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Friday, 27 December 2019

2019 Was a Horror-Show Year for Weather

Violent weather has become one of the hallmarks of modern life as climate change pushes our planet into a new, more volatile state. And unfortunately, 2019 was a painful reminder of that.

Apple Pulled a Page From McDonald's Playbook in 2019

By almost every account, Apple has had an incredibly strong 2019. Thanks to the refreshed AirPods and the new AirPods Pro, Apple earbuds accounted for somewhere between $4 and $6 billion in sales. Meanwhile, the iPhone XR was the best-selling phone every quarter this year. However, despite all this success, none of…

In Search of Nothing

At the entrance to the park, there was a green wooden sign, seemingly freshly painted, with carved yellow letters that read, “MORCOM ROSE GARDEN.” This is not a particularly meaningful detail, but it seems an appropriate beginning for a story that has no point.

Renders Depict Alleged Design of 2020 11 and 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Models With Triple-Lens Cameras

Apple is rumored to be working on updated 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models with iPhone-style triple-lens cameras, and alleged renderings of the new iPads have been shared by iGeeksblog and OnLeaks.

The new ‌iPad Pro‌ models are said to feature the same dimensions as the 2018 ‌iPad Pro‌ models, and based on the renders, the design will also be close to identical with the exception of a triple-lens camera.

iGeeksblog claims that the 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ model will feature a glass back panel similar to the glass panel of the iPhone, but that the 11-inch model will have an aluminum backing.

Apple thus far hasn't offered design deviations between different ‌iPad Pro‌ sizes, so it's not clear if this is accurate information, and there was no specific reason given for why one model might need a glass backing while the other model does not. Apple's iPhones use glass for Qi-based wireless charging purposes, but that is not a feature Apple has extended to other non-iPhone devices.

There were some rumors indicating Apple would release new ‌iPad Pro‌ models in 2019, but that didn't happen, and current information from reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests Apple plans to release an ‌iPad Pro‌ update during the first half of 2020.

We've already seen dummy models said to be of the new ‌iPad Pro‌ models, which featured a triple-lens camera, but those may not be quite accurate when it comes to the camera design.

The new ‌iPad Pro‌ models could potentially feature a time-of-flight (ToF) camera system that is also rumored to be coming to 2020 iPhones. A time-of-flight camera system uses a laser to determine the distance between objects to create a 3D image of the surrounding area.

This kind of technology could allow for more accurate depth perception, improved augmented reality capabilities, and perhaps photos with more advanced depth information.

The new ‌iPad Pro‌ models are rumored to be coming in the first half of 2020 and the time-of-flight camera is expected to be a 2020 ‌iPhone‌ feature, so it's not entirely clear if Apple plans to put the time-of-flight functionality in the iPad as the company may first want to bring the feature to the ‌iPhone‌.

If there is no time-of-flight camera capability, the ‌iPad Pro‌ models could still get the same triple-lens camera system that's in the current iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max models, featuring telephoto, wide-angle, and ultra wide-angle lenses.

We've also heard that in late 2019, Apple could be planning to release a 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ with a mini-LED display, so it's not clear if Apple will release two ‌iPad Pro‌ updates in 2019 or if the early 2020 release timeline includes just the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ model.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro

Buyer's Guide: 11" iPad Pro (Don't Buy), 12.9" iPad Pro (Caution)

This article, "Renders Depict Alleged Design of 2020 11 and 12.9-Inch iPad Pro Models With Triple-Lens Cameras" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple to Donate Money to Support Fire Relief Efforts in Australia

Apple is donating funds to support fire fighting efforts in Australia, Apple CEO Tim Cook announced on Twitter yesterday.

For the last two months, bushfires have been burning across Australia due to one of the worst droughts in history and record-breaking heat waves. More than nine people have died and more than 800 homes have been destroyed. Koalas and other wildlife have also been impacted by the ongoing fires.

Firefighters helping a mother koala and her baby in Hawkesbury, New South Wales. Image via NSW RFS.
More than nine people have died and more than 800 homes have been destroyed. Koalas and other wildlife have also been impacted by the ongoing fires.

Our hearts are with those impacted by the Australian bushfires and with the courageous volunteer force fighting the unprecedented blazes across the country—please stay safe. Apple will be donating to support relief efforts.
— ‌Tim Cook‌ (@tim_cook) December 26, 2019

Australia has more than 1,500 firefighters working to extinguish fires threatening homes near Sydney. Half of the bushfires in Australia have been contained as of this week, but the country is facing another heat wave and there are severe fire danger ratings in South Australia.

Apple often provides donations during major disasters and most recently donated money to help fight the wildfires in California.

This article, "Apple to Donate Money to Support Fire Relief Efforts in Australia" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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from MacRumors: Mac News and Rumors - All Stories https://ift.tt/37f7MNE