General Apple Megathread

[Kiran403]

My macbook is using up battery power really fast. It was fully charged and I surfed the web for about 15 minutes and it had already dropped to 87%. It seems to be losing power pretty rapidly. Is this a sign of malware or something running in the background or is the battery itself losing its charge?

[TheScorpion]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

My macbook is using up battery power really fast. It was fully charged and I surfed the web for about 15 minutes and it had already dropped to 87%. It seems to be losing power pretty rapidly. Is this a sign of malware or something running in the background or is the battery itself losing its charge?

How old is your MacBook? Is it an Air? A Pro?

[Kiran403]

It's a Pro. I bought it as refurbished model direct from Apple about 4.5 years ago. Is there anywhere on the computer that has the manufacture date of the unit?

[RougeUnderoos]

Click the Apple in the top left corner and the top of the menu should say "About this Mac". Click that and you should tell you what you have and when it was made. "Macbook Pro (mid 2012) or whatever it is.

It will also show you the serial number, which you can use to learn more.

[TopChed]

Download Coconut Battery:

http://www.coconut-flavour.com/coconutbattery/

It will give you the manufacture date of your Mac and the battery, as well as the current capacity of your battery compared to when it was new.

Spoiler!

[Kiran403]

Thanks guys I'll check out those options. Is there anything I should be worried about in terms of malware or anything running in the background?

[Kiran403]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Click the Apple in the top left corner and the top of the menu should say "About this Mac". Click that and you should tell you what you have and when it was made. "Macbook Pro (mid 2012) or whatever it is.

It will also show you the serial number, which you can use to learn more.

It says Early 2011 so about 5 years or so.

Also I downloaded coconut battery and under "battery" it said that my status was good and that there was no battery failure.

[Jbo]

Anyone pick up the 7 that can speak about the battery life compared to the 6 or 6s?

[RougeUnderoos]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

It says Early 2011 so about 5 years or so.

Also I downloaded coconut battery and under "battery" it said that my status was good and that there was no battery failure.

Does "planned obsolescence" count as malware?

I don't know if that's what is going on, but in my experience with Apple products (which is a fair bit), after three or four years they do start to make you want to buy a new one.

Could just be the normal life of a battery, I don't know. Losing 1% of battery life per minute seems a little much. Can you take it to the Apple store?

I don't know if they'll help for free, considering you're warranty is probably long finished, but maybe.

[TopChed]

Originally Posted by Kiran403

It says Early 2011 so about 5 years or so.

Also I downloaded coconut battery and under "battery" it said that my status was good and that there was no battery failure.

What did it say for the % of design capacity for your battery?

It may just be a case of your battery needing to be replaced at this age. I noticed my battery really start to suffer after 5 years on my last macbook as well.

[Russic]

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

Does "planned obsolescence" count as malware?

I don't know if that's what is going on, but in my experience with Apple products (which is a fair bit), after three or four years they do start to make you want to buy a new one.

Could just be the normal life of a battery, I don't know. Losing 1% of battery life per minute seems a little much. Can you take it to the Apple store?

I don't know if they'll help for free, considering you're warranty is probably long finished, but maybe.

Legitimate question.... do you have a lot of non-apple laptops with batteries that last 5+ years? I find of the ones I've used Apple laptops seem to fare the best over time.

[HotHotHeat]

For Kiran,

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT204054

https://support.apple.com/en-ca/HT201257

[Meelapo]

I was thinking about picking up a new iPad (iPad 2 Air) for my wife since she's still using the iPad 2 (non-retina). Has there been any news or roadmaps released regarding the next iteration of the iPad? Is it "safe" to buy one now?

[Russic]

Originally Posted by Meelapo

I was thinking about picking up a new iPad (iPad 2 Air) for my wife since she's still using the iPad 2 (non-retina). Has there been any news or roadmaps released regarding the next iteration of the iPad? Is it "safe" to buy one now?

That's a tricky call. Generally they refresh each year, and they just received slight memory/price adjustments a couple weeks back. The question is if that's considered the update for the year. My assumption is that we'll hear something in October.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#9-7-iPad-Pro

[Meelapo]

Originally Posted by Russic

That's a tricky call. Generally they refresh each year, and they just received slight memory/price adjustments a couple weeks back. The question is if that's considered the update for the year. My assumption is that we'll hear something in October.

http://buyersguide.macrumors.com/#9-7-iPad-Pro

That site is pretty neat. Thanks for that! I think we'll hold off and I'll just get a new graphics card for myself.

[Senator Clay Davis]

Hmmmm....

Apple has approached McLaren Technology Group, the British supercar engineer and Formula One team owner, about a potential acquisition, in the clearest sign yet that the iPhone maker is seeking to transform the automotive industry.

The California technology group, which has been working on a self-driving electric vehicle for more than two years, is considering a full takeover of McLaren or a strategic investment, according to three people briefed on the negotiations who said talks started several months ago.

A tie-up with McLaren, whose expertise ranges from automotive engineering and on-board computer systems to novel chassis materials such as carbon fibre and aluminium, could accelerate Apple’s secretive automotive project.

Apple and McLaren declined to comment.

The lossmaking automotive group was likely to be valued at between £1bn and £1.5bn, the people said, adding that it was not clear a deal would be done.

That would make it Apple’s biggest acquisition since the $3bn purchase of Beats Electronics, the audio group founded by Dr Dre and Jimmy Iovine, in 2014.

Earlier this year, Apple invested $1bn in Didi Chuxing, the Chinese ride-hailing company. That deal was Apple’s largest equity investment to date, as chief executive Tim Cook gradually breaks with the Silicon Valley company’s longstanding aversion to large deals.

https://www.ft.com/content/523422ba-...0-8ec15fb462f4

[Fuzz]

It's sad that we live in a world where Beats is valued more than McLaren. I mean, I understand market share and all that, but it is depressing that a company with such talent and engineering is less valuable than a company that makes ####e headphones that look shiny.

[Russic]

Every time I'm remembered what Beats is worth I literally laugh out loud. It's as if it's so preposterous that my mind will not hold it in memory.

[DownInFlames]

Originally Posted by Fuzz

It's sad that we live in a world where Beats is valued more than McLaren. I mean, I understand market share and all that, but it is depressing that a company with such talent and engineering is less valuable than a company that makes ####e headphones that look shiny.

Apple didn't really care about Beats' headphones. It was their streaming service subscribers they were after. It's the same reason Facebook pays billions for companies like Instagram. If McLaren had millions of customers they'd be worth a lot more.

I just read that McLaren is denying they're in talks with Apple. Could be just a rumour.

[Fuzz]

https://www.fastcompany.com/3031209/...-250000-subscr
$12,000 per subscriber. Those individuals are more overpriced than their headphones!