbench 6 scores are calibrated against a baseline score of 2,500 (which is the score of an Intel Core i7-12700 performing the same task).

The below Geekbench 6 scores show the range from the lowest specification chip in the least powerful Mac to the highest specification chip in the most powerful Mac.

Both the ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ chips demonstrate significant performance improvements in single-core and multi-core tasks as you move from the base to the Ultra variants, with the ‌M2‌ chip showcasing even higher performance across the board. Nevertheless, it is worth noting that benchmarks do not tell the whole story. Benchmarks focus on specific tasks and synthetic workloads, and do not always accurately capture real-world usage scenarios and variations.

Unified Memory

Apple silicon chips have a unified memory architecture, meaning that the RAM is tied directly to the processor for maximum speed and efficiency. This means that the chip you choose determines what memory option are available, and it is not upgradable at a later date.

Deciding how much RAM you need depends on your specific tasks and usage patterns. 8GB should be enough for most users, but upgrading to 16GB or 24GB could be sensible for users with more intense multitasking requirements. Amounts of memory beyond 32GB are generally reserved for seriously demanding workflows.

Final Thoughts

Overall, if you are new to Apple silicon and are still not sure which chip to buy, use the following rationale:

• Buy M1 or M2 if… you need a good balance of price, performance, and battery life and have normal day-to-day computing requirements.
• Buy M1 Pro or M2 Pro if… you need a performance-focused chip for slightly more intense workflows.
• Buy M1 Max or M2 Max if… you need additional graphics performance for working with images, videos, graphic design, or games.
• Buy M1 Ultra or M2 Ultra if… you need the best possible overall performance for extremely intense professional workflows.

It is generally not worth upgrading from any of the individual ‌M1‌ chips to their direct successors and it may be better to wait for Apple to launch the M3 series of chips. Apple has not yet released any M3-series chips, but the company is rumored to launch the ‌M3‌ chip toward the end of 2023. It is expected to be Apple’s first chip based on TSMC’s 3nm process, a significantly smaller node, which should lead to major performance and efficiency improvements over the ‌M1‌ and ‌M2‌ chips that are currently on offer.

This article, "Apple Silicon Buyer's Guide: All the Differences Explained" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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(via Cult of Mac – Tech and culture through an Apple lens)

(via Cult of Mac – Tech and culture through an Apple lens)

The luxury $60,000 record player is the first non-Apple hardware project Ive is known to have been involved in since he and four other colleagues left the company in 2019 to found the design firm LoveFrom.

The premium piece of audio technology features many of the classic hallmarks of an Ive-approved product, right down to the smoothed off aluminum edges, circular elements, and neutral, minimalist aesthetic.

Speaking to Fast Company, Ive said he had owned multiple Linn products over the years, explaining that “music has always been profoundly important to me.” He continued:

“So you can imagine, I think the first consequential music player that I designed was the first iPod, and that began a journey of multiple generations of iPod, and multiple AirPods and music accessories. I feel really fortunate to have gone the full circle… so many years on from my first visit to the factory.”

Ive describes the LP12-50 as “a very gentle and modest project for us that was really motivated by our love and respect for Linn.” Indeed, according to Fast Company, LoveFrom completed the work pro bono, and has no contract or other financial arrangement with the company.

“There’s a substantial percentage of our work which we do purely for the love of doing it,” Ive told the website, which noted that the design firm relies on its longer-term contracts with the likes of Airbnb and Ferrari to make money.

Since leaving Apple to found LoveFrom, Ive and fellow designer Marc Newson have designed a typeface, an emblem for the coronation of King Charles III, and a red clown nose for British charity Comic Relief.

Apple said in 2019 that Ive would continue to be involved in design at Apple and that it would be one of LoveFrom’s primary clients. For example, Ive was reportedly involved in the creation of the 2021 iMac. It’s unknown whether LoveFrom has worked with Apple since, and the design firm tends to keep a low profile.

This article, "If Apple Designed a Turntable, This Is Probably What It Would Look Like" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Source: LInn

Unless you count his exceptional redesign of the UK’s Comic Relief charity red nose, Jony Ive has not worked on hardware since leaving Apple. But his LoveFrom firm has now partnered with Linn to produce a turntable that sells starting at 50,000 pounds Sterling (approximately $63,000).

Read more…

LoveFrom, the design firm formed by Apple’s former design head Jony Ive, has collaborated with British audio brand Linn on a 50th anniversary edition of its Sondek LP12 turntable. Just 250 models of the Linn Sondek LP12-50 will be produced and delivered between August 2023 and March 2024, with the limited edition turntable available to reserve now for an eye-watering $60,000 (£50,000).

According to a blog post from Linn CEO Gilad Tiefenbrun, the collaboration dates back to early 2022 when Tiefenbrun was offered a meeting with Ive out of the blue over LinkedIn. Eventually, the two companies decided to collaborate on the upcoming turntable, which Fast Company calls Ive’s “first hardware project post-Apple.”

Image: Linn

Image: Linn

Image: Linn

Image: Linn

Ive-approved hinges.

Linn has focused on the sonic elements of the Sondek LP12-50 like a so-called “Bedrok” plinth made from a dense wood designed to minimize vibrations. Meanwhile, LoveFrom focused more on its industrial design. “We saw a number of areas where there could be small improvements and gentle evolutions of the current design,” Ive tells Fast Company. Previously squared-off components have been given smoother edges, a plastic rocker power button has been swapped out for an aluminum circle, and new hinges were developed for the machine’s dust cover that can hold it open at any angle.

Interestingly, Fast Company reports LoveFrom’s work on Linn’s Sondek LP12-50 was pro bono, and there’s “no contract or other financial arrangement” between the two firms. “There’s a substantial percentage of our work which we do purely for the love of doing it,” Ive said, noting that the design firm makes money from its longer-term contracts with the likes of Airbnb and Ferrari.

The Sondek LP12-50 is a world apart from the kinds of compact digital music devices like AirPods and iPods that Ive’s name was associated with while at Apple. But it’s arguably the most Ive-style collaboration LoveFrom has taken on since the designer left Apple to form the firm with Marc Newson in 2019. Other projects have included a typeface, an emblem for King Charles’ coronation, and a clown nose for British charity Comic Relief.

You can check out more photos of the record player over at The Financial Times.

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