Today in Tech

Rumors and leaks suggest that Apple's 27-inch iMac is next in line for an M1 Pro upgrade, as the company continues its two-year transition to Apple silicon. Earlier this year, Apple updated its 24-inch iMac with an M1 chip. Recently released Pro-level MacBooks received new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, and it's expected that this new iMac will receive the same treatment. The new iMac, which Apple will reportedly release in early 2022, may include features present in the new MacBooks, such as mini-LED screens and ProMotion displays. And speaking of MacBooks... Users of the new M1 Pro/M1 Max MacBooks have reported memory leak issues, with some apps using a lot of RAM. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss their experiences with memory leak on their MacBooks, plus how Apple could fix the problem. They also discuss the potential new iMac, including what features it could have that would differentiate it as a Pro-level device.

Intel formally introduced its 12th-generation Alder Lake CPUs yesterday, and leaked benchmarks about the Core i9-12900HK processor suggest it outperforms Apple's new M1 Max chip. And Google's newly released Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro phones are powered by its own custom Tensor chip, similar to Apple's new A15 Bionic-powered iPhones. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss how these newly released chips--and the devices they power--compare to Apple's M- and A-series chips. Then, Mario Morales, Program Vice President for Enabling Technologies and Semiconductors at IDC, and Juliet will discuss the latest about the ongoing global chip shortage. Mario will explain why the chip shortage is expected to continue into 2022, its impact on the automotive and tech industries and when the supply chain constraints may ease. 

At its event on Monday, Apple announced new 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros powered by their new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. Benchmarks for the M1 Pro are nearly double that of the M1, and the M1 Max is even more powerful. As Apple continues on its two-year transition to Apple silicon, its chips' specs outperform those of competitors. Still, not everyone wants or needs a Mac, and Intel has its own super fast chip in the works. So, how can Apple continue to innovate upon its system-on-a-chip architecture, and will the company continue to outpace competition? Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss what Apple's new MacBooks suggest about the future of the Mac, what that future means for competitors and what users should consider before upgrading. 

Apple's next event occurs on Monday, and rumors suggest that the company will announce updated 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros. Consumer-level Macs have already received an Apple Silicon update, and it's expected that the Pro models will receive their refresh next week. It's also rumored that a new Mac Mini could be announced, powered by the same chip as the new MacBook Pros. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss what to expect from Apple's "Unleashed" event, including product rumors, benchmarks and release dates. Plus, they'll discuss what the new Pro models mean for enterprise users and whether or not IT should upgrade employee devices.

Microsoft released its first update to Windows in six years on Tuesday. The newest edition of the operating system, Windows 11, introduces only a handful of new features. Those features include Teams integration, better security and a few UX updates. And in the coming months, users will be able to run Android apps on their Windows 11 machines. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss how Windows 11 will integrate Android apps and how it compares to Apple's approach to running iOS apps on Apple Silicon Macs. Then, Computerworld contributing editor Preston Gralla will join Ken and Juliet to discuss his first impressions of Windows 11, hardware requirements and who is eligible for an upgrade. If you have any questions about Windows 11, let us know in the comments or live chat. We'll answer them during the show. #Windows11 #Microsoft

Last week, The Washington Post revealed that, despite update app tracking transparency measures, iPhone apps continue to track users. This presents a serious privacy issue, since the type of data gathered about a user's device could be specific enough to identify individual iPhones. And worse yet, The Washington Post revealed that this tracking occurs even when users explicitly ask apps not to do so. Apple's iOS competitor, Android, also has app privacy measures in place. In Android 11, app permissions automatically reset if a user hasn't used an app within a few months. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss iPhone versus Android privacy measures and how fingerprinting affects individuals and enterprises.

Bootcut jeans, butterfly clips and... flip phones? Y2K trends are back in a big way, and that includes Motorola Razr nostalgia. But of course, in 2021, the technology of yesteryear has gotten a huge makeover. Microsoft's recently announced Surface Duo 2 is the latest folding smartphone on the market. It joins a handful of other foldable phones from companies including Samsung, Huawei and, yes, even Motorola. Sure, these new folding phones are cool and gimmicky, but are they here to stay? Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss how folding phones like the Microsoft Surface Duo 2 shape the future of mobile. 

Apple announced its latest additions to its iPhone lineup, as well as a new iPad mini, at its "California Streaming" event on Tuesday. Both devices will be powered by Apple's new A15 Bionic processor. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor join Juliet to discuss how the A15 processor compare to its predecessor, the A14, and how Apple may use it in future products. They also cover what the iPhone 13 and iPad mini mean for the enterprise. Plus, Michael, Ken and Juliet discuss Apple's response to the Pegasus spyware flaw.

Apple's next event, titled "California Streaming," will occur on Tuesday, September 14 at 10 a.m. PT. It's expected that Apple will announce the iPhone 13, Apple Watch Series 7 and new set of AirPods. Potential new iPhone features include the ability to photograph stars at night, an always-on display and portrait mode videos. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss what rumored devices, software and features will be announced at the event. If you have any questions about Apple's September event, let us know in the comments. We'll respond during the live broadcast.

Microsoft will launch Windows 11 on October 5, but not every PC will be eligible for an immediate upgrade. Rollout will last well into 2022 for machines that meet the necessary hardware requirements, and Windows 10 will be supported through October 2025. But, there's still some confusion about what hardware is required to support Windows 11's beefed up security measures. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and contributing editor Preston Gralla join Juliet to discuss Windows 11 security, whether it will require new hardware and what IT needs to know before upgrading.