Although tipsters worked overtime spoiling the new Apple products, revealing most of the details of the iPhone 15 series and the new Apple Watch models, Tim Cook and Co. still managed to surprise us here and there during Tuesday’s “Wonderlust” event.
Fortunately, most of the surprises were good ones.
Here are three ways Apple gave us more than we expected, but two where the tipsters steered us wrong.
The just-launched iPhone 15 and 15 Plus include the Dynamic Island previously reserved for Pro models. And they’re enhanced with another previously Pro feature: a 48 megapixel camera.
What they don’t have is a Lighting port or screen notch. These have been replaced with better options.
“iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus represent a huge leap forward with exciting camera innovations that inspire creativity, the intuitive Dynamic Island, and features like Roadside Assistance via satellite that make a real difference in users’ lives,” said Kaiann Drance, Apple’s vice president of Worldwide iPhone Product Marketing.
The handsets were unveiled Tuesday at Apple’s Wonderlust event, along with two iPhone 15 Pro models andnew Apple Watch iterations.
Those working with very large files should be pleased that Intel keeps improving the Thunderbolt standard. The newly announced Thunderbolt 5 doubles the speed of its predecessor, and can even go up to three times faster for video connections.
It’s virtually certain Apple will build support the system for high-speed data transfers into future Macs.
Don’t expect an updated iPad to wrap up Tuesday’s Wonderlust event. A trusted source of Apple insider information says Apple probably won’t introduce any tablets this year.
But 2024 should be a big year for iPad.
The newly-released iOS 15.7.9, macOS Monterey 12.6.9 and iPadOS 15.7.9 are intended to protect older computers from hackers, including those using the Pegasus spyware.
Apple recently introduced security patches for newer versions of these operating systems to close the same security vulnerability.
Apple will unveil the next generation of Apple Watch on Tuesday at its Wonderlust event, but you don’t have to wait to find out what the new wearables will offer: Many of the details have leaked out already.
Here’s what we know about Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and the next Apple Watch SE.
The 15-inch MacBook Air only just launched in June, and shoppers can already pick up a refurbished unit from Apple itself. Buying refurbs from Apple is a popular way to save on used computers that can be relied on.
The newest macOS notebook is lightweight, boasts a long battery life and comes with a speedy M2 processor. Even better, a refurb is about 15% off the regular cost.
Those ordering an iPhone 15 can do so knowing they’ll pay less for it in real-world cost than for any just-launched Apple flagship handset since the original.
But that doesn’t mean there’s a giant price cut coming. The magic words here are “adjusted for inflation.”
Apple will launch the iPhone 15 on September 12 at the Wonderlust event, but you don’t have to wait — leaks have revealed plenty of details already. This year’s models will allegedly be faster in multiple ways, plus there’ll be design changes, including USB-C and the Dynamic Island for everyone.
Here’s everything we’re expected from Apple’s new-for-2023 iPhone lineup.
My Talking Angela 2+ is a virtual pet game. Players help Angela, a fashionable anthropomorphic feline, stay busy in her big-city home. Some off her activities include practicing her dance moves, baking treats, making original music and designing jewelry.
It’s the latest addition to Apple Arcade, a low-cost subscription service that includes hundreds of games.
Apple’s biggest event of the year is only a few days away. On September 12, Tim Cook and Co. will reveal at least six new Apple products and possibly more.
The event is titled “Wonderlust” — Apple clearly hopes the new iPhone 15 series and fresh Apple Watch models will fill us with an uncontrollable desire to buy.
Can’t wait to find out what’s coming? We don’t blame you. Here’s everything that leaks already revealed about the handsets and wearables on Tuesday’s agenda.
The iPhone 15 series will reportedly include a new ultrawide-band chip that will make locating the handsets with the Find My application more accurate.
Dubbed U2, the chip will supposedly make its way to many other Apple products over time.
Apple could release charging cases that use USB-C for lower-priced AirPods in 2024, according to an unconfirmed report. A similar case for premium AirPods Pro 2 is expected at Apple’s September event next week.
And Apple might bring USB-C to AirPods Max next year, too, as part of a general move away from Lightning.
Those eager to see more about the upcoming Apple TV+ series Monarch: Legacy of Monsters can finally watch a teaser trailer. It gives the best look yet at the show set in the MonsterVerse that contains Godzilla and other classic kaiju.
Apple also announced that the series will premier in November 2023.
Apple and Arm extended beyond 2040 the deal that puts Arm-based processors in iPhone, Mac and other Apple computers.
This enables the Apple’s A series and M series of chips to continue progressing for decades.
Apple released iOS 16.6.1, macOS 13.5.2, iPadOS 16.6.1 and watchOS 9.6.2 on Thursday to address a potentially serious security vulnerability. All the updates fix security flaws, including one that may already have been exploited by hackers to deliver the infamous Pegasus spyware.
So don’t delay — update your devices with these patches soon.
The upcoming series Where’s Wanda? is a dark comedy that follows parents searching for their missing daughter who discover that behind closed doors, none of their neighbors are who they pretend to be.
It will be the first Apple TV+ series in German.
The RayCue 128K looks like a tiny version of the iconic Macintosh from 1984, but it’s useful in 2023. Very useful — it packs 14 ports and Bluetooth speaker. And the display acts as a digital picture frame.
If that’s not enough, the matching “keyboard” adds seven more ports.
Don’t accuse Apple of just waking up to benefits of conversational AI. It reportedly started developers working on voice-driven artificial intelligence systems four years ago.
And the company is now pouring money into the project.
The U.K. government dropped a plan that would have allowed it to access the contents of any online message looking for illegal content. It had sought a way around the encryption that protects messaging services like iMessage and WhatsApp.
Apple threatened to disable iMessage and FaceTime in the UK rather than submit to the proposal on the grounds that it would completely compromise the privacy of all users. Other companies said the same about their apps.
Apple has been caught in the middle of the high tech trade war between the United States and China. Many government employees have been ordered to not use an iPhone for work. Official government disapproval could result in lowered sales in the country, which currently contributes heavily to Apple revenue.
iPhone has not been singled out, though. The workers are not allowed to use any smartphone made outside of China.
Now that iOS and the App Store have been labeled “gatekeepers” by the European Commission, the EU’s Digital Markets Act requires Apple to allow users to install applications directly onto iPhones. And sideloading is just one of the sweeping changes resulting from the DMA. Users apparently will be able to replace Siri with one of its rivals, for example. Other services, like iMessage, might require modification later.
One thing’s clear: The iPhone won’t be the same after the Digital Markets Act goes into effect in spring 2024.
There certainly will not be a dearth of apps for the Vision Pro when it launches — Apple said Tuesday that every compatible iOS and iPadOS application will be automatically listed in an upcoming App Store for the AR headset.
That means there’ll be “hundreds of thousands” of apps for Vision Pro at its debut early next year, according to Apple.
Apple is reportedly working on a MacBook with a price low enough to compete with Chromebooks in the education market.
If true, then the company may well be intending to follow the same strategy for macOS notebooks that it does for the iPhone SE and Apple Watch SE.
Kingston just took the wraps off the XS1000 External SSD. It’s about the size of pack of gum but holds up to 2 terabytes of data. And it can transfer files at high speed, too.
Or there’s the already announced XS2000, which is twice as fast. Just not for everyone.