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It is no secret that more Apple silicon Macs are on their way. For the first three models, the new versions are more or less the same as their Intel counterparts, just way faster and better. The Mac mini, MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro with M1 all look just like the older models.

That may be changing soon, and for the better.

Juli Clover, writing at MacRumors:

According to Kuo, Apple is developing two models in 14 and 16-inch size options. The new MacBook Pro machines will feature a flat-edged design, which Kuo describes as “similar to the iPhone 12” with no curves like current models. It will be the most significant design update to the MacBook Pro in the last five years.

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This week on Connected, Federico, Myke and I gathered to discuss Apple’s new Racial Equity and Justice Initiatives, some things at CES that caught their eyes and how they feel about the Apple Watch.

On Connected Pro, the 5-second rule is discussed as is Federico’s switch to Spotify.

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• Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code CONNECTED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.
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Apple PR:

Apple today announced a set of major new projects as part of its $100 million Racial Equity and Justice Initiative (REJI) to help dismantle systemic barriers to opportunity and combat injustices faced by communities of color. These forward-looking and comprehensive efforts include the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind global innovation and learning hub for Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs); an Apple Developer Academy to support coding and tech education for students in Detroit; and venture capital funding for Black and Brown entrepreneurs. Together, Apple’s REJI commitments aim to expand opportunities for communities of color across the country and to help build the next generation of diverse leaders.

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On this episode of Liftoff, Jason and I start 2021 by picking some things they are looking forward to in what promises to be a very busy year in space.

My thanks to our sponsor:

• Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code LIFTOFF at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.

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This week on Ungeniused, a sport I never knew I wanted to try:

If shredding fresh powder is just too mainstream for you, this could be the sport for you.

Think snowboarding, but down a dune.

My thanks to our sponsor this week:

• HelloFresh: Click this link and use code ungeniused10 for 10 free meals, including free shipping!

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Apple Support:

You’re unable to import an MPEG 1 video file into your iDVD project. QuickTime Player can read and play the file, and iDVD Help says: “You can add any video or image file supported by QuickTime to your iDVD project.”

iDVD 1.0 cannot read MPEG 1 video files. The Help file is in error. You may be able to convert your MPEG 1 video files to a different QuickTime format that iDVD can read by using the Cleaner 5 application from Terran.

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Backblaze offers unlimited computer backup for Macs and PCs for just $6 a month (no gimmicks or add-ons or gotchas included). This means they will back up your movies, music, photos, videos, projects, and all the data you have! You can restore files from anywhere in the world and directly download them from the web or their mobile apps. You can also have your backup sent to you via hard drive and have it overnighted right to your home! Never worry about finding lost versions or deleted files—you can extend your retention period to one year or forever!

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This week on Mac Power Users:

From the beginning, Mac OS X was designed with security and privacy in mind, but over the years Apple has worked to make both the Mac’s software and hardware more even more so.

We spent the entire episode talking what’s what when it comes to Mac security, and how Apple continues to evolve and improve things over time.

My thanks to our sponsors:

• TextExpander from Smile: Get 20% off with this link and type more with less effort! Expand short abbreviations into longer bits of text, even fill-ins, with TextExpander from Smile.
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In my series 2001 Revisited, I’m covering Apple’s major announcements from 20 years ago. This month, we’re looking at Macworld San Francisco.

To kick off what would be a very busy year, Steve Jobs took to the Macworld stage in San Francisco, boasting that in addition to the 5,000 people in attendance, tens of thousands of people were watching via livestream around the world via QuickTime.

Mac OS X

Jobs started by talking about Mac OS X, recapping the new operating system’s architecture, from the kernel on up all the way to the new UI, dubbed Aqua.

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My thanks to The Sweet Setup for sponsoring 512 Pixels this week. Their 2021 Digital Planner is built for the iPad and based on a proven system for clarity, margin, and focus. Download now, and see for yourself. Comes with a 30-day, money-back guarantee.

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No spoilers, but on yesterday’s episode of Connected, we had to contend with how big the iPhone’s notch is, and how it may have changed sizes over the years since the introduction of Face ID in 2017.

Just looking at a pile of iPhones isn’t that helpful when trying to investigate such minutiae. What you need is detailed documentation.

Thankfully, Apple provides just that, in the form of a document named “Accessory Design Guidelines for Apple Devices,” which is freely available on Apple’s developer website.

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Big week on Connected:

2020 is over. Products have been released, notches have been measured and an Annual Chairman has been named. As if that wasn’t enough, the 2021 Rickies have been etched into a Google Doc for all time.

On Connected Pro, Myke decides to install macOS Big Sur and Federico explores Alfred.

This is one of my favorite episodes each year.

My thanks to our sponsors:

• Squarespace: Make your next move. Enter offer code CONNECTED at checkout to get 10% off your first purchase.
• TextExpander, from Smile: Recall your best words. Instantly, repeatedly. Get 20% off your first year.
• Pingdom: Start monitoring your website performance and availability today, and get instant alerts when an outage occurs or a site transaction fails. Use offer code CONNECTED to get 30% off. Offer expires on January 31, 2022, and can be used only once.

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