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Tag: Mark Gurman

  • Apple’s Mixed-Reality Headset Reportedly Delayed Till June

    Apple’s Mixed-Reality Headset Reportedly Delayed Till June

    Apple is reportedly delaying the debut of its mixed-reality headset once again, this time by a couple more months.

    Apple has been rumored to be working on a mixed-reality headset for some time. Reports indicated the company could release it this April, after multiple previous delays. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, a very reliable Apple watcher, the headset has been delayed once again.

    Gurman’s sources say the company is delaying the launch of the headset from April to June, blaming both hardware and software issues that still need to be worked out.

    Apple is well-known for obsessing over every detail of a product and has a track record of succeeding where many others fail in a given category. Therefore, it’s not surprising that the company is taking a couple of extra months to work out details it perceives as problems.

  • Apple Plans to Ditch ‘Hey Siri’

    Apple Plans to Ditch ‘Hey Siri’

    Apple is preparing to make one of the biggest changes to Siri since the virtual assistant’s debut, ditching the “Hey Siri” voice activation.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, via 9to5Mac, Apple is planning to change Siri’s activation phrase to simply “Siri.” As 9to5Mac points out, the move will bring Apple’s virtual assistant more in line with its competitors, such as Amazon’s Alexa.

    Gurman says the change has been underway for several months, but involves “a technical challenge that requires a significant amount of AI training and underlying engineering work.”

    The feature is expected to reach customers in 2023 or 2024.

  • Apple Will Reportedly Release iPadOS 16.1 in October

    Apple Will Reportedly Release iPadOS 16.1 in October

    Apple is preparing the next update to iPadOS and is reportedly releasing it the week of October 24.

    Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is one of the leading experts on what Apple is planning next. According to one of his recent tweets, his sources are pinpointing late October as the iPadOS 16.1 release window.

    iPadOS 16 introduced new ways to multitask and promised a slew of new features. Unfortunately, betas of the release have also seen quite a few bugs and issues, enough to cause Apple to push back the release until October. Hopefully 16.1, the first public release of iPadOS 16, addresses them and smooth out the experience.

  • Apple’s Remaining 2022 Launches Will Likely Be via Press Release

    Apple’s Remaining 2022 Launches Will Likely Be via Press Release

    Don’t expect any more major Apple events for the rest of the year, with a new report saying Apple will turn to press releases.

    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.

  • Get Ready for More Ads on Your iPhone and Mac

    Get Ready for More Ads on Your iPhone and Mac

    In a move that is sure to upset users, Apple may be preparing to bring far more ads to its iPhone and Mac platforms.

    Apple has positioned itself as a champion of privacy, going so far as to thwart the efforts of other advertising platforms to track its users. Despite that, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the company “is going to, over time, significantly expand its own advertising business,” bringing more ads to users’ iPhones and Macs.

    Apple already displays ads in some of its products, such as News, Stocks, and the App Store. Unfortunately, for users, Gurman believes Apple plans on bringing ads to its Apple Books, Apple Podcasts, and Maps platforms.

    “I believe that the iPhone maker will eventually expand search ads to Maps,” Gurman writes. “It also will likely add them to digital storefronts like Apple Books and Apple Podcasts. And TV+ could generate more advertising with multiple tiers (just as Netflix Inc., Walt Disney Co. and Warner Bros. Discovery Inc. are doing with their streaming services).”

    On the plus side, Gurman doesn’t believe Apple will try to revive its iAd business and embed ads in third-party apps.

    Even so, the expansion of ads within Apple’s products is sure to ruffle features, and rightfully so. We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: While ads are an expected trade-off for a free service, there’s no excuse for users being subjected to ads when they’re already paying for a premium product or service.

    The issue is even worse when looking at Apple’s financials. In its most recent earnings report, the company generated $83.0 billion in revenue, a record for a June quarter. It’s truly hard to fathom how the company can justify trying to make even more money off of its customers. It’s going to be even harder for the company to justify crippling competitors’ ads, only to then ramp up its own.

  • Apple’s iPhone 14 Event Scheduled for September 7

    Apple’s iPhone 14 Event Scheduled for September 7

    The iPhone 14 may be arriving a week earlier than expected, with Apple reportedly holding the launch event on September 7.

    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.

  • iOS 16 On Target, iPadOS 16 Will Be a Month Late

    iOS 16 On Target, iPadOS 16 Will Be a Month Late

    A new report suggests Apple will delay iPadOS 16 by a month, although iOS 16 should ship on time.

    Apple introduced iOS 16 for iPhones and iPadOS 16 for its tablets at WWDC 2022. The new versions of its operating systems bring a number of changes, although iPadOS is by far the bigger upgrade, introducing an all-new multitasking experience.

    The scope of iPadOS’ changes appears to be taking longer than Apple originally planned, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. While iOS 16 is still expected in the September window Apple originally announced, Gurman’s sources say iPadOS 16 won’t be released until October.

    Multitasking has long been considered the iPad’s Achilles heel. While the hardware is powerful enough to rival many traditional computers, it has always been held back by an OS that is extremely limited when compared with macOS. While iPadOS 16 addresses many of these criticisms, the beta has not been without its hiccups.

    Many developers and beta testers have complained of bugs and confusing workflow issues, neither of which are in line with Apple’s reputation. In addition, many have complained about the multitasking features requiring an M1 iPad.

    It seems Apple would rather take a little extra time to get it right, and that’s a good thing for its users.

  • Apple Experiences Major Outage Across Services

    Apple Experiences Major Outage Across Services

    Apple is the latest company to experience major outages, with most of its online services impacted Monday.

    The issues were first noticed shortly before 1:00 p.m EST. Downdector.com shows numerous services being impacted.

    According to Apple’s own System Status page, the App Store, Apple Arcade, Apple Fitness+, Apple Music, Apple TV+, AppleCare on Device, iTunes Store, Podcasts, and Radio are all experiencing an outage.

    The Mac Observer reports some users have also experienced issues with iCloud, impacting their ability to retrieve their email, while Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says the problems extend to Apple’s corporate and retail systems as well.

    There’s no indication yet what the root cause of the outage may be, let alone when the issues may be resolved.

  • Apple ‘Peek Performance’ Event Scheduled For March 8

    Apple ‘Peek Performance’ Event Scheduled For March 8

    Apple has revealed its upcoming event, called “Peek Performance,” scheduled for March 8.

    Apple is expected to release an updated iPhone SE, one that will bring 5G and a potentially lower price point. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman believes Apple may price the new model at $199, significantly lower than the current model. Such a course would likely result in a major influx of new customers, opening the door for Apple to add users to the Apple ecosystem and upsell them on premium services and products down the road.

    In addition, new iPads are epxected, most likely a refresh to the iPad Air line.

    We’ll follow the even live and report Apple’s news as it breaks.

  • Apple’s Next iPhone May Be $199 and Have 5G

    Apple’s Next iPhone May Be $199 and Have 5G

    Apple is reportedly preparing to release an updated iPhone SE with 5G, and it may cost as little as $199.

    The last iPhone SE was a sleeper hit for Apple, a phone that included the features most people care about, while still being reasonably priced. According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who has an excellent track record for reliably predicting Apple’s moves, the next iPhone SE will be released in March.

    The new model is expected to have 5G, and will likely maintain a similar size and design as the current model. The big news, however, is that Apple may release the phone for as little as $199, opening the door for the company to make major headway in markets like India.

    “A device priced at $200 could make inroads in regions like Africa, South America and parts of Asia that are currently Android strongholds,” writes Gurman. “That would let Apple Inc. sign up more customers for services, potentially making a low-end iPhone quite lucrative for Apple in the long run. But so far, the company has steered well clear of that approach.”

    If Gurman’s prediction is correct, Apple may find itself with a sudden, and massive, influx of new customers.

  • Judge Denies Apple a Stay on App Store Changes Pending Appeal

    Judge Denies Apple a Stay on App Store Changes Pending Appeal

    The judge in Apple’s case versus Epic has denied the company a stay on implementing court-ordered App Store changes until appeals are exhausted.

    Apple was the clear winner in its legal spat with Epic. U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers ruled that Apple was not a monopoly and agreed with Apple that the company’s App Store approach likely results in a more secure environment for its customers.

    The only point Epic won, out of 10 counts, was to force Apple to allow developers to place in-app access to outside payment methods, making it easier for customers and developers to bypass Apple’s payment system. Despite Apple’s overwhelming victory, the company appealed the one count it lost and wanted a stay that would allow it to continue operating unchanged until the appeals process is exhausted.

    Judges Rogers has shut down Apple’s request, saying the company must implement the changes while it pursues its appeals.

    “In short, Apple’s motion is based on a selective reading of this Court’s findings and ignores all of the findings which supported the injunction, namely incipient antitrust conduct including supercompetitive commission rates resulting in extraordinarily high operating margins and which have not been correlated to the value of its intellectual property,” Judge Rogers writes, via AppleInsider.

    Not surprisingly, Apple plans to appeal Judge Rogers’ decision not to stay her decision during the appeal (at what point does appealing decisions about an appeal take on an Inception feel?).

    “Apple believes no additional business changes should be required to take effect until all appeals in this case are resolved. We intend to ask the Ninth Circuit for a stay based on these circumstances,” the company told Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.

    Despite being an Apple user and fan for more than two decades, given the current sentiment toward Big Tech, this writer believes Apple should take its win, thank the judge, make the change and drop the appeals. Doing so would likely go a long way toward heading off further scrutiny from lawmakers, and certainly help the company come across as less of a bully to developers.

  • Macs Could Gain Face ID in a ‘Couple of Years’

    Macs Could Gain Face ID in a ‘Couple of Years’

    A new report says Apple’s Mac computers could gain Face ID “within a couple of years.”

    Apple’s Mac lineup currently uses the older Touch ID biometric security. While still offering a high degree of security, Touch ID is not as secure as the Face ID technology currently used in high-end iPhones and iPads.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, via Apple Insider, Apple is preparing to bring the newer tech to the Mac lineup as well. Gurman believes the more expensive Mac models may even move the camera underneath the display, eliminating a notch or dedicated place in the display’s frame.

    Gurman has a well-earned reputation for being one of the more accurate Apple prognosticators. Should his latest information be correct, the Macs will finally gain one of their most requested features.

  • iPad Pro Models With Larger Screens May Be Coming

    iPad Pro Models With Larger Screens May Be Coming

    Apple is working on an all-new iPad Pro design with an even larger screen, if reports are to be believed.

    The largest iPad Pro has been the 12.9-inch model since its introduction in 2015. The screen size puts it roughly on par with the MacBook Air and the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (via AppleInsider), Apple is ready to expand the iPad Pro even more, with engineers working on a design that’s even larger. Users hoping to see it in the 2022 refresh will be disappointed, however, as the new models are “a couple of years down the road at the earliest.”

    Many users have been clamoring for better multitasking on the iPad Pro, specifically requesting a multi-windowed interface, similar to macOS. The larger screen size would certainly make such a transition easier, and could pave the way for a whole new generation of iPadOS innovations.

  • 2021 iPad Pro Will Rival M1 Mac Performance

    2021 iPad Pro Will Rival M1 Mac Performance

    The 2021 iPad Pro, expected later this month, is rumored to have an upgraded processor that will rival the M1 in Apple’s recent Macs.

    The iPad Pro is the high-end iPad model targeted at professionals and creators. As such, it consistently delivers features and performance that best Apple’s other iPads, and leaves Android tablets in the dust.

    According to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, that lead is set to expand in a big way, with the next-generation iPad Pro rivaling the M1. Apple introduced the M1 Macs in November. The M1 is based on the same chips already used in the iPhones and iPads, but boasts significantly better performance, thanks to its 8-core CPU and 8-core GPU.

    In addition to sporting a more powerful chip, the larger iPad Pro will also feature a mini-LED display, offering greater brightness and contrast. The new display will make the tablet slightly thicker, although it will retain the same overall design. Ideally, this should allow the new model to use the existing Magic Keyboard and Smart Keyboard peripherals.

    Gurman rounds out his iPad Pro predictions by saying the new model will also feature better cameras, as well as 5G. Apple is expected to include both the high-band mmWave, as well as low-band support. This would enable it to take advantage of carriers’ nationwide 5G networks, as well as their fastest 5G in cities and urban areas, much like the iPhone 12.

    The combination of 5G and world-class performance should make the iPad Pro an ideal option for professionals, creators, students and remote workers. Notably, Gurman has an excellent track record with his Apple predictions, making it almost certain the iPad Pro released in March will match the specs he’s provided.

  • Apple Says iOS Mail Vulnerability Poses No Immediate Threat

    Apple Says iOS Mail Vulnerability Poses No Immediate Threat

    Apple has said a recently discovered iOS Mail vulnerability poses no immediate threat and a fix is coming soon.

    As previously covered, security firm ZecOps discovered a flaw in iOS Mail, affecting both iPhones and iPads. The flaw involved a blank email being sent to a device, an email that would cause a crash and reset. The reset created an opportunity for a hacker to steal data from the device. ZecOps believes the vulnerability was being exploited as far back as 2018, and was working with a client they believed was targeted using this vulnerability in late 2019.

    In spite of that, Apple reached out to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman to issue a statement, which Gurman tweeted:

    Apple responds to ZecOps report on Mail app vulnerabilities, says it doesn’t pose immediate risk and software update coming.

    ”Apple takes all reports of security threats seriously. We have thoroughly investigated the researcher’s report and, based on the information provided, have concluded these issues do not pose an immediate risk to our users. The researcher identified three issues in Mail, but alone they are insufficient to bypass iPhone and iPad security protections, and we have found no evidence they were used against customers. These potential issues will be addressed in a software update soon. We value our collaboration with security researchers to help keep our users safe and will be crediting the researcher for their assistance.”

    — Mark Gurman (@markgurman) 4/23/20

    Apple’s response is good news, although it still leaves a number of questions, not the least of which is what did ZecOps find in the way of vulnerabilities being exploited over the last two years?