No FaceID on new MacBook Pros?

The new Macbook pro laptops announced just this week are impressive. They look like they'll have amazing performance with the new M1 Pro and M1 Max chips. The renewed focus on versatility - returning several ports they proudly removed a few years ago! - means that these should attract all sorts of professional users - likely to be mostly Apple platform developers and many photo and video creatives.

The upgraded displays look very good. They have proper 2x scaling, adaptive refresh rates up to 120hz and really impressive dynamic range. Some have complained already about the notch and and while it isn't a great solution, I'm fairly confident that it wont cause any real issues for users.

The really odd thing about the notch is that it doesn't solve the problem that it should. The new Macbook Pros have what looks like a slightly better webcam, but why isn't Apple's FaceID tech in that notch?! there is plenty of room for it!

The experience of using FaceID on iPhone is almost completely seamless, but I have noticed it's not quite as flawless on the latest iPad Pros. I believe that this is less to do with the technology and it's limitations. It is likely due to the way we hold and use our devices.

I've noticed with my own use of these devices that I tend to hold the iPhone higher up than a iPad and maybe this is why the FaceID has been a little inconsistent on my iPad? Maybe this combined with the increased distance for a Laptop on a desk means FaceID is not quite up to standard for laptops and desktops yet?

Despite all that, I would be super tempted to buy one of these 2021 Macbook Pros - but I've just splurged on a M1 iPad Pro, which is proving to be the best photo editing computer i've ever owned :)

My 2018 Macbook Pro is safe for now...

Trip to Marrakech - December 2014

Stuck in London over Christmas and New Year is no fun, expecially when you're 16,000 km from home and everyone you know heads home for the end of year break.

Solution - I headed for Marrakech for some respite from cold London and explored the complicated and beautiful capital city of Morocco.

A Saturday Walk on Southbank

After a slow start to the day I decided to head out and take some photos, initially I walked out the door unsure of where I might end up.

I first had the idea to visit the Thames barrier, but decided that it might be a bit far given that it was already 2:30pm. I decided to head to the old favourite - Southbank, between the London Eye and Blackfriars.

The weather was great, one of those autumn days that where the cold wind makes it feel closer to mid-winter but with occasional golden sunshine making it a little nicer for a long walk.

The tide was fairly low, so I was able to walk on the 'beach' next to the Thames, which certainly gives a unique perspective. Scroll down to have a look at the handful of shots that survived the post-walk photo cull/edit.