A few months ago my original HomePod died. Its early death was likely an unfortunate side effect of a bad software update. And since Apple no longer sells the original HomePod after discontinuing it early this year, the only option is to buy a HomePod mini, buy a used HomePod, or look elsewhere entirely.

Though it doesn’t possess the amazing sound quality of the original HomePod, the HomePod mini is a good smart speaker, and is better than the original in other ways. With last week’s release of three additional HomePod mini colors, I thought it was a good time to revisit some of the best HomePod mini features.

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西門子數位化工業軟體近期推出 Aprisa 實體設計解決方案的最新版本——Aprisa 21.R1。該版本在效能及技術上均取得了重大進展，能夠大幅改善執行時間並減少記憶體用量。

西門子數位化工業軟體近期推出 Aprisa 實體設計解決方案的最新版本——Aprisa 21.R1。該版本在效能及技術上均取得了重大進展，能夠大幅改善執行時間並減少記憶體用量，將有助於客戶降低設計成本並縮短上市時間。 

Aprisa 產品線是用於設計 IC 佈局與繞線技術的領導者，提供完整的閘極級到 GDSII 架構的全功能模塊級實體建置工具。自 2020年 12 月併購 Aprisa 產品組合以來，西門子大幅投資 Aprisa 技術，Aprisa 的研發團隊規模目前已擴大兩倍以上。作為 Aprisa 的重要目標市場之一，台灣亦十分注重該項技術研發，不僅建立多人研發團隊，並計劃持續新增研發人才，優化產品效能，因應 IC 領域不斷上漲的需求。 

西門子 EDA 副總裁，台灣暨東南亞區總經理林棨璇表示：「客戶正加速朝先進製程節點移轉，如何解決日益提升的複雜度是一項重要挑戰，隨著物聯網、5G、AI 等科技在台灣的不斷實現，這種複雜性則會進一步增加。西門子 EDA 始終將客戶需求放在第一位，我們將持續投資包括 Aprisa 在内的 IC 設計解決方案，從增強研發力量到加大渠道鋪設，真正協助客戶運用最領先技術在各先進節點上實現設計目標，進而促進台灣 IC 設計產業的發展。」 

新版 Aprisa 亮點包括：平均全流程的執行時間比前一版本減少 30%，而且對於更大型、更複雜的設計，其執行時間最多可提升兩倍。可支援多重電源域（MPD）。這些延伸功能可大幅提升 MPD 支援的彈性與完整性，這點對極低功耗設計至為關鍵。

針對全部佈局與繞線的主要引擎均進行了改善，包括佈局最佳化、時脈樹合成（CTS）最佳化、佈線最佳化以及時序分析。這些效能提升的優勢幾乎可以在所有 IC 設計中得以體現，特別是包含複雜多重邊界多重模式（MCMM）特徵的大型設計。對於這類複雜的設計，Aprisa 已被證實其速度最多可比上一代提升2 倍之多。

記憶體用量減少高達 60%；新版 Aprisa 與前一版本相比，可為大型設計平均減少 30% 的全流程尖峰記憶體使用量，為複雜設計則最多可減少 60%。此效率的大幅提升使得包含複雜 MCMM 的大型設計能夠在可用記憶體較少的伺服器上完成。

支援 6 nm/5 nm/4 nm 設計。西門子與領先的晶圓代工廠密切合作，支援 Aprisa 執行先進節點的設計工作。目前 Aprisa  已通過 6 nm 製程的全面認證，在此之上，西門子已經實施所有必要的設計規則及功能，以便 Aprisa 可以支援 5 nm 與 4 nm 節點的設計，西門子正與全球領先的晶圓代工廠夥伴合作進行該方面的最終認證。

西門子數位化工業軟體 Aprisa 產品系列部門總監 Inki Hong 表示：「這次 Aprisa 的全新版本再次表明了西門子致力於為 EDA 客戶提供真正一流的實體設計技術。有了 Aprisa 21.R1，我們的客戶可以比以往更有效率地完成更大型、更複雜的設計。」

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Alex Gorsky, who is chairman and CEO of the healthcare company Johnson & Johnson, has been elected to Apple's board of directors.

Apple announced on Tuesday that Alex Gorsky, CEO of multinational pharma company Johnson & Johnson, is joining the Cupertino-based company’s board of directors. Gorsky has decades of experience in the healthcare segment, and he’s expected to act as an advisor to Apple for health technologies.

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Apple has dropped the trade-in values for a range of devices, including for iPhones, Macs, and iPads.

Update: iOS 15.2 beta 2 is now rolling out to public beta testers as well.

Apple continues to make changes to iOS 15.2 with this week’s release of the second beta. The update includes new child safety features in the Messages application, tweaks to the TV application, and more. Head below for our full roundup of the new features in iOS 15.2 beta 2.

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The post What’s new in iOS 15.2 beta 2: Legacy Contacts, Find My updates, more [U: Public beta too] appeared first on 9to5Mac.

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Direct Mail: Create and send great looking email newsletters with Direct Mail, an easy to use email marketing app for the Mac. Get started for free and save 10% when you sign up for any pricing plan.

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Apple today released the second beta of iOS 15.2 and iPadOS 15.2 for developers, which comes with child communication safety features in iMessage and a Hide My Email option in Apple’s Mail app. Interestingly, today’s beta also brings a refreshed design to the Apple TV app on iPad with a new sidebar. In addition, there’s now a dedicated Store tab in the app.

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When the iPhone 13 was first released in September, repair shops quickly noticed that if you replaced the display, Face ID would stop working. Now, Apple is backtracking on this decision to limit iPhone 13 screen repairs, according to a new report from The Verge.

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Learn how and when to turn on and use low power mode on macOS in order to boost battery life and make your Mac notebook run cooler and quieter.

Following the release of iOS 15.2 beta 2 to developers on Tuesday, Apple confirmed that the update enables child communication safety features in iMessage. However, the update also adds the “Hide My Email” option directly in the Mail app for iCloud+ subscribers.

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In honor of Veterans Day, iTunes is hosting a major sale on military movies this week. Get hits like American Sniper, Dunkirk and Jarhead starting at just $7. We also have great deals on just about every James Bond movie, and popular titles like Fight Club starting at $5. Check out the full roundup below.

Apple says it will release a software update that will make it so third-party repair shops no longer break Face ID when replacing a screen in the iPhone 13 lineup.

Netflix Games initially launched with only Android support in place. But now there is official iOS support, with mobile games available individually in the App Store.

About a half-hour ago, Jony Ive sat down with Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour as part of the RE:WIRED conference to talk about his new design collective LoveFrom. The conversation delved into Jony’s relationship with Steve Jobs, reflections on the 20th anniversary of the iPod, and how LoveFrom works with Apple.

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Apple has now enabled the Communication Safety feature in Messages, just one part of the Expanded Protections for Children suite of features Apple announced earlier this year.

Apple has seeded the second betas of iOS 15.2, iPadOS 15.2, tvOS 15.2, watchOS 8.3, and macOS Monterey 12.1 to developers.

Following an Android launch last week, Netflix has now launched its new Games initiative on iOS. Netflix subscribers can now enjoy the following games on iPhone and iPad: Stranger Things 1984, Stranger Things 3, Shooting Hoops, Card Blast, and Teeter (Up!).

As video streaming market matures, Netflix is looking for new entertainment avenues to explore. Games is one of its first ventures. There’s nothing earth-shattering or groundbreaking in the initial set of available titles, but it’s the first step and analysts expect Netflix to expand aggressively over time.

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Twitter Blue has officially arrived in the United States across iOS, Android and the web, bringing extra features to anyone who is willing to pay the subscription price.

Apple TV+ has debuted the official trailer for the upcoming holiday cheer documentary "Twas the Fight Before Christmas" before its November 26, 2021, debut.

Apple is releasing the second developer beta of iOS 15.2, and it includes a notable new feature. Apple says that iOS 15.2 beta 2 adds support for the new communication safety feature in the Messages app. This is one of the features Apple first announced in August but ultimately delayed after pushback.

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The beta testing process is moving forward today. Apple is now rolling out iOS 15.2 beta 2 to registered developers, bringing new features such as the App Privacy Report, redesigned Notification Summary, and more. Head below for the details.

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After launching the first macOS Monterey 12.1 beta at the end of October, Apple has seeded developers with macOS 12.1 beta 2. It arrives as Apple has slated the launch of Universal Control and SharePlay as coming “later this fall” for Mac.

Update 11/10: The second macOS 12.1 beta is now available for public testers.

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Canonical, Ubuntu’s publisher, announced today “the quickest way” to run Linux cross-platforms on M1 Macs. With Multipass, users can launch a virtual machine image with one command and have Linux running on an M1 Mac in as little as 20 seconds.

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If you’ve ever used a MacBook Pro with Touch Bar, you’re probably familiar with one common convenience. Love it or hate it for everything else, the Touch Bar is really good for two specific things. Now that it’s gone, there’s an opportunity for macOS to learn from the Touch Bar.

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After first launching in Europe, Withings is out today with its new ScanWatch in the US. The new hybrid smartwatch includes some impressive features like 30-day battery life, activity and sleep tracking, heart health monitoring, breathing disturbances tracking, and more.

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All of today’s best deals are up for the taking and headlined by an Apple Pencil 2 discount hitting $100. That’s alongside 20% off OtterBox’s collection of iPhone 13 MagSafe cases and VIZIO’s new MQ6 AirPlay 2 TVs at $152 off. Hit the jump for all that and more in the latest 9to5Toys Lunch Break.

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Apple has officially launched the 2021 Holiday Gift Guide, as well as brand new personalized holiday gift cards based on artwork from prominent artists from across the globe.

In addition to launching this year’s Holiday Gift Guide, Apple has also announced that The Grove Apple Retail Store in Los Angeles will get a new address on November 19.

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This morning Apple debuted their 2021 holiday gift guide, and as part of the announcement they’ve also revealed a new holiday-themed gift card. This is the second holiday-themed Apple gift card that the company has made, with last year’s being a twist on the six-color Apple logo. The new cards have a red Apple logo sticker with a gift wrapping design on top of it.

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Update: After this story’s been published, Twitter announced Twitter Blue is now available in the US and New Zealand.

It’s been five months since Twitter launched Twitter Blue for Canada and Australia. Now, the subscription feature is finally available in the US, according to a lot of platform users.

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Apple is officially kickstarting the holiday shopping season today with the debut of its annual Holiday Gift Guide. This year, Apple is promoting the guide with the tagline, “Let the holidays be for everyone.” Head below for the full details.

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Back in late 2020, Elon Musk said he had reached out to Tim Cook to talk about Apple acquiring Tesla years back when the automaker was struggling. However, Cook said he had never spoken with Musk. Now in a new interview, while skipping a question about Apple Car, Cook shared more details on what happened with Musk.

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The post Tim Cook responds to Elon Musk claim that Tesla wanted to sell to Apple (while dodging car question) appeared first on 9to5Mac.