News on the sidelines week 20 - 26 September

Disassembly video IPhone 16 Pro Metal-enclosed battery and other details revealed, touchscreen issues with iOS 18 update, video: iPhone 16's 'revolutionary' battery removal, Control Center reset option and other new options, new selfie option added to camera control button, and other exciting news on the sidelines…

Meta unveils Orion augmented reality glasses

Meta, Facebook, has unveiled Orion augmented reality glasses, which it describes as the most advanced ever. These glasses feature a lightweight design similar to regular glasses, but are equipped with augmented reality technologies that merge digital content with the real world. Orion glasses were developed over five years, and are equipped with contextual artificial intelligence capable of understanding the surrounding environment and meeting the user’s needs.

While the Orion headset isn’t a consumer product yet, Meta plans to use it as a stepping stone toward developing augmented reality headsets for consumers in the future. The company will let its employees and select individuals use it to collect data and work on improving it. Additionally, Meta revealed new AI features for its Ray-Ban Meta headset and announced the launch of the Meta Quest 3S mixed reality headset at a low price of $300.

Apple explores lower-resolution displays for cheaper Vision glasses

Recent reports suggest that Apple is considering using lower-resolution displays for a more affordable version of its Vision Pro augmented reality headset. According to industry sources, Apple has received samples of OLED displays from Japan Display with a pixel density of around 1500 pixels per inch, which is significantly lower than the 3391 pixels per inch used in the current Vision Pro. This reduction in pixel density could significantly reduce manufacturing costs while maintaining a high-quality visual experience.

Additionally, reports suggest that Apple could use a different OLED display technology and the cheaper glasses may require an iPhone or Mac to work. However, the device’s development appears to still be in its early stages, with estimates suggesting it could take two to three years before it enters mass production. In the meantime, competition among display manufacturers to win Apple’s orders is expected to intensify.

Apple is preparing to add a hearing assistance feature to AirPods Pro 2 headphones

Apple is currently working on adding a hearing aid feature to the AirPods Pro 2. Although this feature is not currently enabled in the latest beta of iOS 18.1, it is hidden within the update and Apple will likely enable it in a future beta. This feature involves the user taking a hearing test or uploading an audiogram from an audiologist, and the results will be used to enable the hearing aid feature for those with mild to moderate hearing loss.

After taking the hearing test, users will have the option to turn on the Hearing Aid feature if needed. This feature adjusts the sounds around the user to compensate for tones and frequencies that cannot be heard. Apple has already received FDA clearance for the AirPods Pro 2 to be used as an over-the-counter hearing aid, and the feature is expected to roll out this fall, possibly as a future update to iOS 18.1.

iOS 18.1 beta update adds new selfie option to camera control button

In the fifth beta of iOS 18.1, Apple added a small improvement to the new camera control button on all iPhone 16 models. This update allows users to access the front camera (selfie camera) without having to interact with the phone screen directly.

To access the selfie camera, users can now open the camera app by pressing the camera control button, then use the swipe gesture on the button to cycle through the different lenses. A person icon appears at the top of the list to switch to the front camera. This new feature makes it easier to access all available lens options, including the selfie camera, improving the user experience of taking selfies quickly and easily.

Latest iOS 18.1 beta adds Control Center reset option, new connectivity options

In the fifth beta of iOS 18.1, Apple has made some changes to the customizable Control Center, in preparation for its October launch. These updates include adding a new option in Control Center settings that allows users to easily revert to the default setting, providing a quick fix if the user makes complex and confusing changes.

Additionally, Apple has added separate controls for Wi-Fi and VPN connections to the Control Center. In previous versions, these options were combined into a single connection button, but now they can be added separately to the Control Center. It’s worth noting that most of the connection options can now be added individually, including Airplane Mode, Mobile Data, Personal Hotspot, Bluetooth, Wi-Fi, and VPN, with the exception of AirDrop and satellite connections.

Video: Removing the “Revolutionary” iPhone 16 Battery

iFixit has released a teardown video of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, with a particular focus on the new and innovative battery removal process on the standard iPhone 16. The batteries feature a new type of adhesive that can be easily removed using a low-voltage electrical current, like a 9-volt battery.

The process involves attaching clips to a 9-volt battery, attaching the red (positive) clip to the silver strip on the iPhone’s battery, and the black (negative) clip to a screw at the bottom of the speaker unit. After about 90 seconds, the adhesive is loosened and the battery can be easily removed. iFixit has described the process as “revolutionary” and gave the iPhone a repairability score of 7 out of 10, meaning it’s easy to disassemble and repair.

It is worth noting that this new technology is only used in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, while the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max batteries still use the old pull-up adhesive strips. The iPhone 16 Pro battery casing has also been changed to a metal casing, which increases the safety of the repair and likely contributes to improved heat dissipation.

The beautiful thing that surprised and impressed us is that the iPhone is disassembled from the back and not from the screen like before.

Some iPhone users are reporting touchscreen issues with iOS 18 update

Some iPhone users updating to iOS 18 are reporting intermittent touchscreen responsiveness issues, with some devices appearing to ignore taps and swipes. The issue affects a variety of models, including the new iPhone 16 series, as well as older devices up to the iPhone 14.

Users on the site said: Reddit Unresponsive areas on the screen, missing clicks, swipes ignored, difficulty scrolling or pressing buttons. This behavior seems to be particularly noticeable when interacting with the virtual keyboard, which can lead to typing errors.

It seems that root cause of the problem It’s an overly sensitive touch rejection algorithm in iOS 18, designed to ignore accidental touches. Since accidental contact with the edges of the display can cause the system to temporarily ignore all new touches, the thinner bezels on the new iPhone 16 models may have exacerbated the problem. Apple hasn’t commented on the matter yet, but it’s likely that the issue could be addressed in a future update if it’s indeed software-related.

Jony Ive Confirms Participation in AI Hardware Project with OpenAI

Jony Ive, Apple’s former chief design officer, has officially confirmed his involvement in an artificial intelligence hardware project with Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI. The confirmation came in a profile of the designer published by The New York Times, ending speculation that began nearly a year ago about a possible collaboration between the two high-profile figures.

The AI ​​hardware project is being funded by Aive and Emerson Collective, a company founded by Laurene Powell Jobs. The project could reportedly raise as much as $10 billion by the end of the year, indicating significant investor interest. Although the project is still in its early stages with just XNUMX employees currently, the team includes prominent former Apple designers Tang Tan and Evans Hanke.

The collaboration between Ive and Altman grew out of discussions about the potential of generative AI to enable new kinds of computers. While specific product details and a launch date have yet to be announced, the team has already established a significant presence in San Francisco, operating out of a 32,000-square-foot office building. The new venture is Ive’s most significant technology project since leaving Apple in 2019.

iPhone 16 Pro teardown video reveals metal-enclosed battery and other details

REWA Technology YouTube channel has posted a teardown video of the iPhone 16 Pro, offering a first look inside the device after its launch. The video revealed several interesting points:

1. The smaller iPhone 16 Pro has been confirmed to feature a metal-enclosed battery, confirming a rumor from last year. The battery capacity is 3,582 mAh, which matches the number that appeared in a Brazilian regulatory document earlier this week.

2. Although Apple has announced the use of an adhesive that can be easily removed using a low-voltage electrical current in some iPhone 16 batteries, this change appears to be limited to the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

3. The video showed that the iPhone 16 Pro body has a larger thermal plate compared to the iPhone 15 Pro, which contributes to improved heat dissipation.

4. The iPhone 16 Pro has also been revealed to feature a tighter motherboard compared to the one in the iPhone 15 Pro, along with some other changes.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple has released the second public beta of iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, and macOS Sequoia 15.1, allowing non-developers to test the update ahead of its October launch.

◉ Apple has stopped signing iOS 17.6.1 and iPadOS 17.6.1 for all devices except the latest generation iPad Pro models with the M4 chip, so you can't downgrade.

◉ Apple has been developing its own 5G modem since 2018, but the first version may lack mmWave support, meaning it will continue to rely on Qualcomm to provide 5G modems for mmWave-enabled iPhones. Apple is expected to launch two new modems in 2025, one for the iPhone SE and another for the ultra-thin iPhone 17. mmWave technology provides super-fast speeds over short distances, while sub-6GHz technology provides wider coverage at slower speeds. Apple is looking to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm after extending its supply agreement through 2026, and it acquired a large portion of Intel’s modem business in 2019.

◉ According to a DigiTimes report, Apple’s in-house Wi-Fi chip could appear in devices as early as next year. Some new iPad models due in 2025 are expected to feature the chip, though there’s a chance the chip could debut in the iPhone 18 series in 2026. Apple has been working on its own Wi-Fi chip since 2021, which would allow it to reduce its reliance on current vendor Broadcom. All iPhone 16 models support Wi-Fi 7, which offers speeds up to 4x faster than Wi-Fi 6E. Apple is also expected to launch its first devices with a 5G chip of its own design next year, including the new iPhone SE and iPhone 17 Air.

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