Category: News

  • iPhone 13 again rumored to launch in second half of September with 1TB storage tier

    iPhone 13 again rumored to launch in second half of September with 1TB storage tier

    The rumor: Apple is launching the iPhone 13 earlier than last year, according to Wedbush Securities (69.2% accurate, via MacRumors).

    • The new report says Apple is definitely moving forward with a 1TB storage option (which could be useful if Apple’s higher-quality video features are coming)
    • Wedbush also reports that the iPhone will launch in the third week of September, which has been reported by others

    Our take: Nothing new here except the reiteration of previous claims and more evidence for a third week of September launch. We’re getting closer to iPhone 13…

  • Gurman: Apple holding multiple special events this Fall

    Gurman: Apple holding multiple special events this Fall

    The rumor: Apple may be holding multiple product launch events this Fall, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).

    • “I believe there will be multiple virtual Apple events this fall given all of the new incoming hardware and software” Gurman says
    • Apple held September, October and November special events in 2020 to announce a comparable amount of new products

    Our take: I think two events happening is a for-sure thing, and three events is a strong maybe. I’d put my bets on September and October.

  • iPhone 13 lineup may see similar pricing, expanded mmWave 5G support & bigger batteries

    iPhone 13 lineup may see similar pricing, expanded mmWave 5G support & bigger batteries

    The rumor: Apple’s next iPhones are expected to bring a slew of minor improvements, according to TrendForce (75% accurate).

    Here’s what the new report outlines…

    • mmWave 5G (the ultra-fast kind of 5G) currently limited to US iPhones is said to be expanding to new markets
    • Pricing for the iPhone 13 series is likely remaining similar to iPhone 12 due to the lack of major hardware upgrades
    • As for upgraded batteries, TrendForce says “The iPhone 13 will see a shift in its charging circuit board from the previous rigid-flex PCB design to a new design featuring SiP combined with flexible PCB. The space-saving feature of this new design will also likely result in increased battery capacity”

    Our take: We’ve heard all of this before already, but good to see it corroborated just weeks before the new iPhones release. Biggest takeaway for me is same pricing expected this year.

  • New MacBook Air rumored to launch in mid-2022 with new colors, fresh design

    New MacBook Air rumored to launch in mid-2022 with new colors, fresh design

    The rumor: Apple is planning to release a new MacBook Air with additional color options and more next year, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (76.6% accurate).

    Our take: This sounds like a really solid MacBook Air upgrade and the colors are going to be so refreshing. Excited for next year.

  • What’s new in iOS 15 beta 5?

    What’s new in iOS 15 beta 5?

    The news: Apple just released the fifth beta of iOS 15 to developers at 10am PST on Tuesday morning.

    • TL;DR: new Weather icon, fresh splash screens & option for bigger icons on iPad
    • The official launch of iOS 15 is nearing as September approaches, even though iOS 14.8 is currently in testing

    What’s new?

    • App Store now shows if you have a TestFlight version of an app installed
    • When powering off your device, there’s a new option to enable or disable finding even when iPhone is off
    • New icon for Weather app
    • Redesigned Announce Notifications icon in Control Center
    • New splash screens when launching Home, Maps, Photos, Podcasts, Translate and TV for the first time
    [Feature – iPadOS 15 beta 5] New Large Icon Option on Home Screen
    byu/elmium iniOSBeta
    • iPadOS only: New option for large icons on the Home Screen
  • iPhone 13 major camera upgrades leaked, powered by new A15 chip

    iPhone 13 major camera upgrades leaked, powered by new A15 chip

    The rumor: The biggest camera upgrades for Apple’s 2021 iPhones have been shared by Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    3 major camera upgrades…

    • Portrait Mode video: like standard portrait mode, creates a more cinematic look and feel for your content, and the blur is adjustable in post (a wild technical accomplishment that likely speaks to the power of the A15 chip)
    • ProRes video: Higher-quality video in larger file sizes that will likely be exclusive to the Pro iPhones, just like ProRaw on iPhone 12 Pro
    • Speciality filters that edit custom elements: “Another feature will let users better control the look of colors and highlights in their pictures. Users will be able to choose from several styles to apply to their photos, including one for showing colors at either a warmer or cooler temperature while keeping whites neutral. Another option will add a more dramatic look with deeper shadows and more contrast, and the company is planning a more balanced style for showing shadows and true-to-life colors with a brighter appearance”

    Our take: As I predicted, cameras will be the biggest focus for this year’s iPhones. A great, detailed report from Gurman that will likely be unveiled in a virtual event in just a few weeks…

  • DigiTimes: New MacBook Pros have entered mass production

    DigiTimes: New MacBook Pros have entered mass production

    The rumor: Apple’s highly anticipated 14 and 16-inch M1X MacBook Pro models have entered mass production, according to DigiTimes (61% accurate).

    • Their latest report shares good news: “Apple has started volume production for new MacBook Pro, with monthly shipments of the notebooks expected to arrive at 600,000-800,000 units during the period from August to November, according to sources from the upstream supply chain”
    • The new MacBook Pro models have been long-rumored, and are expected to launch between September-November of this year

    Our take: It’s finally happening. The MacBook Pros we have all been thirsting for are officially in mass production which means a launch is just around the corner. I still don’t think these will be launching in September, but October/November feels incredibly realistic.

  • New evidence shows Apple working on iOS 14.8 update

    New evidence shows Apple working on iOS 14.8 update

    The leak: New evidence suggests that Apple isn’t quite done with iOS 14 just yet, as shared by developer Brendan Shanks.

    Our take: This is odd that Apple would be working on a major 14.x update so close to the release of iOS 15.0, but it makes sense considering Apple’s new update strategy (which is great for enterprise customers, by the way).

  • Apple TV/HomePod/FaceTime combo device not launching until 2023

    Apple TV/HomePod/FaceTime combo device not launching until 2023

    The rumor: Apple’s wild new device set to revitalize the Apple TV line is still years away, according to Mark Gurman (88.8% accurate, via Power On).

    • Apple is “developing a combined Apple TV, HomePod and FaceTime camera home hub device for release around 2023” Gurman says
    • Gurman first described this device a few months ago—while mentioning it was in early development—but it appears that Apple is still working on it presently

    Our take: If this device that is supposed to be the savior to the Apple TV line doesn’t describe the current situation of the Apple TV & HomePod, then I don’t know what does: it’s confusing and chaotic with no clear path forward. How can Apple nail a product like iPhone or Mac yet be so clueless for their audio/visual suites?

  • Apple announces controversial new child safety features coming later this year

    Apple announces controversial new child safety features coming later this year

    The news: Following rumors of an imminent announcement, Apple has officially confirmed new plans to scan users’ iCloud Photos and bolster child safety on their platforms.

    The new plan takes a 3-pronged approach:

    • Messages app: When sending or receiving sexually explicit material, there will be new pop-ups to help users (children) navigate this with notifications sent out to parents letting them know whether or not their child viewed the content.
    • iCloud photo scanning (US only): Apple is rolling out technology later this year that will scan your iCloud Photos for known Child Sexual Abuse Material (CSAM). The system searches for existing content that can be matched to a database of CSAM provided by partners. If illegal content is found after a manual review, a user’s account will be reported and disabled. Apple says there is a one-in-one-trillion chance of a false positive, and will have an appeals process for these cases.
    • Siri and Search guidance improvements: “Apple is also expanding guidance in Siri and Search by providing additional resources to help children and parents stay safe online and get help with unsafe situations. For example, users who ask Siri how they can report CSAM or child exploitation will be pointed to resources for where and how to file a report. Siri and Search are also being updated to intervene when users perform searches for queries related to CSAM. These interventions will explain to users that interest in this topic is harmful and problematic, and provide resources from partners to get help with this issue.”
    • These new features are being rolled out later this year in updates across Apple’s platforms

    Our take: All of these features sound great, and the first and third features are. As for the second feature, we all agree that CSAM is terrible and has no place anywhere, ever. But Apple’s method of finding CSAM is what I’m concerned about: specially, the precedent this sets and the door this opens for finding other illegal content in user’s iCloud Photos down the line.

    Years from now, will we see this photo scanning feature expanded to other illegal content? This is a slippery slope.

  • New report says Apple plans to scan your iPhone for images of child abuse

    New report says Apple plans to scan your iPhone for images of child abuse

    The rumor: Apple is working on new software to scan your photo library for images of child abuse, according to the Financial Times (not yet tracked).

    • The upcoming tool, dubbed neuralMatch “would proactively alert a team of human reviewers if it believes illegal imagery is detected, who would then contact law enforcement if the material can be verified. The scheme will initially roll out only in the US…Apple’s neuralMatch algorithm will continuously scan photos that are stored on a US user’s iPhone and have also been uploaded to its iCloud back-up system. Users’ photos, converted into a string of numbers through a process known as ‘hashing’, will be compared with those on a database of known images of child sexual abuse” FT explains
    • Numerous security researchers, while supportive of ideas to help stop child exploitation, have voiced grave concerns with the means to justify the ends and how this could be exploited in malicious ways by governmental entities in the future

    Our take: I don’t think there’s a single rational person who think that less child abuse imagery in the world is a bad thing. But how Apple plans to get there is concerning.

    Apple has publicly shown their dedication to privacy and security time and time again, but this move jeopardizes that in a way we haven’t seen before. We’ll have to wait for the official word from Apple before making a final decision, but those who study this kind of a thing for a living don’t seem to think it’s a good precedent to set in any way.