News on the sidelines week 8 - 14 September

Samsung has become the main supplier of iPhone 15 screens, and a new update to iTunes on Windows, and you can now search for the TV remote through the iPhone, and the iPhone 15 Pro is easier to repair, and supports ProRes video recording directly to an external storage unit, Apple adds new login options for the Apple account and other exciting news on the sidelines...

All iPhone 15 models support DisplayPort for up to 4K HDR video output

According to Apple's technical specifications, the new iPhone 15 series now comes with DisplayPort support. This means they can send high-quality 4K HDR videos to an external monitor or TV. This support is built into the USB-C port, allowing it to connect directly to a DisplayPort-equipped display or TV using a DisplayPort-compatible USB-C cable. If you prefer to use HDMI, you can use Apple's USB-C Digital AV Multiport Adapter to output 4K video, although HDR is not supported in this case. It should be noted that previous iPhones equipped with Lightning ports only provided video display at a resolution of up to 1080p using specific adapters, and the iPhone does not yet contain the extended display feature found in some iPad models.

Some iPad models have a feature through which you can connect them to an external monitor and get two separate screens. For example, you could have one application or document on the iPad screen and another on the external display. But the iPhone does not have this ability, which means that the same content appears on both screens, and you cannot have different applications or content on each screen.

The Actions button on the iPhone 15 Pro will support the Translate app later this year

The iPhone 15 Pro models have an action button instead of the usual mute switch. By default, this button changes your phone from ring to silent, but you can make it do other things too, like open the camera, turn on the flashlight, and more. You can check our article about this button. One cool thing is that it will also have a translation option, but in a future update to iOS 17. So, you can use this button for different actions, long pressing on it to make it work.

The iOS 17 update adds more than 20 new ringtones for calls, messages, and alerts

In the iOS 17 update, Apple added more than 20 new ringtones for phone calls, text messages, and alerts. These new ringtones have names like Arpeggio, Breaking, and Milky Way, to name a few. Almost all of the ringtones listed on the “Sounds & Haptics” list are new, so there are plenty of options to choose from. Compared to the old ringtones, many of the new ringtones are longer and look more modern.

Most of the old ringtones are now in the “Classic” section. You can still use them if you like the classics. You can also assign different ringtones to different people in your contacts. Apple is also updating message tones, which you can use for messages, voicemails, emails, and alerts. So, in iOS 17, your phone will look newer and more customizable.

iOS 17 update includes a new feature to notify you when “cleaner” power is available

Apple introduced a useful feature called “Grid Forecast” in the Home app in the iOS 17 update. This feature uses your location to let you know when it's time to use energy. When the forecast says “Cleaner,” it means the energy used has fewer harmful emissions, while the forecast “Less Clean” means more emissions. Apple recommends using this information to determine when you use electricity. For example, running your appliances such as your washer, dryer, or dishwasher during “clean” times can help reduce your carbon emissions. Keep in mind that these forecasts depend on your location, and reflect the energy sources available there. You can find it in the Home app under “Energy.” However, you cannot use it to create automatic controls for smart home devices. This feature is available on all Apple devices in the Home app.

Apple adds new sign-in options for your Apple account

iOS 17, iPadOS 17, and macOS Sonoma updates provide two new ways to sign in to your Apple account:

FirstNow, you can use any phone number or secondary email associated with your Apple account to sign in. This change may require new updates, but it is not entirely clear whether it is a change in the interface or requires updates.

SecondThere's a great feature coming in iOS 17. You can sign in to your Apple account by bringing an iPhone or iPad linked to your account closer to a new device you're setting up. The connection between the two devices is done by scanning the “particle cloud” that appears on the screen, something similar to scanning a QR code, and the login is automatically completed, making logging in very easy.

These updates are also supported Passkeys for Apple IDs. iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 are scheduled to be released on September 18, while macOS Sonoma will be available on September 26.

The iPhone 15 Pro supports ProRes video recording directly to an external storage unit

The iOS 17 update for the iPhone 15 Pro allows high-quality ProRes video recording at 4K resolution and 60 frames per second, and you can save these videos directly to external storage using the new USB-C port. This is a big upgrade from the iPhone 14 Pro, which can only do this at lower quality 4K at 30fps, and doesn't support external storage.

However, there is a catch: your external storage must be formatted in either exFAT or APFS format. Unfortunately, we don't know the exact disk speed requirements yet.

4K ProRes video recording at 60fps is a feature that Apple was only able to add because of the new A17 Pro chip and the option to connect to external storage.

The iPhone 15 Pro models feature a more repairable design with a removable back glass

The iPhone 15 Pro models feature a more repairable interior, with a redesigned frame that allows for easy removal of the glass back. Apple had already made a similar change with the standard iPhone 14 models last year, allowing them to be opened from the front and back easily and for repairs, a departure from its previous designs. This means that fixing issues, especially cracked back glass, on iPhone 15 Pro models may be less expensive for those not covered by the AppleCare+ warranty. While Apple has shared the repair costs for the iPhone 14 series, it has not yet revealed the repair fees for the iPhone 15 series. iFixit's Kyle Wiens even praised the iPhone 15's repairability as a major design shift, making it easier for users to repair their phones.

Now you can use your iPhone to find the remote control

Apple has released a new update for the second and third generation Siri Remotes. This update is for tvOS 17, and allows your iPhone to find your lost Apple TV remote. If you misplace your Siri Remote, you can use your iPhone's Control Center to locate it. You'll see a circle on your phone's screen directing you to the location of the remote. This feature works with second- and third-generation Siri Remotes, but you'll need to make sure your Apple TV is updated for the feature to work. It's similar to the Find My feature, although it's not exactly the same. This feature is available for 4K Apple TV models starting in 2021 and 2022, and is made available with tvOS 17 and iOS 17 updates.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple has released a new update for iTunes on Windows, version 12.12.10. This update provides better security and now supports iPhone 15 models. This is the first update since May. Although iTunes is no longer used on Macs and has been replaced by Finder and the TV app, it is still available for Windows users. You can get it from a store Microsoft Or a site Camel.

◉ The iPhone 15 series supports the fast mmWave 5G network in the United States only, while other countries mainly use a slower 5G network with a sub-6GHz frequency. Some countries outside the United States have mmWave networks.

◉ The iPhone 15 Pro models contain something called Thread Networking Technology, which helps connect to smart home devices. This is new for the Pro models, but not for the standard iPhone 15. Apple says that the iPhone 15 Pro is the first phone equipped with this thing, which allows you to control smart home things directly. It's been in the HomePod mini and Apple TV before. Apple is excited about it, and says it will make the Home app work even better. Essentially, Thread makes the elements of your smart home connected, and work better together.

◉ It seems that Samsung became the main supplier of iPhone 15 screens because BOE, a Chinese company, faced problems and did not obtain approval from Apple. BOE was supposed to provide screens for the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, but its approval was delayed due to screen problems. Ultimately, Apple canceled its order, and Samsung took over. LG Display has received approval for the smaller iPhone 15 Pro screens, but not for the iPhone 15 Pro Max yet. So, Samsung is currently the sole supplier of screens for all iPhone 15 models.

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