Blog

  • Source says Apple’s April releases will include iPad Pro, new AirPods & accessories

    Source says Apple’s April releases will include iPad Pro, new AirPods & accessories

    The rumor: Apple is planning to introduce a variety of new products in April, according to Uncle Pan (not yet tracked).

    • A new version of the iPad Pro, updated AirPods and new accessories are said to be coming at some point in April
    • Pan specifically mentions that a redesigned iPad mini will not be appearing this month

    Our take: Again, while Uncle Pan is not proven to be a reliable source just yet, I think his tidbits are legitimate. Plus, Pan’s post about new Spring MagSafe cases matches up exactly with what a totally different source posted on Weibo.

  • New iPhone 12 MagSafe cases leak in Spring colors

    New iPhone 12 MagSafe cases leak in Spring colors

    The leak: Apple is preparing to release new colors for their Silicone cases with MagSafe, according to Uncle Pan (not yet tracked).

    • While five new colors are rumored to be coming, we get our first look at new blue, purple, green and peach colorways
    • The new cases are expected to come sometime this Spring, possibly at an Apple April event

    Our take: Whenever we’re getting new products this month…it seems to be soon. I’ve never been this biggest fan of Apple’s cases though, so I’ll probably pass on these. Blue looks nice, however.

  • Major Apple Arcade update adds 30+ new games…including some classics

    Major Apple Arcade update adds 30+ new games…including some classics

    The news: Apple updated Apple Arcade today with 30+ additional games, including some classics, legendary App Store releases and brand-new titles.

    • The notable new additions to the Arcade library:
      • NBA 2K21 Arcade Edition
      • Star Trek: Legends
      • The Oregon Trail
      • Cut the Rope Remastered*
      • Monument Valley*
      • Threes!
      • Fruit Ninja Classic*
      • Chameleon Run
    • Some of the new “Timeless Classics” include games like Good Sudoku by Zach Gage, Chess – Play & Learn, Backgammon and Solitaire by MobilityWare
    • Apple Arcade costs $4.99/month and now includes more than 180 games

    Our take: I’ve asterisked the most exciting additions to Arcade above. I haven’t resubscribed yet since my free trial, but damn does Cut the Rope Remastered look wonderful.

  • iPhone SE 3 coming in 2022, radical redesign in 2023

    iPhone SE 3 coming in 2022, radical redesign in 2023

    The leak: Apple’s next iPhone SE will be coming sometime in 2022, according to Ross Young (100% accurate).

    • What’s happening on next year’s SE: 4.7-inch LCD display & 5G connectivity
    • And the one coming in 2023: 6.1-inch LCD display with a punch hole design, rather than a notch

    Our take: Considering that the 2023 iPhone is supposed to go all-screen with no interruptions, it seems possible that the lower-cost iPhone SE that year could get something wild like a punch hole. But seeing that the punch hole design is relatively premium right now, it will be interesting to see how Apple markets it.

  • This may be the new Apple TV remote: it’s not what we thought

    This may be the new Apple TV remote: it’s not what we thought

    The leak: Apple’s new remote for the Apple TV may not be what we thought, according to 9to5Mac (77.2% accurate) and Apple TV expert Sigmund Judge.

    • While rumors of a new Apple TV remote have been brewing for years, it appears the updated remote will actually be an alternative the the existing Siri remote
    • A leaked image of the new remote was discovered by 9to5Mac…but it turns out that it exactly matches a new remote announced recently by Universal Electronics

    Our take: It seems like Apple was never planning to update the current Siri remote: rather, they worked with Universal Electronics to develop a different remote that may be bundled with packages from cable providers. Weird turn of events here…seems like the current, problematic Apple TV remote shall remain.

  • iOS 14.5 beta 6 released with new Siri voices & more

    iOS 14.5 beta 6 released with new Siri voices & more

    The news: Apple’s latest iOS 14.5 beta release makes significant changes to Siri, as first reported by TechCrunch.

    • Siri no longer defaults to female: You’ll have the ability to choose which voice you want on setup
    • There are also two fresh Siri voices that “sound pretty fantastic”
    • iOS 14.5 also includes ‘Mask ID,’ new emojis and more

    What’s new?

    • Video showing the new Siri voices
    • New battery recalibration tool for iPhone (via 9to5Mac)
  • Apple’s VR glasses to be unveiled ‘in next several months’ at in-person event

    Apple’s VR glasses to be unveiled ‘in next several months’ at in-person event

    The rumor: Apple’s pricey, virtual reality headset is just months away from being unveiled, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate).

    • The new report, posted to Bloomberg, says the headset is coming “sometime in the next several months,” likely at an in-person event so that members of the press can go hands-on with the new product in a controlled environment
    • Apple’s VR headset will be relatively lightweight and include 12+ cameras, dual-8K displays and advanced eye-tracking…but may cost about $3,000

    Our take: With Apple’s entrance into VR, they’re going to want complete control over how the device is demoed…so seeding products for review (as they have done throughout the pandemic) isn’t an option for them here. Interesting report from Gurman who believes Apple will go back to in-person events as soon as it’s possible.

  • 2021 iPad Pro sticker leaked, mysterious source says launch in mid-April

    2021 iPad Pro sticker leaked, mysterious source says launch in mid-April

    The leak: Apple’s new iPad Pros are coming in less than a month, according to Weibo user Uncle Pan (not yet tracked).

    • The sticker, which is usually placed on the rear of Apple accessories, says the unannounced accessory supports “iPad Pro 11-inch (1st, 2nd, and 3rd generation)…”
    • Jon Prosser (78.2% accurate) has previously said a new Magic Keyboard would be launching alongside the new iPad Pro models
    • In a reply on Weibo, Uncle Pan says the new tablets are coming in “mid-April”

    Our take: While Uncle Pan is not a proven source just yet, this sticker seems to be legitimate and lines up with other credible reporting about a new iPad Pro (and updated Magic Keyboard) coming in April.

  • Apple announces WWDC 2021: June 7-11 & online-only

    Apple announces WWDC 2021: June 7-11 & online-only

    The news: Apple has confirmed the dates for WWDC 2021 in their latest newsroom update.

    • When: Monday, June 7 to Friday, June 11, 2021
    • Where: Online! For the second year running (due to COVID-19), WWDC will not take place at a large conference center in California as it has historically
    • What: New versions of iOS, watchOS, macOS and tvOS…and Apple’s AR glasses?

    Our take: I’m super confused by the branding this year, because those glasses in the artwork absolutely seem to be referencing some with AR capability. Apple though, is not rumored to introduce those for some time now. I have a feeling this is more of a tease than anything else…

  • In split from recent trend, Apple has yet to announce WWDC 2021

    In split from recent trend, Apple has yet to announce WWDC 2021

    The (lack of) news: Apple has yet to announce the dates for this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC).

    Here’s when the dates have been announce historically:

    • 2012: April 25
    • 2013: April 24
    • 2014: April 3
    • 2015: April 14
    • 2016: April 18
    • 2017: February 16
    • 2018: March 13
    • 2019: March 14
    • 2020: March 13
    • 2021: ?

    Our take: While the conference will likely happen in June per usual, Apple may be waiting to announce WWDC until late April. Why? If the event is primarily digital like last year, months of notice in advance would not be necessary.

  • Prosser: No new AirPods coming in April

    Prosser: No new AirPods coming in April

    The rumor: Even amid a number of revealing leaks, AirPods 3 won’t be unveiled in April, according to Jon Prosser (78.2% accurate) on the Genius Bar podcast.

    • According to Prosser’s source who hasn’t been wrong yet, AirPods will not be featured at the upcoming April event
    • AirPods 3 are rumored to have a hybrid in-ear design and are expected to go on sale sometime later this year for ~$149

    Our take: This lines up with what Kuo (76.6% accurate) and DigiTimes (65.1% accurate) have also reported. Doesn’t look like new AirPods are coming soon, after all.