Apple

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.

Apple is expected to reveal full details of iOS 16 at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, which is scheduled from June 6 to 10. Ahead of that, a leaker has rounded up all the relevant feature rumors about iOS 16 and has also suggested device compatibility, leaving the Apple iPhone 6s, iPhone 6s Plus, and first-generation iPhone SE facing end of support.

The vanilla iPhone 14 is slated to be among the smallest and most basic of its upcoming flagship line-up. Nevertheless, it is also thought to do so with an OLED display; however, according to a new report, this panel will be sourced from the Chinese firm BOE rather than LG or Samsung.

An updated model of the popular Apple Mac mini has been tipped to be the mysterious Mac device that is most likely to join the MacBook Air in a reveal at Apple’s upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), which takes place in June. Just like the refreshed MacBook Air, the new Mac mini is expected to sport Apple M2 silicon.

The respected securities analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has just posted a new prediction as to how the "iPhone 14 series" might improve in terms of selfie cameras compared to the existing 13 series. This new rumor does not so much discuss a notch or lack thereof this time, however, and concerns the actual shooters to be found in the putative iPhones' front panels.

Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo thinks we will not see iPhone under-display cameras sooner than 2024, as Apple is still working to improve low-light image quality through AI algorithms and more powerful image processors. The 2023 iPhone 15 models could, however, offer a full-view screen by integrating the front camera system in the upper bezel.

Several of the new European TV models from TCL will be compatible with Apple AirPlay 2 and HomeKit. This will make them the first Google TVs in the region with these features. As with other devices, AirPlay will enable you to cast content from your iOS or Mac device to your TCL TV. The HomeKit tools will allow you to control your TV using voice commands, such as switching the gadget on or off.

Dummy units of the entire iPhone 14 series have leaked online. The units show what the back of the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will look like, plus the new 'Max' model. There is no iPhone 14 mini to be seen, either.

It has been alleged that the Apple iPhone 14 Pro (and by extension the iPhone 14 Pro Max) will come with a Lightning connector that will be able to support USB 3.0 speeds. There had been older rumors that the iPhone 14 Pro models may have come with USB-C ports but one key factor has prevented that from happening.

The Apple iPhone 11’s number is up according to a leaker, with price reductions purportedly heading toward the iPhone 12 series. Cupertino is expected to launch the iPhone 14 range later this year and will need to trim the lineup to help maximize sales and reap in the benefits of all the hype that will be surrounding the latest iPhone iteration.

The iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max have three main rear cameras, one of which is a telephoto unit with optical image stabilization (or OIS). Now, their 2024 successors are said to have the same spec, although it may be a new module from a different source in this case. The supplier in question also currently makes OIS tech for Samsung's Galaxy S22 flagship smartphone series.

Some smartphone innovations are great ideas and make a lasting impact on the market. Others are also great ideas but either fail to launch completely or somehow go the way of the dodo, never to be seen again. Let's look at some recent would-be home runs that just didn't pan out for some reason.

According to reports, the Apple Car will run on a custom centrally integrated "carOS" that will control all aspects of the vehicle including navigation, sensor data processing, and infotainment. The report also states that Apple will leverage Korean suppliers for the self-driving sensors in the car's domain control unit (DCU).

Apple is preparing a veritable bonanza of new Mac models with the upcoming second generation of its M-series of chipsets. First for release will be a completely redesigned MacBook Air and the basic MacBook Pro 13, while in the fall we may seem an M2 Mac mini. The MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16 with their M2 Pro and M2 Max processors may appear at a later date.

A smartphone with top performance for less than 520 Euros (~$566)? The Apple iPhone SE 2022 makes this possible. However, you also have to accept some compromises for this.

Apple may have next to no stock of the M1 Pro or M1 Max in most markets, but the SoCs remain available to order in Certified Refurbished versions of the MacBook Pro 14 and MacBook Pro 16. Seemingly the only way to pick up an M1 Pro or M1 Max machine before the summer without resorting to secondhand marketplaces, it should be hard to tell a Certified Refurbished model from its brand new equivalent.

A new report alleges that a body-temperature sensor is back on for the Watch Series 8, Apple's flagship smartwatch for 2022. The body-temperature sensor will only have limited functionality at launch, but Apple is expected to introduce new health-tracking features and even a new power-saving mode with watchOS 9. Details about why it is taking Apple so long to release an Apple Watch with a blood pressure monitor have also emerged.

It seems that Apple is preparing to release a new power adapter with two USB Type-C ports. While its release date remains unknown, its design, peak wattage and pricing have emerged.

Apple has released three new colours for the Beats Studio Buds, a cheaper alternative to the AirPods Pro. The Beats Studio Buds now come in six colours, including Sunset Pink. Simultaneously, the Beats app for Android has received new features, courtesy of 'Locate My Beats' functionality.

Lockdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in China could lead to future Apple MacBook delays. Some of Cupertino’s main suppliers, such as Pegatron and Quanta, have had to cease production for the time being. While future MacBook Air or MacBook Pro releases may be affected, supplies of the iPhone 14 may not be as deeply impacted.

Though Apple released iOS 15.4.1 just under a couple of weeks ago, many iPhone users still running an earlier version of iOS 15 may be at risk due to a major security flaw that Apple says “may have been actively exploited”. Take a look at what is new in Apple’s latest version of its iPhone operating system.

The launch of the next-generation Mac mini appears to be close, if Apple Studio Display is anything to go by. According to developer Steve Throughton-Smith, the firmware mentions the unreleased mini-PC, which is expected to be considerably more powerful than the existing Apple M1 model.

A new app, WristChat, enables Apple Watch users to respond to messages from the device. You can reply to a message using Scribble, Voice Dictation, or the custom-built WristBoard, a keyboard designed for the smaller screen with swipe typing and autocorrect. There are many other customizable features such as haptic feedback and chat bubble colors.

Reportedly, Apple will unveil major updates for all its operating systems at WWDC 2022 in June. Also, the company could even tease rOS, the OS for its mixed reality headset. Unfortunately, neither rOS nor the headset will be ready in time for WWDC 2022, though.

Purportedly, Apple is already preparing to release two new Mac devices, just a few months after the arrival of the Mac Studio and Studio Display. According to new rumours, WWDC 2022 will be the launch platform for at least the MacBook Air.

Apple's AirPods Pro are on sale over at Amazon for US$75 off, a 30% discount. You can snag a pair for US$174. If your budget is a bit smaller, The Beats Studio Buds are also on sale for US$120.

The Redmi K50 debuted a few weeks ago as the first Dimensity 8100-powered device on the market. The Dimensity 8100 has put up stellar performances in synthetic benchmarks so far, and it appears to also be one of the best chipsets for mobile gaming as well, as it manages to outperform the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Apple M1 in an Apex Legends Mobile test.

Apple offers the MacBook Pro 14 with the faster M1 Max SoCs, but the power adapter will be a limiting factor when you stress the CPU & GPU at the same time. This means the larger MacBook Pro 16 is a better choice if you want to use the full performance of the M1 Max.

When it comes to smartphones and headphones, American teenagers apparently prefer products from the dominant Cupertino-based tech behemoth, which has once again performed admirably in a latest youth-focused survey conducted by Piper Sandler.

Even after the update to iOS 15.4.1, some iPhone owners have unfortunately suffered from a few annoying problems with the synchronization of iMessages as well as the location services in some of Apple's stock apps, which apparently do not work as intended for users in at least one region.

Earlier this week, Google previewed a number of new features and enhancements that are making their way to Google Maps on iOS and Android in the coming months. While some new additions have users saying “finally” others are welcome changes sure to enhance the overall navigation experience.

New CAD renders of the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro Max indicate the same expected design as that of the rumored iPhone 14 Pro including a pill-shaped notch for Face ID and a punch hole for the selfie camera. The CAD files also indicate an increased screen-to-body ratio and a thicker camera bump to accommodate the 48 MP primary camera.

Unlike the initial period of switching to OLED display technology for its iPhones, Apple may have a choice of three screen suppliers for its first OLED MacBooks, iPads, and monitors. Besides LG and Samsung, BOE has reportedly also started developing the 8.5-Gen technology that is considered superior for production of OLED displays with diagonals larger than ten inches.

Apple will be refreshing the Beats Studio Buds soon, as it did with the iPhone 13 series. While Apple offered the iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Pro in a single new colour, the Beats Studio Buds will receive three new colour options.

Apple has issued a "call to code" with its official WWDC 2022 announcement. The Cupertino giant has now outlined some events and activities that will form part of this show, tipped to unveil the latest in software for its iPads, Macs, iPhones and more. The conference is also now confirmed to be "all-online", although there is scope for in-person attendance on its opening day this year.