Apple’s holiday iGoodies: Goodbye touch bar, hello health-monitoring AirPods

The AirPod doesn’t fall far from the iPhone… And we still can’t find it. Apple unveiled a bushel of redesigned classics at its second product event in two months — including updated AirPods, revamped MacBooks, and new HomePods.

• Gone by popular demand: Apple listened to buyers and ditched unliked features such as the MacBook’s touch bar (sorry, emojis) and AirPods’ rubber tips.
• Homemade chips: The new MacBooks feature improved Apple-made M1 chips, which were first intro’d to the Mac lineup last year. The new Macs are said to be 70% faster.
• Colorful colors: Apple rolled out blue, yellow, and orange HomePod Mini speakers, which previously came in only white and gray.

iPad or hardcover book?... Unwrap to find out. Apple’s updated gadgets hit shelves next week, meaning new iPhones, Watches, Macs, and AirPods will be out in time for the profitable holidays. Case in point: Apple’s $29B in profits last holiday quarter were the highest of any company — ever. But this year, Apple and other retailers are sweating over production due to shipping delays and chip shortages. So Apple’s new iProducts could serve another purpose: Push shoppers to buy older-but-in-stock iPhones and AirPods, whose prices have just been reduced.