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Apple used to treat every public-facing announcement like an event. Even its keynotes ostensibly for investors and press were well-orchestrated circuses. If there's any conclusion to be drawn from the sheer number of new products the company's launched without any kind of event since the iPhone 16 series was introduced six months ago, the time for hanging on Apple's every word has passed. Some of it can be chalked up to the company's new preference for recorded, highly-edited video presentations rather than live shows. Some of it might also have to do with the fact that since Apple started making the chips that power its smartphones, tablets and computers, most of the "new" things it introduces amount to spec bumps. Apple's managed to announce eight new products since the iPhone 16, nine if you count a new chip that debuted in one of the company's updated desktop computers. Here's a look at all of that new hardware, from Apple's most recent releases to the new computers it used to close out 2024. M4 MacBook Air Apple The MacBook Air is one of Apple's most popular laptops, so it's only natural it should get the latest M4 chip. Luckily, that extra power didn't come at the cost of a more expensive computer. A 13-inch MacBook Air now starts at $999, with the 15-inch model coming in at $1,199, down from the $1,099 you used to have to pay to get an M3 MacBook Air. The new laptops also come with an improved 12MP Center Stage webcam, and a new metallic color option Apple's dubbed "Sky Blue." It's not the most exciting announcement, but a new laptop that's twice as powerful as Apple's M1 computers for a lower price is welcome all the same. Mac Studio Apple Apple's update to the Mac Studio, announced alongside the MacBook Air, is even more of a pure spec bump. No cosmetic changes were made to the Studio: The short and stout computer still has USB ports and an SD card reader on the front, with even more I/O options available on the back. What's different are the chips powering the Mac Studio on the inside. Apple offers either an M4 Max with a 16-core CPU and 40-core GPU or new M3 Ultra chip, which gives the Studio enough wiggle room to handle most professional creative workloads. With the M4 Max you can get up to 128GB of unified memory but if you opt for the M3 Ultra, that can go all the way up to 512GB. All of that power will cost you, though. The Mac Studio with the M4 Max starts at $1,999, while the M3 Ultra version starts at $3,999. M3 Ultra Apple The M3 Ultra is the truly novel part of the Mac Studio update. The late-arriving chip fills the top spot in Apple's M3 lineup, with a 32-core CPU (24 of which are performance cores), up to a 80-core GPU and a 32-core Neural Engine. Apple claims the M3 Ultra is over two times as powerful as the M1 Ultra, likely because it's technically two M3 Max chips connected together with the company's "Ultrafusion" architecture. The new chip also supports Thunderbolt 5 for faster connectivity and specced with up to 512GB of unified memory. Currently, the M3 Ultra is only available on the Mac Studio, which oddly leaves the Mac Pro out of the loop. It's possible Apple's most expensive Mac will be updated soon, or maybe there's an even more powerful chip waiting in the wings. M3 iPad Air Apple The same week Apple updated the MacBook Air and Mac Studio, it also tweaked the iPad Air, giving the 11- or 13-inch tablet a new M3 chip, and an updated version of the Magic Keyboard with a function row and a slightly larger trackpad. The iPad Air was already capable of Apple Intelligence and plenty fast with the M2 chip it received in 2024, so Apple's announcement mainly keeps it competitive, unless you're interested in ray-tracing, which admittedly is offered in some console games that have been ported to the iPad. The new iPad Air starts at $599, while the new Magic Keyboard starts at $260, and strangely, only comes in white. iPad
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The latest chapter in the troubled tale of Cities: Skylines II won't be ending any time soon. The game has still not launched on consoles, despite an initial launch date of October 2023 for the PC version. Developer Colossal Order delayed the console version to spring 2024, but the latest post on the forums for publisher Paradox Interactive revealed that the city-building sequel still isn't ready for its PlayStation and Xbox debut. "We know many of you are eagerly awaiting the console release, but to set expectations clearly: we will not have a release before summer. We want to avoid any premature estimates and instead commit to providing you with reliable information when were closer to a launch-ready state," the team said in the official notice. "Our goal remains unchanged: to bring Cities: Skylines II to console in the best possible shape." In addition to the console port needing more time, the planned asset editor for Cities: Skylines II is also not ready yet. The studio is working to resolve technical issues that are impacting game performance and stability with this editor. After creating a strong and mostly positive community around the original Cities: Skylines game, tensions have run high between the players and the studio surrounding this sequel. The community was vocal in their disappointments about technical issues and a rough first DLC rollout. On the side of the developers, those disappointments devolved into personal attacks on team members. The toxic situation will hopefully calm on both sides once the game reaches a more stable state.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/cities-skylines-ii-will-not-have-a-release-before-summer-on-console-team-says-214053248.html?src=rss
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As promised, Volkswagen unveiled its upcoming entry-level electric vehicle at an event on Wednesday in Wolfsburg, Germany. The automaker describes the ID.EVERY1 concept car as a "smart, flexible and affordable" EV for the masses as long as those masses live in Europe. The production version is expected to start at around 20,000 (US$21,583) when it arrives in 2027. The car joins the ID.2all and sport version of the ID.GTI in using Volkswagen's MEB modular platform, which is designed to be flexible enough to support everything from compact cars like the wee ID.EVERY1 to bulkier SUVs. The company plans to roll out four electric models (including this one) based on the front-wheel drive version of the platform by 2027. In addition, Volkswagen says the ID.EVERY1 will be its first model to run on a "fundamentally new, particularly powerful software architecture," which sounds like the fruit of its $5 billion partnership with Rivian, announced last year. The automaker describes the (unconfirmed but probably Rivian-based) platform as making the concept car more future-proof, allowing it to be "equipped with new functions throughout its entire life cycle." Volkswagen As a budget EV, its specs won't make your jaw drop but could still hit a nice balance point for price-conscious buyers. The concept car can reach over 80 mph (130 km/h), thanks to its 70 kW (94 horsepower) electric drive motor. Volkswagen rates it for a range of at least 155 miles (250 km). The compact EV is a mere 12.7 ft. long, placing it between the automaker's now-retired up! (11.8 ft.) and the ID.2all (13.3 ft.). The ID.EVERY1 has room for four and a cargo volume of 10.8 cubic feet. As for its cute appearance, Volkswagen Head of Design Andreas Mindt said, "Our ambition was to create something bold yet accessible. The ID. EVERY1 has a self-assured appearance but remains likeable thanks to details such as the dynamic front lights and the 'smiling' rear. These design elements make it more than just a car: they give it character and an identity that people can relate to." If this sounds like the budget car of your dreams, well, you'd better live in Europe, or you're probably out of luck. Volkswagen describes the ID.EVERY1 as being "from Europe for Europe," which sure doesn't like it translates to America-bound. You can get a better look for yourself in the gallery below. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/volkswagen-previews-its-%E2%82%AC20000-ev-for-everyone-211053623.html?src=rss
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