Tech Talk

Apple's new 2020 iPad Pro models are equipped with an A12Z Bionic processor that's remarkably similar to the A12X chip in the 2018 ‌iPad Pro‌ models, offering little in the way of performance improvements. The A12Z does, however, feature an 8-core GPU while the A12X includes a 7-core GPU, which sets them apart, but new evidence shared by NotebookCheck suggests that the A12Z Bionic is simply a renamed A12X chip with a latent GPU core enabled. According to NotebookCheck , teardown site TechInsights confirmed that the 2018 A12X chip physically has 8 GPU cores and not the 7 GPU cores that Apple includes in tech specs. One of the cores of the A12X is disabled. The A12X and the A12Z appear to be the same physical chip on the surface, with the same number of physical CPU and GPU cores rather, suggesting the A12Z is not a new design. AnandTech has also speculated that the A12Z is a re-binned variant of the A12X. There can be several speculative reasons as to why Apple chos

MacRumors recently discovered that Apple is developing a new "CarKey" feature that will allow an iPhone or Apple Watch to unlock, lock, and start an NFC-compatible vehicle. Just like credit cards and boarding passes, users will be able to add a digital car key to the Wallet app, eliminating the need to use a physical car key or key fob. CarKey will allow users to approach their vehicle, hold their iPhone or Apple Watch near an NFC reader in the vehicle, authenticate with Face ID, and have the vehicle unlock automatically. Similar to Apple Pay at transit turnstiles, Express Mode would be an option, eliminating the need to authenticate with Face ID or a passcode. Earlier this week, screenshots of what appears to be the CarKey interface surfaced on Twitter, providing us with our first look at the upcoming feature. Source: DongleBookPro As expected, a digital car key appears as a card in the Wallet app. Tapping on the card reveals info such as the car model, issuing aut

U.K. iPhone and iPad users who open the App Store this morning are being met with a COVID-19 public service announcement from the British government, signaling an expansion of Apple's efforts to prominently display official coronavirus alerts on its devices. Tapping on the prioritized card takes users to an NHS app link and a video containing coronavirus protection guidance from the UK government's chief medical officer, professor Chris Whitty: To help save lives, stay at home. Anyone can spread coronavirus. You should now only go out when absolutely necessary, for food, medicine, work, or exercise. Always try to stay two meters apart. Do not meet others outside your household – even friends and family. Stay Home. Protect the NHS. Save Lives. The ‌App Store‌ is an unfamiliar home for a PSA –  Apple News would be the normal location for this kind of content – but Apple is obviously trying to get out the official guidance to as many users as possible, including anyone

One of the new 2020 iPad Pro models equipped with an A12Z chip arrived early to a Reddit user, who did some benchmarking tests to see how it performs. In a Geekbench 5 test, the 11-inch 2020 ‌iPad Pro‌ earned a single-core score of 1114 and a multi-core score of 4654, which is close to the Geekbench scores of the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ from 2018. The 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ has an aggregate single-core Geekbench 5 score of 1113 and a multi-core score of 4608. Like the A12X, the A12Z is an 8-core chip running at 2.48GHz. The new 2020 ‌iPad Pro‌ pulled ahead a little in Metal scores, earning a 9894 Metal score, up from the 9020 score in the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ from 2018. That's no surprise, though, because the A12Z features an 8-core GPU instead of the 7-core GPU that was in the A12X. Antutu tests were also conducted, showing lower scores than prior models in the memory category, though the test may not be optimized for the new models and the iOS 13.4 update. CPU was 187648, GPU

An original Apple Computer Inc. sign created around 1978 with Apple's well-known rainbow logo is set to be auctioned off later this week. Measuring in at four feet by five feet, the sign is said to be one of the earliest Apple retail signs and was displayed by an Apple authorized reseller who first learned about Apple after attending a 1976 computer conference. The sign is yellowed and the description says there are "a few surface marks," but overall, the rainbow colors are said to be bright and in good condition. The sign will be auctioned by Nate D. Sanders Auctions on March 26, and the starting price is $20,000. This article, " Original 1978 Apple Computer Retail Sign With Iconic Rainbow Logo Being Auctioned Off " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums Source: https://bit.ly/3dltnaW

macOS versions of apps can now be included as part of a universal purchase, which allows customers to purchase a single app (or in-app purchase) that works across iOS, iPadOS , macOS, watchOS, and tvOS. Apple says that developers can get ready to use the feature by assigning a single bundle ID for apps in Xcode and setting up their app record for universal purchase using App Store Connect. A single purchase option for iOS, ‌iPadOS‌, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS apps was added in the Xcode 11.4 beta, which was first released in February. After developers have implemented single purchase options, customers will be able to buy one app that works across all of their Apple devices. With the option to make a purchase of an app that works on all devices, Apple is unifying the categories in the iOS ‌App Store‌ and macOS App Stores, so there will be minor changes coming to the categories available in Apple's App Stores. Tags: App Store , Apple Developer Program This article, " A

With most of Apple's corporate employees working from home at the current time, the Apple Park campus in Cupertino is nearly abandoned. Drone footage shot recently by drone pilot Duncan Sinfield looks similar to drone videos shot before ‌Apple Park‌ opened, with no visible people on the campus and parking lots abandoned. Apple employees worldwide have been working at home since March 8 , though there are likely still employees on the ‌Apple Park‌ campus who have essential roles at the company. Apple employees with non-essential roles are required to stay at home under Santa Clara County's shelter-in-place order . Tag: Apple Park This article, " Drone Video Shows Empty Apple Park Campus " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums Source: https://bit.ly/2Jb1BQM

Nearly a year after canceling its AirPower wireless charging mat , Apple has resumed development of the project, according to YouTuber and leaker Jon Prosser . However, there is no guarantee that the accessory will ever be released. Prosser claims that Apple engineers are attempting to redesign the mat's charging coils to displace heat more effectively, adding that prototyping is underway. Apple only said that the AirPower failed to achieve its high standards, but rumors suggested that the mat experienced issues with heat management and interference . AirPower would have been able to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods case simultaneously, regardless of each device's position on the mat. The battery percentage of each device would have shown up on the iPhone's lock screen while charging. AirPower isn’t dead 👀 The project is back on, internally. No guarantee that they’ll finalize and release it, but they haven’t given up yet and they’re trying to re-engine

Apple Books today sent out a push notification highlighting free books and audiobooks available to users for a limited time only. This appears to be U.S. only for now. The push notification reads: Enjoy a good book, on us Explore free books, read-alongs for kids, cozy mysteries, and audiobooks for the whole family. Upon tapping on the notification, users are brought to the Free Books page in the Apple Books Store. From there users can browse through several novels from various genres, explore a wide selection of audiobooks, or select a new book from Apple's 'First in a Series, Free' tab. Apple is likely offering this promotion as people around the world remain in their homes amid the ongoing crisis. It is unclear as to how long this promotion will last, so it is definitely worth spending a few minutes to explore the many books and audiobooks while they're available for free. Tag: Apple Books This article, " Apple Offers Free Books and Audiobooks to Users

Apple has lifted purchase limits previously imposed on iPhone , new iPad Pro , and new MacBook Air purchases made outside of China. Apple this past week had set purchase limits across several of its products. For example, the new ‌MacBook Air‌ and Mac mini were limited to five orders per customer, the new ‌iPad Pro‌ was limited to two 11-inch models per customer and two 12.9-inch models per customer, and iPhones were limited to two of each model per customer. Some purchase limits have yet to be lifted in China. Although China does not have any purchase limits on iPhones and the ‌Mac mini‌, there does still exist a limit of five ‌MacBook Air‌ orders per customer. Additionally, there exists a limit on the new ‌iPad Pro‌, however, it is unable to be ordered at this time as approval for the device in the country is still pending. Related Roundups: iPad Pro , Mac mini , MacBook Air Buyer's Guide: 11" iPad Pro (Buy Now) , Mac Mini (Buy Now) , MacBook Air (Buy Now) , 12.9&qu

iPhone users who ask Siri about COVID-19 can now complete a questionnaire about their symptoms and potential exposure to the virus to better understand their health situation, as noted by CNBC . Apple says the answers are sourced from the CDC and U.S. Public Health Service, a division of the Department of Health and Human Services. Apple today also shared a COVID-19-related PSA from the White House Coronavirus Task Force in its App Store on iOS devices, as retweeted by Rene Ritchie . Wow! This when you open the Apple App Store. Well done @Apple @tim_cook @TWiT @ant_pruitt @reneritchie pic.twitter.com/8w6OqKW92m — Demian Dellinger (@DemianCo) March 21, 2020 The same PSA can also be watched on Apple.com . Apple earlier said it is donating millions of masks for health professionals in the U.S. and Europe. Tags: Siri , COVID-19 Coronavirus This article, " Siri Now Provides Coronavirus Advice From CDC and U.S. Public Health Service " first appeared on MacRu

With no March media event in the works, Apple this week rolled out a number of product updates including updated iPad Pro models with dual cameras, a LiDAR scanner, and a Magic Keyboard accessory with trackpad. Subscribe to the MacRumors YouTube channel for more videos. On the Mac side, we got an updated MacBook Air and storage-bumped Mac mini models, as well as new Powerbeats earphones, so check out the video above and read on for all of our coverage on those topics and more. New iPad Pro Announced With A12Z Bionic Chip, Magic Keyboard With Trackpad, LiDAR Scanner, Ultra Wide Camera, and More March is a common month for new Apple products and this year has proven to be no exception. While the COVID-19 pandemic may have prevented it from hosting a media event, Apple this week introduced new iPad Pro models with a slightly faster A12Z Bionic chip, an Ultra Wide camera for 0.5x zoom, a LiDAR sensor for enhanced augmented reality, and more. Apple also announced that a new Ma