Category: Apple Insider

The Cupertino tech giant has begun informing staff at certain stores that new scheduling changes are set to roll out soon. Some changes will go into effect in the next few weeks, while others may not arrive until later in the year.

The changes, seen by Bloomberg, are as follows:

• A minimum of 12 hours in between shifts, an increase from the current minimum of 10 hours.
• A maximum of three days per week when employees can work past 8 p.m., unless they choose to work late shifts.
• Employees won’t be scheduled to work more than five days in a row, a change from a maximum of six days in a row. There could be exemptions during new product launches and holidays.
• Full-time employees will be eligible for a dedicated weekend day off for each six-month period.

The retooled benefits are taking place as Apple prepares to battle unionization efforts that are taking place across the U.S. in its retail locations.

In February, Apple planned to dole out raises to employees in retail locations.

Later, in May, the company began notifying employees that it would increase the starting wage for retail employees to $22 per hour.

Employees in Atlanta were set to hold a union vote, only to later withdraw it. The labor group representing the retail staff alleged that Apple carried out illegal union-busting tactics.

Of all of the gaming brands on the market, it’s arguable that Razer is the most Apple-like. It has cultivated a cool brand, a distinctive style, and impressive hardware to match.

Out of the entire collection of products, the Blade notebook range is probably the closest to an Apple-style product. They are gaming notebooks that attempt to provide considerable performance to users, while offering a MacBook Pro-style thin design and portability instead of a hefty notebook that swamps a desk.

The similarities were on display in 2021 after Apple identified the Razer Blade 15 Advanced as a gaming notebook used to compare the M1 Pro’s graphical performance. A closer examination at the time showed just how far Razer has progressed to make something so Apple-like while still decidedly being a gaming appliance.

With the 2022 update of the Razer Blade 14, it’s apt to pitch it against Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro, a notebook with a very similar form factor.

At first blush, it’s easy to tell the two notebooks apart. One is matte silver in color with an Apple logo on the back, while the other’s anodized black with the bright green Razer logo.

There’s also a fair similarity in aesthetic, with Razer going for flat, clean lines and a slab-like appearance.

Ignoring the immediately superficial, you then see that there are a lot of similarities across the two lines. For a start, the two models are quite close in size.

For a gaming notebook, the Razer Blade 14 is quite compact.

Apple’s 14-inch MacBook Pro has a footprint of 12.31 inches by 8.71 inches, while the Blade 14 is 12.59 inches by 8.66, making it marginally longer but not as deep. For thickness, the Razer’s larger at 0.66 inches versus the MacBook Pro’s 0.61, but that difference is ultimately quite minimal.

With the two also using aluminum for the enclosure and being densely packed, they’re also in the same sort of weight ballpark. The MacBook Pro is lightest at 3.5 pounds, but at 3.92 pounds, the Blade 14 isn’t that far off.

It’s not quite a MacBook Pro, but at least the Blade 14 isn’t a stereotypically massive and heavy gaming notebook.

The two notebooks are identified by name as having similarly-sized screens. This is fairly true, but not entirely.

For a start, the MacBook Pro is equipped with a 14.2-inch display, rather than the 14-inch in its name and its rival. That 0.2 is pretty much negated by Apple’s use of a notch in the middle of the screen, with the incomplete strip at the top usually employed for the macOS menu bar or hidden for full-screen content.

The Razer Blade has a thicker bezel than the MacBook Pro, but no camera notch.

There is no notch in the Blade 14’s display, but there is a thin bezel line across the top with enough space to squeeze in the webcam.

For the resolution, Apple’s notebook soundly wins with 3,024 by 1,964 pixels, giving it a pixel density of 254ppi.

Apple MacBook Pro display

Razer includes two display options for its notebook, depending on the configuration. One version is a QHD screen with a resolution of 2,560 by 1,440, while the other’s 1,920 by 1,080.

They have pixel densities of 209ppi and 157ppi, far behind Apple’s screen.

There’s a difference when it comes to refresh rate too. Apple’s Promotion display can perform at up to 120Hz, automatically adjusting to match the content.

Razer’s QHD screen has a refresh rate of 165Hz, while the 1080p version can handle up to 144Hz. Both also benefit from FreeSync Premium, giving them the same adaptive framerate feature.

On what the screens can display, Apple has Wide Color (P3) support and True Tone. The Blade 14 covers “Up to 100% DCI-P3,” which pretty much equals Apple, as well as each panel being “individually factory calibrated.”

As the MacBook Pro uses Mini LED backlighting, that means it can provide extremely good color representation and a sky-high brightness of 1,000 nits, 1,600 at peak brightness. Razer doesn’t disclose what its LED-backlit monitor can output, but the consensus is that it can manage over 300 nits.

Apple claims its display can offer a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio. Razer doesn’t officially say the contrast ratio of its screen, but it’s certainly not going to be as high as the MacBook Pro.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro is available in three processing options: 8-core M1 Pro, 10-core M1 Pro, and 10-core M1 Max. The 8-core has six performance cores and two efficiency cores, with the 10-core versions adding another two.

That’s all supported by Unified Memory, Apple’s single-pool memory solution that services all chip parts with one lump of fast storage. It’s an efficient concept, as there’s less data duplication.

The Unified Memory operates at 200GB/s for the M1 Pro and 400GB/s for the M1 Max.

It’s also aided by the Neural Engine, Apple’s 16-core element dedicated to machine learning, which can help in an assortment of tasks, such as image manipulation. There are also Media Engines, which are specifically made to help with the encoding and decoding of video for certain codecs.

Razer includes two processor options in its roster. Its headline addition is the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX, an 8-core, 16-thread chip with a 3.3GHz base clock, a 4.9GHz boosted clock speed, 20MB of Cache, and onboard Radeon 680M graphics.

The alternate option is the Ryzen 5900HX, the predecessor to the 6900HX. It has the same core and thread counts and same base clock speed but a lower boosted speed of 4.6GHz.

Our Geekbench 5 results

Our Geekbench testing with the AMD Ryzen 9 6900HX earned a 1474 single-core and a 9086 multi-core score. These compare to the 10-core M1 Pro which earned a 1768 and a 12379 for the single and multi-core scores respectively.

Apple’s M1 range has various GPU core counts, which vary based on what chip you go for.

The 8-core M1 Pro only has a 14-core GPU available. The 10-core M1 Pro has the 14-core GPU and a 16-core option. The M1 Max starts with a 24-core GPU, with an extra option of a 32-core GPU available.

The GPU benefits from the same Unified Memory pool as the CPU and so also gains more memory to work with when a user upgrades the RAM.

Razer includes five different GPU options alongside each processor’s integrated graphics.

The lowest choice is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU with 6GB of GDDR6 VRAM, featuring 3,840 CUDA cores, along with second-gen ray tracing cores and third-gen Tensor cores.

There are two RTX 3070 Laptop GPUs in use, both with 8GB of GDDR6. The non-Ti version is equipped with 5,120 CUDA cores, while the Ti has 5,888.

Lastly, the GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU is at the high end, offered in both Ti and non-Ti versions. The non-TI edition has 6,144 CUDA cores, while the TI tops the list at 7,424 CUDA cores.

GPU OpenCL results

When running on battery power, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3070 Ti scored a 66294. This pales in comparison to the 117588 it achieved while connected to a power source. The 14-core M1 Pro GPU on the other hand only pulled a 37728.

While Apple has many video editing-specific features in its CPU and GPUs, the gaming-centric Razer Blade 14 clearly won out in this graphics test.

It is worth bearing in mind that we are comparing the M1’s integrated GPU against a discrete version, but both Ryzen chips have integrated graphics for more pedestrian workloads.

For the 5900HX, AMD calls it “Radeon graphics” with a lowly core count of 8 and a frequency of 2,100MHz, which is small. The 6900Hx has “Radeon 680M” integrated graphics, with a core count of 12 and a 2,400MHz frequency.

Neither integrated graphics option appears in GeekBench’s OpenCL results by name, making them hard to compare. However, the typically underwhelming nature of integrated graphics doesn’t play into the Blade 14’s favor, really.

As a side point, both the Razer Blade 14 and the 14-inch MacBook Pro include active cooling, enabling the two to work at a high level of performance for longer before thermal throttling comes into play.

In the case of the Blade 14, Razer markets its thermal management as “Vapor Chamber Liquid Cooling,” combining internal liquid cooling techniques along with fans in the base to push warm exhaust air out the back.

The Razer Blade 14 and 14-inch MacBook Pro both have a webcam, though with slightly different capabilities. Each have a 1080p resolution, with the exception of a 720p version in Blades with the 5900HX, but their capabilities vary.

For example, the FaceTime HD camera used by the MacBook Pro benefits from image signal processing features in the M1 chip to improve the picture. On the other side, the Blade 14 uses a Windows Hello IR webcam, which can be used with the Windows Hello biometric security system.

Speaking of biometrics, Apple does include Touch ID in the MacBook Pro.

The top and base of the Razer Blade 14.

On the audio front, Apple uses a set of six high-fidelity speakers with wide stereo and support for spatial audio. Razer’s notebook has stereo speakers but with THX Spatial Audio support.

For audio recording, Apple has a trio of microphones with directional beamforming. Meanwhile, Razer uses an “array microphone” for its audio capturing.

Then there’s the headphone jack, which both systems offer.

Storage and memory concerns are a significant departure for the two companies. One gives you far more options than the other, but it’s not the one some will expect.

Apple offers 16GB of Unified Memory in its M1 Pro models, with upgrades available to move it up to 32GB. For the M1 Max versions, 32GB is the base amount, with upgrades available to move to 64GB.

For Razer, there isn’t an upgrade available, as you’re stuck with a fixed 16GB of memory. For models using the Ryzen 9 6900HX, this takes the form of DDR5-4000MHz memory, while the 5900HX versions use DDR4-3200MHz.

Neither Apple nor Razer give options to upgrade the memory after purchase. Apple puts its memory right on the SoC, while Razer solders it in place.

It’s a similar story on the storage front, with Apple offering 512GB at the base level with options up to 8TB available. You’re again limited to just a 1TB NVMe SSD in the Razer Blade 14, regardless of configuration.

However, unlike the memory, the drive in the Blade 14 can be replaced and upgraded to a 2TB version after purchase. There is no such internal upgrade option for the MacBook Pro, forcing users into using external expansion options.

The 14-inch MacBook Pro has more ports than some previous MacBook Pro generations. The list includes an SDXC card slot, HDMI output, and a trio of USB 4 ports that can handle Thunderbolt connectivity.

Those USB 4 ports can handle recharging for the MacBook Pro, making it handy for attaching to a dock or monitor with power delivery capabilities. There’s also MagSafe 3 available, a dedicated charging port that magnetically attaches the cable, keeping all USB ports free for data.

Razer offers a variety of ports on the sides of the Blade 14

Razer’s Blade 14 includes a pair of USB Type-C 3.2 Gen 2 ports, which can also be used for charging and as a DisplayPort. There are also two USB Type-A 3.2 Gen 2 ports, an HDMI 2.1 connection, and a power port.

On the wireless connectivity side, the MacBook Pro offers Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.0, which is fine but not earth-shattering. Razer goes further with Qualcomm-based Wi-Fi 6E as well as Bluetooth 5.3 support.

Though Razer goes the extra mile on wireless, it does depend on having a Wi-Fi 6E-supporting network to do it justice properly.

The MacBook Pro has a 70WHr lithium-polymer battery, which Apple says can last for 17 hours of Apple TV app movie playback, or up to 11 hours of wireless web access.

Razer says the Blade 14 contains a 61.6WHr lithium-ion polymer battery with an 11-hour usage time. Razer doesn’t say what this period involves, such as what applications are being run, or tasks are being performed, but this is still a hefty amount of time for typical notebook usage.

Under heavy load, both notebooks will likely offer users shorter battery lives anyway.

To get power back into the notebooks, each is provided with a charger.

The MacBook Pro is supplied with either a 67W USB-C power adapter with the 8-core M1 Pro, or a 96W version for other models. This can be used with both a USB-C connection or MagSafe with the right cables, so it can recharge when docked to a device with sufficient power delivery.

Razer has a 230W power adapter included with its notebook.

Both offer backlit keyboards, but while Apple’s is white with an ambient light sensor, Razer uses per-key Chroma RGB backlighting for its N-Key rollover keyboard.

Apple sells the base 14-inch MacBook Pro with the 8-core CPU, 14-core GPU, 16GB of memory, and 512GB of storage for $1,999.

Upgrading the SoC to the 10-core CPU, 14-core GPU version of the M1 Pro costs an extra $200, with the 16-core GPU option a further $100. Going to the M1 Max with a 24-core GPU is an additional $200, and the M1 Max with 32-core GPU option is $200 above even that.

The 16GB of memory can be upgraded to 32GB for $400 on the M1 Pro models. M1 Max starts at 32GB, but it’s an extra $400 to 64GB.

Going from 512GB to 1TB is an extra $200, with 2TB an additional $400. 4TB is $600 on top, and going from 4TB to 8TB is $1,200.

The most expensive 14-inch Mac Pro, with the 32-core GPU, M1 Max, 64GB of memory, and 8TB of storage, costs $5,899.

The Razer Blase 14 collection starts from $1,999.99, with the Full HD screen, Ryxen 9 6900Hz, and the GeForce RTX 3060.

The next expensive is the first QHD model, with the 5900HX and RTX 3070, costing $2,199.99.

Lastly, the $3,499.99 premium option nets you the QHD screen, 6900HX, and the RTX 3080 Ti.

The Razer Blade 14 is a notebook that tries to offer MacBook Pro styling but in a gamer-centric Windows PC format. As we have said before, when putting the Razer Blade 15 Advanced against the 16-inch MacBook Pro, there’s a considerable amount of similarity on display.

What’s different here is that you don’t get all of the advantages that the Blade 15 Advanced has. Chiefly its use of OLED for the display.

Razer’s Blade 14 is as stylish as possible for a gaming notebook

The Blade 14’s screen uses the well-known LCD technology, complete with LED backlighting that can’t compete with the MacBook Pro’s miniLED version. The higher refresh rate and the QHD resolutions will be more than enough for its target audience.

They’re fairly close in terms of physicality, but while the MacBook is slightly lighter, it’s not enough to be a massive burden to users.

Then there’s memory and storage, which Apple somehow manages to dominate in both capacity and the breadth of options available to consumers. There are no such options for the Blade 14, with the configuration differences pretty much being about which processor, GPU, or screen resolution you want.

That being said, there’s still a lot of performance on show from the Blade 14. The included discrete GPUs are, on paper, higher performing than Apple’s integrated GPU options, but at the same time, it’s more likely to be power hungry as well.

The Razer Blade 14 is certainly what you could consider an option for those who want performance on the go. So long as you’re fine with the memory and storage, the use of Windows, and taming a wild RGB-lit keyboard, it’s a contender for power users.

For content creators, the GPU performance is certainly helpful for video work in the Blade 14, but so are the Media Engines in the M1 Pro and M1 Max. The Blade 14 is probably a good Windows-based substitute, if the potential video editor is dead set against a MacBook Pro for some reason.

For everyone else who wants configuration flexibility and performance but not bleeding-edge graphics, the 14-inch MacBook Pro is probably more than enough for their needs.

AppleInsider readers can exclusively save $100 on two high-end Razer Blade 14 configurations at Adorama with this cost-saving activation link and promo code APINSIDER. Learn more about the promotion, which runs through May 31, 2022.

The WWDC 2022 event will be a week-long developer conference presented in a hybrid format. However, new marquee features and other announcements will occur during the keynote, which is scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific on Monday, June 6.

Here’s how to watch the event.

The simplest way to watch the WWDC 2022 keynote across your devices is through Apple’s official YouTube stream, which became available on May 31.

You can watch the keynote on YouTube on pretty much any device that supports the video platform. That includes Macs, PCs, smartphones tablets, game consoles, and even Androids devices.

Since the stream is technically available, you can set a reminder within YouTube as well. The YouTube stream will occasionally experience a lag behind the other feeds, but it’s still one of the ways to see it on non-Apple devices.

You can also view the WWDC ’22 keynote stream directly on Apple’s website. The company will promote the link on its website when the keynote takes place.

There’s unlikely to be lag here, but Apple’s video player might not be as familiar to the average user as YouTube’s.

In addition to livestreams on YOuTube and the Apple site, you’ll also be able to view the keynote within the Apple Developer app.

Even if you’re not an App Store developer, you’ll be able to download the app and use it to view the stream.

This method also has the added benefit of allowing you to view WWDC sessions throughout the week, but some events — like Digital Lounges and Developer Labs — will be restricted to those with an Apple Developer Program membership.

The old Events app is basically dead, and has been replaced by the TV App.

So, if you have an Apple TV, you’ll need to view the stream within the TV app on the platform. Just navigate to the app on keynote date and you should see it advertised.

You’ll also be able to watch the stream on game consoles and other devices that support the Apple TV app.

Apple is rumored to be close to launching its next generation of Apple Silicon chips, with the M2 potentially being unveiled at WWDC 2022. As part of the launch, there is a chance Apple could bring out a new version of the MacBook Air at the same time.

According to Mark Gurman’s “Power On” newsletter for Bloomberg, any hardware launches at WWDC will “likely be on the Mac side.” Apple is also said to have been aiming to “launch the next MacBook Air with M2 chips at the conference.”

While Apple planned for a launch, a supply chain crunch caused by COVID-19 lockdowns in China seemed to put that goal in jeopardy. However, Gurman says that developers have noticed Apple employees using “next-generation MacBook Airs with their apps,” presumably for testing the hardware pre-announcement.

The idea of Apple introducing an updated MacBook Air has been floated a few times, and as one of the earliest M1 products, it seems like one of the biggest candidates for a refresh.

Rumors have put forward the idea that the MacBook Air can have a renewed appearance bringing it in line with the 14-inch MacBook Pro. This could include a display with a notch, complete with a 1080p camera, multiple color options, and a chassis change that removes the signature taper.

While the focus of Gurman’s comment is the MacBook Air, there are reportedly at least nine Macs in development using M2-generation chips.

Sometimes, sending a message from your iPhone to others can seem a bit pedestrian. A line of text doesn’t really elicit emotion unless it’s a meaningful message, unless you count the use of emojis and copious use of capitalized letters and punctuation.

If you’re eager to show that you’re excited or that you love someone tremendously, you can do a lot better than sending plain old text. A FaceTime call certainly allows you to be more expressive, but you may not be in a situation where you can actually place it.

Handily, Apple has built-in a variety of effects that you can apply to your iMessage conversations with others, and you can take advantage of them whenever you want.

Bear in mind that the effects will only really be visible to other participants in a Messages conversation if they are also using iOS. If they’re on Android or using an older-style cellphone, the messages won’t be seen at all.

The easiest way to tell is to simply check the color of speech bubbles in the conversation. If they are green, the conversation is over SMS or MMS. If they are blue, then it’s an iMessage conversation, and you can go wild with effects.

While Android users cannot experience the animations, change is afoot regarding reactions. Google is slowly updating Google Messages to enable iMessage reaction support, bringing part of the iMessage experience to Android.

Though it’s not the same thing as these effects and animations, it is at least a bit of cross-platform progress.

Bubble effects affect the speech bubble affecting the next message you send. There are a few effects available:

• Invisible Ink, which hides the message itself until the recipient swipes it to reveal the text.
• Gentle makes the text of the message really small within the bubble.
• Loud will temporarily enlarge and shake the bubble before returning it to normal size.
• Slam quickly slams the message bubble onto the thread, with added shaking.

The bubble effect interface is quite straightforward in iMessage.

• Type a message or insert a photograph into the text box.
• Touch and hold the blue arrow until grey dots appear.
• Tap the grey dots next to the effect you want to use to preview it.
• Tap the blue arrow to send.

As the name suggests, full-screen effects go one stage further, in that they display a larger animation on the recipient’s screen.

• Type a message or insert a photograph into the text box.
• Touch and hold the blue arrow until grey dots appear.
• Tap Screen at the top of the display.
• Swipe left and right to preview the different animations.
• Tap the blue arrow to send.

A few examples of full-screen animations you can select from in iMessage.

You have more full-screen effects to play with than the bubbles:

• Echo shows a swirling storm of the message you’re about to send.
• Spotlight shines a circle of light on your message before disappearing.
• Balloons shows animated balloons floating away.
• Confetti triggers a paper shower from the top of the screen.
• Love grows a heart balloon from the message, which floats away.
• Lasers gives a brief light shown emitted from the message.
• Fireworks gives the message a firework display background.
• Celebration is similar to Fireworks, except it is from one corner of the display, and golden in color.

Some of these full-screen animations also trigger if you’re using certain words or text strings.

• “Happy New Year” triggers Fireworks.
• “Congratulations” triggers Confetti.
• “Happy Birthday” triggers Balloons.

If you want to give a personal touch to the text itself, you could use the handwriting option within iMessage. This sends an animation of you writing out the message on the display.

This key can be used to hand-write your message.

• Hold the iPhone in landscape orientation.
• Tap the handwriting loop on the keyboard. It is usually on the bottom right of the screen.
• Start writing a message using your finger. If needed, scroll to the right to extend the writable area.
• Tap Done.
• Tap the blue Send arrow.

You don’t have to use your own handwriting. Apple supplies examples you can use below the entry box.

If you have bad handwriting, you can also tap one of the premade phrases at the bottom of the entry screen. Messages you send will also be saved here for future reuse.

You can delete saved messages from the collection by touching and holding it, then when it is jiggling, tapping X.

In January 2022, U.S. district judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers granted Apple’s motion to dismiss a case brought against it by a jailbreak-focused App Store.

Apple had filed for the dismissal, citing that the complaint was outside the four-year window allowed by federal antitrust law. However, she also granted Cydia’s creator, Jay Freeman, leave to amend his suit.

On Thursday, Judge Gonzalez Rogers ruled in favor of Freeman’s claim, as noted by Reuters. While she found that the claims of the first lawsuit did fall outside of the statute of limitations, Cydia’s amended lawsuit alleged that updates Apple made in 20118 and 2021 were designed to harm iOS app distributors like Cydia.

“To the extent plaintiff’s claims rely on Apple’s technological updates to exclude Cydia from being able to operate altogether, those claims are timely,” Judge Gonzalez Rogers said in the ruling.

Initially filed in December 2020, Cydia’s lawsuit claimed that Apple used its monopoly position against it.

Cydia claimed that it was forced to shut down because of Apple’s allegedly unlawful control of app distribution on iOS. Cydia shut down in 2018.

Judge Gonzalez Rogers is also at the heart of the Epic versus Apple trial.

In a note to investors seen by AppleInsider, JP Morgan analyst Samik Chatterjee takes a look at the latest smartphone sales information released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology. The data, which covers the month of April, shows below-seasonal iPhone shipments.

International shipments in China, which are mostly comprised of iPhones, tracked at 1.7 million units in April. That’s below the historical average of 3.1 million shipments.

Shipments decreased 26% month-over-month in April — a reversal of a small seasonal uptick of 1% between March and April.

According to Chatterjee’s data, total international smartphone shipments in China clock in at 36.4 million since the release of the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro. Despite the downturn in April, that’s still 11% higher than shipments during previous cycles.

The iPhone seems to be a casualty of a broader smartphone downturn in China. Between March and April, shipments declined by 16% month-over-month. On average, shipments have tended to climb by as much as 27% during the same timeframe in past years.

Market share is still climbing, it appears. International shipments accounted for 9% of the market in April, down from 11% in March but higher than the historical average of 8%.

Since October, international shipments have accounted for 19.2% of smartphone sales in China, up from 15.8% the year prior.

The analyst maintains his 12-month Apple of $200, based based on a price-to-earnings multiple of 30x on his 2023 earnings estimate of $6.73.

First introduced during CES 2022, the Bluetti EB3A is part of the company’s power station line that is intended for mobile use. Ideal for an RV or for camping, the unit can keep essential devices powered up while on the road, or far away from civilization.

With a capacity of 268Wh, the unit is able to charge up to nine devices at once. Equipped with two AC outlets that can output up to 600W if required, it also includes other ports including two USB-A connections and a 100W USB-C port.

Key to its utility as a portable power station is the EB3A’s ability to recharge via multiple methods.

Like other units, it can be charged via an outlet, with it able to do so at up to 268W normally, or at 430W under Turbo charging. If you need to recharge it via an outlet as quietly as possible, the Silent mode can do so without turning on the fan, while still recharging at up to 100W.

Recharge the Bluetti EB3A while on the move via solar power, an outlet, or both at the same time.

However, you can also hook the EB3A to solar panels or a fuel-powered generator, so it can regain charge while at a remote location. It is even flexible enough to take power from both DC and AC sources simultaneously.

It also recharges rapidly, with a standard mode charge from an outlet taking about 1.5 hours, 1.3 hours under Turbo. A 200W MPPT solar charge will fill it to capacity in around 2.5 hours, though combining AC charging with solar can bering the charging time down to just 1.1 hours.

At its fastest, you can go from empty to 80% charge in as little as 40 minutes.

To ensure you always have power, Bluetti uses the LiFePO4 battery cell for durability. It can manage over 2,500 charging cycles to 80% of its original capacity, meaning you’ll be able to use it for a very long time.

Using the LiFePO4 battery cell, the Bluetti EB3A offers a usability time in excess of 2,500 recharges.

Using the LiFePO4 battery cell, Bluetti insists it can charge faster, last longer, and is safer than the lithium-ion cells used in most other power stations and battery banks. A built-in Battery Management System helps improve the battery utilization and extend its service life by protecting against short circuits, over-current events, over-voltage charging, overloading, and overheating.

To keep tabs of how the EB3A is running, you can use the new LCD screen to check the remaining percentage of charge, how long it has left to recharge, and its input and output power levels. A companion app even allows you to check from your iPhone at any time, and to update the firmware anywhere in the world where you can get cellular signal.

Use the iPhone app to check in on how the Bluetti EB3A is recharging, or how much power is left.

Preorders start on June 14. Shipments of the Bluetti EB3A will start one week later. Pricing has yet to be announced, but an early-bird discount of 20% off is being offered to subscribers of the company newsletter.

The new show is a 10-episode series based on true stories of Mexico’s first female police force. Ariel Award nominee Barbara Mori stars as Maria, a devoted wife who discovers her true calling when she joins the first female police force, and her entire belief system comes crashing down.

“Las Azules” is in pre-production so a release window hasn’t been provided for the series. It is created by International Emmy Award-winning Fernando Rovzar and Pablo Aramendi. Emmy Award nominee Wendy Riss, Erica Sanchez Su, and International Emmy Award winner Billy Rovzar are executive producers.

The story follows four women on the police force who discover their squad is a publicity stunt to distract the media from a brutal serial killer. Maria, whose determination to catch the killer becomes an obsession, Gabina, an aspiring officer, Angeles, a brilliant fingerprint analyst, and Valentina, a young rebel, set up a secret investigation to achieve what no other male officer has been able to do and bring the serial killer to justice.

“Las Azules” will debut on Apple TV+ alongside other Spanish-language shows like “Now & Then” and “Acapulco.” Customers can watch these shows and more by subscribing for $4.99 per month or via any tier of the Apple One subscription service.