O'Grady's PowerPage

  • Apple releases visionOS 1.1.2 update, updated visionOS 1.2 beta

    Apple releases visionOS 1.1.2 update, updated visionOS 1.2 beta

    It may be a minor update, but if you’re a Vision Pro user, it could come in handy.

    Apple on Tuesday released visionOS 1.1.2, a minor update to the wearable device’s operating system. The update, according to Apple’s release notes, introduces unspecified bug fixes and is recommended for all users.

    The company has also released a revised ‌visionOS‌ 1.2 beta to its developer community. The new version has a 21O5555f version number, up from the prior 21O5555e version.

    visionOS‌ updates can be installed by going to the Settings app on the Vision Pro, selecting the General section, and choosing Software Update. The Vision Pro headset will need to be removed to install new software, with a progress bar available on the front EyeSight display.

    If you’ve had a chance to try the update with your device, please let us know about your experience in the comments.

    Via MacRumors

  • Apple posts strong shipments, and year-over-year growth as computing industry returns to pre-pandemic levels

    Apple posts strong shipments, and year-over-year growth as computing industry returns to pre-pandemic levels

    It was a long pandemic, but Apple and the larger industry have gotten back to pre-pandemic levels, complete with substantial year-over-year growth.

    According to 9to5Mac, an IDC report released yesterday on global shipments for Q1 2024 showed that while Apple still doesn’t lead for volume, it did come in number one for YoY growth.

    IDC highlights that global PC shipments saw a slump for the last two years with Q1 2024 marking a return to growth.

    While the average increase for all manufacturers stood at 1.5 percent year-over-year growth, Apple was able to see almost 10 times this given a 14.6 percent increase in shipments for Q1 2024 over 2023. Acer came in second for growth with 9.2 percent with Lenovo in third with 7.8 percent. Lenovo took first place for PC shipment market share with 23 percent, HP in second with 20.1 percent, and Dell in third with 15.5 percent market share. Apple currently stands at 8.1 percent market share for Q1 2024 – up 1 percent from Q1 2023. For Q1, Apple shipped 4.8 million Macs.

    With inflation numbers trending down, PC shipments have begun to recover in most regions, leading to growth in the Americas as well as Europe, the Middle East, and Africa (EMEA). However, the deflationary pressures in China directly impacted the global PC market. As the largest consumer of desktop PCs, weak demand in China led to yet another quarter of declines for global desktop shipments, which already faced pressure from notebooks as the preferred form factor.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Doodle

  • TSMC to receive $6.6 billion grant from United States government to help boost production

    TSMC to receive $6.6 billion grant from United States government to help boost production

    TSMC is about to get a hefty chunk of funding from the United States government.

    The United States Commerce Department on Monday announced that it will be allocating a $6.6 billion subsidy to chip manufacturer TSMC for the advancement of semiconductor production in Phoenix, Arizona. TSMC will also receive $5 billion in loans and be eligible to claim an investment tax credit of up to 25 percent of capital expenditures. The move is part of a larger initiative under the CHIPS and Science Act, which aims to rejuvenate the United States’ semiconductor manufacturing capabilities.

    TSMC has already committed to an escalated investment of $25 billion, raising its total investment to $65 billion, and making this the largest foreign direct investment in a new project in U.S. history.

    TSMC has also announced plans to construct a third fabrication plant in Arizona by 2030. The first TSMC plant in Arizona will start producing 4nm chips next year. The second plant, originally designed to make 3nm chips, will also make 2nm ones by 2028. The third plant will produce 2nm chips with the capacity to make even more advanced semiconductors in the future.

    Apple and TSMC are currently partnering and producing Apple’s most advanced chips, which are based on the 3nm process.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • Rumor: Apple to announce updated iPad models in second week of May

    Rumor: Apple to announce updated iPad models in second week of May

    Apple may be looking to launch its new iPad Pro and iPad Air models during the second week of May.

    Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman stated “For those looking for more specific timing, I’m told the launch will probably happen the week of May 6,” said Gurman, in his Power On newsletter on Sunday. “Another data point to that end: Apple retail stores are preparing to receive new product marketing materials later that week. That’s typically a sign that a new product release is incoming.”

    The new iPad models are expected to feature the M3 chip, OLED displays, a thinner enclosure, thinner bezels, a matte screen option, a landscape-oriented front camera, other design changes, and possibly:

    • MagSafe wireless charging.
    • Two new iPad Air models with the M2 chip and a landscape-oriented front camera, including a first-ever 12.9-inch iPad Air.
    • A new Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro with an aluminum enclosure, larger trackpad, and other design tweaks.
    • A new Apple Pencil, which may have a new “squeeze” gesture for certain actions and support visionOS eventually.

    Apple last updated the iPad Pro and iPad Air in October 2022 and March 2022, respectively.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and Bloomberg

  • Apple confirms layoffs of more than 700 employees following the cancelation of its Apple Car, other projects

    Apple confirms layoffs of more than 700 employees following the cancelation of its Apple Car, other projects

    Sometimes projects just don’t work out.

    Apple has confirmed that the company is laying off more than 700 employees following the cancelation of its Apple Car project and is also reconsidering the project to develop in-house Micro-LED displays. The layoffs became known after the company filed WARN notices in the state of California.

    Per 9to5Mac, and as seen in the WARN report provided by the California Employment Development Department, the layoffs affect projects that have been in the news recently. Apple is currently laying off 58 employees from one of its offices in Santa Clara. This particular office belonged to LuxVue Technology, a company specializing in Micro-LED displays that Apple acquired in 2014.

    There are also more layoff notices filed by Apple which are thought to be part of an effort for Apple to produce its own Micro-LED displays for the Apple Watch. Bloomberg noted that Apple gave up on the project because the screens “were difficult to produce in sufficient quantities.” Additional layoffs include Apple staff from a San Diego office, where a Siri data operations office had been located. The office was responsible for evaluating Siri’s responses to users and for helping the company improve the platform’s accuracy.

    At the time, Apple offered to relocate all affected employees to offices in Austin, Texas, if they agreed.

    The Worker Adjustment and Retaining Notification (WARN) effort aims to protect employees by requiring employers to give a 60-day notice to affected employees and both state and local representatives before a plant closing or mass layoff. This gives laid-off employees time to adjust and transition to new jobs. Apple is noted as generally trying to reallocate employees from canceled projects to other departments, and some of the engineers working on the Apple Car have been offered positions to work on AI-related features at Apple. However, not everyone had the chance to be reassigned since more than 2,000 people were working on this specific project.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Bloomberg