This week’s top stories: 2021 MacBook Pro and iMac details, Apple’s REJI announcements, more

In this week’s top stories: Apple unveils new REJI announcements, 2021 MacBook Pro and iMac details emerge, Apple accessory announcements at CES, and much more. Read on for all of this week’s top Apple Stories.

2021 Mac rumors

This week brought some of the most specific details yet about what to expect from Apple’s 2021 MacBook Pro refresh. Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that Apple has some major changes in store for the 2021 MacBook Pro, which will be available in 14-inch and 16-inch variations.

The new MacBook Pro is rumored to adopt a flat-edged design similar to the Phone 12 and iPad Pro, add more IO ports on the side, bring back MagSafe charging, and ditch the controversial Touch Bar.

Bloomberg also corroborated many of these changes, and added that MagSafe will allow MacBook Pro machines to charge faster than USB-C. The report also added that a redesigned MacBook Air is in the works at Apple.

Bloomberg also added new details on the redesigned iMac, new Mac Pro information, and said that Apple has a lower-cost external display in the works.

Apple’s Racial Equity and Justice Initiatives

Apple announced this week that it will be investing $100 million in  its Racial Equity and Justice Initiative, which it hopes will help tackle systemic racism.

1. Apple is working with Southern Company to support the launch of the Propel Center, a first-of-its-kind innovation and learning hub for the HBCU community, with a $25 million investment.
2. Second, Apple has chosen downtown Detroit for its first US Developer Academy. The academy is designed to empower young Black entrepreneurs, creators, and coders, helping them cultivate the skills necessary for jobs in the rapidly growing iOS app economy.
3. Apple will invest invest $10 million with Harlem Capital — an early-stage venture capital firm based in New York — to support its investments in 1,000 companies with diverse founders over the next 20 years.
4. The company will also invest $25 million in Siebert Williams Shank’s Clear Vision Impact Fund, which provides capital to small and medium-size businesses, with an emphasis on minority-owned companies.

Learn more in our full coverage right here.

AirPods Pro 2 and iPhone SE 3

Apple is rumored to have two new products in the works for an announcement as early as April: AirPods Pro 2 and iPhone SE 3.

The AirPods Pro 2 are expected to feature a redesigned charging case, but other details are unclear. Previously, Bloombergreported that the second-gen AirPods Pro would feature a “more compact” design that removes the stem that current sticks out from the bottom of the AirPods Pro. 

Rumors have suggested that Apple is working on a larger version of the iPhone SE, likely with a 5.5-inch display and a design similar to the iPhone 8 Plus.

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

iPhone |

• Bloomberg: Apple testing in-screen Touch ID for 2021 iPhone, AirTags coming this year
• Bloomberg: Apple developing foldable iPhone prototypes, launch is still unclear
• Rumor: Apple to release AirPods Pro 2 and third-generation iPhone SE in April
• Rumor: iPhone 13 to be slightly thicker, feature smaller notch and same camera bump
• User successfully runs Ubuntu on a jailbroken iPhone 7
• Johns Hopkins security researchers ‘shocked’ at Android and iOS vulnerabilities
• Medical study suggests iPhone 12 with MagSafe can deactivate pacemakers
• iPhone 12 Pro prototype shows early ‘Pacific Blue’ variant and nonUI version of iOS 14
• Apple releases iOS 14.4 beta 2 and more for developers

Apple Watch |

• Here’s how to use your Apple Watch as a viewfinder and remote for your iPhone’s camera

Mac and iPad |

• Kuo details 2021 MacBook Pro: new design with squared-off sides, MagSafe connector and IO return, Touch Bar removed
• Rumor: New iPad mini to feature 8.4-inch display with smaller bezels, release in March
• M1 Mac Bluetooth problems finally set to be resolved, says Apple
• Bloomberg: 2021 MacBook Pro to charge faster via MagSafe, ‘redesigned MacBook Air’ also planned
• Bloomberg: New iMac with Pro Display XDR design coming this year, cheaper external display also planned

Top Apple stories, retail |

• Washington, D.C. Apple Stores close ahead of Inauguration Day
• COVID-19: Which Apple Stores have reopened?

Apps |

• Parler app and website go offline; CEO blames Apple and Google for destroying the company
• WhatsApp clarifies privacy changes and Facebook data sharing as Signal and Telegram soar
• AT&T TV Now shutting down to new subscribers: Here’s what you need to know
• With support officially ended, Adobe ‘strongly recommends’ removing Flash now, here’s how
• Netflix reportedly testing spatial audio support for AirPods Pro and AirPods Max
• Apple working to release Music and Podcasts apps on Microsoft Store

Apple Car |

• Report: Apple and Hyundai hope to reach deal for Apple Car by March, begin US production in 2024
• Apple’s strict approach to secrecy in the spotlight after Hyundai walks back Apple Car statement

CES 2021 |

• Pioneer announces modular receiver to bring wireless CarPlay to more vehicles
• Scosche launches three iPhone 12 MagSafe mounts for car and home
• Kensington unveils StudioDock productivity hub meets stand for iPad Air/Pro with tons of I/O, more
• Intel unveils new 12th-generation Alder Lake chips as it plays catch up to Apple’s M1
• Satechi launches low-price MagSafe compatible 2-in-1 charger, but there are caveats
• Qualcomm unveils larger and faster in-screen fingerprint reader, coming to smartphones this year
• PopSockets reveals new MagSafe-compatible PopGrips for iPhone 12, more
• Belkin’s new ‘SoundForm Freedom’ AirPods competitors can integrate with Apple’s Find My app
• Belkin launches more affordable 2-in-1 MagSafe charger, coming in March/April
• Pioneer announces modular receiver to bring wireless CarPlay to more vehicles
• LG unveils 4K UltraFine OLED Pro display, Dell reveals 40-inch 5K2K ultrawide with Thunderbolt 3
• Lutron unveils durable Caseta Outdoor Smart Plug with HomeKit, adds new features to Smart Motion Sensors
• Philips Hue wall switch module finally solves problem; new outdoor lights too

Top Apple stories, company |

• Apple CEO Tim Cook joins ‘CBS This Morning’ ahead of ‘big announcement’ coming Wednesday
• Apple announces major new REJI projects to tackle systemic racism
• CBS interview: Tim Cook talks REJI projects, Parler possibly returning to the App Store, goals for 2021

Subscribe to 9to5Mac’s YouTube channel for more videos.

This week’s top videos |

• How to create dynamic wallpaper on iOS 14.3 and disable Shortcuts banner notifications [Video]

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.

iPhone 15 Pro Max’s rumored immersive screen – 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 Mkeke: Since 2015 Mkeke has been a  top iPhone case brand specializing in designing exquisite, diverse and comfortable iPhone cases.  Get 20% off for a limited time. 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: Spotify exec says HiFi is still coming, blames 'other players in the industry' for delays iPhone 15 Pro Max to feature ultra-thin bezels Save $99 on Apple’s just-released M2 Mac mini 512GB at new $700 all-time low New low makes Apple’s M1 Pro MacBook Pro a better buy at $1,499 (Save $500) Apple Magic Trackpad 2 is a must-have for new M2 Mac mini owners at $104 on Amazon Follow Chance: Twitter: @ChanceHMiller Mastodon: @chancehmiller@mastodon.social Follow Rikka: Twitter: @rikkaaltland Listen & Subscribe: Apple Podcasts Overcast RSS Spotify TuneIn Google Play Enjoy the podcast? Shop Apple at Amazon to support 9to5Mac Daily! Catch up on 9to5Mac Daily episodes! Don’t miss out on our other daily podcasts: Quick Charge 9to5Toys Daily The Buzz 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. iPhone 15 Pro Max’s rumored immersive screen 09:55
2. Exclusive details on Apple’s AI plans for Siri 06:44
3. Apple budget cuts, Siri baggage 06:29
4. AirPods health features, the latest headset rumors 07:31
5. HomePod with a built-in display rumored for next year 07:59

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 HabitMinder: Change your habits, change your life. HabitMinder helps you form healthy habits and stay accountable. Get started for free on iOS, Mac, and Apple Watch.

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.

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
2. With guest Sigmund Judge 42:59
3. Week 5 52:45
4. Week 4 57:20
5. Week 3 56:40

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.

Sponsored by TwoBird —one inbox for all your tasks- Write emails, create notes, set reminders, view events, and collaborate live. Learn more about Twobird and download it for free at twobird.com.

Sponsored by Headspace: You deserve to feel happier, and Headspace is meditation made simple. Go to headspace.com/mac to start your free one-month trial.

Sponsored by TextExpander: Visit textexpander.com/podcast and select 9to5Mac Happy Hour to save 20% off your first year!

HomePod with screen rumored, Apple exec turnover, AR/VR headset market fit – 9to5Mac Happy Hour

Benjamin bought a new keyboard, and talks about the ‘magic’ found within. Zac is excited for a new rumored HomePod model coming next year with a 7-inch display. And the pair evaluate whether it makes sense for Apple to enter the AR/VR headset market now, or whether the company should have held off, as some members of Apple’s design team purportedly argued for internally. Sponsored by Factor: Factor has everything I need for a week of flavorful, nutritious eats. Head to factormeals.com/happyhour50 and use code happyhour50 to get 50% off your first box. Sponsored by LinkedIn Jobs: LinkedIn Jobs helps you find the candidates you want to talk to, faster. Post your job for free at LinkedIn.com/HAPPYHOUR. Follow Zac Hall @apollozac or @zac@lunarpunk.social Benjamin Mayo @bzamayo or @bzamayo@mastodon.social Read More MACBREAK WEEKLY 861: THE NUMBER BEFORE TWO Want Touch ID for Mac with any keyboard? Developer finds a way Kuo: New HomePod with built-in 7-inch display to be announced in early 2024 Report: Tim Cook and Jeff Williams push forward with AR/VR headset launch this year, design team wanted to hold off until AR glasses Bloomberg: Apple reshuffling its sales organization 'to put a bigger focus on India' Apple shareholder meeting: investors approve Tim Cook’s $50 million pay cut, more Apple's Head of iCloud heading out the door in latest executive exit Subscribe or Follow Apple Podcasts Overcast Spotify

1. HomePod with screen rumored, Apple exec turnover, AR/VR headset market fit 01:18:28
2. Apple Music Classical announced, iPhone 15 mute switch, M3 Mac schedule 01:06:32
3. iOS 16.4 beta 2, 2018 iPad Pro in hindsight, MLS Season Pass experience 01:24:53
4. iPhone 15 Pro design leaks, iOS 16.4 new features, non-invasive glucose monitoring progress 01:20:52
5. iPhone 15 USB-C, 15-inch MacBook Air coming soon, Apple headset delayed again 01:00:43

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.

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! 01:00
2. 178: “Let’s try something new” 01:03:25
3. 177: “The stand is included!” 01:09:24
4. 176: “Extra Keynote Poker” 01:19:00
5. 175: “A Bluetooth fanboy” 54:35

Apple @ Work Podcast |

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

Cisco and Apple – better together – Apple @ Work

Apple @ Work is brought to you by Mosyle, the only Apple Unified Platform. Mosyle is the only solution that fully integrates 5 different applications on a single Apple-only platform, allowing Businesses to easily and automatically deploy, manage & protect all their Apple devices. Over 38,000 organizations leverage Mosyle solutions to automate the deployment,  management, and security of millions of Apple devices daily. Request a FREE account today and discover how you can put your Apple fleet on auto-pilot at a price point that is hard to believe. In this episode of Apple @ Work, Kristyn Hogan from Cisco joins the show to talk about their latest iPad announcement, the Apple partnership, and more. Links: Cisco Webex on iPad: Better Together General Overview Cisco and Apple Strategic Partnership Apple and Cisco: Wireless Partnership Cisco and Apple: a collaboration steeped in technical innovation Case Studies Today's Collaboration Strategy Needs a Mobile First Approach Webex App | Use iPhone Continuity Camera in a call or meeting Bringing More Flexibility in Hybrid Work Making hybrid work more magical: Webex devices now support Apple AirPlay Connect with Bradley Nostr Twitter LinkedIn Listen and subscribe Apple Podcasts Overcast Spotify Pocket Casts Castro RSS Listen to Past Episodes

1. Cisco and Apple – better together 28:24
2. What are the latest K-12 IT trends? 29:22
3. Where did the name Meeting Owl come from? 25:02
4. Microsoft Policies are just IT Policies 22:38
5. Building a healthy password management ecosystem 27:11

Subscribe to get all 9to5Mac’s stories delivered to your inbox daily. And to 9to5Toys for the best deals from around the web.