O'Grady's PowerPage

Tag: CPU

  • Apple announces Apple Creator Studio, offers premium applications for subscription for the iPad and Mac

    Apple announces Apple Creator Studio, offers premium applications for subscription for the iPad and Mac

    Apple on Tuesday revealed its much-anticipated Apple Creator Studio, which functions as a subscription service for the iPad and brings together a collection of somewhat pricey tools, including Final Cut Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Logic Pro, and other applications.

    The suite had first been rumored since November 2025, and was thought to be a possibility since Apple bought Pixelmator Pro in November 2024,with the chief hope being that the noted image editor would finally debut on the iPad.

    Alongside it are the existing Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad. These have been available on iPad for a subscription, while their Mac counterparts remained a one-time purchase.

    With the subscription, users receive the full suite for $12.99 per month, or $129 per year, after a free one-month trial.

    It seems that the new Creator Studio subscription replaces the existing versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro for iPad. These applications previously retailed for $4.99 per month, for each app. For that price, users get Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro on the Mac as well, plus the pro macOS tools Motion, Compressor, and Mainstage. They also have Pixelmator Pro on both platforms.

    Apple has also made the somewhat controversial move of including some features of its main iWork apps within the bundle. Apple has stated that the Apple Creator Studio includes “new AI features and premium content in Keynote, Pages, and Numbers.”

    Even so, Apple has also claimed that its Keynote, Pages, and Numbers apps will remain free in their current form, as will Freeform. These applications will continue to be updated on both Mac and iPad.

    Apple Creator Studio will be available starting on January 28. Apple says that a free one-month trial will be available for new subscribers, but it’s not clear if that excludes existing Final Cut Pro or Logic Pro iPad users.

    Finally, the company has stated that three months free use of the new Apple Creator Studio bundle will also be included with every new Mac. The same is offered for new iPads, but only ones with at least 6GB RAM, and an A16, A17 Pro, M-Series processor, or later.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via AppleInsider and Apple

  • Rumor: iPhone 17e could be about to enter mass production, see a February launch

    Rumor: iPhone 17e could be about to enter mass production, see a February launch

    Apple’s next specialty/budget phone may be about to enter mass production.

    Per 9to5 Mac and Weibo, leaker “Smart Pikachu” stated that the handset is expected to enter mass production in the next week or two.

    For a model like iPhone 17e, which isn’t among Apple’s best sellers, it’s unclear exactly how long mass production might take. But for flagship models that launch each fall, that process usually spans around 4-6 weeks.

    Should the iPhone 17e follow a similar timeline to the iPhone 16e, it could kick off production in mid-January, which would indicate a late February launch. This would echo a similar timeline as to the iPhone 16e’s launch in 2025, when it shipped on February 28 following an unveiling earlier in the month.

    Smart Pikachu noted that the iPhone 17e will reportedly feature:

    • 6.1-inch display with a Dynamic Island
    • A19 chip
    • no ProMotion support

    Additional rumors for the new model suggest it will gain MagSafe support, the iPhone 17’s new Center Stage front camera, and have thinner bezels than iPhone 16e.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via 9to5Mac and Weibo

  • Rumor: Budget MacBook to ship in March or April of this year

    Rumor: Budget MacBook to ship in March or April of this year

    The rumor mill is swirling about Apple’s budget MacBook and the cool cats at Taiwanese research firm TrendForce have added their two cents.

    In a press release issued last week, the firm said that the MacBook will be aimed at the entry-level to mid-range market, with “competitive pricing.” TrendForce also predicted a spring 2026 release window for the notebook.

    While TrendForce didn’t offer any further details about the MacBook, the information that it shared lines up with several rumors about a more affordable MacBook, which is expected to be equipped with a version of the iPhone 16 Pro’s A18 Pro chip. It’s thought that the notebook will be released by March or April of this year and be offered at a starting price between $599 and $899, with $699 or $799 being most likely. It would slot in below the MacBook Air, which starts at $999.

    The A18 Pro specs currently include a 6-core CPU, a 6-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine. The chip’s performance is similar to the M1 chip, so this new MacBook could effectively be a replacement for the old MacBook Air with the M1 chip. It’s thought that the MacBook might only feature 8GB of RAM, whereas all current MacBook Air and MacBook Pro notebooks ship with at least 16GB of RAM. The chip also lacks Thunderbolt support, so the new MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports, with slower data transfer speeds and external display limitations.

    The lower-cost MacBook could have a lot in common with the discontinued 12-inch MacBook, including an ultra-thin and lightweight design.

    Stay tuned for additional details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors and TrendForce

  • Apple tested a budget MacBook configuration running on an A15 chip

    Apple tested a budget MacBook configuration running on an A15 chip

    Apple may be expanding its efforts towards a budget MacBook notebook, as an internal Apple debug kit that was recently discovered noted that the company has tested a MacBook powered by an A15 chip. This appears alongside a separate A18 Pro-based MacBook that appears to be closer to a shippable product.

    The kit document was accidentally released on the Apple website earlier this year, with Apple quickly pulling the information after leaks began to surface from its publication.

    Within the document itself is a line that explicitly describes an unreleased MacBook configuration running an A15 chip. The row appears under a project label “mac14p” on a platform labeled H14P. It’s speculated that this A15 MacBook corresponds to the codename “J267.”

    The same dataset also includes a separate MacBook entry tied to the A18 Pro. It has the identifier J700 and is described as using an A18 Pro chip with a “Sunrise” wireless subsystem attributed to MediaTek. Between the A15 and the A18 Pro test configuration, the A18 Pro MacBook entry reads as a more defined product configuration, as it includes a specific internal codename and accompanying subsystem details.

    It seems unlikely that Apple would release a Mac powered by the A15 Bionic chip in 2026, as the A15 Bionic chip debuted in 2021, and the A18 Pro chip would be markedly more capable, future-proof, and in-step with the company’s current selection of chips.

    Still, this helps shore up rumors of Apple working on a low-cost MacBook powered by an iPhone chip. Other rumors as to the forthcoming notebook cite a 13-inch display, and silver, blue, pink, and yellow color options.

    Stay tuned for additioknal details as they become available.

    Via MacRumors

  • Apple adds battery, replacement tools for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 to its Self Service Repair Store lineup

    Apple adds battery, replacement tools for the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 to its Self Service Repair Store lineup

    This could come in handy.

    On Tuesday, Apple acknowledged that it had added a 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 battery replacement kit to its Self Service Repair Store, the company also introducing a manual to help with the process. Published teardowns have shown that the notebook doesn’t require users to remove the trackpad to remove the battery, but the included tools and manual could definitely help.

    For those looking to effect the repair themselves, the 14-inch MacBook Pro with M5 battery replacement process is fairly straightforward. It is done by removing the rear case, discharging the battery, removing the adhesive strips, then placing the new battery assembly inside.

    The battery itself retails for $209.25, and users can return their old battery for a $22.50 return credit. That doesn’t include the cost of the various tools required to do the job or the time it will take to do it.

    Apple’s service estimation tool says replacing the battery in a 14-inch MacBook Pro costs $249, while an active AppleCare plan knocks that down to zero. Going through an Apple Authorized Service Provider also comes with some guarantees and protections.

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

    Via AppleInsider and selfservicerepair.com