Tag: mark gurman

  • Gurman: Most iPhones, iPads and Macs will get Face ID ‘within a couple of years’

    Gurman: Most iPhones, iPads and Macs will get Face ID ‘within a couple of years’

    The rumor: Apple is planning to add Face ID to most of their products over time, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate).

    • “I’d bet Face ID on the Mac is coming within a couple of years. I expect all iPhones and iPads to transition to Face ID within that timeframe, too” Gurman says
    • Apple first unveiled Face ID in late 2017 on iPhone X, and has since expanded it to iPad Pro

    Our take: I think Face ID makes the most sense on Mac and iPad, but I think a hybrid of Touch ID and Face ID on iPhone would be the best solution, long-term. That was supposed to happen on iPhone 13, but it looks like Apple has delayed the change…

  • Apple’s September 2021 event will again be virtual

    Apple’s September 2021 event will again be virtual

    The rumor: Apple isn’t ready to resume in-person gatherings just yet, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).

    • “If all Apple employees were back in the office as originally planned, and if cases of infections were low, it’d be plausible to think Apple would be gearing up for its first in-person product event since 2019. Instead, expect another promotional video on Apple’s website and YouTube, plus a focus on online sales” Gurman says
    • Apple always holds an event each September to unveil new products, traditionally consisting of iPhone and apple Watch upgrades

    Our take: I definitely think it’s safe to have a small, in-person gathering if employees and members of the media have been vaccinated and wear facial coverings. But considering that Apple recently delayed return-to-office plans, it doesn’t seem like they have any intention to do something other than another digital event. These digital events have been incredibly well-received, so is it possible that Apple never returns to their traditional format?

  • Apple delays return to office plans until October ‘at the earliest’

    Apple delays return to office plans until October ‘at the earliest’

    The rumor: While Apple initially planned to have employees back at Apple Park for at least 3 days a week by September, plans have changed, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “Apple Inc. is pushing back its return to office deadline by at least a month to October at the earliest, responding to a resurgence of Covid variants across many countries,” Gurman says, citing “people familiar with the matter”
    • In recent weeks, some employees have circulated a letter asking Apple to reconsider forcing employees to return to the office in-person

    Our take: I’m in no position to make a medical or scientific call on when the right time to return to the office is, amid COVID-19 and especially the new variants that are beginning to become widespread. This being said, I do think it is absolutely imperative that employees return to Apple Park as soon as possible to continue collaborating in-person to design the best products in the world. Plus, Apple spent an estimated 5 billion dollars on the spaceship, so of course they went folks to use it.

  • Gurman: New MacBook Pros launching in November ‘at the latest’

    Gurman: New MacBook Pros launching in November ‘at the latest’

    The rumor: Apple’s highly-anticipated, redesigned MacBook Pro models are no more than four months away, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On)

    Our take: This is actually really good news, considering that I was expecting this to launch this Fall at the earliest…not the latest. Still, this product can’t come soon enough as the whole world is seemingly waiting to see what Apple’s M1+ silicon looks and feels like.

  • iPhone 13 may feature new always on display mode

    iPhone 13 may feature new always on display mode

    The rumor: On top of a new 120Hz refresh rate on Pro models, some new iPhone 13 models may also see an always-on display mode, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).

    • For the 2021 iPhones, “expect a a faster A15 chip, smaller notch, a new display for better battery life and the potential of an Apple Watch-like always on mode and a 120Hz refresh rate and upgrades to video recording” Gurman says
    • This echoes an initial report from February that iPhone 13 could finally see this long-awaited always-on feature

    Our take: With the LTPO screen tech to support this, I would hope that we see this. But considering that most Android handsets have had this for as along as I can remember, I’m still not convinced that Apple will finally implement it. Even though Gurman is nearly 90% accurate…

  • iPhone 13 to include improved optical zoom among other video improvements

    iPhone 13 to include improved optical zoom among other video improvements

    The rumor: The 2021 iPhone will boast more expansive video capabilities, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • Gurman says “more advanced video recording features” like upgraded optical zoom will be packaged as part fo the overall camera upgrades
    • Other rumors have suggested that Portrait Mode for video will finally debut on this year’s handsets

    Our take: I’ve wanted to see better optical zoom on iPhone for years…even though it doesn’t sound like this will be the major pericope zoom upgrade rumored for 2023.

  • Gurman: Smaller notch on iPhone 13, even smaller cutout in 2022

    Gurman: Smaller notch on iPhone 13, even smaller cutout in 2022

    The rumor: Apple is planning to (finally) shrink the notch on the new iPhones coming later this year, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    Our take: A smaller notch this year is something we’ve heard over and over again, but only Ming-Chi Kuo (76.6% accurate) has said that an even smaller cutout is happening next year. No mention of hole-punch, specifically, from Gurman though…

  • Gurman: No Touch ID on iPhone 13

    Gurman: No Touch ID on iPhone 13

    The rumor: Face ID will remain the defacto biometric system on this year’s new iPhones, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “The company has tested an in-display fingerprint scanner for this year’s devices, however that feature will likely not appear on this generation” Gurman says
    • Previous rumors suggested that Touch ID would be making a comeback on the 2021 iPhones, allowing for Face ID + Touch ID dual-authentication

    Our take: Super disappointing to hear that in-display Touch ID will, yet again, not make the cut this year. Seems like the main (and only) incentive to go Pro will be the 120Hz display…

  • Apple developing ‘Apple Pay Later’ service to pay for products over time…without Apple Card

    Apple developing ‘Apple Pay Later’ service to pay for products over time…without Apple Card

    The rumor: Apple is working on a new service called “Apple Pay Later” that allows you to pay for nay Apple Pay purchase over time, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Bloomberg).

    • “The service is currently planned to work as follows: When a user makes a purchase via Apple Pay on their Apple device, they will have the option to pay for it either across four interest-free payments made every two weeks, or across several months with interest, one of the people said. The plan with four payments is called ‘Apple Pay in 4’ internally, while the longer-term payment plans are dubbed ‘Apple Pay Monthly Installments.’”
    • The interest rates for payments across several months aren’t currently known
    • No release date has been set for the upcoming feature just yet

    Our take: This is a pretty big move…the ability to pay later for any purchase made with Apple Pay. Even more surprising is that this is separate from Apple Card, and will be more broadly available to Apple Pay users. With no interest for two months on most purchases, there’s almost no reason not to pay for your stuff over time.

  • Gurman: Larger, redesigned iMac will likely feature M1X or M2X chip

    Gurman: Larger, redesigned iMac will likely feature M1X or M2X chip

    The rumor: Apple is planning a more powerful chip for the iMac to replace the current 27-inch model, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).

    • The new, larger iMac is still coming…but Gurman is not sure exactly when this product will be dropping
    • As for the processor inside, “it likely will be an M1X, the beefier version of the current M1, or an M2X”

    Our take: While I was really hopeful for a 2021 release on the larger iMac, I think it’ll probably come sometime in the first half of next year. Don’t worry though, as the M1X MacBook Pro is still on track to release in Fall.

  • Gurman: Apple has no imminent plans for Touch ID on Apple Watch

    Gurman: Apple has no imminent plans for Touch ID on Apple Watch

    The rumor: Apple is not planning to add Touch ID to Apple Watch anytime soon, according to Mark Gurman (89.1% accurate, via Power On).

    • Gurman says that while there is some merit for Touch ID to make its debut on Apple Watch, he doesn’t “see that happening any time soon, if ever”
    • A previous rumor from The Verifier (54.7% accurate) said that Touch ID would be shipping on the Apple Watch Series 7

    Our take: Genuinely, what will the upgrades for Apple Watch Series 7 be? A new design, a faster processor…and what else? Each year the Apple Watch upgrades seem to be shrinking.