DigiTech Geeks

We probably won't get M3 MacBooks this year – here's why I'm not bothered According to known hardware leaker @Tech_Reve , Apple has reportedly delayed its upcoming M3 chip until at least 2024 – citing ‘yield issues’ with its manufacturing partner TSMC. This isn’t entirely surprising; the global chip shortage is still ongoing, and TSMC has been having difficulty keeping up with demand – prompting some tech companies to shift over to other major players in the semiconductor fabrication industry, like Samsung. AMD’s new Z1-series processors were delayed due to manufacturing struggles, and Intel has reportedly canceled two new projects with TSMC. Update: No M3 Mac or iPad for this yearDue to yield issues with TSMC not being able to supply enough of the M3 to Apple, Apple has delayed the release of the M3 until next year.So there will be no M3 Macs and no M3 iPads this year. pic.twitter.com/faL9l7n53s May 3, 2023 See more Speculation from Macworld suggests that App...

Two more classic Apple products are heading for the graveyard Sad news, Apple fans: the iPhone-making behemoth has reportedly sounded the death knell for two more of its classic products. According to an internal memo seen by MacRumors , Apple plans to add both the Thunderbolt Display and first-generation iPad Air to its obsolete products list on May 31, meaning neither device will be eligible for repairs at Apple stores or other official Apple service providers after that date. Both products were discontinued in 2016, but Apple typically supports the servicing of devices for up to seven years after it stops distributing them for sale (the last iPod, for instance, was officially condemned in 2022 but remains eligible for repairs). Let’s start with an obituary for the Thunderbolt Display, which is – or should that be was ? – a 27-inch flat panel computer launched by Apple in 2011.  Boasting a 1440p resolution, a 720p camera, three USB 2.0 ports, a Gigabit Ethernet port, a F...

AMD and Samsung could team up for a new wave of super-fast Chromebooks Have you ever used a Chromebook with an AMD processor? I have, but I’m in the minority there – most Chrome-powered laptops are powered by Intel CPUs. In fact, if you take a look at our list of the best Chromebooks , you won’t see a single AMD chip to be found; the processors are all either Intel or Qualcomm, and if you go hunting for a super-budget Chromebook, you’ll likely find some MediaTek models out there. But that could all be about to change… According to a tweet from known hardware leaker @OreXda , AMD has signed on with Samsung to use the Seoul-based tech giant’s foundries for manufacturing 4nm processors – though the leaker says nothing about what these new mystery chips could be used for. AMD signed to use Samsung Foundry 4nm pic.twitter.com/FuWFJLpvjY May 1, 2023 See more However, we can draw some conclusions here. We already know that the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC), the...

Apple’s rumored third iPad Pro could be more powerful than its M2 MacBooks Rumors hinting at the development of two OLED iPad Pros have been swirling for a number of months, but we’re now hearing that Apple is working on a third OLED iPad Pro model that could blow its siblings – and its competitors – out of the water. According to serial Apple leaker Revegnus , this new iPad Pro will be the largest and most powerful iPad model ever, boasting a massive 14.1-inch display and a super-fast M3 Pro chipset.  Yes, you read that right: Apple’s top-tier iPad Pro will reportedly rival its current best MacBooks – and the upcoming MacBook Air (2023) – in the power department. And it’ll do so by using an advanced cooling system rather than noisy fans, too. TechSmart notes that this M3 Pro processor could be limited so as not to put too much strain on the iPad’s cooling system – meaning the new device won’t quite match the next MacBook Pros for power, despite sharing the same chipset – b...

Chromebooks just got a video editor that takes all the hassle out of movie making Chromebook owners can now avail themselves of the ability to quickly and easily put together and edit movies thanks to Google Photos. As Android Police spotted, this new video editing functionality was revealed by Google last month, but it’s now rolling out to all Chromebook users. The way it works is that you can choose the option to create a movie in Google Photos , then pick a theme – the example Google shows is ‘friendship’ – then select relevant elements, in this case, the friends you want to star in the clip. The movie creator will then pull images and videos of those friends from Google Photos, automatically putting together some footage, and even intelligently picking sections out from longer video clips (cutting and trimming itself, basically). If you prefer, you can put together your own selection, and indeed add clips from local files on the Chromebook too. (Image credit: Googl...

Google accused of sabotaging Chromebooks by cutting updates A damning new report suggests Google has effectively sentenced old Chromebooks to death by ending support for them – a claim that the company has strenuously denied. As The Register explains , a report by U.S. PIRG titled Chromebook Churn , alleges that after a spike in sales, mainly spurned on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Chromebooks bought by schools are now beginning to “fail”, causes excess electronic waste and “saddling schools with additional costs.” According to the report, there are three main reasons why even the best Chromebooks are becoming unusable for schools: Manufacturers typically do not sell new spare parts or otherwise support repair. Computers have a built-in “death date,” after which software support ends. Design choices frustrate repair and reuse.  With points 1 and 3, the report criticises Chromebook manufacturers such as Asus, Acer and HP for creating Chromebook devices that are difficult to ...

Google Pixel Tablet could be more expensive than an iPad – but don't panic Any tablet brand is going to have a hard time competing with Apple’s iPad range, but one potential approach is to undercut Apple’s slates. It doesn’t seem like this will be Google’s approach with its forthcoming Pixel Tablet though, as a price leak suggests it will cost more than the iPad 10.9 (2022) , which is the cheapest iPad model Apple currently sells. According to Roland Quandt – a leaker with a good track record – the Google Pixel Tablet will retail for between €600 and €650 (around $660 / £530 / AU$980 to $715 / £575 / AU$1,060). That’s a mid-range price, but it’s higher than the €589 starting price of the iPad 10.9 (2022) in France. That said, you only get 64GB of storage with the iPad for that money, whereas the Pixel Tablet starts at 128GB, according to Quandt; with a 256GB model also apparently being made. Google Pixel Tablet: 128 or 256GB, "Porcelain" or "Haze", pric...