News on the sidelines week 20 - 26 October

The production costs of the iPhone 15 are significantly higher than the cost of producing the iPhone 14, and Apple plans to update the range of AirPods headphones starting next year, and Apple will follow ChatGPT with generative artificial intelligence features on the iPhone as soon as iOS 18, iPhone 16 and 16 are released. Plus will jump from the A16 chip to the A18 chip, Apple stores will begin repairing iPhone 15 models and other exciting news on the sidelines...

Apple continues to explore the health capabilities of Vision Pro glasses

A new report indicates that Apple continues to explore health capabilities For Vision Pro glasses. According to the report, Apple is experimenting with using the glasses to track a user's facial expressions to detect depression, anxiety, stress, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Infrared tracking cameras built into the glasses can help detect swelling in blood vessels in the eyes as an early sign of heart problems. The company has also explored using the glasses to detect changes in weight, assess the user's movement over time, and use this data to detect health problems such as Parkinson's disease.

However, any diagnostic features for health issues will need to undergo clinical studies and receive approval from health organizations before being released to the public. It is reported that some employees at Apple are concerned about the legal liability resulting from making more health-related claims, which may limit the scope of features. The company is still exploring these ideas, and has looked into using iPhones and Apple Watches to track moods and detect early signs of Alzheimer's disease.

Rumors of next-gen iMac chipset, stand and color details ahead of Apple event

Apple is updating the iMac and adding some new features, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. It will feature Apple's M3 chip instead of the current M1, and the stand will also be redesigned, with some parts moved and a different way to connect it.

The new iMac will have colors similar to the current model, which comes in green, yellow, orange, pink, purple, blue and silver. However, there may be some small changes in color options.

Besides these changes, the new iMac will remain the same as the current 24-inch model, ready for release, as it was in production between June and August.

The device will be announced at the “Scary Fast” event on October 30, where more details may be revealed.

Apple is considering launching a low-cost MacBook in 2024

Last month, there was a rumor that Apple might launch a cheaper MacBook next year to compete with Google's more affordable Chromebooks. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo recently spoke about this rumor again. In September, a report suggested that Apple might introduce a less expensive MacBook in late 2024 that would be different from its current models. Kuo believes the new MacBook may help Apple sell more laptops.

At an upcoming Apple event, Apple may include the new M3 chips for its laptops. If these new laptops are released, it may be difficult to purchase them until early 2024 due to the high cost as well as low demand.

The cheaper MacBook may look a little different, but it will still have the usual Apple design. Some believe this new model may be a 12-inch MacBook, the type that Apple stopped making in 2019 because it was too expensive and not very powerful.

There have been talks about the return of the 12-inch MacBook ever since Apple started using its own chips. Last year, a reporter hinted at the return of this 12-inch model by 2024. Another report in February said that Apple was considering bringing back this model and would decide on its production soon. It's still uncertain if this is the same cheaper MacBook that some sites talked about earlier.

Apple stores begin repairing iPhone 15 models

Apple initially replaces the entire device when releasing a new iPhone model because there are no ready-made replacement parts available. However, replacement parts for iPhone 15 models are now available, allowing Apple Stores and authorized repair centers to fix specific issues without changing the entire phone. This applies to replacement parts such as back glass, battery, screen, etc. However, if there is a problem with the Taptic Motor or the main microphone in the iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, Apple will still replace the entire device since these parts are not yet available. The iPhone 15 models feature a new design that makes the repair process easier and cheaper, especially for those who do not have the AppleCare+ warranty. This design, which allows technicians to access the phone from the front and back, began with the iPhone 14 models last year. In the United States, the cost of changing the battery is $99, which is the same cost as the iPhone 14.

Apple could spend $4.75 billion on AI servers in 2024

Apple is believed to be investing heavily to bolster its generative AI capabilities in 2024, in a new report by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. It is estimated that Apple will spend about $620 million on servers in 2023 and $4.75 billion in 2024. Apple may buy between 2000 to 3000 servers this year and 20 servers next year. These servers can be powered by Nvidia's high-end HGX H100 8-GPU, which is designed for AI tasks and costs about $250 each.

Kuo's analysis suggests that Apple is likely to use its own AI servers to train large language models to ensure better security and privacy rather than relying on third-party cloud services. Although it is possible that Apple will create its own server chips to cut costs, there is no evidence of such plans at the moment. Even with these investments, Apple's server purchases may still lag behind tech giants like Meta and Microsoft. To truly compete in the AI ​​sector, Kuo believes Apple needs to spend billions annually, and he is concerned about Apple's AI future if it only invests $XNUMX billion annually as reported by reporter Mark Gurman. Gorman also shared that Apple plans to enhance Siri's intelligence and integrate AI into several Apple apps.

iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will jump from the A16 chip to the A18 chip

Jeff Poe, a famous analyst, expects that all iPhone 16 models will use A18 processors. In a recent note to Haitong International Securities, it suggests that these processors will be manufactured using an advanced 3nm manufacturing process known as N3E. Interestingly, Bo classifies the A17 Pro chip in the current iPhone 15 Pro as a “transitional design” based on the N3B manufacturing process. Detailed forecasts include:

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: A18 chip with N3E manufacturing precision.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max: A18 Pro chip with N3E manufacturing accuracy.

Compared to “N3B”, private “N3E” is more cost effective and leads to better results. It is worth noting that jumping directly to the A18 chip from the A16 Bionic chip in the standard iPhone 15 models means that these devices may skip the A17 iteration. However, the naming convention for the chips is speculative at this point. In the past, Bo has accurately predicted many features of Apple products.

Apple will follow ChatGPT with generative AI features on the iPhone once iOS 18 is released

Apple is said to be preparing to bring its generative AI technology to the iPhone and iPad by late 2024, as claimed by analyst Jeff Pu. He said that Apple has taken this step further with the release of iOS 18 and iPadOS 18. Based on supply chain information, Apple plans to build hundreds of AI servers in 2023, with a major expansion in the following year. The company aims to blend cloud-based AI with “advanced AI,” with a focus on on-device data processing.

Apple is approaching this new technology with caution, ensuring that any AI-related developments maintain its strong commitment to user privacy. Speculation suggests that Siri could gain advanced features from larger language models, allowing users to perform complex tasks through deeper integration with the Shortcuts app.

Other analysts have previously suggested that Apple is lagging behind competitors in AI developments. There is uncertainty about whether a proposed 2024 rollout is possible, possibly pushing the technology's debut to 2025 or later.

The rise of generative AI, demonstrated by chatbots such as ChatGPT, highlights the growing importance of the technology. Other giant technology companies, such as Google and Microsoft, have also entered the race.

Rumors point to Apple's own version of the chatbot, dubbed "Apple GPT." However, the company is still strategizing for its general release.

Apple's interest in generative AI is clear, with job listings and public statements confirming its research in this area. CEO Tim Cook emphasized their thoughtful approach, recognizing potential misuse and challenges such as bias in AI applications.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple plans to update the AirPods range starting next year. The regular AirPods and AirPods Max will come with new features in 2024, most notably the noise cancellation found in the Pro headphones. The AirPods Pro will be updated in 2025 with improved design and better sound quality, and will be replaced. Old versions with two new fourth generation models. These new models will have a design that is a mix of the current AirPods and AirPods Pro, with shorter stems.

The AirPods Max will get a new charging port and some new color options, and the AirPods Pro will get a new design, a faster chip, and features that can help with hearing health, and perhaps work more like a hearing aid. Exact release dates are not yet known, but Apple usually releases new models in the second half of the year, around the time the new iPhone is launched.

◉ Apple launched the macOS Sonoma 14.1 update, and some features were added, most notably the warranty section that displays the status of AppleCare+ for your Mac and the connected AirPods, in addition to some problem fixes and security updates. Such as fixing an issue that may lead to resetting “System Services” settings under “Location Services,” and other fixes.

◉ Apple has released an update, tvOS 17.1, for Apple TV with some new features, including Enhance Dialogue, which is now available on all HomePod models. To understand this feature simply, if you are watching a movie or TV show and you find it difficult to understand what is being said because of the loud music in the background or... For action scenes sounds, the Dialogue Enhancement feature can help you by making dialogues louder and clearer. You can download it through the Settings app on your Apple TV or it will update automatically if you turn this setting on.

◉ The production costs of the iPhone 15 are significantly higher than the production costs of the iPhone 14. For example, the cost of the iPhone 15 Pro Max jumped by 12% to $558. Significant price increases have been seen for components, such as the telephoto camera and the A17 Pro chip. Despite these increased production costs, Apple did not raise retail prices. However, given these high costs, there is speculation that Apple may increase prices for the iPhone 16 models next year.

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