Supply-chain report claims low yield rates of TSMC’s 10nm chips could delay 2017 iPad production
A supply-chain report from the variously-reliable Digitimes claims that low yield rates from the 10nm process expected to be used for the A10X chip in next year’s iPads could delay production of the tablets.
TSMC has reportedly obtained 10nm chip orders from Apple, HiSilicon and MediaTek, with volume production set to kick off in the first quarter of 2017. Nevertheless, yield rates for TSMC’s 10nm process technology are not what the foundry expected, the sources said.
TSMC is scheduled to start making Apple’s A10X chips for the next-generation iPad series slated for launch in March 2017. Unsatisfactory yields for the foundry’s 10nm process could disrupt the schedule, the sources indicated …
Filed under: Apple
Spotify for Mac app updated with Touch Bar integration, adds support for Apple AirPods auto-pause
Spotify has updated its Mac client app today featuring integration with the new MacBook Pro Touch Bar for the first time, with a similar experience to the iTunes Touch Bar interface. Spotify continues to lead in the streaming music space with 40 million paid subscribers, Apple Music currently touts 20 million customers on the $9.99/month subscription plan.
The Spotify app now shows transport, shuffle and search controls in the Touch Bar whilst the app is frontmost as well as integration with Now Playing for persistent access to playback options whilst music is playing in the background. Moreover, Spotify now supports the Apple AirPods auto-pause feature.
Filed under: Apple
Comment: There’s something really odd about Consumer Reports’ MacBook Pro battery test results
Consumer Reports said yesterday that the 2016 MacBook Pro was the first ever Apple laptop that the organization couldn’t recommend, due to battery-life issues.
That in itself didn’t strike me as too odd. Different users have definitely been reporting very variable results in times of battery life, and some of them have been well below half the ten hours that Apple claims. Our video rundown showed as much and our poll found that the largest group of readers was reporting five hours or less.
Given that Consumer Reports was seeing as little as 3.75 hours in its own tests, that would be good enough reason to withhold a recommendation. But it was the high-end results the organization reported that puzzle me …
Filed under: Apple
Uber explains why app appears to continue tracking your location; other apps affected too
Following reports that the Uber app appears to be tracking customer locations days or even weeks after their last ride, the company has issued an explanation. That statement also explains who some users were seeing the behavior while others weren’t.
The company says that it is not the app which is accessing location data, but rather the iOS Maps extension that some have chosen to activate …
Filed under: Apple
Leaked files show just how much data Cellebrite’s smartphone cracking tool is capable of accessing
Cellebrite has garnered attention over recent years for its specialization skills in cracking cellphone encryption and accessing data stored on devices. The company was originally believed to have been behind the unlocking method used by the FBI in the San Bernardino iPhone 5c, though later reports refuted that.
This evening, ZDNet has published a new report showing just how powerful Cellebrite’s tool is and just how important it is to protect yourself.
Filed under: Apple
Hands-on: Glyph’s Atom SSD is a good choice for MacBook and MacBook Pro-owning creatives [Video]
As a full time Final Cut Pro X user, I’m always on the lookout for things that can make my editing workflow easier. One such product that fits that description is the Atom SSD from Glyph.
The USB-C-enabled 1TB Atom SSD lends ample storage space to the MacBook Pro in a small, portable form factor. More importantly, the unit is plenty fast for transferring the large files that are common to video editing workflows.
Thanks to its portable size and fast transfer rates, it’s a solid way to add additional storage to the 12-inch MacBook or the MacBook Pro, especially while away from your home or office. Have a look at our hands-on video walkthrough as we take the Atom SSD for a spin.
Filed under: Apple Tagged: MacBook, MacBook Pro, USB-C
The 2016 MacBook Pro is the first MacBook to not receive a recommendation from Consumer Reports
Apple’s long-awaited MacBook Pro refresh has been met with some criticism thus far, primarily due to battery life concerns. Now, however, Consumer Reports is out with its look at the new MacBook Pro laptops, and it’s not good.
Consumer Reports says that the 2016 MacBook Pro is the first MacBook not to receive recommended ratings from the organization.
Filed under: Apple
New Apple Watch Series 2 ‘Go Swim’ promo highlights water-resistant design
Jimmy Iovine & Larry Jackson discuss Apple Music’s artistic relationships, pirating music, and Taylor Swift’s treadmill fall
In an new interview released today, Jimmy Iovine and Larry Jackson delve deeper into some of the finer points of their artistic relationships on the Apple Music platform. The pair go into details on why hip-hop and R&B artists have seen a surge in streaming, how they maintain their relationships with artists despite labels, and the impact of Apple Music’s platform on piracy.
Filed under: Apple
The best made-for-iPhone, iPad, & Apple TV game controllers
There have been a lot of changes since Apple first introduced specs for its Made-for-iPhone (and iPad and Apple TV) game controllers. Controllers have come down in price, more games support gamepads, and the 4th-gen Apple TV introduced an App Store with multi-controller support giving Apple its first real living room gaming machine. Below we put them to the test (all of them!) to find out which one is best overall and the best for each of Apple’s platforms.
Filed under: Apple