Apple is reducing the prices of iPhone 14 Pro Max in China, and the buttonless iPhone 15 Pro, while Samsung and LG are preparing for the new iPad, the reverse-charging iPhone, and rumors of the iPhone Terra and other exciting news ...
Problems with iCloud backup after updating to iOS 16.3
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Some users are facing problems with the iCloud backup feature after upgrading to iOS 16.3, as automatic backups on iCloud have been disabled and attempting to activate them results in an error message saying "An unknown error occurred, please try again later." The toggle key for "This iPhone's Backup" remains disabled.
Some users have been able to activate their iCloud backup manually despite the error message appearing. Some were able to solve the issue by enabling two-factor authentication, but this has not been successful for many others. There are also reports of backups continuing even with the error message appearing.
Apple is working on updating iOS 16.3.1 which may fix these issues, and until it is released, you can manually backup your data.
The upcoming Apple Watch X and SE3 will come with larger screens
Apple plans to launch the Apple X watch with larger screens, as well as the third generation of the Apple SE watch in 2024. According to the report, the Apple X watch will have a screen that ranges from 1.89 inches to 2.04 inches, which is 5% to 10% larger than the current Apple 8 watch.
It is worth mentioning that the name “X” has not been confirmed yet. It is also expected that the third generation of the Apple SE watch will have the same screen sizes as the Apple 8 watch. It is also expected that the upcoming Apple 9 watch will keep the same screen size as the Apple 8 watch.
As for the Apple Terra watch, it will come with a larger screen of 2.13 inches, compared to the current screen size of 1.99 inches.
Apple expands the communications security feature of the iPhone to include more countries
On the occasion of Safe Internet Day, Apple shone a light on its tools and programs aimed at protecting children on the internet, including screen time and communication safety.
Communication safety is a feature that can be subscribed to in the Messages app, which warns children when receiving or sending pictures that contain nudity. Apple indicated that it is expanding the feature to include more areas around the world with the help of local experts.
The feature recently became available in France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, after it was previously launched in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
When the feature is enabled, pictures containing nudity are blurred, and the child is warned and given the option to send a message to someone for help if they choose to.
Apple promises that communication safety is private and secure, as it analyzes image attachments and determines if the picture contains nudity while maintaining end-to-end encryption of messages. This has no relation to Apple's previous plans to detect child sexual abuse material, which have been abandoned.
A concept of the iPhone Ultra
The German industrial designer, Jonas Daehnert, came up with a concept for an iPhone Altra that is rumored to come along with the iPhone Pro and Pro Max. Daehnert merged elements from the Apple Watch with the iPhone Pro to come up with this concept.
The design features a titanium structure with rounded edges and a flat upper edge that fits seamlessly with the screen, similar to the sturdiest Apple Watch. It also includes prominent side buttons, volume up/down buttons, a mute key, another customizable button on the lower left side, and a USB-C port.
The designer acknowledged that he has no knowledge of any leaks and that this concept was just to see if it would be possible to apply the Apple Watch design to the iPhone.
It is said that Apple is planning to launch a new iPhone that is initially referred to as the Altra. It is expected to be part of the iPhone 16 or newer line.
According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the iPhone Altra could be released by the next year at the earliest estimate and may feature additional camera improvements, a faster processor, a larger screen, and perhaps a portless design. It is expected to be more expensive than the Pro version. In addition to that, rumors suggest that the iPhone Pro 15 models may feature smoother curves and a frame made of titanium, which is lighter and more durable than stainless steel.
Apple holds its annual AI Employee Summit at the Steve Jobs Theater
Apple is holding its annual artificial intelligence summit for employees this week, which will be held at the Steve Jobs theater in Apple's headquarters. This will be the first in-person event since the COVID-19 pandemic.
The summit resembles the Worldwide Developers Conference and will be live-streamed for employees who are unable to attend in person. There have been speculations about whether this AI summit signals a return to traditional live events rather than pre-recorded ones.
It seems that the time is ripe for AI technologies and Apple is jumping on board, following the emergence of ChatGPT and Bard AI conversational robots and their integration into Bing and Google search engines, which will bring a new revolution in the way users access information and find answers to their questions. With the integration of AI, search engines will be able to provide more interactive and natural results.
In addition to that, AI is also making progress in many other industries and fields, and we can expect to see more innovative uses of AI in the near future.
Apple is working to allow the iPhone to charge accessories wirelessly
Apple is continuing to develop its reverse wireless charging feature, which allows an iPhone to charge other devices such as AirPods, known as advanced dual wireless charging technology for future iPhone devices. Apple was planning to launch this new technology in the iPhone 14 Pro, but it was not completed in time.
There are no specific details about the launch date of this feature, as it may be delayed or canceled entirely. Rumors about reverse wireless charging have been circulating for years, but they have not yet come to fruition, despite this technology being available in Samsung phones for years.
Samsung and LG are preparing to manufacture OLED screens for the upcoming iPad Pro
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Both Samsung and LG are preparing their factories to produce large quantities of iPad devices equipped with OLED screens. The new screens are described as "hybrid" because they use a mixture of flexible and rigid OLED technologies. Display analyst Ross Young and supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expect new 13-inch MacBook Air and 11.1-inch and 13-inch iPad Pro models with OLED screens to be released in 2024.
All current iPad and MacBook devices are equipped with LCD screens with backlighting, while OLED screens have self-lit pixel units and do not require backlighting, leading to higher contrast and greater color accuracy, and lower power consumption.
iPhone 15 Pro without buttons
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It seems there is a growing consensus among analysts that the iPhone 15 Pro models will come with buttons with haptic feedback, similar to the Home button in the iPhone 7. This change will result in the total number of Taptic engines in each iPhone being raised to three.
Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was the first to report this news. Analysts Barclay and Jeff Pu agreed with him, which reinforces this rumor.
Google is working on a browser for iOS that might break Apple's App Store rules
Developers at Google are working on a Chromium browser for iOS, which uses the Google Blink engine instead of WebKit. This is an attempt to bypass or break the restrictions imposed by Apple, as the App Store currently requires the use of WebKit, making other browsers like Chrome and Edge use WebKit on iOS and work like Safari.
The experimental browser is still in its early stages of development and lacks some of the main features, and Google has stated that it is only for internal testing purposes and will not be available to users. They also stated that they will continue to comply with Apple's policies.
However, this step by Google can be considered a sign of changes to come in Apple's regulations and conditions, and Google is trying to be one step ahead by developing the Blink browser for iOS in the future if allowed.
Other News
✔️ Apple has released a updated firmware for the MagSafe Duo charger designed to work with compatible Apple Watch and iPhone models with MagSafe. This is the first time Apple has updated the firmware for the MagSafe Duo and it is not clear what is new in this update.
✔️ Analyst Ross Young says that Apple's first microLED screen watch will be released in 2025.
✔️ Apple has updated its website design on desktop and mobile devices, making it easier to find individual product pages and other helpful links.
✔️ Apple has released tvOS 16.3.1 and HomePod 16.3.1 updates, two weeks after the release of tvOS 16.3 and HomePod 16.3. The updates include general improvements in performance and stability.
✔️ Microsoft has discontinued its Authenticator app on the Apple Watch, and discontinuing apps on the Apple Watch is a common occurrence, as many third-party watchOS apps have been discontinued due to low usage or duplication. Alternatives to the Authenticator app like 2Stable and Authy by Twilio can be used instead.
✔️ Apple has lowered the prices of the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max in China due to a decrease in demand. The largest stores have reduced the prices by 600 to 800 yuan (118 dollars).
✔️ Apple will not release the updated version of the AirPods Max until at least the second half of next year, and it may be postponed until the first half of 2025, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.