What’s old is new again for Apple, which this week refreshed its MacBook Pro line at the high end and touched up its AirPods and HomePod Mini offerings as well. The biggest change: The 16-inch MacBook Pro now runs on Apple’s own M1 chips, rather than those from Intel.
And what’s old is inexplicably still with us: This week marks the 20th anniversary of the iPod, whose glory days are long gone, yet a version of it can still be found in Apple’s product listings, if you look hard enough. For those of you waxing nostalgic, CNET’s Ty Pendlebury looks back at how the iPod evolved over those two decades, and Roger Cheng talks with Tony Fadell, inventor of the iPod.
Those stories are among the many in-depth features and thought-provoking commentaries that appeared on CNET this week. So here you go. These are the stories you don’t want to miss:
Apple’s breakthrough gadget has survived music streaming, rival players and the iPhone. But it’s had to drastically evolve with the times.

Collin Buenerkemper/CNET
For the 20th anniversary of the iPod, Tony Fadell, who invented Apple’s iconic music player, reminisces about its creation in an interview with CNET.

Portrait by Williamson Adams. Apple images composited by Sarah Tew/CNET
Commentary: Apple has done away with an expensive gimmick I hated as much as its disastrous butterfly keyboard.




Stephen Shankland/CNET
Exclusive: Google’s new smartphone uses dozens of artificial intelligence techniques to try to take the best photos and videos.




Stephen Shankland/CNET
The 25th Bond film introduces the franchise’s only explicitly queer character — and a protagonist at that.




MGM/YouTube
The Porsche 718 Boxster 25 Years heritage model not only honors its predecessor, but delivers in its own right.




Tim Stevens/Roadshow
Commentary: It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door.




Lord of the Rings / New Line Cinema
Childhood is calling. And it costs $60 at Best Buy.




CNET
Outer Wilds will make you say “holy shit” out loud. A lot.




Annapurna Interactive