Disappointing iPhone 15 Pro leak, Apple’s hidden Bitcoin file, MacBook Pro delayed
Looking back at another week of news and headlines from Cupertino, this week’s Apple Loop includes a disappointing iPhone 15 Pro camera leak, the new iPhone Action button, M2 production details, MacBook Pro delays, new AirPods display, Apple’s Weather app problems, and the hidden bitcoin in your Mac.
The Apple Loop is here to remind you of some of the many discussions happening around Apple over the past seven days (and you can read my weekly roundup of Android news here on Forbes).
Disappointing iPhone 15 Pro camera leak
New details about the iPhone 15 Pro camera have leaked, and it’s going to be a disappointment. While Apple is pushing a ‘periscope’ lens (which extends the depth of the lens) in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it won’t be coming to the regular iPhone 15. There doesn’t seem to be an economic reason for this, just a way to create an artificial specification gap between the two models:
“Apple has decided to exclude the periscope lens from the iPhone 15 Pro, despite negotiating a knock-down price of just $4 (including prisms) for the module with supplier Largan. Kuo says Largan cannot profit from the deal to this price. Equally strange, Kuo says Apple will introduce periscope lenses for both the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in 2024, making this a single-generation feature difference.”
(Forbes).
iPhone’s new action button
Apple’s replacement of the volume buttons and mute slider on the next iPhone with a capacitive button appears to have another benefit. Internal documentation calling this the “action button” suggests that users will be able to choose from several functions to use while the phone is on…much like the double tap option you currently have:
“Apple refers to the mute switch’s solid-state replacement as the ‘Action Button’ – the same terminology the company uses for the custom button on the Apple Watch Ultra. If, as expected, the company implements the button in the same way, users will be able to choose from a variety of quick launch options, such as the camera.”
(Forbes).
Has Apple stopped production of M2 chipsets
With MacBook sales falling worldwide, Apple has reportedly stopped production of the M2 chipset. This powers the MacBook Air and the inexplicable 13-inch MacBook Pro. Given that there’s an expectation that an M3 MacBook Air will arrive at June’s WWDC, Apple’s stock liquidation shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise … the declining sales could be a concern if there isn’t a big uptick in sales of MacBook Air M3 :
“Taiwan’s TSMC did not send 5 nano-process M2 chip wafer workpieces for outsourced semiconductor package test (OSAT) in January and February, according to OSAT industry on the 3rd. It is believed that it was because Apple asked to stop production as the demand for MacBooks subsided.”
(The Elec via MacRumors).
No OLED MacBook Pro until 2026
Samsung has announced plans to increase production of OLED screens and confirmed that it is working with Apple on different sizes and models. Thanks to that, we know that the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models will go from micro-LED to OLED … but not for a few more years,
“The good news is that yes, the larger and more powerful MacBook Pros will pick up OLED displays… but it’s going to take some time. Display Supply Chain Consultants’ Ross Young has been following the OLED display party for Apple hardware, and the MacBook Pro version is slated to appear no earlier than 2026:”
(Forbes).
Will AirPods Reinvent the iPod?
An intriguing Apple patent was published this week, showing an AirPods case with a touchscreen on the outside that can be used to read notifications, adjust audio settings like noise reduction, or even control your music by skipping tracks and selecting albums. That sounds pretty familiar…
“Unfortunately, the patent does not suggest that AirPods can take the next step and become a full-on iPod replacement, that is, without the need for a companion phone, for example. That would be something, but would require significant memory also on board the case.”
(Forbes).
Apple faces problems with its weather app
Apple has faced a series of glitches in its weather app and service this week. The issues have now been resolved, although some users have been waiting for a fix since the release of iOS 16.4. Given Apple’s purchase of popular weather app Dark Sky and then shutting it down for what many saw as a weaker (but built-in) weather app, this has drawn more attention to Apple’s approach to forecasting apps:
“The issue appears to be affecting many users worldwide, with weather apps on multiple Apple platforms affected, including iOS, iPadOS, watchOS and macOS. Apple is currently trying to resolve an issue with its weather service according to System Status- website. , although the problem summary only lists next-hour precipitation as unavailable for Alaska “due to a data provider outage,” when in fact many regions and forecast types are down.”
(MacRumors).
And finally…
There’s a Bitcoin thing hiding in your Mac that explains how it all works. The legendary blogger Andy Baio has uncovered a rather unusual test file in the depths of macOS:
“While trying to fix my printer today, I discovered that a PDF copy of Satoshi Nakamoto’s Bitcoin Whitepaper was apparently shipped with every copy of macOS since Mojave in 2018. I’ve asked over a dozen Mac-using friends to confirm, and it was there for every one of them. The file exists in all versions of macOS from Mojave (10.14.0) to the current version, Ventura (13.3), but is not in High Sierra (10.13) or earlier.”
(Waxy.org).
The Apple Loop brings you seven days of highlights every weekend here at 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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