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Apple to send the original 12-inch MacBook into retirement on June 30
Aditya Tiwari posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple to send the original 12-inch MacBook into retirement on June 30 by Aditya Tiwari Apple is expected to expand its list of obsolete products with the addition of the original 12-inch MacBook. That's according to an internal memo seen by MacRumors and Apple is expected to pull the plug on the discontinued MacBook on June 30. The 12-inch MacBook was announced back in March 2015 with a starting price of $1,299. It was discontinued in April 2016 when Apple released the next generation of the laptop. The MacBook was powered by an Intel Core M dual-core processor coupled with 8GB LPDDR3 RAM and up to 512GB of storage onboard. The 12-inch MacBook was in the news for having just two ports on the entire machine: a 3.5mm audio jack, and a multi-functional USB-C port with support for USB 3.1 Gen 1, HDMI, VGA, and DisplayPort 1.2. However, this also meant users had to purchase a separate USB-C adapter for added connectivity options. It is the first laptop from Apple to feature the USB-C port and also the first MacBook to ship without MagSafe charging at the time. It was later in 2021 when Apple's M-series MacBook Pro laptops were released with a MagSafe 3 charging connector. The 2015 MacBook was among the lightest laptops on the market weighing just 2.03 pounds. With its 39.7 Wh battery, the device offered up to 30 days of standby time and around 9 hours of web browsing. Apple marks a product obsolete seven years after discontinuing its sales on the market. Service providers can't order repair parts for such devices and they are no longer eligible for hardware repairs at Apple Stores and Apple-authorized service centers. Apple also added the original iPad Air to its list of obsolete products last month. The 12-inch MacBook was refreshed twice, first in April 2016 and then again in June 2017, it was discontinued in 2019. Therefore, its last generation which is yet to be marked vintage is still eligible for service and hardware repairs. Source: MacRumors -
iOS 16 now runs on 90% of iPhones released in the last four years
Aditya Tiwari posted a topic in Front Page News
iOS 16 now runs on 90% of iPhones released in the last four years by Aditya Tiwari Apple has updated the iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 device usage data on its developer website. According to the latest numbers, iOS 16 now runs on 90% of the active iPhone models released in the last four years. This is followed by iOS 15 on 8% and older software versions grabbing the remaining device share. On the other hand, when considering all the active iPhones out there, the iOS 16 update runs on 81% of the devices which is a 28% jump from the iOS 16 usage data Apple released earlier this year. For reference, Apple collects usage data based on the devices that transact on its App Store. Talking about iPads, the iPadOS 16 software now runs on 76% of all devices released in the last four years. Meanwhile, 71% of all active iPad models run iPadOS 16 which is a 21% increment over the past numbers. When it comes to the latest software adoption, Apple devices have remained a few steps ahead of Android, largely due to the tight integration of the Apple ecosystem. For instance, Google's Android 11 R has the highest device share of all versions, as per the data last released in April this year. As of now, the latest stable versions of iOS and iPadOS out there are iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5 released last month. The device usage data arrived just days ahead of WWDC 2023, where Apple will talk about its next major software updates, iOS 17 and iPadOS 17. You can check out the new WWDC23 Power Up playlist in the meantime. Among various features, iOS 17 is expected to bring the app sideloading functionality to iPhones along with redesigned system apps and turn-by-turn navigation on the lock screen. However, it's rumored that the sideloading feature will be limited to the Europe region only. For iPads, Apple is expected to trickle down various lock screen customizations of iOS 16 in the next major update. However, the information was provided by a new-deleted Twitter account. -
Apple shares new WWDC23 Power Up music playlist ahead of its developers conference
Aditya Tiwari posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple shares new WWDC23 Power Up music playlist ahead of its developers conference by Aditya Tiwari Apple took to Twitter this week and dropped a new teaser for the upcoming WWDC 2023 developer event starting next week. The iPhone maker shared a new teaser clip on its official handle and wrote that "A new era begins." A new era begins. Join us for #WWDC23 on June 5 at 10 a.m. PT. Tap the ❤️ and we’ll send you a reminder on event day. pic.twitter.com/T1pDvEzvys — Apple (@Apple) May 31, 2023 Along with the teaser, Apple has shared a new WWDC23 Power Up playlist that's available to the subscribers of Apple Music. The official playlist contains 25 songs from the likes of Dua Lipa, Post Malone, Miley Cyrus, Coi Leray, The Jonas Brothers, Ed Sheeran, and more. The total length of the curated playlist is 1 hour and 15 minutes. WWDC 2023 is scheduled to start on June 5 (Monday) at 10 am Pacific Time. While Apple is expected to talk about the incremental updates to its respective software, there have been rumors that it might unveil the long-awaited mixed reality headset as well. With that said, the cryptic message "A new era begins" seems to add some spice to the mix. For starters, Apple's headset is expected to support millions of existing apps and might get dedicated versions of Final Cut Pro and Logic Pro. According to a report by analyst Ross Young, the headset might come with an insane level of brightness. However, a recent report suggests Apple has made small internal estimates regarding the sales figures of the unreleased headset. Other than the headset, Apple is expected to announce a 15-inch MacBook Air during the conference. The company could also unveil multiple desktop Macs featuring the M2 Max and yet-to-be-announced M2 Ultra chips. During the conference, Apple will also announce the winners for the 2023 edition of the Apple Design Awards. via 9to5Mac -
Apple is testing M2 Max and M2 Ultra Macs just before WWDC
Omer Dursun posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple is testing M2 Max and M2 Ultra Macs just before WWDC by Omer Dursun Apple is poised to announce multiple new Mac desktop models at the WWDC 2023 keynote. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple has been internally testing two new Macs code-named "Mac 14,13" and "Mac 14,14." These desktops will feature the M2 Max and yet-to-be-announced M2 Ultra chip. M2 Max will power the Mac desktops. This chip boasts a 12-core CPU and a 30-core GPU, supporting up to 96 GB of RAM. Furthermore, Apple plans to introduce the M2 Ultra chip, an upgraded version designed for demanding tasks such as video editing and 3D rendering. Additionally, the M2 Ultra chip will feature a 24-core CPU, a 60-core GPU, and support for up to 192 GB of RAM. A higher-end variant of the M2 Ultra will include a remarkable 76-core GPU. The Mac Studio is the "exclusive" model powered by an M1 Ultra processor. Furthermore, the new Mac Studio, equipped with the M2 Ultra chip, is expected to target professionals requiring substantial computational capabilities. Mac Studio will offer a high-performance alternative to the Mac Pro until Apple's plans for its modular desktop line become clear. In addition to the Mac Studio, Gurman's report mentions an impending release of a new 15-inch MacBook Air. Apple's recent internal memo indicates that the company will soon include it in its trade-in program. On the other hand, Mark Gurman said the M3 Pro is set to offer a significant boost in performance compared to its predecessors, with a 12-core processor and an 18-core GPU. As Apple continues to push the boundaries of its silicon capabilities, the M3 Pro is poised to redefine the power and efficiency of Mac devices. The M3 Pro chipset is expected to leverage TSMC's 3nm node process, representing a significant leap from the previous 5nm technology. The opening keynote of WWDC 2023 is scheduled for June 5 at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET. Source: Bloomberg -
Apple's mixed reality headset will reportedly have some insane brightness levels
John Callaham posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple's mixed reality headset will reportedly have some insane brightness levels by John Callaham As we get closer to the start of Apple's annual developer conference, WWDC 2023, on June 5, more information is apparently leaking on what will likely be its main attraction: the long-awaited mixed reality headset. This week, a well-known display expert claims to have info on the headset's twin displays, and if true they sound really insane. The report comes via Twitter from Ross Young. who is the CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC). He claims, via unnamed sources, that Apple's mixed reality headset will have twin 1.41 Micro OLED displays. You want more, I will give you more: Micro OLED specs for Apple's AR/VR headset: 1.41" in diagonal 4000 PPI >5000 nits of brightness — Ross Young (@DSCCRoss) May 30, 2023 That certainly sounds reasonable. What's insane is what he says the displays will have in terms of resolution. pixel density, and brightness. He says that the displays will each have a 4K resolution, with 4,000 PPI and around 5,000 nits in brightness. That blows away the pixel density and brightness of other current VR headsets. For example, Sony's PS5 console headset, the PS VR 2, has twin OLED displays with 2,000 × 2,040 resolution that each have 850 PPI. One thing we haven't heard about the displays on the Apple headset are their refresh rates. Hopefully, they will also be higher than the normal 60Hz or 90hz. Again, if these display specs are accurate, that would certainly help explain why Apple could sell these headsets for around $3,000, as previous rumors have suggested, Other rumors claim that the headset will be able to run millions of current iOS apps with just some small updates from their developers. In any case, the Apple WWDC 2023 event couldn't come soon enough, and we hope to be blown away by the demo of its mixed reality headset, even if we can't afford to buy it. -
US PC market may have bottomed out, recovery predicted in Q4
zikalify posted a topic in Front Page News
US PC market may have bottomed out, recovery predicted in Q4 by Paul Hill The analyst company Canalys has said that it believes the US PC market has bottomed out and is set for recovery at the end of the year. During the work-from-home period, desktop and notebook shipments reached more than 25 million units in Q2 2021, since then, shipments have been declining and in the most recent quarter, there were just 14 million unit shipments. During the first quarter of this year, Canalys reported that notebooks accounted for 11.4 million units and desktops accounted for 2.7 million units. The notebook shipments were down 31% year-over-year while desktops were down 28%. The company also looked at tablets and found that these held up better than PCs with just a decline of shipments by 7% down to 10.8 million units. This segment was greatly helped by sales of Apple’s iPad which saw the most shipments in the last two quarters than any time since Q1 2021. “A confluence of factors led to the US PC market bottoming out at the start of 2023,” said Ishan Dutt, Principal Analyst at Canalys. “The expected seasonal drop after the holidays coincided with the channel finalizing its inventory correction, resulting in muted sell-in of PCs.“ “On the commercial front, businesses continue to grapple with economic pressures, including three further interest rate hikes since the start of the year. Budget-conscious organizations have extended the life cycle of their existing PCs, with many opting only for critical upgrades.” As mentioned, the iPad has seen increasing shipments recently. In the first quarter of 2023, it saw 5.4 million shipments compared to 4.4 million in the same period the year before. That’s a 20.5% growth. The only other tablet company to see growth was TCL but the growth was a measly 0.9%, nothing compared to the growth Apple saw. Amazon, Samsung, and Microsoft all saw tablet shipments fall - Microsoft was worst off seeing a decline of 30.4%. In the PC section, no company saw any annual growth. Ironically, the company hit the hardest in the PC market was Apple which saw an annual growth of -35.8%. Lenovo was not too far behind at -35%. The company that held up best was HP which saw growth of -13.2%. With increasing interest rates and the powerhouse of Europe, Germany, going into recession, it won’t be too surprising if we see much of the developed world fall into recession too. This slowdown could knock off Canalys prediction, but we’ll have to wait and see. -
Apple canceled releasing AirPods' cases in five colors matching the iPhone 7
Anushe Fawaz posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple canceled releasing AirPods' cases in five colors matching the iPhone 7 by Anushe Fawaz With the WWDC 2023 conference just around the corner, Apple is a hot topic in the media. Just today, on Twitter, Kosutami, a prototype collector, revealed prototypes of Apple AirPods charging cases in several colors that were reportedly canceled by the company. According to Kosutami, the Cupertino company prototyped five unique colors of the Apple AirPods case. These colors were Purple, Pink, Product Red, Black, and Blonde to match the iPhone 7. In the images shared by Kosutami, the prototype cases have a glossy finish and the AirPods are white, although there is a blue protective sheet on top. Apple used to release color version of 1st gen AirPods, they planned to make Pink, ProductRED, Purple, Black, Blonde. Reason of that: they wanted to match the color with iPhone 7. (Purple version of iPhone 7 cancelled at last) And it’s been cancelled. #appleinternal #Apple pic.twitter.com/AaQqrJZbSr — Kosutami (@KosutamiSan) May 30, 2023 Not only did we not see Apple officially release the cases in these colors, but we also got to know the purple iPhone 7 had been canceled. The iPhone 7 was released in Jet Black, Gold, Black, Red, and Rose Gold. Out of these, Jet Black remained a popular edition and was sold out soon after its release. Kosutami has one or more sources within the company that provide him with insights about the products and rare product prototypes. According to his sources, Apple did not plan on canceling these AirPods cases until they were close to launch. He mentioned: “It hasn’t canceled until DVT or PVT Stage, which means they didn't cancel the plan until they were close to the launch.” DVT stands for Design Validation Test and PVT stands for Production Validation Testing. In DVT, unit-level validation is carried out to check whether the components of a product will work together once combined. At this stage, full validation is carried out. Next comes the PVT where full system-level validation is done alongside assembly and regulatory testing to check whether the entire device functions as expected and can be manufactured at scale. While it has been a minute since the release of the iPhone 7, the reason for these matching AirPods cases being canceled at a late stage in their development is still unknown. -
Apple is about to show its AR headset. It should take lessons from the reveal of the Newton
John Callaham posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple is about to show its AR headset. It should take lessons from the reveal of the Newton by John Callaham On June 5, Apple will hold the introductory keynote for its annual WWDC developers conference at its headquarters in Cupertino, California. It is highly expected to officially reveal one of the tech industry's worst kept secrets: a mixed reality headset. It's going to be an all new product line and platform for Apple, and it's already generating a lot of talk about if it will be successful. 31 years ago today, on May 29, 1992, Apple also revealed an all-new product, outside its normal Mac PC lineup. It was called the Newton, and for a while, it was thought that this product would bring in a new age of portable computing. The Seattle Times reported on the reveal of the Newton, which was made by its then-CEO John Scully at the Consumer Electronics Show in Chicago (back when the trade show was not held in Las Vegas). Scully is credited with coining the term "personal digital assistant", better known by its acronym PDA, to describe the type of device that the Apple Newton was supposed to be. Here's how the Seattle Times described it at that time: The black, videocassette-sized prototype Apple has been showing - which the company says "might" be its first PDA - has a 3-by-5-inch screen that looks like a clear notepad with lines. The device weighs about a pound. PDAs are supposed to help users like a good assistant who, with little direction, automatically files, makes phone calls, sends and retrieves faxes, types letters and reminds the boss about appointments. The Newton was a major focus for Scully, who had been Apple's CEO since 1982 and who basically was in charge of everything at the company since co-founder Steve Jobs resigned in 1985. However, that initial reveal of the Newton at CES 31 years ago didn't go according to plan. According to Time, the first prototype for the Newton that was put on stage didn't work because it had dead batteries inside. Another big problem was that even though Scully pushed for the Newton to be revealed in 1992, it wasn't close to being ready for an actual launch to consumers. In fact, it would be over a year until the first version was released in August 1993. Officially, the device was called the MessagePad H1000, but they ran on the Newton platform, so most people refer to them as the Newton. In the end, Apple overpromised what the Newton could actually do. For one thing, it used AAA batteries that didn't offer much it of a battery life. The Newton's hyped handwriting recognition software was also buggy and didn't work as advertised during the device's launch. The MessagePad H1000, and the models that came after it, were also pretty bulky and its display was not exactly high-res. While Apple kept the Newton platform alive for a few years, even after the 1993 departure of Scully as CEO, the PDA never really caught on with the general public. They were far more interested in buying PCs so they could connect to this new thing called the Internet. In 1998, after he returned to the company as its CEO, Steve Jobs killed the Newton division. However, the idea of a portable computing device would live on under Jobs with the launches of the iPod, the iPhone and iPad. As we approach June 5 in just over a week, Apple's current CEO Tim Cook should take some lessons from the launch of the Newton and apply them when he reveals the mixed reality headset at WWDC 2023. Don't overpromise - While Apple should certainly show off what this headset can do, it definitely shouldn't try to show things that it ultimately won't be able to do, at least when the device launches. Make sure the batteries work - This may sound silly but if the headset doesn't work on stage because its batteries are already drained, that's all anyone will remember. Make it relatable to the public - VR devices currently have a small niche audience. The Newton was the same way and that's one of the reasons why it didn't catch on with a mass audience. Apple needs to show the headset is something everyone can use, and why. Don't wait for over a year from reveal to launch - There are rumors that indicate that the headset is still having production problems and that it might not be ready to go on sale by the end of 2023 (It's also supposed to have a $3,000 price tag, but that's a whole different discussion). If that's the case, perhaps Apple should just wait and show off the headset at a time when its closer to launch. Having said all of this, we can't wait to see what Apple will demonstrate on June 5. Let's hope that it turns out better than the Newton's introduction 31 years ago today. -
iPhone 16 Pro screen sizes will be the largest ever, says analyst
Omer Dursun posted a topic in Front Page News
iPhone 16 Pro screen sizes will be the largest ever, says analyst by Omer Dursun Rumors surround Apple's iPhone 16 Pro models, which are expected to be released in 2024. Recent reports suggest that Apple will be enlarging the screen sizes of these upcoming devices, providing additional space for innovative features like the rumored periscope camera. And Mark Gurman has supported rumors suggesting that the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will have bigger screens. Multiple sources have indicated that the iPhone 16 Pro displays will be slightly larger than their predecessors, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro. Gurman suggests that the screens will grow by "a couple of tenths of an inch diagonally," indicating a subtle increase. Also, leaker "Uredditor" tweeted the Pro and Pro Max models would have sizes of 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively. A well-known analyst, Ming-Chi Kuo, supported this claim, stating that the models would be slightly larger. On the other hand, Apple's upcoming flagship iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models were expected to feature solid-state buttons for volume and power. However, a fresh survey by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests Apple will go for regular buttons instead due to "unresolved technical issues before mass production." And the leaker said that iPhone 15 Pro will use a combination of the Power button + Action button to turn off the device or force restart it. The iPhone 15 series is due for release in the second half of 2023. Among various features, the iPhone 15 Pro Max is expected to have the thinnest bezels of all phones and a thinner camera bump. Apple's revenue was $94.836 billion for 2023 fiscal second-quarter financial results. That was down compared to the $97.278 billion it got from the same period a year ago, but it still beat financial analysts' expectations. Net income was $24.160 billion, again down from the $25.010 billion in revenue from a year ago. Sources: Mark Gurman, Ming-Chi Kuo (Chinese) -
Apple to shut down My Photo Stream, its online photo syncing service
Aditya Tiwari posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple to shut down My Photo Stream, its online photo syncing service by Aditya Tiwari Apple announced in a support document that it's pulling the plug on My Photo Stream on July 26, 2023. The service has been available for over a decade and allows users to sync their photos across Apple devices via the internet. Initially known as Photo Stream, the image syncing service was announced during WWDC 2011. It can automatically upload up to 1,000 recently-clicked photos from an iPhone or iPad to iCloud. The uploaded media stays in the cloud for up to 30 days and is automatically downloaded to other devices that use the same Apple ID, including Macs and Windows PCs. Similarly, new images imported to the iPhoto app on a Mac back in the day were uploaded to the cloud and synced across devices. Eventually, the job of My Photo Stream became redundant after the arrival of iCloud Photos that uploads all the photos, videos, as well as edits made to the media. While both services upload images to iCloud, you can't access My Photo Stream images on your Apple Watch and iCloud website. But on the plus side, My Photo Stream uploads don't count against your iCloud storage. Whereas, iCloud Photos can upload media for as long as you have enough space in iCloud. On your iPhone or iPad, you can save the My Photo Stream images to your library by going to Photos > Albums. Here, tap on My Photo Stream, then select the desired photos, and tap on the Share button > Save Image. You may not see the My Photo Stream option on your devices if your Apple ID was created in recent years. Apple said that the service will stop accepting new uploads on June 26, and images uploaded prior to that will stay on iCloud for 30 days from the date of upload before they get deleted. From now, you can backup your photos and videos online but you need to subscribe to an iCloud storage plan or the Apple One bundle subscription. By default, iCloud only comes with 5GB of free online storage that's shared by all of your devices. -
New patent hints at Find My support for Apple Pencil
Aditya Tiwari posted a topic in Front Page News
New patent hints at Find My support for Apple Pencil by Aditya Tiwari Apple is working on a new hardware feature that will allow it to add Find My support to the Apple Pencil. A patent recently published by the US Patent & Trademark Office (USPTO) describes adding an acoustic resonator to a stylus or other peripheral input device. Find My is a vast network of devices that can be used to track the location of Apple devices and supported third-party accessories. However, the Apple Pencil is yet to make it to the list of supported devices, although, it can magnetically attach to the side of an iPad to reduce the chances of getting lost. As per the patent application [PDF], spotted by Patently Apple, an acoustic resonator can be fitted inside the Apple Pencil at the end opposite to the tip and it can be used to track the device. "Locating a lost stylus, or other peripheral input device can be made possible by acoustic resonators integrated within housing structures of the stylus. Acoustic resonators can be formed at the end of the stylus opposite its tip, and can include portions of the stylus outer housing that are thinned down to engineered thickness that has a particular resonant behavior or frequency," the patent reads. The patent describes that an electronic device, such as an iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch, can be used to track the location of the Apple Pencil. It can leverage the resonator to generate an acoustic signal, causing the pencil to vibrate. The patent adds that a user can command an electronic device to initiate a location request "either directly, or via a network." Also, the vibrating frequency can be configured to fall within the audible human hearing range if the "target detector" is a user. However, more optimized frequencies consuming less power can be used if an electronic device is used for detection. For reference, this appears different from what Apple currently uses to track nearby devices where iPhones can use the UWB chip to locate AirTags and 2nd Gen AirPods Pro in their vicinity. It remains to be seen when (and if) the tech described in the patent sees the daylight. Source: Patently Apple via 9to5Mac -
Apple's smartwatch market share declines, Samsung is no longer second
Omer Dursun posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple's smartwatch market share declines, Samsung is no longer second by Omer Dursun The global smartwatch market, which had shown consistent growth in recent years, experienced a decline in the first quarter of 2023. According to Counterpoint Research's Global Smartwatch Model Tracker, smartwatch shipments slumped by 1.5% year-over-year in Q1 2023. The shipment slump can be attributed to reduced demand from major players such as Apple and Samsung. One of the significant contributors to the decline in smartwatch shipments is Apple, the leading player in the smartwatch market. The company witnessed a notable decline of 20% in smartwatch shipments during Q1 2023 compared to the same period last year. This decline resulted in Apple's shipments falling below 10 million units for the first time in three years. As a result, Apple's market share dropped from 32% to 26%. The reduced demand for Apple watches can be attributed to the global economic crisis. Another major player in the smartwatch market, Samsung, faced a mixed performance during Q1 2023. While the company witnessed a 15% increase in shipments in North America, it lost ground in other regions. Samsung's global shipments experienced a 15% year-on-year decline and a 21% quarter-on-quarter drop. This decline led to a 1% decrease in Samsung's market share, from 10% to 9%. Interestingly, Galaxy Watches experienced growing popularity in North America during the first quarter of 2023 but faced a decline in other major markets. The decline in global smartwatch shipments during Q1 2023 can be primarily attributed to the prevailing global economic pressures. Financial uncertainties and reduced consumer sentiment impacted the purchasing decisions of buyers, resulting in a decrease in demand for smartwatches. Also, an Indian brand, Fire-Boltt, has made significant strides in the global smartwatch market, emerging as the second-largest watch seller worldwide. The company achieved a remarkable 57% growth compared to the previous quarter. Source: Counterpoint Research's Global Smartwatch Model Tracker -
Apple releases list of finalists for Apple Design Awards 2023
Aditya Tiwari posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple releases list of finalists for Apple Design Awards 2023 by Aditya Tiwari Apple's latest WWDC event is just around the corner, and the company has revealed the finalists for Apple Design Awards 2023. The first edition of the Apple Design Awards happened back in 1997, then known as Human Interface Design Excellence Award (HIDE). Since then, the award ceremony is hosted annually to recognize the most innovative apps and games designed for Apple products. The company has divided the apps and games that have made it to the finalists into the following categories: Inclusivity Anne Universe — Website Builder Passenger Assistance stich. Ancient Board Game Collection Finding Hannah Delight and Fun Duolingo CREME Chatlings Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! Knotwords Afterplace Interaction Shuffles by Pinterest Tide Guide: Charts & Tables Flighty Automatoys Railbound Kimono Cats Social Impact Duolingo Sago Mini First Words Headspace Hindsight Endling Beecarbonize Visuals and Graphics Any Distance Gentler Streak Health Fitness Riveo Diablo Immortal Resident Evil Village Endling Innovation SwingVision: A.I. Tennis App Camo Studio Rise: Energy & Sleep Tracker Resident Evil Village stitch. MARVEL SNAP The list includes a number of apps and games that are already popular and some of them have been shortlisted for multiple categories. Apple will announce the winners in each category on its website on June 5, 6:30 p.m. PT, during the developer conference. Apple usually picks two winners in each category and they are presented with a trophy in the shape of a cube featuring the Apple logo. Apart from that, Apple is expected to talk about iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS 14, and other software updates at WWDC 2023. There have been reports that the company could also add sideloading functionality to iOS 17 and unveil a 15-inch MacBook Air at the conference. -
Apple secures supply of 5G components as it signs new multibillion-dollar deal with Broadcom
Anushe Fawaz posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple secures supply of 5G components as it signs new multibillion-dollar deal with Broadcom by Anushe Fawaz Apple has refreshed its agreements with Broadcom in the latest announcement that informs about a new “multiyear, multibillion-dollar” arrangement between the two firms. The deal is based on the latter providing Apple products with the newest 5G technology to keep the company ahead of its competitors. Broadcom is a technology and advanced manufacturing firm based in the United States that will develop wireless chips and 5G radio frequency components like Film Bulk Acoustic Resonato (FBAR) filters, among other 5G items. These bulk acoustic wave (BAW) filters have superior performance with steeper rejection curves compared to surface acoustic wave (SAW) filters. They will be manufactured in Broadcom’s manufacturing hubs in America such as that in Fort Collins, Colorado. Apple CEO, Tim Cook, commended that all of the technology behind Apple’s products has been designed and manufactured in American facilities, which makes the company a great contributor to the country’s economy. He added: “We’re thrilled to make commitments that harness the ingenuity, creativity, and innovative spirit of American manufacturing. All of Apple’s products depend on technology engineered and built here in the United States, and we’ll continue to deepen our investments in the U.S. economy because we have an unshakable belief in America’s future.” Additionally, Apple mentioned that it helps to sustain more than 1,100 jobs in Broadcom’s FBAR manufacturing hub present in Fort Collins. It elaborated that the deal will boost investment in “critical automation projects” and would make technicians and engineers more skilled. Moreover, the Cupertino-based company reminded that the agreement comes as a part of the company’s goal announced in 2021 where it plans to invest $430 billion in the U.S. economy within five years. It added that the company is on pace with its targets with investments. The collaboration of these leading firms in the world of technology is not something new. In 2020, they announced two multi-year pacts that could earn billions in revenue. According to these agreements, Apple would receive Broadcom-manufactured components such as wireless chips and modules for its devices that would be released towards the middle of 2023. -
iTunes 12.12.9.4 by Razvan Serea iTunes is a free application for Windows PCs. It plays all your digital music and video. It syncs content to your iPod, iPhone, and Apple TV. And it's an entertainment superstore that stays open 24/7. Organize your music into playlists Edit file information Record compact discs Copy files to an iPod or other digital audio player Purchase music and videos on the Internet through the built-in iTunes store Run a visualizer to display graphical effects in time to the music Encode music into a number of different audio formats. Download: iTunes 12.12.9.4 (64-bit) | 201.0 MB (Freeware) Download: iTunes 12.12.9.4 (32-bit) | 172.0 MB Links: Apple iTunes Website Get alerted to all of our Software updates on Twitter at @NeowinSoftware
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Apple increases production ahead of 15-inch MacBook Air reveal at WWDC
Omer Dursun posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple increases production ahead of 15-inch MacBook Air reveal at WWDC by Omer Dursun Apple supplier Quanta Computer is reportedly preparing for the production of new MacBooks. According to Morgan Stanley's analyst Erik Woodring, Quanta Computer expects a high single-digit percentage growth in notebook assembly in the second quarter of 2023 compared to the first quarter. Recent rumors suggest Apple may unveil a long-awaited 15-inch MacBook Air at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June. Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo mentioned that the first-generation 15-inch MacBook Air would feature the M2 chip. While no external design changes have been reported, the new model features a larger display. Last year's WWDC saw the introduction of the 13-inch MacBook Air, which showcased the M2 chip, MagSafe 3 charging port, two Thunderbolt 3 ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, a Magic Keyboard with Touch ID, and a Force Touch trackpad. The base price for this model is $1,199, and it comes in Midnight, Starlight, Space Gray, and Silver color options. It remains to be seen if any other MacBook models will be unveiled at WWDC. Reports indicate that new 13-inch MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro models with the M3 chip are not expected to launch until later this year. The debut of M3 Macs is anticipated to take place in the latter half of 2023. These new models, including the 13-inch MacBook Air, 13-inch MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac mini, are expected to incorporate the M3 chip for enhanced performance. On the other hand, more powerful versions of the M3 chip, namely the M3 Pro and M3 Max, are projected to be introduced for the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro. However, the release of the latter variant is not expected until the first half of 2024. The 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models were updated with the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips just three months ago. Source: MacRumors via Morgan Stanley Report -
Chinese Communist Party submitted by far the most App Store takedown demands to Apple
zikalify posted a topic in Front Page News
Chinese Communist Party submitted by far the most App Store takedown demands to Apple by Paul Hill Apple has published its 2022 App Store Transparency Report recently and in it, there are quite a lot of stats. One notable stat, however, is the amount of app takedown demands the Chinese Communist Party has submitted. Apple said that it had received a total of 1,474 government takedown demands from around the world. Strikingly, China mainland accounted for 1,435 of those and Hong Kong accounted for one. Both of these territories are now under the control of the Chinese Communist Party which is known for taking strict measures. The vast majority of the removals were games that had not obtained a Game Registration Number, Apple said. In China, publishers planning to release commercial games have to get a Game Registration Number (GRN) from the authorities. These are used to regulate the gaming industry in the country to ensure releases meet the country’s content standards. While the GRN regime can be useful for protecting children from harmful content, the process makes game development more bureaucratic. It’s clearly frustrating to some in China as 1,276 games were submitted to the App Store without first obtaining a GRN. China’s government topped the list for app takedown demands to Apple. It was followed by India (14 removal demands), Pakistan (10 removal demands), Russia (7 removal demands), and Turkey (2 removal demands). Moving away from China’s takedown demands, Apple also highlighted the most common reasons that it rejects App Store submissions. The most common reason for rejecting submissions was performance issues, then legal issues, and then design issues. Other common issues were safety and business issues. The iPhone maker also shared that it had a total of 36,974,015 developers signed up as Apple developers. In 2022, it had to terminate 428,487 accounts, mainly for fraud but export controls were also a reason given. Apple said that it will publish a new App Store Transparency Report on an annual basis. It should be interesting to keep an eye on how government takedown demands change over the course of the next year. -
Apple AR/VR headset manufacturing cost apparently exceeds $1,500
Omer Dursun posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple AR/VR headset manufacturing cost apparently exceeds $1,500 by Omer Dursun Apple is set to reveal its mixed reality headset at WWDC 2023, and rumors suggest it will come with a price tag of as much as $3,000. Apple's manufacturing cost is notably higher than other headsets already on the market. Chinese analysts say the manufacturing cost per unit is around $1,500. The headset is expected to feature Apple's M2 chip, 12 GB of RAM, 512 GB of SSD storage, Wi-Fi 6, and Bluetooth 5.3 for connectivity. The new report shows that the components cost around $1,400. The total manufacturing cost per unit reaches $1,600 when shipping costs are factored in. The OLED displays, anticipated to be the most expensive components, are estimated to cost between $280 and $320 per unit. Additionally, the camera parts with 14 lenses contributes approximately $160 to the cost. image via Apple Insider An XR device expert, Brad Lynch, highlighted that the Meta Quest Pro's manufacturing cost is half that of Apple's headset. The Meta headset was initially priced at $1,500 but later reduced to $999, indicating a profit margin of around $250 per unit. It is worth noting that it costs Apple approximately $500 to manufacture an iPhone 14 Pro Max, which retails at $1,099. This aligns with the speculation that the mixed-reality headset will cost $3,000. Sources familiar with the matter reveal that Apple has invested over $1 billion annually in headset development. However, the company has reportedly revised its sales expectations for the product, with analysts projecting sales of around 500,000 units in its first year. While this report suggests that Apple is creating a premium headset with advanced technologies, the product's success remains to be determined. Even after more then a decade, the market for mixed reality headsets has yet to prove its widespread appeal, and it remains to be seen if consumers are willing to invest such a substantial amount of money in this new product. Sources: Brad Lynch, Minsheng Electronics (Chinese) -
Apple tells employees not to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT over confidential data leak fears
zikalify posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple tells employees not to use AI chatbots like ChatGPT over confidential data leak fears by Paul Hill Apple has told its employees not to use generative AI tools such as ChatGPT and GitHub Copilot according to The Wall Street Journal which got the information from people in the know. Apple is not the only big tech firm to take such actions, Samsung has also banned its employees from using generative AI chatbots. Apple apparently told employees that using these chatbots could cause the accidental release of confidential information. While most people are familiar with ChatGPT and what it does, you may not have used GitHub Copilot. First of all, GitHub is owned by a major Apple competitor, Microsoft. With Copilot, users can automate some of their software development and Apple is concerned that Microsoft could intercept secret Apple code to see what it’s working on or just copy the products. Luckily for Apple employees who want to delegate jobs to AI, Apple is working on its own generative AI product, according to the report. It’s not clear whether Apple employees are able to use this internally yet but as soon as that goes live, there will be no need for them to resort to products like ChatGPT. Apple is due to hold its WWDC developer conference early next month. The company is expected to reveal its mixed-reality headset and it wouldn’t be too much of a surprise if we did see some sort of generative AI at least demoed. It seems like a lot of tech firms have been working on generative AI for a while now and have been quick to launch their own products; Apple could be in the same position. Speaking of WWDC, it was reported a few days ago that Apple could unveil sideloading apps on iOS. This feature has been on Android for a long time, if not from the beginning. It's definitely going to be interesting to see Apple open up iOS a bit more. Source: The Wall Street Journal -
Even Apple executives reportedly have doubts about its upcoming mixed reality headset
John Callaham posted a topic in Front Page News
Even Apple executives reportedly have doubts about its upcoming mixed reality headset by John Callaham With less than a month to go before Apple is expected to officially announce its long-awaited mixed reality headset, a new report details some of the reported internal troubles and conflicts at the company for this device. Bloomberg reports, via unnamed sources, that the headset, which is expected to use the Reality brand name, that Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken a mostly hands-off approach to the team that's making the product. That's in contrast to Apple's late co-founder Steve Jobs, who was known to get heavily involved in the making of its signature devices like the iPhone. Other Apple executives have reportedly expressed doubts about the headset's success. One of them, hardware executive Johny Srouji, reportedly called the product a "science project". The report also claims that Apple has cut its projected annual sales of the headset, which may cost as much as $3,000, down to just 900,000 units, compared to original annual sales estimates of 3 million units Previous rumors suggest that the headset will be able to support millions of previously made iOS apps with only a minimal amount of updating from developers. Apple is also reportedly working directly with some developers. It's supposed to have a 3D interface that will reportedly allow owners to run first-party Apple apps like Safari, FaceTime, and the Apple TV app. In fact, the headset is supposed to let you watch movies and TV shows from Apple TV as if you are watching them from a desert or other virtual location. Gaming is also supposed to be a major part of using the headset, but details have yet to leak about this use. Apple is still expected to reveal the headset at the WWDC developers conference on June 5. However, it's not expected to actually go on sale until sometime in late 2023 at the earliest. -
Apple releases watchOS 9.5 with a new Pride Celebration watch face
TarasBuria posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple releases watchOS 9.5 with a new Pride Celebration watch face by Taras Buria watchOS 9.5 is now available for download on supported Apple Watch models. It is a minor update, and one of the last before Apple unveils the rumored watchOS 10 with significant UI changes and feature improvements. The highlight of watchOS 9.5 is a new Pride Celebration watch face. What is new in watchOS 9.5? A new Pride Celebration watch face to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture. What Apple Watch models support watchOS 9.5? You can download watchOS 9.5 to any Apple Watch running version 9.0 and higher. However, it is worth noting that updating watchOS requires iPhone 8 or newer with iOS 16 or later (check out what is new in the latest iOS update in our dedicated coverage). You cannot update to watchOS 9 if your iPhone runs iOS 15 or older. Apple Watch Series 4 Apple Watch Series 5 Apple Watch SE Apple Watch Series 6 Apple Watch Series 7 Apple Watch Series 8 Apple Watch SE 2nd gen Apple Watch Ultra You can install watchOS 9.5 by launching the Watch app and navigating to General > Software Update. Keep in mind that your watch should be on a charger with a minimum of 50% battery charge. -
Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 16.5 with a new wallpaper, Apple News improvements, more
TarasBuria posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple releases iOS and iPadOS 16.5 with a new wallpaper, Apple News improvements, more by Taras Buria Apple has started rolling out new software updates for its operating systems. Version 16.5 is now available for download on compatible iPhone, iPod, and iPad models, bringing customers new wallpaper, improvements for Apple News, and various fixes across the operating systems. Here is what is new. What is new in iOS 16.5 and iPadOS 16.5? New Pride Celebration Wallpaper for the Lock Screen to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture. The wallpaper is only available on iOS. Sports tab in Apple News with easy access to everything sports-related and your favorite teams or leagues. Score and Schedule Cards in Apple News can take you directly to game pages with additional details about specific games. And here are the bugs iOS and iPadOS 16.5 fix: Fixed an issue with unresponsive Spotlight Fixed an issue causing problems with loading podcasts in Apple CarPlay (iOS only). Fixed an issue with Screen Time setting reset and sync problems across devices. What iPhones support iOS 16.5? iOS 16.5 is available to all iPhone models running iOS 16. The list of supported iPhones includes the following: iPhone 8 and 8 Plus iPhone X iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR iPhone 11, 11 Pro, and 11 Pro Max iPhone SE 2020, SE 2022 iPhone 12, 12 mini, 12 Pro, and 12 Pro Max iPhone 13, 13 mini, 13 Pro, and 13 Pro Max iPhone 14, 14 Plus, 14 Pro, and 14 Pro Max What iPads support iPadOS 16.5? iPad Pro (all models) iPad Air 3 and newer iPad 5th gen and newer iPad mini 5 and newer You can download iOS and iPadOS 16.5 by heading to Settings > General > Software Update. -
Apple releases macOS Ventura 13.4 with Sports feed, auto unlock fixes, more
TarasBuria posted a topic in Front Page News
Apple releases macOS Ventura 13.4 with Sports feed, auto unlock fixes, more by Taras Buria Apple has released a new feature update for its desktop operating systems. Compatible Macs and MacBooks can download version 13.4 with improvements for Apple News and a few essential fixes for other features. What is new in macOS Ventura 13.4? Sports Feed in the Sidebar of Apple News provides easy and quick access to various stories, scores, standings, and other information about the teams and leagues you follow. My Sports Score and Schedule Cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional information about specific games. In addition to sports improvements in Apple News, macOS Ventura 13.4 fixes the following bugs: The update resolves an issue where Auto Unlock with Apple Watch won't log you into your Mac. The update fixes a Bluetooth issue where keyboards connect slowly to your Mac after restarting. The update addresses a VoiceOver bug with navigating to landmarks on web pages. The update fixes a bug causing Screen Time settings reset and sync issues. What Macs support macOS Ventura 13.4? macOS Ventura 13.4 is available to the following models: iMac 2017 and newer iMac Pro 2017 MacBook Air 2018 and newer Macbook Pro 2017 and newer Mac Pro 2019 and newer Mac Studio 2022 Mac Mini 2018 and newer MacBook 2017 You can download the latest macOS release by heading to Settings > Software Update. -
Android to iPhone migration is again on the rise, claims new report
Aditya Tiwari posted a topic in Front Page News
Android to iPhone migration is again on the rise, claims new report by Aditya Tiwari The number of users flocking from Android to iPhone is at the highest in the last five years. According to a new report by the research firm CIRP, around 15% of buyers in the US who bought an iPhone in the 12 months ending in March 2023, reported switching from an Android phone. On the other hand, around 83% of the buyers reported they already had an iPhone. As per the report, it's a 4% increase in the count of Android switchers over the previously recorded year ending in March 2022. The firm analyzed the iPhone purchase data for the past nine years, according to which, the highest share of Android to iPhone switches was 21% in the 12 months ending in March 2016. Furthermore, it was back in 2018 when the number of new Android switchers was 15% as it declined through the years. Other than Android, the remaining 1% to 2% of users made their switch from basic phones or were first-time iPhone owners. "Switching mobile operating systems is perceived as a challenge by smartphone owners, so loyalty to an operating system remains very high. Still, switching does happen, and we track it in our surveys. In the past year or two, former Android users appear to account for an increased percentage of iPhone buyers," says CIRP in its report. Apple's iPhone has reserved the top spot even during times when the global smartphone market is on a decline. Recently, the company revealed in its latest earnings call that the iPhone division crunched $51 billion in revenue in the second quarter. With that said, analysts have also attributed the increased iPhone sales to the longevity of Apple's devices and the stickiness of its ecosystem. Source: CIRP (paywall) via 9to5Mac -
Chinese ex-Apple engineer stole Apple Car secrets, says DoJ
Omer Dursun posted a topic in Front Page News
Chinese ex-Apple engineer stole Apple Car secrets, says DoJ by Omer Dursun The U.S. Department of Justice has charged a former Apple software engineer for allegedly stealing valuable technology related to autonomous vehicles. The indictment accuses Weibao Wang of relaying Apple's proprietary information to an unidentified Chinese company involved in self-driving car development. Wang, who joined Apple's annotation team in 2016, had been granted significant access to the company's databases. According to the indictment, Wang worked for Apple for approximately one year before submitting his resignation notice in April 2018. He failed to disclose his plans to the supervisor during his exit interview. The investigation into Wang's activities was revealed in November 2017, more than four months before he resigned. However, he had already accepted a job offer from a Chinese-based company. Additionally, Apple representatives discovered that Wang had accessed databases containing sensitive and confidential information regarding the software used in their autonomous systems. Subsequent searches conducted at Wang's residence in California uncovered personal devices preventing a significant amount of data taken from Apple before his departure. The indictment revealed that Wang's PC contained various proprietary materials related to the autonomous systems project. Weibao Wang now faces six separate counts related to the alleged theft of Apple's data, including critical components such as the entire autonomy source code, tracking, and behavior planning for autonomous systems. If extradited from China and found guilty on all counts, Wang could face up to ten years in prison for each offense. This case is the latest in a series of incidents involving former Apple employees allegedly stealing trade secrets related to autonomous vehicle technology and supplying them to Chinese entities. Source: The Guardian
