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This week’s top stories: New iOS 14.5 features, iPhone 13 roundup, Apple Silicon vs Intel, more

In this week’s top stories: Apple Car talks with Hyundai and Kia break down, Intel gets paranoid about Apple Silicon, new iOS 14.5 features, and more. Read on for all of this week’s top Apple Stories.

Apple Silicon vs Intel

The first M1 Macs have been out in the wild for nearly three full months, and the fear is setting in at Intel. This week, the company shared a detailed slideshow of benchmark results aiming to show that its top-of-the-line processors can outperform Apple’s entry-level, low-power M1 processor.

Intel has also started running a variety of social media advertisements targeting Mac users. The new Intel ads mock Apple and claim that there are some things that you can only accomplish on a PC. In one of the new ads, Intel says that “only a PC offers tablet mode, touch screen and stylus capabilities in a single device,” which is similar to what Microsoft does in Surface ads.

More iOS 14.5 features

In addition to the iOS 14.5 features we covered last week, additional new features have emerged this week. As part of iOS 14.5, Apple is testing the ability to set Spotify as your default music player for Siri commands. This was previously only available on HomePods.

The new behavior appears in the beta of iOS 14.5. The first time you ask Siri to play something, it lists all the streaming services you have installed on your device and ask you which of them you want to use. Once you have done so, Siri then defaults to that service for subsequent requests.

Secondly, Apple is also testing new Waze-like features for Apple Maps in iOS 14.5. The update gives users the ability to report speed traps, accidents, and other road hazards using Siri, CarPlay, or through the Apple Maps app on iPhone. Learn more in our full coverage right here.

Apple Car talks break down

Hyundai and Kia Motors have confirmed in new regulatory filings this week that the companies are not in talks with Apple regarding Apple Car production — at least talks that they are willing to make public. In the filings, Hyundai and Kia Motors acknowledged that they “have been talking with multiple companies about autonomous electric car development,” but no decision has been made.

macOS Big Sur update

On Tuesday, Apple released macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 to the public alongside supplemental updates for macOS Catalina 10.15.7 and macOS Mojave 10.14.6. First off, Apple says that macOS Big Sur 11.2.1 fixes an issue that prevented some 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro models from being able to charge. The company has also launched a new repair program for affected users.

The updates also include important security fixes, which we covered in detail here.

These and the rest of this week’s top stories below.

iOS |

iPhone |

Apple Watch |

Mac |

iPad |

Apple Car |

Top Apple stories, retail |

Apple TV |

Apps |

AAPL Company |

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This week’s top videos |

9to5Mac Daily |

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Crypto Pro: Bitcoin/cryptocurrency tracking app for iPhone, iPad, Mac & Apple Watch.

Apple Black Friday event, iOS 18.2 tidbits 9to5Mac Daily

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. 9to5Mac Daily listeners can exclusively save 50%. New episodes of 9to5Mac Daily are recorded every weekday. Subscribe to our podcast in Apple Podcast or your favorite podcast player to guarantee new episodes are delivered as soon as they’re available. Stories discussed in this episode: iOS 18.2 lets you set new default iPhone apps, here’s how it works Apple unveils 2024 Black Friday promo: up to $200 gift card on eligible purchases Apple’s best selling iPhone models aren’t what you’d expect, but there’s a good reason Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Overcast RSS Spotify TuneIn Google Podcasts Subscribe to support Chance directly with 9to5Mac Daily Plus and unlock: Ad-free versions of every episode Bonus content Catch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes! Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts: Quick Charge 9to5Toys Daily Share your thoughts! Drop us a line at happyhour@9to5mac.com. You can also rate us in Apple Podcasts or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.
  1. Apple Black Friday event, iOS 18.2 tidbits
  2. iOS 18.1.1 update, next-gen Pro Display XDR rumors
  3. Apple TV+ strategy, MacBook Pro display upgrade
  4. Next-gen AirTag, ChatGPT upgrades
  5. iCloud lawsuit, Matter smart home upgrades

9to5Mac Watch Time |

Jeff Benjamin joins Zac Hall to give Apple Watch Series 3 and Series 5 an exit interview before new models are announced. 9to5Mac Watch Time is a podcast series hosted by Zac Hall. In this series, we talk to real people about how Apple Watch is affecting their lives.

Sponsored by Pillow: Pillow is an all-in-one sleep tracking solution to help you get a better night’s sleep. Download it from the App Store today.

This week on Watch Time join 9to5Mac's Zac Hall and Tempo developer Rahul Matta in the final episode of this podcast "season". 9to5Mac Watch Time is a podcast series hosted by Zac Hall. In this series, we talk to real people about how Apple Watch is affecting their lives. Subscribe now to catch up with each episode and automatically hear new episodes as soon as they’re released every two weeks: 🟣 Apple Podcasts | 🟠 Overcast | 🟢 Spotify Follow Zac Instagram @apollozac Twitter @apollozac SpaceExplored.com Follow Rahul Matta Twitter @rmatta Twitter @TempoLog Blog indie.sh Follow 9to5Mac Instagram @9to5mac Twitter @9to5mac Facebook YouTube.com/9to5Mac Listen & Subscribe Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast RSS Read More Toning down the Apple Watch: Tips and feature requests to avoid being overwhelmed Apple releases watchOS 7.4.1 with security improvements Apple Watch blood sugar and blood pressure measurement could be a step closer watchOS 7.4 brings iPhone mask unlock feature for Apple Watch Enjoy the podcast? Shop Apple at Amazon to support 9to5Mac Watch Time!
  1. Week 6
  2. With guest Sigmund Judge
  3. Week 5
  4. Week 4
  5. Week 3

9to5Mac Happy Hour Podcast |

9to5Mac Happy Hour is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play Music, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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Apple TV set rumors resurface, AirTag 2, TV+ original movies strategy 9to5Mac Happy Hour

Benjamin and Chance discuss the merits of Apple returning to the long-gestating idea of an Apple television set, in the context of its refocusing on smart home devices. Also, the second-generation AirTag is rumored to arrive in 2025 with some nice enhancements, and Apple’s original film division continues to waver on strategy.  And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance bemoans Apple’s abandonment of accessories like the MagSafe Battery Pack, and gives his thoughts on the new Belkin strap for Vision Pro. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. Sponsored by SelectQuote: Get the right life insurance for YOU, for LESS, at SelectQuote.com/HAPPYHOUR. Sponsored by Dreame Technologies: This Black Friday, discover Dreame Technologies' innovative family of smart home cleaning solutions—designed to revolutionize your cleaning routine! Don’t miss out on groundbreaking deals, plus enjoy an extra 5% off with code DM9to55off at checkout. Experience the future of cleaning today! Sponsored by Shopify: Grow your business no matter what stage you’re in. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour. Hosts Chance Miller @ChanceHMiller on Twitter @chancehmiller@mastodon.social @ChanceHMiller on Instagram @ChanceHMiller on Threads Benjamin Mayo @bzamayo on Twitter @bzamayo@mastodon.social @bzamayo on Threads Subscribe, Rate, and Review Apple Podcasts Overcast Spotify 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus Subscribe to 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus! Support Benjamin and Chance directly with Happy Hour Plus! 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus includes:  Ad-free versions of every episode  Pre- and post-show content Bonus episodes Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join.  Feedback Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads Email us feedback and questions to happyhour@9to5mac.com Links Apple reportedly releasing AirTag 2 next year with these 3 improvements The SwitchBot Wallet Finder Card with Find My support tvOS 18.2 beta 3 adds new Snoopy screensaver to Apple TV iOS 18.2 beta 4: Here's what's new Gurman: Apple 'evaluating' idea of releasing a TV set again Apple TV+ will license its movies to other services to reduce losses, per report Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack for iPhone shouldn’t have been a one-and-done experiment
  1. Apple TV set rumors resurface, AirTag 2, TV+ original movies strategy
  2. Apple smart display details, iPhone 17 Slim, iOS 18.2 beta 3
  3. Apple acquires Pixelmator, iOS 18.2 beta 2, Apple movie glasses
  4. New M4 Mac mini, MacBook Pro, and iMac reactions
  5. New Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18.2, iPad mini reviews, Apple gaming app

Stacktrace Podcast |

Stacktrace by 9to5Mac is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Funn MediaLive a healthier life with Funn Media’s collection of apps for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch, including Calory, WaterMinder, and more. 

Sponsored by Kandji: A modern, cloud-based platform for centrally managing and securing your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices, saving IT teams countless hours of manual work with features like one-click compliance templates and 150+ pre-built automations, apps, and workflows. Request access.

Stacktrace has moved! Stacktrace

As we've mentioned in the last episode, the Stacktrace podcast is no longer a part of the 9to5Mac network. If you're seeing this entry in your podcast player, then you probably need to unfollow Stacktrace and follow the podcast again. Start by unfollowing the show in your podcast player, then just search for "Stacktrace" and follow the show again. You'll notice that the updated show has a new artwork and that episode 179 has already been released there. To learn more about how to listen to Stacktrace, check out our new website. Thanks for listening!
  1. Stacktrace has moved!
  2. 178: “Let’s try something new”
  3. 177: “The stand is included!”
  4. 176: “Extra Keynote Poker”
  5. 175: “A Bluetooth fanboy”

Apple @ Work Podcast |

Apple @ Work by 9to5Mac is available on Apple Podcasts, Overcast, Spotify, and via RSS for other podcast players.

Sponsored by Kandji: A modern, cloud-based platform for centrally managing and securing your Mac, iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV devices, saving IT teams countless hours of manual work with features like one-click compliance templates and 150+ pre-built automations, apps, and workflows. Request access.

FIDO Alliance's plan for Passkey migration Apple @ Work

Apple @ Work is exclusively brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that integrates in a single professional-grade platform all the solutions necessary to seamlessly and automatically deploy, manage & protect Apple devices at work. Over 45,000 organizations trust Mosyle to make millions of Apple devices work-ready with no effort and at an affordable cost. Request your EXTENDED TRIAL today and understand why Mosyle is everything you need to work with Apple. In this episode of Apple @ Work, I talk with Rew Islam from Dashlane about the plans from the FIDO Alliance to allow for Passkey migration between various password managers. Links FIDO Alliance Publishes New Specifications to Promote User Choice and Enhanced UX for Passkeys Synced Passkeys Will Be Portable Connect with Bradley Twitter LinkedIn Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts Overcast Spotify Pocket Casts Castro RSS Listen to Past Episodes
  1. FIDO Alliance's plan for Passkey migration
  2. Apple's role in telemedicine
  3. AirPods Pro 2 and hearing aid technology
  4. MacStadium delivers Citrix enhancements
  5. Hacker Rangers

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Avatar for Chance Miller Chance Miller

Chance is the editor-in-chief of 9to5Mac, overseeing the entire site’s operations. He also hosts the 9to5Mac Daily and 9to5Mac Happy Hour podcasts.

You can send tips, questions, and typos to chance@9to5mac.com.

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