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Apple Silicon

All articles tagged with #apple silicon

technology5 days ago•3 min saved

Meta AI lands as a native Mac desktop app with advanced features

Meta released a native Mac desktop app for Meta AI (1.0 beta) built for Apple Silicon on macOS 15+, using an AppKit/SwiftUI shell with WebKit. It offers a richer, non-Electron experience with features like Quick Invoke (Option-Space), a dictation shortcut, window attachment to conversations, screen recording with necessary permissions for context gathering, and a sidebar for Media, Artifacts, tasks, and history. The app can run without a Dock icon and is designed to enhance productivity beyond the mobile experience, continuing Meta’s broader AI push on macOS.

via 9to5Mac|

#apple-silicon #desktop-app #mac

technology16 days ago•4 min saved

Apple pivots to M7, skipping M6 Pro/Max to speed up AI-focused chip upgrade

Bloomberg-reported plans show Apple bypassing the M6 Pro/Max lineup in favor of a base M6 this fall and launching redesigned MacBook Pros with M5 Pro/Max, while accelerating development of the M7 due in spring 2027. The M7, especially the M7 Ultra, is expected to dramatically boost on-device AI performance (potentially rivaling Nvidia’s Blackwell), with rumors of expanded neural engine and up to 1.5TB of RAM. The first M7 Mac is anticipated to be a redesigned 14-inch MacBook Pro early in 2027, followed by Pro/Max updates to higher-end models."

via 9to5mac.com|

#ai #apple #apple-silicon

computing16 days ago•8 min saved

From M1 to M5: a productivity reboot, not a flashy upgrade

Shikhar Mehrotra describes upgrading from the M1 MacBook Air to the M5 as a productivity-driven leap rather than a pure spec bump: MagSafe and the switch to USB-C frees up ports, the M5 supports two external monitors, and Thunderbolt 4 doubles PCIe bandwidth, making heavy tab workloads (50–60 Chrome tabs) snappier with 16GB of unified memory. Battery life stretches to about 13–14 hours, enabling alternating-day charging, while the 13.6-inch display and notch aren’t welcome surprises and the speakers feel underwhelming compared with the M1. The $1,099 starting price rose to $1,299, but for M1/M2 users it remains a strong portable productivity machine; for older Macs, the value isn’t as compelling.

via Digital Trends|

#apple-silicon #battery-life #computing

technology23 days ago•6 min saved

How Long Should Your MacBook Last? OS Support, Hardware, and Real-World Use

A MacBook's life is not fixed; expect roughly eight years of first-party software support (six years of macOS updates plus two years of security patches), after which hardware and daily use decide when to upgrade. Real longevity depends on your work: CPU, RAM, and storage must meet your tasks, batteries have about 1,000 cycles, and Apple's shift to silicon means older Intel Macs lose support sooner. Upgrade when macOS support ends or usability suffers.

via engadget.com|

#apple-silicon #battery-cycles #hardware-longevity

technology1 month ago•7 min saved

Mac mini reportedly to use mixed M6 and M5 Pro chips

Apple is reportedly testing Mac mini configurations that pair generationally mismatched M6 and M5 Pro chips, a move similar to the Mac Studio’s earlier mismatch, with no release window announced.

via MacRumors|

#apple-silicon #chip-mismatch #m5-pro

technology1 month ago•4 min saved

MacBook Air M1 in 2026: A Budget Powerhouse Still Worth It

Six years after its debut, the MacBook Air M1 remains a compelling, battery-efficient option in 2026 thanks to solid performance, a silent, premium build, and macOS 27 support; refurbished units can be found under $650, but you’ll face 8GB RAM in the base config, 256GB storage, only two USB-C ports, a 400-nits display, and possible battery wear—making the M2 a worth-it upgrade for heavier workloads.

via bgr.com|

#apple-silicon #battery-life #macbook-air-m1

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

Apple's M6 chip arrives with higher bandwidth and a 12-core GPU, but no Pro lineup

Apple's M6 is expected later this year with a redesigned GPU and memory bandwidth up to 200 GB/s (from 153 GB/s on the M5), boosting on‑device AI and overall performance. It will reportedly be released only as a base-model chip with no Pro/Max/Ultra variants, while the M7 could push bandwidth to 240 GB/s in 2027; testing has begun in updated base MacBook Pro models, with a potential late-2026 launch.

via 9to5Mac|

#apple #apple-silicon #m6

technology1 month ago•10 min saved

macOS 27 Golden Gate Public Beta Opens for Apple Silicon Macs

Apple released the macOS 27 Golden Gate public beta for Apple Silicon Macs via the Apple Beta Software Program. Before upgrading, back up with Time Machine; Intel Macs are no longer supported. Supported Macs include Apple Silicon models listed by Apple. To install, enroll in the Beta Program, then in System Settings > General > Software Update > Beta Updates select macOS 27 Golden Gate Public Beta and click Upgrade Now.

via MacRumors|

#apple-beta-software-program #apple-silicon #macos-golden-gate

technology1 month ago•3 min saved

M7 Ultra Might Pack 1.5TB RAM, Narrowing Apple Silicon’s Memory Gap

Mark Gurman’s Power On suggests Apple’s upcoming M7 Ultra could support up to 1.5TB of unified memory, potentially matching the top RAM of the 2019 Mac Pro. While this would close a long-running Apple Silicon limit, supply constraints and strategic decisions could affect whether the 1.5TB option ships. Apple’s roadmap reportedly includes an M5 Ultra with up to 768GB, and the high-end RAM upgrade from 128GB would be very expensive (estimates exceed $35,000) if offered.

via 9to5Mac|

#apple #apple-silicon #m7-ultra

tech1 month ago•17 min saved

Apple’s dropped car project forged a powerhouse AI chip lineage

Apple’s self-driving car effort never shipped, but it spurred the Neural Engine and a lineage of on-device AI hardware—from the iPhone X’s A11 Bionic to the M-series—making Apple a hardware-driven AI player. The company is accelerating the M7 line, skipping M6 variants, with the M7 Ultra expected to power a new server product and upgrade Neural Engine capabilities, including up to 1.5TB RAM.

via The Verge|

#ai #apple #apple-silicon

technology1 month ago•10 min saved

MacBook Ultra Rumored to Bring OLED, Touchscreen and New M7 Silicon

MacRumors’ The MacRumors Show outlines a revised premium MacBook roadmap centered on a MacBook Ultra with an OLED display and touchscreen (featuring a Dynamic Island–style interface) in a thinner chassis. The Ultra is expected to be powered initially by M5 Pro/Max chips, while Apple reportedly skips M6 Pro/Max, moving high-end laptops to M7 Pro/Max in 2027. An entry-level M6 will still arrive for base MacBook Pros this year, with the first M7 models following later in 2027; the overall launch window has moved to early 2027 due to memory constraints and price hikes. macOS 27 Golden Gate is reportedly adding direct touch control via Sidecar, and the lineup will span 14" and 16" sizes with a reinforced hinge and potential cellular connectivity, all contributing to a crowded, high-priced growth path for Apple’s laptop lineup.

via MacRumors|

#apple-silicon #m7 #macbook-ultra

technology1 month ago•10 min saved

Apple Silicon Exec: Mac mini Is at the Center of on-device AI and the hybrid future

Apple’s Doug Brooks says the Mac mini (and Mac Studio) are in “incredible demand” for running AI agents locally, as developers favor systems that are always on and under user control. He frames agentic AI as a whole‑chip challenge rather than just a GPU one, powered by Neural Engine and other neural accelerators to enable on‑device AI. Brooks envisions a hybrid future where some workloads run locally while others are offloaded to the cloud for privacy and cost reasons, and cites “transparent AI” features on iPhone/iPad and Mac (like Draw Things and SwingVision) as examples of AI quietly working in the background. The interview underscores Apple’s chip‑and‑software approach to push on‑device AI forward, a trend likely to accelerate after WWDC 2026.

via MacRumors|

#ai-agents #apple-silicon #mac-mini

technology1 month ago•8 min saved

Mac Studio to Jump to M7 Ultra in 2028 With Enhanced Cooling

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says Apple plans two Mac Studio refreshes: an M5 Ultra this year and a more substantial M7 Ultra in 2028, skipping the M6 entirely. The M7 Ultra is expected to feature a redesigned inner architecture and a better heat sink for improved thermals, while the M5 Ultra is not anticipated to have a major redesign. Memory options have been tested up to 768GB, though supply constraints could limit offerings, and launch timing for the M5 remains unclear after delays tied to memory chips and price increases.

via MacRumors|

#apple-silicon #cooling #m7-ultra

technology2 months ago•9 min saved

Apple Reboots Silicon Roadmap: Entry M6 This Year, M7 Pro/Max in 2027

Bloomberg says Apple is accelerating its AI-focused silicon plan: an entry-level M6 is expected this year, but there will be no M6 Pro/Max; the high-end Macs will switch to the M7 family with M7 Pro/Max/Ultra arriving in 2027 (and an M5 Ultra rumored for 2026 Mac Studio). The lineup aims for higher memory bandwidth and an updated Neural Engine as part of a broader Apple silicon refresh that follows recent price increases across Macs and iPads.

via MacRumors|

#ai #apple #apple-silicon

technology2 months ago•2 min saved

Lightroom Classic 15.4: Sharper Masks, Smarter Duplicates, and Faster Denoise

Lightroom Classic 15.4 adds three notable upgrades: a revamped Select Object (now v5) that significantly improves masking accuracy, a catalog-wide duplicate detection tool to flag and remove duplicates, and a 50% faster AI denoise on Apple Silicon Macs. The update process zips and saves the old catalog before upgrading, and a video demo shows tests across diverse images, while noting a few interface quirks to watch for in the duplicate workflow.

via Fstoppers|

#apple-silicon #denoising-speed #duplicate-detection