Today in Tech

Apple leveled up its Mac game in 2021 by adding its M1 chips to new devices and introducing the M1 Pro and Max chips to its users. In 2022, even more Macs, like the Mac Pro, may get the Apple silicon treatment and receive the next generation of M-series chips (perhaps an M2?). Users can also likely expect a lower-cost, 5G-powered iPhone SE, a new Apple Watch, the iPhone 14 and maybe even some AR glasses. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and Macworld executive editor Michael Simon join Juliet to discuss what business users and consumers alike can expect from Apple in 2022 and if the company can maintain its 2021 momentum in the new year.

As employees return to the office, IT can apply lessons learned from supporting remote workers to transform their networks. Cloud architectures such as SD-WAN and SASE could continue to be useful. Network as a Service, or NaaS, is still in its early stages but could offer cloudlike agility when it comes to buying network equipment. But, as the chip shortage and broader supply chain issues continue to plague the tech industry, IT must be prepared to prioritize and compromise network projects. Brandon Butler, a research manager at IDC covering enterprise networking, joins Juliet to discuss what enterprise networking trends he predicts to see in 2022. Follow everyone on Twitter-- Juliet: https://twitter.com/julietbeauchamp Brandon: https://twitter.com/BButlerIDC

Last week, Apple filed a lawsuit against NSO Group, the technology firm behind the Pegasus spyware. In its lawsuit, Apple seeks to hold NSO Group accountable for alleged surveillance of select iPhone users, as well as ban the firm from using any Apple products. While digital rights activists commend Apple for standing up for privacy rights, they say they want to ensure that the precedent set by the case applies only to bad actors and not organizations in support of user privacy. Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis and senior reporter Lucas Mearian join Juliet to discuss what the lawsuit means for Apple, those affected by the spyware and digital rights overall. #Pegasus #Apple

The ongoing chip shortage and supply chain disruption continue to disrupt tech buyers, and the holiday season will likely further complicate the issue. Tech buyers should expect stock shortages and longer delivery timelines. While some retailers, like Apple, are beginning to catch up with hardware demand, customers are waiting longer for their devices than in previous years. Even though it might take awhile to receive your device, there's still some good news: if it breaks, you'll be permitted to fix it yourself. Apple will roll out its Self Service Repair program in 2022, allowing iPhone 12 and 13 users to purchase replacement parts and repair manuals and fix their devices themselves. Macworld executive editor Michael Simon and Computerworld executive editor Ken Mingis join Juliet to discuss what tech buyers need to know ahead of the holiday shopping season, including predicted deals, availability and delivery problems. They also explain what they know about Apple's new Right to Repair program and how it could change the repair process.

By rolling out some Android 12 features exclusively to Pixel users, Google gave itself an opportunity to further differentiate its own devices from the rest of the Android pack. New updates, like the Material You interface, give Pixel owners the chance to redesign the look and feel of their phones. Plus, Android 12 and the newly launched Pixel 6 both purport to have privacy-centric changes. So, how does the Pixel Android 12 experience compare to the experience of Galaxy user? Computerworld managing editor Val Potter and contributing editor JR Raphael join Juliet to discuss new Android 12 features, including how it performs on the new Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro versus other Android devices. 

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