Multiple sources predict Apple will launch its first VR/AR headset three weeks from today at WWDC23. As the company’s first major new product category to launch since Apple Watch, there’s a lot riding on the headset. And yet not everyone’s buzzing with anticipation.
For those who aren’t yet feeling excited, here are five reasons you should look forward to the big reveal next month.
Apple is now offering a free, month-long trial of MLS Season Pass, its subscription service that shows all the matches from the top professional soccer league in the United States.
The deal is available for both new and returning customers.
★★★★☆
With the Pitaka MagEZ Case Pro, you can stop plugging in a charging cable. Put the tablet in this slim, lightweight case then pop on a charging mat when it’s time to juice up the tablet.
Combine it with the MagEZ Charging Stand and you have a desktop setup without the hassle of wires for the iPad Pro and an iPhone or AirPods.
I tested both accessories in my home office. There’s a lot to like here.
California introduced a COVID-19 exposure-notification system that used iPhone and Android to track interactions with infected people. And now that the U.S. government says the pandemic is over, CA Notify is shut down.
It’s possible Apple will eventually remove the underlying technology from iOS.
Stage Manager puts iPad applications into floating, resizable, overlapping windows. It’s the most significant change to iPadOS in many years, and Apple Support created a video that walks through the possibilities.
Watch it if you’d like to get started with this multitasking system.
The second season of Apple TV+’s epic space opera Foundation premieres July 14, the streaming service said Thursday.
A newly released teaser trailer gives a first look at what’s coming to the series based on Isaac Asimov’s classic novels.
Small developers around the world saw revenue from Apple’s App Store grow 71% between 2020 and 2022, according to researchers.
Revenue growth over that span for small devs in the United States was even higher: 83%.
Unite a team of elves, dwarfs, wizards, men and hobbits to battle in Lord of the Rings: Heroes of Middle-earth. It’s tactical, turn-based strategy combat for iPhone and iPad set in the world created by J.R.R. Tolkien (obviously).
The game was created by EA and Capital Games, who previously teamed up on Star Wars: Galaxy of Heroes.
Google promised that Android users will soon be alerted if they’re being followed by a location tracker like AirTag or Tile.
It’s part of a collaboration between Apple, Google and other companies to keep item trackers from being used by criminals, stalkers and creeps in general.
The ESR Shift Magnetic Case sets itself apart from the competition with a removable cover/stand that allows the tablet to be used in landscape or portrait mode. Even better, the tablet can slide up in the stand to be closer to eye level.
It’s available now for the 11-inch iPad Pro.
The tipster who went by analyst941 leaked a large number of details about iOS 17, but his or her inside source apparently was caught by Apple in a sting operation. The source has reportedly been fired, and both they and the tipster could face legal action by the iPhone-maker.
It appears that Apple caught the leaker by laying a “canary trap” — a piece of classic spycraft used by intelligence agencies for years.
The iPad version of Final Cut Pro that Apple recently unveiled includes a “pro camera mode” with a number of manual settings not included in the standard camera application. iPhone users saw this and quickly started calling for these features to be brought over to iOS, too.
Perhaps in iOS 17?
Humane, a startup founded by Apple veterans, recently gave a demo of a device intended to kill the smartphone. The new device doesn’t have a display — instead, it projects information onto the user’s hand. But that’s just hardware — the company’s real goal is creating a personalized artificial intelligence that can go everywhere.
Initial details of the as-yet-unnamed product leaked out a few weeks ago. The full video demonstration is now ready to be watched.
The wait for iOS 16.5 is almost over. On Tuesday, Apple committed to releasing it “next week.” The same is true for watchOS 9.5.
Apple almost always introduces new versions of its operating systems simultaneously. So, those eager for macOS Ventura 13.4 and tvOS 16.5 should expect these updates soon, too. Especially as the release candidates for all these OS updates came out on Tuesday.
Steve Wozniak, who co-founded Apple along with Steve Jobs, warned that generative AI will make scams much easier to pull off.
Woz called for regulation to require AI-generated content to be labeled as such.
Apple just began offering refurbished units of the 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro with M2 series processors. These launched in early 2023, and shoppers can save almost $1,000 by choosing a refurb unit.
These are primarily devices that consumers bought then returned so supplies are limited. But these selection is surprisingly broad.
The Writers Guild of America is on strike, causing problems both immediate and long-term for TV and movie production. And Apple TV+ certainly is not immune.
Production on two Apple series already stopped because of picketing, including the bugle popular Severance. And that raises questions about other series and movies.
iPad shipments dropped by double digits in the first quarter of 2023, according to two different market-analysts firms. But Apple’s tablet was hardly alone — the entire global market dropped nearly 20%. As a result, iPad held on to its huge lead over its rivals.
The analysts blamed the decline in global shipments on inflation as well as a post-pandemic reduction in demand for tablets.
Apple TV+ revealed the launch date for Hijack, a seven-part thriller starring Idris Elba. When it debuts June 28, the series will follow a hijacked plane in “real time,” with Elba playing a passenger trying to negotiate with terrorists.
The first images from the show were also released on Friday.
With AirPlay, you can wirelessly stream video from your Apple devices to a large-screen TV. It’ll let you enjoy Ted Lasso or share a TikTok video with a group of friends on a big screen, not your iPhone’s relatively small one.
If this handy option is new to you, Apple made an explainer video. Watch it now.
During the first three months of 2023, Apple’s total revenue dropped 3% year over year. iPhone was a bright spot, but revenue from virtually all of the company’s other product segments saw annual declines. CEO Tim Cook blamed the drop on a “challenging macroeconomic environment.”
While the financial news isn’t good, Wall Street had been expecting it to be even worse. AAPL is up in after-hours trading on the news.
The amount of money Apple will pay you to trade in a previous-generation iPhone just increased. And that’s the second time this spring. The same holds true for Mac and iPad.
So, if you have an older Apple device sitting around, it might be worth more than you suspect.
Apple Arcade normally grows by one game a week, but Apple added no less than 20 new titles to the service on Thursday.
These include TMNT Splintered Fate, What The Car?, Disney SpellStruck and Cityscapes: Sim Builder — all exclusive to Apple Arcade.
The Ford CEO Jim Farley indicated his company will not end support for Apple’s CarPlay in the vehicles it makes. He said the decision was an easy one because a majority of Ford buyers own Apple products.
He was asked the question in an interview because rival GM recently announced it will end CarPlay support in some of its vehicles.
Don’t expect record-breaking profits when Apple reveals its financial results from the first three months of 2023. Quite the opposite. Analysts are predicting that the company’s revenue and profits will be down when compared to the same quarter of 2022.
If true, this will be the second quarter in a row in which global problems cut into Apple’s bottom line.