苹果早餐：苹果开始销售 Touch ID 键盘
Apple generates a lot of news, and it can be hard to keep up. If your mind was on other things this week, our Saturday morning roundup of Apple-related headlines will bring you up to date.
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New products
On the very day that David Price published his Different Think column complaining that Apple doesn’t announce anything in August (read: Different Think: Give us a summer blockbuster, Apple!) Apple launched the new Touch ID keyboard, mouse and trackpad. So you can now buy the Touch ID keyboard – previously only available with the 24in iMac. Just note that it requires a M1 Mac to work. More information here: How to buy a Apple Keyboard with Touch ID.
The Mac Pro also got an update – but not the one we were waiting for. Mac Pro update rumours were pointing to the Mac Pro getting a new Intel Xeon W processor – specifically an Ice Lake Xeon processor. But all Apple’s done is launched a collection of new graphics options for the 2019 Mac Pro. More here: Mac Pro gets new high-end graphics cards.
And if you are wondering where you can buy these new products, Apple’s made it a little easier. You will now see a Store tab on Apple’s website that will take you to a dedicated store front. This new layout is reminiscent of the Apple website navigation from around 1997 to 2015. This change should make shopping at Apple a simpler experience. The homepage of the store is https://www.apple.com/uk/store or https://www.apple.com/store if you are in the US (which is what it used to be).
News in brief
Windows 365 has launched (although it’s only for business/enterprise use right now). Why are we telling you this? Because it will bring Windows 10 AND Windows 11 to Macs, iPad and iPhones! Find out more here: How to use Windows 365 on Mac, iPad and iPhone.
Software, bugs & problems
There was news this week that the Apple TV app has a bug affecting some users. As a result of the bug audio is not playing in rented movies. Reports indicate that the bug affects Apple TVs, smart TVs, Chromecast, Roku, and other streaming products with the Apple TV app. (Read What TVs and streamers have the Apple TV app).
We also heard of a fault with the new M1 MacBooks. Apparently some users are finding that their screens crack for no apparent reason. Read: M1 MacBook Fault: Reports of Cracked Screens.
You may have missed the news that you can now beta test the AirPods Pro. Testers have noticed that the latest update to the beta includes the ability to increase the volume for conversations, a feature known as Conversation Boost. That new feature joins support for spatial sound in FaceTime and improved noise reduction. More here: New AirPods Pro features available in beta.
The rumour mill
It’s pretty clear by now that Apple is getting ready to launch a new iPhone, Apple Watch and even new MacBooks this autumn, but this week we had some more evidence that new variants of the Watch and Mac are coming: Apple registered new Mac and Apple Watch models in the EEC database.
Also coming alongside the new iPhone 13 is a new set of AirPods, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, an Apple leaker with a proven track record. Gurman said in his latest newsletter: “Look for Apple to debut its new low-end AirPods this fall, around the same time as the next iPhones.” Read: AirPods 3 To Launch With New iPhone.
Gurman also revealed that he believes Apple’s new iMac and Mac Pro will arrive by November 2022 – which is two years after the first M1 Mac launched, and, he says, in keeping with Apple’s two year deadline. And another revelation from Gurman’s newsletter: expect a two to three year wait before Apple launches a foldable iPhone. That’ll mean that the foldable iPhone could launch as much as six years after the first foldable smartphone, but nobody is saying Apple aspires to be first.
There’s lots of rumours about the iPhone 13, but what of the iPhone 15. Apparently the 2023 iPhone will have smaller components and bigger battery.
Apple deals of the week
I’ve embedded a list of the best current Apple deals below, but other than that, we’re done for this week. See you next Saturday, and stay Appley!
Top 10 Apple Deals
Apple 11in iPad Pro (2021, M1, 2TB) – Wi-Fi + Cellular
1
From: Amazon
Was: £1899
Now: £1,314.16 (£584.84 off)
We’re not sure if Amazon will bring back the £639 discount we saw in October on this iPad Pro M1 variant, but almost £600 off is still an excellent deal. See our review of the 11in iPad Pro with M1.
Adobe Creative Cloud – All Apps (1 Year)
2
From: Adobe
Was: £49.94 per month
Now: £39.95 per month (£119.88 off)
Adobe’s slashed 20% off its Creative Cloud subscription prices. The offer ends 14 April.
Apple AirPods 3
3
From: Amazon
Was: £189
Now: £159 (£30 off)
The AirPods 3 offer better battery performance, an updated design, and support for Spatial Audio and Adaptive EQ. Save £30 from Amazon.
Smarty 12GB data SIM-Only
4
From: Smarty
Was: £8 per month
Now: £4 per month (50% off for 3 months)
Grab three months of 12GB data for just £4 per month. If you’re after more data, you can see all its plans here. You can cancel anytime.
Apple iPad mini (2021, 6th gen, 64GB, Cellular)
5
From: Amazon
Was: £619
Now: £464 (£155 off)
This is the best deal we’ve seen on the iPad mini you can get the 64GB Cellular (RRP £619) for just £464 – which is less than the RRP for the Wi-Fi model!
Apple MacBook Air, M1, 8-core CPU, 7-core GPU, 256GB (2020)
6
From: John Lewis
Was: £999
Now: £887 (£112 off)
For some time a gang of retailers have been offering the entry level MacBook Air for £889, but this month John Lewis has dropped the price to £887, RRP £999. Very has the same deal.
You can also get the £999 MacBook Air with 8-core CPU and 7-core GPU in gold for £889 from Currys or Amazon, and AO.
Apple Watch Series 6 (40mm)
7
From: Amazon
Was: £319
Now: £229 (£90 off)
Bag the last gen Watch 6 for under £300 at Amazon’s Spring Sale!
Apple Watch Series 6 (44mm, Cellular)
8
From: Amazon
Was: £509
Now: £349 (£160 off)
Amazon’s just slashed £160 off the Watch Series 6 with Cellular connectivity as a part of its Spring Sale.
Apple 10.2in iPad (2021, 256GB, Wi-Fi)
9
From: Amazon
Was: $479
Now: $429 ($50 off)
Save $50 on the latest regular iPad. It’s a great affordable slate that’s perfect for web browsing or video calls.
Logitech Combo Touch Keyboard for iPad Pro 11
10
From: Amazon
Was: £189.99
Now: £115.99 (£74 off)
Save an excellent £74 on this Logitech keyboard for the iPad Pro 11 – this is currently the best discount we can see. The Combo Touch works with the 1st, 2nd and 3rd gen models.
Apple AirTags
11
From: Amazon
Was: £99
Now: £79.60 (£19.40 off)
Grab this set of Apple AirTags for just under £80 – that’s a saving of roughly £9 per AirTag, which costs £29 separately.
Apple Watch Series 7 (GPS, 41 mm)
12
From: Amazon
Was: $399
Now: $279 ($120 off)
The Apple Watch Series 7 has a solid $120 discount in Amazon’s Prime Day sale, making it one of the best prices around.
Beats Solo 3 Headphones
13
From: Amazon
Was: £179
Now: £99 (£80 off)
Get £80 off the Beats Solo3 Wireless on-ear headphones (which we gave four stars in our review). They’re available in a range of colours.
Apple AirPods Pro with MagSafe charging case
14
From: John Lewis
Was: £239
Now: £189 (£50 off)
Amazon’s excellent £64 saving on the AirPods Pro from March is no longer available. Multiple sites are selling for £189 (a £50 saving), including AO and Laptops Direct – but we’d go with John Lewis on account of its two-year guarantee.
Apple Watch SE 2021 (44mm, GPS)
15
From: Amazon
Was: £299
Now: £239 (£60 off)
Get a great saving on last year’s Apple Watch SE from Amazon.
Logitech Crayon
16
From: Amazon
Was: £64.99
Now: £53.99 (£11 off)
Want a more affordable alternative to the Apple Pencil? Check out the Logitech Crayon, which works with all iPads from 2018 and later.
Apple iPhone 12 mini (256GB)
17
From: Amazon
Was: £729
Now: £619.99 (£109.01 off)
The 256GB iPhone 12 mini has over £100 off from Amazon.
Apple iPad mini (2021, 6th gen)
18
From: Currys PC World
Was: £479
Now: £464 (£15 off)
A handy saving on Apple’s new iPad mini model for 2021, but note that this price applies to the Starlight colour finish only. eBuyer is matching the deal on certain colours.
Apple iPad Air (2022, 256GB, Wi-Fi + Cellular)
19
From: KRCS
Was: £569
Now: £557.62 (£11.38 off)
KRCS has knocked money off the 2022 iPad Air. You will find savings across the whole range.
Apple MacBook Air, M1, 8-core CPU, 8-core GPU, 512GB (2020)
20
From: Very
Was: £1,249
Now: £1,099 (£150 off)
An excellent deal, this. Save money on the MacBook Air with 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU from Very. The discount applies to the silver version only.
This deal is only slightly better than Currys who has the silver model for £1,099.97. John Lewis had the same deal, but it is currently out of stock there.