macOS update, Apple Glass and more

The Apple Watch is nearly overtaking the Mac in popularity, and owners of the 2016 or 2017 MacBook Pro are eligible for a repair program. That and more in the iPhone news of the week.

Download: macOS 11.2.1 with bug fix for MacBooks charging issue

Apple has released a minor software update for the Mac. In this article, we’ll show you how to download and install macOS 11.2.1 (Big Sur). The new version of macOS contains a bug fix for the charging problem of older MacBooks. Just eight days after the release of macOS 11.2, Apple has already released a new version of the operating system. This is a minor update that is especially important for owners of a MacBook Pro from 2016 or 2017. In some cases, they could no longer be charged. macOS 11.2.1 fixes that problem.

→ Read more about macOS 11.2.1

‘More than 100 million people wear an Apple Watch, will overtake the Mac in 2022’

The Apple Watch has reached an important milestone, according to a reliable analyst. After a difficult start, the smartwatch has secured a place in the Apple ecosystem. The analyst Neil Cybart of Above Avalon researched Apple Watch sales and states that more than 100 million people now have one on their wrist. Apple would have crossed this limit in December 2020, due to the popularity of the Apple Watch Series 6 and cheaper Apple Watch SE.

→ Read more about the Apple Watch popularity

Apple Maps will warn of obstacles and speedometers on your route

Slowly but surely, iOS 14.5 is growing into a substantial interim update. Apple Maps is also making progress with functions that are taken directly from navigation app Waze. The new features showed up in the iOS 14.5 beta, which is now being tested by developers and testers. As soon as you start Apple Maps (or Maps in Dutch), Siri explains what the new functions entail. Apple Maps will have multiple options for users to identify hazards on the road. With enough reports, this danger is then put on the map, so that other drivers are aware of it. Did you pass the place and did the obstacle disappear? Then you can say this to Siri too.

→ Read more about Apple Maps in iOS 14.5

Apple Glass will receive micro-OLED glasses, glasses will appear in 2023

Apple partners with TSMC. The company will provide high-quality micro-OLed screens for the iPhone maker’s emerging augmented reality glasses. This ‘Apple Glass’ should be in stores around 2023. That writes Nikkei Asia. The publication has spoken with sources claiming to be involved in the collaboration. According to them, TSMC will supply micro-OLed screens to Apple. These types of screens can be made much thinner than other types, such as OLED or LCD.

→ Read more about Apple’s AR glasses

Apple starts repair program for MacBook Pros from 2016 and 2017 with battery problems

Apple has started a repair program for 2016 and 2017 MacBook Pro laptops with battery problems. Affected customers can have their MacBook Pro battery repaired by Apple free of charge. In this article we explain how the repair program works. Apple writes on its website that a “very small number” of customers suffer from these battery problems. These are 13 and 15 inch MacBook Pro laptops that were made in 2016 and 2017. The affected computers cannot charge more than 1 percent. In practice, these laptops fail immediately as soon as you remove the charging cable.

→ Read more about the MacBook Pro repair program