This week’s top stories: Everything Apple announced during its special event, iOS 14.3, more

In this week’s top stories: Everything Apple announced during its November event, including the M1 processor alongside a new MacBook Pro, MacBook Air, and Mac mini.

M1 processor

Apple kicked things off with the introduction of its new M1 processor, its first Apple Silicon chip for the Mac lineup. Apple says the M1 processor delivers up to 3.5x faster CPU performance, up to 6x faster GPU performance, and up to 15x faster machine learning.

Apple emphasizes that the M1 chip is the first designed specifically for the Mac. It is optimized for Macs in which small size and power efficiency are critically important. As such, the M1 features an 8-core design with four high-performance cores and four high-efficiency cores.

In terms of graphics, the M1 processor includes eight core integrated GPU, which Apple says can handle multiple 4K video streams, gaming, and more. Apple says it’s the “world’s fastest integrated graphics in a personal computer.” The M1 also brings Apple’s Neural Engine to the Mac for the first time with a 16-core architecture. This offers improvements for things like video analysis, voice recognition, image processing, and other machine learning tasks.

Finally, Apple emphasized during the event that macOS 11 Big Sur is engineered to take full advantage of the new M1 processor, offering things like waking instantly from sleep, improved Safari performance, and even better battery life.

The M1 processor also allows you to run three different types of applications on your Mac:

• iPhone and iPad apps on the Mac through the Mac App Store
• Rosetta 2 translation allows you to run apps made for Intel Macs on Apple Silicon, and sometimes apps perform better in Rosetta with M1 than they did with Intel, Apple says.
• Universal apps are apps built for Apple Silicon and Intel processors and are downloadable from the Mac App Store or from the web.

Apple also announced that macOS 11 Big Sur will officially be available to the general public on Thursday, November 12.

So what are the first Macs with Apple’s M1 processor? As it turns out, there are three of them.

New MacBook Air

The first Apple Silicon Mac introduced was a new MacBook Air powered by the M1 processor. Apple says the new 8-core CPU performs up to 3.5x faster than the previous Intel MacBook Air while the 8 core GPU is up to 5x faster. The M1 chip’s storage controller and latest flash technology deliver up to 2x faster SSD performance, Apple adds.

Notably, the MacBook Air also features a fan-less design so it remains completely silent regardless of workload. Other than that change, the new MacBook Air design is largely identical to the previous generation MacBook Air. On the side, you’ll find two USB-C ports with support for Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4.

But where the new MacBook Air really starts to shine is in its battery life numbers. According to Apple’s data, the new MacBook Air features up to 15 hours of web browsing and up to 18 hours of video playback. This is up from the 12 hours of battery life offered by the 2020 Intel MacBook Air.

The new MacBook Air is available to order now, with prices starting at $999. For the base configuration, you get 8GM of RAM, an 8 core-CPU, a 7-core GPU, and 256GB of storage. You can upgrade to 16GB of RAM, to an 8-core GPU, and to up to 2TB of SSD storage as well. The first orders will arrive on November 17.

• New MacBook Air keyboard features dedicated keys for Dictation, Spotlight, Do Not Disturb, and emoji
• Apple Silicon M1 MacBook Air and Pro get improved cameras but still stuck at 720p
• Here are the huge battery life improvements with the Apple Silicon MacBook Air

New Mac mini

Following the MacBook Air introduction, Apple rather surprisingly introduced a new Mac mini powered by the M1 processor. The new Mac mini features again an 8-core CPU paired with an 8-core GPU, and Apple sys it’s up to 3x faster than the previous-generation Mac mini with Intel.

Apple says the new Mac mini also features an advanced thermal design to help sustain performance while staying cool and quiet. There’s also support for up to displays, including the Pro Display XDR, and WiFi 6 connectivity. The new Mac mini features two USB-C ports on the back that support Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4, alongside two USB-A ports, HDMI 2.0, and a 3.5mm headphone jack.

The Mac mini also notably got price drop, with the base model now starting at $699, which is $100 than the Intel model. The base configuration offers the M1 processor with an 8-core CPU and an 8-GPU with 8GB of RAM and a 256GB SSd. You can upgrade to up to 2TB of SSD storage and to 16GB of RAM.

You can order the new Mac mini now and the first orders will arrive on November 17.

• Mac mini still available with Intel chips for now
• Here’s how I/O has changed on the Apple Silicon Mac mini

New 13-inch MacBook Pro

Last but not least, Apple introduced a new 13-inch MacBook Pro powered by the same M1 processor with an 8-core CPU and an 8-core GPU. Apple says the new MacBook Pro is up to 2.8x faster than the previous generation in terms of CPU performance and up to 5x faster in GPU performance.

The MacBook Pro also features a new active cooling system that should help thermal management. It’ll be interesting to see how the MacBook Pro and its cool system are able to sustain heavy workloads with the M1 processor, compared to the MacBook Air’s fan-less design.

Again, the MacBook Pro really shines in terms of battery life, with Apple saying it offers up to 17 hours of web browsing and 20 hours of video playback. This is twice the battery life of the previous MacBook Pro and the longest battery life ever for the Mac. The new MacBook Pro features two USB-C ports with support for Thunderbolt 3 and USB 4.

The new MacBook Pro is available now for $1,299, for an 8-core configuration with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. You can upgrade to up to 2TB of SSD storage and to 16GB of RAM in build-to-order configurations. The first orders arrive next Tuesday, November 17.

• Apple Silicon M1 MacBook Air and Pro get improved cameras but still stuck at 720p
• MacBook Pro still available with Intel chips for now
• Here are the huge battery life improvements with the Apple Silicon MacBook Pro

Wrap-up

More news from this week:

• Apple releases first developer beta of iOS 14.3
• iOS 14.3 beta reveals likely design of Apple’s upcoming AirPods Studio headphones
• iOS 14.3 beta includes support for rumored AirTags and third-party tracking accessories
• macOS 11 Big Sur now available, here’s what’s new for your Mac
• First HomePod mini orders now shipping to customers
• Cryptic leaker says Apple has a ‘Christmas surprise’ in store for this year, what could it be?

More 9to5Mac coverage:

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This week’s top videos |

• macOS Big Sur 11 top features – the Mac gets a new UI, Control Center, 4K YouTube, & more [Video]
• Apple Silicon event breakdown

9to5Mac Daily |

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Game emulators on the App Store and more – 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 Kolide by 1Password: The device trust solution that ensures that if a device isn’t secure, it can’t access your apps. Close the Zero Trust access gap for Okta. Watch the demo. 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: Apple argues in favor of selling Macs with only 8GB of RAM Game Boy emulator now available on the iPhone following App Store rules change [update: gone] iPhone 'iGBA' emulator removed from App Store, but we aren't sure why iPhone 16 Pro camera could fix one of the biggest problems 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 Monthly bonus episodes  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. Also, connect with us in the official 9to5Mac Discord server with forums, chatrooms, and more!

1. Game emulators on the App Store and more 06:37
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Week 6 – 9to5Mac Watch Time

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 46:48
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iOS 18 rumors, game emulators in the App Store, Vision Pro camera access – 9to5Mac Happy Hour

Benjamin and Chance delve into the latest rounds of iOS 18 rumors, including a curious discovery of a new ‘Safari browser assistant’ in development. Apple has also changed the rules surrounding game emulators in the App Store, with somewhat unclear implications. Apple News+ adds a new Quartile word puzzle, and the wait for the new iPad Pro continues. And in Happy Hour Plus, Chance considers his smart home strategy ahead of the move to his new house. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join. 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. Sponsored by Fast Growing Trees: Fast Growing Trees makes it easy to order online, and your plants are shipped directly to your door in 1-2 days. Get an additional 15% off with code HAPPYHOUR at checkout. 9to5Mac Happy Hour Plus Introducing 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 Monthly bonus episodes Join for $5 per month or $50 a year at 9to5mac.com/join.  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 Feedback Submit #Ask9to5Mac questions on Twitter, Mastodon, or Threads Email us feedback and questions to happyhour@9to5mac.com Links Rumor: iOS 18 to include new 'Safari browsing assistant' AI feature iOS 18 reportedly bringing these two upgrades to Apple Maps iPadOS 18 rumored to drop support for these iPads; iOS 18 support unchanged How Apple is making sure Vision Pro doesn't end up like Google Glass App Store guidelines now allow game emulators; more iOS 17.5 expands Puzzles collection with leaderboards and new 'Quartiles' word game New iPad Pro and iPad Air launch likely set for second week of May, expect iPad Pro price increases iPadOS 17.5 confirms new display for next-gen iPad Pro

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1. Stacktrace has moved! 01:00
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Configuration Profile surgery – Apple @ Work

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1. Configuration Profile surgery 28:27
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