OpenAI added a feature to the ChatGPT app on macOS that allows editing code directly within development environments, new Mac Studio devices support low-power mode, use a default navigation app other than Apple Maps, a prototype of Apple's foldable iPad Pro includes under-display Face ID, the iPhone 17 Pro will use an advanced cooling system for better performance, and other exciting news on the sidelines...
New HomePod with a screen enters mass production after the developer conference
Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reiterated his belief that a new HomePod with a display will enter mass production in the third quarter of 2025. Kuo is likely referring to Apple's anticipated smart home hub, which is expected to feature a square, iPad-like display that can be attached to a HomePod-like speaker dock or hung on a wall. If the timeline is accurate, the device would enter mass production after Apple's annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC) in June.
Kuo had originally predicted that the HomePod with a screen would enter mass production in the first quarter of 2025, but said manufacturing was delayed due to “software development issues,” including Apple’s AI. Last week, Apple said the more personalized version of Siri it showed off at WWDC 2024 last year was taking longer than expected, and it now expects to roll out new Siri features “next year.” It stands to reason that Apple’s smart home hub was also delayed as a result.
Apple adds an announcement about delaying Siri features to the iPhone 16 pages.
Apple has added a new statement to inform customers of the delay in the launch of its personalized Siri voice assistant. As noted by 9to5Mac, the company added the following statement to all iPhone 16 product pages on its website: “Siri’s personal contextual understanding, on-screen awareness, and in-app actions are in development and will be available in a future software update.” It also added similar notes under each delayed Siri feature on Apple’s Intelligence homepage.
Apple has previously removed references to personalized Siri from some sites on its website and recently hid an iPhone 16 Pro ad featuring actress Bella Ramsey using personalized Siri. Apple confirmed in a statement last week that it needs more time to finalize development of new Siri features, noting that it aims to begin rolling them out "next year," without providing a more precise timeframe. Personalized Siri features are expected to launch between September 2025 and March 2026 and will include contextual understanding, on-screen awareness, and deeper app control.
The thickness of the iPhone 17 Air reaches 9.5 mm at the camera area.
The report stated that the device will be approximately 6mm thick, while Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes it will be 5.5mm at its thinnest point. Today, Chinese leaker Ice Universe claimed that the phone's camera bump is 4.00mm thick, bringing the total thickness of the device to 9.5mm at its thickest point.
According to leaks, the iPhone 17 Air will feature a single rear camera on the left and a microphone and LED flash on the right, within a rectangular notch similar to the design of Google Pixel phones. Other rumors indicate that the device will come with a 6.6- to 6.7-inch display, making it larger than the iPhone 17 (6.3 inches) and smaller than the iPhone 17 Pro Max (6.9 inches). It's worth noting that Ice Universe has a history of revealing precise dimensions of iPhones before their launch, and Apple is expected to launch the new lineup in mid-September.
The iPhone 17 Pro will use an advanced cooling system for better performance.
The iPhone 17 Pro models will use vapor chamber cooling technology to improve thermal performance, according to a Chinese leaker known as Instant Digital. This technology is already common in many premium Android phones, helping prevent thermal throttling and maintain stable performance by dispersing heat across a larger surface area, a key feature in thinner, more compact devices. Instant Digital believes this technology will only appear in the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models, which are expected to be powered by Apple's A19 Pro chip, adding: "Combined with the improved thermal management of the A19 Pro chip, the devices maintain high performance under heavy load with virtually no throttling."
The leaker also downplayed rumors of changes to the iPhone 17's front, saying, "This year's upgrades are focused on the internals and back, so there likely won't be any changes on the front. The notch and bezel size will likely remain the same." Apple is planning a major redesign of the rear camera layout on the upcoming iPhone 17 Pro models, moving away from the familiar square camera bump to a distinctive aluminum camera band that spans the width of the device. The redesign extends to the new iPhone 17 Air, which will replace the Plus model in Apple's lineup. Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 17 series in September.
Widespread rumors about iOS 19 redesign
Rumors are mounting about a comprehensive redesign of the iPhone operating system this year. Three separate sources have confirmed that iOS will adopt a look similar to Apple's Vision Pro operating system, with potentially the most radical changes since iOS 7. These updates are expected to be released with iOS 19 in beta in June and to the general public in September.
Jon Prosser was the first to reveal this, revealing a new camera app design with transparent menus. Mark Gurman then confirmed these rumors, stating that the design is “loosely based on the Vision Pro software, with updates to the icons, menus, and apps.” Whether app icons will be circular instead of their current shape remains to be seen, but a simpler, more transparent look can be expected if these rumors are true. Apple will announce iOS 19 at WWDC 2025 in June.
Apple is still exploring smart glasses similar to Meta's Ray-Ban sunglasses.
According to Mark Gurman, Apple is still discussing the possibility of creating smart glasses similar to Meta's popular Ray-Ban sunglasses. In his recent newsletter, Gurman says such a product wouldn't be a full-fledged augmented reality device like the Apple Vision Pro, but would incorporate artificial intelligence, microphones, and cameras to provide a "very good user experience."
Apple initially aimed to create smart glasses that looked like regular glasses with augmented reality capabilities, but halted development of the project earlier this year. The company is reportedly conducting user studies at its offices to gauge the appeal of features and interfaces and is working on a version of visionOS that will run on the glasses, called “Atlas.” Apple’s rationale appears to be that creating smart glasses could provide a step toward developing true augmented reality glasses. Meanwhile, Apple is still “actively developing” a product that combines AirPods with cameras, which would help power AI features by gathering information about the surrounding environment.
Video shows iPhone 17 models based on “internal documents”
YouTube channel iDeviceHelp has posted a video showing models of the upcoming iPhone 17 devices, allegedly based on "internal documents." According to the leaks, Apple is planning a major redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro cameras, moving away from the familiar square camera bump to a distinctive aluminum camera band spanning the width of the device. The new design will also include an iPhone 17 Air model, which will replace the Plus model, with a 6.6-inch display and a thickness of 5.5mm at its thinnest point.
While the base iPhone 17 will retain the current camera design used in the iPhone 16 series, supply chain analyst Jeff Pu noted that the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will all feature aluminum frames, while the iPhone 17 Air will feature a titanium frame. Apple has also tested reverse wireless charging for the iPhone 17 Pro models, but there are questions about the possibility of MagSafe magnets being installed in the iPhone 17 Air given the device's extreme thinness.
Apple's foldable iPad Pro prototype includes under-display Face ID technology
According to a Weibo leaker known as "Digital Chat Station," one of Apple's early engineering prototypes features an 18.8-inch foldable display with a "metallic superstructure lens" that integrates the receiving and transmitting components for Face ID facial recognition under the display. This is the first time under-display Face ID has been mentioned in the context of Apple's foldable device plans, though rumors of the technology for future iPhones have been circulating for several years without materializing.
According to analyst firm DSCC, Apple plans to launch a foldable iPad Pro with an 18.8-inch OLED display in 2027, while analyst Ming-Chi Kuo stated that LG aims to begin mass production of 20.2-inch or 18.8-inch foldable MacBook displays in the fourth quarter of 2025. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also noted that a "huge" foldable iPad could launch in 2028, with Apple aiming to design it without a fold to look like a single piece of glass. Apple is also said to be working on a book-style foldable iPhone with a fold-free display for release late next year, which would incorporate Touch ID into a side button instead of Face ID due to internal space constraints.
Miscellaneous news
◉ The upcoming iOS 18.4 update brings a long-awaited, but geographically limited, feature to users. Only iPhone users in the European Union will be able to set a default navigation app other than Apple Maps, such as Google Maps, through Settings. Apple added this feature in compliance with the European Digital Markets Act, while US users received a simple waiver allowing them to set a default translation app. The update, which is still in testing, will be released to the public in early April, according to Apple's website.
◉ New Mac Studios with M4 Max and M3 Ultra processors support Low Power Mode, according to an updated Apple support document. Apple explains that activating this mode reduces fan noise, which is useful for tasks that require a quieter environment, and also allows for reduced power consumption when the machine is continuously running. Fan Noise Reduction requires macOS Sequoia 15.1 or later, and newer machines ship with version 15.3. Some users have indicated that this feature is also available on 2023 models with M2 Max processors, and Apple later confirmed this in the updated support document. It's worth noting that the Mac Studio still lacks a High Power Mode for additional cooling.
Apple began shipping the new Mac Studios with the M4 Max and M3 Ultra processors on Wednesday, but the higher-end model is facing delays. If you order a Mac Studio with the highest specs, such as a 3-core M32 Ultra, 512GB of RAM, and a 16TB SSD, it will cost $14,099, but it won't arrive until late March. The main reason for the delay appears to be a massive RAM upgrade. Currently, these machines are expected to arrive between March 26 and 31, two to three weeks after ordering.
◉ The European Union plans to impose a "modest" fine on Apple for non-compliance with the Digital Markets Act, as the company failed to allow developers to inform users of cheaper purchasing options outside the App Store. Although Apple has made adjustments to its policies, the European Commission was not entirely satisfied, leading to further updates. While the law allows for substantial fines, the EU's primary goal is to ensure compliance rather than financially penalize companies. A decision on the fine is expected this month, but the final amount has not yet been determined.
◉ Apple has achieved another legal victory after a federal appeals court upheld the invalidation of three patents that AliveCor allegedly infringed on the Apple Watch, overturning an International Trade Commission (ITC) ruling that could have led to an import ban. AliveCor had sued Apple in 2021 over its heart rate and electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring technologies, but a patent review board found the patents invalid. However, AliveCor expressed disappointment with the ruling and confirmed that it will continue to explore available legal options. Apple, meanwhile, remains in a separate legal battle in the United States with Masimo, which has disabled the blood oxygen measurement feature in Apple Watch models sold there.
◉ OpenAI has added a new feature to ChatGPT on macOS that allows it to edit code directly within popular development environments like Xcode, VS Code, and JetBrains tools, without the need to copy and paste between applications. The feature also offers an "Auto Apply" mode to execute edits without additional intervention. The feature is currently available to ChatGPT Plus, Pro, and Team subscribers and will be expanded to Enterprise, Education, and Free users next week. This update enhances ChatGPT's ability to compete directly with intelligent programming tools like GitHub Copilot and Apple's Swift Assist.
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I swear I wish I could file a lawsuit against Apple in Germany because it made us buy the device and mocked us and said that the iPhone 16 would have Apple’s smart system and major changes to Siri, and unfortunately I have not seen this happen.
But unfortunately in Germany you must be supported by an army of lawyers against such a giant company and they have many complaints against me.
Hi Mohammed! 🙌 I understand your frustration. Everyone was expecting major Siri updates on the iPhone 16. But, as you know, companies may face technical hurdles and development delays. 😅 Apple has already confirmed that Siri-related updates will appear in a future software update. 📲 So let's remain optimistic; the wait may be worth it! 😉
When will Apple Maps work in Arab countries?
Hello Abu Suleiman 🙋♂️, Actually, Apple hasn't yet announced when its maps will be available in Arab countries. However, it seems to be making steady progress towards continuously improving its services. Let's be optimistic and hope that this day comes soon! 😄🍏🌍
Apple's top priority is to develop smart glasses that look like regular glasses, not a head box that tilts left and right around its wearer. This is a promising area with a focus on natural user functionality. Leaks usually mean nothing except to those on the lookout for new things, and I'm not one of them. Foldability is nice, but I doubt it's significant. At least the iPhone would be great because of the ability to do without an iPad, and that's confusing for Apple. Processors are getting more ferocious, and the average user isn't concerned with such nonsense.
Hello Suleiman Muhammad 😊, I believe you're talking about Apple's augmented reality glasses, and I agree with you, as they will be a revolution in the world of technology. However, don't rush things, as technological progress takes time. As for the foldable iPhone, it's a project based on visioning the future and arousing curiosity. Also, more powerful processors provide a better user experience, even if the average user doesn't notice the difference directly. There's always something new in the world of Apple that interests us 🍏😉.