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It has been an eventful week not only for the approaching iPhone 15 series next month but also for other matters involving iOS and the current iPhone offerings of Apple. Here are all the top news and stories you should know.
iOS apps updates
This week, we received an update for the Tesla app for iOS. In the latest version of the app, users will notice the integration of iOS-based features, including the ability to control their electric vehicles using their iPhone’s Siri and Shortcuts app.
The developer of Reddit third-party app Narwhal also announced this week the availability of the app’s new version, the Narwhal 2. The app developer announced the plan to release a new version months ago, promising it would be free of ads. The app’s new version is now in beta with a new design and “many new features.” The news came months after Reddit made significant changes in its API pricing, causing different third-party app shutdowns and others to adapt to the changes.
Apple also introduced an update for its Apple Support app with performance enhancements and bug fixes alongside new features. One of the highlights of the new version is the two new sections in the app, giving users more details about store hours, accessibility details, specialty services, and more.
Shazam has also been updated, giving us two new Lock Screen widgets. The new Shazam widgets vary both in size and function. The smaller one can access the app from the Lock Screen directly. Meanwhile, the larger one shows the last song identified by the app.
On the other hand, Google is testing the bottom address bar position in Chrome for iOS. The new beta option is accessible by users with Chrome’s TestFlight version, which needs to enable a certain flag.
Lastly, Google started rolling out live lyrics in its YouTube Music app this week. Those who already have the feature should be able to access the lyrics while playing a song in the Lyrics tab of the app. The current line being played will be highlighted in white, while the rest of the lyrics will be in a faint gray appearance. The highlight will move as the song progresses and until it ends, albeit it also allows users to scroll the screen to view the rest of the lyrics in advance.
Apple iPhone-related patents
This week, new patent documents have surfaced. First is the patent titled “Systems and Methods for Locating Mobile Devices Within a Vehicle,” which details a way to pinpoint where exactly your device lies inside your car.
Apple is also exploring a system it hopes to use to analyze a person’s respiratory function. This different patent shows that the system will rely on iPhones, Apple Watch, or a “position sensing device.” Apple also introduces an idea in the patent to use a separate device that can be patched to the user’s chest area.
iPhone 15 rumors and leaks
As September approaches, more leaks, rumors, and news related to the iPhone 15 series continue to surface online. Here are some of them:
- According to a local electronics retail chain in Asia, Apple plans to adjust the priority of the Vietnamese market from three to two. This means that the new series could come to the country in September, a month earlier than the previous iPhone releases it experienced. For instance, despite the release of the iPhone 14 in September 2022, Apple only started the iPhone 14 distribution in Vietnam on October 14 since its status is in third phase priority.
- Apple is introducing colored and braided USB-C cables for the iPhone 15 series. According to leakers, there is a possibility that Apple could offer the cables to complement the colors of the new iPhone 15 models, specifically the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus. Another post says that iPhone 15’s braided USB-C cable will be 1.5 meters long. However, another post after that claims that it will be 1.6 meters long with a USB 2.0 speed limit. A more recent post by a leaker showed a cable from a design validation test. According to the post, the cable will be sold separately as an optional accessory for the iPhone 15 Pro. The cable is reportedly USB 4 Gen 2 and could deliver up to 150W of charging output.
- The claim about the iPhone 15 Pro Max being branded as “iPhone 15 Ultra” has been resurrected. AppleInsider’s Andrew O’Hara said “multiple sources” told him, “Apple will indeed use the ‘iPhone 15 Ultra’ monicker for the plus-sized Pro phone.”
- Photos online show that Apple will integrate the iPhone 15’s SIM card slot into the tail plug cable. This might translate to a replacement cost increase for users, but it could also mean a simpler repair process since it drops the direct logic board connection.
- Another claim indicates that there will be a delay in the release of one iPhone 15 model. According to 9To5Mac, Apple would have to push for the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s release between October 6 and October 13, mentioning an issue related to the Pro Max’s (or Ultra) periscope lens system.
- A leaker shared in a recent post the colors Apple used for the various development processes of the standard iPhone 15 models. According to the leaker, the colors include pink/rose gold/blush gold, green, blue, yellow, orange, and black/midnight/dark/basalt. The presence of the colors throughout the different development stages of the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus indicates a high chance that some of them will see the light of day in the final release of the models.
- The Beta 7 of iOS 17 shows that Apple will use a haptic pattern for the Action Button of iPhone 15 when the unit switches between Silent and Ring mode.
- Apple is now preparing the Guided Tour video it needs for the iPhone 15 event next month. In a post by a creator from Mexico, the actor featured in the Guided Tour of iPhone 14 and 13 can be seen filming in front of Apple’s Antara store in Mexico City on August 4. And while some might argue that it is just some of the actor’s possible side gigs, the blue clothing with an iPhone logo says otherwise.
- According to Mizuho Bank of Japan, its previous prediction involving the production of 84 units of iPhone has now dropped to 73 million. This translates to a cut of 11 million units. As explained in its note, the production is still experiencing problems with the supply. It adds that it could affect the overall iPhone production this year, causing its earlier prediction of 227 million units to drop to 217 million.
- A leaker has shared a new leak on X, claiming that the iPhone 15 event will indeed happen on September 12 instead of 13. The leaker shared some document screenshots from an unnamed source, showing details of Apple’s “New Product Launch” event details.
- Another unreleased Apple product has been spotted in the database of the Bureau of Indian Standards. According to the online price comparison and product discovery site MySmartPrice.com, the device has a dedicated model code “A3090” in the listing. No other details are shared in the listing, but it is believed to be one of the phone models included in the Cupertino company’s iPhone 15 series, which is set to be released in September.
- Apple will reportedly embrace new colors for its iPhone 15 line as it opts for titanium edges this year. According to a report, the company will now stop offering the smartphones in a gold option but will instead resort to colors that will better complement the material it will directly employ for the iPhone frames. The color will reportedly be replaced with space black, silver, and a natural titanium gray shade. Aside from the said colors, it shares the possibility of the Cupertino giant offering a new color for the iPhone 15 Pro titanium models: dark blue.
Tap to Pay arrives in the Netherlands
Tap to Pay is now in the Netherlands. Companies like Adyen and SumUp are the first to support the service. Other companies are expected to join the service soon, including Rabobank, Klearly, Revolut, Stripe, Viva Wallet, Worldline, and myPOS.
iPhone 14’s A16 chip reportedly labeled 5nm internally
Leaker @URedditor claims to see the A16 chip 4nm processor labeled 5nm chip internally. Nonetheless, the leaker stresses that it won’t be the case for the upcoming A17 Bionic chip, which is reportedly based on TSMC’s 3nm process. If true, it will greatly boost the upcoming iPhone 15 models.
iOS 17 Developer Beta 7/Public Beta 5 release
Apple has released new betas of iOS 17 to testers, giving us the seventh developer beta and fifth public beta of the huge iPhone update. They follow the last release by Apple last week, indicating the company’s determination to polish the details of the update as its September release approaches. In the previous betas, some UI improvements were spotted alongside some minor additions of features and controls. The same is expected in the new betas, which should also get some bug fixes.
New iPhone 14 ad focusing on LiDAR Scanner and TrueDepth cam
In a new clip posted on YouTube, the Cupertino giant collaborated with the canine 3D prosthetic printing company 3DPets and showed how the latter is leveraging the iPhone 14 Pro’s LiDAR Scanner and TrueDepth camera to help pets with limb deformities. Titled “The Invincibles,” the ad follows the story of a dog named Trip, who got his leg amputated due to deformity issues. 3DPets shared the process of how they created the customized prosthesis for Trip using iPhone 14 Pro’s LiDAR Scanner and TrueDepth camera. The features were used to scan and build the 3D model of the dog’s body, allowing the team to measure and design the prosthesis Trip specifically needed.
Apple now supports California’s Right to Repair Act
Apple now supports California’s Right to Repair Act, “SB 244.” The bill reflects its current Self Service Repair program, which provides customers with genuine Apple parts, tools, and repair manuals for their own out-of-warranty repair. Moreover, the company provides product support for up to five or seven years (depending on the part availability), which means it complements the bill’s descriptions. With all this, the support for the bill seems logical for Apple, which is gradually embracing and injecting the concept of repairability into its current and future products, including iPhones and Macs.
UK might ask Apple and other companies to stop update rollouts
As pointed out by a recent report, the changes in the United Kingdom’s Investigatory Powers Act (IPA) 2016 could also affect the security updates and patches the companies are providing to customers. Under the proposal, companies would also need to inform the government prior to the rollout of any security update. Worse, the Secretary of State can request these companies not to release them just to allow the government to continuously snoop on people’s devices.
Apple further fortifies its relationship with India
The Cupertino giant reportedly held a meeting with the Indian Finance Ministry officials to discuss the future of the business in the country. No specific details were shared, but it was revealed that one of the key points in the discussion pointed to “how India’s policies could be aligned to support this initiative” involving iPhone manufacturing.
iOS 17’s Apple Maps gets automatic download offline suggestion
Apple is introducing an option to download offline maps on Apple Maps in iOS 17. The feature will automatically suggest a download link for the offline map after you plot your route or direction it deems to have poor connectivity service. It is unknown where Apple based such suggestions for locations with poor cell services, but it seems available only to national parks in the US at this time. This, nonetheless, is expected since it is still in the beta stage, which means the feature might likely get wider coverage in the future.
