News on the margins for the week of April 21-27

A new feature in WhatsApp to save messages in chat, a new diary application coming from Apple, Amazon stopping the Halo bracelet, outperforming the refurbished iPhone on all phones, new features for the lock screen in iOS 17, the end stage for mixed reality glasses, and other exciting news in the Margin…

More than a thousand fake AirPods Pro confiscated

US Customs and Border Protection officers have seized more than 2 counterfeit AirPods Pro 50 and 290 counterfeit Apple Watches from four shipments destined for Fairfax County, Virginia. The products were shipped from China, and the counterfeiters would have made more than $21 selling the goods as genuine Apple. Products set in March. CBP seized approximately 2022 shipments of counterfeit goods that infringed US intellectual property rights in fiscal year XNUMX. We always advise consumers to buy authentic goods from trusted, reputable sellers.

The iPhone 15 Pro is still expected to come with an action button instead of the mute key

Apple may not implement hard tap buttons on upcoming iPhone 15 Pro models due to design issues, but it is expected to contain an Action button or a customizable action that replaces the silent button. Apple-certified accessory makers are said to be working on CADs that show that the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will contain two mechanical volume buttons and an additional mechanical button for customization. New CADs also reveal that the rear camera bump on iPhone 15 Pro models will be less prominent than expected.

Microsoft is rolling out iMessage support on Windows with many limitations

Microsoft announced that it has started supporting compatibility between the iPhone and the Phone Link application on Windows 11 for all users around the world by mid-May. This will allow iPhone users to make and receive phone calls, send and receive text messages, and view notifications on their computers via the Phone Link app and the Link to Windows app for iOS.

However, Phone Link has several limitations, such as no support for group chats, photos, videos, and chat history after the current chat session. All messages will appear as gray bubbles in the app, with no distinction between iMessages and SMS text messages.

Also, messages will only be delivered to the PC while the iPhone is connected via Bluetooth.

And Microsoft stated that this feature will be available only for iPhone devices running iOS 14 or later, and not for iPads or Macs. Although it is not a perfect solution, it is a useful workaround for iPhone users who use a computer. This feature has been in beta testing since February.

Apple Mixed Reality Headset in delivery

According to a report from Taiwan's Economic Daily News, Apple's Mixed Reality Headset is nearing the end of its development and is now in the "final sprint" or "supply chain delivery phase." One of the suppliers involved in its production is GIS, a subsidiary of Foxconn, which will provide what is known as lens lamination for eyeglasses.

Lens lamination refers to the process of joining two or more layers of material together to create a composite lens. Lens lamination likely involves attaching multiple layers of specialized materials to create the Apple Glass lenses, which are an important component of the device's screen and general functionality. This process is important to ensure that the lenses are durable, scratch resistant, and provide a clear image to the user.

Until now, it was believed that Foxconn did not participate, but with the participation of GIS, it is possible that Foxconn will play a greater role in the production of Apple glasses of the second generation. GIS operates a production line dedicated to Apple Glass lenses in a factory in Chengdu, China, and plans to start shipping related hardware in the second quarter of 2023. The mixed reality glasses are expected to be unveiled at WWDC in June, and Foxconn is said to be hoping In providing a cheaper model in the second generation eyewear lineup.

iPads will get lock screen customization options

A leaker with a history of sharing accurate information in the past claims that Apple is planning to offer iPhone-style lock screen customizations for iPads with the release of iPadOS 17. Currently, iPad users cannot access any of the lock screen customization tools. But if the rumors are true, iPadOS 17 will come with many more options, including lock screen widgets, wallpaper types like Photo Shuffle and Weather, clock style customization, and more. The same source also claimed that iPadOS 17 will contain additional updates added in iOS 17, which could indicate new tweaks to the lock screen customizations.

These rumors should be taken with a grain of salt, but the leaker previously leaked accurate information about the dynamic island and shared details about the new hard buttons on the iPhone 15 Pro models. Apple is expected to unveil iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 during the WWDC 2023 keynote on June 5.

TSMC is struggling to make enough 3nm chips for Apple

TSMC, Apple's supplier, is facing challenges in meeting demand for upcoming Apple devices due to problems with the tools used in manufacturing as well as the ratio used in the manufacturing process of the latest 3nm chips. TSMC manufactures A17 processors with 3 nm technology expected to be used in iPhone 15 Pro models, and also works on M3 chips for Macs using 3 nm manufacturing accuracy.

Adding new features to the lock screen in iOS 17

According to a post on Weibo, the iOS 17 update will include changes to the Lock screen, Apple Music, App Library, and Control Center. Potential features include lock screen font size options, a button to share custom lock screen designs, displaying music lyrics on the lock screen, changes to the design of Apple Music, manually renaming App Library folders, changes to the Control Center design, and a light bulb brightness slider. It can be adjusted freely. The update is expected to focus on stability and performance improvements rather than major new features. The update will be announced during the WWDC keynote on June 5, and the first beta version of the update should be available to developers after the keynote. The update will be widely released in September.

Apple and Google may face large fines under a new bill

The UK government has introduced a new bill that would allow the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) to impose huge fines on big tech companies like Apple for breaking its rules. The bill is designed to boost competition and protect consumers by giving the Capital Markets Authority the authority to tackle the "excessive dominance" of technology companies. Big tech companies will be required to comply with its rules or face fines, and the threshold will only apply to companies with global turnover of more than £25 billion or UK turnover of more than £10 billion. The legislation will also target what are known as "subscription traps," where companies make it difficult for consumers to cancel subscriptions. If companies do not adhere to the rules set for them, the Digital Markets unit will have the ability to impose a fine of up to XNUMX% of their global sales.

Refurbished iPhones accounted for nearly half of phone sales in 2022

In 2022, Apple experienced double-digit growth in sales of refurbished iPhones, cementing its dominance in the remanufactured smartphone market worldwide. According to the new report, Apple's refurbished sales increased 16% and took 49% of the market share, up from 44% a year earlier. Samsung came in a distant second with a share of 26%, down from 28%. India has become the largest market for refurbished smartphones since China experienced a 17% decline in sales of refurbished phones in the same year.

Most emerging markets saw a limited supply of refurbished devices, as consumers reportedly held onto new smartphones for a longer period. And Apple replaces the batteries and external casings and provides a new USB-C to Lightning cable, which makes the refurbished iPhones similar to the new ones.

In addition, Apple's warranty policy includes a full year warranty through AppleCare + and the option to purchase an extended warranty, which contributes to the continued popularity of refurbished iPhones. Rising component prices and high inflation created demand for lower-priced refurbished models across the market. He expects interest in refurbished phones to become a long-term trend over the next few years due to trade-in programs and device prices.

Google Authenticator can now back up your 2FA codes to your Google account

Google announced that the application Google Authenticator, which used to store one-time access codes for account security, can now be backed up and synced across devices with a Google Account. Prior to this integration, all tokens were stored on the device, making it difficult to retrieve them if the device was lost. By integrating with a Google account, users can now save OTPs in the cloud, thus increasing convenience and security. To enable this feature, users need to sign into their Google account within the Google Authenticator app, after which their codes will be automatically backed up and restored on any new device they sign into. The feature is available on both iOS and Android devices Androidand requires the latest version of the app.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Amazon announced the discontinuation of its Halo health and fitness bracelet, which was launched in August 2020. The bracelet was marketed as a low-cost competitor to the Apple Watch, priced at $ 99, but it lacked many features, such as GPS, WiFi, cellular connectivity, and Alexa integration, while Some features were only available to Amazon Prime subscribers. Amazon no longer supports the Halo line after July 31, 2023, and is offering refunds for all purchases and subscriptions made in the past year. Customers must download their data by August 1, 2023.

◉ Apple releases the third public beta of iOS 16.5, iPadOS 16.5, macOS Ventura 13.4, and

◉ Apple plans to develop its own screen technology, by moving from OLED to microLED in the coming years, starting with the Apple Watch Ultra in 2024 or 2025. However, it may take some time for Apple to fully market its internal design screen, and the company is expected to continue In order to acquire at least 60% of its components from Korean display manufacturers such as Samsung Display and LG Display within the next few years. The report notes that Apple's continued outsourcing to Korean vendors will help them save on mass production costs and give them an edge over their Chinese competitors.

◉ Epic Games lost its appeal against Apple in the legal battle over the App Store. The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals rejected Epic's claims that the App Store rules violated federal antitrust law by not allowing third-party app marketplaces.

◉ Apple CarPlay is now available in more than 800 car models sold in the United States, compared to more than 600 previously. It comes after General Motors announced its plan to phase out CarPlay in future electric cars in favor of its own platform developed with Google. Despite the backlash from some customers, GM remains committed to its plans to build an integrated operating system with a much improved navigation and charging experience. Apple plans to introduce the next generation of CarPlay later this year, with more than a dozen automakers committed to offering it.

◉ Apple's mixed reality glasses will have two ports, USB-C for data transfer and a special charging connector for the external battery. The speaker will be connected to an external battery placed at the waist, making it lighter and more comfortable. The external battery will be charged via USB-C and will be able to power the glasses for about two hours. The headset is expected to be announced at WWDC in June, along with xrOS, the new mixed reality operating system.

◉ It is said that Apple will drop support for the first generation iPad Pro 9.7 inches and 12.9 inches in addition to the fifth generation iPad in the upcoming iPadOS 17. The new update will be compatible with iPad Pro (2017 and later), iPad Air (17rd generation and later), iPad (5th generation and later), and iPad mini (17th generation and later). The company is expected to announce the iOS XNUMX update during its WWDC keynote address on June XNUMX. There are conflicting reports about iPhone devices that will be supported by iOS XNUMX.

◉ It is expected that Apple will convert the screens of most iPads and MacBooks to OLED screens by 2027, according to forecasts by technology research company Omdia. The company expects worldwide OLED shipments to rise rapidly, primarily driven by laptops and tablets, and with Apple's expanded use of OLED screens as the major contributor. It is rumored that Apple will start using OLED screens for the iPad Pro and MacBook Pro in the coming years, phasing out LCD and mini-LED screens on mobile devices by 2026. The company is also expected to introduce a foldable iPad Pro model. 20-inch with an OLED display in the near future. And by 2027, Apple will reportedly use QD-OLED or WOLED screens for its 32-inch and 42-inch screens, possibly for future iMac models or external displays.

◉ Apple is developing Diary application for iPhoneCodenamed Jurassic, it will allow users to track their daily activities and thoughts, according to documents seen by the Wall Street Journal. The app, which is part of the company's growing interest in the physical and mental health market, will analyze user behavior to determine a typical day, and provide personalized suggestions for topics to write about. The app will have the ability to collect more user data than third-party journaling apps, but will prioritize privacy and security. .

◉ feet WhatsApp is a new feature Called “Keep in Chat” it allows users to save individual messages in hidden message conversations with the consent of the sender. Recipients can request to keep a message by long-pressing it, and the sender will receive a notification asking for approval. The sender can either allow or deny the request. The feature will be rolled out globally in the coming weeks.

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