Author: Sam Kohl

  • iOS 15 introduces major FaceTime, Messages and notification updates

    iOS 15 introduces major FaceTime, Messages and notification updates

    Here’s what’s new:

    • FaceTime: Spatial audio, voice isolation and wide spectrum audio, video capture and Portrait Mode, plus the ability to schedule calls
      • SharePlay: Listen to Music, movies and tv shows, and share your screen
    • Messages: significant UI updates, pin Messages, new photo collages and stacks, and Shared For You iOS integration
    • Notifications: new summary view, updated UI design, & Focus, a new status updating feature that changes notifications
    • Photos: searchable text and new intelligent memories with memory mixes
    • Wallet: UWB with broader key support & ID cards
    • Weather: new design with more weather insights plus radar
    • Maps: new globe view, improved 3D views with more map detail, beautiful nighttime view and upgraded transit with favorite lines
  • Apple holding Apple Music special event at 12pm PST tomorrow

    Apple holding Apple Music special event at 12pm PST tomorrow

    The leak: Following the WWDC keynote address, Apple is holding another special event at 12pm PST, according to a new video first spotted by @kuromikenny.

    • The video, which has now been deleted, said “Introducing Spatial Audio” and “Tune in at 12pm PT on June 7 to watch this special event.”
    • Apple previously announced that the new spatial and lossless audio features would become available sometime in June

    Our take: Considering that this was now taken down, it feels like it may have been a mistake? Why would Apple hold two event on the same time, at different times? Perhaps this year’s WWDC will be more packed than we’re expecting…

  • watchOS 8 leak reveals new Mind, Contacts and Tips apps coming

    watchOS 8 leak reveals new Mind, Contacts and Tips apps coming

    The leak: Apple is preparing to launch three new watch apps as a part of watchOS 8, first spotted by Khaos Tian on Twitter.

    • Mind, likely a new app for managing your mental health, Contacts and Tips will be debuting alongside watchOS 8
    • A new, official profile for the App Store revealed the existence of the new apps ahead of WWDC kicking off on June 7

    Our take: While Contacts and Tips will be minor upgrades, I am fascinated to know what exactly the Mind app is. We’ve heard rumors of better mental health software coming for years now, and I can’t wait to see what Apple has been up to.

  • macOS 12 to be ‘a more muted update’

    macOS 12 to be ‘a more muted update’

    The rumor: The next version of macOS will be a smaller update, according to Mark Gurman (88.7% accurate, via Bloomberg’s Power Up).

    • “For the Mac, expect a more muted update after the operating system was redesigned with macOS Big Sur last year” Gurman says
    • Rumors have pointed to this year’s macOS 12 update being coined “Monterey” or “Mammoth”

    Our take: A smaller, more focused update makes a lot of sense with Big Sur releasing last year. Plus, the main Mac focus this year is hardware, anyway.

  • iOS 15 Lock Screen redesign delayed, new status feature and more leaked

    iOS 15 Lock Screen redesign delayed, new status feature and more leaked

    The rumor: Less than 2 days ahead of WWDC 2021, Mark Gurman (88.7% accurate, via Bloomberg) has shared a final report about what to expect at Apple’s June 7 event.

    • “One major new addition will be a control panel that provides in-depth detail on what data are being collected by each third-party app installed on a user’s device” Gurman says
    • You’ll now be able to set a status ranging form “driving, sleeping, working or don’t want to be disturbed” and notifications will be delivered differently depending on the setting
      • Incoming notification banners are also said to get a fresh design
    • On iPadOS, widgets will be movable and pinnable anywhere on the Home Screen and an improved multitasking interface is also coming
    • There was also supposed to be a redesigned Lock Screen this year, but some of those changes have been apparently been delayed

    Our take: An amazingly scant report from Gurman, who has historically shared almost all the major details for new iOS updates ahead of their unveil at WWDC. With no redesigned Lock Screen, will we see any major iOS changes this year? I think we will: I have a feeling a ton of changes haven’t leaked…

  • New iPhone 13 Pro black color and camera features leaked

    New iPhone 13 Pro black color and camera features leaked

    The rumor: A batch of new iPhone 13 rumors have been shared by Max Weinbach (69.1% accurate, via EverythingApplePro)

    • The updated color for Pro models is apparently closest to hex code 121212, which will be a darker version of the current Graphite
    • A new electronic stabilization system known as “warp” may involve subject tracking and would be available across all resolutions and frame rates

    Our take: Two small tidbits from this latest info drop, but the new black seems like it will actually be black. Giving me iPhone 5 slate vibes.

  • New renders provide closest look yet at iPhone 13 design

    New renders provide closest look yet at iPhone 13 design

    The images: New images from Ian Zelbo show us our closest look yet at the final design for iPhone 13.

    • The renders, based on the final CAD provided by Jon Prosser, show a new criss-cross camera layout on the rear of the iPhone and a smaller notch on the front
    • A new orange/bronze color has also been rumored and can we seen in the images below

    Our take: I like the new color, but I’ll definitely miss Pacific Blue if it ends up going away. New camera layout on iPhone 13 looks nice, though!

  • Apple is still working on a new version of AirPower

    Apple is still working on a new version of AirPower

    The rumor: Years after Apple publicly canceled their AirPower wireless charging mat, a successor is still being worked on, according to Mark Gurman (88.7% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “The Cupertino company is still exploring a future wireless charger that works similarly to its failed AirPower, a charging mat designed to simultaneously power up an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, the people said.”
    • In addition to a new inductive wirelsss charing product, Apple is also exploring longer-range charging solutions…but Gurman notes that technology is still “likely several years away”

    Our take: I can’t believe that we’re still referencing AirPower more than two years after it was canned. That being said, I’d love to see the original vision come back to life at some point. It’s just that with the introduction of MagSafe, a place-anwhere-and-it-charges solution doesn’t make as much sense now.

  • iOS 15 may include ‘big’ updates to Safari, Health, Maps and iMessage

    iOS 15 may include ‘big’ updates to Safari, Health, Maps and iMessage

    The rumor: Apple is planning big updates to a number of key apps on iOS, according to Joanna Stern of the Wall Street Journal (77.4% accurate).

    Our take: Apple has been hinting extensively at upgrades to the Messages app, but we hadn’t previously heard about improvements coming to Safari or Maps. We’ll find out how big iOS 15 really is in just three days.

  • 2021 iPad 9 may be thinner, ‘geared toward students’

    2021 iPad 9 may be thinner, ‘geared toward students’

    The rumor: Apple is planning an updated version of the cheapest iPad for release later this year, according to Mark Gurman (88.7% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • The iPad 9 is said to be “a thinner version” of the current base iPad and will continue to be targeted to students
    • A release for the updated $329 iPad could happen “as early as the end of this year, about the same time as the new iPad mini”

    Our take: Nothing too big in this part of Gurman’s massive iPad report, and honestly surprised that the only rumored upgraded here is a thinner tablet. Sounds like iPad 9 will be an ever-so-slightly better version of iPad 8.

  • Redesigned iPad mini likely coming later this year as new details leak

    Redesigned iPad mini likely coming later this year as new details leak

    The rumor: Apple is planning a radically upgraded version of the iPad mini, according to Mark Gurman (88.7% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • For the first time in the tablet’s history, an updated design will shrink the bezels and likely remove the home button
    • Apple is currently planning a launch “as early as the end of this year”

    Our take: The iPad mini is fundamentally the same product now as it was when it released. For those of you dreaming about a mini iPad Pro…this sounds like it. And it sounds great.