Rumors began circulating in mid-2022 that the DOJ was looking at a possible antitrust suit against Apple. The company has come under increased scrutiny for how it runs the App Store, although the DOJ’s focus expanded to include how Apple interacts with hardware developers.

According to The Wall Street Journal, the DOJ is now escalating its investigation, which covers Apple’s policies regarding third-party apps in iOS, as well as whether the company abuses its position to favor its own apps and services.

The Journal’s sources say the DOJ’s escalation includes “more litigators now assigned to the case and new requests for documents and consultations with companies involved.”

The DOJ is also looking at Jonathan Kanter’s possible role. Until now, Kanter, one of the agency’s top antitrust officials, has been sidelined over a potential conflict of interest since Kanter has been a long-time antitrust attorney and critic who has represented companies in cases against Apple. The DOJ is eager to have him involved in the case, however, and has been investigating whether it is possible to do so.

The Journal’s sources could not confirm the final decision regarding Kanter but said he would likely be involved in any case against Apple.

If the DOJ’s probe moves forward, it could spell significant trouble for Apple in the US and bring the company under similar regulatory restrictions as those being imposed by the EU.

Foldable phones are widely considered to be the next big thing in mobile design. Samsung has been the market leader, although many have been waiting for Apple to release its own foldable. According to CNBC, CCS Insight published a report predicting that Apple’s first foldable will be an iPad, not an iPhone.

“Right now it doesn’t make sense for Apple to make a foldable iPhone. We think they will shun that trend and probably dip a toe in the water with a foldable iPad,” Ben Wood, CCS Insight Chief of Research, told CNBC in an interview.

“A folding iPhone will be super high risk for Apple. Firstly, it would have to be incredibly expensive in order to not cannibalize the existing iPhones,” Wood added.

In many ways, a foldable iPad makes more sense for Apple. The company has been working to build up the iPad as a computer replacement for users that don’t need the full power of a traditional computer. A foldable iPad could help spur wider adoption, giving the iPad even more flexibility (pun intended) than it already provides.

Apple’s events are cornerstones of the tech industry, with the company putting on some of the most professional presentations and product releases in the world. With the company’s most recent event centered around the iPhone 14, many were expecting another event in October to unveil new iPads and Macs.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, via MacRumors, whatever products Apple intends to release during the remainder of 2022 will not be released via one of its normal events. Instead, the company is “likely to release its remaining 2022 products via press releases, updates to its website and briefings with select members of the press.”

The most likely candidates for release are an updated iPad Pro with an M2 chip, a new Mac mini, and new MacBook Pros.

The iPhone 14 is Apple’s anticipated next-generation device. One of the biggest rumored new features, at least for the Pro model, is the elimination of the much-maligned notch. Instead, the new model will likely feature two cutouts, one pill-shaped and the other round, to house the FaceID and camera components.

According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple will launch the iPhone 14 on Wednesday, September 7. This is roughly a week sooner than Apple usually schedules its September events. Meanwhile, Apple Store employees have reportedly been told to prepare for a major product release on September 16, which matches up to the usual window between when a product is launched and when it shows up in Apple’s stores.

It’s unclear why Apple has opted for an earlier date, but it may be because of the state of the industry and economy. With experts warning of an economic downturn, Apple may be looking to release the iPhone 14 as early as possible.

The new iPhone 13 SE will be powered by the same A15 Bionic chip as the rest of the iPhone 13 line, making it up to 1.8x faster than the iPhone 8. Apple’s Francesca Sweet also pointed out the A15 Bionic is faster than anything in the Android ecosystem.

The new phone features the same aluminum and glass design, including the same glass as in the iPhone 13 and 13 Pro. Sweet says its the strongest glass in any iPhone. The new model comes Midnight, Starlight, and Product Red colors.

As predicted, the new model features 5G, but is significantly more expensive than some had projected. Some analysts thought Apple may introduce the iPhone 13 SE with a starting price of $199. Unfortunately, the starting price point is $449.

Apple has been transitioning its entire lineup to its M1 chips, based on the same architecture that has powered its iPhone and iPad for years. The M1 has consistently won praise for its high performance, combined with its industry-leading energy efficiency.

Consomac (via MacRumors) was the first to notice an Apple regulatory filing that mentions three new Mac models. There were no details provided in the filing, although one model is known to be a portable one, meaning the remaining two are likely desktop models.

As MacRumors points out, Apple is believed to be working on a larger M1 iMac to replace the remaining Intel model. The company is also believed to be prepping a MacBook Air and Mac mini refresh, replacing their M1 chips with the M1 Pro or M1 Max processors that made their debut in the MacBook Pro.

Apple has been rumored to be working on an AR headset for some time, but it appears they’re finally close to hitting the market. Even better, the headsets are expected to offer performance on par with the M1 Mac.

Noted Apple analysts Ming-Chi Kuo wrote a research report, seen by MacRumors, that details the new device.

We predict that Apple’s AR headset to be launched in 4Q22 will be equipped with two processors. The higher-end processor will have similar computing power as the M1 for Mac, whereas the lower-end processor will be in charge of sensor-related computing.

The power management unit (PMU) design of the high-end processor is similar to that of M1 because it has the same level of computing power as M1.

Kuo also says the new headsets will support virtual reality (VR), in addition to AR.

Apple’s AR headset requires a separate processor as the computing power of the sensor is significantly higher than that of the iPhone. For example, the AR headset requires at least 6-8 optical modules to simultaneously provide continuous video see-through AR services to users. In comparison, an iPhone requires up to 3 optical modules running simultaneously and does not require continuous computing.

The iPhone 13 is expected to be released in September, and could include one of the most compelling reasons to upgrade of any iPhone yet released. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, via MacRumors, the iPhone 13 may use low earth orbit (LEO) satellites to provide additional connectivity.

Kuo has a long-standing reputation for reliable predictions about Apple, making this rumor all the more exciting. LEO satellites are currently gaining attention as a result of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite internet service. The LEO satellites provide speeds and latency on parwith traditional broadband, and orders of magnitude better than legacy satellite providers.

According to Kuo, the most likely scenario involves Apple working with Globalstar to use their satellites. The iPhone 13 will feature a custom Qualcomm X60 chip with satellite communication support built-in, and Kuo believes Globalstar is “most likely to cooperate with Apple in terms of technology and service coverage.”

If Kuo is correct, the iPhone 13 could be a game-changer for many users in areas where their wireless provider of choice has dead spots in their coverage. With the iPhone 13, those users would still be able to make and receive calls and texts.

Once one of the top smartphone makers, LG announced it would exit the business by the end of July. The company’s smartphone division had fallen on hard times, eclipsed by Apple, Samsung, Huawei and others.

According to reports by Herald Economic Daily, via MacRumors, it appears Apple and LG have reached an agreement for LG to sell iPhones in its 400 stores in South Korea.

The National Mobile Communication Distribution Association originally was opposed to the deal, but it appears LG exiting the smartphone market may activated a clause that allows the deal to proceed.

The iPhone 13 will reportedly widen support for mmWave, brining it to iPhones sold internationally, rather than just the US models.

mmWave is the fastest flavor of 5G, although it has limited range and building penetration. When the iPhone 12 was released, it only supported mmWave 5G in the US. International models only support 5G bands in the sub-6GHz range.

According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, via MacRumors, Apple is set to change that with the iPhone 13.

While 5G smartphone shipments increased significantly in 2020, most of them only supported Sub-6 GHz. We believe that mmWave will create more diverse applications than Sub-6 GHz because of the benefits of faster speed and lower latency. The mmWave model of the ‌iPhone 12‌ only supports the US market, and the shipment allocation of the total ‌iPhone 12‌ is about 30–35%. We predict that the ‌iPhone 13‌ mmWave models will be available in more countries (e.g., Canada, Japan, Australia, and major European mobile operators), so the shipment allocation of ‌iPhone 13‌ mmWave models will increase substantially to 55–60%.

Kuo has a solid track record predicting Apple’s next moves. His latest prediction is good news for international iPhone users.

The Brazilian state of Sāo Paulo has fined apple $1.92 million over not including a charger with the iPhone 12.

Apple ships the iPhone 12 without a charger, citing the environmental impact of doing so. Eliminating chargers reduces the carbon footprint and reduces the number of rare-earth metals that must be mined. Apple also claims that most people have extra chargers laying around from generations of iPhones, eliminating the need for yet another one to be shipped.

Procon-SP, Sāo Paulo’s consumer protection agency, isn’t buying that argument, according to MacRumors. The agency fined Apple, while admonishing the company that it needed to follow Brazil’s laws.

The company is also being fined for misleading claims regarding the level of water resistance offered by the iPhones. While Apple has long-touted its phones’ water resistance, Procon-SP says some users were denied warranty repair for water damage.

Amid a slew of new rumors and information about the Apple Car, the company has hired Dr. Manfred Harrer, Porsche’s Vice President of Chassis Development.

Apple’s plans for a car, code-named “Project Titan,” are coming into clearer focus, thanks to reports, rumors and walked-back statements. Hyundai initially released a statement saying it was in talks with Apple to build a car, before walking that statement back in two subsequent ones.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said Project Titan will use Hyundai’s E-GMP battery electric vehicle (BEV) chassis, giving the first glimpse at possible specs for the finished product.

At the same time, Apple’s hardware chief, Dan Riccio, recently was moved to a new project where he will report directly to CEO Tim Cook. For someone of Riccio’s stature within the company to be moved to a new project underscores the importance of that endeavor, as does his reporting directly to Cook, leading some to believe he may be working on Project Titan.

The latest news from Insider Deutschland, via 9to5Mac, indicates that Apple is moving forward with its hire of Dr. Harrer. Dr. Harrer has spent over a decade at Porsche, and been head of chassis development since 2016. His hiring is particularly interesting, given the rumors that Apple will use Hyundai’s E-GMP platform.

Apple is well-known for taking a platform and customizing it to meet their specific needs. One has only to look at the iPhone, iPad and Mac to see this in practice. While the processors used in all three devices are loosely based on Arm designs, Apple has a license that allows them to customize them so heavily that it truly has its own, custom silicon.

One can’t help but wonder if Dr. Harrer was hired with the same goal — to take Hyundai’s E-GMP platform and customize it to better meet Apple’s needs and goals. Just as Apple’s custom silicon consistently out-performs competitors using vanilla Arm designs, a customized E-GMP platform could end up out-performing Hyundai’s standard option.

Love it or hate it — and plenty of people fall into both camps — Face ID has become Apple’s preferred biometric security feature on its flagship and high-end iPhones and iPads. Nonetheless, Touch ID still has a number of advantages, not the least of which is not being affected by masks, an increase issue during a pandemic.

According to a report by Bloomberg, Apple may be looking to bring the feature back in the iPhone 13.

Though overall changes will be minor, Apple is still testing a key upgrade for 2021: an in-screen fingerprint reader. This would add a new method for users to unlock their iPhone, going beyond a passcode and Face ID facial recognition. Apple started to move away from fingerprint sensors in 2017 with the launch of the iPhone X, but Touch ID has remained as a feature on Mac laptops and cheaper iPhones since then. Qualcomm Inc., which provides Apple with 5G modems, earlier this month announced a faster in-screen fingerprint sensor.

Moving the Touch ID sensor in-screen would be a big upgrade over current implementations, and allow the iPhone to maintain its edge-to-edge screen.

If Bloomberg’s sources are correct, this would be a welcome addition to the iPhone, giving users the option of choosing how they log into their devices.

Apple has tasked its top supplier, Foxconn, with producing two different prototype designs for a foldable iPhone.

Foldable phones are considered the next evolution of modern smartphones. Foldable designs allow for phones that can more easily be carried in a pocket, yet expand to offer the screen real estate of a small tablet. While Microsoft, Motorola and Samsung have released foldable phones, Apple has yet to embrace the trend. Many believe Apple has been working to perfect the design and avoid the problems other companies have faced.

Apple’s plans may be closer to fruition, if the rumors are to be believed. According to TechRadar, citing Taiwanese website United Daily News, two prototype designs have passed the necessary durability tests to be considered for production.

One design is evidently the traditional clamshell style, such as those sold by Motorola and Samsung. The other design is reminiscent of the Microsoft Surface Duo’s dual-screen design. It’s unknown whether Apple will eventually release both designs, or consolidate around a single one.

Obviously, Apple testing foldable designs doesn’t provide a lot of concrete information, but it’s further evidence that Apple will likely enter the market once they are convinced they can do so with their usual panache.

iOS provides the ability to watch video in a mini-window while working in other apps. While this feature has been available on iPads for some time, iOS 14 finally brought the feature to iPhones.

As MacRumors reports, Google appears to have restricted the feature to Premium YouTube subscribers in September. While Google appears to have reversed the decision, it only applies to watching YouTube via Safari on iOS 14. The YouTube app does not support PiP, nor has it ever supported it.

MacRumors makes the point that there is no way to know if this reversal is permanent, as Google has not made any announcements either way. In the short term, at least, iOS users will be able to enjoy some video-watching multitasking.

The lawsuit was filed against Facebook on behalf of Brittany Conditi, a New Jersey Instagram users. The lawsuit alleges that Instagram is accessing the camera even when the app is not being used.

According to the complaint, Facebook and Instagram are “obtaining extremely private and intimate personal data on their users, including in the privacy of their own homes,” giving them “valuable insights and market research.”

Facebook has, of course, denied the reports. According to Bloomberg, the company says the issue was caused by a bug that improperly triggered a false notification that the camera was in use.

Unfortunately for the company, last November its Facebook app was caught opening the camera in the background without permission. Then, as now, Facebook claimed it was an innocent bug that was responsible.

Facebook either has the worst fortune with bugs that just happen to open the camera without permission, or there may be something to long-standing rumors the company spies on users without permission.

Foldable phones are widely considered to be the next big thing in mobile devices, opening up any number of possibilities and potentially blurring the lines between phone and tablet. There have been a number of high-profile entries in the field, including some equally high-profile flops.

One of the most recent foldable devices is the Microsoft Surface Duo. Unlike other phones that feature a foldable screen, the Duo has two screens joined by a hinge. While not as cutting edge, it avoids the problems that have plagued other devices.

Many have been eagerly waiting for Apple to release a foldable iPhone, as the company has a reputation for perfecting ideas other companies have struggled with. Microsoft famously was the first company to introduce and mass market a tablet device, before Apple perfected it with the iPad.

If reports are to be believed, it appears Apple may be close to doing the same thing with foldable devices, as it has ordered a “large number” of foldable display samples, according to MacRumors.

Apple has long been rumored to be moving toward ARM-based Macs, rather than relying on Intel’s processors. While Intel may be the industry standard, as the computer market has moved toward laptops and mobile devices, Intel has struggled to keep pace with the needs of companies, such as Apple, that want to build powerful computers in sleek designs.

Recent MacBook Pros have struggled to maintain performance due to heat issues, resulting in the processors throttling to keep from overheating. The only solution is to build bigger, bulkier laptops that have enough fans to provide the necessary heat dissipation, something that goes against Apple’s entire design philosophy.

In contrast, Apple has had tremendous success with its ARM-based processors in the iPhone and iPad. When the 2018 iPad Pro was released, it was faster than 92% of all laptops, including Apple’s own. The most impressive thing is that this level of performance was achieved without a single fan, while delivering all-day battery life.

As a result, experts have believed Apple has been working to port macOS to ARM processors and readying the developer tools necessary to help third-party software developers make the transition. ARM-based Macs would allow Apple more control over its own devices and product release roadmap, while giving the company the ability to customize performance for its computers.

According to MacRumors, Kuo’s note included the following details:

“We expect that Apple’s new products in 12-18 months will adopt processors made by 5nm process, including the new 2H20 5G iPhone, new 2H20 iPad equipped with mini LED, and new 1H21 Mac equipped with the own-design processor. We think that iPhone 5G support, ‌iPad‌’s adoption of innovative mid-size panel technology, and Mac’s first adoption of the own-design processor are all Apple’s critical product and technology strategies. Given that the processor is the core component of new products, we believe that Apple had increased 5nm-related investments after the epidemic outbreak. Further, Apple occupying more resources of related suppliers will hinder competitors’ developments.”

If Kuo’s prediction is correct, this will usher in a new era for Apple and open a world of possibilities for the Mac.

While Apple has provided onsite repair for enterprise customers for some time, there has not been such a service for consumers. The service is being provided through Apple Authorized Service Provider Go Tech Services and is currently being offered in Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco.

All scheduling is done via Apple’s website. In fact, going to Go Tech’s site will redirect back to Apple, a good indication the company is working exclusively with the iPhone maker. This will hopefully result in the same quality of repairs currently available in-store.

MacRumors says it is still unclear what repairs can and cannot be completed, but it seems that cracked screen replacements can be performed, while battery replacements cannot. Hopefully the service will prove successful enough to eventually see wider deployment, offering customers a more convenient option than traveling to a Genius Bar.

Previous reports by Susquehanna analyst Mehdi Hosseini claimed Apple would stagger its iPhone releases and only release the low-band 5G models in 2020, with the mmWave models in 2021. Low-band 5G is only 20% to four times faster than 4G LTE, but has excellent range. mmWave 5G, on the other hand, offers gigabit speeds, but has very short range. Hosseini’s prediction was based on Apple’s decision to use an in-house antenna-in-package (AiP) rather than a third-party component.

According to MacRumors, however, Kuo believes Apple will release both types of 5G iPhones in the second half of 2020. The mmWave models “would be available in five markets, including the United States, Canada, Japan, Korea, and the United Kingdom, adding that Apple may disable 5G functionality in countries that do not offer 5G service or have a shallow 5G penetration rate to reduce production costs.”

As MacRumors points out, Kuo has a better track record predicting Apple’s moves, so this looks to be good news for iPhone fans.