News on the sidelines week 7 - 13 February

The story of Elon Musk's acquisition of OpenAI and the company's CEO's response to him, Siri saves a man who had a stroke, Apple resumes ads on X, a problem with the sound of the Apple 10 headphones, the Apple and DeepSec partnership, a test between the S25 and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, a budget Pixel phone without a rear camera plateau, the iPhone SE 4 in a few days, and other exciting news in On the Sidelines...

iPhone upgrade cycles are getting shorter again

A recent study by a consumer behavior research firm shows that iPhone users are starting to replace their devices at a faster rate than before, with the data revealing that 36% of new iPhone buyers at the end of 2024 changed their phones within two years or less, compared to 31% the year before. This represents a significant shift from the previous pattern in which users tended to keep their phones for longer periods.

This change is due to several factors, including promotional offers provided by telecom companies and Apple’s launch of new artificial intelligence features in its phones. However, the analysis suggests that this trend may be driven mainly by technology enthusiasts, while regular users may prefer to wait longer periods before updating their phones, until they find a compelling reason to change.

I think this does not apply to our Arab societies, so tell us how old is the iPhone you have, and when will you upgrade to a new iPhone?

“New” iPhone SE product listing appears on French website

French electronics retailer Boulanger posted a premature product page for a “new” iPhone SE model, stating that the device was “coming soon” without providing any additional information, and displaying a clearly unrealistic price. It’s not clear whether the store received advance notice from Apple about the new iPhone SE, or if the page was created based on circulating rumors. The page appears to have been removed recently, after sparking controversy.

The new iPhone SE is expected to feature a 6.1-inch OLED display, FaceID, a USB-C port, a 48MP rear camera, and Apple's first 5G modem. It is also expected to support AI features, with an A18 processor and 8GB of RAM. Since Apple has not announced any event in 2025 yet, the new iPhone SE will likely be announced via a press release on Apple's news site.

 WhatsApp will soon allow adding Instagram links to profiles

WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow users to link their social media accounts to their WhatsApp profiles, according to what was discovered in the latest beta version of the app for iOS. The beta version reveals the addition of a dedicated section in the account settings where users can enter links to their social media accounts, as it currently supports only Instagram, with expectations of adding support for other Meta platforms such as Facebook and Threads in the official update.

Social media links will be displayed on a user’s WhatsApp profile alongside existing information like name, phone number, and the “About” section. The app will offer similar privacy options to those available for profile pictures, allowing users to control who can see links to their linked accounts. Since WhatsApp business accounts can already display social media links after completing verification, similar verification requirements are expected to be implemented before the feature is rolled out to the public, which could arrive in a few weeks.

Apple signs up with ultra-thin glass suppliers for first foldable device

Apple is rapidly moving towards developing its first foldable device, and is currently in talks with suppliers of ultra-thin glass (UTG). Chinese company Lens Technology is reportedly set to become the primary supplier of ultra-thin glass for Apple’s foldable devices, with the company expected to account for 70% of Apple’s orders, while US company Corning will provide the raw materials. Lens Technology has advanced production capabilities in strengthening glass and reducing side cracks after cutting, and has glass drilling technology.

The supplier plans to expand its ultra-thin glass production line in 2025, in preparation for Apple’s launch of its first foldable device in the second half of 2026. Apple’s design approach focuses on thinning only the central portion of the glass, allowing for greater overall thickness and improved durability. Samsung Display is expected to be the exclusive supplier of foldable displays for Apple’s first device, which could be a foldable iPhone. Several analysts and reliable sources have pointed to a possible launch in late 2026 or early 2027.

Google's upcoming budget phone completely eliminates the camera bump

According to leaked images published by Android Headlines, the upcoming Pixel 9A will feature a design that makes the camera module almost flush with the body of the phone, which is a big departure from the usual protruding bumps on modern smartphones. Although this design comes at the expense of some camera specifications, as the phone will include a 48-megapixel main camera instead of the 64-megapixel in the previous model, the company has managed to include a 5,100 mAh battery, which is the largest in Pixel history.

This development has raised questions about the future of camera bumps on the iPhone, with rumors suggesting that Apple is developing an iPhone 17 Air model that will focus more on slimness than camera capabilities. The device is expected to feature a horizontal bar design at the top of the phone, similar to the Google Pixel 9 Pro, with just one camera instead of two or three, which could indicate that the smartphone industry is moving towards getting rid of prominent camera bumps in the near future.

S25 Ultra outperforms iPhone 16 Pro Max in app download speed test

A performance test conducted by PhoneBuff revealed that the Samsung S25 Ultra outperformed the iPhone 16 Pro Max in terms of app opening and processing speed. This superiority is due to the Snapdragon 8 Elite processor and 12GB of RAM in the Samsung phone, compared to the A18 Pro processor and 8GB of RAM in the Apple phone. The test showed a clear superiority for the Galaxy in most tasks, including photo editing and video exporting, which was 25% faster than the iPhone, and even in games, which have traditionally been a strong point for Apple phones.

The S25 Ultra completed the first round of app launches in 18 minutes and 15 seconds, 16 seconds ahead of the iPhone 40 Pro Max. This impressive performance is attributed to the 15% larger cooling system in the Samsung phone, along with Android 7 and One UI 17 with additional RAM. Apple is expected to respond to this challenge with the launch of the iPhone 19 series in September, which will come with the A3 processor built on improved XNUMXnm technology, with the addition of an advanced cooling system to improve thermal performance.

Do you think this comparison is fair? Let us know in the comments.

iPhone SE 4 coming very soon

Mark Gurman tweeted that the fourth-generation iPhone SE is set to be announced “next week.” Gurman had suggested last week that the iPhone could arrive as early as this week, but he later confirmed that the exact date for the announcement is still up in the air. Additionally, Gurman revealed that Apple has some other announcements coming soon.

Apple is also expected to launch a new MacBook Air with the M4 chip “within weeks,” though the exact launch date is still unclear. Previous rumors have suggested that this could be the company’s first tech release of the year. Additionally, the next few months will likely see the launch of the M3-powered iPad Air and iPad 11, suggesting that Apple is gearing up for a series of exciting tech announcements in the coming months.

Apple Excludes DeepSec, Heads to New AI Partnership

Apple has decided not to cooperate with Chinese company DeepSec in the field of artificial intelligence, despite the latter providing an effective model with low cost and low power consumption. This decision comes in light of security concerns that have prompted some countries, including the United States, to ban the use of DeepSec technologies in government devices. Because Apple needs a local partner in China, it initially considered cooperation with Baidu but found its standards inappropriate, which prompted it to look for other alternatives.

In this context, Apple has been evaluating AI technologies developed by companies such as Alibaba, Tencent, and ByteDance, with Alibaba appearing to be the preferred choice at the moment. The two companies have already submitted a set of features to Chinese regulators for approval. Apple also announced that “Apple Intelligence” will support new languages, including Chinese, in an update coming in April, but this support may be limited outside China until the service is officially allowed to launch in the country.

Apple Watch 10 speaker volume issues

Several users on Apple Support forums and other platforms have complained of low or distorted audio volume after a period of use on the Apple Watch Series 10, even after activating the “Water Lock” feature to remove any liquids that may have entered the speaker while swimming or other water activities. This issue affects phone calls and music playback, causing inconvenience.

At this point, it is not known how widespread the issue is or whether it is caused by a hardware or software glitch. If it turns out to be a hardware issue and affects a large number of users, Apple may launch a free repair program. If it is a software issue, it is expected to be fixed in a future watchOS update. Apple has not yet made any official comment on the matter, and we will update you with any updates if the company responds.

OpenAI Rejects Elon Musk's $97.4 Billion Takeover Offer

Elon Musk on Monday made an unexpected $97.4 billion bid for OpenAI’s nonprofit arm, backed by a group of investors, but was immediately rejected by CEO Sam Altman. The offer included backing from Musk’s artificial intelligence company xAI and prominent investors Valor Equity Partners and Baron Capital, according to the Wall Street Journal. Musk co-founded OpenAI with Altman in 2015 as a nonprofit, emphasizing the need for it to return to its old approach of focusing on transparency and security. Altman quickly responded via X, saying, “No thanks, but we can buy Twitter for $9.74 billion if you want,” in a sarcastic reference to Musk’s previous $44 billion acquisition of Twitter in 2022. Musk responded with one word: “Crook.”

The offer comes amid OpenAI’s transformation from a nonprofit to a for-profit company, now valued at $157 billion. The move has sparked a feud between Musk and his former partners, including lawsuits filed by Musk accusing the company of abandoning its core principles. According to the Wall Street Journal, Altman sent a letter to employees stressing that the company’s structure prevents any one individual from taking control, describing Musk’s offer as “an attempt to weaken us as we make great progress.” Other investors backing the offer include Atreides Management, Vy Capital, 8VC, and an investment fund owned by Hollywood producer Ari Emanuel.

Apple's latest updates re-enable "Apple Intelligence" on some devices

Some users have reported that recent Apple updates have automatically re-enabled “Apple Intelligence” features, even after they disabled them in the previous update. On Monday, Apple released new updates for macOS Sequoia 15.3.1 and iOS / iPadOS 18.3.1, which includes important security fixes. However, after the update, some users noticed that devices that displayed a welcome screen after the update were more likely to have “Apple Intelligence” automatically re-enabled. Tests confirmed that this behavior occurred on a Mac mini with an M4 Pro processor, while the iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro, and iPad Pro with an M4 processor were not affected, as the feature remained disabled as it was before the update.

The main problem is that the Apple Intelligence welcome screen doesn’t include a “Set Up Later” option, forcing users to enable the feature. This raises questions about freedom of choice, especially since Apple Intelligence requires 7GB of storage space on the device. To ensure the feature remains disabled, users can check the settings in “Settings – Apple Intelligence & Siri” on iPhone and iPad, or “System Settings – Apple Intelligence & Siri” on Mac.

Miscellaneous news

◉ Apple has decided to resume advertising on its X platform after a hiatus of more than a year. Apple had stopped its advertising in November 2023 due to controversial statements made by Elon Musk, which included support for posts deemed anti-Semitic. “I told the truth,” he responded to a post saying that “Jewish communities promote hatred against white people.” The company has now returned to promoting its products, such as privacy features in the Safari browser and the “Severance” series on Apple TV+. This decision is believed to come amid political and social changes, as Apple seeks to maintain its advertising presence.

◉ Apple is developing smart robots, including humanoid and non-humanoid designs, to integrate into its smart home ecosystem. According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, these projects are still in their early experimental stages, and mass production is not expected to begin before 2028. Among the models developed by Apple so far are a lamp-like robot with realistic movements, as well as a desktop device with an iPad-like design and a robotic arm. These devices will rely primarily on Siri and artificial intelligence technologies to interact with users.

◉ Apple announced a new health study that aims to explore how its devices, including iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods, contribute to improved physical and mental health and well-being. The study seeks to understand the connections between different aspects of health, such as the impact of mental health on heart rate or the impact of sleep on physical activity. The study is being conducted in collaboration with Harvard University’s Brigham and Women’s Hospital and is available to participate in through the Apple Research app. The study focuses on multiple areas, including heart health, sleep, mental health, hearing, and movement, with the aim of providing insights that help better predict and manage health changes.

◉ Apple recently announced a new feature that allows users to transfer digital purchases from a secondary Apple account to their primary account, making it easier to manage digital content for those with multiple iCloud accounts and digital purchases. Prior to this announcement, Apple offered Family Sharing as a solution for sharing purchases between accounts, where users could change the Apple account they use to share purchases with the Family Sharing group once every 90 days. With the new feature, users can now transfer digital purchases directly between their accounts, providing greater flexibility in managing digital content.

◉ Daniel Valer, a Fort Lauderdale resident, suffered a massive stroke days before his 48th birthday, but he survived thanks to Siri. After falling in the bathroom, he spent 10 hours trying to crawl to the living room for help, but he was weak and exhausted. Unable to reach his phone, he called Siri and asked her to call his daughter, who alerted emergency services, and paramedics arrived within XNUMX minutes. Other Apple features like Fall Detection and Emergency Call have helped save lives, reinforcing the importance of technology in emergency situations.

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