Week 1, Jan 2021
“The progress of science and technology power and future direction will come from the evolution of the human spirit and imagination.”
1. iPhone 13 May Feature Faster mmWave 5G Connectivity in More Countries
● The iPhone 13 lineup may expand faster mmWave 5G connectivity to more countries outside the United States, according to Taiwanese supply chain sources cited by Patently Apple.
● The news that Apple is looking to order a large number of mmWave antennas and double its suppliers for the component may signal that iPhone 13 models will feature faster mmWave technology in more regions. Countries such as the UK, Germany, Canada, China, and Japan all have growing mmWave networks and would be able to benefit from faster 5G with the iPhone 13.
2. Kuo: Apple to Unveil AirTags, Augmented Reality Device, and More in 2021
● Apple plans to release its long-awaited AirTags item trackers and other new products in 2021, according to a new research note from reputable analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, obtained by MacRumors.
● AirTags are expected to help users keep track of their personal belongings, such as their keys, wallets, and backpacks, and would notify users on their Apple devices when they are separated from a tagged item.
● Apple already announced that it plans to transition its entire Mac lineup to Apple Silicon within around two years, with other rumored models in the pipeline including a redesigned 24-inch iMac and smaller Mac Pro-like desktop.
3. Apple Launches New Weekly Fitness+ Series and Apple Music Playlists
● Apple has added several new “goal-setting workouts” to its Fitness+ subscription service, as part of a new weekly series that aims to help users keep on top of their training.
● A new introductory video can be found on the main Fitness+ page in the Fitness app, where trainer Kim highlights what’s new in the subscription service this week and points users to the new Ring in the New Year Limited Edition Activity Challenge that can be found on their Apple Watch.
● Apple Music’s search page now has a new Browse category titled Fitness containing several fitness-related playlists. The category also includes a section called “Apple Fitness+ Studio Series,” which contains playlists offering different styles of music or that are intended for a type of exercise.
4. Microsoft to Replace Outlook for Mac with New Universal Client
● Microsoft is planning to replace Outlook for Mac with a new web-based universal Outlook client, according to Windows Central.
● Codenamed “Monarch,” the project is Microsoft’s attempt to build a single Outlook client across Windows, Mac, and the web.
● Microsoft will reportedly begin to preview its new Outlook client toward the end of 2021 and plans to replace the Mail and Calendar apps in Windows 10 in 2022.
