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Yesterday, Instagram introduced a new icon and app design meant to focus on content. My first thought was, “dear god why?” While the new logo is full of pretty rainbow gradient, it barely looks like a camera at this point and completely abandons the nostalgic polaroid look of the original. Alas, all good things must come to an end, but we can complain about it anyway.

By now you’re aware of the fight on privacy and security taking place between Apple and the FBI. An iPhone 5c was recovered from the San Bernardino shooter after the terrorist attack back in December of 2015. In order to access the phone’s data, the FBI is citing the All Writs Act in its demand that Apple create a ‘GovtOS’ which would allow the agency to enter unlimited passcodes until the phone is unlocked. Tim Cook was recently interviewed by Time magazine on the matter, stating the whole ordeal feels like a “bad dream.”

We weren't expecting a new iPhone announcement at Apple's live event today, so were surprised to learn that the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini are now available in purple! This means that two members of the iPhone 12 lineup can be purchased in six colors: the classic white or black, green, blue, red, and the new lavender shade. Let's go over the pros and cons of springing for Apple's latest eye-catching iPhones.

Apple’s Spring 2021 event kicked off with the announcement of the addition of Family Sharing features to the Apple Card. Starting in May, families in the U.S. can apply to co-own an Apple credit card thanks to the Apple Card Family program. Up to six people can share the account and build a credit history together, unlike most credit cards where the primary cardholder is the main beneficiary of any credit building. Children ages 13 and up can also have accounts with optional spending limits, while those 18 and up also have the opportunity to build credit history as a participant or co-owner on an Apple Card account.

The long-awaited new iMac comes with a whole host of features never before seen in a Mac. Apple claims users of the new iMac will love the new processing, Retina display, as well as long-overdue camera and audio upgrades. What remains to be seen is whether such a large device will support high-powered use running off the same chip from Apple’s much smaller 2020 M1 MacBook models.

Apple announcement April 20 2021

Tim Cook kicked off today's virtual Apple event with a nod to Earth Day by giving a rundown of Apple's progress toward its goal of being entirely carbon neutral by 2030. While previous virtual announcements felt stilted and unevenly paced, today's event went in the opposite direction, with the camera swooping around the Apple campus, colorful graphics darting across the screen, and Tim Cook cosplaying Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible. Overall it was a packed hour with lots of exciting product announcements. Here's our rundown of everything Cook and team introduced today, including M1 iMacs, the surprise addition of the M1 chip to the iPad Pro, a new Apple TV 4K with redesigned Siri remote, the long-awaited AirTag Bluetooth tracker, subscription tiers in Apple Podcasts, an Apple Card for the whole family, and a purple iPhone 12.

April 2021 Apple announcement

Apple will hold its spring event on April 20, and we'll get a chance to see what new goodies Tim Cook and company have cooking for us. Will the existence of the elusive AirTags finally be confirmed? Will we get a 2021 iPad Pro and one or more new low-cost iPads? A new generation of AirPods? What about an M1 iMac or new Apple TV? Our editorial team will be watching the Apple event live stream, and we'll host a conversation in our private Facebook group as the event happens; you're invited to join in, ask questions, and share your opinions. We'll record a special podcast episode immediately after the announcement, where we’ll discuss everything just announced. Below we'll cover how to be a part of our event coverage. 

Apple introduced MagSafe accessories for its new iPhone 12 lineup today at its October 13 iPhone event. MagSafe will make charging your iPhone 12 easier and faster than previous wireless generations; the frustration of placing your iPhone "just so" for wireless charging will also soon be a thing of the past. The line of MagSafe accessories includes cases, chargers, and wallets that connect to your iPhone with magnets. Read on to learn about MagSafe improvements to the iPhone 12, how MagSafe accessories work, what kind of gear you'll be able to purchase, and what MagSafe means for the iPhone accessory market. If you enjoy learning about wireless charging, fast charging, and charging myths, we can also give you the 411 on how to safely charge your device, MagSafe or otherwise.

Rumors about a 2021 MacBook Air are heating up, and there are two big buzzwords we keep hearing: "thinner" and "MagSafe." Yes, the new MacBook Air is rumored to be thinner than ever and to bring back the MagSafe chargers Mac users were so fond of and so sad to see go. There's a lot that seems pretty definite about the new MacBook Air release, and some things seem a bit more murky. So let's jump in and take a look at what we know, what we think, and what we probably won't see.

The new Mac mini has caught my attention. Announced at the November Mac event—the third Apple event this fall—and starting at $699, the Mac mini (2020) is currently the cheapest Mac desktop available. Since the Mac mini lacks the portability of a laptop and the processing power of a full desktop (even with all its boasted improvements over the older model), many may wonder what the point of this computer is. However, this is the first desktop Apple has produced that uses an ARM chip, which is a significant change as previously they were only used in iPhones and iPads. As I'm looking to purchase both a desktop and my first Mac computer, not only the price tag but also the compact nature of the Mac mini call out to me. I'm also intrigued by the M1 chip, which may bring more iOS functionality to the Macs. My processing needs aren't very high, and I'm looking to set up a more stable home office thanks to the shift toward working from home in 2020. For others, though, the Mac mini may not have much to offer. Let's take a look at what the Mac mini (2020) is promising us and what type of buyer might be the right fit.

During past Consumer Electronics Shows, iPhone Life's team of editors have walked the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center for the best new technology for iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch users. This year's CES was a much smaller, all-online event and we all missed the magical experience of unexpectedly stumbling upon new and innovative or weird but wonderful tech products on the show floor. Even so, we did our best, watching online presentations and attending video meetings in search of new and exciting tech to share with our readers. Unsurprisingly, antimicrobial and disinfecting tech turned out to be the big theme of CES 2021, with everything from disinfectant foggers to UV-C lights to germ repelling bags, phone cases, and more on virtual display.  The following Best of CES 2021 Awards go to our favorite gear we found that's coming to market this year, ranging from the truly exciting (a smartphone with a flexible OLED!) to the less flashy but infinitely more likely to make your daily life better (a cup holdercar mount! A wireless CarPlay receiver!).  

Apple's over-ear headphones have been rumored for over two years, and now, they're here. Apple announced the AirPods Max on December 8; they're currently available for pre-order and ship on December 15, just in time for Christmas. Apple calls these headphones "the ultimate personal listening experience... radically original, completely reimagined, and elaborately simple". The high-fidelity, wireless AirPods Max and offer Active Noise Cancellation with Transparency mode, Adaptive EQ, spatial audio with dynamic head tracking, and more. The catch is... the price is $549! If you're an audiophile, that price point won't make you blink but, for everyone else, it seems a bit outrageous. So, what makes the AirPods Max so expensive and, how do they compare to similar high-quality headphones from Bose, Sony, and Beats?   

With the third installment in a series of fall announcements, Apple has finally delivered on Tim Cook's promise of Apple Silicon Macs, made during the June 2020 WWDC keynote. We saw the release of two updated MacBooks: a new 13-inch MacBook Air and a new 13-inch MacBook Pro. They, along with their desktop cousin, the Mac mini, are the first three Macs ever to utilize an Apple-made processing chip as opposed to the Intel chips the computers have used for many years. The M1 chip may be a game-changer. As expected, the the industry leader in personal technology has made eyebrow-raising claims of huge increases in speed, efficiency, security, and convenience. We'll review prices, availability, and tech specs for these new Mac models, and we'll compare them to their predecessors so that you can make an informed decision if you're considering making your first MacBook purchase, or upgrading your existing Mac laptop.

During a brief, 45-minute virtual event presided over by Tim Cook, Apple introduced the first Macs to use its own M1 silicon chip and announced it would release Big Sur later this week. The new 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, and Mac mini represent the first step in Apple's transition from using Intel chips to using its new propietary chip in its computers. Here's everything you need to know about the new Macs, including what you should keep in mind about the M1 chip if you're considering upgrading.

It's official! The third fall 2020 Apple event will take place on Tuesday, November 10 at 10 a.m. PST. It's likely that Apple will announce the new features, specs, and release date of the first Macs powered by Apple's new silicon chip. It's also possible that Apple will finally reveal Tile-like Bluetooth trackers called AirTags, over-ear headphones called AirPods Studio, and maybe even a new Apple TV. We'll be offering commentary during the event in our Facebook group and in the special podcast episode we'll be recording right after. Here’s how you can watch Apple's iPhone reveal too.

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