O'Grady's PowerPage

Category: Retail Store

  • M1-based iMacs, M1 iPad Pro, and updated Apple TV 4K and new Siri Remote now available to purchase in retail locations

    M1-based iMacs, M1 iPad Pro, and updated Apple TV 4K and new Siri Remote now available to purchase in retail locations

    You can now snag Apple’s newest gear in retail locations such as the Apple Store.

    Customers can now buy the new 24-inch M1 iMac. The redesigned device starts at 1,299 and comes in seven different colors.

    The new desktop features a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, studio-quality mics, and a six-speaker sound system. There are 7-core and 8-core options, with prices starting at $1,299. Monthly financing options are available.

    The new iPad Pro with an M1 chip became available to buy in-store and online on Friday. The 11-inch model starts at $799 and the 12.9-inch model starts at $1,099.

    The updated tablet offers a Liquid Retina XDR display, 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU, and a 16-core Apple Neural engine as well as storage options up to 2TB. The M1 iPad Pro is available in Wi-Fi and cellular 5G-enabled options, and arrives in either space grey or silver colors. There are monthly payment options available, and engraving is available for free.

    Finally, the updated Apple TV 4K is now available for retail purchase. The unit features Apple’s A12 Bionic chip, which offers improved graphics performance, video decoding, and audio processing. It also supports high frame rate HDR (High Dynamic Range) and Dolby Vision video.  This allows content to play more smoothly at 60 frames per second content. Furthermore, users can AirPlay HDR videos shot on an iPhone 12 Pro to the device and play them back in full 60-fps Dolby Vision.

    The Siri Remote, which has long been a source of frustration for Apple TV users. The updated version is now touch-enabled with a clicked control that offers five-way navigation. The outer ring of the clickpad supports a circular gesture too and the remote’s power button can also control a TV’s power.

    Please let us know if you pick up any of the new fear and let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via The Mac Observer

  • Some users note that their M1-based 24-inch iMacs have shipped, are slated to arrive on May 21st

    Some users note that their M1-based 24-inch iMacs have shipped, are slated to arrive on May 21st

    While the new M1-based 24-inch iMac is officially more than a week away from launching, a few customers have begun to see their orders marked as “shipped” on Apple’s online store, complete with a May 21 delivery date.

    Two Canadian users alerted MacRumors that their orders had moved to “shipped” status as of Wednesday.

    For customers who still see their iMac order in the “processing” or “preparing to ship” stages, this is still normal at this time. Many of the initial orders that are now shifting to “shipped” status are likely custom built-to-order configurations from Apple’s online store, with shipments coming directly from China following assembly.

    Apple’s M1 chip features an 8-core CPU and an up to 8-core GPU. The desktop can be configured with 16GB of unified memory as well as 2TB of SSD storage. There’s also a minimum of two Thunderbolt 3/USB 4 ports, with an additional two USB 3 ports on higher-end models. The updated iMac is 11.5mm thick and available in up to seven colors, including green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue, and silver.

    The new iMac became available to order via Apple’s online store as of April 30, with pricing beginning at $1,299 in the United States.

    If you’ve seen this status change on your end, please let us know in the comments.

    Via MacRumors

  • White HomePod units still available for sale two months after being discontinued by Apple

    White HomePod units still available for sale two months after being discontinued by Apple

    If you’re looking for an original HomePod smart speaker, it looks like you can still snag its white variant.

    Two months after Apple’s decision to discontinue the original HomePod, it seems that while the space gray model has been unavailable since even before the announcement, the company still has the white HomePod in stock. 

    Apple announced that the original HomePod would be discontinued on March 12, as it shifted its focus to the HomePod mini.

    The company offered the following comment at the time:

    HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on the mini model. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.

    Apple’s smart speaker got its first update after being discontinued with HomePod Software version 14.5. Users started to report issues accessing Apple Music after this software update. Apple is already testing beta 14.6 but without offering any new features aside from “bug fixes.” 

    Apple still sells the HomePod mini, and it’s unknown as to how much longer the full sized HomePod will still be available.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and @DetroitBORG

  • Rumor: Apple to begin mass production of Mini LED iPad Pro in April, will introduce OLED iPad and MacBook Air in 2022

    Rumor: Apple to begin mass production of Mini LED iPad Pro in April, will introduce OLED iPad and MacBook Air in 2022

    It looks like Apple’s anticipated Mini LED iPad Pro could enter mass production in mid to late April, and the OLED iPads could surface in 2022.

    Per a research note from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, investors have been advised that the updated iPad Pro could be released in the first half of 2021.

    “According to our latest survey, the current production yield and quality have reached Apple’s high standards, so it is expected that assemblers will start mass production of mini LED iPads after mid-to-late April,” Kuo said in Thursday’s note.

    The revised timeline synchs with recent rumors regarding a near-future iPad Pro release. Echoing months-old predictions from Kuo, Bloomberg on Wednesday reported that the new tablets, including a 12.9-inch model with Mini LED screen, would be introduced as soon as April. DigiTimes sources cited a similar production schedule.

    Kuo also stated that he sees potential integration of OLED screens throughout the iPad line in 2022, although Mini LED will remain exclusive to Apple’s high-end tablet. Kuo stated that he thinks OLED will hit the iPad Air first and might not be seen in the forthcoming iPad Pro.

    “However, according to our latest industry survey, if the iPad adopts an OLED display in 2022, it will be the mid-/low-end iPad Air, while the high-end iPad Pro will still use a mini LED display,” Kuo writes.

    Where OLED offers some advantages over Mini LED, it might be not be ideal for productivity devices given its image retention and component lifecycle concerns. Apple may be considering these factors where its future iPads and Macs are concerned.

    Kuo also cited that Apple has sunk significant resources into Mini LED and will push the hardware as a key differentiator for its productivity device lineup. The specialized screens are expected to grace at least two MacBook Pro models in 2021, with MacBook Air benefitting from the technology in 2022.

    Apple’s incorporation of Mini LED is expected to pick up steam over the next two years, and Kuo has forecast display shipments to be 10 million in 2021 and between 20 million and 30 million in 2022.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and DigiTimes

  • Apple discontinues original HomePod, will sell through remaining stock

    Apple discontinues original HomePod, will sell through remaining stock

    The original HomePod appears to be on the outs, with Apple selling through its remaining stock while focusing on the mini version of the smart speaker.

    Per TechCrunch, Apple has discontinued the original version of the smart speaker. Apple offered the following comment confirming the move:

    HomePod mini has been a hit since its debut last fall, offering customers amazing sound, an intelligent assistant, and smart home control all for just $99. We are focusing our efforts on HomePod mini. We are discontinuing the original HomePod, it will continue to be available while supplies last through the Apple Online Store, Apple Retail Stores, and Apple Authorized Resellers. Apple will provide HomePod customers with software updates and service and support through Apple Care.

    Earlier this month, French site Consomac noted that the Space Gray version of the original was not in stock in the U.S., and there was an eight to ten week wait for delivery (white models were still available for next day delivery.) The move came just days after Apple discontinued the iMac Pro.

    It’s all in on the HomePod mini, which has gotten good reviews since its launch.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer, TechCrunch, and Consomac