Category: News

  • Apple board gets early demo of unreleased AR/VR headset

    Apple board gets early demo of unreleased AR/VR headset

    The rumor: Apple’s first all-new product since the Apple Watch is almost ready to be shown to the masses, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “Apple Inc. executives previewed its upcoming mixed-reality headset to the company’s board last week, indicating that development of the device has reached an advanced stage, according to people with knowledge of the matter. The company’s board, made up of eight independent directors and Apple Chief Executive Officer Tim Cook, convenes at least four times a year. A version of the device was demonstrated to the directors during the latest gathering,” Gurman says
    • An early preview of a new product for the board isn’t unprecedented…they also got a demo of Siri before anyone else back in 2011
    • The upcoming AR/VR headset is rumored to be unveiled later this year before shipping out to customers in early 2023

    Sam’s take: Apple showing this to folks outside the company suggests to me that they have something really special on their hands. I don’t want to say that a teaser at WWDC is happening, but I would be remiss to say that the timing sure is peculiar. If Apple can demo the product for the board, they can certainly put together a teaser for everyone else…and a developer conference would be the place to showcase an all-new platform. No inside info, I’m just saying! It’s not the craziest idea.

  • Flat-edge Apple Watch Series 8 could finally debut later this year

    Flat-edge Apple Watch Series 8 could finally debut later this year

    The rumor: An all-new design for Apple Watch could launch in 2022, according to ShrimpApplePro (not yet tracked).

    Sam’s take: While everyone is obviously skeptical of this latest rumor, keep in mind that 3 major sources (Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Ming-Chi Kuo) all said a flat-edge design was coming on the Series 7 last year. I think it’s entirely possible, and even likely, that the leaks were just a year ahead, and that 2022 will be when we see this new look release.

  • Apple previews iOS 16 with new accessibility features

    Apple previews iOS 16 with new accessibility features

    The news: Ahead of WWDC in just a few weeks, Apple previewed new accessibility features launching with iOS 16 and in other software updates later this year.

    Here are the rundown of the new accessibility features:

    • Door detection: This helps users locate doors and surrounding attributes, including any signs, whether it is open or closed and how far they are from one
    • Apple Watch Mirroring: AirPlay your Apple Watch display to your iPhone in order to use iOS accessibility features like Voice Control or Switch Control, and even use external Made for iPhone switches
    • Quick Actions on Apple Watch: “a double-pinch gesture can answer or end a phone call, dismiss a notification, take a photo, play or pause media in the Now Playing app, and start, pause, or resume a workout”
    • Live Captions on iPhone, iPad and Mac: Live transcription of spoken words comes to media apps, FaceTime calls and more
    • VoiceOver gains support for over 20 new locales and languages, like Bengali, Bulgarian, Catalan, Ukrainian, and Vietnamese
    • Buddy Controller: someone can help you play video games by linking 2 controllers to a single input (this is super cool)
    • Siri Pause time: “users with speech disabilities can adjust how long Siri waits before responding to a request”
    • Voice Control Spelling Mode: vocalize specific spellings with per-letter input
    • Sound Recognition expands to detect a “unique alarm, doorbell, or appliances”
    • Apple Books brings new themes and custom options such as word spacing for improved accessibility

    Sam’s take: I do not see any other tech company in the world taking accessibility as seriously as Apple. These features seem to be incredible leaps forward for users who have accessibility needs…and it’s also consequently our first look at iOS 16. Why am I so certain of this? Apple did the same thing ahead of iOS 15 with a preview of new accessibility features last year.

  • iOS 16 is reportedly ‘a bit buggy’ in current builds

    iOS 16 is reportedly ‘a bit buggy’ in current builds

    The rumor: The current internal versions of iOS 16 still need their fair share of work before releasing as a public beta, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate).

    Sam’s take: This update suggests a couple things to me: 1) the presence of bugs this late in the game indicates that iOS 16 will be a larger update than last year and 2) that Apple probably hasn’t made stability a focus. The combination of these is ultimately exciting…but also concerning because of how bugs could impact the cool stuff that Apple is trying to do. Interesting that we’re hearing this news still weeks ahead of WWDC…

  • Here’s your first look at Tap to Pay on iPhone

    Here’s your first look at Tap to Pay on iPhone

    The news: Before being officially released to customers, Apple is testing Tap to Pay on iPhone in select Apple Stores, as first spotted by Twitter user Michael.

    • Tap to Pay on iPhone was first teased early this year with no official release date, but it looks like Apple is using it in some of its own stores early
    • According to Apple, the feature allows for payment using “contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets through a simple tap to their iPhone — no additional hardware or payment terminal needed”
    • Along with using credit and debit cards with an iPhone, the feature also allows for iPhone to iPhone transactions with no additional hardware
    • In a video shared by Michael, a customer is making a payment by taping their iPhone onto another…what we are seeing in the video is likely the unreleased Tap to Pay app (it features the same design as shown in the press release)

    Ian’s Take: This is very cool to see Tap to Pay in person! While most didn’t bat an eye when it was announced, I think it will be a massive deal in the future. Any person with an iPhone, without any additional hardware, will be able to pay and be paid with just a tap: imagine the possibilities for small businesses!

  • AirPods, Magic Mouse & more rumored to get USB-C port in the future

    AirPods, Magic Mouse & more rumored to get USB-C port in the future

    The rumor: Alongside a new iPhone that boasts USB-C, more Apple products will also make the switch, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (72.5% accurate).

    • “Other Lightning port products (e.g., AirPods, Magic Keyboard/Trackpad/Mouse, MagSafe Battery) would also switch to USB-C in the foreseeable future,” Kuo says
    • Apple is seemingly planning to kill off the Lightning port in its entirety sometime within the next 2 years, following a long and painful run after being first introduced in 2012

    Sam’s take: This is, like the iPhone switching to USB-C, also too good to be true? Just seeing a rumor about this makes me laugh at how ridiculous Lightning is is…that keyboards and mouses, products designed to be used with Macs, Macs that only feature USB ports, ever featured a Lightning connector. It’s just nonsensical and silly. It looks like 2023 could be the end of that tomfoolery.

  • Gurman: Apple to announce new software and ‘other products’ on June 6

    Gurman: Apple to announce new software and ‘other products’ on June 6

    The rumor: Apple could be announcing new hardware at WWDC this year, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Power On).

    • “Apple’s developer conference will be held virtually and span the entire week. The big news will be on Monday, when the company holds its annual keynote address to announce its latest software and other products,” Gurman says
    • WWDC 2022 kicks off on June 6 at 10am PST with the traditional keynote address up first

    Sam’s take: Rumors have been swirling about new Macs coming later this month or in June…and we’re hearing that they will likely be powered by the all-new M2 chip. I would bet that if there are Macs coming soon, Apple would announce them at their event on June 6. And considering there’s specifically an in-person component for dub dub this year, you would think that new hardware is certainly possible.

  • iOS 16 rumored to be largest update in years with new apps and more

    iOS 16 rumored to be largest update in years with new apps and more

    The rumor: Apple is planning “major changes across the system” for iOS 16, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Power On).

    • “While I don’t expect Apple to present a full redesign of the software, there should be major changes across the system, new ways of interacting and some fresh Apple apps. The news about watchOS 9 will be significant as well,” Gurman says
    • Up until this point, the lack of rumors and leaks for iOS 16 suggested it would be a minor update similar to last year’s iOS 15

    Sam’s take: I won’t lie…this has me stoked to see what is coming software-wise at WWDC in just half a month now. “Major changes” and “new ways of interacting” and “fresh Apple apps” sounds like a big deal, and I can’t remember a time in recent history where we’ve gotten all 3 of these at once. Sure, it’s not the complete redesign that I’ve been asking for…but it sounds way closer than I thought.

  • Cheaper Apple TV rumored to release later in 2022

    Cheaper Apple TV rumored to release later in 2022

    The rumor: Apple is finally be making a more affordable Apple TV, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (72.5% accurate).

    Sam’s take: Why Apple has never developed a $49 Apple TV streaming stick or box is beyond me. I know they used to only make high-end products, but now every segment but Apple TV has an “SE” style product that is solid and inexpensive. Looking forward to this!

  • Second report says iPhone 15 getting USB-C port in place of Lightning

    Second report says iPhone 15 getting USB-C port in place of Lightning

    The rumor: Following a blockbuster report from earlier this week, Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate) now confirms that Apple is hard at work on putting USB-C on next year’s iPhone.

    Here’s the latest, via Bloomberg…

    • “Apple Inc. is testing future iPhone models that replace the current Lightning charging port with the more prevalent USB-C connector, according to people with knowledge of the situation, a move that could help the company conform with looming European regulations.” Gurman says. “In addition to testing models with a USB-C port in recent months, Apple is working on an adapter that would let future iPhones work with accessories designed for the current Lightning connector…”
    • Apple last switched the charging port from 30-pin to Lightning in 2012 on iPhone 5, USB-C is said to make its debut in 2023 at the earliest

    Sam’s take: I can’t believe that Gurman is now echoing Kuo’s report from just days ago. This is no joke, and I really do think that we will be getting USB-C on iPhone 15 considering the caliber of reporting here. I won’t believe it until I see it, but this is the most smoke we’ve ever had for the USB-C fire.

  • iOS 15.5 reportedly includes support for unreleased Macs

    iOS 15.5 reportedly includes support for unreleased Macs

    The rumor: While iOS 15.5 might look like a minor update on the surface, compatibility for some new products is also there, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Power On).

    Sam’s take: With many details about what we’re supposed to get at WWDC so scant, I would bet that Apple has something up their sleeve. Remember how the Mac Studio was almost a complete surprise at the March 8 event? Listen, all I’m saying is that development of M2 Macs has been ramping up, and Apple has an event on June 6.