Apple has unveiled its latest iPad Pro. As predicted, the 12.9-inch version of the top-end tablet boasts a cutting-edge Liquid Retina XDR (Mini LED) display. That’s good news for filmmakers who want to create and edit Dolby Vision HDR video. There’s also Apple’s new M1 processor, which Cupertino claims will deliver a “50%” jump in performance compared to the previous iPad Pro. The new 11in iPad Pro, by contrast, has to make do with a normal Liquid Retina display.
The speed bump should help power the 12.9-inch slate’s Liquid Retina XDR screen, which features 10,000 Mini LEDs for a peak brightness of 1600nits and a contrast ratio of 1,000,000:1. Apple says it’s the very same XDR tech featured in the firm’s pricey Pro Display XDR monitors. Nice.
There’s also a new 12MP ultra-wide TrueDepth camera with a 120-degree field of view. The camera uses machine learning for something called ‘Centre Stage’, which follows your position around the room, keeping you centered, and automatically zooming out when others enter the scene.
Talking of which, Apple’s LiDAR camera now supports Smart HDR thanks to that beefy M1 processor. That should make it easier to create Hollywood-style green screen special effects complete with realistic shadowing.
(Image credit: Apple)
Design-wise the iPad Pro 2021 looks an awful lot like its predecessor, complete with a “100 percent recycled” flat-sided aluminium enclosure. Four speakers and Apple’s “best-ever” studio quality mic array should ensure you can make yourself heard in noisy environments.
As expected, the iPad Pro 2021 is the first iPad to support 5G. The high-speed connectivity could come in handy for those who work remotely. Apple has also blessed its high-end tablet with support for Thunderbolt and USB-C with USB4. Last but not least, the 12.9-inch model is available with a whopping 2TBs of storage – enough space to stash around 220 hours of 4K HDR video content.
So, when you can buy this “giant leap forward”? Both iPad Pros will be available to preorder from 30th April, and begin shipping from the second half of May.
The 11-inch iPad Pro 2021 costs from £749 ($799, AU$1199) for the Wi-Fi model and £899 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model. The12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at £999 ($1099, AU$1649) for the Wi-Fi model and £1499 for the Wi-Fi + Cellular model.
Tuesday’s grand unveiling also saw Apple take the wraps off the Apple TV 4K 2021, Apple Podcast Subscriptions, a new iPhone 12 in purple and AirTags, a location tracker that clips to your rucksack.
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Apple just wrapped up its “Spring Loaded” event, announcing new iPads, iMacs, and more. It was jam-packed with news from the company.
If you want to read about what was announced as it happened, check out our live blog with commentary from Nilay Patel, Dieter Bohn, and Chaim Gartenberg. But if you just want the news, read on.
Apple’s new iPad Pro.Image: Apple
Apple’s new iPad Pros have the company’s M1 chip
Apple unveiled its newest iPad Pro tablets, and they’re equipped with the same Apple-designed M1 chip in the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, and Mac mini (and the new iMac, also announced today). The 12.9-inch model has an upgraded display that uses 10,000 Mini LEDs, and Apple calls it the Liquid Retina XDR display. Both iPad Pros also have a new 12-megapixel ultrawide camera that can automatically track you during video calls.
You can order the tablets order on April 30th, and they will be available in the second half of May. The 11-inch model starts at $799, and the 12.9-inch model starts at $1,099.
Apple’s new iMac.Image: Apple
Apple’s totally redesigned iMac has an M1 chip, too
Apple debuted a completely redesigned iMac that also has the M1 chip. It’s really thin, has a 24-inch screen, a 1080p FaceTime camera, and comes in seven different colors. They’ll also come with a new wireless keyboard that includes Touch ID for authentication.
You can buy the new iMac in four colors starting at $1,299, and in seven colors and better specs starting at $1,499. You can order it starting April 30th, and it will be available in the second half of May.
Apple’s AirTags.Image: Apple
Apple finally unveils its Air Tags item trackers
At long last, Apple took the wraps off its long-rumored AirTags item trackers, which you can track in the Find My app. You can customize your AirTag with emoji, too. You’ll be able to pre-order them on Friday for $29, and they’ll be available on April 30th. You can also get a four-pack for $99.
Apple’s Cindy Lin discussing Apple TV.Image: Apple
The Apple TV 4K is getting a A12 Bionic chip
Apple revealed a new Apple TV 4K, which comes equipped with the same A12 Bionic chip found on the iPhone 12. It can now play HDR and high frame rate videos. It will start at $179 for 32GB. It will be available to pre-order on April 30th and will be available in the second half of May.
Apple’s new Apple TV remote.Image: Apple
Apple redesigned the Apple TV remote
Apple revealed a new Apple TV remote, which is made of aluminum and has a click pad at the top. There’s also a Siri button on the side.
Ted Lasso, from Ted Lasso. Image: Apple
Ted Lasso’s second season debuts on July 23rd
Apple debuted a charming new trailer for the second season of its beloved show Ted Lasso. The season debuts on July 23rd.
The new purple iPhone.Image: Apple
The iPhone 12 will soon come in purple
Apple is releasing a new purple iPhone 12. It will be available for pre-order on Friday, and it launches on April 30th.
Apple is launching in-app podcast subscriptions
Apple announced that subscriptions are coming to the Podcasts app, which give you benefits like ad-free listening. The service will launch in 170 regions and countries next month. The company is also redesigning the Podcasts app.
It’s no secret that one iPhone 13 model will have a 120Hz screen, but one analyst reckons there will be a second 120Hz handset in the new range.
According to Ross Young, the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max will both have LTPO displays, which allow for a 120Hz refresh rate. Previously, it was thought only the Pro Max model would have the feature.
Heard some rumors in the industry and media that there would only be one LTPO model from Apple later this year. Can confirm that is not the case. Apple fans can relax!April 16, 2021
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That would be double the refresh rate of the current iPhone range. A higher refresh rate means less blur, and is particularly well suited to fast-moving content particularly games.
Most recent high-end phones have refresh rates of either 90Hz or 120Hz. Samsung has even launched some mid-range devices with those refresh rates. So Apple’s move would be welcomed by many.
LTPO screens allow for variable refresh rates. While they top out at 120Hz, they can also go much lower for less intensive tasks such as reading emails. This would save the device’s battery life.
Apple already uses LTPO displays for its Apple Watch device, so it isn’t completely new to this technology.
In other iPhone 13 news, a screen protector has leaked (via 9to5Mac) that suggests the device will have a smaller notch than the iPhone 12. The notch houses the front-facing camera for taking selfies and authenticating using Face ID. A smaller notch would take up less of the screen, making content more immersive.
According to 9to5Mac, the new notch will be around 30 per cent smaller – another welcome change in a handset that’s already shaping up to be quite the phone.
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While we’re still a good 5-6 months away from Apple’s next iPhone reveal, rumors about the iPhone 13 have already begun circulating and now leakster David Kowalski (@xleaks7) has teamed up with Coverpigtou.it to share CAD-based renders of the Product Red iPhone 13.
The overall design remains similar to the iPhone 12 series with flat sides, and a notch though the cutout is visible smaller this time around. The dimensions are listed as 146.64×71.5×7.56mm is close if not quite identical to last year’s iPhone 12.
The big change comes around the back where the two cameras now sit diagonally from each other. The same camera design was seen in yesterday’s iPhone 13 mini CAD leak though we sadly don’t get info on the actual sensors.
As for specs, the new leak suggests LTPO displays for all iPhone 13 series devices. Display sizes are expected to remain unchanged meaning a 6.1-inch screen for the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro, 5.4-inches for the mini and 6.7-inches for the Pro Max. Apple is expected to bring its new iPhones in October with the range starting at the $700 mark.
Peak Design has announced it is delaying shipment of products in its Kickstarter campaign for Mobile, a broad range of phone accessories designed to make it easy to mount your phone on everything from a motorcycle handlebar to a simple dock on your desk. It is meant to be compatible with iPhones and Samsung Galaxy phones. Originally targeted for May, the company now expects to be able to begin shipping in August, though some products will also come later. To make up for it, Peak is offering either full refunds for cancellations or discounts on other Peak Design products.
Peak Design has used Kickstarter to launch everything from camera-focused backpacks to tripods and its original product, an innovative camera mounting clip. But this new project is on a different scale of ambition: it’s multiple products designed to work together in an interlocking system of mounts, wireless chargers, mini tripods, wallets, and cases. Key to the entire system is a combination of magnets and physical locking mechanisms which can differ from product to product.
The project apparently started about two years ago, which means that just before the company was running to launch in October of 2020 Apple announced the iPhone 12 — complete with the MagSafe system of cases, chargers, and wallets that connect with magnets.
Some prototypes in Peak Design’s mobile system
Apple’s MagSafe system and Peak Design’s magnet system are different, but the company made the call to try to make its system interoperable in some ways with MagSafe. That has meant testing its products across all the different variables it could think of, mixing and matching Peak Design’s big portfolio of products with Apple’s new system.
That complexity is one of the reasons for the delay, the first in Peak Design’s long history marketing products on Kickstarter. The second is the obvious one: delays introduced from COVID-19. The designers have been unable to travel to the factory to test their designs or go into their local workshop to suss out problems directly.
The company expects its first wave to include the most basic products in its lineup, cases and some “core mounts/accessories,” with a second wave coming “later.”
Peak Design will email Kickstarter backers discount codes for its products (20 percent off anything plus 50 percent off a future purchase in the Mobile product line). It also says people who wish to cancel their pledge can email info@peakdesign.com.
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As Vergecast listeners know, I am a sucker for car phone mounts and chargers. They are a perfect gadget for the modern age — a design problem with no perfect solution, price points that usually land at the higher end of the impulse-buy zone, and completely well-suited for targeted Instagram ads. “People who have bought a Qi-based car mount in the last year,” the marketing director of a tiny accessory company sternly instructs the Facebook ad-targeting system. “Find them and relentlessly pressure them into buying our product which is at best marginally better than the one they have.”
Reader, it works.
All of this means I was very excited when Apple added MagSafe charging to the new iPhone 12 line. A series of magnets aligns a wireless charger to the back of the phone, and has enough attachment strength to — yes — hold the phone on a car mount. A dream: you get in the car, seamlessly dink! your phone onto the mount, and drive away, laughing at the suckers fumbling with their cradles and motorized friction arms and other unwieldy ideas. Magnets, baby. How do they work.
The MagSafe attachment plate can pivot independently from the mountNilay Patel
Note the lack of a USB cable plugged in here, because there isn’t a charger in there.Nilay Patel
Unfortunately it has been six months since the iPhone 12 was announced, and there is a pitiful shortage of MagSafe car chargers. In fact, there are no officially-sanctioned MagSafe car chargers. Instead, there is this Belkin Car Vent Mount PRO with MagSafe, which, as the name suggests, allows you to mount a phone to your vents with MagSafe, in, um, a professional way. However, it does not charge your phone.
I have been using a review unit of the Belkin Car Vent Mount PRO with MagSafe, or BCVMPwM, for a couple months now. It is at once supremely satisfying — dink! — and also tremendously frustrating. Like all vent mounts, the weight of the phone is enough to pull the vent louvers down over time, especially if you have a large phone like my iPhone 12 Pro Max. The magnets are indeed strong enough to hold even that phone in place, but if you go over any particularly huge bumps, something will fall down — the phone off the mount, or the mount off the vent.
“Dammit, BCVMPwM,” you will yell, using the full name of this $40 promise to yourself. “Why aren’t you everything I hoped and dreamed of when I looked at the marketing photos on social media?” Then you will put everything back into place at the next stop light, sheepishly glance at your partner, and slowly realize they have completely stopped paying attention to these sorts of antics anymore. You need new antics. You need to add Linux to your smart home.
It’s a clean look, but note that this phone is not charging. Because it’s not a charger.Nilay Patel
Stop it. Have I mentioned that the BCVMPwM does not have C? No, this is not a charger. For that, you still have to plug in a Lightning cable, which sort-of-maybe makes sense if your car does not have wireless CarPlay and you need to plug it in anyway — but there you are, plugging a cable into your phone, which is the complete opposite of the dink! Magnet Experience. Your old car mount, with the horrible friction arms, had a built-in Qi charger. There are hacky wireless CarPlay adapters! People say they are kinda slow and have audio latency issues, but c’mon — a single dink! to mount your phone, charge it, and instantly connect to CarPlay? Now that’s the good shit.
Why isn’t there an approved MagSafe car mount with built-in wireless charging after six months? Why do Apple accessory ecosystems always seem so petrified, in every sense of the word? This is the easiest win of all time, but instead, there is the BCVMPwM. It offers you a glimpse of a dream. Then it falls down. There are better unlicensed ones that might burn your car to the ground that you can buy on Amazon. It is the paradigmatic Apple accessory.
iPhone 13 leaks aren’t unusual, but the latest disclosure is more intriguing than normal. A new 3D render (above) suggests Apple could be making some “strange” design changes, claims 9to5Mac.
The renders originate from MySmartPrice, which tips the iPhone 13 for an iPhone 12-like design and a smaller notch. The same publication also claims the iPhone 13 could boast two front cameras, though we’d take that with a generous pinch of salt.
The biggest surprise, however, is the new camera bump: it seems to sport a pretty radical ‘diagonal arrangement’. The cameras are stacked vertically on the iPhone 11 and iPhone 12, but on the iPhone 13 the rear lenses are depicted top-left and bottom right of the camera module. Cue much head-scratching.
We’re expecting very few technical upgrades to the iPhone 13 cameras, so it seems curious (or unlikely) that Apple would rejig the position of the lenses. Could it be an aesthetic choice? And will the design of the triangular camera on the iPhone 13 Pro models also be changing?
One theory is that the reshuffle could free up space for a LIDAR sensor, but that would more than likely be reserved for the more expensive Pro models. Others have questioned the authenticity of the leak. As 9to5Mac says, MySmartPrice has a good track record when it comes to iPhone renders but past material has typically surfaced with the approval of respected leaker Steve Hemmerstoffer (aka @OnLeaks). We shall see.
In the market for a new smartphone? The iPhone 13 is tipped for an 120Hz OLED display that uses variable refresh rate technology to prolong the battery life. It’s not due to drop until September but in the meantime, Cupertino is expected to unveil a new iPad Pro at its Spring Loaded event on 20th April.
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Forget iPhone 13 – iPhone 14 will bring a host of drastic changes, says respected tech analyst Ming-Chu Kuo. Apparently, Apple’s 2022 iPhone will boast a notch-less design and 8K video recording for the first time.
It’s bad news for iPhone Mini fans, though: Kuo claims Apple will kill off the 5.4-inch model from 2022. Rumours suggest that the compact mobile hasn’t sold well, so the iPhone 13 Mini, which is expected to be announced this September, could be the Mini’s swan song.
Kuo is quick to point out that the 2022 iPhone line-up will still consist of four models: two high-end ‘Pro’ phones with 6.1- and 6.7-inch screens and two ‘affordable’ iPhones with the same 6.1- and 6.7-inch screens – sans the top-tier camera tech.
As for the design, whereas the latest leaks tip the upcoming iPhone 13 for a 10 per cent-smaller camera notch (via 9to5Mac), Kuo is convinced the iPhone 14 will see Apple transition to a much sleeker ‘punch-hole’ design, where the only display cutout is used for the front selfie camera.
And from 2023 – yes, we’re onto the iPhone 15 now – Kuo reckons Apple could plump for a bezel-free design with both the selfie camera and FaceID infrared projector hidden beneath the phone’s display. Given that the iPhone 15 is probably nothing more than a napkin-sketch right now, anything’s possible.
Back to iPhone 14, though. The same future-gazer expects the more expensive ‘Pro’ models to sport an upgraded 48MP sensor because “the best resolution for augmented and mixed reality is 8K to 16K”. That ties in nicely with the rumour that Apple is planning to launch a mixed reality headset in 2022. As for stills, Kuo reckons they’ll be scaled down to 12MP to produce manageable files with stunning levels of detail and almost no noise (a technique already used by many of the best Android phones).
Finally, Kuo tips all four 2022 iPhones to support 8K video recording – a first for Apple. Given that Samsung has already released two smartphones that support 8K recording – the 2020 Galaxy S20 and 2021 Galaxy S21 – some would say the Cupertino giant has fallen behind its competitors on that front. Then again, Samsung manufactures 8K TVs, so it makes sense to put 8K-capable mobiles devices into its customers’ pockets.
Of course, 2023 is a long way off. For now all eyes are on Apple’s 20th April event, which is expected to feature a new iPad Pro with Mini LED display and the AirPods 3 wireless buds (maybe).
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The 2022 iPhone lineup will feature substantial changes to the camera system, according to analyst Ming-chi Kuo in an investor note reported on by MacRumors and AppleInsider. Kuo says the high-end iPhones — presumably the Pro range — will use a larger 48-megapixel sensor for the primary camera. Separately, the analyst suggests that 2023 iPhones may start to use Face ID sensors under the screen as a way to get rid of the notch.
48-megapixel sensors have been common in Android phones for years, but this component will reportedly be larger than most. It’ll be a 1/1.3-inch sensor with a pixel size of 1.25µm, according to Kuo. That’s smaller than the 1.7µm pixels in the iPhone 12 Pro Max, but Kuo says that the equivalent pixel size will be more like 2.5µm when the sensor is used for 12-megapixel images. Kuo also expects the higher-resolution sensor to enable 8K video capture.
The 2022 iPhone lineup is going to see a reduction in screen size options, Kuo says; there won’t be a 5.4-inch mini any more, and Apple will stick to the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays on other models. The mini has reportedly not sold to Apple’s expectations, with the company said to have overestimated demand and cut production orders. The 2021 lineup, however, is expected to keep the same screen sizes.
Finally, Kuo says that the iPhone will begin to use an under-display Face ID system in 2023. Kuo has previously claimed that Apple will replace the Face ID notch with a hole-punch camera in some models from next year, and that 2023 will also see under-display fingerprint scanners come to the iPhone. It’s not clear exactly which technologies will make it out when, or in which combination.
Caviar launches 5 Limited Edition models of the iPhone 12 Pro (Max) dedicated to space conquerors. Each features a real fragment of a famous spacecraft.
Today it is exactly 60 years ago that the first manned space flight took place. This memorable day has been renamed the Day of the Cosmonauts. In honor of this special event, the Russian accessory company Caviar has introduced a range of smartphones within the “Space Conquerors” Collection. It are five iPhone 12 Pro (Max) models, each dedicated to a famous personality within the space industry.
These exclusive and luxurious smartphones are certainly not for everyone’s budget. This is partly because Caviar has provided every phone model within the Space Conquerors Collection with a real fragment of the hulls of famous spaceships. That makes these models very unique, but also expensive.
iPhone 12 Pro Collection: Elon Musk edition
The first model is dedicated to a modern aerospace pioneer; Elon Musk. The Tesla founder has a dream to conquer Mars, with his SpaceX development program. The iPhone 12 Pro (Max) Musk edition is made of ultra-strong titanium with a PVD coating. The device is adorned with the recognizable silhouette of Elon Musk, which is depicted against the red-gilded background of the planet Mars.
A gilded line around the red planet symbolizes the upcoming flight – the dream of the legendary visionary. The flight path is crowned with a real space particle, which has been on board of the CRS-14 Falcon 9 and the CRS-17 Dragon – both spacecraft are made by SpaceX.
The date engraved on the gold line is the date SpaceX was founded. In 2021, the company will be celebrating its 19 anniversary, therefore Caviar has decided to manufacture only 19 copies of the iPhone 12 Pro Space Conqueror Musk Edition.
The price of the iPhone 12 Pro Musk Limited Edition is set at $ 6,610 USD (128GB). In addition, there is a choice of 256GB and 512GB. The same design is also available with the iPhone 12 Pro Max as a base, for this Limited Edition smartphone the starting price is set at $ 7,150 USD.
Space Conquerors Collection: Gagarin edition
On April 12, 1961, the first manned flight to space took place, on board of the Vostok 1 was astronaut Yuri Gagarin. In honor of this important event, jewelry brand Caviar has designed the iPhone 12 Pro (Max) Gagerin Edition. The case of the Gagarin model is made of hardened aeronautical titanium and composite stone, decorated with a three-dimensional image of the Vostok rocket, which put Gagarin in orbit.
The centerpiece of the design is a rare Navigator watch, engraved with the date of the first flight into space. On an identical watch, Yuri Gagarin counted his cosmic 108 minutes, which turned the world upside down and immortalized his name and achievement.
The most unique design element of the Gagarin model is a real fragment of the Vostok 1 spacecraft – which made the first flight around Earth. The Gagarin model has become one of the most exclusive models in Caviar’s history – only 12 smartphones will be produced, in honor of the memorable date of April 12.
This is the most expensive model of the Space Conquerors collection. The iPhone 12 Pro Gagarin edition is available for a starting price of $ 8,920 USD. For the iPhone 12 Pro Max, the price is set at $ 9,450 USD.
Space Conquerors: Korolev Limited Edition
Caviar has also created an iPhone dedicated to the Ukrainian Soviet physicist Sergei Pavlovich Korolev, also known as the father of the Soviet space program. This smartphone model is adorned with a three-dimensional gold-plated star, bears the name of the Soviet engineer and creator of the first artificial Earth satellite, Sputnik 1.
A striking design detail is the enormous star thrown into space by a human hand. It is a symbol of the global event. It is a metaphorical representation of how Korolev and the Soviet Union take the first steps towards cosmic infinity.
The body of the smartphone is made of hardened titanium with an artistic engraving of a monochrome space landscape. Double coating of 999 gold made in Double Electroplated technique, 7 microns was used in the decor. There is an engraving on the case, containing the date of the launch of the first satellite. It says: ‘The father of practical astronautics, 4 October 1957’.
Caviar will produce 99 copies of the Korolev edition. The iPhone 12 Pro Korolev edition is available for $ 6,760 USD (128GB). For the iPhone 12 Pro Max, prices start at $ 7,300 USD.
iPhone 12 Pro Limited Edition dedicated to Bezos
The fourth model in Caviar’s Space Conquerors collection is dedicated to American space pioneer Jeff Bezos and his space company Blue Origin. His mission is to bring people to the Moon. The Moon seems so close that you can reach out and touch, but the 384,467 kilometers that separate us is a serious test for experienced astronauts.
The body of the smartphone is adorned with an exquisite lightweight feather, which is the symbol of Blue Origin. It is depicted on all the spaceships born of the engineering thought of the best designers of Bezos. In the background, a deep blue composite stone has been incorporated, symbolizing the earth.
Our planet stands out in the endless space, which is designed in black PVD titanium with geometric relief patterns. The memorable date is engraved on the contour of the Earth: “Going to the Moon to stay, April 29, 2015” – referring to the date of the successful test of the reusable triple spacecraft New Shepard.
This smartphone appears in a limited edition of 99 pieces. The iPhone 12 Pro Bezos edition is available for $ 5,840 USD (128GB). Enthusiasts of the iPhone 12 Pro Max should expect a starting price of $ 6,380 USD.
Armstrong edition with real fragment of Apollo 11
Last but not least, Caviar has dedicated a phone model to the first man to set foot on the Moon: Neil Armstrong. The American astronaut and aeronautical engineer, along with colleagues Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, reached the Moon in 1969 on board of the Apollo 11 spacecraft. During his descent on the ladder, Armstrong made the legendary statement: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.”
This iPhone 12 Pro Limited Edition includes a relief image of titanium featuring astronaut Armstrong placing the American flag on the Moon. In the background you can see a cosmic landscape, consisting of stars and planet Earth.
What makes this model extra special, Caviar has incorporated a real fragment of Apollo 11 into the design – the spacecraft that brought the first human to the moon. A commemorative engraving has also been added that reads: “First moon landing. July 20, 1969”.
Symbolizing the designation “Apollo 11”, Caviar will produce only 11 copies of the Armstrong edition. This exclusive smartphone has a starting price of $ 6,450 USD, for which you will receive the iPhone 12 Pro (128GB). For $ 6,990 you will be the proud owner of the iPhone 12 Pro Max Armstrong edition (128GB).
It is not the first time that Caviar has designed an exclusive smartphone line-up dedicated to space. Last year, the iPhone 11 Pro Space Odyssey Collection was launched. Not long after, the company also released an iPhone 12 Pro Concept dedicated to Elon Musk and his SpaceX project.
An iPhone with cheese grater texture similar to the iMac Pro? Industrial designer Sarang Sheth shows what this would look like and why it is a bad idea.
The Apple iMac Pro, announced in 2019, got a complete new design, with the front provided with a unique hole pattern. Many Apple fans reminded it of the very first generation of Mac Pro, where often the comparison with a cheese grater was made. Some time ago, Apple filed for a patent for an iPhone with a similar cheese grater texture, which could contribute to more efficient cooling.
The opinions about this iPhone design were certainly not only positive on the internet, but that didn’t stop industrial designer Sarang Sheth from visualizing this idea. Sarang made for Yanko Design a concept of a iPhone 12 Pro Cheese grater Case. The characteristic cheese grater design gives the phone a special and cool appearance. Yet there seem to be more disadvantages than advantages to such a design.
Sarang Sheth about of his design: “We present the Cheesegrater Case for the iPhone 12 Pro. Made from a TPE bumper and a machined aluminum backplate, the case puts the familiar cheesegrater texture on the back of the iPhone to help it cool more efficiently (well at least in theory). In theory, it’s also perfectly suited to mince cloves of garlic or grate some Parmigiano Reggiano.”
iPhone 12 Pro case
Sarang has not only visualized the patented design, he also delves deeper into the potential practicality of this invention. He believes it is a bad idea, he cites several reasons for this. First of all, a textured metal case would attract dust, dirt, and lint. Moreover, you would not be able to charge the phone wirelessly.
In addition, such a cheese grater structure would make the device unnecessarily thick – which is unlikely to be Apple’s preference. In addition, you may wonder what such a 3D design does to the hand position. It doesn’t seem very comfortable. In addition, you may wonder why a smartphone must have desktop-quality heat dissipation. Does Apple still have some surprises in store for us? For example in the field of Augmented Reality (AR).
In any case, it seems unlikely that Apple will use such a design for the iPhone 13 Pro, which is expected around September. There is, however, good hope that the controversial notch will finally decline in size this year, it will still not completely disappear though.
Ilse is a Dutch journalist and joined LetsGoDigital more than 15 years ago. She is highly educated and speaks four languages. Ilse is a true tech-girl and loves to write about the future of consumer electronics. She has a special interest for smartphones, digital cameras, gaming and VR.
Sony has, in a very low-key way, just announced that its upcoming Xperia event will be on April 14th (via Droid Life). The news comes from the Xperia YouTube channel’s banner, where it lays out that there will be a new product announcement happening at 4:30PM Japan Standard Time — that’s 3:30AM EST, or 12:30AM PT (if you feel like burning the midnight oil to watch live).
The banner gives no real hints as to what will be announced, but there have been a few rumors floating around — one about a new flagship, the Xperia 1 III, and one about the return of the Xperia Compact, which could end up being an Android answer to the iPhone Mini.
Image: Sony
It’s worth noting that there are other rumors that mention new versions of the Xperia 5 and 10, leaving out the Compact entirely. But pretty much every rumor indicates that we’ll see a new entry in the flagship Xperia 1 line. Leaks indicate that the 1 III will have a periscope zoom lens, and Techradar recently published what could be the full specs. It’s mostly what’s expected from a flagship Android phone: Snapdragon 888, 12GB of memory, 5G, and a 4K 120Hz screen.
It’s probably a safe bet that if there’s only one phone being announced (which is hinted at by the singular “product” in the image from Sony), the Xperia 1 III would be it — the 1 line seems to be on a yearly cycle. The Compact is much more of a wildcard — the last time Sony released a “Compact” branded phone was in 2018, though it does use the word to market the Xperia 5 II, with its 6.1-inch screen, which is around the same size as an iPhone 12 Pro or Galaxy S21. The rumors for a 2021 version of the Compact say that it’ll have a 5.5-inch display, which is only a tiny bit bigger than the screen on an iPhone Mini.
Both potential phones are rumored to come with headphone jacks. As for what we’ll actually see on the day, only time will tell — but thankfully there’s not much of it left.
Samsung wants you to know its new phone, the Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G, is good at capturing photos. Maybe you could outwardly tell from its five image sensors, including four on the back, that the company takes mobile photography seriously. But if not, you now have an entire Hulu series to watch in which the S21 Ultra 5G is the main character.
The company announced today it’s created a branded Hulu show called Exposure where up-and-coming photographers compete in challenges to be crowned “America’s best mobile photographer.” The show will debut on April 26th, and it entirely centers on the S21 Ultra 5G; it’s the only device contestants will use to capture their images. This is Samsung’s best attempt at showing off its phone in less of a commercial format — although, in reality, this show is an extended commercial.
Branded content is nothing new for TV. But typically, these partnerships are more covert. Maybe the device someone uses is a specific phone that they mention aloud, or the hosts of a show drive a specific car that lingers on the screen for a second longer than expected. Exposure is, instead, a full-out admittance from Samsung that it is so invested in making sure people know about its camera technology that it’s willing to spend money on an entire series.
For what it’s worth, Verge reviewer Dieter Bohn said the Samsung Galaxy S21 Ultra 5G’s cameras did live up to the hype when he reviewed the device in January. “The camera system on the Galaxy S21 Ultra is the best I’ve used on any Android phone and is extremely competitive with the iPhone 12 Pro Max,” he wrote.
These Exposure contestants will likely capture quality images. You just have to be okay with the fact that you’re watching content that Samsung approves and wants you to see.
Belkin has a new iPhone stand that’s useful enough to be interesting but annoyingly limited.
The company’s “Magnetic Phone Mount with Face Tracking” works with the iPhone 12’s MagSafe feature, clipping your phone into place using the device’s built-in magnets. It then uses face tracking to follow you around the room, rotating so it’s always facing you.
The catch is that this feature doesn’t work with video calls on Zoom, FaceTime, or any other similar service — surely one of the biggest potential use cases in a pandemic. In fact, judging by the product description, the tracking feature only works when recording video through Belkin’s own iOS app. That would mean you can’t even use the stand to make sure your phone is always facing you as you follow along with an exercise video or recipe. We’ve reached out to Belkin to double check this and will update this article when we know more.
You can track yourself recording video but not watching it. Image: Belkin
Being able to record video that tracks you will definitely be useful to some people, and Belkin says its iOS app can connect directly to social media accounts (including Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and others) to make posting easy. But it still means the mount is more of a specialist tool than a device that could help more consumers.
Other relevant specs: the mount works in landscape and portrait orientations, can be tilted vertically from -15 to 30 degrees, rotates horizontally through 360 degrees, and is powered by three AA batteries. And of course, because it uses MagSafe to attach to your phone, it only works with the iPhone 12, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12 Pro, and iPhone 12 Pro Max. The mount will sell for $65, but it’s only listed as “coming soon” on Belkin’s website.
Caviar releases three luxury Limited Edition smartphones of the iPhone 12 Pro (Max) in the spirit of the cult game and upcoming action movie Mortal Kombat.
Caviar regularly releases exclusive Limited Edition smartphones, which are often based on the top models from Apple and Samsung. This time the Russian Caviar has designed three special iPhone 12 Pro (Max) models, made for fans of the game Mortal Kombat. The introduction of these exclusive smartphones does not stand on itself, as the film adaptation of this popular fantasy / action video game will be released next month.
The 2021 Mortal Collection from Caviar includes three iPhone 12 Pro / Pro Max models, each dedicated to a different character within the legendary game: the protagonist Scorpion, the Emperor Shao Kahn and the wizard Shang Tsung.
iPhone 12 Pro Scorpion edition
The first design of the iPhone 12 Pro Scorpion is inspired by the protagonist of Mortal Kombat; Scorpion and his weapon, which is wrapped around the smartphone cover. The smartphone is encased in ultra-strong titanium with a gold-colored extra strong PVD coating, used to cover luxury Swiss watches..
It is decorated with inserts made of multilayer material based on epoxy resin and fiberglass, used in the manufacture of edged weapons. This Limited Edition smartphone looks brutal and luxurious at the same time.
Caviar will produce only 99 copies of the Scorpion Edition. The starting price is set at $ 6,140 USD, for which you will receive the model with 128GB of memory. Prices for the iPhone 12 Pro Max start at $ 6,680 USD. Naturally, these devices offer exactly the same functions as a regular iPhone 12 Pro (Max).
Limited Edition smartphone in the spirit of Shao Kahn
Shao Kahn’s impressive image inspired Caviar designers to create an austere model for the Caviar iPhone 12 Pro Shao Kahn. A titanium throne is put on a black base made of resistant composite material. There is no one in it, but the throne is not empty – an outlandish war hammer lays in it. The war hammer is formed from the phrase “I Win”.
The weapon is covered with wear-resistant premium material – titanium heated to super-temperatures, applied according to PVD technique. The composition is completed with a gold-colored skull, symbolizing enemies defeated by the hammer’s owner.
99 copies will be produced of this model. A unique number is engraved on the side of the device. The starting price is set at $ 6,910 USD, for which you will receive the model with 128GB of memory. Prices for the iPhone 12 Pro Max Shao Kahn start at $ 7,450 USD.
iPhone 12 Pro Mortal Komat Collection: Shang Tsung
The mighty wizard in Mortal Kombat became the inspiration for the Shang Tsung edition. There we see the soul of a sorcerer extracting another soul of a defeated enemy. The letters that make up the phrase «You Soul is Mine» are lined with material that glows in the dark.
The exclusive smartphone combines titanium with a black, ultra-durable PVD coating with a 3D skull and two snake patterns. The case is adorned with 4 high saturation emeralds that add luxury and mystery to the accessory.
The price of the iPhone 12 Pro Shang Tsung starts at $ 6,600 USD for the 128GB model. In addition, there is a choice of 256GB and 512GB memory. The iPhone 12 Pro Max is available at a starting price of $ 7,140 USD.
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