Top Stories: Apple event announced for March 23, iMac Pro and HomePod discontinued, and more

Rumors about a potential Apple event are starting to heat up as we approach the time of year when Apple frequently hosts an event, so stay tuned for more on that in the days and weeks. to come up.

This week, Apple also confirmed that it has discontinued both the original iMac Pro and HomePod, while rumors continue to expect new Apple silicone MacBook Pro models later this year, a mixed reality headset in 2022, augmented reality glasses by 2025 and maybe even some sort of augmented reality contact lens by the 2030s. Read below for more details on these stories and Moreover!

Next Apple event announced on March 23

March is a common month of the year for Apple to announce new or updated products, and this year is likely to be no exception.

A reliable Chinese leaker known as “Kang” said this week that an Apple event is scheduled for Tuesday, March 23, with potential new products, including Apple’s AirTags item trackers, a new iPad Pro with a mini-LED screen, third generation AirPods and a new Apple TV. One generic possibility is a redesigned iMac with an Apple silicon chip.

If the rumor is correct, Apple is expected to officially announce the event early next week. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the event will surely be another virtual affair with a pre-recorded video from Apple Park.

Apple confirms iMac Pro will be discontinued when supplies run out, recommends 27-inch iMac

After adding a “while supplies last” notice to its iMac Pro product page and removing all computer upgrade options late last week, Apple confirmed to MacRumors that the iMac Pro will be discontinued when supplies run out. The computer remains available for now, but delivery estimates are in several weeks.

Apple said the latest 27-inch iMac introduced in August was the preferred choice of the vast majority of iMac pro users, and said customers who need even more performance and expandability can choose the Mac. Pro. Of course, it might be worth the patience, as rumors suggest Apple is working on a redesigned iMac with an Apple silicon chip for release this year and the performance should be pretty impressive.

Apple previously confirmed that its transition to Apple silicon on Macs would be completed around June 2022.

Apple abandons the full HomePod to focus on the HomePod Mini

The iMac Pro wasn’t the only Apple product to be discontinued over the past week, with Apple also announcing that it has discontinued the original HomePod with orders only available while supplies last. Apple says it will focus its efforts on the smaller and cheaper HomePod mini, which launched last November.

Apple had hoped that the high-quality sound of the HomePod give would give it an edge over competing products, but sales of the ‌HomePod lack have always been poor with so many more affordable options on the market. Apple was selling the ‌HomePod‌ for $ 299, but it was originally priced at $ 350. The ‌HomePod mini‌ is available for $ 99.

Should you buy a super cheap refurbished iPhone from Amazon?

Amazon maintains lists of its best-selling products, and right now the best-selling smartphone available on Amazon is a “renewed” iPhone 8 from Amazon, which is often priced under $ 200.

It’s super cheap for an ‌iPhone‌ and cheaper than Apple’s refurbished price for the same device, so in our last YouTube video we picked one of these refreshed iPhones from Amazon to see if it was worth it. worth it.

Amazon’s “Renewed” devices are all used and are not Apple certified, but Amazon claims they have been professionally “inspected, tested and cleaned” by suppliers qualified by Amazon. Note that iPhones are sourced from various third-party vendors and are not necessarily supplied directly by Amazon.

Two new Apple Silicon MacBooks set to enter mass production in H2 2021

Apple plans to redesign Apple’s silicon-powered 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models for release in the second half of 2021, according to renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, and a Nikkei Asia This week’s report confirmed that delay.

In a report that focused on Apple’s reduction in orders for mini-iPhone 12s from suppliers, the publication briefly noted that Apple had pushed back mass production of the two new MacBooks from May or June until the second half of the year. The report refers to laptops as the “MacBook,” but it is likely to refer to upcoming MacBook Pro models.

The second half of the year begins in July, so Apple suppliers should have enough time to ramp up production for a launch later in the year.

Kuo expects new MacBook Pro models to feature brighter displays with Mini-LED backlighting, a new design with a flat-edged top and bottom edge, an HDMI port and SD card reader, MagSafe charging. classic with a magnetic power cable and physical function keys instead of the Touch Bar.

Kuo: Apple to launch mixed reality headset in mid-2022 and augmented reality glasses by 2025

Apple plans to release its mixed reality AR / VR headset “in mid-2022,” followed by augmented reality glasses by 2025, renowned analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said this week.

Kuo also looked far into the future and predicted that Apple will launch “contact lenses” at some point after 2030. He said this product will bring electronics to the era of “visible computing”. to “invisible computing”, but there is “no visibility. “for this product yet and he gave no further details.

Apple is very attached to AR / VR technologies, according to Kuo, who has a “positive vision” of Apple’s future in space.

Apple accuses ex-employee of stealing trade secrets and leaking them to media

Apple took legal action against Simon Lancaster, a former employee who allegedly used his position at the company to steal “sensitive confidential information” from Apple which was later disclosed to a reporter and published in articles on the rumor.

Lancaster worked at Apple for more than a decade, using his seniority to attend internal meetings and access documents that Apple said fell outside his responsibilities. The details he obtained were published in news articles which “cited a” source “at Apple”.

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