Apple

A couple of samples of the Apple M2 Ultra processor have arrived at PassMark and have offered up very good results for the latest ARM-based SoCs out of Cupertino. The test suite score for the 24-core M2 Ultra leaves it rubbing shoulders with AMD EPYC and Intel Xeon server processors and performance chips such as the i7-13700K and Ryzen 9 7845HX.

Industry analysts speculate that the iPhone SE 4 will not launch until 2025 due to ongoing issues with Apple's in-house 5G modems. It is said to feature a 6.1-inch OLED screen with Face ID.

Two Apple executives have explained why watchOS does not give people the option of downloading third-party watch faces onto their Apple Watch smartwatches. The same executives have also discussed the demise of Force Touch, which debuted on the first Apple Watch.

Anker has launched its 621 Power Bank (Built-In Lightning Connector, 12W), now available in the US and the UK. The gadget has a foldable lightning connector to make it easier to transport. Plus, the 5,000 mAh capacity can add up to 20 hours of video playtime to an iPhone 14 Pro Max.

Apple is said to be improving the ultra wideband capabilities of its upcoming iPhone 15 series, according to leading analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The move is aimed at improving its integration with the new Apple Vision Pro headset.

Apple's inaugural Vision Pro will be put together in the facilities of a Chinese manufacturing company, according to a new report. The assembly partner will apparently build the XR headset from parts sourced from a number of other firms, Some of them also supply parts for other products such as the iPhone, whereas others specialize in the virtual/augmented reality (VR/AR) market.

Intel is not the only company courted for an anchor investment in Arm. Industry insiders claim that ten other industry giants are now in talks with SoftBank regarding sizable anchor investments before the IPO. None of these deals would grant control over Arm.

The second major update to War Thunder, dubbed "La Royale" and released yesterday, comes with more than 50 new/updated vehicles, including 14 new ships for the French naval tree (in Closed Beta stage for now). There is also a first Indian tank (Vijayanta), two new locations, and much more.

In choosing an official product name for its "first spatial computer", Apple apparently blanked on the fact that another major electronics OEM also calls its flagship AR glasses the "Vision" series. Furthermore, it seems that Huawei did in fact trademark the name Vision Pro in China well in advance, meaning the Cupertino-based giant may now have a problem introducing its first-gen XR headset to that major market.

Apple’s latest iPhone 15 smartphones are rumored to reuse the same general design as the iPhone 14 smartphones with the key improvements being a new SoC and the inclusion of a Type-C port. Despite what seem like minor upgrades, it is now rumored that Apple may increase the price of the iPhone 15 series by up to 20% vs the current-gen devices.

CheckList A bit of fact-checking never hurts. We went fishing for false claims in an official Apple launch video for the new MacBook Air 15, expecting to leave empty-handed. But the 145-second video for this latest MacBook laptop proved to be a well of questionable statements.

Apple's senior vice president of Hardware Technologies was a notable absentee from the launch of the Apple Vision Pro, along with the new Mac Pro and upgraded Mac Studio. Srouji has been a stalwart in Apple's recent launch videos, but he was strangely not anywhere to be seen this time.

The inaugural Vision Pro's launch has prompted a Twitter thread from a researcher who contributed to "neurotechnology" development at Apple outlining details on the headset (or its possible successors) that might be interpreted as meaning that the hardware (or its AI, rather) is capable of reading the user's mind. That may or may not be the case; nevertheless, the thread has helped fuel reservations on visionOS-powered devices and their potential effects on users and humanity as a whole.

The Apple M2 Ultra scored 1,956 and 27,945 points in Geekbench's single and multi-core tests. It was tested alongside a Mac Pro with 192 GB of RAM running macOS 14 Sonoma.

The beta versions of platforms such as macOS are normally exclusive to those able or willing to pay US$99 (or the per-region equivalent) per year for an official Developer Program membership. However, the Cupertino giant has just unveiled a new, free version of this subscription that allows a user access to, say, the latest iOS 17 beta with their existing Apple ID.

The long-anticipated Apple Vision Pro headset is finally here. While some are lavishing praise on it, not everyone is. Notably, legendary former Apple hardware engineer Tony Fadell says that Apple has "Jumped the Shark" with it.

MacOS Sonoma beta appears to be running DX12 games with relative ease on the M1 and M2 processors via the Wine emulator included with the Game Porting Toolkit. Cyberpunk 2077 struggles on the M1 with Ultra settings, but the M2 processors can run Diablo IV, Hogwarts Legacy and Spider-Man at more than 30 fps.

ESR's HaloLock Geo Wallet Stand has proven a hit on Kickstarter, finishing its campaign with over 36x its original goal in terms of backing. Now, it is available for general sale online. The accessory is hailed as the first of its kind with full support for Apple Find My, thereby potentially boosting the chances of recovering a lost wallet, the iPhone it was mounted on via MagSafe, or both.

Apple has now revealed which devices are eligible for iPadOS 17, iOS 17, watchOS 10 and macOS Sonoma, OS upgrades that it announced as part of yesterday's WWDC 2023 keynote. Unfortunately, Apple has dropped some devices that it currently supports.

The launch of iPadOS 17 and its new features may make businesses all the more interested in using Apple tablets compatible with the software. Now, OtterBox asserts that they can fit into any kind of workspace, regardless of how hazardous, with its new Hardline cases and charging docks. They include the first of either kind for some iPads to conform to standards from official bodies such as UL Solutions for North America.

For decades, macOS has been regarded as the pariah of operating systems when it comes to gaming. Things are about to get a lot better for macOS as the upcoming Sonoma update is bringing a dedicated Game Mode along with a Game Porting Toolkit which should greatly streamline game coding on Apple's operating system.

The Mac Pro finally gets its due of Apple silicon at WWDC23. The new Mac Pro offers the latest M2 Ultra SoC with 24 CPU cores and up to 72 GPU cores and 192 GB of unified memory. The Mac Pro is also the first Apple silicon computer to support PCIe Gen 4 expansion, but all this comes at a US$6,999 price tag.

Mixed reality by Apple has finally made its long-awaited global debut at WWDC 2023. The Cupertino behemoth claims to have built a potentially definitive take on the technology from the ground up, resulting in a 3D experience now backed to impose macOS-like UI features on real life as much as possible. On that note, the headset is also rated to switch to completely immersion for entertainment purposes instead.

The latest version of iOS 17 brings a whole uses of features such as AirDrop and always-on displays (AODs) to Apple's iPhones. The major software upgrade also confers a new way of dealing with both known and unknown callers in the Phone app. The OS' new ability to make Stickers do more (even be made of photos or gifs) is also included in this update.

After months of speculation, the 15-inch Apple MacBook Air finally gets an official unveiling at WWDC23. The MacBook Air 15-inch is powered by the M2 SoC and brings niceties such as a 1080p FaceTime HD camera, a six-speaker Dolby Atmos Spatial Audio system, and a 500-nit IPS display to the table.

Apple unveiled the next iteration of macOS, dubbed "Sonoma," at WWDC today. Sonoma brings desktop widgets, improvements to Safari and web apps, and a new "Game Mode," among others.

Apple unveiled its new Mac Studio at WWDC 2023. It uses the same chassis as the original Mac Studio and comes with the same selection of ports. It is up for pre-order now, starting at US$1,999, with shipments beginning on July 13.

Apple has unveiled what it calls its most powerful chip so far, the M2 Ultra. It stacks two M2 chips side-by-side and packs a 24-core CPU (16 performance + 8 efficiency), and can be configured with up to a 76-core GPU and 192 GB of memory.

Apple is now backed by more industry leaders than ever before to re-imagine itself as the next big extended-reality (XR) brand during its imminent WWDC23 event. The Cupertino giant is now tipped to offer the conference's attendees the chance to test the hardware in question in person, which, according to the latest leaks, will strive to stay ahead of its competition with high-tech internals and a compelling UX.

Apple Savings has reportedly attracted about US$100 million in deposits since launching in the US in April 2023. Now, however, some of its customers have gone public with claims that trying to get their money out of the accounts in question took weeks in some cases, while others claim that their balances never updated following such a transaction. Is the Cupertino giant's consumer 'financial wellness' drive all that healthy?

Samsung took a disproportionate amount of orders for the OLED displays found in the iPhone 14 range during their production compared to other main display suppliers LG and BOE. The former is now said to have gained some ground back in this respect in 2023, having secured a contract to make an increased volume of "15 Pro" and "15 Pro Max" panels. Then again, Samsung may still be content with their additional vanilla "15" and "15 Plus" orders.

According to reports from a renowned Apple analyst, Apple has developed two new Mac desktops based on M2 Pro and M2 Ultra chipsets. Codenamed Mac 14.13 and Mac 14.14, the pair are rumoured to arrive later this year as new Mac Studio machines.

The "iPhone 15 Pro Max" is currently thought to be the world's first top-end Apple handset with a USB type-C port. However, according to a new tip, that is one of its very few substantial hardware upgrades. The leak purports to debunk claims of a new main camera for the upcoming flagship smartphone - then again, it might get more RAM than the 14 Pro Max.

An Apple rumors blog has shown off what might be a full collection of iPhone 15-series dummy models in a new video post. According to this new leak, the Cupertino giant will produce direct successors for each 14-series variant in 2023. On that note, the OEM may be banking on upgrades such as USB type-C charging to set the new iPhones apart from previous generations.

Samsung Display has revealed a new OLED display that includes integrated sensor technology embedded within the panel itself. The panel can authenticate via a fingerprint, but also measure heart rate, blood pressure and stress levels.

Apple is months out from releasing the iPhone 15 series. In the meantime, first renders of the iPhone 16 Ultra have emerged, courtesy of leaked CAD data. Purportedly, the iPhone 16 Ultra will feature a 6.9-inch display, which would make it the tallest iPhone ever.

Apple released watchOS 9.5 a few days ago with various bug fixes and a new themed watch face. However, the update also introduces a green display tint for some models, Watch SE, Watch Series 8 and Watch Ultra included.

Apple is expected to introduce a first-gen mixed-reality headset at its impending WWDC23 event. Now, some more potential design and function tidbits for the inaugural, allegedly Jony Ive-influenced, product have leaked out. They purport to cover its blend of virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR) applications, its potential user-friendliness and how it will be something other than a Meta Quest competitor.

Apple's freshly-announced official itinerary for its latest World-wide Developer's Conference (or WWDC23) includes a day-long Special Event in addition to the usual keynote speech and State of the Union address. The augmented schedule has re-ignited speculation that the Cupertino giant will unveil its first-gen mixed-reality headset on the date in question.

Apple has taken the unusual step of previewing features coming to iOS 17 ahead of its expected announcement at WWDC 2023. The new features are focused on enhancing accessibility for users with disabilities with Apple flexing its AI prowess in the process.

According to a new report, Apple will release all iPhone 15 models with 48 MP primary cameras. Reputedly, the basic iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus will receive a new triple-stacked camera sensor aimed at capturing more light to improve image quality.

With Apple's rumored "Reality Pro" MR headset unveiling just around the corner, it has surfaced that Apple has registered a new trademark for "xrOS". The unveiling of the headset and its new operating system is expected to take place at Apple's WWDC 2023 event coming next month, where developers will be able to get their hands on the device for the first time and begin conceiving of new apps they can create for it.

Apple is projected to launch new MacBooks and possibly top-end iPads with a new chip called the M3 Pro soon. Now, it is slated to arrive with 20% more cores and 12.5% more graphics compared to its predecessor. That might sound like an iterative upgrade - then again, there may also be 12.5% more onboard memory, at least.

Apple threw a wrench in Samsung's 8th-gen OLED display investment plans as it is reportedly delaying the launch of the MacBook with OLED display with a whole year. Sluggish MacBook sales may have premeditated Apple's decision.

Anker has launched the 737 MagGo Charger (3-in-1 Station) for Apple devices in the EU. You can use the gadget to charge an iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously. The wireless MagGo charging pad can charge an iPhone at 15W, plus the device has a temperature sensor to protect against overheating.

A well-renowned industry analyst says the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will feature 6.2x and 6.8x-inch screens (value of x to be revealed later), along with a higher aspect ratio and thinner bezels.

Apple is once again tipped to produce its inaugural Ultra-class iPhone in 2023, with this alleged new 15-series flagship turning up in dummy form on a popular tech YouTube channel. It may be slightly narrower and thicker than the 14 Pro Max it is tipped to replace, and also incorporate all of the subtle rumored updates that could make it the most significant upgrade for several generations - except for one.

Apple has just reported "fiscal 2023 second quarter" (or 2FQ2023) takings reduced by 3% year-on-year (YoY). On the other hand, the Cupertino giant asserts that its iPhones made the most for any quarter in its history, while services such as Music or TV posted an "all-time record". Nevertheless, it follows that Macs and iPads did not do so well during the 3 months in question.