News on the margin the week January 26 - February 1

Low customer satisfaction with the iPhone 15 Pro, and these are the countries where you can install applications outside the iOS App Store, and the iOS 18 update will be the largest update in the history of the iPhone, and Apple has sold nearly 200 thousand Vision Pro glasses, and other exciting news in... Margin…

The Apple Vision Pro battery is not hot-swappable

The Apple Vision Pro glasses come with an external battery with a capacity of 3,166 mAh, and some have compared it to the iPhone 15 Pro battery with a capacity of 3,274 mAh, in terms of battery life, but the comparison may be misleading due to the difference in voltages, not to mention that the glasses consume a lot of energy to operate a group. From cameras, sensors, displays, speakers and microphones.

وReviewers noted significant differences in size and weight. According to John Gruber, the Vision Pro battery is similar in width and height to the iPhone 15 Pro battery but is thicker and heavier, weighing 325 grams compared to 187 grams, and some described it as “too heavy.” The silver battery contains a special connector for glasses, a USB-C port for charging, and an attached 30-watt charger.

When the battery is replaced with a new one, the glasses will be closed because they do not contain a built-in battery. Although Apple claims total battery life of up to two hours, some reviewers reported up to three hours in general use. Apple Vision Pro will launch in the US on February 2, with a global version launching later this year.

The iPhone 16 models lack major design changes other than larger screens and a capture button

While the iPhone 16 may feature a larger screen and a new “Capture” button, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects no major design changes this year. The focus is expected to shift towards generative AI features, which will be more comprehensive in the iPhone 17 next year at the earliest. The focus will also be on potentially foldable designs in 2025, which could lead to a decline in iPhone sales in 2024.

One of the notable changes in the iPhone 16 is the addition of a so-called “Capture” button for video-related actions. According to a recent report, the button will respond to pressure and touch. For example, the report said that users will be able to zoom in and out of the camera app by swiping left and right on the button, focus with a light press, and start video recording with a more forceful press.

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models are also expected to feature larger screens, measuring 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, compared to the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screens of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Apple has sold nearly 200 Vision Pro glasses

According to a source familiar with Apple's sales numbers, the company has reportedly sold more than 200 Vision Pro glasses since pre-orders began on January 19. Initial sales were strong both online and in-store pickup. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimated that between 160 and 180 units were sold during the pre-order weekend. But sales have slowed since then, with interest in the expensive ($3500) speaker likely restricted to the niche market. Media reviews are expected to boost sales slightly, and real user experiences may contribute to increased purchases. Kuo warned that demand could decline quickly due to the device's limited market appeal and high cost. Apple plans to produce about half a million Vision Pro glasses, but sales may not reach this number.

Meta hopes that Vision Pro will “energize” its glasses

Meta, formerly Facebook, is said to be optimistic that the launch of the Apple Vision Pro will revitalize its eyewear market and perhaps push more users towards MetaQuest devices. Despite Meta's significant investment in Quest and its vision for the metaverse, these products represent less than 1% of the company's revenue.

Meta executives view the launch of the Apple Vision Pro headset as a potential confirmation of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's virtual and augmented reality strategy, which aims to attract more consumers to virtual reality glasses. Meta staff envisions Quest and its software ecosystem as Apple's primary alternative in the extended reality space. They hope that app developers will be inspired to create experiences that draw users into virtual environments using the affordable sub-$500 Quest devices as an alternative to Apple's more expensive $3499 Glasses. Meta is increasingly focusing on mixed reality, influenced by Apple's concept of spatial computing, in which virtual images are superimposed over real-world surroundings. However, Apple has consistently distanced itself from Meta's vision of the metaverse, with executives like Greg Joswiak and Tim Cook expressing skepticism about the concept.

The iOS 18 update is likely to be the biggest update in iPhone history

Apple reportedly has significant plans for the iOS 18 update, which Bloomberg journalist Mark Gurman described as potentially the “biggest” update in iPhone history. Gorman plans to reveal more details in the future, but a couple of known features include RCS support and smarter Siri capabilities.

RCS (Rich Communications Services) support is expected to improve messaging between iPhone and Android devices, providing high-resolution media, voice messaging, typing indicators, enhanced group chats, and enhanced encryption.

The second major feature includes Siri's generative AI technology, which improves question handling and automatic sentence completion. Apple is exploring the possibility of integrating large language models into Siri for greater automation and deeper integration of Shortcuts. These developments are expected to be part of the iOS 18 update scheduled for next September, with a developer beta expected at WWDC next June.

iOS 17.4 update includes podcast transcripts

The latest iOS 17.4 beta introduces a new feature in the Podcast app: “Transcripts.” Similar to the Lyrics feature in Apple Music, recent uploads in the Podcasts app now display the text. When clicked, it provides a full transcript of the entire podcast, which scrolls as the episode plays. Automatically generated transcripts look accurate and take only a few seconds to generate when launching a new podcast. This can be useful in quickly evaluating the content of the offer. Transcripts support searching for words or phrases, allowing users to jump to specific parts of the episode. Although not all podcast episodes currently contain transcripts, Apple plans to add them to its back catalog over time. Transcripts are available in English, French, German, and Spanish, and podcast hosts can also upload their own transcripts. iOS 17.4 is scheduled to be released to the public in March. Other features in this update include important changes for apps in the European Union.

These are the countries where you can install apps outside of the iOS App Store

Apple has implemented major changes to its app ecosystem with the iOS 17.4 update, allowing developers in the 27 European Union countries to distribute their apps through alternative app stores and use different payment methods. However, these changes are limited to the European Union, and will not be implemented globally. Apple expressed its concerns about the impact of alternative app stores and payment methods on user privacy and security, noting that users in these countries may be exposed to malware, illicit content, pirated software, and fraud. These amendments were mandated under Europe's Digital Markets Act, and Apple had to comply with them by March 6, 2024, to avoid potential fines from the European Commission. The company is unlikely to implement similar changes around the world without external legislative pressure; Because of its privacy and security concerns. These features are part of the beta version of the iOS 17.4 update, and the official release is scheduled for March.

The number of iPhone 15 Pro customers is declining due to battery life, and the iPhone 15 takes the lead

The latest data from PerfectRec shows a decline in customer satisfaction with the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max compared to September. Ratings for these models decreased from 73.5% to 66.1% for the iPhone 15 Pro and from 77% to 72.5% for the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

On the other hand, the more affordable iPhone 15 and 15 Plus saw an increase in satisfaction, with ratings reaching 78.1% and 73.5%, respectively. The decline in satisfaction with the Pro models has been attributed to issues such as poor battery life, disappointment with the physical design and protruding camera lenses. Despite initial concerns about the iPhone 15 overheating, an iOS update has addressed the issue. Recent user reviews have identified battery life as a major concern for the iPhone 15 Pro.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple launches the first public beta versions of iOS 17.4 and macOS 14.4 updates.

◉ Apple launched the VisionOS 1.0.2 update for Vision Pro glasses.

◉ Apple has added the 13-inch MacBook Pro that it released in June 2012 to its list of legacy products worldwide, according to its website. It was the last Mac with a built-in DVD drive.

◉ Epic Games claims that Apple is not fully complying with the court order to open the App Store. The court order requires Apple to allow developers to offer purchasing options outside of the App Store. Apple has made changes that allow developers to link to external websites for purchases, but it still charges commissions.
IPIC believes this is insufficient compliance and plans to appeal it. Meanwhile, Apple is seeking $73.4 million in legal fees from Epic for violating its developer agreement.

◉ Apple has stopped signing the iOS 17.2.1 update, which prevents iPhone users from returning to this version of iOS from now on. iOS 17.2.1 is no longer signed following the release of iOS 17.3 on January 22, which introduced stolen device protection for the iPhone and other changes.

◉ Apple has released a new firmware update for AirPods Max. As usual, Apple does not provide details about what features may be included in the updated firmware, so it is not clear what is new. The limited release notes for the update list only include “bug fixes and other improvements.”

◉ DJ Novotny, one of Apple's top hardware engineers for 25 years, will leave the company to join Rivian Automotive, according to Bloomberg. Novotny played a crucial role in the development of iconic Apple products such as the iPod, iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and Apple Watch. He was also involved in Project Titan, Apple's self-driving electric car initiative. In his last position at Apple, he served as the senior executive supervising the development of future home devices, with a focus on robotics and artificial intelligence. Novotny will now become senior vice president of vehicle programs at Rivian, known for its electric SUVs and pickup trucks. His departure follows a trend of high-profile executives leaving Apple in recent years, including Tang Tan and Steve Hotelling. In a note to colleagues, Novotny expressed his gratitude for his time at Apple and his enthusiasm for contributing to new products at Rivian.

◉ Apple will likely launch new iPad Air, iPad Pro, and MacBook Air models around the end of March, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. He said production is well underway for at least the new iPad Pro models and the new 13-inch MacBook Air within Apple's supply chain in Asia.

◉ Cristiano Amon, CEO of Qualcomm, confirmed that Apple will continue to use the Qualcomm 5G modem in iPhones until at least March 2027, extending the previous agreement that lasted until 2026. Despite Apple’s efforts to develop its own 5G modems, Including the acquisition of Intel's modem division in 2019, but challenges have hindered progress. Apple's in-house 5G modems have reportedly failed to outperform Qualcomm's modems in terms of performance and efficiency. Qualcomm also provides the satellite communication module for the iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 models. Apple has not officially commented on the extension.

◉ Ray Wong, an Apple Vision Pro reviewer, discovered that the cable that connects the battery to it can be removed using a SIM card ejector tool. Although it is similar to a Lightning cable, it is wider with additional connection points.

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