News on the sidelines for the week of July 21-27

Twitter is changing its brand from the blue bird to “X” all over the world, and Apple is introducing an application development library for Apple Vision Pro glasses, and the iPhone 15 with a hybrid lens with a larger aperture for the first time in the world of phones, and Apple is considering a foldable iPad , and the reasons why Apple and Goldman Sachs want to separate, and Apple shoes from the 50s are now on sale for $ XNUMX, and other exciting news on the sidelines…

The price of the iPhone 15 Pro Max

According to analyst Tim Long of the British investment and financial services company Barclays, the iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to be more expensive than the current models. Long's information is based on conversations with supply chain companies in Asia.

Here are the estimated prices for the iPhone 15 group in the United States:

The iPhone 15 will be sold at $799, the same as the iPhone 14.

iPhone 15 Plus at $ 899, like the iPhone 14 Plus.

iPhone 15 Pro up to $ 1099, up $ 100 compared to the 14 Pro.
iPhone 15 Pro Max up to $1, up $299 compared to iPhone 200 Pro Max,

It is rumored that the reason behind the price increase on the iPhone 15 Pro Max is that it is expected to contain a telephoto lens developed with periscope technology, allowing for higher zoom capabilities without distortion.

Action button options on iPhone 15 Pro revealed in iOS 17 codes

The fourth beta version of the iOS 17 update reveals the potential functionality of the rumored action button on the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max. This physical button can replace the mute switch, offering nine customizable options, including shortcuts, turning on the camera, controlling the flashlight, activating focus mode, recording, magnifier, subtitles, and more. The new button may be similar to the Actions button on the Apple Watch Ultra.

Demand for the 15-inch MacBook Air is weaker than expected

Initial demand for the new 15-inch MacBook Air was disappointing, as it was weaker than Apple and its suppliers expected. According to a report by DigiTimes, shipment volumes for the 15-inch MacBook Air in July were 50% lower than original estimates. This drop in demand occurs amidst a major downturn in the laptop market.

Because of this slow start, some of Apple's suppliers have already ordered reduced shipments of the 15-inch MacBook Air to cope with lower demand.

Launched at WWDC last month, the 15-inch MacBook Air features a larger screen and two additional speakers while retaining the same design and M2 chip as the 13-inch model. This new size option marks the first time Apple has offered a 15-inch display for the MacBook Air, which was previously only available in 13-inch and discontinued 11-inch options.

The report does not say whether demand for the 15-inch MacBook Air meets Apple's internal expectations. However, Apple is expected to share more information about the laptop's performance during its third-quarter earnings results announcement on August 3.

Apple shoes from the 50s are now on sale for $XNUMX

An extremely rare pair of Apple-branded sneakers, known as the Omega Sports Apple Computer Sneakers, is currently selling at auction for $50.

These sneakers were made for Apple employees during the XNUMXs and were originally given as a gift at a national sales convention. It has never been made available for public purchase, which makes it exceptionally rare and highly sought after.

Samsung launches its new foldable smartphones of the fifth generation, the Galaxy Z

Samsung announced the launch of its fifth-generation foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Flip 5 at $1000, and the Galaxy Z Fold 5 at $1800. These new models come with various improvements to the foldable design.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 folds in half to reveal a 6.7-inch screen. It features an interactive flexible window that is 3.78 times larger than previous models, and offers expanded functionality, including weather widgets, photo editing, text messaging, music control, and more. The face design enables hands-free selfies, and there are improvements in “night photography” and noise correction with AI.

Galaxy Z Fold 5 opens like a book with a new Flex Hinge design for improved folding. It features a 6.2-inch cover display when closed and a 2-inch 7.6X AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate. The main screen brightness has been improved by 30% for better visibility in the sun. It also comes with a second-generation Snapdragon processor, 12 GB of memory, 1 TB of internal storage, and a 4400 mAh battery.

In addition to the new phones, Samsung introduced the Galaxy Watch Series 6 and Galaxy Tab S9. Galaxy Watch 6 models feature larger screens, improved brightness, and enhanced health features. The price starts at $300 for the Galaxy Watch 6 and $400 for the Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.

Pre-orders for the new devices have begun, and general availability is scheduled for August 11.

The iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus feature a 48-megapixel camera

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models will come with a 48-megapixel rear camera lens with a new sensor design. This design allows the sensor to capture more light, resulting in better image quality. There were difficulties in producing the new triple-stack CMOS camera sensor, but Apple overcame these issues by partnering with Sony, which increased its production capacity by 100-120% to meet Apple's demand, which negatively impacted Android phone suppliers.

Reasons why Apple and Goldman Sachs want to separate

Recent rumors suggest that Goldman Sachs is seeking to end its financial partnership with Apple. The partnership includes services like Apple Card, Apple Savings, and Apple Pay Later. However, Goldman argues that the project was not profitable enough for him, and customer service issues with the Apple savings account have taken a toll on Apple's reputation.

Former employees of both companies highlighted that the combination of Apple's technology-focused approach and Goldman's banking culture led to difficulties. Apple prioritized stylish technology and product appeal, while Goldman focused on regulatory compliance and profitability.

During the development of the Apple Card, there were challenges with Apple's unique demands, which led to issues prior to launch. It was even said that Tim Cook himself initially had issues getting approved for the Apple Card due to his high-profile status.

Goldman Sachs faced investigations by the US Consumer Financial Protection Bureau over disputed transactions and customer service problems. They were also investigated for alleged gender discrimination in credit limit increases.

Goldman Sachs aims to move away from retail banking and reportedly wants to hand over the Apple partnership to American Express. However, contractual obligations with Apple and its specific terms make this difficult.

The report indicates that the solution to the partnership between Apple and Goldman Sachs may take about 18 months.

Apple is considering a foldable iPad, according to supply chain sources

Apple is said to be stepping up its efforts in foldable devices into the tablet sector, according to sources from the supply chain. This report aligns with previous rumors, with analyst Kuo predicting a launch in 2024, citing an all-new design and lightweight, durable carbon fiber backing. Similar to other companies' foldable smartphones, the foldable device will have a hinge that allows it to open and close like a book, resulting in a much larger screen than current models when unfolded.

iPhone 15 with a hybrid lens with a larger aperture

It is rumored that the iPhone 15 lineup will have a hybrid glass-plastic lens with an ƒ / 1.7 aperture, making it the first global smartphone series to have this technology. The hybrid lens will have one glass element and six plastic elements, a departure from the current seven plastic lenses in the wide camera of the iPhone 14 models. The main camera of the iPhone 15 models will also have the same 48MP sensor as the iPhone 14 Pro models, but with a larger aperture of ƒ / 1.7, allowing it to capture 20% more light. This will result in better low-light performance, faster capture, and the ability to create a shallow depth of field to improve background blur.

These are rumors coming from Twitter user “RGcloudS,” whose track record is not that of Apple rumors. He claims that the iPhone 16 Pro Max will get additional camera upgrades, including an eight-part hybrid lens design with two glass elements and six plastic elements for the wide camera, and a hybrid five- and six-element lens for the telephoto and ultra-wide cameras.

He had previously mentioned that stacked battery technology would be introduced in the iPhone 15 series, but he has now clarified that this upgrade may be reserved for the iPhone 16 series, along with 40W wired charging and 20W charging via MagSafe.

Apple faces a billion-dollar antitrust lawsuit in the UK over App Store fees

Apple is facing a £785 million, equivalent to $1 billion, class action lawsuit in the UK on behalf of more than 1500 developers. The lawsuit alleges that Apple's App Store fees, which range from 15% to 30% on in-app sales, constitute abuse in terms of sole dominance. Similar antitrust concerns have been raised in other countries as well.

The lawsuit argues that UK consumers suffer because developers are being denied potential research and development funds, which hinders app innovation.

Apple has faced investigations in multiple countries on similar charges, and the UK's Competition and Markets Authority is investigating the terms and conditions of the App Store.

Apple defends itself, noting that the App Store isn't the only way for developers to reach users, as they can use Safari and web browsers where Apple's rules don't apply. The company highlights that many developers pay no commission, and those who often benefit from the App Store are small developers, who offer a 15% discount fee.

Apple also maintains that it has not raised commission rates or added fees in 15 years. The courts ruled in favor of Apple in imposing a commission and rejected claims of monopoly power. The company touts the success of third-party apps, investments in developers, and the quality and security of the App Store as points in its defense.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Meta has begun rolling out a much-requested “Follow” tab in Threads, allowing users to see posts from accounts they follow. The app continues to display algorithmically recommended posts under the For You tab.

◉ In a support document published last month, Apple said that some SATA hard drives may disconnect unexpectedly from the Mac Pro 2023 after the computer wakes from sleep mode. Apple said it was aware of the issue and would fix it in a future macOS update, and has made good on that promise and released the fix in macOS Ventura 13.5.

◉ Apple introduced a library for developing applications for Apple glasses VisionPro, which developers can obtain to build and test applications. Developers will also receive support for device setup, user interface design, and app optimization. This library is only accessible to authorized developers. Apple will give priority to developers working on apps that take advantage of VisionOS features. Interested developers can apply to Apple websiteand provide details about their skills and current applications.

◉ A man was rescued through the emergency features and collision detection feature on the iPhone 14 on Friday evening after he fell from a cliff in his car 400 feet into a canyon in the Mount Wilson area near Los Angeles.

◉ Twitter has changed its branding from the blue bird to “X” worldwide. A "temporary" logo showing a white X on a black background replaced the original blue bird logo on the platform, signaling the billionaire's intention to turn the social network into a "everything app" similar to China's WeChat.

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