News on the sidelines for the week of March 31-April 6

An engineer tweaks charging AirPods for USB-C, extending ProMotion technology to standard iPhone models, iPhone will get FaceID under the screen, fiscal quarter results announcement date, substantial changes in the iOS 17 update and other exciting news on the sidelines…

Apple directs not to disconnect in accidental collision detection calls

Apple has updated the Crash Detection or collision detection support document for iPhone 14 users, and recommended not ending the call in the event of an accidental call, and instead the user should explain to emergency responders that there is no need for assistance. The update aims to reduce the number of false calls from the feature made in areas with high physical activity, such as skiing, amusement parks, and more.

Apple also removed previous guidelines that required users to cancel an emergency call during the timer before calling within 20 seconds.

Developers start receiving invitations to attend the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference

Apple sent emails to inform the developers who were selected to attend the WWDC 2033 Worldwide Developers Conference event, which will be held on June XNUMXth, and the selection process was based on a random lottery system. Eligible participants include members of the Apple Developer Program, winners of the previous year's Swift Student competition, and alumni of Apple Entrepreneur Camp. The winners of this year's Student Challenge will also be invited through another separate random selection. The event will include an opening speech, after which developers will have the opportunity to interact with Apple engineers, attend the Apple Design Awards, and access the Developer Center. Those invited must respond to the invitation to attend by the tenth of April. Attendance is free, but Apple does not bear the costs of travel or accommodation, and the invitation is not transferable.

Substantial changes in the upcoming iOS 17 update control center

An anonymous source, who had accurately leaked details about the dynamic island, claimed that the iOS 17 update will bring big changes to the Control Center. It claims that the update will focus on improving performance and stability, and that the revamped Control Center may be one of the most important changes. He did not provide any specific details about these potential changes, which have remained largely the same since the iOS 11 update in 2017.

Apple could make the Control Center more customizable and change its design. It is expected that Apple will announce the iOS 17 update during the opening speech of the WWDC 2023 event on the fifth of next June.

Issues with the Continuity feature in macOS 13.3 and iPadOS 16.4

Several users of the macOS 13.3 and iPadOS 16.4 updates reported problems with Continuity features such as Universal Control, Handoff, Unlock, and Automatic Pairing with the Apple Watch. Universal Control allows users to use a keyboard and mouse to control both devices, while Handoff allows users to seamlessly transfer tasks between devices. Some users suggested solutions like logging out of iCloud accounts on both devices, restarting devices, re-enabling Handoff / Auto Unlock with Apple Watch, restarting Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth, and others.

Apple has not yet commented on these issues, but they are rumored to be preparing minor updates in the upcoming iOS 16.4.1, iPadOS 16.4.1, and macOS 13.3.1, which usually focus on bug fixes and security improvements.

iOS 17 update will support these devices

A reputable leaker claims that the iOS 17 update will be compatible with all iPhone devices running the iOS 16 update, including the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, in contradiction to an earlier rumor saying that the iOS update 17 does not include the aforementioned devices.

The leaker has accurately predicted features in the past, and claims to have a source within Apple's development team. However, this remains an unconfirmed rumor.

Apple services other than iCloud stop working on some older versions

According to a reliable source on Twitter, StellaFudge@ Apple services, other than iCloud, will not be available on some older versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS starting in May, iOS 11 through iOS 11.2.6, macOS 10.13 through macOS 10.13.3, watchOS 4 through watchOS 4.2.3 .11 and tvOS 11.2.6 through tvOS XNUMX. Apple said that affected users may receive a notification to update their devices to a newer version, because older software versions will not support services such as the Apple Store, Siri, and Maps.

Apple has not explained the reason for this change, but it will only affect a small percentage of users. Apple services that will be suspended include Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV Plus, Apple Fitness +, Apple News Plus, and others.

Apple announces earnings results for the second quarter of 2023 on May 4

Apple announced that it will disclose results for its second fiscal quarter, for the period from late December to March, which is usually a slow quarter for Apple after the holiday season. In this quarter, Apple released several new products, such as the M2 Pro, MacBook Pro M2 Max models, the new Mac mini, the HomePod, and the yellow iPhone 14.

Although Apple didn't provide any guidance for the quarter during its earnings results for the first quarter of 2023, Luca Maestri, the company's chief financial officer, said in January that revenue for this quarter is expected to be similar to that of the previous quarter, with an increase in services. God willing, we will provide you with a dedicated article in due time.

iPhone 17 will contain FaceID under the screen

Screen analyst Ross Young said that the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro will be the first iPhone to incorporate Face ID technology hidden under the screen. He pointed out that there will still be a hole for the front camera, which will continue until 2027 when this other camera is integrated under the screen in the iPhone Pro models, and the screen becomes completely without holes. Young had previously predicted that the iPhone 16 Pro models in 2024 would be the first to offer this technology, but there was a one-year delay due to sensor problems.

This means that the dynamic island will remain the same position and shape on the iPhone Pro models for many more generations.

Expand ProMotion technology to include standard iPhone models

Screen analyst Ross Young, CEO of Display Supply Chain Consultants, said that Apple will introduce ProMotion technology to standard iPhone models within two years. ProMotion technology, which is currently exclusive to iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max models, allows for a 120Hz refresh rate and smoothness when scrolling, video playback, and games. That is, it also allows the screen to dynamically adjust the refresh rate based on the content displayed, which can help save battery life.

The low-power LTPO display technology will be extended to standard iPhones in 2025, enabling ProMotion on these devices. According to the plans, ProMotion technology and permanent display will be applied to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus models. Young has previously leaked details related to future iPhone screens accurately.

Engineer converts AirPods charging to USB-C

Ken Pilonel has modified a set of AirPods by adding wires and a USB-C connector. With this modification, the AirPods charging case is no longer needed.

According to repair site iFixit, the AirPods received a score of zero out of 10 for repairability. That is, it cannot be repaired, because its internal components cannot be accessed smoothly without damaging it, and when its battery deteriorates, it is unfortunately disposed of. The Pilonel Amendment Project aims to raise awareness of these repair issues and encourage consumers to consider purchasing non-expendable wired earbuds over Apple Wireless Earbuds. Pillonel has carried out similar projects in the past, such as adding a Lightning connector to the Samsung A51, and adding USB-C ports to AirPods, AirPods Pro, and iPhone X. These projects sparked everyone's interest.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Germany's antitrust authority, the Bundeskartellamt, announced that Apple is subject to "extended abuse monitoring" under German competition law. This gives German regulators the power to block Apple from anti-competitive practices.

◉ Apple announced that more than 250 suppliers have committed to using renewable energy for all Apple products to be completed by 2030, with manufacturing partners supporting more than 13 gigawatts of renewable electricity, an increase of 30% from the previous year. Apple is committed to being completely carbon neutral for every product it makes by 2030 and will commit $4.7 billion to help fund the expansion of clean energy use and the reduction of carbon emissions globally, in steps set to tackle climate change by adding more renewable energy.

◉ Apple plans to ship iPhone 15 models from India upon its initial launch, indicating the company's gradual progress in diversifying its supply chain away from China.

◉ Apple has suspended the production of M2 series processors that power the new MacBook Pro and Mac mini models and the latest MacBook Air at the beginning of 2023, due to the apparent decline in global demand for MacBooks, Apple has requested to stop production. Production of M2 series chips resumed in March, but only at half of the previous year's level. Tim Cook said Apple faced a "difficult" situation in the PC market during its first-quarter 2023 earnings call.

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