Macworld UK March 2016

Welcome to the latest issue of Macworld, the only guide you need to the wonderful world of all things Apple. As you won’t be surprised to hear, we love everything Mac. Not only do Apple’s computers look great, but they are powerful machines. One of our favourites is the slimline iMac, with its beautiful display. On page 48, we put Apple’s 21.5- and 27in iMacs through their paces and compare the two. If cost is putting you off getting your hands on a new Mac, we look at the pros and cons of buying tech from the US. We consider how much you will have to pay for import duty and delivery charges, plus what warranty you get and more, from page 20. Apple has updated its iWork suite of…

Apple announced its financial results for the first quarter of fiscal 2016 on 26 January. Here, you’ll find out how many iPhones, iPads, Macs and Apple Watches the tech giant has sold in the quarter. How much money did Apple make? Apple posted record quarterly revenue of $75.9 billion and record quarterly net income of $18.4bn, or $3.28 per diluted share. This compares to Q1 of 2015, when Apple posted a record quarterly revenue of $74.6bn and record quarterly net profit of $18bn, or $3.06 per diluted share, so we’re essentially looking for an improvement on that. With the launch of the iPad Pro in November and the new Apple TV in October, in addition to this being the first full quarter that the iPhone 6s and 6s Plus, the…

As we reported last month, Apple has a spring event in the works to launch a 4in iPhone, a revamped iPad Air, and new Apple Watch models. Now we have a tentative date: March 15. Apple is reportedly set to launch the iPhone 5se – a 4in phone that reportedly has the same chips as the 6s for always-on Siri without needing to be plugged in. The phone will also support Live Photos and have an NFC chip for Apple Pay. Apple may also have another tablet, the 9.7in iPad Air 3, on deck. The new Air reportedly has a Smart Connector for attaching to a keyboard, just like the iPad Pro. The company is also expected to show off new Apple Watch bands and next-gen software, but no major…

There are multiple rumours that Apple is developing a virtual reality (VR), or augmented reality (AR) device, going back well over a year. In this feature, we are going to look at all the latest Apple VR rumours, patents and leaked images – including the remarks that Tim Cook made at Apple’s quarterly earnings conference call in early 2016. There’s no smoke without fire, and Apple has filed patents and hired VR experts. So Apple is clearly investigating, and building prototype VR devices. And with Google, Microsoft and even Facebook also making VR and AR devices, it seems like VR is a party Apple can’t afford to miss. What is virtual and augmented reality? First, a quick refresher on terms. Virtual reality devices are headsets worn like glasses, but inside…

Doesn’t it feel like you’re being scammed? You’re shopping around for new kit, but the UK prices are often a hefty percentage higher than they are in America. How can this be when what you want is frequently made in China, so incurs the same shipping costs wherever it’s finally sold? You may be thinking the simple solution is to buy overseas and have your purchase shipped to your door, but sometimes it isn’t that simple. Tax The first thing to understand is that it isn’t always cheaper to buy from the US, which means you need to shop smarter. The prices on most American ads and websites exclude tax, the rate of which can vary from state to state. So, when you see Apple advertising the 21.5in 4K iMac…

Is it safe to use cheap iPad and iPhone chargers that aren’t made by Apple? After three people were injured in East Asia by malfunctioning chargers (two of whom died) and another suffered burns in England, iPhone/iPad charger safety is a hot topic. Plus, Apple has been forced to recall millions of its own chargers, too. Here’s our advice on the safety of low-cost, imitation, third-party and even counterfeit chargers for the iPhone and iPad. Do I need to return my Apple charger? On 28 January, Apple announced a voluntary recall of AC wall plug adaptors that were sold by the company between 2003 and 2015 with Macs and some iOS devices, and were also part of the Apple World Travel Adaptor Kit. The recall comes after 12 incidents involving…