Macworld UK November 2020

Apple has just taken the wraps off the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro. Each are available in two sizes (the regular iPhone 12 now comes in a 6.1in model and a 5.4in ‘mini’), but as was the case with the iPhone 11, the ‘Pro’ models have some differences that set them apart and help justify their higher price tag. 1. A NEW, SLIGHTLY LARGER DESIGN As with the iPhone 11 Pro, the iPhone 12 Pro comes in two sizes. This year, the display on the two models measure 6.1 inches and 6.7 inches, up from 5.8 inches and 6.5 inches. (Bear in mind that a 6.1in display is the same size as the regular, non-Pro iPhone 11.) This means the phone bodies themselves are a bit larger as…

It took a little longer than usual, but the iPhone 12 is finally here. And just like we expected, there are four phones this year, with Apple adding a new ‘mini’ model to the lower-end of the line-up. But even with an extra option, the choice of which one to buy might not be so difficult this year. That’s because the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini are closer than ever to the higher-priced Pro models that cost hundreds more. The iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini might not have all the same features, but when you break down the differences between the standard and Pro lines, they’re a lot closer than you’d think. Here are the surprising iPhone 12 features that make the baseline iPhones a lot more pro.…

Remember MagSafe? The beloved charging plug for MacBooks was given the boot when Apple moved to USB-C charging, but the company just brought it back as a new standard for iPhone charging and accessories. With a ring of magnets around a new charging coil design, along with improved shielding and NFC, you can sort of ‘snap’ the iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro to a new MagSafe wireless charger, just like you do with the Apple Watch. The more precise alignment and improved internal components allow for faster charging – up to 15 watts instead of 7.5 on earlier iPhones. That’s about as fast as charging previous iPhones plugged in! This doesn’t make existing Qi chargers are useless. The new iPhones still support existing Qi-enabled wireless charging at rates up…

Apple has added a new member to its smart speaker line-up. The HomePod mini is a smaller version of the HomePod speaker Apple released in 2018, and if it takes off, it will help Apple grab a bigger piece of the burgeoning smart speaker market. The HomePod still has the mesh grill exterior available in Space Grey or white, but it has an entirely different shape. It’s round, not a cylinder like the full-sized HomePod. It reminds us of the mesh-protected apples you might find at the supermarket. While we haven’t seen it in person, the screen at the top of the HomePod mini seems more prominent, even brighter. Here are the top six things you need to know about the HomePod mini. 1. SIZE, SPEAKERS AND MICROPHONES The…

A little over two years ago, Apple launched the T2, a chip designed to improve the security of the company’s Mac computers. Now, however, Belgian security researcher Niels Hofmans claims to have found a serious vulnerability in the T2 chip which, in the worst case scenario, could be used by hackers to bypass passwords and encryption. If an attacker has physical access to the Mac, he can install a keylogger, change installations or install his own kernel extensions. The process is based on the same Checkm8 exploit that makes it possible to jailbreak certain iOS devices – which isn’t as odd as it sounds, given that the T2 is based on the A10 chip found in some older iPhones and iPads. AFFECTED MACS All Intel Macs whose T2 chip is…

At the start of the fourth quarter of 2020, Apple will start mass production of its A14X processor, DigiTimes reports. This is significant because the A14X will be used in the company’s very first publicly available Apple Silicon Mac. DigiTimes claims the Apple supplier TSMC is currently preparing to mass-produce the A14X chips. According to industry insiders, the manufacturer plans to manufacture up to 6,000 wafers using the new 5nm (nanometre) process; a wafer can contain several hundred individual chips. With the new process, TSMC expects more energy-efficient and faster processors than with the 7nm process used for the A13 in the iPhone 11. According to the manufacturer, the new generation of chips will use almost 30 per cent less energy than its predecessor for the same tasks. The performance…