Category: News

  • AirPods 3 may get improved bass, larger case battery

    AirPods 3 may get improved bass, larger case battery

    The rumor: Apple will be increasing the battery capacity for the next-generation AirPods charging case, according to Max Weinbach (68.8% accurate).

    • AirPods 3 may ship with an updated wireless charging case…now coming standard…that includes a ~20% larger battery according to a new report shared on Twitter by PineLeaks
    • The batteries inside the pods themselves are said to be identical inside to those found in AirPods Pro
    • While the overall sound profile will be similar to AirPods 3, improved “bass and low ends” are expected

    Our take: This is the first we’ve heard, to my knowledge, of improved sound coming to AirPods 3: bass is the number one area where AirPods 2 are lacking now. No mention of a release date, but sources have suggested we could see these later this month.

  • iPhone 13 may see NO price hike, longer battery life & major camera upgrades

    iPhone 13 may see NO price hike, longer battery life & major camera upgrades

    The rumor: iPhone 13, which is just days away, sees a number of new features and functionality leaked by Max Weinbach (68.8% accurate).

    In the large report publicized by PineLeaks on Twitter, here’s what they expect to see on iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro models next week:

    • Same pricing as iPhone 12 series
    • Across all models, weight and thickness will increase a bit, with this most noticeable on the iPhone 13 Pro Max (this will be “the true flagship smartphone…differentiating itself from the standard Pro model”)
    • Battery life: 5.4-inch getting an extra hour of battery life, 6.1-inch have ~10% larger batteries, 6.7-inch has 18-20% larger battery; on Pro models, enabling Low Power Mode will disable the 120Hz display
    • Camera details: Camera sensor on all models gets 15% more light, with the ultra-wide lens getting 40% more light; Cinematic Video feature will keep a subject naturally centered in frame; Night Mode shots get upgraded color science and the ability to automatically detect stars for improved astrophotography

    Our take: Pretty much every detail in this massive report is a good one, and sets reasonable expectations for the iPhone 13 series. I’m still most excited to hear about the new satellite connectivity, but these auxiliary upgrades will make a compelling upgrade.

  • Gurman: Apple Watch Series 7 will launch alongside iPhone 13, but ship later

    Gurman: Apple Watch Series 7 will launch alongside iPhone 13, but ship later

    The rumor: Even amid notable production delays, Apple still plans to announce the next generation Apple Watch on September 14, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).

    Our take: This sounds perfectly reasonable amid the production issues. Glad we will still be seeing this on Tuesday and not at a later event in the Fall!

  • First look at iPhone 14 reveals an iPhone 4 design

    First look at iPhone 14 reveals an iPhone 4 design

    The leak: This is your first look at the all-new, redesigned iPhone 14…coming in 2022, according to Jon Prosser (74.3% accurate).

    • The new look is a clear spiritual successor to Apple’s 2010 iPhone 4, with large slabs of glass on the front and a titanium band that wraps around the entire device
    • Other features of iPhone 4 are also present, like circular volume up and down buttons and large oval speaker grills
    • But Lightning will remain the defacto port for another year

    Our take: This design is timeless and it looks simply phenomenal. With Prosser’s track record of sharing new designs early, this is a pretty safe bet. Too bad it’s not coming until September 2022.

  • Apple announces September 14 ‘California Streaming’ event for iPhone 13 & more

    Apple announces September 14 ‘California Streaming’ event for iPhone 13 & more

    The news: Apple just announced their highly-anticipated September event to kick off a busy Fall season.

    • The digital event begins at 10am PST on September 14, 2021…the usual time for Apple keynotes
    • iPhone 13 and Apple Watch Series 7 are expected to be unveiled

    Our take: This is THE premiere event of the Fall. See you next Tuesday!

    https://twitter.com/gregjoz/status/1435272731746979840
  • Apple Watch Series 7 to have larger 1.9-inch display, ‘Modular Max’ watch face & more

    Apple Watch Series 7 to have larger 1.9-inch display, ‘Modular Max’ watch face & more

    The rumor: Apple’s main focus for the Series 7 watch will be on a larger display and exclusive watch faces, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • Apple is planning increases to 41 and 45mm screen sizes with 16% more pixels…the larger model will now have a 1.9-inch display
    • A faster processor is also expected alongside the chassis redesign
    • Plus, Apple is working on new, exclusive watch faces that take advantage of the new displays:
      • Modular Max: digital time alongside one complication, plus the ability to display longer complications that go across the screen below
    • Continuum: “will change based on the flow of time and the current hour”
    • Atlas/World Timer: Apple actually leaked this alongside the watchOS 8 reveal in June, see it here
    • New Hermès: numbers change each hour as time passes
    • New Nike: watch face changes with a person’s movement

    Our take: This is the biggest evidence yet that the design will be almost the entire story for Apple Watch Series 7 this year. Unless Apple has something totally under wraps that hasn’t leaked, I don’t think there will be a major upgrade this year…aside from the new look.

  • Apple will finally allow apps to tell you how to sign-up and pay for them…outside of the App Store

    Apple will finally allow apps to tell you how to sign-up and pay for them…outside of the App Store

    The news: In early 2022, Apple plans to allow some apps to direct you off-platform for sign-up and account management…as announced in a new press release.

    • The new changes pertain to “reader,” apps which Apple describes as, “apps provide previously purchased content or content subscriptions for digital magazines, newspapers, books, audio, music, and video”
    • Apps were previously not allowed to ever link to their website for sign-ups or payments as this was skirting App Store rules

    Our take: This is huge news for developers…and something that I’m incredibly happy to see myself. Keep in-app purchases as the most secure, default option while also allowing developers to opt-out of this system is what we’ve all been looking forward to seeing. And it starts next year.

  • Future Apple Watch to get thermometer, partial blood pressure monitoring

    Future Apple Watch to get thermometer, partial blood pressure monitoring

    The rumor: Apple is planning to add some minor new health features to Apple Watch within the next few years, according to Wall Street Journal (80% accurate, source).

    • According to the report, Apple is planning a thermometer sensor for as soon as next year on the Apple Watch Series 8…but it won’t initially be for determining your temperature: rather, it will be to help with fertility planning for women
    • Blood pressure monitoring is also coming later down the road…using an innovative new method where the speed of the wave of your heartbeat will be measured as it travels through your arteries: this will show you a trend of your blood pressure, but not allow you to see a medical readout of systolic and diastolic numbers

    Our take: More evidence that no major new health features are coming to Apple Watch this year. And the features coming over the next few years don’t sound very useful either. A temperature sensor only helpful for fertility tracking at launch, and a blood pressure reader that doesn’t provide your actual blood pressure on-demand? These sound mediocre at best, and absolutely less impactful and meaningful than they could be.

  • iPhone 13 satellite features to be emergency focused at first, include new messaging capability

    iPhone 13 satellite features to be emergency focused at first, include new messaging capability

    The rumor: Apple’s plans to allow the iPhone 13 to communicate with satellites will generally be focused on emergency situations, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “The first component, dubbed Emergency Message via Satellite, will let users text emergency services and contacts over a satellite network when there’s no cell signal available. That feature will be integrated into the Messages app as a third protocol — alongside the standard SMS and iMessage — and appear with gray message bubbles instead of green or blue” Gurman says
    • These satellite messages will be limited to only so many characters and will push through Do Not Disturb when it is enabled
    • Apple is also working on a second feature that will allow you to report an emergency as it happens, such as someone falling overboard at sea or to report suspicious behavior or weaponry
    • According to Gurman’s source, “the features are unlikely to be ready before next year”

    Our take: I’ve seen a lot of takes minimizing how important this tech could be and I don’t understand why. What Gurman, the best Apple source in the game is reporting here, is exactly what I envisioned and will be truly game-changing when it launches. This will allow humans to communicate to each other at the times when they need to most, and I really hope that the iPhone 13 series does end up shipping with this functionality. This alone could be worth upgrading for if you are someone who finds yourself in areas without cell-coverage frequently.

  • Apple Watch Series 7 mass production delayed due to issues

    Apple Watch Series 7 mass production delayed due to issues

    The rumor: Apple has run into issues producing the new design for Apple Watch Series 7, according to Nikkei Asia (accuracy pending, source) and Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • Nikkei Asia reports that “manufacturers of Apple Watch 7, as the device is expected to be called, began small-scale production last week but encountered critical challenges in reaching satisfactory production performance, multiple people familiar with the situation said”
    • According to Gurman, a new lamination process used on the updated display could be also contributing to the issues

    Our take: This is not a great sign, just days ahead of the expected unveil at the September event. Will Apple still announce the watches alongside iPhone 13 and provide later ship dates? I’m not sure. It’s possible they could also push the Apple Watch Series 7 to a different event entirely…

  • Apple launches iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro service program for sound issues

    Apple launches iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro service program for sound issues

    The news: Apple has introduced a new repair program for owners of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro not hearing sound during phone calls.

    • “Apple has determined that a very small percentage of iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 Pro devices may experience sound issues due to a component that might fail on the receiver module. Affected devices were manufactured between October 2020 and April 2021.”
    • iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 Pro Max are not a part of the program
    • Users who own an iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro that “does not emit sound from the receiver when you make or receive calls” should contact Apple support to get the issue fixed for free

    Our take: Apple initially launched the program at the end of the day on Friday, so I waited to publish until the following week when there would be more visibility for the issue. Definitely reach out to Apple if you have experienced this issue. I have not seen this issue on my iPhone 12 or iPhone 12 Pro.