Taking a look back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop includes a new iPhone 16 Pro display, more iPhone 15 options, the awkward M3 MacBook Pro, Apple’s iPhone 14 freebie, the value of Safari’s search, and the App Store award nominations.
Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the very many discussions that have happened around Apple over the last seven days (and you can read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes).
A New Look From The iPhone 16
Apple is set to rework the OLED screen for next year’s iPhone 16 and start a new two-year cycle of the display design:
“The next iPhone series, iPhone 16, is due next fall, but reports are already leaking about what to expect. These include larger displays, which is all very well, but that could lead to greater battery drain keeping them alight. Now, a new report offers welcome news of greater power efficiency… it suggests that Samsung is working on a new OLED material specifically for next year’s iPhones.
(MacRumors via Forbes).
Apple Has Another OLED Option
Also on the OLED screen front is a new supplier for the iPhone 15. One of China’s display manufacturers, BOE, has started to supply Apple with displays for the latest iPhones, and plans to supply the iPhone 15 Pro are underway:
“BOE recently received approval to supply OLED panels for the iPhone 15 standard model (6.1 inches) and has initiated shipments. BOE is estimated to deliver approximately 2 million units by the end of the year. Approval for the iPhone 15 Plus (6.7-inch model) is also expected within the year.”
(via @Tech_Reve).
Is This MacBook Pro Really Pro?
The new 14-inch M3 MacBook Pro is not all that it appears. Not only is it down on the power of the 14-inch M3 Pro and M3 Max laptops, but Apple has also ripped out many of the valuable ports and hardware. The consumer laptop feels more like a MacBook Air with the word “Pro” scrawled under the display:
“… apart from the branding, we have two high-end “professional” laptops and one lower-specced “consumer” model… changes on the outside, such as stripping away a thunderbolt port. Inside, the M3 has been restricted to a single cooling fan, while the more powerful M3 Pro and M3 Max have two. Assuming the same M3 chip will launch next year with the MacBook Air, I expect to see a fanless Air, which will have slightly less performance than this MacBook Pro due primarily to the fan allowing the M3 to run slightly hotter and faster.
(Forbes).
More Time To Call SOS Than You Thought
The launch of the iPhone 14 saw Apple debut the ability to use satellite communications to send an SOS emergency message. This isn’t a free service, although two years of the service were bundled at no additional cost to consumers. Apple has extended the offer for another year.
“That’s just been extended by a year, so, providing you have an iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max activated before today, you now have two years’ access again. It’s also available for all iPhone 15 series models, with two years’ free trial available for those phones from the moment they are activated, too.”
(Forbes).
The Value Of Search
As the Google Anti-trust trial continues in Washington DC, more details on the various deals between Google and other companies over search are being disclosed. Apple is one of those parties which receives part of those search earnings:
“Google pays Apple Inc. 36% of the revenue it earns from search advertising made through the Safari browser, the main economics expert for the Alphabet Inc. unit said Monday.
“Kevin Murphy, a University of Chicago professor, disclosed the number during his testimony in Google’s defense at the Justice Department’s antitrust trial in Washington. John Schmidtlein, Google’s main litigator, visibly cringed when Murphy said the number, which was supposed to remain confidential.”
(Bloomberg).
And Finally…
It’s time for the annual Apple App Store Awards, and to get everyone excited (and promoting the endeavour), the nominations are out! Forbes’ David Phelan has picked out his four favourites, and I’m going to narrow it down even further to my one pick (it’s a classic) before you explore the rest!
“If you’re old enough to remember the first Monkey Island games, you’ll know the adventures of Guybrush Threepwood were brilliantly witty point-and-click stories with fiendish puzzles. [Return to Monkey Island] is a new title that continues in the same vein and looks spectacular.
(Forbes).
Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.
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