News on the sidelines week 4 - 10 October

Two scammers arrested for defrauding Apple out of over $2.5 million, iOS 18.1 to be released on October 28,Tim Cook The president is selling more than $50 million worth of stock, a rare 1983 Apple Macintosh prototype could break auction records, Google Lens now supports video search and voice input, the Apple Watch detects illness before symptoms appear, and other exciting news in the margins…

iPhone 16 demand drops among teens

New survey data from Piper Sandler shows that Apple’s dominance of the US teen market remains strong, with 87% of teens owning an iPhone and 88% expecting their next smartphone to be an iPhone as well. However, there was a slight decline in the number of teens planning to upgrade to the iPhone 16, with just 22% reporting they plan to upgrade this fall or winter, compared to 23% last year and 24% in 2022.

Despite the decline, it appears that Apple’s upcoming AI features could be driving future purchases, with 30% of teens saying they plan to upgrade because of Apple Intelligence. Other Apple products also continue to be popular, with 70% of respondents owning AirPods, and more than 30% owning iPads and Apple Watches, while Apple TV+ and Apple Music saw mixed results in usage among teens.

iPad Pro shipment forecast down on weak OLED demand

The new iPad Pros with M4 processor and OLED displays have been facing weaker-than-expected demand since their launch in Q10. According to a report by Display Supply Chain Consultants (DSCC), shipment forecasts have been cut from 6.7 million units to just 2024 million units in XNUMX. DSCC’s Ross Young expects shipments of both models to decline sharply in the third and fourth quarters.

This is due to several factors, most notably the high price tag, which starts at $999 for the 11.1-inch model and $1,299 for the 13-inch model. Despite the new M4 processor and advanced display technology, these features may not be enough to motivate consumers to upgrade their current devices. The limitations of iPadOS could also be a factor affecting sales.

The situation raises questions about the viability of OLED technology in maintaining Apple’s high pricing on tablets. Weak sales could delay the launch of an OLED version of the iPad Air, which was planned for 2026, by more than a year. Still, Young remains optimistic about the future of OLED in the MacBook lineup, expecting stronger demand for laptops with OLED displays than for tablets.

MacBook Pro M4 Leaked for Sale on Russian Classifieds Site

In an unprecedented development, the yet-to-be-announced MacBook Pro with the M4 processor has appeared for sale on the website Avito Russian Classifieds. This development comes after videos recently appeared on Russian YouTube channels showing what appears to be an unannounced laptop model. According to reports, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the new M4 processor, 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, was shown in a new Space Black color.

The device was listed for around 720,000 Russian rubles ($7,500), which is significantly higher than current MacBook Pro models. Multiple units of the unannounced device appear to be on sale, suggesting a batch was stolen from a Chinese warehouse and somehow made its way to Russia. The listings were later removed from the platform, which bans the sale of “non-existent” products.

The leak coincides with rumors about Apple's plans for its Mac lineup, with Mark Gurman suggesting that Macs with M4 processors could be available in late October, with a potential release date of November 1. If true, the leak would represent a major breach of Apple's typically strict security measures, with the last leak of this magnitude being in 2010 when an iPhone 4 prototype was left behind in a California bar.

iFixit Launches New USB Tool to Remove iPhone 16 Battery

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus batteries use an innovative type of adhesive that can be disassembled using a low-voltage electrical current. While Apple’s official repair guide recommends using a 9-volt battery with alligator clips for the process, repair site iFixit has launched a new USB-powered tool as an alternative. The new tool, called the VoltClip, is available for $10.95 on iFixit’s online store in the US.

The tool consists of alligator clips with a built-in USB-C adapter, and can be connected to any USB-C charger or device that supports 9V or 12V output using a USB-C cable. The adhesive removal process takes about 60 to 90 seconds, but it should be noted that this process does not apply to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max batteries, which still use a retractable adhesive that often breaks during retraction.

Apple Announces Latest iPod Nano and iPod Shuffle Models Are Obsolete

Apple has added the final models of these devices to its global legacy product lineup, bringing an end to the era of these devices and bringing the curtain down on them forever. Apple introduced new color options for the seventh-generation iPod nano and fourth-generation iPod shuffle in 2015, before discontinuing both devices entirely in 2017. Apple considers a device “vintage” after it has been out of distribution for seven years, meaning it is no longer eligible for repair at Apple Stores or authorized service centers.

Additionally, Apple added the iPhone 6 to its list of vintage products, after declaring the larger iPhone 6 Plus as a vintage product in April. It also added the 2017 12-inch MacBook and the sixth-generation iPad to its list of “classic” products. Apple considers a device a “classic” after it has been out of circulation for five years, and it may offer repairs for a classic product, but only if parts are still available.

MacBook Pro with M4 processor may support dual external displays

Recent leaks suggest that the upcoming 14-inch MacBook Pro with the M4 processor could be able to support up to two external displays with the lid open, compared to just one on the current M3 model. This potential change comes with an increase in the number of Thunderbolt ports from two to three Thunderbolt 4 ports, bringing the base model’s capabilities closer to the more powerful MacBook Pro models.

Currently, the M3 Pro supports two external 6K displays at 60Hz via Thunderbolt, or one 6K display and one 4K display at 144Hz via HDMI. The M3 Max supports up to four external displays in various configurations, including three 6K displays and an additional 4K display, or two 6K displays and an 8K display.

Apple is expected to announce new iMacs, Mac minis, and MacBook Pros with M4 processors in late October, with some of those machines potentially launching on November 1. Exact specs for the base 14-inch MacBook Pro with M4 will be revealed before the end of the month.

iFixit team reveals Apple Watch 10 teardown

Repair site iFixit has taken apart the 10mm Apple Watch Series 46, giving us a look at the internals of the thinnest Apple Watch yet. Apple used a closed case for the Apple Watch Series 10, allowing for a slimmer design without compromising the sensor lens assembly. The watch houses a 327mAh (1.266Wh) battery inside a soft case, and uses a traditional adhesive unlike the changes in the iPhone 16.

iFixit didn't notice a noticeable difference between the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Series 10 screens, though Apple has modified the Apple Watch Series 10's display to allow for wider viewing angles. The site gave the Apple Watch Series 10 a 3 out of 10 repairability score due to the battery being difficult to access and the glass on the bottom of the watch being difficult to replace, making it difficult to repair.

Apple Adds 9 New Features to iCloud

Apple has updated its website. iCloud.com Its own, which allows users to access iCloud apps and settings from any web browser. The update now supports dark mode that matches the color scheme of the Mac, as well as a customizable home page where users can choose different background colors. It also added support for pinning notes, improved navigation in the Photos app, and a shared view of iCloud Drive.

Other new features include an updated Calendar app design with support for the Hijri calendar, the ability to edit the date, time, and location of photos from the Dashboard, and the option to view an album in the Photos panel on the iCloud.com home page. Additionally, new lists can now be created and recurring reminders can be completed in the Reminders app. All of these new options are now available to all users.

Apple Watch Users Report Vitals App Detects Disease Before Symptoms Appear

Some Apple Watch users have reported that the new Vitals app for watchOS 11 can detect potential illnesses days before symptoms appear. The app analyzes key health metrics taken during sleep over the past seven days, and provides early warnings for some users. The app is available on Apple Watch Series 8 and later, including the Apple Watch Ultra, as long as they’re running watchOS 11.

One Reddit user shared his experience with the new feature, saying, “I started using Vitals when it came out in beta, and since then I’ve gotten sick twice. Both times, the app knew two days before I felt anything wrong.” Vitals data can be viewed on Apple Watch in the Vitals app or in the Vitals section of the Health app on iPhone, showing metrics like heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen levels.

Google Lenses Now Supports Video Search and Voice Input

Google has announced new updates to its Google Lens search feature available in the Google app for iOS. The updates include the ability to ask questions about videos to get information about moving objects, where users can take a short video and ask a voice question to get details. Google has also added support for asking voice questions when taking a photo with Lenses, and improved search results for visually similar images for shopping purposes.

Rare 1983 Apple Macintosh prototype could break auction records

A rare prototype of the Apple Macintosh from 1983 is expected to sell for more than $0001 at auction at Bonhams in New York. The model, model M1983, is one of the few remaining pre-production units from 5.25. The version originally used a XNUMX-inch floppy disk drive, but it proved so unreliable that Steve Jobs ordered the remaining units destroyed before the final commercial release.

This prototype is in very good condition and comes with several other early accessories, including a keyboard with a handwritten serial number, an early version of the Apple M01000 mouse with a unique connector, and a Twiggy dual-density floppy disk labeled “Mac Word.” The prototype software adds further interest, running early, incomplete versions of key Macintosh applications, and some system notices and instructions attributed to Steve Jobs himself.

The final sale price at Bonhams is expected to reach between $2019 and $150,075. Given the rarity of the Twiggy Macintosh prototypes and the historical interest surrounding early Apple products, the final sale price could exceed expectations and become one of the most expensive Apple computers ever sold. It is worth noting that a similar fully working Twiggy sold at auction in 13 and achieved a record price of $23. The auction is scheduled for October XNUMX-XNUMX.

Tim Cook CEO Sells Over $50 Million Worth of Stock

A filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission revealed that Apple CEO Tim Cook sold 223,986 shares of the company’s stock, netting him a total of $50,276,076 million. Cook was originally awarded the shares as part of a performance-related bonus based on Apple’s shareholder return relative to other companies in the S&P 500, and he typically sells shares in October.

Earlier this week, Cook was granted an additional 219,502 Apple shares. 54,876 shares will vest in three equal installments in April 2027, 2028 and 2029. The remaining 164,626 shares are performance-related and will vest on October 1, 2027. Depending on Apple’s performance between fiscal 2025 and fiscal 2027, he could vest between 0 percent and 200 percent of the target number of shares.

As of early 2024, Cook owned more than three million shares of Apple stock, plus 1.3 million unrestricted restricted stock units. Cook's unsold shares are worth more than $500 million, and stock awards make up the bulk of his total compensation. In 2023, Cook's base salary was $3 million, but he also received $47 million in stock awards, $10.7 million in performance-related bonuses, and $2.5 million in other compensation.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple has released the sixth beta of macOS Sequoia 15.1, iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, VisionOS 2.1, watchOS 11.1, and tvOS 18.1 to developers.

◉ Apple is set to release iOS 18.1 with the first set of Apple intelligence features on October 28, according to Mark Gurman. The update includes improved writing tools for paraphrasing, summarizing, and proofreading, a new Siri user interface, notification summaries for apps like Messages and Mail, and a new “clean up” tool in the Photos app to remove unwanted elements using generative AI. More advanced Apple intelligence features are expected to roll out in later updates, including support for ChatGPT, Image Playground, and Genmoji in iOS 18.2 in December, and a complete redesign of Siri in early 2025.

◉ A jury in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas decided Friday that the Secure Enclave system, which includes Face ID and Touch ID, built into Apple’s latest devices does not infringe four identity verification patents owned by Identity Security LLC. Apple introduced the Secure Enclave system in 2013 with the iPhone 5s, and it’s now used in all iPhones, iPads, Macs, Apple TVs, Apple Watch and HomePods. Identity Security LLC sued Apple in 2021 for patent infringement, and it’s not yet clear whether the company plans to appeal the jury’s verdict.

◉ WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that lets users tag other people in status updates, enhancing functionality similar to Instagram Stories. The feature allows up to five other WhatsApp accounts to be mentioned in status updates, with a special notification for those mentioned and the option to reshare the status. WhatsApp is also introducing a “like” feature for status updates, allowing users to quickly interact with their friends’ posts. These updates come after WhatsApp announced new effects for video calls, including filters and custom backgrounds. Both the mention in status feature and the new effects for video calls will be rolled out to all WhatsApp users globally in the coming weeks.

◉ Two Chinese nationals in Maryland have been sentenced to more than four years in prison for defrauding Apple. Haotian Sun and Pengfei Zhui ran a fraudulent scheme in which they sent fake iPhones in exchange for genuine ones, costing Apple more than $2.5 million. Sun will serve 57 months in prison, while Zhui will serve 54 months, plus three years of supervised release and fines.

The scam ran from May 2017 to September 2019, with the defendants receiving shipments of counterfeit iPhones from Hong Kong and using fake serial numbers and IMEI numbers to return them to Apple stores and authorized service providers. More than 6000 iPhones were delivered to Apple during that period, causing an actual loss of more than $2.5 million, with an intent to cause an estimated loss of approximately $3.8 million. The defendants were convicted in February of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, charges that carry a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.

Mail fraud is a form of financial crime in which mail or shipping services are used to carry out a fraud.

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