What to expect at Apple's Digital Event Today: MacBook Pro,M1X Chip, AirPods 3 and More

 

So we're just few hours away now from apple's next digital event that will be streaming from apple park. The event is rumored to be packed with lots of surprises. Apple's first hardware event of the fall saw the launch of the long-awaited iPhone 13 lineup with a 120Hz ProMotion screen and upgraded cameras. Apple’s “unleashed” event is expected to unpack its latest silicon, new Macs, and more. While the new MacBook Pro models are touted as the highlight of the event, the company probably has other equally interesting announcements up its sleeve.

 

How to Watch Apple's Oct 18 Hardware Event

Before we get into all of the products we expect Apple to unveil at its hardware event tomorrow, let's quickly detail how you can watch the 'Unleashed' event. Like other recent Apple events, this will also be a virtual release and will be streamed live on Apple's official event page and YouTube channel on October 18 (Monday) at 10:00 AM PDT (1:00 PM EST, 10:30 PM IST or 6:00 PM BST). Here is what to expect from today’s event

 

New 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro

Rumors about the redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models have been around for some time. And if the reports are true, we'll likely see Apple announce two new state-of-the-art MacBook Pro models at the next event. Considering that notebooks have been redesigned for several years, all eyes are on this big announcement.

 

Flat Edge Design

Going through the leaked images, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros will feature a flat-edged design in keeping with the newly launched iPhone 13 and iPad mini 6 series. In addition, the notebooks will have slimmer bezels for a modern look.

 

Another design element that might get a lot of attention is the removal of the “MacBook Pro” tag from the bottom of the screen. The reasoning behind this decision is simple. Apple wants to achieve an impressive frameless design and provide more screen space for its users.

 

Notch With Better Webcam

The future 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Professional models will have a notch that houses the webcam. According to the report, the notch will be similar in size to that found on the iPhone 12 series. While I'm not sure how it will work with Apple's existing desktop operating system, I don't think it's out of the question.

 

Also, if you've been active on Twitter recently, macOS Monterey users have noticed that the menu bar at the top is now thicker than in macOS Big Sur. They speculate that the thickening may be a clue to this change of project to come to accommodate the notch.

 

Knowing the fact that Apple is aiming for an end-to-end display, the inclusion of a small notch at the top with a better webcam seems to be in the realm of possibilities. Rumors suggest that the 2021 MacBook Pros unveiled at Apple's Oct. 18 event will have an updated 1080p webcam, which would be a significant improvement. Currently, MacBooks come with a below-average 720p webcam.

 

mini LED screen

After introducing a mini-LED screen in the 12.9-inch iPad Pro 2021, Apple is now rumored to equip upcoming MacBook Pro models with the same display technology. With mini-LED technology, notebooks will have a slimmer and lighter design. In addition, it will also bring many OLED-like benefits, including high contrast, dynamic range, truer blacks, and support for a wider color gamut.

ProMotion 120 Hz refresh rate

In an attempt to take over gaming laptops, Apple must introduce ProMotion 120Hz refresh rate support on new MacBook Pro models as well. With a higher refresh rate, MacBook Pros will provide smooth scrolling and an enhanced gaming experience. Thanks to the variable refresh rate, it would also help conserve precious battery life.

 

Based on display details leaked in a recent macOS Monterey update, True 2x retina resolutions appear to be on the charts for upcoming models. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros likely feature a screen resolution of 3024 x 1964 and 3456 x 2234, respectively.

 

RIP Touch Bar, finally!

Without detracting from the Touch Bar's usefulness, I would go so far as to say that it has generally remained a “gimmick” that has failed to make the cut for most pros from day one. So, if Apple's expert analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is to be believed, Apple decided to ditch the Touch Bar in favor of a classic but friendlier design.

 

 Touch bar would likely be removed on new MacBook Pro models

“ Touch Bars continue to be the No. 3 app, with an 18% unit share and 1.2% revenue share in Q1 21. We expect Touch Bars to be overtaken by tablets when Apple starts to adopt the 10.9” iPad AMOLED. In addition, our sources suggest that Apple may cancel Touch Bar in the future,” says a recent report by Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC).

 

Instead of the interactive OLED touch bar, the 2021 MacBook Pro models that will be unveiled at Apple's Oct. 18 show will feature a standard lineup of function keys. While it feels like stepping back in time, it's a smart move to get rid of the OLED touch strip and opt for physical keys to allow you to control certain functionality.

 

Apple's most powerful M1X chip

With the launch of the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models, Apple will completely get rid of Intel chips. This means that both the latest generation MacBooks will feature the fastest and most powerful Apple M1X chip . It has long been rumored that it will come and be the successor to the original M1 chip.

Equipped with a 10-core CPU that features eight high-performance cores and two energy-efficient cores, as well as a 16-core/32-core GPU, the M1X chip will put the MacBook Pro ahead of the competition in terms of speed and efficiency. In addition, the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros entry-level models will have 16GB of RAM, but will support up to 64GB of RAM. As for storage, 512GB SSD storage will be standard across the board, with upgrades available at higher prices.

 

 

 

SD card slot, HDMI port and MagSafe

In what could be great news for developers who have complained about the lack of an SD card slot and an HDMI port on MacBook Professional models since 2016, the tech giant will likely add more ports to upcoming notebooks. Yes, it was in 2016, when Apple radically dropped most ports in favor of just USB-C ports on the MacBook.

 

In addition, MacBook Pro 2021 models should also bring back MagSafe magnetic charging in a more efficient iteration. The 14-inch and 16-inch Pro models that will launch at Apple's show today may feature a MagSafe charging port that will provide faster charging speed than the existing USB-C port.

 

Mac mini smaller and thinner

With an updated design and the same Apple M1X chip that should power the new MacBook Pros, the 2021 Mac mini looks ready for a big update. Following the reports, the updated Mac mini will also be unveiled at Apple's event today.

 

 

 

Featuring a smaller form factor and a plexiglass top over the aluminum case, the Mac mini will be more portable. It will have four Thunderbolt ports, one Ethernet port, one HDMI port and two USB-A ports, as reported. In addition, the new Mac mini will use the same magnetic power connector as the newly launched 24-inch M1 iMac.

 

Affordable AirPods 3

AirPods 3 were previously expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 13 series, but that didn't happen last month. Now, rumors suggest they will be announced alongside the new MacBook Pros. In terms of design, AirPods 3 will bear a striking resemblance to AirPods Pro.

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The shorter poles and a redesigned charging case will make wireless headphones look modern. However, AirPods 3 will be available at a more affordable price and will not come with state-of-the-art features such as Active Noise Canceling. We will have to wait for the official event for more information.

 

macOS 12 Monterey release date

Although iOS 15, iPadOS 15, watchOS 8 and tvOS 15 were released to the public in September, there is still no news about the release of Apple's latest desktop operating system-macOS 12 Monterey. As the new version of macOS usually comes after other software updates, the release date of macOS Monterey can be announced at the Apple event on today

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WhatsApp to stop working on Windows Phones

The end of Windows Phone is getting closer, even though some users still enjoy the family devices and the mobile operating system of Microsoft. After losing support for several widely used applications, such as Instagram, the most famous messenger app in the world has indicated a date to close activities there.

According to WhatsApp's own  online FAQ, the app will be removed from the Microsoft Windows Mobile Store on July 1, 2019. Because development is no longer encouraged by the company itself, many features may stop working from that date

The closure of the support will take place on December 31 of this year. In the case of Android and iOS, support will remain quite active: in 2020, versions 2.3.7 of Android and iOS 7 or lower will no longer have standard development.

In the case that WhatsApp stops operating on your device, one of the possible solutions is to try to update the operating system. But if it is impossible, the only alternatives are to use similar applications such as Telegram or Messenger or buy a new device.

The company in 2016 devised a plan in which it reported that WhatsApp would no longer be compatible in the coming years with certain mobile devices that lacked the necessary capabilities to support some updates. "When we started WhatsApp in 2009, mobile phones were totally different from those of today," the company explained on its official blog.

Facebook's decision to end support for these apps is hardly surprising given the Windows Phone platform is officially dead. Even Microsoft will stop supporting the latest version of Windows 10 Mobile – 1709 – in December this year. The phones with Windows 10 Mobile 1703 will lose support in June itself. Many of the major apps have already stopped supporting Windows Phone devices.

It is unclear how many consumers are still using Windows Phone devices, but the number is unlikely to be significant.

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The future of security is AI Microsoft

AI and Machine Learning set to play a major part in Microsoft’s security strategy.

With AI becoming an increasingly common presence in many areas of work and business, it’s perhaps unsurprising that the security industry is also getting on board.

Both AI and Machine Learning technology can have a profound effect on the work of security experts, helping streamline processes and crunch huge mountains of data to help protect businesses of all sizes.

But how do you ensure that your organisation is grasping the potential of AI-powered security, and select the correct provider?

"To make AI and machine learning work you need big data, computing at scale and the right sort of software - and we have all of that,” Microsoft’s UK chief security advisor Sian John told TechRadar Pro at the company’s recent Future Decoded event in London.

"Microsoft has the strongest security culture of anywhere I've worked...we're the outside-in organisation.”

Microsoft has an enviable network of over a billion connected devices spread around the globe, feeding information and analysis to the company in order to help it stay abreast of all the latest threats.

The company has offered its Secure Score tool for some time, allowing customers to analyse just how secure their protections are, all powered by the AI services with Office 365 and Azure.

Microsoft also looks to work with its partners and customers to analyse specific needs which can then be addressed on a case-by-case basis, allowing users to tailor the company’s services into their company structure as needed.

"Across everything we're doing in security, machine learning and behavioural detection is at the absolute core,” John notes.


TechRadar Pro spoke to John after Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella had given a passionate speech (pictured above) on the theme of “tech intensity” impacting the speed of digital transformation, and she agreed that security has a crucial part to play in this process.

Nadella has said that AI will be “the defining technology of our time”, and that privacy is a human right, highlighting the heightened importance Microsoft is placing on its security practice.

John notes that even for a company the size of Microsoft, the need to demonstrate what its platforms can do to help secure organisations of all sizes is paramount.

“We have all this capability - now it's about helping organisations to make use of it,” she adds.

“You see it in the organisations that are doing really well - you'll see that their security teams are really innovative and engaged.”

“That's the really exciting thing about our industry as a cybersecurity person, the fact that  everyone's going through that change.”

“That's one of our main challenges - you have the tech, you have the capability, but how do you make it easy to engage with and operate?"

Source:www.techradar.com

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Samsung's foldable phone could cost over $1,700

Less than a week since Samsung unveiled its "Infinity Flex" display for its upcoming bendy smartphone, a new report from South Korea claims to know the name, price and release date of the device. The Yonhap News Agency's industry sources suggest the phone will be dubbed the "Galaxy F" -- a name that's been floated about before, along with "Galaxy X" -- and will debut in March, around a month after a 5G-enabled S10. But it won't come cheap: Yonhap believes the bendy phone will be an exclusive device that could cost as much as $1,770, though it adds the company hasn't "settled" on a price.

Samsung, however, is keeping quiet this far ahead of launch. Last week, its mobile division's CEO, DJ Koh, said it plans to ship a million foldable devices in 2019. Thus far it's only revealed a prototype that looks like a regular smartphone (albeit bulkier), until it unfolds like a book into a 7.3-inch display that acts like a tablet. The "Infinity Flex" display uses panel bending tech, along with a new protective layer and an advanced polymer that's both flexible and tough. If it's a success, it may lead to more foldable gadgets from the company, including that rumoured folding Note phone and flexi-laptop displays.

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Samsung's Foldable Smartphone is Finally Here

People have been dreaming of foldable screens for years, and although some devices have experimented with the idea, it still needs to refine a lot of hardware and software before technology comes to our attention. But during the Samsung Developer Conference (SDC 2018), the world's largest smartphone maker has given everyone a taste of what's been waiting for so long with their new Infinity Flex Display.



Although Samsung was careful not to reveal much, the yet unnamed, foldable display device featured a flexible 7.3-inch screen, tablet size, but also another  inside screen, for all your normal smartphone needs. This is a traditional display - which Samsung is calling a "cover screen" - on the outside, so you can quickly access your phone without having to unfold it.



 On the stage, the company's senior vice president, Justin Denison, said the company's new foldable device will be small enough to be pocketed, although it's hard to say how accurate this statement is until we see the device after completion.

Still, even in just a quick glance, Samsung's Infinity Flex Display seemed significantly more polished and ready for consumers than products like the recently announced Royole FlexPai . But more importantly, Samsung's flexible display represents a possible big change from the glass rectangles we've been using over the past decade, going now to something that can literally be folded and adapted to our needs.



Interestingly enough, it seems that Samsung's traditional "cover screen" on the outside of the device does not take full advantage of the front space of the device.

To do this, Samsung needed to completely rethink the traditional design of the smartphone, including the exterior of the device and how to make it fold properly, as well as redesign its internal components, studying where to put them on a phone that can move way older devices can not.

To address the first problem, Samsung designed new screen materials, including a flexible OLED layer and a backplane , which are layered under an ultra-thin polarizer, a new shock absorbing film and a more durable polymer cover window ( and flexible) on top. And to keep it all together, the company says it has created a new flexible adhesive capable of withstanding cracks or complete dismounting even after thousands of bends. That said, Samsung claims that its flexible screen is the thinnest screen the company has ever made.





To increase the potential of its Infinity Flex Display, Samsung has created a new multitasking interface that allows people to view up to three applications simultaneously across the device's 7.3-inch display. In addition, for the times when you want to make the transition from what you see on the smaller external screen of the phone to the large internal screen, Samsung worked with Google to create various user interface features such as App Continuity (or Continuity which allows your smartphone to make an uninterrupted transition from what you see on the external display to the home screen without any delay or short interruptions.



Unfortunately, Samsung has not given a date or even a timeline for when this device will be available (not even as a preview), although the company claims that the mass production of these screens should begin to grow in the coming months.





Even looking optimistically, it is still too early to say that the mission was a success. Flexible screens can still end up dying on the beach, like curved TVs and Google Glass. But at the same time, what Samsung showed on Wednesday (7) makes the idea of flexible phones far more tolerable than anything we've seen before.

The trend to see folding devices over the next few years has been confirmed with Google's announcement on Wednesday that the Android system would now support folding screens. The launch almost at the same time shows that there is a joint effort by companies to bring this new technology - something that other companies can also potentially take advantage of


Source:gizmodo.uol.com.br

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