The Apple Silicon Roadmap

Just to be clear, the post below is more my notes for making this video, not really designed to be read alone but it should help search engines help you find this video! 🙂

Apple announced in June 2020 that Apple Silicon over the coming two years would be replacing the intel silicon at the heart of the Mac lineup. They also said the first Apple Silicon Macs would be coming by the end of the year.

So with the September Apple Event out of the way and no sign of Apple Silicon, lets take a look at what might be on the horizon.

I guess a good place to start would be looking at Apple’s event cadence over the past 5 years, so we know what they’ve done in the past.

2015

• Apple Special Event, March 9th – Apple Watch, MacBooks, iOS 8.2
• WWDC June 8th
• Apple Special Event, September 9th Watch OS2, Apple TV with Siri, iPhone 6s, 3D Touch, iPad Pro & Apple Pencil

2016

• Apple Special Event, March 21st – iPad Pro 9.7, iPhone SE,
• WWDC June 13th
• Apple Special Event September 7th – iPhone 7 & 7plus, AirPods, iOS 10
• Apple Special Event, October 27th – MacBook Pro

2017

• WWDC June 5th – HomePod, iMac Pro, Second Gen iPad Pro, Macbook & MacBook Pro
• Apple Special Event, September 12 Apple Watch Series 3, iPhone 8 & 8plus, iPhone X, Apple TV 4K

2018

• Apple Special Event March 27th 2018 iPad
• WWDC June 4th 
• Apple Special Event, September 12th Apple Watch Series 4, iPhone XS & Xs Max, iPhone XR
• Apple Special Event, October 30th MacBook Air Redesign, Mac mini, iPads Pro

2019

• Apple Special Event March 25th Apple News Plus, Apple Arcade, Apple Card, Apple TV Plus
• WWDC June 3rd Mac Pro & Pro Display XDR
• Apple Special Event September 10th Apple Watch Series 5, iPhone 11 & 11 Pro, 7th Gen iPad
• Apple Special Event December 2nd Best Apps of the year.

2020

• WWDC June 22nd Virtual Keynote with Apple Silicon announcement
• Apple Special Event September 15th Apple Watch Series 6, Apple Watch SE, Apple One, iPad 8th Gen, iPad Air 4th Gen
• Apple Special Event October?
• Apple Special Event November?

2021

• Apple Special Event March?
• WWDC June

Current Mac Lineup:

• MacBook Air – Maybe re-engineered as simply MacBook or taking the MacBook Air name to the old MacBook Chassis – what they always wanted to make, a thin, light silent computer but were let down by Intel’s power draw. Looks to be powered by an A14X or similar but with more ram to allow for true multitasking, beyond the side by side apps on iPad. This side of Christmas.
• MacBook Pro 13 Could also arrive this year, but it would be a tougher line to differentiate from the base MacBook.
• MacBook Pro 16 Most likely in 2021, possible March Event?
• iMac Also March, possibly with a focus on Education as iMac is a staple of the education market. FaceID for Mac introduced, 24 & 30” versions. 
• iMac Pro WWDC, along with Mac Pro. All pro, all the power, and a deep dive into how it happens.
• Mac Pro
• Mac mini Possibly by the end of this year, following up from the Developers Transition kit. Gets the power into more hands now and maybe has the option to use existing devices like iMacs, and maybe even MacBooks or iPads as a display – just to accelerate adoption.

One More Thing…

• Displays – XDR?
• iPads Pro

Which one are you waiting for?

iPhone 12 Event Date CONFIRMED

Big Sur Betas accelerate, iWork gets a Scribble update and Eddy Cue tips the iPhone Event date.

Big Sur Betas accelerate ahead of public launch

Big Sur Beta 8 has been released yesterday, one week after Beta 7 which suggests it is closing in on a public launch. This would be in line with Apple’s October event, and could indicate that the first Apple Silicon Macs will debut at the event too.

Big Sur brings a complete overhaul of the visual experience on the Mac bringing iOS style controls, more open spacing and a new icon set that refreshes the feel of Apple’s Desktop environment.

iPad Scribble rolls out with updates to pages, numbers and Keynote

iPad’s Apple Pencil enjoys improved support in iPadOS 14 as announced air WWDC with Scribbleoffering Handwriting recognition as well as the ability to manipulate and search this text as if it were typed.

This week Apple has rolled out updated versions of its iWork Suite (does anyone call it that any more?) with improved features to take advantage of Apple Pencil in Pages, Numbers and Keynote.

More evidence for October 13th iPhone event

Eddy Cue, Apple’s SVP of internet software and services appeared on an internal call to promote Apple’s services for one of the UK’s major carriers according to AppleInsider, who note the call also mentioned the event on October 13th and preorders starting on October 16th.

This is inline with the rumours yesterday so I think we can now call this event CONFIRMED, we should have new iPhones to look at in official pictures from October 13th this year. Set your calendars people!

iPhone 12 mini, Event date & Mini LED Displays

iPhone 12 5.4” to be branded iPhone 12 Mini?

L0vetodeam has tweeted the names for Apple’s iPhone 12 lineup, with only one slight surprise

• 5.4” iPhone 12 Mini
• 6.1” iPhone 12
• 6.1” iPhone 12 Pro
• 6.7” iPhone 12 Pro TLDR (Max)

While this is barely groundbreaking, it does make sense and it would have been nicknamed something similar if Apple didn’t get in there first, I think IPhone 12 Nano would have been a good shout, or maybe even Air…

iPhone Event Set for October 13th?

Leaker Komiya AppleSeed responded to a tweet by YouTuber MKBHD, or Marques Brownlee, about the OnePlus 8T that is releasing on the 14th saying “right after the iPhone”

While this is unconfirmed that’s exactly when I’d estimated that the even would fall, of course we need Apple’s confirmation either way to know for sure.

Apple’s MiniLED displays coming to iPad and MacBooks in 2021

According to Ming Chi Kuo, 30-40% of iPads and 20-30% of MacBooks in 2021 will feature the new miniLED displays.

MiniLED offers better contrast ratios than traditional LCDs, use less energy and can be brighter, whilst not having the drawbacks of OLED like burn in and shorter service life.

Apple currently uses OLED in its flagship iPhones and the full Apple Watch line, though all the iPhone 12 line are expected to feature OLED panels when announced next month.

The increased expectations for miniLED are due to Apple brining on a second manufacturer to produce the panels which is helping to reduce the per unit cost.

New iPad Pros in October? Also reverse chargin rumours and TikTok & WeChat Updates.

On Today’s Apple Daily:

WeChat & TikTok both dodge Sunday ban

President Trump’s executive orders to ban Chinese based apps Tik Tok and WeChat have both failed to come into force, but for very different reasons. Tik Tok has been able to make a deal with Oracle and Walmart to which Donald Trump has given his blessing, allowing the app to continue serving American users.

WeChat on the other hand had its executive order blocked by a district court judge in California who ruled that WeChat could be classed as a “virtual town square” and as such is protected by the first amendment to the United States Constitution which covers free speech.

Reverse Wireless charging from iPhone to AirPods?

Komiya AppleSeed on Twitter is reporting that iPhone 12 models may offer reverse wireless charging this year to top up AirPods while on the go. Rumours of reverse wireless charging circulated last year prior to the iPhone 11 launch but never came to fruition, and even sparked rumours that the hardware was included in the phones but was disabled in software. This turned out to be untrue when the iPhones were torn down after release.

Komiya does point out however that other iPhones and Apple Watches would not be able to be charged in this way from another iPhone, only AirPods. Charging larger devices would be unlikely from an iPhone as the process of wireless charging is not particularly efficient. What may make sense in future however if iPads Pro do eventually get a non metallic back plate is the possibility of topping up your phone or watch from the larger iPad battery.

New iPad Pros in October?

Following last week’s September Apple event with the introduction of the latest iPad Air, it’s likely that we’ll see an update to the iPads Pro before the end of 2020.

Apple’s A14 SOC in the iPad Air almost perfectly matches the 2020 Pro in single core performance, though the Pro still wins on graphics and multithreaded loads, as well as having better cameras and the 120hz ProMotion display.

That said, the A12Z chip is just the better quality (or binned) version of the A12X chip with all 8 graphics cores enabled as opposed to 7 in the A12X.

Reports have already emerged before the September 15th Event that A14X chips had gone into production, which may be destined for iPad Pro models, as well as potentially in Apple Silicon Macs, although these may have a different branding.

Apple September 15th Event

Here’s a run down of what happened at Apple’s Special Event

Tim Cook introduced the event from inside the Apple Campus after a fly around of the site.

Today we’re focusing on two products – Apple Watch and iPad.

First focusing on how Apple Watch has saved lives – presumably because they want to bring these amazing features to more people with the new Apple Watch SE.

Apple Watch Series 6

Available in Blue Aluminium, Product Red, Gold Stainless Steel and Graphite Stainless Steel

Apple Watch Series 6 also adds Blood Oxygen saturation using infra red light, both on demand and in the background periodically. It can be used to help manage Asthma, Heart Failure and potentially Covid and Influenza.

Improved always on display which is 2.5x brighter and also has an always on altimiter.

Watch Faces

Custom watch faces for healthcare providers,

Solo Loop Apple Watch Band

Kids Controls for Apple Watch

Apple Watch for Kids using Family Setup means kids can have a celular Apple Watch that keeps track of their location, allows them to message their family and more.

Apple Watch SE

Using the larger and more advanced watch displays, but at a lower price with the S5 chip, family setup.

Gyroscope, altimiter, fall detection, all from $279, Series 3 stays at $199

Both available to order today, available Friday.

Apple Fitness+

Specific to Apple Watch, Fitness+ takes advantage of all the sensors in Apple watch with videos on iPhone, iPad or Apple TV, starting the workout on your watch and sending the data to the screen for easy access.

Activities include Yoga, treadmills, mindfulness and much more.

Fitness+ is $9.99 per month for the whole family.

Apple One

Combines iCloud, Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+.

Music, TV, Arcade and 50GB iCloud is $14.95 per month, 19.95 per month.

iPad

Now 10 years on from the original iPad, its time for updates

iPad Original (or cheap). 10.2″

A12 Bionic chip – 40% faster than before and 2x jump in graphics.

iPad 8th Gen works with Apple Pencil and Smart Keyboards.

iPadOS 14 adds Scribble for Apple Pencil. Handwritten text becomes more powerful, editable and allows drawings to be made regular automatically.

Same price, Just $329. Order today, available Friday.

iPad Air 4

iPad Air as expected gets a redesign tor match iPad Pro 11″, and comes in multiple colours.

TouchID is in the top button on iPad Air, 10.9″ Liquid Retina Display.

A14 Bionic processor with 5nm transistors.

30% faster graphics, and 2x faster than the best selling laptops.

Starts at $599. Available October

Could Apple Watch Series 6 be branded PRO?

On today’s show:

Apple Card Expansion, iPhone 12 Pro Frame Leaks, & Apple Watch goes pro?

Apple Card to Expand internationally?

GDPR References in iOS 14 Beta 8 Code

Jobs posted for Apple Card Product Manager working with External partners such as payment networks, bank issuers and other players.

Some sites have noted that they expect it could launch at an iPhone event later in October, but with the code being in iOS Betas already, I’d say this points to iPhones on September 15th and the expansion announcement at the same time.

iPhone 12 Pro chassis leaked

The iPhone 12 Pro’s stainless steel frame has leaked, including the expected flat sides, usual hole for Wireless Qi Charging and a hole below the Qi Ring in line with Magnets referred to by Everything Apple Pro. The magnet ring could be to locate the phone accurately on Apple branded wireless chargers (possibly under the AirPower brand) to ensure fast and efficient charging.

Expected Midnight Blue colour, most likely shipping late October/early November.

Apple Watch & Apple Watch Pro

Apple’s new flagship Apple Watch could be rebranded as the Apple Watch Pro, with a re-engineered Series 4 Apple Watch taking the non-pro name in an Aluminium only form. Rumours suggest the lower priced model could drop the ECG feature which has only been able to get regulatory approval in a relatively small number of countries to date as a way to reduce costs.

The new Pulse Oximeter is expected on both models as well as WatchOS 7 features including hand washing detection, new fitness features to integrate with Apple’s expected Fitness service and sleep tracking.

Everyone is Wrong about the Apple Event

I think everyone is wrong about the Apple event.

Brace yourself, this won’t be a short one.

Apple Event on September 15th – What is arriving? Time Flies. 

Mark Gurman and Jon Prosser both don’t think iPhones will be announced. But, there are a number of pieces of evidence that say… maybe iPhones, more on that later in the video. Let’s get into it.

Apple Watch SE with Plastic “composite” housing? No ECG but with pulse oxymeter, maybe not waterproof to the depths, just shower proof. Could be Apple Watch series C, force press removed because of plastic housing? Apple insider reported on this 5 months ago and somehow, I found out about it today.

Apple Watch Series 6, premium, ecg, maybe improved 

iPhones announced with 2 weeks lead time? Maybe cellular only on the flagships?

Software releases – iOS iPadOS and Apple TV/HomepodOS, improvements to HomeKit and new accessories.

AirPods Studio, over ear headphones. Easy win, and though they’re reported to be announced by press release, why would they if they have a 2 hour event to drag it out?

AirTags. Come on. Surely.

AirPower? 

HomePod Air. Or Nano. Sold on being a HomeKit hub or as a pair for stereo.

Apple services bundle

Apple Card in More countries, less benefits but financing of Apple devices.

iPads with A14 inside – air or whatever it’s called. Points to iPhones too. Maybe with a battery and charging base?

Time flies suggests lidar – time of flight sensor, iPhones being announced but maybe not shipping? Has production ramped faster than expected? Also, suggestions that these assets were made before Apple couldn’t ship iPhones on time, and the AR logo reveal suggests Lidar too, and the colour of it many have pointed to as confirmation of Apple’s blue Apple Watch and iPhone 12 Pro. Reaching much? I think so. Last year’s announcement logo wasn’t dark green.

If there will be an October event, that will focus on Apple Silicon, MacOS Big Sur and possibly iPad’s Pro. If iPads come with A14 it’s unlikely the iPhones will come later, but Apple could save their A14X powered iPad Pro’s, as well as even more powerful chips with whatever name they get in MacBooks and MacBook Pro, and outside chance, maybe an iMac too? I can dream can’t I?

Glass Keyboard MacBook?

On today’s show, iPhones delayed based on screen size, Apple TV+ needs to go all in and new MacBook Patent emerges.

DigiTimes reports both 6.1” iPhones to ship first followed by the 5.4” and 6.7” variants

I have to be honest, to me this seems really unlikely, for a start, those two iPhones, while both using the same size OLED panels, that’s where the similarity ends. The entry level iPhone will have a lower quality panel that displays a lower colour depth, while the iPhone 12 Pro will support 10 bit colour and potentially 120Hz ProMotion.

Of course the only people who really know are those at Apple, but I’m personally taking this one with a pinch of salt for now, as I believe we’ll get the iPhone 12 Models around 19th October, with pro models following in November.

Why Apple TV+ needs to go HARD this fall

Let’s be honest, hardly anyone has paid for Apple TV Plus so far as Apple gave anyone with a new Mac, iPhone or iPad a full year’s free trial subscription, but that is coming to an end and Apple TV+’s line up is still looking a bit anaemic.

That being said, the line up has grown and there are some genuinely great series and movies in there now. I’m a huge fan of For all Mankind, Trying is brilliant for anyone who liked Cuckoo (an Andy Samberg project) and Defending Jacob found a good amount of acclaim.

But, is there enough now for $5 a month? Well maybe, its a small charge and we’ve mentioned in the past that Apple may well be bundling a number of their services into an Apple One type service. I have a feeling though that they may have a lot more up their sleeves.

Rumours had circulated in the past that Apple was looking to buy the MGM back catalogue to include, but given the Pandemic a lot of movie studios have suffered, being unable to produce or distribute their content in any meaningful way.

I have a feeling we may see a lot of content that Apple has bought the rights to that otherwise would have hit the cinemas, just like Tom Hanks’ Greyhound, but there is a chance they could just buy one of the movie studios for their own future productions, along with a back catalogue to bolster their content library.

Another New MacBook Concept Patented

In another patent filing unearthed by Patently Apple, this time a “continuation” or as I understand it, an update to an existing patent has modified their design for a really revolutionary concept.

This MacBook features a “dielectric input surface” where the keyboard and trackpad would normally be, formed at least “partially from glass, ceramic and/or plastic.

That means the potential for a virtual keyboard and trackpad and the ability to wirelessly charge phones, watches or AirPods on either side of the trackpad area especially when the computer isn’t in use. Imagine your laptop basically becoming AirPower when you’re not using it. Great for travel.

This would be a dual screen device at its heart, but with  one display doubling as input methods in the laptop configuration but could also work as a graphics tablet when needed, or Final cut timeline, audio sliders for mixing, DJ decks, you get the idea!

Too Many iPads?

Today’s Apple Daily, Apple’s ad awareness pop ups delayed, The Boys on Amazon and we ask, should there be less iPad options?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kermN6sTZw

Apple Delays Ad Tracking Blocker until 2021

Apple Announced at WWDC that a feature of iOS14 would be giving app by app control of which can show you ads based on an Identifier that lets you be tracked between different apps.

Developers have unsurprisingly been less than enthusiastic as any app showing Ads will then show a huge warning when the app is first opened. Apple Is reportedly creating their own custom identifier that still keeps your data private from the advertisers without the prominent warning, which is why Apple is pushing that feature back to early 2021, giving developers longer to integrate the changes.

What I’m Watching – The Boys

If you’ve never seen The Boys on Amazon Prime and you’re into the superhero genre, you’re missing out. The show follows Billy Butcher, played by Karl Urban, opposing the corporate owned superheroes who don’t have much actual care for the public.

I won’t say much more as I don’t want to spoil it, but believe me when I tell you it is dark comedy. The second season starts today, and if you want to check it out, there’s a link in the description for 30 days free Amazon Prime, including Prime video. You should take a look, plus, it helps support this channel.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/video/primesignup/ref=acph_piv?tag=bartecom-21

Everyone seems to be confused about iPad vs iPad Air. Do we need both?

Leaks in the past week have talked of iPad Airs that look like pros but with TouchID, and entry level iPads that looks the same getting FaceID. But before, we never had an Air and an entry iPad, the Air was just the evolution when they cut off the side bezels. Going from the iPad with Retina display to iPad Air was a footprint reduction with the same screen. iPad Air 2 added Touch ID and is still supported by iPadOS14 today.

I’m not even convinced we need an iPad mini, with its 7.9 inch display, especially in a world where iPhones with a 6.7” display are just around the corner. So maybe we should Just have iPads, and iPads Pro?

Right now we’re talking about the entry level iPad being upgraded to an A12 processor from the A10, but that’s still a 2 year old processor by the time it arrives, while the iPhone SE launched with Apple’s latest silicon. So are we holding back processors to protect higher end hardware? Maybe we should move to an iPad with the latest A chip, and a Pro with the AX chip? And each in 2 sizes, if we must keep a mini, let it be a mini version of iPad and let Pro come in 11 & 12.9. Easy, or so you’d think.

When Steve Jobs returned to Apple, he was faced with 15 product lines, each with multiple models. He cut that down to the famous grid, with Consumer and pro across the top, and desktop and notebook down the side. iMac, PowerMac, iBook and Powerbook. That was all they needed. Maybe its time to simplify Apple’s ranges again.

Apple Patents new MacBook Design

Intel TigerLake 11th gen processors arrive as Apple jumps ship

Intel’s latest chips are built on a 10nm process and feature built in Iris XE graphics that can run up to an 8k panel at 12bit colour depth.

I3 to I7 initially with uptown quad core processors, base clock of 3GHZ and boosting up to 4.8Ghz, built on their 10Nm die process.

Apple’s A14 system on a chip is expected to be using 5nm Chips from TSMC later this year.

Apple AirPods Studio details emerge

• Colour – White & Space Grey
• Very High quality audio & Active Noise Cancelling (Like Sony WX)
• H1X chip
• Equaliser
• Ear detection
• Announced on Apple Website
• Hand Gestures like homePod
• Shipping September or October
• $349

Apple’s Brand new MacBook Design Patented

Apple has been granted a patent for a brand new laptop chassis design that makes typing on a portable computer far more ergonomic. Details have come via PatentlyApple.com

The design involves a more complex hinge mechanism which angles the keyboard up at the back and slopes down towards the user as the display is raised. While there are a number of laptops available with an overhanging display at the rear which tilts up the whole base, this would allow the keyboard and trackpad assembly to slope while the base of the computer, containing the processor, logic board and batteries to remain flat on the table or your lap.

The design may also open up access to additional ports and vents for connectivity and cooling of the computer.