Apple’s MacBook lineup finally makes sense

It's Tuesday, November 07, 2023.

Apple’s MacBook problem was a confusing lineup of similar machines with different names, different chips, different hardware and the rest. But it may have finally solved the problem. The long-rumored 15-inch MacBook Air arrived months ago, and then Apple surprised us by delivering two MacBook Pro revisions — notably in less than 12 months — to showcase the company’s most powerful chips yet. These new M3-equipped MacBook Pro 14- and 16-inch are a clearer sign of Apple’s direction.

Engadget

The company has killed off the long-suffering 13-inch MacBook Pro, and in the same stroke, put an end to an aging design and the divisive, frustrating Touch Bar. These Pro machines — especially the M3 Max models — are great for professionals, and the MacBook Airs are for everyone else.

I think, for the first time in a long time, Apple’s laptop lineup finally makes sense.

— Mat Smith

​​You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!​​

The biggest stories you might have missed

Final Cut Pro uses Apple’s latest chips to improve face and object tracking

Meater 2 Plus review: A more precise and durable wireless meat thermometer

Volvo EX30 first drive: Charming and eco-friendly with power to spare

Bored Ape NFT event leads to at least 15 attendees reporting severe eye burn

Organizer Yuga Labs is ‘aware of the eye-related issues.’

@CryptoJune777 / X

So you thought just the idea of attending an NFT event was torturous enough. At least 15 visitors at Yuga Labs’ ApeFest, a celebration of Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs (which are still a thing), may have experienced serious eye injuries. Bloomberg reports that multiple people attending the event in Hong Kong last weekend experienced vision problems, which they suspect stem from the event’s stage lighting. Some claim doctors subsequently diagnosed them with welder’s eye, a condition caused by overexposure to ultraviolet rays. The company is apparently investigating the reports.

Continue reading.

Every car is a smart car, and it’s a privacy nightmare

Smart cars, dumb privacy policies, terms and conditions.

Mozilla recently reported that all 25 car brands it reviewed failed its privacy tests. While all, in Mozilla’s estimation, overreached in their data collection and use policies, some even included caveats about obtaining highly invasive information. Today’s cars can collect personal information, and the fine print of user agreements describes how manufacturers get you to consent every time.

Continue reading.

WeWork files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection

The company has struggled.

Another twist in the WeWork saga this week as the office space rental company has filed for bankruptcy protection. Following reports last week that the company was expected to file for Chapter 11 protection, WeWork’s shares were halted on the New York Stock Exchange on Monday. According to The New York Times, it described its bankruptcy filing as a “comprehensive reorganization” of its business. WeWork has been toiling in a real estate market shaken by rising borrowing costs while also facing the pandemic-accelerated change of millions more people working remotely.

Continue reading.