Today in Tech

Not-so-breaking news: Supply chain constraints continue to challenge technology manufacturers, and Apple is no exception. While the wait for some Macs is quite short, others, like the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro face wait times of eight to ten weeks. And with WWDC looming, could hardware supply chain issues upend any hardware announcement plans? Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss current hardware supply chain issues and how they may affect WWDC.

After 20 years, Apple has officially discontinued its final iPod, the iPod Touch. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss its history and how it paved the way for future products. Plus, some Apple employees are protesting the company’s return-to-office policy, which requires employees to be in the office three days per week. Michael, Ken and Juliet will also discuss how Apple’s return-to-work policy compares to other tech companies’ policies and what the hybrid work landscape looks like.

You may have heard of quantum computing, but what is it, and what problems can it solve? Plus, what makes quantum computing different from classical computing, and how can enterprises access and harness the technology? Serdar Yegulalp, senior writer at InfoWorld, and Heather West, a senior research analyst at IDC, join Juliet to discuss and demystify quantum computing.

Billionaire Elon Musk recently entered into an agreement to purchase Twitter for $44 billion dollars, therefore turning Twitter into a privately held company. While Musk’s acquisition could have serious ramifications for users, it’s still unclear how his Twitter would differ from the Twitter we’re familiar with today. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss what the acquisition could mean for the future of the platform and how it could affect enterprise users and consumers alike.

WWDC speculation has officially begun. So, what will Apple announce at its annual developer conference in June? Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss what to expect at WWDC this year, including updates to Apple’s operating systems like iOS and macOS and maybe even some hardware announcements.

Microsoft announced new Windows 11 features aimed at making hybrid work easier at an event on Tuesday. Some of these features address IT-specific problems, while others target the general hybrid or remote workforce. They include productivity tweaks, deployment improvements and security updates, among other things. Computerworld manager editor Valerie Potter and contributing editor Preston Gralla join Juliet to discuss what some of these new features are, when they’re arriving and whether they will solve IT pain points.

According to Bloomberg, Apple is working on a hardware subscription service that would allow users to lease its devices like people lease cars. This program would differ from the 12- and 24-month loan programs currently available. And while its release date is months away, specs have already leaked about the upcoming iPhone 14. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss why a hardware subscription service could benefit enterprise users and what to expect in the iPhone 14.

Users and reviewers have expressed some frustration with the new Studio Display, wondering why its components and software mirror that of an iPhone without touch capability. Apple is known for recycling its products, but is the Studio Display, with its A13 chip and Center Stage camera, too recycled? Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss what frustrations people have with the Studio Display and who should and should not use it.

Foxconn partially shut down some of its factories in manufacturing powerhouse Shenzhen as a result of a COVID-19 outbreak. Foxconn, which is the world's biggest contract electronics manufacturer and Apple’s largest iPhone supplier, said it “adjusted the production line to minimize the potential impact,” and some of its factories have partially reopened. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss how this shutdown could have affected the mobile supply chain. They’ll also discuss Macworld’s review of the Mac Studio and what’s new in iOS 15.4.

 At its “Peek Performance” event on Tuesday, Apple dropped two especially surprising announcements. First, it introduced the newest edition to the M1 chip lineup, the M1 Ultra. Then, it introduced a new desktop Mac, the Mac Studio, which isn’t quite the Mac mini or the Mac Pro. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss what these new additions to Apple’s hardware lineup are all about and who will get the most use out of them.