The upcoming Apple Watch 9 will bring modest changes, refurbished AirPods 3 for sale at a reduced price, the Apple M3 Max chip soon, leaked images of USB-C charging flat parts for the iPhone 15, and the specifications of the A17 chip forIPhone 15 ProAnd other exciting news on the sidelines...
Apple announced results for the third quarter of 2023
Apple announced its financial results for the third fiscal quarter of 2023, which corresponds to the second quarter of the year. For the quarter, Apple reported revenue of $81.8 billion and quarterly net profit of $19.9 billion, compared to revenue of $83.0 billion and quarterly net profit of $19.4 billion in the same quarter last year.
Gross margin for the quarter was 44.5%, compared to 43.3% in the same quarter last year. Apple also announced a quarterly dividend payment of $0.24 per share, to be paid on August 17 to shareholders of record beginning August 14.
Code in tvOS 17 confirms the A17 processor for the iPhone 15 Pro and the A16 for the iPhone 15
References to four upcoming iPhone models were detected in the tvOS 17 update code. These references include identifiers such as iPhone15,4, iPhone15,5, iPhone16,1, and iPhone16,2. These identifiers are consistent with speculation that Apple will use the A17 chip with 3nm technology for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, while the standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will contain the A16 chip already used in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
The numbering pattern follows previous models: iPhone 15,4 and 15,5 likely refer to the standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus with the A16 chip, while numbers 16,1 and 16,2 are likely to refer to the iPhone 15 Pro. And Pro Max with the new A17 chip. Additionally, references to iPhone14 and iPhone1 have been found, possibly with A14 chips, but their significance remains uncertain. Apple's plans to use the A9 and A15 chipsets for upcoming iPhone models have been widely rumored, and the code results support these expectations.
A17 chip for iPhone 15 Pro
The upcoming Apple A17 chip, which is intended for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, features a six-core CPU and a six-core GPU as well, providing significant improvements to the GPU compared to the current A16 chip that comes with a five-core GPU. This A17 chip exhibits a maximum clock rate of 3.70GHz, which is up from 3.46GHz in the A16.
The term “indicateshourly rateindicates the speed at which the CPU of the processor is running. It is measured in Hertz and represents the number of cycles a CPU can perform in a given period of time. In the A17 chip, the clock rate is 3.70GHz, which indicates that it can perform 3.7 billion cycles per second. This higher clock rate indicates faster processing speeds and improved performance over the previous A16 chip's clock rate of 3.46GHz.
Surprisingly, the leak indicates that the iPhone 15 Pro models will retain the same 6GB RAM as the iPhone 14 Pro models, contradicting previous rumors of 8GB RAM. The A17 chip is built using a new 3nm technology, which promises better speed, efficiency, and improved battery life than the A16's 4nm technology. This can boost performance by 10 to 15 percent and reduce power consumption by up to 30 percent.
Supreme Court, Apple doesn't have to change the App Store rules yet
The US Supreme Court has decided that Apple does not have to change its "anti-routing" rules for the App Store while its legal battle with Epic Games continues.
The term "anti-routing" refers to Apple's rules that prevent app developers from directing users to make purchases outside the App Store, ensuring that transactions are made through Apple's payment system. This keeps Apple in control of in-app purchases and revenue.
In Apple v. Epic, a judge said Apple should allow developers to use other payment methods, which are now pending. Apple can wait to see if the Supreme Court hears the case before making changes. Epic Games wanted immediate changes to the rules, but the Supreme Court denied their request. Apple argues that changing the rules could harm the balance between developers and users in the App Store.
NameDrop support for the Apple Watch found in watchOS 10 Beta 5
The latest beta version of watchOS 10 supports the upcoming NameDrop feature for the Apple Watch, which was initially introduced as a major AirDrop feature in the iOS 17 preview. NameDrop simplifies contact sharing by allowing contact details to be exchanged with someone nearby by simply bringing your iPhone close to them. This brings up a sharing interface with options to display contact information and a contact sticker, letting you choose whether to "only receive" or share your details. NameDrop works between two iPhones running iOS 17, an iPhone with an Apple Watch running watchOS 10, and even between two Apple Watches using a new Share My Card option.
The iPhone 15 event will be registered in advance, like last year
The announcement of the iPhone 15 series, expected on September 12, will follow a similar format to last year's event, and it will be as usual in Apple Park. Although she was forced to do so due to the Corona epidemic, with the decline of the impact of the epidemic, she continued in this way, which she seems to prefer over others. This method gives Apple more control over its ads and the quality of their display.
Apple plans to test artificial intelligence services using Foxconn servers
The Taiwanese company, Foxconn, will provide Apple with special servers for training and testing artificial intelligence services. These servers will be manufactured in Vietnam rather than China, where Apple wants to diversify its supply chain. Foxconn already provides servers for Amazon, ChatGPT's OpenAI, and Nvidia. It is also Apple's main supplier of data center servers. Recently, there has been talk of Apple working on its own AI projects, and we've heard about "Apple GPT," which could compete with ChatGPT. However, we haven't heard any news regarding this Apple considering its plans fully yet. Although Apple CEO Tim Cook sees AI as critical to their products and has been researching it for years, there is no confirmation as to when AI services will launch.
$5 billion lawsuit against Google over 'incognito mode'
A lawsuit against Google claims it tracked what people were doing online, even when they thought their browsing was private. The lawsuit says Google did this through various tools, even on phones, whether or not users clicked on the ads. The people who filed the lawsuit say this deceives users, and violates privacy laws. A judge did not grant Google's request to quickly end the case. The judge looked at how Google talked about its private browsing, and said Google had not demonstrated that everyone agreed to be tracked. The lawsuit aims to get $5 billion for multiple users.
Leaked pictures of parts of the USB-C charging ports for the iPhone 15
These images show the USB-C connector ports on flexible PCB parts in the iPhone 15 series. This transition enables Apple to comply with EU requirements, by either adopting USB-C globally or creating special models for the EU. The iPhone 15 Pro models are expected to support faster data transfers using USB-C, while the standard models contain USB 2.0 speeds such as the Lightning cable. It is noted that USB-C accessories must be officially certified by Apple “MFi”, otherwise their speed will be limited.
Apple M3 Max chip coming soon
Apple is working on a new M3 Max chip to replace the current M2 Max in upcoming MacBook Pro models. This chip features a 40-core GPU and a 16-core CPU with high-performance and efficiency cores. Engineered with new 3nm technology to improve speed and efficiency. The M3 Max chip will be part of three other chipsets including the M3 and M3 Pro, with different CPU and GPU configurations. The first M3 Macs are expected in October, with 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pro models using the M3 Max chip arriving in 2024.
TSMC will not hold Apple accountable for defective 3nm chips
TSMC, the chip supplier to Apple, has decided not to charge Apple for the defective 3nm chips that are part of the upcoming iPhone 15 Pro and A17 Bionic chip. The introduction of such advanced chip technology often results in chips that are initially defective. In this unique case, TSMC bills Apple only for functional chips, not for defective chips. This is uncommon, as customers usually pay for all chips, even defective ones.
Apple's large orders allow it to accept the cost of defective chips, contribute to research and development, and invest facilities for new chip operations. Large orders from Apple also help TSMC improve and scale production operations more quickly.
Miscellaneous news
◉ The new Apple Watch Series 9 strap is made of woven fabric and will have a magnetic buckle, similar to the modern buckle strap already available.
◉ Apple calls the external battery of the Apple Vision Pro glasses the “Magic Battery” and the name was found in the tvOS beta 5 codes. Previously known as the “MagSafe Battery Pack”, it gives the glasses an additional two hours of power. You can either plug it into a power source or use it on the go. And the Magic Battery is small enough to fit in a pocket. Unlike other augmented and mixed reality glasses, the Vision Pro does not have a built-in battery due to concerns about making it too heavy.
◉ Apple plans to invest in British chip design company Arm, during the next IPO on the Nasdaq Stock Exchange in September. Arm is expected to be worth more than $60 billion, making it the largest initial public offering of the year. Other major chip makers like Samsung, Nvidia and Intel will also invest once the IPO is complete. Arm licenses its chip designs to several companies, including Apple. The move allows chip makers to have a say in Arm's management. This IPO follows SoftBank's decision to list Arm after a failed attempt to sell it to Nvidia due to regulatory issues.
◉ Apple Pay is now available for use in Vietnam, which means that Apple users who have a debit or credit card from a participating bank can add those cards to the Wallet app for Apple Pay purchases.
◉ Apple has informed accessory makers for the Apple Watch that they must switch to using its own fast charging unit. This change came after the introduction of the Apple Watch fast charging alongside the Apple Watch 7 in 2021. This new feature allows devices to quickly charge from 0 to 80% in about 45 minutes. Initially, there was a shortage of the newer fast charging module, leading some accessory makers to use older, slower devices. Apple will focus on producing fast charging units only. Companies can still offer the original slower charging units until August 31, 2023. After September 30, 2023, Apple will no longer offer the older unit through its MFi program. This change may lead to price increases for some existing accessories, as the new fast charging unit is said to be more expensive for manufacturers.
◉ Apple has first started offering refurbished AirPods 3 for sale at a discount, including the MagSafe charging case, for $149, and a discount of $30 off the regular price of $179.
◉ The upcoming Apple Watch 9 will bring modest changes, which will be an improvement in performance. Its design and features are very similar to the Apple Watch 8. The new S9 chip, possibly based on the A15 Bionic, is expected to boost speed and battery efficiency.
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