After enduring what seemed like decades waiting for 2020 to end, it has been disheartening to see 2021 begin with record COVID-19 numbers and a U.S. president inciting insurrection while refusing to acknowledge the decision of American voters. As to the latter, Apple CEO Tim Cook remarked Wednesday night: "Today marks a sad and shameful chapter in our nation’s history. Those responsible for this insurrection should be held to account, and we must complete the transition to President-elect Biden’s administration. It’s especially when they are challenged that our ideals matter most." Well said. And now, for some respite from those troubling news headlines, here is some of the other recent news of note:
- Jason Snell of Six Colors reviews and compares the iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max.
- Jason Cross of Macworld reviews Apple's AirPods Max.
- In a recent press release, Apple noted that customers spent $1.8 billion in the App Store the week between Christmas and New Year's. That press release also includes many other interesting facts and figures from the past year.
- Chance Miller of 9to5 notes that, according to one report, nine of the top ten smartphones activated on Christmas day were different models of the iPhone.
- Michael Potuck of 9to5Msac explains how you can use a 3D printer to make your own version of Apple's $129 MagSafe Duo charger.
- Have you ever used the service Gazelle to get some cash for an older Apple device? Chance Miller of 9to5Mac reports that the service is about to shut down. Fortunately, Apple itself now offers a similar service for many used Apple products.
- Karissa Bell of Engadget reports that the MTA system in New York now supports contactless payments at all subway stations and bus lines in all five boroughs. So you can simply tap your iPhone or Apple Watch and then go through the turnstile, without having to worry about a MetroCard.
- Here is a smart home device that I had not seen, or even thought of, before. Bradley Chambers of 9to5Mac reports that you can now get the VOCOlinc Flowerbud, which is an essential oil diffuser that works with Apple’s HomeKit technology.
- If you want a sensor to add to your HomeKit setup, Jennifer Pattison Tuohy of The Wirecutter recommends some of the best HomeKit sensors. One of them that she recommends is the Eve Degree. I’ve been using an Eve Degree since I posted a review in 2018, and it still works very well for me, making it easy to get the weather conditions in my own backyard.
- John Gruber of Daring Fireball talks about the different USB-C chargers sold by Apple that may look the same but do not work the same. It’s all very confusing.
- Adi Robertson and Mitchell Clark of The Verge report that Apple removed from the App Store an app called Vybe Together that was used to promote secret in-person parties that violated pandemic rules on social distancing.
- Ben Sandofsky does a great job of describing, in much detail, how Apple’s new ProRAW image format works on the newest iPhones and when you might want to use it.
- Jared Newman of Fast Company identifies some of the best new apps of 2020, some of which are iPhone apps.
- And finally, the iPad Air that Apple introduced just a few months ago is so close to an iPad Pro that I find it hard to recommend an iPad Pro to anyone right now — unless they really want the larger 12.9" screen (which I love). But Apple obviously knows this, and it makes me think that the next version of the iPad Pro must have some impressive new features that will really set it apart from the iPad Air. Rene Ritchie does a good job in this video of discussing some of the things that Apple could add to the 2021 version of the iPad Pro to make it noticeably better than the iPad Air:
