Featured Stories: Apple Maps Adds Waze Features, Intel Downplays M1 Chip, MacBook Pro Charging Issue Fixed

This week saw another good mix of news and rumors, led by the discovery that Apple Maps will get similar features as Waze for accidents, hazards and crowdsourced speed controls.

Intel is also generating some headlines for a new ad campaign and questionable benchmark data pointing to Apple’s latest Mac M1s, while the long-rumored Apple Car remains in the news with Hyundai / Kia apparently having. shot in the foot upon previously acknowledging that he was in talks with Apple to produce the vehicle. Read on for details on these stories and more from the past week!

Apple Maps adds similar features to Waze in iOS 14.5

iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, which are still in beta, are shaping up to be major software updates for iPhone and iPad. We already highlighted several new features last week, such as the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch while wearing a skin, support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on iPhone 12 models, and AirPlay 2 streaming for Apple workouts. Fitness +, and us I’ve since learned that the update adds new Waze-like features to Apple Maps for accidents, speed checks, and road hazards.

Starting with iOS 14.5, Siri also remembers which music streaming service a user chooses, allowing third-party services like Spotify to be set as default instead of Apple Music – here’s how. This functionality doesn’t seem to work perfectly yet for all beta users.

Lastly, it appears that YouTube’s mobile website is once again working with “Picture in Picture” mode in the beta version of iOS 14.5. Apple has indicated that iOS 14.5 should be released to the public in “early spring,” which will likely mean late March.

Intel downplays Apple’s M1 chip with ‘carefully crafted’ benchmarks

Three months after the launch of Apple’s M1 Macs to rave reviews, Intel responded with benchmarks and a new ad campaign, but there are some asterisks involved.

For one thing, Intel chose some very specific benchmark tasks to demonstrate that Windows laptops with their latest 11th Gen Core processors are superior to Macs with Apple’s custom M1 chip, such as exporting a PowerPoint presentation as a file. PDF.

Intel also used different processor SKUs based on the test, and switched from the 13-inch MacBook Pro to the MacBook Air for the battery life test, so there are a lot of inconsistencies throughout the slideshow.

“Inconsistent test rigs, shifting arguments, omitted data, and the not-so-faint smell of despair,” said Apple columnist Jason Snell, writing for Six Colors. “Today’s M1 processor is a low-end chip for low-end systems, so Intel only has a small window to compare favorably to these systems before Apple’s high-end silicon Macs launch and make their mark. much harder work. “

Apple offers free battery replacements for MacBook Pros 2016-2017 that cannot charge beyond 1%

Apple released macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 this week to address an issue that may prevent the battery from charging in some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models.

Apple says a “very small number of customers” have experienced a problem with a battery not charging more than 1%, and is offering these customers free battery replacements. Our article provides steps on how to identify your Mac model to see if it is eligible.

If your MacBook Pro has not exhibited this problem, it is strongly recommended to update to macOS 11.2.1 as soon as possible as a precautionary measure. There is also a companion update for macOS Catalina 10.15.7 that fixes the problem.

Buyer’s guide: don’t buy a MacBook Pro now

If you’ve been thinking about buying a new MacBook Pro soon, let this serve as a reminder that now may not be the best time to do so.

In recent weeks, big-name sources like TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have claimed that there will be some significant changes to the MacBook Pro this year, such as the return of MagSafe charging and more ports, including an SD card reader. .

Kuo and Gurman also said that Apple plans to replace the controversial Touch Bar with a physical row of Fn keys, and a modest redesign with flatter edges is expected at the top and bottom of the MacBook Pro. Other expectations include a brighter display and silicon. next-generation Apple.

If you buy a MacBook Pro now, we recommend that you go for the lower-end 13-inch model, which already uses Apple silicone. Otherwise, waiting for the rumored 14-inch and 16-inch models later this year is a good choice.

Mark the MacRumors Buyer’s guide for more buying recommendations.

Hyundai and Kia now say they are not in talks to develop Apple Car

After weeks of rampant “Apple Car” rumors, Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia in regulatory filings this week said they are not (or at least no longer) in discussions with Apple to cooperate on the development of an autonomous electric vehicle.

Hyundai confirmed last month that Apple was in talks with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai. However, the automaker backtracked the statement a few hours later, simply saying that it had “received requests for potential cooperation from various companies regarding the development of autonomous electric vehicles.”

Bloomberg reported that talks between Apple and Hyundai had “recently stopped”, adding that Hyundai’s original statement and subsequent reports “upset Apple,” a company known for its culture of secrecy.

Apple is believed to be still considering partnering with other automakers, including Nissan, Honda and Mazda. In any case, it is widely believed that the Apple Car is still several years away from becoming a reality.

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