Apple

Ahead of WWDC 2022, Apple is already sharing a number of accessibility features coming to iOS 16 and watchOS 9 this fall. From auto-generated captioning, to LiDAR-enabled door detection, prepare to gain a distilled picture that reads between the lines to reveal the true details behind each and every one of these new capabilities.

The new selfie cams are produced by LG Innotek and are three times more expensive to integrate compared to previous Chinese modules. Final MSRP is still unclear, but the price bump would be justified since the new selfie cams come with autofocus and possibly even image stabilization.

Those who missed last week's big news can still grab the latest freebie from Epic, namely Borderlands 3, which became available on May 20. Released back in September 2019, this title is a great action role-playing first-person shooter that shipped more than five million copies in the first five days on the market.

Word on the grapevine now indicates that the upcoming Apple AirPods Pro 2 is likely to remain equipped with Lightning charging, instead of USB-C. In addition, production of the premium earbuds is set to begin shortly, with Apple to move most of its production to Vietnam.

Ahead of iOS 16 Beta 1 debuting early next month, Apple released the final build of iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 for all iPhone and iPad users. While it may not seem like much has changed on the surface, the update features a host of notable changes and security enhancements. Take a deeper look at what’s new in iOS/iPadOS 15.5 and learn how a few lines of code could indicate what users can expect next from the Cupertino giant.

Infamous Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo claims to have been informed of a HomePod revival. Supposedly due later this year, the new HomePod may not feature many hardware design changes. A next-generation HomePod is expected to be smaller than the original model too, but larger than the HomePod mini.

Google has shot into the top 5 among smartphone brands active in the North American market, with an impressive growth of nearly 400% year-on-year (YoY) for 2022's first quarter (1Q2022). Then again, Apple still reigns supreme, having shipped just over half of all smartphones recently sold in the region, although Samsung, Motorola and TCL maintained their positions thanks to a combination of attractive new devices and carrier partnerships.

Reportedly, Apple is no longer a summer release for its first mini-LED and 120 Hz ProMotion external monitor. Dubbed the Studio Display Pro, the 27-inch monitor is now expected to debut after the iPhone 14 series, months after its anticipated WWDC 2022 unveiling.

BOE has been tipped as one of three sources of display panels for the upcoming iPhone 14 series. However, this lucrative contract now reportedly hangs in the balance following a dispute over a previous dispute concerning 13-series screens. BOE has been conducting corporate damage control, but may yet lose the chance to help manufacture the latest iPhones.

A typically well-informed leaker has shared renders of this year's Apple Watch refreshes. Billed as the Watch Series 8 and the Watch Extreme Edition, the pair are expected to arrive with flat chassis and flat displays, both significant changes for the Apple Watch Series that were expected to debut with the Watch Series 7.

The unsuspecting twelve-year-old boy supposedly suffered permanent hearing damage when an extremely loud warning notification was played through his AirPods Pro, which is why Apple is now being sued for damages in California.

Reputedly, Apple has developed flat display glass for a future Watch Series device. According to reports, the intended smartwatch could be the Watch Series 8, which is destined for a September release.

Apple has introduced a raft of OS updates spanning the Apple Watch to the HomePod. Also in line for an OS update is iOS, along with iPadOS and macOS. All new updates, such as macOS 12.4, can be installed now and are rolling out worldwide.

Ming-Chi Kuo's latest report suggests that Apple is looking to set its upcoming foldable devices apart from other brands by utilizing electronic paper displays. These solutions will be used for the cover / secondary displays due to low energy requirements, but the main foldable displays will continue to be OLED-based.

According to reports, Apple has settled on a date for this year's September hardware launch event. Supposedly, Apple could have more than just its annual iPhone refresh planned, such as the Apple Watch Extreme Edition. Even Apple M2-powered machines could make an appearance, including a revised MacBook Pro.

Apple will introduce several design changes with the iPhone 14 Pro Max, its replacement for the iPhone 13 Pro Max. While the iPhone 14 Pro Max is reputed to feature thinner display bezels than its predecessor, this year's Pro Max will grow in other aspects, including its camera housing.

Apple is a major electronics OEM also now linked to the launch of its very first Car in the next few years. Now, the Cupertino giant is said to further those ambitions through a buyout of Canoo, a start-up in the same space. It may be a saving grace for the fledgling company, although it seems Apple may not exactly want it for the innovation it purports to offer.

Life-like fan-made renderings of the Apple iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have emerged on social media with both devices stylishly clad in purple. Most of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max details and specs were recently leaked, although there is still some uncertainty over display sizes.

The world's first iPhone with a USB type-C port made by Apple is now said to exist, and is currently being assessed by the Cupertino giant. The Cupertino giant is now also reportedly considering the production of a new adapter that would make current Lightning connector-equipped accessories compatible with the putative new kind of iPhone.

The AURA Strap 2 enables body composition analysis on the Apple Watch Series 3 through Series 7. Available in two sizes, the AURA Strap 2 has a six-month battery life, is waterproof and should be more comfortable to wear than its predecessor.

The iPod Touch is the latest version of Apple's non-cellular, music-playback-focused mobile devices. Now, in the fifteenth year following its original launch, the Cupertino giant has finally discontinued its Home Button-enabled media player. It will still be available to buy, albeit only as long as its remaining stock lasts.

Renowned industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that Apple plans to replace the lightning port with USB-C, but not until 2023. The iPhone 15 will be the first of its kind to employs the tech and offer faster charging and data transfer as a result.

Following similar reports with the iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro, details of the range-topping iPhone 14 Pro Max have now leaked. A 48 MP debuts on the flagship as well, but it appears buyers will also have to pony up an extra US$100 versus the iPhone 13 Pro Max.

After years of just notches, Apple is now expected to release iPhones with dual punch holes, under-panel Face ID hardware and all under-panel cameras between this year and 2026. Also, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are now believed to feature larger display sizes than their predecessors.

This fall will mark three years since the AirPods Pro launched back in late 2019. While early adopters of the premium wireless headphones are surely suffering from the downsides of aging batteries, a second-gen model of AirPods Pro is expected to debut later this year, according to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg. We take a deep dive into what users can expect from AirPods Pro 2.

According to reports, Apple is looking to bring new versions of the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max to market this summer. Reputedly, next-generation AirPods Pro will also come in new colourways, potentially building on the five that Apple offers with the current model.

Apple currently engages a number of companies to supply it with the screens for new units of its iPhone 13 flagship series of mobile devices, BOE included. However, the Chinese display specialist has reportedly been obliged to hit pause on fulfilling its order from the Cupertino giant, as it has taken issue with an unauthorized change made to the components in question.

A new leak has now provided insight into Apple's upcoming flagship smartphone, the iPhone 14 Pro. While the phone will get the new 48 MP camera, it appears buyers will bear the cost of that, with a price bump versus last year's model seemingly on the cards.

New fan-made concept renderings of the expected 2022 Apple iPad Pro have been shared on social media, showing the rumored design changes that could occur with the latest edition of the premium tablet series. Along with some design refinements, it’s believed the next iPad Pro will sport Apple’s M2 SoC.

The latest update to AltStore, the alternative app store for iOS, brings a bevy of new changes, including new trusted sources, just-in-time compilation, and bug fixes. The update is a boon for retro gamers who want an easy way to install emulators on their iDevice.

Former or current owners of an iPhone 4S who live in two certain US states on the East Coast may be eligible to receive a US$15 settlement payment from Apple if they declare that their smartphone noticeably slowed down after the software update to iOS 9.

Apple may finally be bringing high refresh rate displays to its cheaper iPhones. According to a report, the upcoming iPhone 14 Max will feature a 90 Hz panel, plus 6 GB of RAM, both upgrades from the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini.

Apple ships a short Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable together with its new Studio Display that is often not nearly enough for the ambitious workstation setups that the 5K monitor beckons for. It will, however, now sell you a much longer, 10-foot Thunderbolt 4 Pro cable for the princely sum of US$159.

With the US dollar currently strong against many other leading currencies, analysts expect Apple to raise iPhone prices outside its home market this year, starting with the iPhone 14 series. Significant Euro depreciation against the US dollar in the last year could hit Eurozone countries, for example.

As Elon Musk continues to work on his blockbuster US$44 billion acquisition of Twitter, the tech visionary has once again utilized the influential social network to heavily criticize Apple's large cut on App Store purchases by calling it a "30% tax on the internet".

Body temperature measurement, tracking or both are among the most hotly-discussed potential features for next-gen smartwatches. However, according to a respected security analyst, OEMs are having perhaps more trouble perfecting it than they may have imagined, even major players such as Apple. Currently, it is thought that more work is required to incorporate it into its series-8 Watch.

The supposed specs and price tag for the Apple Watch SE 2022 have been leaked. This year’s variant of the Apple Watch SE is shaping up to be a decent and more-affordable alternative to the upcoming Apple Watch Series 8. A price increase over its predecessor has been predicted but there are some hardware upgrades too.

A video review of the new Dell XPS 13 Plus laptop has revealed how much more performance can be expected over the previous-generation XPS 13 and the Apple MacBook Pro 13 from 2020. Pitting the Intel Core i7-1280P against the M1 SoC is clearly an unfair fight, but it is interesting to see Dell take notes from Apple’s playbook.

Apple has only just announced its new initiative to facilitate iPhone users who want or need to fix their own devices, touting it as a new, right-to-repair-friendly way to increase access to this option. However, as some detractors point out, some aspects of the service may prove to be inadequate, expensive and even invasive in some respects.

There are hardly any alternatives to the Apple Studio Display that combine a 5K resolution with a built-in webcam. However, Luke Miani has repurposed an old 27-inch iMac as an external monitor, creating a cheaper version of the Studio Display in the process.

The Mac Studio configuration with the Apple M1 Max SoC in particular seems to be plagued by an irritating high-pitched noise, which may be caused by the cooling fan that is built into Apple's latest desktop computer.

Suspected front panels of this year's iPhone 14 series have appeared online. The leak focuses on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max's pill-shaped punch-hole display, which is likely to raise eyebrows. Apple has made other changes too, including a switch to 19.5:9 aspect ratios for this year's Pro models.

Apple had tech enthusiasts turning their heads when it released the new Thunderbolt 4 Pro Cable alongside the Mac Studio and Studio Display earlier this year. At a hard-to-swallow US$129 for the 1.8-meter version, and an even heftier US$159 for the as yet unavailable 3-meter version, let’s take a look at why this cord carries such a steep price tag.

Apple has announced its new Self Service Repair program that lets the end users fix their own smartphones. Replacement parts, tools and repair manuals are all available via Apple's website. The program will be expanded to Europe later this year.

Reportedly, Apple is not planning to update its iMac line for a while yet. Instead, a next-generation 24-inch model will not launch for at least 18 months, albeit with an Apple M3 chipset. Meanwhile, the iMac Pro is said to be a way off from being released and will not arrive 'anytime soon'.

According to a South Korean industry blog, Apple has greatly increased its orders for new iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max units. Demand for these higher-end models has escalated, whereas that for the SE 2022, freshly released as the OEM's latest sub-premium alternative, has not. Therefore, the Pros are getting a production spike, whereas that of the new SE is being cut back.

Apple is reportedly working on a satellite network of its very own; furthermore, the Cupertino giant might have it ready in time for its latest mobile devices to launch able to connect with it out of the box. Then again, the combination is not exactly intended for full-blown GSM-independent communications on the part of the upcoming iPhones and smartwatches.

Apple seems to be on track to making M2 silicon available for this year's Mac lineup. According to industry sources, Apple has once again enlisted Samsung Electro-Mechanics for supply of FC-BGA substrates. Samsung is reportedly investing a lot in the critical FC-BGA business given that there are only a handful of players in this niche.

Intel Alder-Lake will soon arrive in many laptops models. The focus of the new platform is the performance of the new CPUs - but the efficiency is worrying. New spec sheets with battery life numbers from Lenovo indicate that laptops with the 2022 Intel platform might have worse battery life than their predecessors.

A well-known leaker claims to have come across new first-party iPhone accessories prior to its launch on the market. The new optional purchases do look more or less like genuine Apple-brand products in their appearance and packaging; however, they are quite different from more verifiable counterparts in that they have a higher power-delivery spec and more ports than usual.