News on the sidelines week 18 - 24 October

Many iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro users are complaining of abnormal and unjustified battery drain after the iOS 18 update, Apple's generative AI technology is more than two years behind its competitors, iOS 18.1 update will be released next week, Qualcomm announces the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and describes it as the fastest mobile processor in the world, Apple is working on a new application dedicated to games in the iOS system, an iPhone fall causes a woman to be trapped upside down on rocks for hours, and other exciting news in On the sidelines...

Apple is preparing to launch the fourth-generation iPhone SE in 2025

According to supply chain expert Ming-Chi Kuo, Apple and its suppliers will begin mass production of the fourth-generation iPhone SE in December, with around 8.6 million units expected to be produced in the first quarter of next year. The phone is scheduled to launch in the first half of 2025, most likely in March or April.

The new iPhone will come with a design similar to the basic iPhone 14, with a set of advanced features including a 6.1-inch OLED screen, Face ID technology, a newer processor, a USB-C port, a 48-megapixel rear camera, and 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence features. It will also be the first phone to use a 5G modem designed by Apple itself.

Report reveals the possibility of stopping production of Apple Vision Pro glasses by the end of 2024

According to a report from The Information, Apple has abruptly cut production of the Vision Pro headset, potentially discontinuing the current version entirely by the end of 2024. The production cut began in early summer, suggesting the company has enough inventory to meet expected demand through next year. Enough components have been produced for between 500 and 600 units, with tens of thousands of undelivered parts sitting in warehouses.

The report also suggests that Apple has put work on the second-generation Vision Pro on hold for at least a year to focus on developing a lower-cost headset, asking suppliers to prepare to produce 4 million units of the lower-cost headset over the life of the future product. However, the company may release a gradual update to the current product with limited design changes, such as a processor upgrade, which would allow it to use surplus components in the supply chain.

The new iPad mini 7 is available for immediate purchase and pickup at Apple stores

Apple has announced that the seventh-generation iPad mini is now available for immediate purchase and pickup in its stores. The new device comes with the A17 Pro processor and supports Apple Intelligence features coming with the iPadOS 18.1 update. The device starts at $499 for the base 128GB version (double the previous capacity), with 256GB and 512GB options available, and is available in four colors: blue, purple, space gray, and gray.

The new iPad mini features a thin-edged design, a USB-C port with twice the speed for wired connectivity, and support for the new Apple Pencil Pro. The 12-megapixel rear camera has been improved to support Smart HDR 4 and the ability to scan documents using artificial intelligence. The device supports 5G networks, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3, with the reliance on eSIM only globally. Note that the versions sold in Europe do not include a power adapter in the box, while the versions sold in the United States do.

iPad mini 7 supports wireless restore using other iOS devices

The new iPad mini 7 reportedly supports Apple's wireless restore feature introduced in iOS 18, which was originally designed for the iPhone 16. This feature allows you to restore a dead device by placing it next to another iPhone or iPad, where the second device downloads the operating system and transfers it wirelessly to the dead device, without the need to connect it to a computer.

According to 9to5Mac, the operating system installed on the iPad mini 7, which is powered by the A17 Pro processor, includes the same RecoveryOS partition as the iPhone 16, which negates the previous theory that this feature was exclusive to the A18 processor in the iPhone 16. It is still unclear whether Apple intends to add this functionality to other iPhones or iPads via a software update.

iPhone Drop Traps Woman Upside Down Between Rocks for Hours

An Australian woman named Matilda Campbell, 23, was exposed to a dangerous situation when she became stuck upside down between two large rocks in the Hunter Valley, New South Wales, while trying to retrieve her iPhone, which she dropped while taking pictures. Campbell slipped three metres and got her feet stuck between the rocks, requiring a complex rescue operation.

It took rescuers an hour to arrive, and they needed additional hours to free her, having to remove seven rocks weighing between 80 and 500 kilograms, and build a wooden frame to protect against any potential landslides. Campbell was trapped for about seven hours, suffering scratches, bruises and a fractured vertebra, and was ultimately unable to retrieve her iPhone.

Apple is working on a new app dedicated to games in iOS

According to a report from 9to5Mac, Apple is developing a new App Store-style app for games that will combine game content from the App Store, Apple Arcade, and Game Center into one place. The app will include an Instant Play tab with game content suggestions, and a Game Center tab to track your game progress and see what games your friends are playing.

The new app is expected to offer both Apple Arcade and App Store games, while promoting gaming events and detailing important updates. It could also include FaceTime and Messages integration for remote gaming with friends, as well as mini game demos via App Clips. A launch date for the gaming app has yet to be revealed.

Apple to launch Macs with M4 processor next week

Apple is set to launch the first Macs with M4 processors next week, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. Gurman notes that the company is set to have a busy week, starting with the Apple Intelligence launch on Monday, followed by the M4 Mac launch, and ending with the earnings announcement on Thursday. He also notes that Apple is inviting journalists and content creators to a live demo in Los Angeles next Wednesday.

Upcoming announcements are expected to include: a 14-inch MacBook Pro with the base M4 chip, 14- and 16-inch versions with M4 Pro and M4 Max chips, an updated iMac with M4, a new Mac mini with a smaller Apple TV-like design with two front-facing USB-C ports, and USB-C versions of the Magic Mouse, Magic Trackpad, and Magic Keyboard accessories. However, the M4 devices may not reach customers until November, even if they are announced next week.

Qualcomm announces Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, describes it as the world's fastest mobile processor

Qualcomm has announced the Snapdragon 8 Elite mobile platform, featuring the company’s custom-designed Oryon processor. Qualcomm claims the new processor is the “world’s fastest mobile processor,” even outperforming the A18 Pro used in the iPhone 16 Pro series. The processor is manufactured on a 3nm process, and features eight cores, including two primary cores and six performance cores, with the ability to reach a maximum speed of 4.32GHz.

The processor comes with a built-in AI engine designed specifically for generative AI, and supports better understanding of voice, text, and images. The processor also outperforms the previous generation by 45% in CPU performance and 44% in power efficiency. The processor includes the Snapdragon X80 modem for 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 7 support, and will be used in Android devices from companies such as Google, Samsung, OnePlus, Xiaomi, and others.

WhatsApp Adds New Chat Widget and Camera Updates on iOS

Messaging app WhatsApp has rolled out a new update for iPhone, which includes a new home screen widget for chats. Users can add the widget via the editing interface, with the option to display recent chats, favorites, pinned chats, or most-connected contacts for quick access.

The update also added support for zooming in and out of the built-in camera with a range of 0.5x to 3x, and the ability to mention other users in the status via the @ button in the text editor. The company indicated that these updates will gradually reach users over the coming weeks.

iOS 18.1 update fixes random reboot issue on iPhone 16

The new iOS 18.1 update, along with Apple Intelligence features, includes several bug fixes, including addressing a pesky issue that was causing some iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro models to randomly restart. Reports last week indicated that affected users were experiencing unresponsive screens or slow touch response, then the phone would reboot itself, with some users experiencing between 10 and 20 crashes per day.

The update also addresses other issues, including a problem with the Podcasts app that caused unplayed episodes to be marked as playing, a stuttering or overheating issue when browsing 4K videos at 60fps in the Photos app, and a bug that could cause digital car keys to not work after restoring a backup or transferring from another iPhone.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple has released a new firmware update for the original AirPods Pro, AirPods 2, AirPods 3, and the Lightning version of AirPods Max.

◉ Apple has released the Apple Seeds iOS 18.1, iPadOS 18.1, watchOS 11.1, macOS Sequoia 15.1, VisionOS 2.1, and tvOS 18.1 public and developer betas.

◉ Apple CEO Tim Cook admitted in an interview with the Wall Street Journal that the Vision Pro glasses are not a mass product due to their high price of $3,500, explaining that they are aimed at users who are eager to experience future technology early. Research firm IDC expects sales of less than 500 units this year. Cook also spoke about Apple’s approach to innovation, stressing that the company does not seek to be the first, but the best, and that it prefers to spend more time improving the product to reach the highest levels of quality.

◉ Apple announced that the iOS 18.1 update will be released next week, which will add advanced hearing health features to AirPods Pro 2, in addition to the first set of Apple Intelligence features. The update includes three main hearing features: Hearing Protection, Hearing Test, and Hearing Assist functions. The new features, which have received FDA approval, allow users to take a hearing test directly from iPhone, automatically switch the headphones to hearing aids if needed, while enhancing specific sounds in real time, in addition to continuous monitoring of the surrounding environment to protect hearing.

◉ Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman revealed that some Apple employees believe the company’s generative AI technology is more than two years behind its main competitors. According to internal studies, OpenAI’s ChatGPT outperforms the new Siri by 25% in accuracy and can answer 30% more questions. Despite this lag, Apple has the unique advantage of having an integrated ecosystem of devices, allowing it to quickly deploy new technologies. The company plans to roll out Apple Intelligence features to most of its devices by early 2026, with a partnership with OpenAI to integrate ChatGPT into its operating systems.

◉ Analyst Jeff Pu has revealed his predictions for the iPhone 17 Pro nearly a year before its launch. According to a research note from Haitong International Investment Bank, both the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will come with a 48MP telephoto rear camera and a 24MP front camera, with RAM increased to 12GB. He also expects the Dynamic Island on the Pro Max model to be reduced in size thanks to the use of a smaller metal lens for the Face ID system. The phones are expected to be announced in September 2025, alongside the regular iPhone 17 and a new, slimmer version called the “iPhone 17 Air.”

◉ Many iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro users are complaining about abnormal and unexplained battery drain on their phones after the iOS 18 update. The drain occurs even when the phone is not in use, with some users reporting that the battery has dropped from 100% to 60% in the middle of the day without heavy usage. The problem is especially noticeable in Night Standby mode, with apps running excessively in the background. Users have tried various solutions such as turning off the Always-On Display feature and restricting the screen refresh rate, but the problem persists for many. It appears to be a software bug that Apple needs to address in a future iOS 18 update.

◉ Apple is working on adding new AI features to its operating systems, as MacRumors discovered hints in the code to integrate ChatGPT with Siri. Users will be able to generate text and images via ChatGPT, and Siri will automatically forward complex queries to ChatGPT for more advanced answers. The company will also add a Visual Intelligence feature to the iPhone 16, which allows users to point the camera at objects to get information about them. The iOS 18.1 update is expected to be released on October 28, while the iOS 18.2 update that includes ChatGPT features will arrive in December, with confirmation that ChatGPT requests will not be stored and users’ IP addresses will be hidden.

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