Apple rumoured to begin its EV production in 2024

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A new report from Reuters is sharing with us some concrete details about Apple's secretive Project Titan division, which is the tech giant's driving car arm. The report claims Apple might be ready to produce the electric vehicle as early as 2024, which will feature a "breakthrough" monocell battery design. The tech will supposedly allow Apple to add more active material to the power cell, improving its range.

Apple is supposedly exploring the use of lithium iron phosphate battery chemistry. It might not be as dense as other battery types, but it is less prone to overheating and won't require cobalt. 

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WhatsApp on desktop to get voice, video calls next year

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Facebook-owned WhatsApp will be the latest messaging service to get voice and video call support on its desktop app. A company spokesperson shared the news with Reuters, but it isn't clear if it's going to try and compete against the likes of Zoom and Google Meet in the enterprise space.

WhatsApp has over two billion users, with many of them using the service for personal calls. In time for the holidays, some desktop users are getting the feature already on a trial basis. We don't have information about when the full rollout next year will be.

Samsung Galaxy Buds Pro tipped to get Apple-like surround sound feature

Samsung is reportedly gearing up to launch a new Galaxy Buds pair alongside the upcoming Galaxy S21 in January. And now, we're learning more about these TWS earbuds. The new model will supposedly be called the Buds Pro, and it'll reportedly adopt a new 3D spatial audio function similar to Apple's AirPods that bear almost the same name.

This feature will, unfortunately, only work with Samsung devices running on Android 11. Like Apple's spatial audio, it will simulate a surround sound system by switching the direction of where your audio is coming from depending on how your head and the phone are positioned. Apple uses the AirPods' accelerometer to adjust audio according to the direction of your head.

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Apple puts Wistron on probation following India factory riot

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Apple has put another manufacturer on probation over allegations of labour abuse, which resulted in a riot at its iPhone plant in India. The company has stopped any new contracts for Wistron after it found out about pay issues at the contractor's Narasapura-based factory. Rioting broke out at the plant on December 12 after its employees complained of long hours, unpaid wages, and poor conditions.

Apple's initial investigation found that Wistron hadn't implemented "proper working hour management processes," which stalled pay for its workers between October and November. Wistron said it would address the complaints by improving its processes and pulling an executive that oversees its India business to make sure the employees' needs are met. Apple said its staff and outside auditors would continue to monitor Wistron's work.

Source: Engadget