News on the sidelines for the week of August 25 - 31

New colors expected For iPhone 15 models, major changes to the upcoming iPad Pro, a new requested feature in the Google Photos application for iOS, leaked iPhone 15 Pro wallpapers, Apple is experimenting with 1D printing to create devices, and selling an Apple-175 computer announcement sheet with Steve Jobs’ handwriting for more than XNUMX thousand dollars, and other exciting news on the sidelines...

Expected iPhone 15 colors

Apple will introduce the new iPhone 15 lineup with a variety of new colors. The expected colors for the four iPhone 15 models are as follows:

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

Leaked images of colored USB-C wires indicate that Apple will likely continue to offer six color options for the 15-inch iPhone 6.1 and 15-inch iPhone 6.7 Plus. These colors are expected to be black or what is called Midnight, as well as white or what is called Starlight, yellow, blue, orange or coral pink.

And while the red color was not included in the rumored lineup, Apple may introduce it in the spring of 2024 or reveal new colors early next year.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

For the 15-inch iPhone 6.1 Pro and 15-inch iPhone 6.7 Pro Max models, new colors are expected to include Deep Blue, Space Gray, Space Black, and Natural Titanium.

A change this year to a lighter titanium bezel instead of stainless steel will likely result in the absence of the gold color option, despite its popularity in some markets.

An Apple-1 computer ad sold for more than $175

It was announced at an auction recently that a paper or draft of an advertisement for the Apple-1 computer written by Steve Jobs in his handwriting, and the price reached $ 175.759. This advertisement sheet includes specifications for the Apple-1, along with information on the details Jobs wanted to include.

The ad lists a price of $75 for the painting, and bears Jobs' signature and his parents' address where Apple originated. A draft corresponds to the original ad published in Interface magazine in July 1976. Accompanying the ad are two Polaroid photos of Apple-1s taken at The Byte Shop in Mountain View, California. Jobs commented on one of the photos, explaining that it was blurry due to the camera movement. This unique advertisement was sold by a close friend of Steve Jobs who was part of the development of Apple-1. In addition, a working Apple-1 computer signed by Steve Wozniak sold for $223.520, and a 1976 Apple computer check signed by both Jobs and Wozniak brought in $135.261 in separate sales.

Apple stops providing customer support on Twitter and YouTube

According to multiple sources, Apple is set to discontinue its social media support advisory roles on platforms like Apple Inc Twitter and YouTube And site Apple Support Community later this year. This means that customers will not be able to receive direct support from Apple employees on these systems.

Starting October 1, no account will be provided @AppleSupport Twitter Human responses via direct messages. Instead, customers will receive automated responses directing them to other ways to contact Apple for assistance. In addition, Apple will not provide technical assistance in the comments section of its YouTube videos as well as the Apple Support Forum. Affected employees are given the opportunity to transition into phone-based support roles within Apple. Apple stated that these changes are because many customers prefer phone support.

Apply for a special iPhone designed to detect security vulnerabilities

Apple announced the iPhone Security Research Device Program for 2024, which allows security researchers to obtain specialized Apple devices aimed at discovering iOS vulnerabilities. The program, known as SRDP, has been running since 2019 and has already identified 130 major security vulnerabilities in iOS. Researchers have also contributed to enhancing the security of various aspects of iOS. Program participants have received CVE credits for their findings and are eligible for payments Apple Security Bounty. Research iPhone 14 Pro devices come with unique hardware and software designed for security research, allowing researchers to configure or disable iOS security protection in ways not possible with standard iPhones. SRDP devices are available to experienced security researchers and university professors interested in using them as teaching tools. The application period for the program is open until October 31, 2023, with shortlisted participants notified in early 2024. You can access this website to apply- Link.

Apple is experimenting with XNUMXD printing to create devices

Apple is said to be incorporating 9D printing technology into manufacturing certain components for the upcoming Apple Watch 9. The method, known as “binder jetting,” involves printing out an outline of the device using a powdered material and then compressing the material with heat and pressure to create a steel-like material. This innovative approach is expected to reduce material usage and shorten production time. It is worth noting that this development is in line with information shared by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, where he stated that the upcoming Apple Watch Ultra will also contain XNUMXD printed mechanical parts. While the primary focus is on the stainless steel case of the Apple Watch XNUMX, Apple appears to be actively exploring the potential of XNUMXD printing technology for its manufacturing processes. If successful, this approach could lead to improved production efficiency and cost savings. This technology has been in development for about three years, and Apple plans to expand its use to more products in the coming years based on Apple Watch test results.

iPhone 15 Pro wallpapers leaked

It is said that the images circulated on the Chinese platform Weibo displays possible official wallpapers for the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max models, the backgrounds come in the form of the letter S and the potential colors for the new iPhones. These wallpapers are based on a hand-drawn image from a Chinese iPhone factory engineer.

Google Photos app for iOS gets a 'locked folder' for sensitive photos

Google Photos introduced a new feature for iPhone users that enables them to secure their sensitive photos and videos inside a passcode-protected folder. Previously only available on Android, the privacy-focused Locked Folder feature allows users to protect media with a fingerprint, face, or password. Locked content remains hidden within the app and will not be visible in Google Photos or other apps. Google assures that data backed up on the cloud is well protected with advanced encryption methods.

Users can choose not to use the cloud backup and instead store their sensitive content exclusively in the locked folder on their device. Additionally, Google is updating the Photos app settings screen to make it easier to access various privacy, sharing, backup, and notification options. Despite its focus on security, Google faced an incident in 2020 where private videos were inadvertently shared with strangers due to a technical glitch.

Apple plans to announce new AirPods with a USB-C charging case at the iPhone 15 event

Apple is set to launch four new iPhone 15 models next month, and they are all expected to feature a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port. Alongside this change, Apple plans to announce the updated AirPods with USB-C charging case during an event on September 12th. The report doesn't provide specific details about the updated AirPods, but it's possible that both standard AirPods and AirPods Pro will eventually receive USB-C charging cases to be compatible with iPhone 15 models. While it's still uncertain if there will be additional features. The move from Lightning to USB-C is a broader trend, as we've seen with other Apple products like the Siri Remote and the potential move for other accessories like the AirPods Max, MagSafe Battery Pack, and various peripherals.

China overtakes the United States, and becomes the largest market for iPhones in the second quarter of 2023

In the second quarter of 2023, China overtook the United States to become the largest market for iPhone devices, accounting for 24% of global iPhone shipments, while the US market accounted for 21%. This shift is attributed to the slowdown in the smartphone market in the United States, where consumers are waiting for the launch of new iPhone models in the latter half of the year. This development reflects China's growing economic influence, and Chinese consumers' preference for premium phones.

Notably, large smartphones, especially the iPhone 14 Pro Max, have been well received among Asian consumers, with 26.5 million units shipped globally in the first half of the year, making it the best-selling model worldwide. It was followed by the iPhone 14 Pro, with 21 million units sold.

Miscellaneous news

◉ It is said that the next generation of the iPad Pro, which is expected to be released in the spring or early summer of 2024, will come with major changes, which are a major update since 2018, as it will come with an Apple M3 silicon chip and an 11 and 13-inch OLED screen. The accompanying Magic Keyboard will also see improvements, featuring a larger trackpad, and will give it a more laptop-like look. This major update is expected to energize sales of Apple's tablet devices next year, with minor updates expected for other iPad models.

◉ The latest update to macOS Sonoma introduces more than 100 dynamic animated wallpapers or so-called video wallpapers, divided into categories such as different landscapes, city, underwater, and land. These globally captured scenes are similar to those on Apple TV.

◉ Meta has launched an updated version of WhatsApp for macOS. The new app offers several improvements, including the ability to make group calls, drag and drop files, and more. It's designed to provide an optimized experience for larger screens, facilitating actions like dragging files into chats and viewing comprehensive message histories. It is worth noting that the application now supports group calls on the macOS operating system, and accommodates up to eight participants in video calls and 32 participants in voice calls. Users can also join ongoing group calls, access call history, and receive incoming call notifications even when the app is closed. This macOS version follows the release of a similar update for Windows earlier this year. The new application can be downloaded from the website whatsapp.com It will be available soon on the Mac Store.

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