Apple has introduced an all-new “Apps by Apple” webpage, residing on its official website. This dedicated space serves as a platform to celebrate and showcase Apple’s proprietary apps, available across the iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, Mac, and Apple TV ecosystems.
In true Apple fashion, the company showcases its commitment to delivering a seamless user experience through these apps, accompanied by tantalizing glimpses of forthcoming features in iOS 17 and beyond.
So, what exactly does this ‘Apps by Apple’ page bring to the table?
A Guide to Apple’s App Universe
This newly minted digital domain, found at apple.com/apps, conveniently categorizes Apple’s apps into six distinct clusters:
Communication: Tagged as “Apps to keep you connected,” this category includes essentials like Phone, Messages, FaceTime, Mail, and Contacts. Apple’s aim here is clear – to facilitate effortless connections.
Creativity: “Tools for pros and passionate creatives” is the mantra here. This enclave caters to the artist in you, boasting apps like Photos, Camera, GarageBand, iMovie, and Final Cut Pro for iPad.
Productivity: In the “All you need to make your work of art” realm, Apple’s offerings include Notes, Reminders, Calendar, Freeform, and Pages. The focus? Enhancing your productivity and creativity.
Exploration: Embark on journeys of discovery with apps like Safari, Maps, Weather, Find My, and Wallet. These apps are designed to simplify your explorations of both the digital and physical worlds.
Entertainment and Home: “Brilliant ways to watch, read, listen, and relax” – this segment features Apple TV, Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple Music Classical, and Podcasts, promising entertainment and relaxation at your fingertips.
Health and Fitness: Prioritizing “Wellness for your mind and body,” Apple offers apps such as Apple Health, Fitness, Workout, Sleep, and Cycle Tracking. Your well-being takes centre stage here.
Aside from these categories, the ‘Apps by Apple’ page provides insights into the features that underpin Apple’s ecosystem. These include Siri, iCloud, CarPlay, and Continuity, designed to seamlessly integrate various aspects of your digital life. Family Sharing, another highlighted feature, promotes harmonious device sharing among families.
A Response to Regulatory Changes
It’s worth noting that the unveiling of this page comes at a time when the European Union (EU) is considering regulations that may require Apple to allow third-party app stores and sideloading on iPhones within its member states. Sideloading entails installing apps from sources other than Apple’s App Store. Apple’s long-standing argument for restricting sideloading revolves around security concerns, as it enables stricter control over potential threats like malware.
With these regulatory shifts looming, Apple’s ‘Apps by Apple’ initiative can be seen as a strategic move to bolster its in-house app portfolio. By emphasizing the quality, seamlessness, and privacy features of its apps, Apple aims to ensure that users continue to choose its ecosystem, even in the face of alternative options.
Apple reassures users that “Every app by Apple comes with powerful privacy features to help protect your data and give you control over your information.” This commitment aligns with Apple’s broader stance on privacy and data protection.
While these changes may initially impact EU users, the global tech landscape may witness ripple effects as the industry navigates evolving regulations.
In conclusion, Apple’s ‘Apps by Apple’ webpage serves as a testament to the company’s dedication to delivering a user-friendly and secure app experience. As the tech world continues to evolve, Apple remains unwavering in its pursuit of innovation and excellence.
Exciting times ahead for WhatsApp users as we round up the many new features coming very soon to your device!
Improved privacy features for messaging and calls
WhatsApp made great strides in privacy for messaging apps, when they introduced view-once messaging. Now, this process will get a whole lot easier. Spotted on a WhatsApp beta build on the Play Store, simply long-tap the send button to send a view-once message. This will also apply to sharing view-once photos and videos, though at the moment, GIF formats will not be able to be shared this way as reported by WABetaInfo.
Image source: WABetaInfo
Another boost to privacy, WABetaInfo have previewed a new feature called “Protect IP address in calls”. This feature can be toggled to mask your IP address by relaying calls through WhatsApp servers, making it harder to trace your location. While more secure, the feature comes at the cost of a small reduction in call quality. Another security feature for calls was the option to silence unknown callers. This toggle feature will stop calls from unknown callers ringing, while still showing up in your Calls tab.
Image source: WABetaInfo
Text formatting and enhanced media sharing
We can now expect more personalization and utility in messaging thanks to the new text formatting feature coming to WhatsApp. WABetaInfo showcased formatting tools such as syntax for blocking code snippets, quoting specific text, and creating text lists. There will also be a new “Quote”, which improves upon the existing “Quote message” feature. This will allow you to now quote specific parts of messages instead of the whole message.
Image source: WABetaInfo
WhatsApp will also be addressing another key issue; sharing HD media. As reported by 9to5Google via the Verge, there is a new “HD” button available when adding an image to a message. Selecting it brings up two options; standard quality (1600 x 1052) and HD quality (4096 x 2692). Recipients will also have the option to keep the standard quality or HD quality versions when on slow connections. No details on how compressed the images will be as of yet. WhatsApp will also give the same choice for HD video, as reported by TechCrunch. Users can now opt to send their videos either compressed to the current app standard of 480p or toggle HD video of 720p.
Native macOS app may be a reality soon
Great news for Mac users, WhatsApp will soon be available as a native macOS app. As reported by Tech Radar, the new app is already available to download for free via WhatsApp servers. However, if you prefer to use the Mac App Store, you will have to be patient as it is not available as of yet. Along with the new app, you can also expect integration with native Mac features such as “drag and drop” for easier media sharing and longer chat histories. There will also be enhanced call features, with capacity to connect 8 people on video call and 32 people on audio call. You can also join a group call after it has started, see your call history and opt to receive call notifications even when the app is closed. Alongside this features, you will also get the expected functionality of WhatsApp including end-to-end encryption and cross-platform support. Mac users will need to have a system running on macOS 11 Big Sur and powered by Apple chipsets; at least the Apple M1, to be able to use this app. If you don’t meet those requirements, don’t fret as there is always WhatsApp web.
Image source: Meta
Screen sharing and quality of life improvements
Another big addition coming to WhatsApp will be screen sharing over video calls. Keeping up with competitors like Zoom, Microsoft Teams and Google Meet, WhatsApp will now allow sharing of your phone or desktop screen as reported by Android Police. You can choose to share a specific app or your whole screen over a video call. Screen sharing will be protected by end-to-end encryption. The drawbacks are audio cannot be shared in screen sharing. To further support this feature, WhatsApp will allow video calls in landscape mode, to take advantage of your screen’s real estate. The feature might be coming sooner than expected. Keep a lookout for a Share button in the bottom action bar in your next video call.
Image source: Android Police
WhatsApp is also rolling out some quality of life enhancements to improve your app experience. This includes a revamped UI for Settings and the chat list along with a dedicated “You” page which houses your account information. There will be some minor visual enhancements, including the profile picture moved to the top right of the home screen.
Image source: WABetaInfo
Along with this UI update, Android Police has reported a new, sleek animation on the button when switching between audio message and video message. The icons jump up and twist when changing from a mic to a camera. This makes it easier to know which type of message is being composed, in addition to the existing floating tooltip. And finally, Android Police also reports the addition of a new page encouraging users to create their own Community. With WhatsApp being a staple for group chats, the Community feature will help organize messaging for larger groups of people. This is especially useful for neighborhood, schools and even select work groups. There is also a handy Get Started button that will help walk you through creating your first Community.
New features may already be in your hands
There are no exact dates when the new features will be available, but as it is a staged roll out, you may already have the chance to experience the enhanced WhatsApp. With the addition of these new features, WhatsApp is making great strides in keeping up with the competition. In fact, they may just end the year as the best messaging app in the market!
For the longest time, we did not think that Apple’s MacBook Air line-up needed to be bigger. To be fair the Apple MacBook Air was made to be the most portable Mac there is that offers the Mac experience anywhere and at any time. It is designed to be as thin and as light as a MacBook can be. So, in that case, it only makes sense for the MacBook Air’s display to be no larger than 14-inch to ensure that it fits most bags. If you want a bigger MacBook, get the normal sized MacBook that offers more than 13-inch in display real estate, or get the MacBook Pro. But what if you want a bigger screen and still have a thin-and-light package to work with? Apple has an answer for you, finally.
Welcome to the new format in the MacBook Air line-up, a 15.3-inch Liquid Retina MacBook Air. It is still a MacBook Air, a thin-and-light Apple laptop that is meant to be as portable as a MacBook can be. The only added heft comes from the larger display. A larger display also means that the MacBook Air can be a proper entertainment powerhouse now when it comes to movies and even games to a certain extent. You can even use it as your main editing tool if you want to use it for content creation.
The 15-inch MacBook Air now makes plenty of sense thanks the Apple’s silicon innovation in their latest M2 integrated processor. Thanks to the power requirements of the M2 processor too, the MacBook Air is now the thinnest 15-inch laptop in the world.
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Other than a more powerful M2 chip, it does not seem like the 15-inch MacBook Air has sacrificed anything else just for the squashed down bodywork. Apple claims that the MacBook Air still can offer immersive Spatial Audio. There is a Full HD 1080p FaceTime HD camera that you can use for FaceTime calls and other video conferencing tool complete with Center Stage technology. All of these and you still get up to 18 hours in battery life.
For Spatial Audio, Apple has fitted the 15-inch MacBook Air with six speakers. The speaker system on the MacBook Air offers Dolby Atmos support allowing you to properly enjoy any movies on Netflix, Prime Video, and even Apple TV+ with immersive Dolby audio. But the speakers are not just for movies and music. It also made to ensure that you get a clear communication with your teammates or friends over FaceTime and other video conferencing tools. Of course, you need mics for that too, and the MacBook Air comes with three-mic array with beamforming technology to clear capture your voice for both voice and video calls.
The 15.3-inch Liquid Retina Display offers more than just resolution too. WIth up to 500 nits in brightness and support for up to 1-billion colours, it is one of the most accurate and vivid displays you can find on a 15-inch laptop. They claim that the 15-inch disply on the MacBook Air offers twice the resolution and 25 percent brighter than comparable PC laptops in its class.
Of course, one of the biggest highlights of the MacBook Air is the M2 processor living inside the ultra-thin 15-inch notebook. The Apple M2 chip you get here comes with eight CPU cores (four performance cores and four efficiency cores) and 10 GPU cores. Within the chip construction is also a dedicated 16-core Neural Engine. You get to spec the MacBook Air with up to 24GB of unified memory too for better multitasking than ever. The result of all that is an ultra-thin 15-inch laptop that you can rely on to edit videos like a professional without being tethered to a power source for an entire day.
Then there is Ventura, the latest macOS there is. There is a new Continuity Camera feature that allows you to start your FaceTime calls from any of your Apple device and pass it on to your other Apple devices without even going through an entire procedure for it. Thanks to Continuity Camera also, you get Center Stage, Desk View and Studio Light features on all your supported Apple devices. There is Stage Manager that helps you automatically organise your apps and windows to ensure that you can focus on the right things at any given time. Freeform app allows you to express and organise you’re at your own freedom and liking. Apple also teased their upcoming macOS, the Sonoma, with even more features promised for macOS devices.
Price and Availability
THe 15-inch MacBook Air is now available in select regions from Apple Stores or their web sore. Malaysia is definitely getting the MacBook Air, but there are no specific dates that has been quoted from Apple. It will set youback MYR 6,199 onward when it is available. For more information on Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Air, you can head to their website.
Apple’s Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) 2022 was a big success. We saw the Apple M2 chip being introduced to the world. We also saw the new MacBook Air that is no longer a wedge-shaped laptop. There is also new MacBook Pro with M2 chip in it, obviously.
According to Mark Gurman, the Apple guy at Bloomberg, who has also been a highly reliable source for all things Apple, WWDC 2022 is really a pre-cursor to what Apple has planned out for the rest of 2022. In that case, 2022 looks rather busy for Apple.
We know that Apple’s next new iPhone will be coming somewhere in September, and it will come with a new proprietary Apple chip. The new Apple iPhone models, four of them, will also be the most powerful iPhone devices you can get your hands on. That is also a given, and a known fact.
According to Gurman, the new iOS 16 that was announced at WWDC 2022 is a good indication of what is to come with the next-generation iPhone. The revamped lock screen points to an always-on display feature on the new Pro models of the iPhone. At the same time, the lock screen could display a lot more information than just the clock. It could tell you the weather, your calendar, stocks, activities, and other information. For the sake of privacy, you can also control how much of the information gets displayed on the always-on display.
While the EU has made regulation changes and enforces that every electronics manufacturer, including Apple, to start transitioning to USB Type-C standards in the coming years, the new Apple iPhone 2022 will not sport USB Type-C just yet. It will still feature Apple’s proprietary Lightning port for now. You can expect USB Type-C iPhones to come in 2023 though.
Then there will be the new iPads. Apple did not release the M2 for nothing. Like the M1 chip in the iPad Pro, you can expect the new iPad Pro launching later in the year to feature the M2 chip. In that sense, there will be new 11-inch and 12.9-inch Apple iPad Pro models coming at the end of the year with M2 chips. The M2 chips should be able to take advantage of the new iPadOS 16’s Stage Manager multitasking functions too. There is also a chance, according to Gurman, that Apple will launch larger form factor Apple iPad Pro models. He expects Apple to launch 14 and 15-inch variations of the Apple iPad Pro.
Unlike how Apple took their time with M1 chips spreading across Apple’s range of products. The M2 might spread more like wildfire this time. Gurman expects Apple to start launching even more products equipped with the M2 chip. There is an M2 Mac mini, M2 Pro chips on the Mac Mini and MacBook Pro models. There could be the M2 Max, M2 Ultra, and M2 Extreme chips coming too, since Apple already has the knowhow on building even more powerful chips based on their original SoC design.
The HomePod is also something that Apple might be looking to upgrade in the coming months. Apple might be looking to update the new HomePod with new processing chips, like the new Apple Watches. There is also supposed to be some new optimization made to the smart speaker in terms of size and audio performance. There are also rumours about multi-touch functions. Gurman also expects new AirPods Pro to be launched with new updated processing chips and higher quality audio.
Remember that all these things are just speculations. There are no straight up confirmations from Apple that they will be launching these new products immediately or in their regular September launch. Until they do make their official announcements, we can only wait and watch.
Apple is just fresh off their most recent launch of the new M1 Ultra chip in a very expensive Mac Studio. In their most recent launch event, they also released a certain display made for the studios at a much more affordable rate than their premium Pro Display XDR. They launched an MYR 6,999 monitor called the Studio Display with 5K resolution and three options for a stand and mount.
The monitor works exclusively with USB Type-C ports with one of them being a Thunderbolt 3 port that feeds the display feed from Mac devices. But the fact that it is a Thunderbolt supported device should also mean that any PC users can enjoy the clarity that is offered by a 5K display.
Apple says to MacRumors that PC users can use the Studio Display with little to no issues at all. Thunderbolt capability means that any PC with Thunderbolt and display capability on its USB Type-C port can output a display on the Studio Display. So far so good, anyone looking for a studio display with more than 4K resolution on tap. They did say that there are certain limitations though.
Despite the Apple A13 Bionic chip they are putting in the Studio Display, it does not do anything that a regular display does not. There are no smart elements to this display like Samsung’s Smart monitors for work. It only works when there is another Mac or PC connected to it. Except, a PC will not be able to take full advantage of what the display has to offer.
There is a native firmware that runs on the Studio Display. The firmware is what runs the webcam, its Centre Stage function, True Tone, Spatial Audio, or any other functions that might require a firmware to work with. All of those requires MacOS to run.
That also means that the only thing you are going to be using the Studio Display as just that, a display. Apple also said that the resolution will also depend on what system it connects too. That could also mean that you might not even get the 5K resolution that is promised by the display.
The 27-inch Apple Studio Display starts at MYR 6,999. There are three mounting and stand option for the new 5K resolution monitor. Its availability date in Malaysia has not been confirmed thus far, but an official pricing also means that it will be available not too long after the United States gets their share of the new Apple displays. More information on the Apple Studio Display can be found on their website.
No, Apple did not introduce two computing solutions in the Apple event today. They only introduced one computing solution. It is one Mac Studio, and a Studio Display. The Studio Display is just that, a display, not a computing device.
Apple Studio Display
Source: Apple
It might as well be though; it packs enough hardware in it to house Apple’s iOS or iPad OS. Yes, it packs Apple’s A13 bionic System on a Chip (SoC). It is a slightly older generation chipset, but still a capable one at that.
The chipset is not used to power an operating system within the display though. It is used to run centre stage capabilities on the built-in 12-Megapixel camera with ultra-wide lens. The powerful chip also allows the six-speakers built into the display to have Apple’s Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos for an immersive audio when you need it for entertainment.
The main highlight is the 27-inch 5K (5,120 by 2,880 pixels) IPS panel. They say it features 1 billion (10-bit) colours at a wide DCI-P3 colour gamut. This should mean that it features a highly accurate colour reproduction, a sort of requirement if you want to seat it in professional workflows. You can even configure it with something they call Nano-texture coating that acts as an anti-glare coating without the display losing its gloss and colour saturation.
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Like any good display there are plenty room for I/O expansions on the Stuido Display. Unfortunately, they are all USB Type-C ports. Besides the mandatory power cable for the 27-inch display, you only need on small USB Type-C Thunderbolt 3 capable cable to come out from the back to your Mac. It does not support HDMI or DisplayPort, which is rather sad. At the same time, the Thunderbolt port also outputs 96W to keep your MacBook charged when it is plugged it.
The way you work with the Studio Display can be very flexible too. There are three stand options for the Studio Display. You can choose to work with it with a very basic tilt-adjustable stand, a stand with tilt and height adjustment, or a simple VESA ready mounting behind the display.
Price and Availability
The Apple Studio Display will be available in the United States (US) from the 18th of March onward. It is available in a few configurations. There are not confirmed dates for its availability in Malaysia. We are guessing that it might come somewhere in April.
You can opt for a regular glass display without coating at MYR 6,999 or one with the anti-glare Nano-texture coated glass at MYR 8,299. There are three stand or mount configuration to choose from as well. Unfortunately, they do not seem interchangeable. You also want to add MYR 1,600 to the price tag if you want the stand with both tilt and height adjustments. More information on the Studio Display can be found on their website.
Apple Mac Studio with M1 Ultra
Source: Apple
There is no M2 here, not when they have not touched on the Mac Pro. We do not want to say that there is nothing ground-breaking here too, because it is an interesting solution to a problem that Apple created for themselves when they shifted to their own silicon platform for all their computing needs. At the same time, there is nothing too ground-breaking or too surprising on this new Mac Mini lookalike.
Let us get one thing straight though, it is not a Mac Mini. It just looks like one from certain angles. It is also taller than a Mac Mini with more vented ports. Where the Mac Mini stops at the M1 SoC, the Mac Studio starts from an M1 Max, not even an M1 Pro variant here. It is not even priced like a Mac Mini.
There is no need to introduce the M1 Max SoC. It is the same one that you can find on the MacBook Pro. The M1 Ultra though, needs a small introduction, but not that much, you will see our point. Like the M1 Pro and M1 Max, the M1 Ultra is based on the same architecture that the M1 is built upon. They just managed to make it larger than the M1 Max. The result is more processing cores, more GPU cores, more power consumption, and in theory, more power delivered for the MacOS it powers.
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Very much like the M1 Max and M1 Pro chipsets though, the M1 Ultra is not truly unique on its own. The only really interesting thing about it is that it is basically two Apple M1 Max SoCs glued together by a connecting bridge that Apple claims to be unique to Apple and no one else. You can hardly refute that claim though, you have never seen the likes of Intel and AMD gluing two of their chips together to make a single larger operating chip. You might see Qualcomm trying to follow suit with their future computing solutions, but we do not see that happening anytime soon.
The result is the M1 Ultra doubles its processing speed from the M1 Max allowing for up to more than triple the CPU performance and nearly five times more GPU performance (Apple claims). It doubles the memory bandwidth allowing for up to 128GB in unified memory, and we expect it to also double the power consumption. They did not specify that, but it makes sense.
Source: Apple
Double the power also means twice the heat to manage, which also means that the Mac Mini-esque Studio block gets proper cooling and ventilation to keep the M1 Ultra happy at pace. Thanks to all of that, the Mac Studio is capable of handling 18 simultaneous 8K ProRes video streams in one go for a smooth multi-camera workflow when you need it. Then again, Apple ProRes is Apple’s proprietary video format that should be optimised to Apple’s chipsets and use case. But 18 streams is, at the very least, properly impressive.
According to Apple, the Mac Studio is also capable of handling up to 5 displays. According to the presentation, the Mac Studio can work with up to four Pro Display XDRs and one 4K display. To afford that kind of set-up requires you to spend upward of MYR 100,000 though. The more sensible set up for an editing studio would be a two-monitor editing set-up and a 4K presentation display. If you are going to go all Apple on that, it is still about MYR 40,000 onward.
Still, we should not steal any limelight from the star of the show, the Mac Studio. It packs six Thunderbolt 4 capable USB Type-C ports (four at the back, two up front) and one HDMI port. As per their presentation, it supports up to five displays at the same time. For content creators, there is an SDXC card slot up front for a much more fluid workflow when you need it. Of course, if you work with CF Express cards, you still need a reader.
Price and Availability
You can buy the new Apple Mac Studio in two main configurations – M1 Max, or M1 Ultra. The M1 Max Mac Studio starts at MYR 8,799, which is the price of a decent gaming PC. The M1 Ultra variant of the Mac Studio starts at MYR 16,799, which can be more expensive than a high-end gaming PC. You can top out the Mac Studio with and M1 Ultra with 64-core GPU, 128GB in unified memory and 8TB in SSD storage. That will set you back MYR 32,799. If you really want to, you can add Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro into the package and pay nearly MYR 35,000 for on Mac Studio with M1 Ultra.
It will be available in the US from the 18th of March 2022. As per the Studio Display, there are no confirmed local (Malaysia) availability dates for the Mac Studio currently. We are guessing as well that it would hit the Malaysian shores somewhere in April or May. More information on the Apple Mac Studio can be found on their website.
Logitech is one of the most trusted brands when it comes to computer peripherals. The company has, over the years, made a name for itself with some of the most reliable and long-lasting keyboards and mouses out there. They’ve even expanded their portfolio to include gaming-centric peripherals under their Logitech G brand. That aside, we’re writing about their new Logitech Signature M650 mouse.
Source: Logitech
The Logitech M series mouses have been one of their most popular lineups for a while now mostly due to its comfort and also affordability. With the newly released Signature M650, Logitech is expanding the functionality, comfort and functionality of the lineup. They’re also bringing a version of the Signature M650 built specifically for lefties!
The new Logitech Signature M650 is equipped with both Bluetooth and 2.4GHz connectivity via the Logi Bolt USB receiver. The SmartWheel on the M650 brings added control, allowing you to get line-by-line precision or super-fast scrolling as and when you need it. It’s also been ergonomically designed for comfort with a contoured body and soft area for your thumb. It also comes with rubber side grips for added grip. The Signature M650 is also more silent with 90% less click noise and has programmable buttons. You can customise the latter with Logitech Options Plus and set your favourite shortcuts.
The M650 comes with 24-month battery life with a single AA battery and is compatible with Windows, Chrome OS, macOS, iPad OS, and Android. It’s priced at MYR159 and is currently available on shelves.
Samsung’s DeX is one of the most useful additions to the Samsung ecosystem since the S Pen. The platform allows users to multitask seamlessly with their Windows or Mac systems in tandem with their Samsung device. It was first introduced with the Galaxy S8 and continues to be a cornerstone feature in any Samsung device.
Source: Samsung
That said, the feature – which turns a Samsung smartphone or tablet into a portable computer – seems to be making its first cut to keep up with the times. Samsung’s DeX will be halting support for Windows 7 come January 2022. This comes as no surprise as Microsoft themselves has marked Windows 7, 8 and 8.1 for support termination in the near future. If you’re on Windows 10 or later, you won’t have to worry about this change.
In addition to ending support for Windows 7, it looks like MacOS users who have a Samsung device will also be out of luck as Mac OS support will also be dropped come January 2022. Users have been getting a pop up notice from the app stating that support is ending for the app and it will not be available for download starting January 2022. No clarification or explanation has been given for the ending of support for MacOS.
If you haven’t used Samsung DeX, it’s one of the first iterations of screen/device mirroring that made its way to Android. The feature allows users to connect their smartphones and/or tablets to a screen via HDMI or to a PC through WiFi. Once connected users will be able to access a desktop version of OneUI with support drag and drop file transfers.
Apple’s M1 chip for their Mac platform has been around for nearly eight months now. At the same time, while there is a growth for apps that natively supports the M1 chip, it has been a little slow in adoption from major app developers. At least there is some good news today though.
There are a few reasons why app developers want to develop apps that natively supports the M1 chip. Due to the unique architecture of Apple’s silicon, apps need to behave a little differently to take advantage of the chip’s power. In some sense, apps for the Mac have to be developed to work very much like mobile apps, but more feature rich than one.
This means that regular apps you usually see for your PC and regular Intel or AMD powered Mac, while runs on an M1 variant Mac, will run a little slower with more noticeable lags. This is also something you will see on regular PC apps running on other ARM based chips like the Qualcomm Compute platform. To ensure that the apps behave as they are designed to, they have to reengineer their apps a little bit to optimise its running processes for the ARM architecture-based chips.
Today is one of those days that another major app developer jumps on board of the M1 train. Spotify has just released a new Beta app with native support for Apple’s M1 silicon. For Spotify users currently on M1 Macs, that should mean a major improvement in the apps experience on their Macs.
To be fair, the Beta release should not come as a huge surprise. Users have been asking Spotify to release an M1 supported Spotify app since the M1 chips launched into the MacBook Air, MacBook Pro, Mac Mini, and iMac. The native support should mean that the app runs a lot smoother and faster, on top of being a little bit more stable on M1 chips.
It is still in Beta though, which also means that you can expect some hiccups from time to time. In that case, you might want to report all sorts of bugs you will encounter in your experience so that Spotify can rectify as much as possible before the app goes full prime time. According to their own Spotify community post, they would also like to hear from users if their app works nicely.
You can download the Spotify Beta version for M1 based Mac devices on their website. Their community page post also features some instructions on how to get the Beta app up and running. You can easily go back to the regular version too, if you are not too keen with the Beta app by simply downloading the app from their website regularly.
WWDC 2021 happened last week and it was huge. Taking the stage was not just one thing. The hour-plus long keynote turned out to highlight the many improvements Apple is bringing to all their devices. They started with the Apple iPhone’s iOS 15, iPad’s iPadOS 15, and the WatchOS 8. They also announced macOS Monterey in the keynote.
These are not small updates to your Apple devices though, mind you. They come with a whole bunch of feature updates and security updates to make their platforms the most user friendly ever in terms of privacy control. There was plenty to be excited about too with the new updates.
What are our highlights? Listen through to the podcast!
