There's never been a MacBook Air with a screen this large. Concept: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Two weeks from today, Apple will launch the first 15-inch MacBook Air, according to multiple tipsters. This will be the largest consumer-oriented notebook Apple has ever offered.
You don’t need to wait for WWDC23 to get the details, though. Here’s everything that has leaked out about this soon-to-be-released Mac.
No, Apple's headset likely won't look like this AI-generated image. Image: Cult of Mac
This week on Cult of Mac’s podcast: Well-placed sources say Apple’s AR/VR headset blew them away. Even the guy who dreamed up the Oculus Rift says it’s great.
The more we hear about the device nobody seems to need, the more intrigued we become. And with WWDC23 just weeks away, we don’t have long to wait for answers to our questions. In the meantime, we can imagine the possibilities …
Also on The CultCast:
How Apple’s M3 chip will stack up against its predecessors.
Five hidden features in iMessage that you should try ASAP.
Erfon finally gives us an update on his beloved, but beleaguered, original HomePod.
Listen to this week’s episode of The CultCast in the Podcasts app or your favorite podcast app. (Be sure to subscribe and leave us a review if you like it!) Or watch the video live stream, embedded below.
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iOS 16 and macOS 13 will still be around for months, even though we'll soon learn all about their replacements. Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
The first betas of iOS 16.6 and macOS Ventura 13.5 went to developers on Friday. The same is true for iPadOS 16.6 beta 1, watchOS 9.6 beta 1 and tvOS 16.6 beta 1.
The timing might seem odd because Apple is expected to unveil iOS 17, macOS 14 and the replacements for its other operating systems in a couple of weeks, but this is normal.
The technology to make Apple AR glasses like these doesn't exist yet. Concept: the Hacker 34
The VR/AR headset roughly the size of a pair of ski goggles that Apple is widely expected to introduce next month isn’t even close to CEO Tim Cook’s original goal for the project, according to info leaking from the company. Instead, Cook wanted a slim pair of AR glasses that could be worn all day,
As it stands now, that lightweight version of the product remains years away.
Imagine getting a text from a friend and your iPhone reads it to you in your friend’s voice. Photo: Rodolfo Clix/Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple’s newly announced Personal Voice technology enables an iPhone to read text in the user’s own voice. The same tech could be used to read incoming text messages in the sender’s own voice, making them feel more personal.
This isn’t a theory — Apple submitted a patent for exactly this idea in early 2023.
Apple will bring Assistive Access, Live Speech and Personal Voice to iPad and iPhone. Photo: Apple
Just can’t wait for WWDC23? Apparently, Apple can’t either because it’s already starting announcing new features that will almost certainly be in iOS 17, iPadOS 17 and macOS 14.
These are aimed at those with disabilities, and include Live Speech and Personal Voice. These will allow those with speech disabilities to participate in conversations in a synthesized voice that sounds like the user.
We don't yet know what the Apple VR/AR headset will look like, but that doesn't mean it's too soon to get excited about it. AI image: Midjourney/Cult of Mac
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.
The wait for the Apple M3 processor could be shorter than expected. Image: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac
Apple reportedly began internal testing of Macs powered by next-generation M3 chips. At least one of the variants could feature a 12-core CPU, an 18-core GPU and 36GB of system memory.
The next-generation Apple silicon remains a few months away from release, however. Rumors suggest it could debut at the end of this year or early 2024.
Final Cut Pro for iPad offers pro camera mode when recording video. Photo: Apple
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.