MacFormat January 2021

I always think we cram a lot in MacFormat, but this issue feels really jam-packed. For those revitalising their machines or buying a new Mac with macOS 11 Big Sur, you’ll find all the advice you need to enjoy it at its best in The Great Mac Refresh on p16. Talking of buying new Macs, Apple has released its first own-silicon devices. For the kit out so far, the M1 chip – coupled with the Neural Engine – means blisteringly fast performance, enhanced machine learning, improved efficiency, and many more benefits. The fact that Apple has developed its own chip is great for future model releases as Apple will no longer be tied to third-party tech advances, and the in-house internals help to keep costs down. Check out our reviews of…

I always think we cram a lot in MacFormat, but this issue feels really jam-packed. For those revitalising their machines or buying a new Mac with macOS 11 Big Sur, you’ll find all the advice you need to enjoy it at its best in The Great Mac Refresh on p16. Talking of buying new Macs, Apple has released its first own-silicon devices. For the kit out so far, the M1 chip – coupled with the Neural Engine – means blisteringly fast performance, enhanced machine learning, improved efficiency, and many more benefits. The fact that Apple has developed its own chip is great for future model releases as Apple will no longer be tied to third-party tech advances, and the in-house internals help to keep costs down. Check out our reviews…

A side from the excitement of Apple revealing the first M1 Macs at its One More Thing event in November, there was other big news: the launch of macOS Big Sur. Apple’s latest Mac operating system is one of the biggest updates the Mac has received in years, with a complete redesign and many new features making it a real sea change. Like almost everything Apple does these days, Big Sur is tightly integrated with the Mac hardware. Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi explained, during the One More Thing keynote, that this has enabled the new Macs to instantly wake from sleep and launch apps much faster. The improvements brought by the new chips combine with optimisations in Big Sur for a zippier experience overall. Apple also touched on how…

A side from the excitement of Apple revealing the first M1 Macs at its One More Thing event in November, there was other big news: the launch of macOS Big Sur. Apple’s latest Mac operating system is one of the biggest updates the Mac has received in years, with a complete redesign and many new features making it a real sea change. Like almost everything Apple does these days, Big Sur is tightly integrated with the Mac hardware. Apple’s software chief Craig Federighi explained, during the One More Thing keynote, that this has enabled the new Macs to instantly wake from sleep and launch apps much faster. The improvements brought by the new chips combine with optimisations in Big Sur for a zippier experience overall. Apple also touched on how the M1’s…

According to a report from China’s Economic Daily, Apple has been sending prototype folding iPhones to its supply chain partner Foxconn for testing, with a possible launch date of late 2022. The report alleges that the prototypes are being tested for their display technology, specifically whether they should be made with OLED panels, or a more advanced (but more expensive) miniLED alternative. As we discuss over the page, Apple is rumoured to be bringing out miniLED iPads in spring 2021, so the idea of Apple testing this tech for future iPhones is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility. Apple has form here, as the company has published several patents for folding devices, including one in October 2020 for a device covered in a self-healing material that would fix dents and scratches…

According to a report from China’s Economic Daily, Apple has been sending prototype folding iPhones to its supply chain partner Foxconn for testing, with a possible launch date of late 2022. The report alleges that the prototypes are being tested for their display technology, specifically whether they should be made with OLED panels, or a more advanced (but more expensive) miniLED alternative. As we discuss over the page, Apple is rumoured to be bringing out miniLED iPads in spring 2021, so the idea of Apple testing this tech for future iPhones is certainly not beyond the realm of possibility. Apple has form here, as the company has published several patents for folding devices, including one in October 2020 for a device covered in a self-healing material that would fix dents…