Category: News

Apple releases iOS/iPadOS 15.2.1 update with bug fixes
The news: Apple’s first software update of 2022, iOS 15.2.1, is now rolling out to compatible devices.

What’s new, according to Apple’s release notes… (via 9to5Mac)
- Messages may not load photos sent using an iCloud Link
- Third-party CarPlay apps may not respond to input
Our take: Looks like a pair of minor fixes here, but I really hope there are some stability improvements as well. iOS 15.2 has been stable but unpredictable in apps like Messages, where I’ll have to force quit somewhat often to read or send a text. Perhaps the aforementioned iCloud photos bug was playing a role?
January 12, 2022
Apple discontinues Beats Pill+ speaker and now doesn’t sell any Bluetooth speakers
The news: Apple’s first cancelation of 2022 has been the quite removal of the outdated Beats Pill+ speaker, as first spotted by 9to5Mac.
- The speaker, which launched in 2015, is no longer available for sale from Apple or Beats…even though the companies haven’t publicly made a statement about the product’s future yet
- With this being discontinued, Apple no longer offers a battery-powered, portable Bluetooth speaker
- If you want a speaker from Apple, you’ll have to grab the only one they make: HomePod mini
Our take: I honestly forgot about this until I saw the headlines that Apple discontinued it. Which I don’t blame myself for, considering that it was last updated in 2015 and has been greatly out shadowed by the HomePod mini (which is much cheaper). Really, I’m just sad (and confused?) that Apple doesn’t make a really good Bluetooth speaker. It seems like such an obvious product that they could nail…considering that they literally make HomePod speakers already.
January 11, 2022
Apple’s VR headset won’t help you live in the metaverse
The rumor: Apple’s entry into the virtual reality headset market will be a stark departure from their competition, according to Mark Gurman (87% accurate, via Power On).
- “I’ve been told pretty directly that the idea of a completely virtual world where users can escape to — like they can in Meta Platforms/Facebook’s vision of the future — is off limits from Apple. Executives today at the highest levels of the company, and in the past like Jony Ive, have pushed for the virtual reality headset to not be an all-day device, and instead one that can be used for bursts of gaming, communication and content consumption” Gurman says
- Apple’s AR/VR headset is rumored to launch later in 2022 and will be Apple’s first major product introduction since Apple Watch in 2015
Our take: I’ve been wondering what Apple’s initial goal of this headset was going to be, and know we know: the opposite of what Meta wants. And I think this is absolutely the right call for this first-generation product. Sure, we all might want to leave our regular lives and exist in the virtual world one day…but we’re nowhere near there now. So Apple targeting things like talking to each other, playing games and watching videos…that’s smart considering that most folks have never touched true virtual reality yet (myself included). Also, I’d like to note that this rumored approach just feels more human.
January 9, 2022
Apple holding March/April event to launch new iPhone SE
The rumor: Apple is planning to hold their first virtual event of the year in the Spring, according to Mark Gurman (87% accurate, via Power On).
- “Apple’s first virtual event of 2022 is coming up in just a few short months and is likely to take place in either March or April, I’m told” Gurman says
- While a new iPhone SE is a definite, Apple has also been working on a new larger-screen iMac, redesigned MacBook Air, and revamped Mac mini
Our take: And just like that, the first event rumor of the year is out from the best source for Apple rumors. While the new iPhone SE will just be a spec-bump, the new MacBook Air and 27-inch iMac should be much more exciting.
January 9, 2022
This may be the iPhone 14’s all-new “notch”
The rumor: Apple’s smaller notch introduced on iPhone 13 may be short-lived, according to Dylandkt (77.5% accurate).
- Apple is planning to replace the notch with a “pill shaped” cutout with the camera and Face ID hardware placed under the display for the first time
- An image of what the the pill-shaped design could look like was first shared on Twitter months ago by ShrimpApplePro, who has shared some credible information in the past
Our take: Pill shaped looks significantly better to me than a circular cutout, so I really hope this is the design that Apple settles on. That being said, we’re still a few months away from the iPhone 14 design being finalized so there’s time for things to change.

https://twitter.com/dylandkt/status/1479112397084266505?s=20
January 7, 2022
Apple Books+ could launch later this year
The rumor: Apple may be launching an audiobooks subscription service later this year, according to The Economist (not yet tracked, via 9to5Mac).
- The new report suggests that Apple could be expanding their services empire to audiobooks sometime in 2022…but not additional details were provided by The Economist
- Apple’s services currently include Apple Music, Apple TV+, Apple Arcade, iCloud+, Apple News+ and Apple Fitness+
Our take: This seems like a pretty logical next step for Apple considering that they already own and operate the Apple Books platform. Sounds like an Audible competitor to me…
January 4, 2022
2023 iPhones again rumored to include 10x zoom periscope lens
The rumor: Apple is working on the biggest upgrade yet for their telephoto zoom lens, according to Jeff Pu (53.3% accurate, via MacRumors).
- At least one new iPhone releasing in 2023 is said to include this new 10x zoom lens that will allow users to optically zoom without losing quality
- We first heard about a periscope lens coming to iPhone from Ming-Chi Kuo (75.9% accurate)
Our take: What is a periscope zoom lens? Essentially, it takes a longer zoom lens that normally would make the phone unreasonably thick and places it sidways, using a mirror or prism to reflect what it sees into the camera sensor. There’s an image that illustrates it above and a really helpful video from Samsung below. I never saw it visualized like this before and it actually makes sense: this is the path to seriously increasing the optical zoom in smartphones.
January 4, 2022
Apple’s M2 chip will have 8-core CPU with improved GPU
The rumor: The follow-up to Apple’s game-changing M1 chip will be a minor upgrade, according to Mark Gurman (87% accurate, via Power On).
- “From what I’m hearing, the M2 will be a marginally faster version of the M1 chip from late 2020. I’d expect the same overall CPU core count—4 high-performance cores and 4 energy-efficient cores—but a bit of a stronger GPU. That likely means 9 or 10 GPU cores, an upgrade from the current 7 or 8 graphics core options on the M1” Gurman says
- Apple is likely to first place the M2 chip in a redesigned MacBook Air sometime in 2022
Our take: This is the first we’ve heard of actual specs for the M2: an 8-core CPU and 9/10-core GPU. Definitely smaller improvements than I would’ve expected, but keep in mind that this chip will be powering Apple’s most affordable Macs, not the higher-end pro line of computers.
January 2, 2022
Apple’s next external display is said to cost around $2,499
The rumor: Apple is making a new monitor that still won’t be affordable for most, according to Mark Gurman (87% accurate, via Power On).
- Gurman reports that Apple is working on a new external display that is “destined to be about half the price of the Pro Display XDR,” Apple’s flagship monitor that currently retails for $4,999…plus an additional $999 for the stand
- Other rumors have been swirling in recent months about Apple working on a trio of new monitors in 24, 27 and 32-inch sizes…but no specific release dates are known just yet
Our take: I’m smiling and chuckling while writing this because two racks is still way out of the price range for most folks. Still, I’m intrigued because anything cheaper than the current Pro Display XDR is at least some improvement. What we don’t know about this upcoming display are the details like sizing, resolution and features. Will this be a 24, 27 or 32-inch display? Will it be 4K or 6K? And most importantly, will it look good?
January 2, 2022
All Macs will have Apple Silicon by June 2022 (rumor)
The rumor: Apple will complete their transition to Apple Silicon within the next six months, according to Mark Gurman (87% accurate, via Power On).
- “I’d expect Apple to finish its transition to its own silicon from Intel chips as early as June at WWDC 2022. That includes a smaller Mac Pro with up to 40 CPU cores and 128 graphics cores, a new Mac mini and a large-screened iMac Pro” Gurman says
- Apple promised in June 2020 that they would complete their transition away from Intel within two years, and this rumor from Gurman suggests that Apple is still on schedule
- Update 1/2/21 2:50pm: Gurman has clarified on Twitter that he believes the Mac Pro will be announced at WWDC, but not released until later on
Our take: If we thought 2021 was the year of the Mac…I think we were wrong. Apple has some stellar, higher-end releases planned for later this year that I believe will show us the finalized vision for Apple Silicon: a line of chips that will make the rest of the industry sweat. The CPU power has been quite impressive already, but I’ve got a sneaking suspicion that Apple has some wild GPUs up their sleeve.
January 2, 2022
Apple preps AirPods Pro 2 with new design, case and lossless audio
The rumor: Apple is planning a massive overhaul for second-generation AirPods Pro, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (75.9% accurate).

Per the new investor note…
- AirPods Pro 2 will have a new design, alongside an “audible charging case” so you’ll be able to find your headphones easier
- Apple lossless audio (ALAC) will be supported as a first for wireless AirPods
- Look for a launch sometime in the fourth quarter of 2022
Our take: As seen above, MacRumors has already shared images of what the new case is going to look like, although the pods are visually similar to current AirPods Pro. This latest rumor also lines up with what an Apple VP said about the future of AirPods…
January 2, 2022