Category: News

  • Apple shares iOS 15.5 changelog ahead of public release coming soon

    Apple shares iOS 15.5 changelog ahead of public release coming soon

    The news: A new iOS update should be coming your way sometime soon, as Apple just seeded the release candidate (RC) version to developers after weeks of beta testing.

    Here’s what new in iOS 15.5, per Apple:

    • Wallet now enables Apple Cash customers to send and request money from their Apple Cash card
    • Apple Podcasts includes a new setting to limit episodes stored on your iPhone and automatically delete older ones
    • Fixes an issue where home automations, triggered by people arriving or leaving, may fail

    Not mentioned in the changelog, but also coming:

    Sam’s take: Another major-sounding iOS update, another suspiciously empty changelog from Apple. It seems like there might be something else that could be enabled post-launch, like that new Apple Music app or even Tap to Pay. In the meantime, the update is pretty small with only some minor Wallet changes.

  • Apple exec teases filming at Apple Park ahead of WWDC 2022

    Apple exec teases filming at Apple Park ahead of WWDC 2022

    The news: Apple may be in the process of filming their next event, according to a new Instagram story post from Steven Huon, Appleā€™s Head of Music Programming, Brand Experience & Events.

    Sam’s take: With WWDC 2022 less than a month away now, I’d take a bet that filming is done and that this is exactly what the post is saying. Not that this tells us anything we couldn’t have guessed already…but cool to see a peek inside Apple Park ahead of the next event.

  • Apple planning larger displays for upcoming iPhone 14 models

    Apple planning larger displays for upcoming iPhone 14 models

    The rumor: Some of Apple’s next-generation iPhones will see display increases this year, according to Ross Young (92.9% accurate).

    • Apple is planning to increase iPhone 14 Pro from 6.06 to 6.12 inches…and iPhone 14 Pro Max is going up ever so slightly from 6.68 to 6.69 inches diagonally
    • Considering how minor these size increase will be, it’s likely that the phones will still be marketed as 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch class displays, respectively
    • The change in screen size is reportedly happening because of the new pill + hole notch design and slimmer bezels

    Sam’s take: No major size changes here, but I love that we’re seeing confirmation from the display expert himself that there is a tangible size benefit to Apple redesigning the front of iPhone 14 Pro. As each day passes, I grow to like the new look more and more.

  • Reputable source says USB-C is coming to iPhone 15 next year

    Reputable source says USB-C is coming to iPhone 15 next year

    The rumor: After sticking with Lightning for a decade, Apple could finally make the switch to USB-C, according to Ming-Chi Kuo (72.5% accurate, source).

    • Kuo states that from surveys in the supply chain, he has learned that it is likely Apple will abandon the controversial Lightning connector
    • Due to proposed EU regulations, Apple could be forced to switch to USB-C for the 2023 iPhone
      • The proposal states that all smartphones, tablets, and headphones that are sold in the UK must use a USB-C connector
      • EU politicians have petitioned for a standard connector, citing that more than 11,000 tonnes of unused charging cables are thrown out per year
    • USB-C is already on a number of Apple devices such as Mac, iPad Pro and iPad Air…plus the benefits include faster charging and transfer speed

    Ian’s take: While this is exciting news, I’m not that confident in its validity. We have heard from many sources that Apple’s long-term goal is a portless iPhone, and if they do make the switch to USB-C, it would only be for a few years (something uncharacteristic for Apple). I also believe that the Made For iPhone program (MFI) has a massive role in Apple’s persistence to keep Lightning. MFI is a licensing program that guarantees the compatibility of accessories with iPhones and gives accessory makers tools to make these accessories. When one of these millions of 3rd-party products is sold, Apple gets a cut. With USB-C, they could not have this program because USB-C is a universal connector, unlike Lightning. It would be fantastic if Apple switched to USB-C, and while I can’t see it happening, I would love to eat my words.

  • Apple discontinues the iPod touch and no longer sells any iPods

    Apple discontinues the iPod touch and no longer sells any iPods

    The news: After years of stagnation, Apple has put the final nail in iPod’s coffin: the iPod touch has been officially discontinued.

    Sam’s take: “The music lives on.” That headline made me oddly emotional today. And as out-of-left-field as it is for a press release announcing the death of the iPod, it’s pretty beautiful. And it made me start reflecting on the iPod and how it unequivocally changed my life.

    I got the second-generation iPod touch for my 11th birthday in 2009. I still vividly remember taking it out of the box for the first time, powering it on and seeing the white Apple logo and promptly installing my first ever app from the App Store: Tap Tap Revenge. I sat there for hours that night going through every part of the operating system and quickly became enthralled with the device. It was the first thing I had ever touched that felt like it could do everything I ever wanted. And for me, it was everything.

    I could text my parents and my friends on an app called textfree. I could play Angry Birds on long family road trips for hours on end. And most importantly, I could sync all of my iMovie creations directly to my iPod touch. I could bring them anywhere. I could show anyone, anywhere what I made. It was magical.

    And it still is today. Only now, the videos I shoot go up on a website called YouTube…and making them is my career: not the quirky hobby of an only child looking to pass the time.

    So to the iPod touch, I say thank you. Thank you for giving me a new way to express myself. Thank you for showing me media in a way I had never seen before. Thank you for showing me how to love a piece of technology. Thank you for the magic.

    If it wasn’t for you, I wouldn’t be writing this today.

  • Many Apple products sold out for months as supply chain issues finally add up

    Many Apple products sold out for months as supply chain issues finally add up

    The news: In a situation that has been developing for months, significant product shortages have finally begun to affect the Cupertino tech giant across numerous product categories.

    As first noted by @BasicAppleGuy, here are the current estimated shipping times for the following products in the United States:

    • iPad Air: 31-38 days
    • Mac Studio (M1 Max base model): 9-17 days
    • Mac Studio (M1 Ultra base model): 52-67 days
    • Mac Studio (custom configuration): 80-94 days
    • Apple Studio Display: 60-74 days
    • MacBook Pro (base 14/16-inch): 57-71 days
    • MacBook Pro (custom configuration): 59-76

    Some stock may show up sporadically in Apple Stores between now and these estimated dates…but the availability will be quite constrained for the next 2-3 months.

    Sam’s take: We’ve been hearing about supply chain issues since the beginning of 2020 when COVID first struck, but Apple has been largely immune to the effects until now. While some products like the iPhone and iPad had been temporarily hard to find, 3 of the 4 new products from Apple’s March 8 event are still sold out for weeks. Not to mention the crazy delays on new MacBook Pro models that were released in October of last year. But the well-being of the workers who assemble these products must come first, even if it means worse delays than what we’re seeing now.

  • Second-generation AirPods Max rumored to launch later in 2022

    Second-generation AirPods Max rumored to launch later in 2022

    The rumor: Apple is planning the first AirPods Max refresh for later this year, according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Power On).

    • Later this Fall, “Look out for an AirPods Max refresh with new colors (and, we hope, a price dropā€”$550 is absurd for those headphones),” Gurman says
    • The same overall design will remain, however, as no major updates are expected
    • Since AirPods Pro 2 are expected to gain lossless audio support, it is likely that AirPods Max will as well…but no reports have confirmed this yet
    • AirPods Max were first announced in December 2020, and no updates have happened since then

    Ian’s take: I am excited to see the new colors on the AirPods Max! It has been really quiet on that front for a number of months now and I’m ready for something fresh. I would expect Apple to use the same colors of the new iPad Air, but nothing concrete has been reported yet. AirPods Pro 2 are also coming this Fall!

  • The wait is almost over: AirPods Pro 2 are coming this Fall

    The wait is almost over: AirPods Pro 2 are coming this Fall

    The report: Apple is planning a successor to AirPods Pro for later this year according to Mark Gurman (86.4% accurate, via Power On).

    Ian’s Take: Finally! We have been hearing about these updated AirPods Pro for years, with sources constantly disagreeing on release. I am confident that these will release this fall: 3 years is a long time between releases (original AirPods Pro users are already struggling with battery health). This is going to be an exciting fall!

  • WWDC 2022 is one month away, this is the hardware and software that’s coming

    WWDC 2022 is one month away, this is the hardware and software that’s coming

    The news: With just under a month to go until WWDC 2022 kicks off, here are all the leaks and rumors so far.

    New software

    • Without a doubt, software will be the focus of WWDC (it is a software developer event, after all)
    • iOS/iPadOS 16, macOS 13, watchOS 9 and tvOS 16 are all expected…but this event could be the first time we see homeOS materialize

    iOS/iPadOS 16

    We haven’t heard much about Apple’s mobile updates so far, but there will be some “significant enhancements”:

    • There won’t be a redesign, and the software will look similar to how it does now
    • Notifications are getting a revamp, but there’s no word of which direction Apple is taking them in
    • iPadOS is getting a revamped multitasking interface
    • Car crash detection will automatically dial 911 if an accident happens
    • An updated Health app will feature feature better sleep tracking, new features for women’s health and medicine management with pill reminders

    watchOS 9

    We’ve gotten a few tidbits at watchOS 9, but it sounds like the update will once again be pretty small:

    • On Series 4 or newer, improved atrial fibrillation detection is coming ā€œto calculate what is known as ā€˜burden,ā€™ or how often a person is in a state of atrial fibrillation across a certain periodā€
    • New low-power mode that allows you to still use parts of the watch while extending battery lifeā€¦there is a power-reserve mode currently, but it only shows the time
    • ā€œManyā€ existing watch faces will be updated (but no additional details are provided)
    • More pre-selectable workouts and ā€œadditional metricsā€ are also in the works
    • Down the road, watchOS will also support satellite connectivity like on iPhone 14, but we donā€™t know exactly when

    Hardware

    While WWDC is usually a software-only event, some sources believe new Macs could be announced very soon:

    • A redesigned, colorful MacBook Air with M2 inside is the most likely to come
    • But an all-new Mac mini has also been in the works for quite some time…and that could boast an M2 chip, too
    • Apple could also preview the new Mac Pro (but we’re not entirely sure on that just yet)

    Sam’s take: I don’t really know how to feel about dub dub yet. I think it could be great! But I also worry that it could be just as underwhelming as last year, where we saw no hardware and the smallest software updates in history.

  • Apple releases new Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable

    Apple releases new Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable

    The news: A new, longer version of Apple’s Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable is now available for purchase.

    Sam’s take: Slow news day to be covering a longer cable that released. I know. But hey, it’s actually one of the more reasonably priced Apple accessories out there. The cost to manufacture Thunderbolt cables is quite high, so buying either a 1.8m or 3m version from Apple is legitimately worth it.

  • New videos show flaws with Apple’s self-service repair program

    New videos show flaws with Apple’s self-service repair program

    The news: Shipments of parts and tools from Apple’s new self-service repair program are showing up at doorsteps…but reception is mixed.

    • The parts you order, like displays or batteries, are top-notch and indistinguishable from original Apple parts…but they’re pricey and make justifying the self-repair more challenging
    • I wound up paying about $7 more to repair my iPhone 12 Pro display myself instead of taking it to the Genius Bar and paying Apple to fix it (and it took me ~5 hours of labor)
    • The tools are a completely different story: while they are built well, they are absolutely overkill for many repairs, only obfuscating and confusing a process that could be made much simpler (ex. iFixit)
    • That’s not to mention the essential tools that Apple doesn’t send you, including cut-resistant gloves, heat-resistant gloves, and an ESD-safe mat, bracelet and tweezers

    Sam’s take: This wasā€”and I’m being seriousā€”one of the most daunting and painful projects I have ever worked on. Not only were the instructions unchanged from those made for trained Genius Bar employees, not only did key tools like gloves and tweezers not ship in the repair kit, not only did the heavy-duty tools not function as they should…there were numerous errors and other challenges that I encountered along the way. There is literally no way I could have done this without Luke Miani at my side, and even he was flabbergasted at countless points throughout the repair. I agree with the thesis of his video: Apple’s self-service repair program was designed to fail (for most people).