Key news: Apple Maps adding Waze features, Intel Downplays M1 chip, MacBook Pro charging issue fixed

This week saw another good mix of news and rumors, led by the discovery that Apple Maps will gain features similar to Waze for crowdsourcing accidents, hazards and speed checks.

Intel is also generating some headlines for a new advertising campaign and questionable benchmark data with the goal of hitting Apple’s latest M1 Macs, while the long-rumored Apple Car remains in the news with Hyundai / Kia apparently having a shot in the foot for previously acknowledging that I was talking to Apple to produce the vehicle. Read on for details on these stories and more from last week!

Apple Maps adds features similar to Waze on iOS 14.5

iOS 14.5 and iPadOS 14.5, which are still in beta, are preparing to be the main software updates for iPhone and iPad. We already highlighted several new features last week, such as the ability to unlock an iPhone with an Apple Watch while wearing a mask, support for 5G in Dual-SIM mode on the iPhone 12 models and streaming AirPlay 2 for Apple Fitness + exercises, and we I have since learned that the update adds new Waze-like features to Apple Maps for crowdsourcing accidents, mobile radars and road hazards.

Starting with iOS 14.5, Siri also remembers which music streaming service a user chooses, allowing third-party services like Spotify to be set as default instead of Apple Music – here’s how. This functionality still doesn’t seem to be working perfectly for all beta users.

Finally, it looks like the YouTube mobile site is once again working with “Picture in Picture” mode on iOS 14.5 beta. Apple indicated that iOS 14.5 should be released to the public in “early spring”, which probably means more or less in late March.

Intel minimizes Apple’s M1 chip with “carefully crafted” benchmarks

Three months after the launch of Apple’s M1 Macs with a rave review, Intel responded with benchmarks and a new advertising campaign, but there are some asterisks involved.

On the one hand, Intel chose some very specific benchmark tasks to demonstrate that Windows laptops with their latest Core 11th generation processors are superior to Macs with Apple’s custom M1 chip, such as exporting a PowerPoint presentation as a PDF file .

Intel also used different processor SKUs, depending on the test, and switched from the 13-inch MacBook Pro to the MacBook Air for battery life testing, so there are many inconsistencies throughout the slide show.

“Inconsistent test platforms, alternative arguments, missing data and the not-so-faint smell of despair,” said Apple columnist Jason Snell, writing for Six Colors. “Today’s M1 processor is a low-cost chip for low-cost systems, so Intel only has a small window to compare favorably with those systems before high-end Apple silicon Macs are launched and make their job a lot easier. harder.”

Apple offers free battery replacements for MacBook Pros 2016-2017 that cannot be charged after 1%

Apple this week released macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 to address an issue that may prevent the battery from charging on some MacBook Pro 2016 and 2017 models.

Apple says that a “very small number of customers” has experienced a problem with the battery not charging more than 1%, and is offering these customers free battery replacements. Our article provides steps on how to identify your Mac model to see if it is eligible.

If your MacBook Pro did not experience this problem, upgrading to macOS 11.2.1 as soon as possible is still highly recommended as a precaution. There is also a complementary update to macOS Catalina 10.15.7 that addresses the issue.

Buyer’s guide: don’t buy a MacBook Pro now

If you are thinking of buying a new MacBook Pro soon, let this serve as a reminder that now may not be the best time to do so.

In recent weeks, reputable sources like TF International Securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman have said that some significant changes are coming to the MacBook Pro this year, such as the return of MagSafe charging and more ports, including a reader SD card.

Kuo and Gurman also said that Apple plans to replace the controversial Touch Bar with a physical line of Fn keys, and a modest redesign is expected with flatter edges at the top and bottom of the MacBook Pro. Other expectations include a brighter screen and silicon next-generation Apple.

If you buy a MacBook Pro now, we recommend choosing the cheapest 13-inch model, which already uses Apple silicone. Otherwise, waiting for rumors of the 14 and 16 inch models later this year is a wise choice.

Check the MacRumors Buyer’s guide for more buying recommendations!

Hyundai and Kia now say they are not in discussions to develop the Apple car

After weeks of rampant rumors about the “Apple Car”, Hyundai and its subsidiary Kia in regulatory documents this week said they are not (or at least not anymore) in discussions with Apple to cooperate in the development of an autonomous electric vehicle.

Hyundai confirmed last month that Apple was in talks with a variety of global automakers, including Hyundai. However, the automaker backed down on the statement a few hours later, and just said it had “received requests for potential cooperation from several companies regarding the development of autonomous EVs.”

Bloomberg reported that negotiations between Apple and Hyundai had “recently paused”, adding that Hyundai’s original statement and subsequent reports “disturbed Apple”, a company known for its culture of secrecy.

Apple is still considering partnerships with other automakers, such as Nissan, Honda and Mazda. In any case, it is widely accepted that the Apple Car is still several years away from becoming a reality.

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