News on the margin Week 16 - 12 December

Apple is preparing to launch the third generation of HomePod with an OLED screen, Apple and Sony are working on a virtual reality gaming console for the Vision Pro. There is new news about the iPhone SE 4, and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will support texting via satellite. There is also some exciting news on the sidelines…

Apple Intelligence Launches Outside the US

Apple has announced the official launch of Apple Intelligence services in the UK, Canada and four other countries, with English language support in various regions. This expansion comes as updates are released iOS 18.2 and iPadOS 18.2 and macOS Sequoia 15.2, allowing users in Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and South Africa to take advantage of new AI features without having to set the language to US English.

New features include: writing tools And auto-reply in apps, create custom emoji, edit photos, and integrate with ChatGPT. These technologies will be limited to compatible devices such as the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max and all iPhone 16 models, as well as Macs and iPads with M processors. Apple plans to expand further in 2025 to include additional languages ​​and features such as on-screen awareness and deep control of Siri.

Apple Vision Pro Glasses Win “Innovation of the Year” Title 

Apple Vision glasses have been named a Top Innovation of 2024 by Popular Science, a clear recognition of the leap forward in augmented reality technology. Despite the challenges of a high price tag of $3,500, the magazine praised their future potential, highlighting their innovative features such as interaction using gestures, eyes, and voice commands without the need for traditional controllers. The Vision Pro glasses are an important strategic step for Apple toward the future of augmented computing, with future developments expected to make the technology more accessible and less expensive for consumers.

Teams for iPad supports external cameras

Microsoft has announced support for external cameras in Teams for iPad, taking advantage of an iPadOS 17 feature that allows external cameras to be connected via USB-C. Users can now seamlessly connect high-quality external cameras during video calls, with the app automatically selecting the external camera when connected.

The new support is easy to use as the camera can be connected before or during a meeting, with most USB-C webcams supported. It is worth noting that currently there are no built-in controls to manually switch between the internal and external camera, as the app will automatically use the connected external camera.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 will support sending text messages via satellite

Apple is reportedly preparing to add satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch 3, which is set to launch in September 2025. The feature will allow users to send text messages when cellular and Wi-Fi networks are unavailable, similar to what’s available on the iPhone 14, adding an extra layer of security for activities away from cell towers. Apple is expected to offer the service for free for two years, with the potential to better compete with companies like Garmin in the field of devices dedicated to communications outside coverage. Apple will also move from Intel chips to MediaTek technology for cellular communications, with support for 5G service dedicated to wearable devices.

New reports about the iPhone SE 4

A Korean report has revealed details of the iPhone 4 SE, which is expected to be launched in the first quarter of 2025 at a price of around $400. The phone will come with a 48-megapixel rear camera and a 12-megapixel TrueDepth front camera, with a design similar to the iPhone 14 and supports Face ID instead of a fingerprint.

The new iPhone is expected to feature other advanced specs including a 6.06-inch OLED display, USB-C port, a battery similar to the iPhone 14, and 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence features. It will also be the first device to feature an Apple 5G chip, making it a more affordable option for users.

iPad mini with OLED screen to launch in 2026

Apple plans to update its lineup with advanced OLED displays between 2026 and 2028. The iPad mini is expected to get a 60Hz OLED display in 2026 or 2027, followed by the 11- and 13-inch iPad Airs in 2027-2028. The plan also includes 14- and 16-inch MacBook Pros with 120Hz dual-layer OLED displays starting in 2026.

The update will extend to the 13.8- and 15.5-inch MacBook Air in 2028 with single-layer OLED displays, with an 18.8-inch foldable expected to launch in the same year. 

Apple and Sony are working on a virtual reality gaming console for the Vision Pro

Mark Gurman has revealed that Apple and Sony are working on integrating PlayStation VR2 controllers with the Vision Pro headset, after a collaboration that has been ongoing for several months. The partnership will allow users to use Sony’s controllers as an optional accessory, with six-axis motion support for precise control of virtual experiences that traditional PS5 and Xbox controllers lack.

Gurman expects these units to help enhance productivity and media editing tasks within visionOS, where users can navigate using a joystick and directional pad, replacing finger gestures with the power button for selection. The move comes at a time when Apple is facing challenges in rolling out the Vision Pro, with estimates suggesting fewer than 500 units have been sold since its launch in February.

The iPhone 17 Air is expected to be about 2mm thinner than the iPhone 16 Pro.

Mark Gurman has revealed that Apple is preparing to launch a new version of the iPhone called “Air” in 2025 with a thickness of about 6.25 mm, which will make it the thinnest iPhone. This slim design comes thanks to Apple’s 5G chip, which is smaller than Qualcomm’s chip, allowing for space inside the phone without sacrificing battery life or camera quality.

The iPhone 17 Air is expected to come with a 6.6-inch display and a single-lens rear camera, and will be one of three devices to get Apple's 5G chip in 2025. This development opens up future prospects for the company, with the possibility of developing a foldable iPhone and the possibility of integrating multiple components into a single chip in the future.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple has discontinued the high-performance M4 Extreme processor for Macs, which would have consisted of four chips integrated together. This decision comes in the context of redirecting engineering resources towards developing a server processor dedicated to artificial intelligence. As such, the chances of the “M4 Extreme” processor appearing have become slim, although it was expected to provide higher performance than the upcoming M4 Ultra processor, and may include a central processor of up to 64 cores and a graphics card of up to 160 cores. Despite the current decline, the possibility of developing such a chip remains open in future versions such as the M5 series.

◉ Apple is developing a new 3nm server chip for AI in collaboration with Broadcom and TSMC, with mass production expected to begin in 2026. The new chip will feature multiple versions of Apple’s Neural Unit to provide superior AI processing performance, and is expected to support many Apple Intelligence features such as Image Playground, which will use the technology to process new data and generate outputs such as creating images based on user descriptions. Apple is relying on Broadcom’s technology to link the chips together to work in harmony and faster to process the massive amounts of data needed to run and train large language models.

◉ Apple is working on adding a blood pressure monitoring feature to the Apple Watch, which is expected to be ready by 2025. The feature will not provide accurate measurements of systolic and diastolic pressure, but will track the general trend of blood pressure and send an alert when it detects high blood pressure. This innovation is important because high blood pressure is considered a “silent killer” that can cause heart damage without obvious symptoms. The feature is targeted for inclusion in the Apple Watch 3 Ultra, with support likely to expand to the standard models in 2025. Despite previous delays and accuracy challenges, Apple continues to work on this promising health monitoring technology.

◉ According to a report by Omdia Research, Apple plans to remove the notch from the MacBook Pro by 2026, replacing it with a small hole-punch camera at the top of the screen. This change is likely to increase the pixel display area and improve the overall appearance of the screen. This update will be accompanied by a shift to OLED displays that will offer higher brightness, better contrast ratio, and improved energy efficiency, in the first redesign of the device since 2021.

◉ A Korean report revealed that Apple is preparing to launch the third generation of HomePod with an OLED screen measuring between 6 and 7 inches. This move comes after repeated rumors since 2021 about the possibility of adding a screen to HomePod, and analysts indicate that it will focus more on smart home functions. Initial production expectations are modest, with an estimate of around 500 units in the second half of 2025, and this development reflects Apple’s increasing focus on the smart home device market.

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