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Tag: canceled

  • Rumor: Next-gen Mac Pro to appear identical to current model, won’t offer RAM expansion option

    Rumor: Next-gen Mac Pro to appear identical to current model, won’t offer RAM expansion option

    Per Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple’s plans for a high-spec Apple Silicon Mac Pro have been canceled.

    Gurman’s Power On newsletter also pointed out that the computer, which will be equipped with an M2 Ultra chip, will also look identical to the current Intel Mac Pro, so customers should not expect any major design change. The product will also not support expandable RAM, as the Apple Silicon architecture means all memory is tied to the M2 chip.

    The article noted that users should expect to be able to upgrade the system’s SSD size, GPU, and networking capabilities. These expansion options will work as selling points compared to the forthcoming M2 Ultra Mac Studio, which does not allow for any expandability.

    Gurman also noted that the next-gen Mac Pro will feature two spare SSD slots, in addition to slots for graphics, media, and networking. The upcoming Mac Pro is expected to launch before the end of this year.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Bloomberg

  • Hyundai, Kia confirm cessation of “Apple Car” negotiations

    Hyundai, Kia confirm cessation of “Apple Car” negotiations

    It’s official.

    The Apple/Hyundai talks are off for the time being.

    South Korean carmaker Hyundai and affiliate Kia have declared they are no longer in negotiations with Apple to manufacture the rumored Apple Car.

    Hyundai has publicly stated that it’s no longer in discussions with Apple regarding the project. In a regulatory filing, Hyundai and Kia said the two firms had received requests from multiple outfits about self-driving electric car development, but no decision had been made as the talks were at the early stages.

    Hyundai and its affiliate, Kia, were reported in January to be in discussions with Apple regarding the “Apple Car” project/ Hyundai had taken the unusual step of confirming the talks prior to backing away from the statement. According to sources close to the story, Apple was reportedly upset with the public disclosure, which may have added tension to forthcoming negotiations.

    On Friday, the discussions between the companies were paused, with internal disagreements with Hyundai having the potential to derail plans altogether. While the talks were occurring, it was rumored that Hyundai would bring production to the United States, operating a factory in Georgia controlled by Kia with a view to producing 100,000 cars by 2024. It was also rumored that Apple could make a $3.6 billion investment to make the project a reality.

    Yet another rumor indicated that Hyundai was eager to hand over production duties of the Apple Car project to Kia completely, as the company worried its brand reputation would be damaged by becoming an assembler for other car companies instead of working on its own products.

    Apple is said to currently be in discussions with at least six Japanese automakers regarding the Apple Car project at this time.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and Bloomberg

  • Apple may have resolved the AirPower’s overheating issue

    Apple may have resolved a major engineering concern with its ongoing AirPower accessory project.

    A new product leaked indicates that the Apple AirPower “C68” project has resolved an issue wherein the Apple Watch caused drastic overheating of the three-device charge pad.

    The leak surfaced from Jon Prosser, and the fix could resolve the core issue as to why the AirPower project had been canceled.

    Prior to this, Apple refused to explain why it had canceled the long-delayed product. In March 2019, Senior Vice President offered the following statement to the press regarding the issue:

    “After much effort, we’ve concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project. We apologize to those customers who were looking forward to this launch. We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward.”

    Per Prosser’s reportage, the issue was due to overheating. The Apple Watch, and its proprietary wireless charging system, were said to require more energy than other devices.

    AirPower was supposed to allow you to place multiple devices — such as Apple Watch, iPhone, and AirPods — anywhere on its surface and be charged. However, according to Prosser, “if you placed an Apple Watch on the mat alongside other devices, the entire mat would overheat.”

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and @jon_prosser

  • Apple Store locations receive new directives to help curb the spread of Coronavirus

    In the wake of the coronavirus, Apple is pulling out the stops to try to stop the spread of the disease at its retail locations.

    Apple Stores have taken a number of measures to try and help limit the spread of the Coronavirus. Most noticeably, all Apple retail locations have now been closed in Italy.

    In total, 17 Italian locations are now shut. In a statement, Apple said:

    As we support the work to contain and manage the spread of Covid-19, our priority remains the health and safety of everyone in the communities we serve.

    The company has also canceled all upcoming “Today at Apple” sessions set to take place in its San Francisco, Bay Area, and Seattle locations.

    Staff at its retail locations have apparently been told to limit physical contact with customers, and management has removed half the available seating in order to stop people from loitering. The locations are also operating below capacity at the direction of new rules introduced on Tuesday. The instructions vary depending on the size and location of the Apple Store retail outlet.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via The Mac Observer and Bloomberg News

  • Apple abruptly cancels AirPower project

    Sometimes you have to fold ’em.

    Late Friday, Apple announced that its long-awaited AirPower charging mat product had been abruptly canceled.

    “After much effort, we’ve concluded AirPower will not achieve our high standards and we have cancelled the project,” Dan Riccio, Apple’s senior VP of hardware engineering, said in a statement. “We apologize to those customers who were looking forward to this launch. We continue to believe that the future is wireless and are committed to push the wireless experience forward.”

    The AirPower project had been delayed for more than a year, despite its having been announced alongside the iPhone X in September 2017. It was expected to debut in 2018.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via CNN Business